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2. Ditto, of wines and spirits, fifteen dollars. 3. Ditto, of domestic spirits alone, ten dollars. 4. Ditto, of foreign merchandise, other than wines and spirits, fifteen dollars.

7. Resolved, That duties be laid on sales at auction of foreign merchandise, for every hundred dollars of the purchase money, two dollars; and on sales at auction of ships or vessels, for every hundred dollars of the purchase money, twenty-five cents.

8. Resolved, That a duty of four cents per pound be laid on all sugars refined in the United States, allowing a drawback on the exportation of the same. 9. Resolved, That duties be laid on carriages, used for the conveyance of persons, at the following rates,

viz:

five dollars.

1. On every coach, chariot, and post chaise, twenty2. On every phaton, and on every coachee having pannel work in the upper division thereof, fifteen dol

la rs.

3. On every other four-wheel carriage hanging on steel springs, ten dollars.

4. On every four-wheel carriage hanging on iron or wooden springs, and on every two-wheel carriage, with a top, or hanging on steel or iron springs, five dollars.

5. On every other four or two-wheel carriage, three dollars.

10. Resolved, That stamp duties be laid on the following instruments of writing, viz:

1. On all notes payable to bearer or order, issued by any bank or bankers, at rates on an average of one dollar for every hundred dollars, with an option to pay in lieu thereof two-and-a-half per centum on their dividends.

2. On all notes-of-hand above fifty dollars, payable to bearer or order, having one or more endorsers; and on all bills of exchange, above fifty dollars, having one or more endorsers, at rates on an average of five cents for every hundred dollars.

11. Resolved, That three millions of dollars be raised by a direct tax, to be apportioned among the several States, agreeably to the rule prescribed by the Consti

tution.

12. Resolved, That each State be authorized to pay the amount of its quota to the United States, with a deduction of fifteen per cent, if paid before the assessment is commenced, and of seven-and-a-half per cent. if paid before the tax becomes due.

13. Resolved, That all the duties above enumerated and the tax aforesaid, shall be laid and become paya ble only after the United States shall have become engaged in a war with a foreign European nation.

14. Resolved, That the said duties and tax shall continue until one year after the conclusion of peace with such foreign nation, and no longer.

And then the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, February 27.

The resolution granting to the Judges of the Supreme Court the privilege of using the books of the Congress Library, was read the third time and passed.

FEBRUARY, 1812.

patent right to the new and improved method of lighting light-houses, and for other purposes.” with amendments. They have also passed a bill for the establishment of of a General Land Office in the Department of the Treasury; in which amendments and bill they desire the concurrence of this House.

WAR TAXES.

The House took up the report of the Committee of the Whole on the war taxes; when a concurrence in the first resolution, increasing the impost duties one hundred per cent. being under consideration; and the yeas and nays being called Clerk to proceed with the call. Just after Mr. upon the resolution, the SPEAKER directed the ALSTON had answered to his name. Mr. WIDGERY addressed the Speaker. The SPEAKER decided that the call had commenced, and the gentleman could not, therefore, according to the rules of the House, be heard, except the House should determine otherwise. The call was insisted upon, and the resolution was concurred in, 71 to 40, as follows:

YEAS-Willis Alston, jun., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, William W. Bibb, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, William Crawford, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, Samuel L. Mitchill, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Israel Pickens, William Piper, James Pleasants, junior, Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, William M. Richardson, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, Jahn Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Thomas Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, George Smith, John Smith, William Strong, George M. Troup, Robert Whitehill, Richard Winn, and Robert Wright.

NAYS-John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus Bleecker, Jas. Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, John Davenport, jun., William Ely, James Emott, James Fisk, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Richard Jackson, junior, Philip B. Key, Joseph Lewis, junior, Robert Le Roy Livingston, George C. Maxwell, Archibald McBryde, James Milnor, Jonathan O. Moseley, Joseph Pearson, Timothy Pitkin, junior, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely, Daniel Sheffey, Richard Stanford, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uri Tracy, Charles Turner, junior, Lewis Wheaton, Leonard White, William Widgery, and Thomas Wilson.

A concurrence in the second resolution, in relation to drawbacks was the next question.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate bave passed the bill from this Mr. McKim said, if the House calculated upon House" to authorize the Secretary of the Treas-this provision as an article of revenue, they would ury, under the direction of the President of the certainly be disappointed; for he believed, instead United States, to purchase of Winslow Lewis his of benefiting the revenue, it would injure it.

FEBRUARY, 1812.

War Taxes.

