[JULY, 1813. Strong, Stuart, Sturges, Taggart, Tallmadge, Thomp son, Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Webster, Whea ton, Wilcox, Wilson of Massachusetts, and Winter. FRIDAY, July 2.

The Ways and Means.

The engrossed bill to lay a duty on licenses to distillers of spirituous liquors, was read a third time.

shall prevail, it will exempt them from the burden of the. Government. This course of legislation is, I suppose, what some gentlemen call patriotic-supporting the war with vigor by shuffling the burdens of it from their own on the shoulders of others. If so, let them boast of their virtue and patriotism in voting for the only tax that cannot reach their constituents. Such refined patriotism does not belong to the Western people. I, sir, shall vote [This bill proposes a duty on licenses to disfor the bill as reported by the Committee of tillers, as follows: For the employment of a still Ways and Means, not because I think it equal, or stills employed in distilling spirits from do but because the situation of this nation de-mestic materials; for two weeks, nine cents for mands that we raise a revenue; because, if this law laying a duty on stills does not pass, no other tax bill will get through this House. The tax on stills has never been popular in my State, and I do not expect it will be approved of by every person in my district. The great body of the people of the Western States will, however, submit with cheerfulness, as they know the necessity that requires them to contribute to the National Treasury, is of first importance to the Union. I know that gentlemen in the Opposition have said publicly that the people will not submit to be taxed, because they objected to taxes under Mr. Adams'

Administration.

THURSDAY, July 1.
Ways and Means.

An engrossed bill for the assessment and collection of direct taxes and internal duties was read the third time; and, on the question that the same do pass, it passed in the affirmative yeas 94, nays 63, as follows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Anderson, Archer, Bard, Barnett, Bibb, Bowen, Brown, Burwell, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chappell, Cheves, Clark, Clopton, Comstock, Conard, Crawford, Creighton, Davis of Pennsylvania, Denoyelles, Desha, Duvall, Earle, Evans, Farrow, Findlay, Fisk of Vermont, Fisk of New York, Forney, Forsyth, Franklin, Gholson, Glasgow, Goodwyn, Griffin, Grundy, Hall, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hungerford, Hyneman, Ingersoll, Ingham, Jackson of Virginia, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, Kilbourne, King of North Carolina, Lefferts, Lowndes, Lyle, Macon, McCoy, McKee, McLean, Montgomery, Moore, Murfree, Nelson, Newton, Ormsby, Parker, Pickens, Piper, Rea of Pennsylvania, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Richardson, Ringgold, Roane, Roberts, Robertson, Sage, Sevier, Seybert, Sharp, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Whitehill, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Wood, Wright, and Yancey.

NAYS.-Messrs. Baylies of Mass., Benson, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Breckenridge, Brigham, Butler, Caperton, Champion, Cilley, Cooper, Culpeper, Davenport, Davis of Massachusetts, Dewey, Ely, Geddes, Goldsborough, Grosvenor, Hale, Hanson, Howell, Jackson of Rhode Island, Kennedy, Kent of New York, King of Massachusetts, Lewis, Lovett, Markell, Miller, Mollit, Mosely, Oakley, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Post, John Reed, Ridgely, Schureman, Sheffey, Sherwood, Shipard, Skinner, Smith of New Hampshire, Smith of New York, Stanford, Stockton,

each gallon of the capacity thereof, including the head; for one month, eighteen cents; for two months, thirty-two cents; for three months, forty-two cents; for four months, fifty-two cents; for six months, seventy cents; for one year, one hundred and eight cents for each gallon of its capacity as aforesaid. For a license for the employment of a still or stills in the distillation of spirits from foreign materials: for one month, twenty-five cents for each gallon of its capacity, for three months, sixty cents; for six months; one hundred and five cents; for one year, one hundred and thirty-five cents for each gallon of its capacity. And for every boiler, however constructed, employed in distilleries by steam, double the amount on each gallon of its capacity, which would be payable for said license if granted for the same terms and to employ the same materials for a still.]

The bill was passed, by the following vote: YEAS.-Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Anderson, Archer, Barnett, Beall, Bibb, Bowen, Brown, Burwell, Caldwell, Calhoun, Chappell, Cheves, Clopton, Comstock, Condict, Conard, Crawford, Creighton, Davis of Pennsylvania, Denoyelles, Duvall, Earle, Evans, Farrow, Findlay, Fisk of New York, Forsyth, Franklin, Gholson, Glasgow, Goodwyn, Griffin, Grundy, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Hungerford, Hyneman, Ingham, Irwin, Jackson of Virginia, Kennedy, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, King of North Carolina, Lefferts, Lyle, Macon, McCoy, McKee, McKim, McLean, Moore, Murfree, Newton, Pickens, Piper, Pleasants, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Roane, Roberts, Robertson, Sevier, Skinner, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Strong, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Ward of New Jersey, Whitehill, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Wood, Wright, and Yancey-85.

