, 1841-08-28
From The Globe.
THE TEA AND COFFEE TAX.


from the odium OF imposing q tax on q tea
and coffee, sends the Richmond Wing the
following account of the matter:
"There was one feature in which the bill
was particularly Objectionable to most OF
the Wings, VIZ: the tax on tea and coffee
The Wing members held a chusus on this
subject, at which a large majority determin-
ed that tea and coffee should b. exempt from
TAXATION. Accordingly, when the bill was
under consideration in the Committee Of the
Whole, Mr., Lawrence of Pennsylvania, =
prominent Wing member. moved to amend
the bill by adding tea and coffee to the list
Of free articles. Before the question could
be taken on this proposition, Mr.. Clifford of
Maine, a leading, Loco Foco, and a ready
parliamentary tactician. (havinR been Spea.
ker Of one branch of the Legislature o,
Maine) Immediately moved to amend the
amendment Of Mr.. Lawrence, by adding. to
tea and coffee, sugar, molasses, and SALT
The whole Loco Focn party then united with
Mr.. C. in voting for the amend nent to the
amendment, and, in conjunction with such
of the ultra anti-tarif Wings as wished tea
and coffee to he taxed, carried The amend.
ment. The Wings. were 'hnS placed in n
very awkward predlcaneni. from whic!, they
in vain, attempted I" exlrIcate themselves.
Winthrop Of Boston called for a division OF
the question on tue amendment as amended,
so as to present the question separately. nut
the Chair very promptly decided that the
vote Of the committee having joined them to
gether. the Chair could not put them asunder.
The Wing party were thus compelled either
to vote for the entire proposition, or to vote
the whole down. Under these circumstan.
ces they could not hesitate to reject it en-
tirely. And thus ii comes 10 pass that by a
dexrerous of the l.ocos, tea and
coffee are 10 be taxedn
KingJ,aEs, when persuaded TO sit in judy
ment in the Curt Of the Kings Bench. at
Westminster. was correct in the opinion
'iha'. were II not for the chiefs story on the
ether side, there would be no difficulty in
hanging the nation" And the writer in the
Why would have innortalized himself and
saved his PARTY from censure. ut the expense
of Mr.. Clifford. had not the facts in the ease
been such rs 10 convict him oi gross error.
As this. however. is a matter I" he decided
by the record, lei Us appeal TO that; and how
stands the casef
l. The Secretary of the Treasury, in his
n port to the extra session Of Congress, re-
commended a tax upon tea and coffee.
g. The Committee Of WAYS and Means
reported a bill 10 tax those articles twenty
per cent.
8. The Chairman Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, MI. FILLMORE. in open.
inr his budget 10 the House. advocated this
tax. on the ground that they were Injuries
and not necessaries.
4. When the bill was brought under the
rule of silence, and amendments were to be
voted ~, n without debate, Mr.. LAWRENCE
os PENNSYLVANIA. a Wing. and formerly
Speaker Of the House Of Representative s Of
his State. moved To strike out tea and coffee,
and thus leave hem free al duty.
5. Mr.. CLIFFORD moved to amend Mr..
Lawrence's motion, by nddi,g TO IL, ''anolas.
ses. sugar, and SAT-" Tellers were deman-
ded, and there were ll2 yeas and 81 nays.
So the amendment to the amendment was
adopted.
6. Upon taking the question on the amend.
ment as amended, by tellers. the whole was
by yeas II2. nays 10.
7. Mr.. WILLIAMS of Maryland now NOV
ed to amend the bill, by striking out SALT
alone; and though a question Of order was
raised, as the committee had just refused to
strike out salt, Mr.. CUSHING of Massachu-
setts, Ia Whig) the chairman Of the commit
overruled the question Of order, and the
question was taken upon salt al'ne, and lost.
8. Notwithstanding this decision Of the
Chair. and Notwithstanding the parliamenta.
~ knowledge of Mr.. LAWRENCE, the origin
mover. and of many others OF his party.
no Wing attempted 10 get a vote to exempt
lea and coffee separately from the operations
IF the bill.
9. When the tariff bill came int" the
the Wings called the previous ques
ion, thus cutting off all amendments; and,
Ipon the demand, '.Shall the previous ques
ion be now puig' every Democrat in the
House voted in the negative.
10. When Mr.. PRorrrr Of Indiana COM
blamed because the gag was persisted 10. ut
he expense Of those vital amendments, Mr.. !
of N. Carolina avowed that the res {
possibility belonged to the Wing party, and {
poke of the splendid epitaphs which CRATE I
Ill people would inscribe upon their tomb
for having served in this Congress. 4