H. OF R.

Mr. Fisk moved to postone the further consid-in perfecting the system of taxation reported by eration of all the resolutions before the House the committee, and recommit the report to the until the first Monday in April next. Mr. F. as- Committee of Ways and Means as the foundasigned as his reasons for this motion, that as all tion of a bill. When that bill shall be reported, were agreed these taxes were war taxes, he thought it would be open for discussion; and if any imit time enough to agree upon them when war be-provement could be made in the system, members came certain; that there was no doubt the re- would be at liberty to propose their amendments. sources of the country were amply sufficient After some observations from Mr. WIDGERY, whenever Congress determined to call them forth, in favor of a shorter postponement, in which he but he saw no necessity for alarming the people expressed his dislike to some parts of the system with odious taxes beforehand. Another reason proposed, Mr. Fisk modified his motion so as to for the postponement, he said he disliked the sys- make the postponement till Monday week. tem, and if a little time was given, a more acceptable one to the people might be formed. Whenever war became unavoidable, he would be as ready as any other member to vote the necessary taxes; but he wished not to vote for them in advance. It was on this ground he had voted against the first resolution.

Mr. BACON, from motives of delicacy, as gentlemen had declared they wished to have further time to consider the subject, would be obliged to vote in favor of the motion.

The question was taken on the postponement, and negatived, 93 to 31. as follows:

YEAS-Willis Alston, William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, James Breckenridge, Epaphroditus Champion, Jas. Cochran, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, James Fisk, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Philip B. Key, Joseph Lewis, jr., George C. Maxwell, Israel Pickens, Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, John Randolph, William

Mr. PORTER Seconded the motion for postponement. Whenever the question of war came before the House, he would be as ready to vote for it as any member, and for taxes to support it; and now, if gentlemen would say they were ready to lay the taxes, without reserve, he would vote for them, but he wished not to lay them by anti-M. Richardson, Thomas Sammons, Samuel Shaw, Silas cipation.

Stow, William Strong, Uri Tracy, Charles Turner, jr.,
Wilson.
Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., William Widgery, and Thos.

This motion was opposed by Messrs. McKIM, SMILIE, TROUP, RHEA, JOHNSON, BOYD, FINDLEY, NAYS-David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William W. CALHOUN, and CHEVES, on the ground of its im- Bibb, William Blackledge, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam propriety and impolicy. The Committee of Ways Boyd, Elijah Brigham, Robert Brown, William A. and Means having recommended to Congress a Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon system of taxation, which has been published to Cheves, Martin Chittenden, Matthew Clay, William the world, and this House having, in committee. Crawford, John Davenport, jr., Roger Davis, John agreed, by large majorities, to the several taxes Dawson, Joseph Desha, William Ely, James Emott, proposed by that committee, to be laid whenever William Findley, Asa Fitch, Meshack Franklin, Thos. a war shall take place, and not before, and if no Gholson, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Pewar takes place, of course the whole will be a terson Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, Isaiah L. Green, Felix dead letter, it would appear strange if they were Grundy, Bolling Hall, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, now to adopt a motion like the present. The Richard Jackson, jr., Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, people would be at a loss to account for such a William R. King, Abner Lacock, Lyman Law, Joseph course. They would begin to fear Congress were Lefever, Peter Little, Robert Le Roy Livingston, Wilnot serious in their declarations of a determina-liam Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas tion to support the rights of the country. The people must know that war cannot be carried on without taxes-that the one cannot be had without the other, and it will certainly be much better to fix upon a system before we get involved in war, than have to do it afterwards. At all events, as the system has been reported and acted upon, it ought not now to be laid aside. Such a course might throw obstacles in the way of obtaining the loan which had been authorized. It was believed the people are prepared and ready for war, and willing to pay the necessary taxes incident to such a state; that they feared more the want of sufficient energy in Congress than the levying of necessary taxes in support of the war; that if Congress did their duty, they would have nothing to fear from the people-they are ready to make a stand; that it was time to abandon all temporizing policy; our national character was at stake in the course which Congress was about to take; it was hoped therefore that no motion like the one now proposed would be countenanced, but that the House would proceed

McKee, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, James
Moore, Archibald McBryde, William McCoy, Samuel
Milnor, Samuel L. Mitchill, James Morgan, Jeremiah
Morrow, Jonathan O. Moseley, Hugh Nelson, Anthony
New, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen
Ormsby, Joseph Pearson, William Piper, Timothy Pit-
kin, jr., James Pleasants, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah
Quincy, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel
Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts,
William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver,
John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smilie, George
Smith, John Smith, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart,
Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tall-
madge, George M. Troup, Laban Wheaton, Leonard
White, Robert Whitehill, Richard Winn, and Robert
Wright.

