Gazette of the United-States. [volume], May 02, 1789, Page 22, Image 2

About Gazette of the United-States. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1789-1793

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had received, he had bc?n led to fuppa'fe that the
l'entiments of that houio perfectly corresponded
with the ideas of their conltitueuts, that to revive,
proceift and encourage the commerce, navigation,
agriculture, and manufactures of the Union, were
among the great objects tor which the Conltitaticm
had been adopted.—-Tfie fifliery he observed, Mas
one of the molt important among tliofe objects—
Gentlemen on all hands, realized this truth—Of
all the various branches of buiinefs carried oil in
the United States, none perhaps had filtered more
than the iilherics—lhut out from the Englith ports
entirely,,and admitted into those of our allies up
on severe restrictions, this molt beneficial buiinefs
had rapidly declined—was daily growing worse,
and it loaded with additional burthens would be
totally' deltroyed—this buiinefs employed 26,00 c
tons of flapping,and a great number of the poorer,
though important pare of the community, and was
a nuYfery for seamen, which it had been the poli
cy of the wifelt nations to cherith and encouragi
—these veilels r iade four fairs annually, and took
upon an average upwards of 400,000 quintals ol
fith —the greatelk part of the filh could be fold in
310 other market but the Weft-Indies, and there
molafles was the only return's that could be obtain
ed ; this molafles was consumed in its original ltate
in great quantities by the filhermen. Ihe ex
portation of the fifli employed nearly as much fhip
ing-as was engaged in taking it, several important
inecllanical branches depended upon, and were
inseparably connected with this particular bufi
nels—lf a doubt therefore could be raised upoii
the expediency of adopting a measure, that might
eflentially injure an interest foextenfive, gentle
men could not think of being tenacious of luch a
measure. Mr. Ames thought he could l aifcfuch a
doubt.—The Honorable Gentleman from Viginia
had alked, how it was to be .accounted for, that this
buiinefs (hould be able to support itfelf before the
revolution, when molafles paid a duty and foreign
rum was free ? l o this Mr. Ames replied, that
previous to the war, the br.fme(s was carried 011
tinder a variety of advantage:;, which jt was now
deprived of, that the belt markets were entirely
cut off—Newfoundland, Oucbeck, those great
marts we were excluded from.—He adduced a va
riety of other reasons why the present state of the
buiinefs, would bear no compai iibn with its for
mer situation, and then added, that to other pre
sent embarrafmects, it was to be apprehended, that
we might lhortly be deprived of the only market
left us for the principle part of our fifli—as the
merchants at L'Orient ha ', represented to govern
ment, that it would be for the interest of their co
lonies to diftill their molafles in the 1 (lands, and
that upon the llrength of this idea, diftill houses
were erecting in thole Islands. It had been objected,
that encouraging the manufacture of country rum
■would diminish the revenue by leflening the con
sumption of foreign Ipirits—to this Mr. Ames repli
ed, that he was happy to find that the Hon. Gentle
man from Virginia, upon the use of brandy, fur
niSieda full answer to this objection, and that was,
that although brandy had paid no duty there,
and Jamaica spirits an high one, yet the use of
brandy didnotencreafe, and the importation bore
no proportion to Welt-India spirits—the truth was,
theconfumption of that country rum was not fafhi
onable, and therefore would never be extensive,
it was conlidered as noxious—it was offenfive, and
it was disreputable to use it—much had been said
against the. use of fpiritous liquors—Mr. Ames was
in lentiment with those opposed to their coiifump
tion—but at the present moment,, gentlemen did
not mean to take up the subject in a moral point
of view—revenue was the great object ltow before
them, and as it refpectecl that, he conceived, the
duty on an article which would amount to a pro
hibition, attended with the disagreeable conse
quences pointed out, mull'oe impolitic. Mr. Ames
next proceeded to consider the article of molafles
as a neceflary of life—neceflaries he defined, such
articles as are found faluta'ry, and enter into the
daily and common fnltenance of all ranks, and
more especially of the poorer clafles of citizens—
Some kind of sweetening was universally allowed
to be of thisdefcription—Molafles therefore from
its wholesome qualities, and its cheapnef?;, was used
very extenlively by the people of the New-Eng
land States—it was used not merely as fngar, but
entered into their food in a variety of ways—and
was their only fubltitute for malt in the making of
beer—the articles used in brewing at the south
ward were, exempted from duty, and he conceived
no good reafoti could beafligned, why a difference
fnould be made between the common drink, of one
part of the continent and that of another. This
daty would operate as a very partial tax, in as
much as in addition to it, the eastern States paid
their full proportion upon all other articles.
From tlie»ib:"egoing observations, Mr. Ames con.
eluded, that as the navigation ot the Union, and
jnore especially the eastern fiftieries, would be so
materially affected and injured by this partial duty
—as it was an object of importance to encourage
exrenfive manufactures —as it could not poflibly
enter in the views of the House to tax, heavily tax,
the neceflaries of life—as this duty -as so over
poportioned to the reft of the system—he wasdi
cide llv onpofed to the sum of fix cents per gallon
on molafles—he mentioned one cent, or that it
should be included in 11011 enumerated articles.
