The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-28
CONGR RESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1882.
cARMKLrr SuSNERY or BALTIMORE.


,ss an Finance for RENTING certain duties upon box
~ yesimens imported into New York. in January. 1882
in The steamer Franklin. being donation 10 the CaTme
lie NunneEy OF Baltimore for The use oil It's priests
The Senate, as in committee of the whole, having
uroceeded to the consideration Of the foregoing bill
Mr. MALLORY said: think the Senate will become
satisfied upon investigation that is highly proper TO
Grant The relief claimed by the memorialsts and il be
oroper notion would ask that this bill be recommit.
led 10 a committee.
MI. HUNTER There is no necessity for that
Mr. PRATT ! concur with the senator from Vr-
ginia L hope il will not be recommted / think we
MIR. MALLORY Well. sir. il the question is then
on passing the bill have word to say upoa the sub
These articles were imported expressly for the use of re-
gous ceremonies, understand that they vesimenls
al The priesthood princpaythat their value compaIa-
lively small and the amount OF duty to be returned is
nitel rae The principle involved in this case has
induced the committee TO report against the claim These
articles religious vesments, and do not come within
The exemption in the tariff Of ready made clothing But
should be considered that the payment of dnly upon
articles OF this kndves.ments tor The prlesthood-is OF
course indirectly tax upon religion itself. They
imported expressly for charitable nsttutionan insti-
lation devoted, as understand, principally 10 female ed
ucalion, and whose expensesia heavily upon one ndi
vdual lady. Each and every Of these views, Mr..
Presidents appeals strongly 10 the sympathies of the
Senate
But will place this claim on higher grounds. Con-
gss has, from time to lime. granted relief Of this kind
in analogous cases
will refer 10 the act of March, 1884, volume Of
Statutes at Large page Ash also 10 volume s. page $685.
where duties upon church furniture imported by the Bsh
poBardstowD, Kentucky remitted also volume O.
page 4sl and volume 8, page 564 where duties
mlet upon church furniture imported by Rev. Bishop
Hughes.
h 1892, January 30 there was relief afforded also to
church Tor duties, precisely grounds analogous
those pu forth now and lands given for the sup
port oil religion IN the Symnes and Ohio Company's pur
chase.
IN 1929, February 5. a. lien Of the United States on
certain lands was released TO religious congregation
And for great variety of analogous cases would
refer the Senate to synopca index of the laws OF the
United States from l7ss TO 1851, page i9o under the title
Of Church"
implements employed in the manufacture of snuff. /
state this to show that Congress has from time 10
time remi,led duties which have accrued under existing
nrlts for certain considerations.
In South Carolina find that railroad iron allowed
beimported free of duty and that such pipes and ap-
ances as had been used for testing certain theories OF
atmospheric pressure were allowed to be imported free of
duty.
We are in the habit very frequently of renting duties
upon goods destroyed by fire.
Duties have also been RENTED on swords imported as
pesenis from foreign powers TO military Off
Gers
Now, sir. here are precedents in which Congress has
RENTED duties upon articles OF church furnituearii-
ees #hch 60 10 the keeping up of religious ceremonies
These articles. as understand religious vestments
Wsments OF the priesthood. There be religion
Efhout ceremonies, and no ceremonies without vest-
Htnts The assessments OF duties upon these articles
will 20 directly in The face OF the practices have quoted
and will bear hardly upon the institution in which your
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. President, the Committee on FL
nance instructed me 10 report adversely this BILL which
referred TO them from the Senate having come from
lbe House OF Representatives. They came, believe,
unanimously 10 the conclusion make this report for the
purpose OF getting the opinion of the Senate upon the
principle which it involved am free 10 say that if
DO remit duties in such cases. believing the principle 10 be
anghI one, the persons who ask this favor merto
nous as any that could come beioIe this any other
body. But il seemed TO the committee that involved
principle We propose not 10 give money, but TO remi,
tax or debt 10 religious community; and il involves the
question, how far the government Of the United States
shall take into consideration the objects and purposes OF
religious societies. and other mertorions objects OF benev
olence. II seemed 10 us that although this was not
very large matter, yet II mig gh involve principle There
nanoher case similar 10 this already before the Commit
Zee on Finance in relation 10 church furniture There is
also another case brought by The senator from Louis
ans-who will probably call IL up very and whose
views will probably have somewhat of weight upon the
vote N this case-n which they ask duties 10 be RENTED
upon marble Tor burial society, m,orted Tor the pur
poses oil monuments II we begin with this, and remit
duties simply because societies benevolent religious
aihelr character do not know very well where we
should stop. II remit duties 10 churches upon orna-
mehs Tor buildings, upon the materials OF which they
are composed, must remit them well 10 benevolent
societies as to churches. Ii IL will involve
Us IN some difficulty 10 drawing the line However,
We committee in this case proposes nothing than TO
axe me sense OF the Senate and ii IT be their opinion
mat duies ought TO be RENTED IN such this
m'lt are OheT slmllaT cases 10 come before the
committee, and we shall have difficulty in relation to
Rrorng on them II the Senate thinks this is a proper
case we will report avorably in the other cases IL not
We VIII Iepor, adversely.
MI PRATT. Mt President. propose an amendment,
% come IN as additional section to the bill, which
W make the provisions OF il in regard 10 church
apply 10 all similar cases
"SEc =. dad be n hvthsr snacisd, That in all cases
eaher, where booxs, paintings sstuary. tombs, mon
philosophical apparatus, bells, vestments, and
@ haomens or wearing apparel, or materials Tor the
IN
w United States in good faith by and for the Of any
snog, seminary college, bishop clergyman church. be-
i,o % ~ religious community or society. of any condi
Waasoever and intended merchs ndise for sale
nv such articles shall be exempt from the pa y
y unyt Prouidd, That IL be made appear the
y he proper officers OF ths customs, or 70 the
csod ~ ~ lhe treasury, by affidavit properly anhenu
oed o the bishop oerRynnn or principal person having
s9 " control OF either Of the Institutions enumerated
osner testimony may be satisfactory, that such
80 articles arc tor the exclusive and benefit OF
.,h sutaton or church, describing II, and intended
o chaabe literary. religions purposes, and not
:. ueo y nefchsodise Tor sale or barter"
n mMt ~ MALLORY. agree entirely with the suggestion
y ne honorable senator from Virginia Mr. BusrrRl as
% e lnpropnety OF remi.tisg these duties a general
,ue, 9ut confess very few in which an
Tl Tlea 2 Congress properly be made. We have
'dlned appeals OF This sort IN other cases, and
M no' know one that appeals strongly TO Congress
Ila 10 not think should be called upon 10 remit
sues on marble, church fnrnilufe and thousand other
Iueles OF similar character because we shall have
oWed this Here Is remission of duties asked--upon
saal Upon the very vestments-ihe very obes-of the
res'hood, r which they daily, throughout the whole
@ n offer up their prayers for Congressi The never
~ upon single day, in any quarter OF the habiiable
he, mat prayers are not offered up Tor this body in
Vse very vestmenis upon which il is proposed remit
~ enarge This claim upon Congress therefore, is OF
ghef character than any that come before us in
gad 10 any other article; and can hardly suppose that
hp fnret etunlar mis-