The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-27

val but because il presented basis for something
more accep able.
Mr.. EVANS remarked that this very proposition
had been rejected in the House and that the ques
ton now was, revenue bill, or revenue bill. II
this amendment should be adopted, Congress would
adjourn without bill for revenue.
MIR. PRESTON did not concur in the opinion ex-
pressed by the Senator from Maine.
MIR. CONRAD raised question whether II was In
order for the Senator from Virginia to submit propo-
ston, which, although il was in the shape OF an
amendment, a different bill entirely from that
which had passed the other House.
The CHAIR overruled the point of order.
MIR. SMITH, Of Connecticut, was opposed to Dill
for protection alone, but he would vote for one hav-
ing revenue in view and affordng incidental protec-
ton.
Mr.. WALKER said that he would, under no cir
cumslances vote for duty tea and coffee, as pro-
posed by the amendment OF the Senator from Virgi-
mia. A tax upon those articles would strike severe
blow at the temperance reform, as they were very
pleasant substitute for splrtuous liquors and malt
drinks He then proposed to strike out the tax on
tea and coffee and substitute therefor an amendment,
tina, there shall be collected three per centum ad ra-
loren gold and silver ware above the value oil
hundred dollars but the tax shall not be collected
the gold and silver In the possession oil mer-
chants for sale. He said that according to the re-
Of the Of l840 in one hundred counties,
where the information had been obtained more than
four millions of the precious metals had been manu-
featured into gold and silver ware. In the remain
ing eleven hundred and sixty counties returns were
made. Ii was probable however, that, throughout
the Union, twenty millions of gold and silver were
appropriated to tins purpose. Since he had agitated
this subject il had gained friends, and every day he
received letters in favor of this tax. II he did not
succeed in his amendment now, he would continue
from time to urge its adoption.
MIR. PRESTON opposed the amendment. He said
that the tax would amount to the value OF the ware
in the course of thirty years The proposition had
in view the wild notion of forcing specie currency
into circulation, instead Of leaving it to commerce.
the inexornble laws OF which would control matters
Of this kind. After some further remarks, he con-
tended that tea and coffee were legitimate subjects OF
taxation.
MIR. WALKER made some further observations.
MIR. BENTON suggested to the Senator to change
the tax upon gold and silver ware from three and
half to one per cent.
MIR. WALKER accepted Of the modification.
MIR. CRITTENDEN argued that the proposition of
the Senator from Mississippi would occasion disagree
able domciliary visits by officers of the law BESIDES
but few hundred thousand dollars could be collect
ed under this tax, an amount too nconsiderable in
bill for revenue, and would no: than pay the
expense OF collection.
Mr. SIMMONS observed that he he had seen it
stated somewhere that guinea OF gold could be
made TO cover the whole world Instead Of four
millions of gold having been used in manufactures,
there was not one-tenth of that amount. Many ar
tcles having the appearance OF gold were merely
washed over with that material, as was the case
with the celebrated gold spoons.
Mr. CRITTENDEN delivered some further re-
marks and the question was taken the amend
ment of Mr.. WALKER and ii was decided in the ne
gative--yeas III, nays %, as follows
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Benton Buchanan, Cuth-
bert, Fulton, Linn, Smith, Of Ct Surgeon Tappan,
Walker Wright-ll
NAYS essrs Archer Barrow Bates Bayard
Berrien, Calhoun, Choate, Clayton, Conrad, CIaits,
Critlenden, Dayton, Evans, Graham, Henderson,
Huntington, Merrick, Miller, Morehead, Phelps,
Porter, Preston, Rves, Simmons, Smith of Indiana,
Sprague, Tallmadge, WhIte-2S.
The question recurring the amendment of Mr..
Rves-
MIR. ALLEN moved to strike out so much Of it as
relates to tea and coffee and the question decd-
ed in the Degative--yeas 10, nays24.
The amendment of Mr.. Rives was then rejected
yeas 10 nays 81, follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Bagby, Calhoun, Cuth-
bert, Fulton, Henderson, King, Mangum Nlerrick,
Preston, Rives, Sewer, and Williams-l3.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Barrow, Bates,
Benton, Berrien, Buchanan, Choate, Clayton, Con-
rad, Crafts, Crittenden, Dayton Evans, Graham,
Huntington, Linn, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Por-
ter, Simmons, Smith, of Connecticut, Smith, of In
diana, Sprague, Sturgeon, Tallmadge, Viii e, Wood
bridge, Woodbury., and Young-3l.
Mr.. MERRICK submitted a substitute for the en-
tire bill-imposing twenty per cent. al palorem du
tire. He said that his amendment was similar to that
offered by Mr.. Habersham in the House of Repre-
sentatves and would secure the distribution of the
proceeds of the sales of the public lands among the
several States
The amendment was rejected-yeas H. nays &c.
MIR SEWER submitted amendment, striking
out all after the enactng clause, and inserting sub
stute, imposing an I'D ralorem duty of twenty-fiv
per cent. The amendment was rejected-yeas 81
nays %. :,
Mr.. GRAHAM offered an amendment repeating
the sixth section of the Distribution act (Which
n,etr,
duties on imports go above twenty per cent?
MIR. WRIGHT said that if this amendment should
prevail they all knew very well that Congress would
be ready to adjourn at once. If he two subjects of
the revenue and the lands should be again united
revenue bill could be passed this session.
The question taken and the amendment was
rejected-yeas 10, nays 80, as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bayard Clay
ton Crittenden, Graham, Mangum, Merrick, White,
Woodbridge--l0.
ricn, Buchanan, Calhoun Choate, Conrad Crafts,
Cuthbert, Evans, Fulton, Henderson, King, Linn,
Preston, Rves, Sewer, Smith of Connecticut Smith
of Indiana, Sprague, Sturgeon, Tallmadge, Tappan,
Walker, Williams, Woodbury., Wright, Young-30.
Mr.. CLAYTON submitted an amendment, to sus-
pend the ten per centum allowed to nine of the States
under the Distribution law +; and it was agreed to.
Various other amendments were proposed-some
of which were adopted and the remainder rejected
Mr. WOODBURY. submitted an additional section
to the bill, viz:
"All duties in this bill which on the first day of
jan, lS43, shall exceed the rate of fifty per cent of
the average value of merchandise as it has been APP
praised at the custom house, during the year lS42,
shall be reduced not to exceed that rate until jan
1S45, when they shall be further reduced, so as
not to exceed thereafter the rate of twenty-five per
cent"
The amendment was rejccted-Yeas 5 nays 25
After session Of more than ten hours, the Senate
adjourned without taking the question upon the bill
In the House, on Friday, after the reading of the
Journal,
Mr.. HOWARD, of Michigan, moved an amend
ment to that portion of it relating the report from
the Committee Public Lands. After some expa-
ION from Mr. IL