The Arkansas advocate., 1830-10-13
r Eg-,s,s ,s,s sslsss sss g.sls,se,, ofthe Constitution CONTRE s5I0NAL OPINIONS ON
 THE CONSTITUTION.
py THE COD FISHERY BILb

fsiIa direct bounty Du GupdtlGHS5 anu If that be its object, 1t is the first at tempt as yet made by this Government to exercise such ai3thority ty7--ilild it's con sEitutionality struck him in doubtful point of view; for in no part of the con stitution could he, in express terms, find q power given to Congress to grant bouaties on oecnpations--the power is neither directly granted, nor (by any reasonable construction that he could giye) annexed to any other power ape- eihed in the constitution.
 F'e5raary 2, 1792.
 MR. sYIlLI LIAMsoN.- the Censtitu- lien of this Government there are two or three remarkable provisions which seem b beinpoint. Itis provided that direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States according to their re- speetiye numbers, Itis also provided that sal duties, imposts, and exeises shall be uniform throughout the United States" and t is provided that no pre- ference shall be given by any regula- zion of co5nnefcittii revenue to the ports of one state over those of another. The clear and obvious intention of the arti- cles mentioned was, that Congress might not lave the power of imposing unequal 0ufdens-Lhat 1t might net be in their ssssower to sratify one part of the Union by expressing another. 1t appeared possible and not very improbable, that the time might come, when by greater cohesion, by more unanimity, by more address, the representatives of one part of the Union might attempt to impose unequal taxes, or to relieve their con- stituents at the expense of the people. To prevent the possibility of such q combination, the articles that have mentioned were inserted in the consti- tutiea.
 ] do not hazard much in saving that the present constitution had never been adopted, without those preliminary guards on the constitution. Establish the general doctrine of boanties, and all the provisions l have mentioned be- come useless. They vanish into air. and ike the baseless fabric of a vision. leave not a trace behind. The common defeace and general welfare, in the hands of good politician, may super sseda every part Of our constitution, and leave as n the hands oftime and chance. Iasufactares7in general are useful 10 the nation--they promote the public good and general welfare; how many of them are sprlnging up in the North era States9 Let them be properly sup ported by bonaties, and you will ind 10 occasion for unequal taxes. The tax may be equal in the beginning, it will De sufficiently unequal in the end.
 The object of the bounty, and the amount olit,are equally to be disregard cd ii the present case; We are simply to consider whether bouaties may safely be given under the present constitution; fer myself, would rather begin with q bounty ot one million per annum, than one thousand; l wish that my constitu- cnts may know whether they are to put any confidence in that paper called the constitution.
 Unless the Southern States are pro tected by the constitution, their valua- ble staple, and their visionary products, must occasion their tiestfuctiofi. T Irtiree short years has this Government exist cd; 1t is not three years, but we have already given serious alarms to many of cur fellow citizens; establish the doc triae of bounties; set aside that part Of the constitution which requires equal taxes, and demand similar distributions destroy this barrier, and 1t is not q few fishermen that will enter, claiming ten or twelve thousand dollars, butall man. ner of persons-people of every trade and occupation may enter at the breach until they have eaten up the bread oi our children.
 Ma. MADEsoN.-t is supposed by some gentlemen, that Congress had au- tilority not only to grant boanties in the sense here used, merely as a con.nuta- .tion for drawback, but even to grant fiiens under q power by virtue of which they may do any thing they may think conduciyeto the general welfare This, sir, in my mind, raises the important and fuadstlneattall question, whether the ge- neral terms which have been cited, are [ ,e considered as q sort of caption ol general description of the specified pow CTS, and as having*no farther meaning slilss aasa :srttEIssr rnwers than whaI $ found in that specification, or as aH sslasfra~f and tnJxf,r;fr Salnx,tf5.,, <