tion, except tin in pigs, tin plates, lead, old | pewter, brass, iron or brass wire, copper in plates, wool, dying woods and dying drugs, (other than indigo,) raw hides, beaver, and all other furs, and deer skins."

Mr. FITZSIMONS proposed a drawback of six cents per gallon on all rum distilled in the United States, exported without the limits of the same.

Mr. MADISON asked if the quantity of rum so exported was very considerable? He believed it was not; and he would not, for the sake of encouraging that branch of trade, open a door by which frauds on the revenue could be committed equal to the whole duty collected.

[H. OF R.

Mr. BLAND said the committee had spent several days in encouraging manufactures, by selecting articles for revenue, and were now extending their views to the encouragement of commerce. He thought there was some impropriety in combining the clause proposed in this part of the bill, and even doubted if it was in order; therefore would vote against it.

The question was put on the motion for a drawback on country rum, and lost.

Mr. FITZSIMONS had another clause upon the same subject, only on more general principles; he hoped gentlemen would consider well before they doomed it to share the fate of the former. It was to this purpose: that all the duties paid, Mr. FITZSIMONS could not say what quantity or secured to be paid, upon goods imported, of rum was exported in that way; but he feared, shall be returned or discharged upon such of unless a drawback was allowed, it would be a the said goods, as shall within months be great injury to the manufacture. At the time exported to any country without the limits of the duty of six cents on molasses was laid, he the United States, except so much as shall be thought it was understood, the committee necessary to defray the expense that may have would allow a drawback on the rum exported. accrued by the entry and the safe keeping There seems to be an apprehension that the thereof. The subjects of duties and drawbacks system of drawbacks will operate to the disad- are so connected by their nature, that he did vantage of the revenue; but he believed a mode not see how they were to be separated. Gencould be devised to prevent frauds, in this case, tlemen did not imagine that what had been fully as effectually as on the importation. If done tended to favor commerce; it certainly this was not done, it would be time enough for did not. Every impost which is paid is a disgentlemen to oppose it; they would have this advantage to the person concerned in trade, and opportunity, because a bill, regulating the man-nothing but necessity could induce a submission ner of collection, he presumed, would pass at the same time with the one for levying the duties. If drawbacks were not allowed, it would be a very considerable restraint on commerce, particularly on the India trade, which he believed was likely to be considerably extended. He was sorry the gentlemen from Massachusetts were not there in their places,* to give information to the committee respecting the quantity exported from that State; from Pennsylvania the quantity was but small.

to it. The interest of the landholder is undoubtedly blended with the commercial interest; if the latter receive an injury, the former will have to sustain his proportion of it: if drawbacks are not allowed, the operations of trade will be considerably shackled; merchants will be obliged, in the first instance, to send their cargoes to the place of consumption, and lose the advantage of a circuitous freight, which alone is a profit of no small magnitude.

Mr. HARTLEY expressed his sorrow for the last decision of the committee; he wished the question had not been put in the absence of the gentlemen from Massachusetts, who were on a business in some degree of a public nature. The

Mr. FITZSIMONS contended for drawbacks generally, but on this article it was particular injustice to omit it. The manufacture of rum was of considerable importance in the Eastern States, but it would not be able to stand a suc-present motion was only just brought in; he cessful competition with West India rum in foreign countries, while loaded with a duty of six cents per gallon. The tax on molasses was that sum, and he looked upon it to be the same thing as if it had been paid on the rum at distillation; one gallon of the former yielding but one of the latter.

Mr. MADISON thought there were very few cases in which drawbacks ought to be allowed, perhaps none but what related to the East India trade. The small proportion of distilled rum exported did not justify so great a risk; but of the small proportion which went abroad, the greatest part went to the coast of Africa. He feared this trade was inconsistent with the good of mankind, and ought to be reprobated instead of encouraged.

* The delegates from that State were gone to meet the Vice-President, who was expected in town this day.

submitted, therefore, to the committee, if it were not best to pass it over for the present, in order to give time for consideration.

TUESDAY, April 21.

Mr. HARTLEY asked and obtained leave of absence.

WEDNESDAY, April 22. ed and took his seat. PETER SYLVESTER, from New York, appear

THURSDAY, April 23.

JOHN HATHORN, from New York, appeared and took his seat.

FRIDAY, April 24.

Mr. BOUDINOT reported, from the committee appointed to attend with a committee from the

H. OF R.]

Duties on Imports.

[APRIL, 1789.