NAYS.--Messrs. Baylies of Mass., Benson, Bowers, Bradbury, Breckenridge, Brigham, Champion, Cilley, Cox, Culpeper, Davenport, Desha, Ely, Gaston, Geddes, Howell, Jackson of Rhode Island, Kent of New York, King of Massachusetts, Lovett, Markell, Moffit, Mosely, Oakley, Pearson, Pitkin, Post, Potter, John Reed, William Reed, Ruggles, Schure man, Shipard, Smith of New Hampshire, Smith of New York, Stanford, Stockton, Sturges, Taggart, Tallmadge, Thompson, Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Webster, Wheaton, White, Wilcox, and Winter-49.

MONDAY, July 12.

Answer to Mr. Webster's Resolutions.
Two Messages were received from the PRESI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES, as follows:

To the House of Representatives of the United States: | I transmit to the House of Representatives a report of the Secretary of State, containing the information requested by their resolutions of the 21st of June last. JAMES MADISON.

WASHINGTON, July 12, 1813.

To the House of Representatives of the United States:
I transmit to the House of Representatives a re-
port of the Secretary of State, containing the infor-
mation requested by their resolution of the 21st of

Salt Tax, and Fishing Bounties and Allowances.

Mr. TAYLOR, after some explanatory remarks, And the question being taken, it was detergoing to show the difficulty of collecting a rev-mined in the negative. enue on stamped paper, and the great inconveniences of such a tax on the people, made a motion to strike out a part of the first section of the bill for laying a tax on promissory notes, &c., so as to impose a duty on bank notes alone.

Considerable discussion arose on this motion, in which Messrs. TAYLOR, WRIGHT, and JACKSON Supported the amendinent; and Messrs. BIBB, ROBERTS, CLAY, and SEYBERT, opposed it. The question was taken and decided in the neg-ney, Forsyth, Franklin, Gholson, Glasgow, Goodwyn, ative-ayes 34, noes 64.

The bill having been gone through, and some further amendments made thereto, the commit-setts, Lewis, Lovett, McKim, Miller, Mosely, Oak

The amendment now under consideration, to the bill laying a duty of twenty cents per bushel on imported salt, makes an allowance to vessels engaged in the cod fisheries under certain limitations and restrictions as therein provided, and also allows a drawback on the exportation of pickled fish and salted provisions. The allowance and drawback above mentioned are intended as an equivalent to the duty paid on the salt used in the curing and preserving fish and meat.

I would state to this House that, in the curing and preserving codfish, great quantities of salt, especially in comparison with the value of fish cured and preserved, are absolutely requisite. I believe the reniark equally true as it respects pickled fish.

[H. OF R.

ble to the uniform policy of the country, when salt imported is again exported, a drawback is allowed. If no duty can be laid on our own exports, and a drawback of duties paid be allowed on the exportation of foreign merchandise, I am unable to perceive any good reason, founded either in justice or the fitness of things, why those who pay the duties on salt necessarily used in preserving fish and meats should not be entitled to the like advantages on the exportation of the same, as they would have been, if the salt had not been usefully employed. It can certainly be no objection in the mind of any man that the salt is incorporated with the fish-a production of this country of so little profit to the fisherman and so highly advantageous to the United States. The quantity of If a duty of twenty cents per bushel be laid salt necessarily used can be easily ascertained. on all foreign salt, as contemplated by the bill I do not believe the allowance proposed adeon your table, and the proposed amendment quate to the duty on salt which must necessarily should not prevail, this tax would be oppressive be used. It certainly ought to be our object to on fishermen beyond all precedent or endurance. tax every portion of the inhabitants of the Shall I be permitted to state some cases for United States as equally as possible. It is my the consideration of this House? Suppose a solemn and deliberate opinion that those enfishing vessel of seventy tons burden use 1,500 gaged in the fisheries now pay this Government bushels of salt in the fishing season; a duty of more, in proportion to the value of their proptwenty cents per bushel would amount to three erty, than any other class of citizens in the hundred dollars. If all the profits to all the United States. They pay various taxes not fishermen and owners of such vessel as I have known to those not engaged in navigation. described during the fishing seasons and markets Tonnage duty alone, and the trouble and vexawould amount to nine hundred dollars, then, tion of paying it, is a much heavier tax than by the proposed tax of three hundred, you take the land and house tax, so much feared and from their pockets 33 per cent., or one-third dreaded. I can by no means agree with the part of all the income and profits of fishermen. honorable gentleman from Virginia, who stated The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. a few days since that ship owners did not at all PICKENS) has several times addressed this regard the tonnage duty, as they charged it to House on the proposed amendment. That gen- the consumers. To fishermen, at least, it is a tleman observed yesterday that the salt tax tax. It takes the money directly from them, would bear very hard on his constituents. He and places it in your treasury. They can restated that in the district he had the honor to cover nothing of the tax paid from the conrepresent, salt sold for about two dollars per sumers, as European nations are the consumers, bushel, that the addition of twenty cents would and we are wholly unable to regulate or control be a severe burden; at the same time, that their markets. The above remark is equally gentleman seems much opposed to any amend-true and applicable to the duty paid on salt. ment which has for its object the relief of any portion of the community from the proposed duty. Other gentlemen have advanced the same sentiments. If a farmer use fifteen or thirty bushels of salt he must pay a tax to this Government of three dollars or six dollars. If a fisherman, possessed of the same value of property, and having the same income, should use 1,500 or 3,000 bushels of salt, of course he would pay a tax to this Government of three hundred or six hundred dollars. The hypo

