The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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MONDAY, DECEMBER l6TH. |
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
MONDAY, DECEMBER l6TH.
The answer to the objections of Rho: Island,[18]
as to the Impost,
penned by Mr. Howel, passed without opposition, 8 States being
present, of which Rho: Isd. was one, a few trivial alterations only
being made in the course of discussion.
Mr. Howell, contrary to expectation, was entirely silent as to
his affair.
The committee were Madison, Hamilton, and Fitzsimmons. It is probable
that Madison was the author since he included the letter in his address to the
States of April 25. The letter combated the statement of Rhode Island
that the proposed duty would bear hardest on the commercial states. It
was, it said, an established general principle, "'That every duty on imports is
incorporated with the price of the commodity, and ultimately paid by the consumer,
with a profit on the duty itself, as a compensation to the merchant for
the advance of his money.'" As a consumer the merchant paid his share of the
duty. It thus bore upon all classes in just proportion, and promoted frugality
by taxing extravagance. That the collection of the impost would introduce into
the states officers unaccountable to them was an idle objection, since it would
apply equally to postmasters, and if acceded to would militate against the
appointment of any federal internal officers. No government could exist under
these circumstances. The proposed measure was one of necessity. The
revenue was insufficient and could no longer be supplied by loans. The
measure was within the spirit of the confederation. Congress was vested with
the power to borrow money, and by implication with power to concert the
nucleus necessary to accomplish that end. The measure proposed they had
decided upon after the most solemn deliberation.—Cont. Cang.
| The writings of James Madison, | |