The question returned on concurring in the second resolution in relation to drawbacks.

Mr. Srow said he should vote in the negative, because he conceived it would not be consistent with good faith to pass a regulation of this kind which would apply to goods already imported.

The resolution was agreed to, 78 to 47, as follows:

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YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, Lewis Condit, William Crawford, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Elias Earle, William Findley, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, Richard M. Johnson, Jos. Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lefever, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Arunah Metcalf, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, William Piper, James Pleasants, jr., Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Thomas Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smilie, George Smith, John Smith, Richard Stanford, William Strong, George M. Troup, Robert Whitehill, Richard Winn, and Robert Wright.

NAYS-John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus Bleecker, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Epaphroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, John Davenport, jr., Samuel Dinsmoor, William Ely, James Emott, James Fisk, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Richard Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph Lewis, jr., Robert Le Roy Livingston, Archibald McBryde, Alexander McKim, James Milnor, Samuel L. Mitchill, Jonathan O. Moseley, Joseph Pearson, Timothy Pitkin, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, William M. Richardson, Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel Shaw, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uri Tracy, Charles Turner, jr., Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard. White, William Widgery, and Thomas Wilson.

The question was next taken on the third resolution, laying additional tonnage duties, and carried, 82 to 40, as follows:

FEBRUARY, 1812.

M. Troup, Charles Turner, jr., Robert Whitehill, Wm.
Widgery, Richard Winn, and Robert Wright.-82.
NAYS-John Baker, Abijah Bigelow, Harmanus
Bleecker, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Epa-
phroditus Champion, Martin Chittenden, John Daven-
port, jr., William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch, Thos.
R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Richard
Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph
Lewis, jr., Archibald McBryde, James Milnor, Samuel
L. Mitchill, Jonathan O. Moseley, Joseph Pearson,
Timothy Pitkin, jr., Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy,
John Randolph, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely,
Thomas Sammons, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart,
Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tall-
madge, Uri Tracy, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban
Wheaton, Leonard White, and Thomas Wilson.-40.
The fourth resolution came next, under con-
sideration, laying a duty on salt.

Mr. M. CLAY hoped the House would not concur with the committee in the adoption of this resolution, as its operation would be very unequal; for nearly the whole duty would be paid by the middle country, by about one-third of the people of the United States, as the people on the seaboard had no occasion to use this article for their cattle, and the inhabitants of the Western country, he understood, got their salt for ten cents a bushel.

Mr. STANFORD joined Mr. CLAY in his opposition to this resolution.

After a few remarks from Mr. SEYBERT and Mr. NEWTON in favor of the tax, the House adjourned, without taking the question.

FRIDAY, February 28.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement of the gross and net amount of the customs of the United States, in obedience to a resolution of the House, of the eleventh ultimo; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The bill from the Senate "for the establishment of a General Land Office in the Department of the Treasury" was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments of the Senate to the bill "to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury, under the direction of the President of the United States, to purchase of Winslow Lewis his patent right to the new and improved method of lighting light-houses, and fot other purposes;" and the amendments were concurred in by the House.

YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, Lewis Condit, William Crawford, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Findley, James Fisk, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, RichMr. BASSETT, observed, that a new edition of the ard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Manual of Parliamentary Practice was about to Lacock, Joseph Lefever, Peter Little, William Lowndes, be published in this city; and as he believed no Aaron Lyle, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, book could be placed in the Library that would be Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, James Morgan, Jeremore useful to members of Congress, he had premiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas pared a resolution proposing to authorize the Clerk Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel to subscribe for as many copies as might appear Pickens, William Piper, James Pleasants, jr., Benja-sufficient for the use of the number of new memmin Pond, Peter B. Porter, William M. Richardson, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smilie, Geo. Smith, John Smith, Silas Stow, George Sullivan, George

bers which might at any time be in the House. It was in the following words:

"Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be authorized to subscribe with Joseph Milligan and William Cooper for copies of a new edition of Jefferson's

FEBRUARY, 1812.

War Taxes.

Manual, provided they annex thereto the standing rules and orders of this House, to be paid for out of the contingent fund, and the books placed in the Library, for the use of Congress.

H. of R.

encourage manufactures of every kind, but, more especially, of such articles as einnot be obtained from abroad in time of war. It was well known that this country suffered considerably during the

The blank was filled with fifty, and the reso- Revolution for want of salt; but now, with proper lution agreed to.

WAR TAXES.

