They were not, they said, of opinion, that a public debt was a public blessing, or that it ought to be perpetuated.
An augmentation of the revenue being indispensable to the solidity of the public credit, a more eligible system than that proposed in the bill, could not, it was believed, be devised.

Still further to burden commerce, would be a hazardous experiment which might afford no real supplies to the treasury.

Until some lights should be derived from experience, it behoved the legislature to be cautious not to lay such impositions upon trade as might probably introduce a spirit of smuggling, which, with a nominal increase, would occasion a real diminution of revenue.

In the opinion of the best judges, the impost on the mass of foreign merchandise could not safely be carried further for the present.

The extent of the mercantile capital of the United States would not justify the attempt.