Mr. SvLvtsTEk observed, he thought that the
Houie was ripe for a decifion--gentlemen differed
so widely, that he defpuired ol getting better in
formation —he was therefore in favor ot, and
would propose a medium duty to save time.
Mr. Madison ltill advocated the duty, and as
he it a reaionable one, hewiihed that
it mignt now he fixed, as gentlemen mufl ba
l'enlible that variations in the revenue laws would
be facrificing our bell friends—Mr. Madiion obser
ved, that the exports fi-9111 Maflachufetts were not
one third so much as those from Virginia, ami that
consequently her imports were proportionably
greater, and her burthen of taxes enhanced : He
iurther observed, that he considered that the poor
of one state was upon a par with thole of another,
and therefore could not fee the propriety of any
iliitindtion's being made.
Mr. Fitzsimo ns was opposed to any diminution.
The duty, he o'oferved, would not .fall 011 the ma
nufacturer, but on the conf'umer of the article ; and
as more than x oooooogallons of ruin would be expor
ted,6n which a drawback would be allowed,he could
not think the duty would fall so heavy : He obser
ved, that the pref'ent trade was greater than it was
before the war : That there could be no revenue
without taxing neceflaries : The tax on fifhermen
for this article, would not be more than 3*4 th of a
dollar pr. annum ; and he conceived it was local
to oppose it.
Mr. Goodhue observed, That the duty on Mo
lalles had been palled oyer, to give gentlemen time,
who expec'ted information oil tfie fubjedt from their
conflitucnts at the eastward ; but the port on Satur
day had not brought any dispatches on the subject.
He would therefore, he observed, endeavour to
give the House all the information upon the fubjeJi,
at present in his poHefficn : Molafles, Sir, is tlie pro
duction alinoft altogether of the French Weft-India
Islands ; and is purchased chiefly for fifli and lum
ber. she fifh which is exchanged for it, is of so
inferior a quality, by reason of being caught and
cured in the hottest of the season, that none but the
negroes of those illauds can be induced to make use
of it.
We are reftritfled by the French from takin?; any
production in exchange for our commodities from
those lflands but this article, the rum made from
it, and fait. ihe only realbn for allowing us to
vend our fifh there is, to take off their fuperfluous
articles—their policy having prohibited the impor
tation of molafles and rum into the mother country,
left it should interfere with their wines and bran
dies : From these facfts, it is evident, that the
fifhery rests on the molafles bufmels. '1 hey stand
or fall together.
But, Mr. Speaker, molaffcs is a neceflary of life,
when used in lubflance, particularly so to the poor
er class of the people in the eastern States, who
use it irjftead of sugar : the duty of 6 cents is 30
pr. cent, on its value—equal to the duty on ruin
and double to that on fiigar : even luxuries are
not taxed so liigli. Maflachufetts imports 3'oooo«o
of molafles, annually, which at 6 cents
would be.lßoooo dollars ; more than Pennsylvania
pays on rum and sugar together. f his article has
never been rated high by any <jf the states : a plain
proof that the sense of the people is not in fav our
of so exorbitant a duty. We ought to be circum
fpetft in the business before us ; nor givejuft cause
of uneasiness to our constituents ; especially at the
commencement of the Constitution : for though I
would not venture to fay, that Maflachufetts would
not be as quiescent and fubmiflive to every measure
of Congress, as any state in the union, yet I must
fay, t hat they will consider thisduty, or any thine*
near it, as injurious to their trade, fifheries and
manufactures, and contrary to the principles of
justice, or national policy. It has been said, that
Maflachufetts ought not to complain, as the amount
of her imports are not more than one third the a
mount of those in Virginia ; but the gentleman
has brought no evidence to prove it : I can fay,
Sir, and I believe upon good grounds, that flie im
ports quite as much. J his duty is compared to the
duty 011 lboes, and candles ; but Sir, one cargo of
molafles would pay as much at 6 cents duty, as the
whole quantity of" candles probably imported into
Virginia in a year. I beg leave to add one more
observation— it is, that the British Parliament im
posed, at one time, 3 pence fterl. a gallon on mo
lafles—Not one farthing of duty was colletfled
while it continued so high, so odious was it to all
ranks ofpeople; andtheywere compelled to lower
it to 1 penny.—l hope we fliall learn wisdom from
the example.
