Eloquence of the United States (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1827. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... SPEECH OF WILLIAM L. SMITH. ON MR. MADISON'S RESOLUTIONS, DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. On the 3d of January, 1794, the house of representatives resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the report of Mr. Jefferson, Secretary of State," On the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with foreign nations, and the measures which he thought proper to be adopted for the improvement of the commerce and navigation of the same," when Mr. Madison introduced a series of resolutions, proposing to impose " further restrictions and higher duties, in certain cases, on the manufactures and navigation of foreign nations, employed in the commerce of the United States, than those now imposed." On the 13th, Mr. Smith addressed the committee as follows: Mr. Chairman, Among the various duties which are assigned by the constitution to the legislature of the United States, there is perhaps none of a more important nature than the regulation of commerce, none more generally interesting to our fellow-citizens, none which more seriously claims our diligent and accurate investigation. It so essentially involves our navigating, agricultural, commercial and manufacturing interests, that an apology for the prolixity of the observations which I am about to submit to the committee, will scarcely be requisite. Vol, i. 33 In the view which I shall take of the question, disengaging the inquiry from all topics of a political nature, I shall strictly confine myself to those which are commercial, and which alone are, in my judgment, properly connected with the subject. Called upon to decide on propositions, merely commercial, and springing from a report, in its nature limited to commercial reg...