The House than resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee of the Whole on the subject of taxes; when the 4th resolution, proposing a tax on salt, being under consideration, Mr. STANFORD rose again to oppose this tax, on the ground of its being unjust and unequal, operating principally upon a particular portion of the Union. The inhabitants on the seaboard had not the same necessity of using it for their cattle, and on some parts of the coast manufactories of salt are established; and the people to the westward had also salt manufactories. The State of Ohio had been particularly favored by Congress in this respect, having had the salt-licks given to them at the time that State was formed.

Mr. SMILIE said, the salt-licks had not been given to the State of Ohio, without a consideration. They were, in return, to suffer all lands belonging to the United States to be exempt from

taxation.

Mr. BLACKLEDGE was in favor of the tax, as it would serve to encourage the manufacture of salt in our own country, which, in case of war, would be very desirable. He did not believe that the people on the seacoast, or in the Western country. got their salt any cheaper than the inhabitants of the midland country, except such as lived near a manufactory.

Mr. STANFORD moved to amend the resolution, by adding a duty of ten cents on all salt manufactured in this country. This motion was advocated by Messrs. STANFORD, MACON, WRIGHT, CLAY, GHOLSON, and WIDGERY; and opposed by Messrs. BLACKLEDGE, King, PORTER STOW, LACOCK, TRACY, GRUNDY, and CALHOUN.

By the advocates of the amendment it was urged that, if salt imported paid a duty of twenty cents a bushel, the manufacturers of salt in this country might very well afford to pay a tax of half that sum, as they would then have an advantage of ten cents per bushel over foreign salt; that there would be as much propriety in taxing domestic salt as domestic spirits; that this tax was laid for the purpose of raising revenue, and manufacturers of domestic salt could well afford to pay a tax in case the proposed duty was laid upon imported salt; all, however, who advocated this tax, declared themselves opposed to a tax on salt at all; but, if foreign salt was taxed, they wished that made at home also taxed.

Those opposed to this amendment, said that this was the first instance in this or any other country of an infant manufacture, and especially of a necessary of life, being taxed; that the tax would have the effect of discouraging these manufactures. Some salt-licks, it was said, had been already laid aside as unprofitable; that it would certainly be good policy in this Government to

encouragement, a sufficiency might be furnished from our own establishments. Besides, if this additional tax were to be imposed on salt, it would raise the price still higher to the consumers, as eventually every tax is paid by them. The business of taxation ought to be considered in the spirit of accommodation; the salt tax would bear a little hard on one part of the country, the impost and tonuage duty on another, the spirit tax on another, the carriage and stamp tax on another, and the direct taxes on others. It would be impossible to get taxes to bear equally on all. It was believed that if the system was taken together it would operate as equally as any other that could be produced.

The question was taken on agreeing to this tax of ten cents a bushel on domestic salt, and negatived-yeas 22, nays 96, as follows:

YEAS-Stevenson Archer, David Bard, Martin Chittenden, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, William Crawford, Asa Fitch, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thomas Moore, Archibald McBryde, William McCoy, Joseph Pearson, Israel Pickens, John Randolph, John Smith, Richard Stanford, Benjamin Tallmadge, and Robert Wright.

NAYS-Willis Alston, jun., William Anderson, Ezekiel Bacon, John Baker, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, Abijah Bigelow, William Blackledge, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Epaphroditus Champion, Langdon Cheves, Lewis Condit, Roger Davis, Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Ely, James Emott, William Findley, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jun., Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Lyman Law, Joseph Lefever, Joseph Lewis, jun., Peter Little, Robert Le Roy Livingston, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcaif, Samuel L. Mitchill, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Jonathan O. Moseley, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, William Piper, Timothy Pitkin, jun., James Pleasants, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, jun., Benjamin Pond, Peter B. Porter, Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, William Reed, William M. Richardson, Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, William Rodman Ebenezer Sage, Thomas Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, Daniel Sheffey, John Smilie, George Smith, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Uri Tracy, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jun., Pierre Van Cortlandt, jun., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, Robert Whitehill, Thomas Wilson, and Richard Winn.

The question was then taken on agreeing to the proposition, as reported by the Committee of the Whole, for laying a duty of twenty sents a bushel on imported salt, and negatived-yeas 57, nays 60, as follows:

H. OF R.

Divorces in the District of Columbia.

YEAS-Willis Alston, junior, William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Elias Earle, William Findley, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, Jacob Hufty, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Samuel McKee, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, James Milnor, Samuel L. Mitchill, Jeremiah Morrow, Anthony New, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, James Pleasants, jun., Peter B. Porter, Josiah Quincy, William Reed, Samuel Ringgold, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Thomas Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, Adam Seybert, John Smilie, George Smith, Silas Stow, Uri Tracy, George M. Troup, Charles Turner, jun., Pierre Van Cortlandt, jun., and Richard Winn.