Senate, to receive the President of the United | convinced they were too high even to be well States, at the place of his embarkation from collected, unless we establish custom-houses New Jersey, that the committee did, according every ten or twelve miles, like watch-towers, to order, together with a committee from the along the sea-coast. When trade is so unproSenate, attend at Elizabethtown, in New Jer-ductive, the Legislature ought to be careful how sey, on the 23d instant, at which place the two they make it more worth a man's while to live committees met the President, and thence em- by committing frauds upon the revenue than by barked for this city, where they arrived about practising honest commerce. three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and conducted him to the house appointed for his residence.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Vice President of the United States, enclosing a resolution of the Senate, appointing a committee to consider and report what style or titles it will be proper to annex to the office of President and Vice President of the United States, if any other than those given in the constitution; also to consider of the time, place, and manner in which, and the person by whom, the oath prescribed by the constitution, shall be administered to the President, and to confer thereon with such committee as this House should appoint for that purpose; whereupon,

Ordered, That a committee, to consist of five members, be appointed for the purpose expressed in the resolution of the Senate.

The members elected were Messrs. BENSON, AMES, MADISON, CARROLL, and SHERMAN.

Duties on Imports.

The House then proceeded to consider the resolutions reported by the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

Mr. BOUDINOT complained that the articles were generally taxed too high, not too high for the article to bear, but too high for the due collection of the revenue. Every thing we tax should be considered as it relates to the interest of the importer, as well as other circumstances; now, if it is discovered that the duties are so great as to make it a beneficial trade to the merchant to run his goods, he will do so, and injure the revenue.

|

There is another consideration which particularly regarded the Georgia trade. That country, abounding with lumber of the most luxurious growth, could only exchange it for rum; and a very considerable commerce grew out of this intercourse favorable to Georgia. This would be affected by the imposition of heavy duties; but commercial considerations, we shall be told, form only a secondary object in this business. There is another proposition in which he acquiesced; it would be more convenient, and more to the honor of the House, to make their first essay with low duties; because, if they persisted in laying them high, they would be compelled to an inglorious retreat, and the Government would be insulted. In the State he represented, it was next to impossible to collect the revenue, the country was so intersected with navigable creeks and rivers, if the people were disposed to evade the payment of it; and there was no more certain way to produce this disposition than by making it their interest to defraud you.

Mr. BOUDINOT was not ashamed to confess that he wanted the advantages of commercial knowledge on a question where the principles of trade were interwoven; but he opposed high duties on a conviction in his own mind that they could not be collected. He repeated some few of his former arguments to show why he held this opinion; but it was not the particular article of rum that he was opposed to, it was the high scale on which the duties were laid generally, and that only from an idea that greater revenue might be obtained from less duties.

Mr. TUCKER wished the duties to be lowered, Mr. MADISON was sensible that high duties and proposed to the committee to strike off had a tendency to promote smuggling, and in seven cents from the fifteen; by varying his case those kinds of frauds were successfully motion in this manner, he expected the sense of practised the revenue must be diminished; yet the House could be taken on his proposition he believed the sum proposed on spirits was not first, notwithstanding the rule that "the quesso high as to produce those effects to any con- tion shall be put on the highest sum first." He siderable degree. If any article is capable of joined in the opinion that high duties were propaying a heavy duty, it is this; if the duty on ductive of smuggling; that notwithstanding any article is capable of being collected with the powers and vigilance of custom-house officertainty, it is this; if a duty on any article is cers, and the whole Executive, contraband trade consonant with the sentiment of the people of is carried on in every nation where the duties America, it is this; why then should not the are so high; the facility with which it could article be made as tributary as possible to the be done in America ought to show a prudent wants of Government? But, besides these fa- Legislature the degree of probability; unless vorable circumstances, I think the combination this can be guarded against, what will the law of the merchants will come in aid of the law; avail? It can avail nothing. Besides, the highthe people will also lend their aid. These cir-er the duty is laid, the more you expose the ofcumstances would do much toward insuring the ficer to the temptation of being corrupted; when due collection of the revenue. that is done, the revenue will be very unproductive.

Mr. JACKSON seconded Mr. BOUDINOT's motion for reducing the duties, because he was well

Mr. BLAND would second the gentleman last

Reception of the President.

up, but thought it was not in order to have the | President, the resolutions of Saturday, assigning the question taken first on the lowest sum. Representatives' Chamber as the place, notwithstanding."

H. OF R.]

The President's Speech.

That in this case it will be sufficient in the first instance, that a committee take such proofs as can be obtained in this city respecting the facts stated in the petition, and report the same to the House-That Mr. Smith be permitted to be present from time to time when such proofs are taken, to examine the witnesses, and to offer counter-proofs, which shall also be received by the committee, and reported to the House -That if the proofs so to be reported shall be declared by the House insufficient to verify the material facts stated in the petition, or such other facts as the House shall deem proper to be inquired into, it will then be necessary for the House to direct a further

inquiry, and especially the procuring whatever additional testimony may be supposed to be in South Carolina, as the case may require-That all questions arising on the proofs be decided by the House, without any previous opinion thereon reported by a committee.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said report, and that it be an instruction to the Committee of Elections to proceed accordingly.

On motion,

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report an estimate of the supplies requisite for the present year, and of the net produce of the impost as agreed to by the House, and that Messrs. GERRY, SMITH, (of Maryland,) and PARKER, be of the said committee.

