2843. EXPORTS, Taxation of.—
Your pamphlet is replete with sound views, some
of which will doubtless be adopted. Some
may be checked by difficulties. None more
likely to be so than the proposition to amend
the Constitution, so as to authorize Congress
to tax exports. The provision against this
in the framing of that instrument, was a
sine qua non with the States of peculiar productions,
as rice, indigo, cotton and tobacco,
to which may now be added sugar. A jealousy
prevailing that to the few States producing
these articles, the justice of the others might
not be a sufficient protection in opposition to
their interest, they moored themselves to this
anchor. Since the hostile dispositions lately
manifested by the Eastern States, they would
be less willing than before to place themselves
at their mercy; and the rather, as
the Eastern States have no exports which
can be taxed equivalently. It is possible,
however, that this difficulty might be got
over; but the subject looking forward beyond
my time, I leave it to those to whom its burdens and benefits will belong, adding
only my prayers for whatever may be best
for our country.—
To Andrew G. Mitchell. Washington ed. vi, 483.
(M.
1815)