Mr. G, rry observed, that he was in favor of a
revenue by impost, except on neceflaries, and raw
materials, because on all other articles it may be
considered as a voluntary tax, for the perfbn who
was finally to pay it, had it in his power to avoid
the tax, by not colifuining the articles dutied ; but
it must be admitted, that imports were burt'hen
fome on commerce, as the importer must advance
the duty, and that being usually raised from some
of the dutied articles, would oblige him to force a
sale to alofSi: It must also be admitted,that he would
be subject to bad debts, and that the imports there
on would be his loss. It was therefore neceflary
to be judicious in clioofing the articles, and in de
termining the quantity of import, for it might
otherwise destroy the "ourceof this revenue Ti :
precaution he thought had not been taken in i
tying moiafles : The trade itfelf v.as in Mafia iH
ietts at a low ebb, and could hardly be fupw"
Should a duty of 6 cents pr. gallon be now
a cargo and outfits, of ioool. lawful, which way
procure about 22,000 gallons of moiafles,
pay 3961.. duties, being nearly 40 p .cent', on rt.
capital: In addition ro the premium of infurai,
and iailors wages, which mult always be paid"'
the arrival of the veliel, the merchant must r °'
raise money to pay the impost, which would n-q
]y distress him in the present lcarcity offp ec
infer 011 him a considerable loss, and difcoui "
the trade : and the evil would not terminateherf
for a large quantity of this article was
by the poor of the seaports, who to fublift tl lea
selves and their families, were under the neccfe
of qualifying with it their indian meal, and otlit
articles, not being able to procure flour ormeal
and they uled it with water, and in their beer'
which being generally made of spruce, or hop'
would be otherwise too unpalatable for use.
were no breweries, hefaid, in that part of the cob!
tinent; and this he fconfidered as a misfortune tri
by no means a fufticient reason for thus taxing'&]
poor. If a proposition fliould be made for lavi;-
a duty on the ordinary beer used by the poor of
other States ; or if beef and pork could not be pro!
cured among ourfelvesin fufficient quantities, aji
it fliould be proposed to lay an impost on thole sr.
tides, would not gentlemen, from all quarters, cor,
fider it as oppreiiive—furely they would—and j
mnft be so considered in the present cafe—form,
lafles was a neceflary ingredient of the food at;
drink of the poorest people of fonie of the states ; ■
and the loading this article with so high a duty.
would so raise its price, as to leflen the conftntp.
tion, and thus be an additional difcouragenienni
the trade ; but the evil would be Hill mere em
five. The distillers now purchased mobiles intlr
Ealtern states, free of duty, and an impolt of
cents pr. gallon, would raise it 30 pr. cent, ana
render it neceflary for distillers to have capita;
proporrionably larger, or to manufacture leis run
this circumstance, and the decilion of the HouJe
not to allov- a debenture 011 rum exported, will
leflen the demand of moiafles for diftillirg, ari
prove a further discouragement to the trade: tr.:
it is that rum is injurious to our citizens, but th:
eftablifliment of diltilleries, as well as the impor
tation of rum, has liacl the fandtion of our lav .
and therefore the distillers ai e not charged::
with the evil. If it is neceflary at once to destroy
these manufactories, the proprietors ought injuf
lice to be reimbursed the coil thereof by the pub
lie ; but if the article is still to be in use amongit .
us, Ihould not good policy induce us to give a pre
ferrence to our own manufaifhires ? It iiiuft then
be evident this duty, by discouraging, will great
ly leflen the moiafles trade, and with it the de
mand for fifh, which is exported for thepurchalc
of that article. The fifliery is already diftrefled,
by the rcftricftions and impositions of the nations
who are endeavoring to rival us, and who apply
as a bounty on their own fifli, the duties impoftJ
on ours ; and if the demand fliould ceafefora cor
fiderable part of our fifh, which can only be carried
to the Weft-India markets : This important branch
can no longer be supported : This duty moreover
would take from every filherman, who with lis
family, will consume about 30 gallons of molalfo
a year, about two dollars, which will in efFeift op
erate as a poll tax: Already havepropofitionsbet!
made to some of our merchants in that branch.:
remove to Nova Scotia—and such difcourageme©
would promote the emigration of our fifhermen
The loss of the fifliery would extend itfelf to Un
building, there being at least 27,000 tons offtip
ping employed in taking, and half as much more
in carrying to market that article : The ship-build
ers therefore, and the numerous mechanics depea
dent on Shipping, would be immediately afledij
by this duty ; and it weuld extend itfelt through
the whole lyftem of the eastern
inequality of this duty is evident by comparing'
with the impost on sugar, which is only one fa'
of its value, whil!'; that on molafTes is one thi",
and'fugar is a luxury, wliilft moiafles is not.
the full force of these objections fliould not be
mitted, 110 one can deny, that there will be 8 '
in adopting !the measure proposed: And are"
not hazarding the difafFeiftion of the numerous 0
tizens concerned in the moiafles trade, fifliery, j
tilleries and ihip-building, who warmly advocate 4 -.
and expected benefit from the constitution; E '
the impost proposed will defeat itfelf, surely >'•
never be good policy tolaythe duty fohighj 3s '!
exceed the rilk of linuggling. If the rifle is JP.
cent, and the duty 40 pr. cent, there can be ®
doubt that the merchant wil 1 smuggle the mo a I
more especially as he will confiderhimfe' io Pi'
f ed, and will be compelled to do this, or to S^ e -j;
the trade ; and if we multiply revenue of cers, '^
they eat up the revenue, they will not be a
prevent the measure : It must appear then, t
in lieu of this high duty, we iinpiofes modera
cife 011 rum, or afmall impoft'on
not only avoid the injuries which will others
tend to our commerce,but shall also greatly 1 { -
the revenue itfelf: He therefore moved ti
words "onmoiafles6Cents" ihould be ftnic 0