The House proceeded to consider the ing resolution of the Senate, to wit:

FRIDAY, May 1.

[MAY, 1789. The SPEAKER laid before the House a copy of the speech of the President of the United States, to both Houses of Congress, delivered yesterday in the Senate Chamber, immediately after his inauguration, which being read, On motion,

Resolved, That the said speech be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House accordingly resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, Mr. PAGE in the chair. And after adopting the following resolution, the Committee rose, and reported it to the House, which agreed to it.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that an address to the President ought to be prepared, expressing the congratulations of the House of Representatives, on the distinguished proof given him of the affection and confidence of his fellow-citizens, by the unanimous suffrage which has appointed him to the high station which he fills; the approbation felt by the House of the patriotic sentiments and enassuring him of their disposition to concur in giving lightened policy recommended by his speech; and effect to every measure which may tend to secure the liberties, promote the harmony, and advance the happiness and prosperity of their country.

follow-members be appointed to prepare an address Ordered, That a committee to consist of five pursuant to the said resolution. The members elected Messrs. MADISON, CLYMER, SHERMAN, GALE, and BENSON.

"In Senate, April 27. Resolved, That after the oath shall have been administered to the President, he, attended by the Vice President, and the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, proceed to St. Paul's

Chapel to hear divine service, to be performed by the Chaplains to Congress already appointed: ' Whereupon,

Resolved, That this House doth concur with the Senate in the said resolution: amended to read as followeth, to wit:

"That after the oath shall have been administered to the President, the Vice President and members of the Senate, the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives, will accompany him to St. Paul's Chapel, to hear divine service performed by the Chaplains of Congress."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.-Adjourned.

THURSDAY, April 30.

JONATHAN GROUT, from Massachusetts, appeared and took his seat.

This being the day on which the President of the United States was inaugurated, no other business, of course, was attended to. The President's address to both Houses appears in the proceedings of the Senate.*

A motion was made that the House do come to the following resolution :

Resolved, That

tion to be allowed to the President of the United per annum be the compensa

States, during the term for which he is to be elected.

The said resolution being read, was committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House then proceeded by ballot to the appointment of a Chaplain to Congress on the part of this House. Upon examining the ballots, it appeared that the Rev. WILLIAM LINN was elected.

SAMUEL LIVERMORE, from New Hampshire, appeared and took his seat.

TUESDAY, May 5.

Mr. BENSON, from the committee appointed to consider of, and report what style or titles it will be proper to annex to the office of President and Vice President of the United States, if any other than those given in the Constitution, and to confer with a committee of the Senate appointed for the same purpose, reported as followeth :

"That it is not proper to annex any style or

Some of the ceremonies observed on that occasion, and for some time afterwards, have since been discontinued: as, the proclamation for the long life of the President-his repairing to church to attend divine service, accompanied by the two

The members of the two Houses of Congress began to assemble on the 4th day of March, but a quorum did not appear in the House of Representatives until the 1st of April, nor in the Senate until the 6th of that month. The organi-Houses-his re-conducting to his own house by a committee zation of the two Houses necessarily preceded the inaugura- of the two Houses-the answer to the inaugural address by tion of the President, which took place on the 30th of April. each House.

Answer to the President.

title to the respective styles or titles of office | represent, there is not a virtuous citizen whose heart expressed in the Constitution." will disown them.

Mr. BOUDINOT.-According to the terms of the Constitution, the business cannot be taken This anticipation is not justified merely by the past up until a certain number of States have conexperience of your signal services. It is particularly curred in similar applications; certainly the suggested by the pious impressions under which you House is disposed to pay a proper attention to mean to commence your administration, and the en- the application of so respectable a State as Virlightened maxims by which you mean to conduct it.ginia, but if it is a business which we cannot We feel with you the strongest obligations to adore the invisible hand which has led the American people through so many difficulties, to cherish a conscious responsibility for the destiny of republican liberty; and to seek the only sure means of preservMr. BLAND thought there could be no improing and recommending the precious deposit in a sys-priety in referring any subject to a committee; tem of legislation founded on the principles of an honest policy, and directed by the spirit of a diffusive patriotism.

In forming the pecuniary provisions for the Execu- Mr. MADISON Said, he had no doubt but the tive Department, we shall not lose sight of a wish House was inclined to treat the present applicaresulting from motives which give it a peculiar claim tion with respect, but he doubted the propriety to our regard. Your resolution, in a moment critical of committing it, because it would seem to to the liberties of your country, to renounce all per- imply that the House had a right to deliberate sonal emolument, was among the many presages of your patriotic services, which have been amply ful- upon the subject. This, he believed, was not filled; and your scrupulous adherence now to the law the case until two-thirds of the State Legislathen imposed on yourself, cannot fail to demonstrate tures concurred in such application, and then the purity, whilst it increases the lustre of a charac-it is out of the power of Congress to decline ter which has so many titles to admiration.