MARCH, 1812.

I am willing to raise the sum taxed on salt on any other article less objectionable; I would even prefer laying it on land. I will, therefore, suggest to the honorable gentleman from Maryland the propriety of withdrawing his motion until the resolutions are gone through; the whole subject will then be open for consideration, and the House can select some other article as a proper substitute for salt, which I hope will be found equally convenient and less odious.

Mr. SEYBERT did not know that he should have made a single observation on this subject, had it not been for the vote which had just been taken; but he must acknowledge he felt himself so disappointed and mortified, that he believed he should vote against every other tax. For, if gentlemen will oppose one item of taxation, because it happens to fall a little harder on some NAYS-John Baker, David Bard, Harmanus Bleeck-sections of the country than others; whilst other er, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, Robert gentlemen, for the sake of accommodation, have Brown, William A. Burwell, Epaphroditus Champion, consented to lay much heavier burdens on their Martin Chittenden, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, constituents, he despaired of establishing any sys Lewis Condit, William Crawford, Roger Davis, Samuel tem of taxation. He had been told we were Dinsmoor, William Ely, James Emott, Asa Fitch, entering on a war for commerce. He did not so Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Charles Golds- consider it. He believed we were about to enborough, Peterson Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, John A. gage in a war to maintain our honor, liberty, and Harper, Aylett Hawes, Richard Jackson, jun., Philip Sovereignty, as a nation. Whilst the Pennsyl B. Key, Lyman Law, Joseph Lefever, Joseph Lewis, jun., Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thomas vanians are selling their wheat for two dollars a Moore, Archibald McBryde, William McCoy, James bushel, it could not be said they wanted a war to Morgan, Jonathan O. Moseley, Hugh Nelson, Joseph obtain any better price for their produce; if any Pearson, William Piper, Timothy Pitkin, jun., Benja- part of the country were influenced by motives min Pond, Elisha R. Potter, John Randolph, Henry of interest, it must be the tobacco and cotton M. Ridgely, John Rhea, William Rodman, John planters; it might, therefore, be rather termed a Sevier, Samuel Shaw, Daniel Sheffey, John Smith, war for agriculture, and a particular species of it, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Samuel Taggart, than for commerce. But he had always conBenjamin Tallmadge, Laban Wheaton, Robert White-sidered it as having higher objects in view. hill, William Widgery, Thomas Wilson, and Robert Wright.

[Yeas 57, nays 60. Absent on this vote twentythree members, viz: Messrs. BARTLETT, SULLIVAN, CUTTS, TALLMAN, AVERY, COOK, PAULDING, HYNEMAN, TALIAFERRO, SAWYER, WILLIAMS, COBB, and GANNETT, absent from the city; and Messrs. CLOPTON, BIGELOW, WHITE, DAVENPORT, STURGES, FISK, STRONG, LIVINGSTON, GOLD, and RICHARDSON, absent from indisposition and other causes.]

The SPEAKER declared the motion of the gen. tleman from Maryland to be out of order; as all propositions for raising revenue must first be discussed in Committee of the Whole.

A motion to adjourn was made and carried, and the House adjourned till Monday.

MONDAY, March 2.

Mr. WRIGHT reported a bill supplementary to the "Act more effectually to provide for the or The fifth resolution next came under consider-ganization of the militia of the District of Coation for laying duties on distillers, when

Mr. McKIM moved to strike out what relates to laying a duty on the capacity of the still, and to insert in its place twenty-five cents per gallon. Mr. MOORE said the vote which had just been taken and decided against taxing salt, induced him to be in favor of the motion of the gentleman from Maryland, or at least in favor of substituting some other article in lieu of salt, on which a tax will operate with more equality and less oppression on the poor. I am fully apprized, said he, of the necessity of providing the sinews of war, and I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, that I shall be as ready and willing to use them in the assertion of the rights of my country as any gentleman on this floor. Although I have voted against the taxing salt, as I consider it an article of the first necessity, which ought not to be taxed,

lumbia;" which was twice read and committed.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, in pursuance of a resolution of the House calling on him for a statement of the exports of the United States for some years past; also, a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War and Comptroller, on the subject of the refugee claims, &c.; also, a letter from the Chief Justice of the United States in behalf of the Supreme Court, acknowledging the favor conferred on, them by the use of the Congressional Library.

DIVORCES IN THE DISTRICT. Mr. Lewis, from the Committee on the Dis-/ trict of Columbia, made the following report:

The Committee for the District of Columbia, to whom were referred the petitions of Jane Deakins, praying

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