thetical statements I have made, I believe substantially true. I will not for a moment believe any gentleman in this House, while he complains of burdens about to be laid on his own constituents, almost too heavy to be borne, will consent to lay burdens one hundred fold heavier on any portion of the inhabitants of any

section of the United States.

Again, by the constitution we have no power to tax the exports of our own country; and by a provision in the bill on your table, conforma

The amendment proposed is most important as it affects the interests of the nation. You can obtain little from fishermen. The business is too poor; it will not afford it. They are now distressed more than any other class of citizens. I assure you they cannot pay into your treasury one-third of all the profits of their voyages. If, therefore, you prosecute the notions of some, you may destroy the fisheries, but will gain very little revenue.

SATURDAY, July 17.

Encouragement to Privateers.

Mr. NELSON submitted the following resolutions for consideration:

be instructed to inquire into the expediency of affording encouragement to the private armed vessels of the United States to cruise against the ships and vessels of the enemy, by diminishing the duties on prizes and prize goods captured by them; and that they have leave to report by bill, or otherwise.

1. Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs

H. OF R.]

Appropriation Bill-Compensation to Ministers.

[JULY, 1813.

2. Resolved, That the Naval Committee be in- | it passed in the affirmative-yeas 69, nays 37, as structed to inquire into the expediency of encour- follows: aging the private armed ships of the United States to capture the officers, seamen, and marines, of the enemy, by holding out the offer of a bounty for all such captives.

A motion was made by Mr. BIBB to amend the first resolution, by striking out the words "by diminishing the duties on prizes and prize goods, captured by them, or by permitting them to bring into port, free from duty, all prizes and prize goods." And the question being taken, it was determined in the negative. A motion was made by Mr. INGHAM to amend the first resolution, by striking out the words or by permitting them to bring into port, free from duty, all prizes and prize goods." And the question thereon being taken, it passed in

66

the affirmative.

A division of the question to agree to the said resolutions was called for: Upon which, the question was taken on the first resolution, as amended and passed in the affirmative yeas 86, nays 51.

The second resolution was then agreed to by the House.

TUESDAY, July 20.

Foreign Relations.

YEAS.-Messrs. Alston, Anderson, Archer, Bard, Beall, Bowen, Butler, Caldwell, Chappell, Clopton, Comstock, Condict, Conard, Crawford, Creighton, Davis of Pennsylvania, Dawson, Desha, Duvall, Earle, Farrow, Findley, Fisk of Vermont, Forney, Gholson, Glasgow, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Griffin, Grundy, Hall, Hasbrouck, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hyneman, Ingersoll, Irwin, Kennedy, Kerr, King of North Carolina, Lefferts, Lyle, McCoy, McKim, McLean, Montgomery, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Parker, Pickens, Rea of Penn., Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Roberts, Sevier, Sharp, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Strong, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Wilson of Pennsylvania, and Yancey.

NAYS.-Messrs. Bayly of Virginia, Bigelow, Cham-
pion, Cilley, Culpeper, Davenport, Ely, Eppes, For-
syth, Gloninger, Goldsborough, Hawes, Hufty,
Hungerford, Jackson of Rhode Island, Kent of New
York, King of Massachusetts, Lewis, Lovett, Mosely,
Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Potter, John Reed,
Ridgely, Ruggles, Sheffey, Sherwood, Stanford,
Stuart, Sturges, Thompson, Vose, Wright, Wilson of
Massachusetts, and Winter.

Honors to General Pike and Captain Lawrence.
The following resolution was submitted by
Mr. NELSON:

"Resolved, That a committee be appointed to exMr. CALHOUN moved for the consideration of amine and report on the propriety of conferring pubthe report of the Committee of Foreign Rela- lic honors on the memory of James Lawrence, late tions on the President's Message, transmitting Captain of the United States frigate Chesapeake, and a report from the Secretary of State on Mr. of Zebulon M. Pike, late a Brigadier General in the Webster's resolutions. This motion was lost-Armies of the United States, whose distinguished yeas 62, nays 74.

death in the service of their country add lustre to the character of the American nation; the propriety of adopting, as the peculiar children of the Republic, the sons of these distinguished heroes, and the propriety of making provision for the support and comfort of the families of these deceased officers."

The resolution was read, and debate arising thereon, the House adjourned.