Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-05

very fully gwen their views upon III In the report
which accompanied the bill. If the gentleman
who had Just taken his seat felt lrritated at the
course pursued by the committee, he could not
help It; he claimed the right to present his views
to the House and so did the committee. He was
not disposed to 60 into an argument upon the
subject at this time; he should prefer that the
bill should lie on the table, and the report be
printed, so that gentlemen might have time to re-
fleet upon and understand the question for them
selves. He was DESTROYS that the bill should
take the usual course-be read a second time and
committed. He assured the, gentleman from
South Carolina, that he had no idea that this mea
sure should have any effect on the sugar bill. nor
would the effect of its passage be to operate on
the poor-it was rather intended to relieve the
poor. The gentleman had said that the object
of bis vote the other day was to admit OF discus
slon-hls object now was to prevent it,by strang-
ling the bill. If the House chose to reject the
bill, he had nothing to say against it. but, be-
fore doing so, he should be pleased to have the
views of the Committee on Manufactures read.
Mr.. Speight said he had been unprepared for
the introduction of measure of the nature OF
that now before the House. There had been
full discussion on the subject at the last session,
and the House by a considerable majority had
passed bil to repeal the tax on salt, now pro-
posed to be continued. In the debate on that &C.
casion it was decaredto be one of the most griev-
Gus and oppressive taxes to which any people
were subjected. Neither the poor nor the rich
(sald Mr.. S. should be burthened with tax on
an article that entered into the necessary con-
sumption Of every family. Pass this bill, and
what would gentlemen have to tell their conslt-
uents when they wenthom this measure follow
inc directly upon the act of the last session.
MIR. S. then spoke of the effects which the
measure would have upon the people of the South;
and said he warned gentlemen to be cautious in
their repeated attempts to keep them down. He
denounced the vengeance OF the South on the ma
jority Of this House, if they persisted in course
of measures like those pursued for some years
past Last year, he said, the lord proprietaries
of the United States had been petitioned to re-
duce the duties on salt, and their prayer was
granted. Now it was proposed to restore the
duties. Would not such legislation create ex-
cltement? Yes. said Mr.. S. such a system Of
robbery and plumber WiH create exCitement.-
Was the South to have no redress of grievances!
And when she had thrown herself on the libe-
rality of her soverelgns and obtained some par
tial relief was she he again subjected to the
same burdens? The day was coming when the
South would be heard The oppressive mea-
it will be done-and shall be done. The South
was on the eve of a rebellion, &c.
Mr.. Thompson, of Georgia, rose to address
the House. but gave way to
Mr.. Tucker, who said that when the bill should
receive its second reading. ne should move an
amendment to provide for the repeal of the du-
ties OH salt in toto. lie felt sorry that the gen
tleman from North Carolina had expressed him
self as he had done. 1t was his (Mr. rs, wish
to put down excitement. Every section of this
country was oppressed by this odious tax. except
the persons engaged in the manufacture of the
article There was an arlSlocracy in this House
they had power, and they exercised it to OPP
press. They were led into error themselves, and
they deluded the people. The yeomanry of the
country never had been represented on this floor.
The object Of the tax on salt was to take from
the pockets of the poor and give to the rich; to
make the poor poorer, and the rich richer. He
implored gentlemen, for the good of their con-
sttuents for the good of the country to take such
steps as would put an end to excitement, by en-
Leavoring to do justice to all. For himself, he
cared no more for one section of the country than
for another; his object was to do justice to all.
The people were oppressed, and in measure
slaves; the Union was in danger of being rent
asuuder, and he feared the day was not far dis
tant Heaven avert it! Should this be the result,
however, of the measures of the majority, they
would not only have to answer beforet he people,
but before their God. He was determined that no
act of his should bring about such state of
things. Referring to the remarks of Mr. Mallarv,
he said it was to him matter of astonishment,
how high duty on any article could make the
article cheaper; as well might it be said that a
coal black piece of paper was as white as snow.
1t was contradiction in terms, SC.
Mr.. Thompson, of Georgia, next rose, not (he
sadly for the purpose of discussing the merits of
the proposition reported by the Committee Of Man
ufactures, but to beg of gentlemen who are ii ia
vor of what is called protecting tariff to pause
before they proceed too far with it. We Of the
South (said MIR. IT, have been somewhat amused
by the prospect of relief from the burthens neaped
upon us by the majority in Congress by repeal
or reduction of the duties, and the excitement on
that account has always been repressed by the
hope of it. But when we get up and tell the
House that we are oppressed, and that we must
have relief from this oppression, and see how our
remonstrances are met by those who are trying to
Cypress US still further, do gentlemen suppose
that we can submit to this. What is the object
Of gentlemens Is it their intention to goad US on