That they observe, by the tariff of duties imposed by the laws
of Congress on importations into the United States, an article
peculiarly inauspicious to the objects of their own, and of all other
literary institutions throughout the United States.
That at an early period of the present Government, when our
country was burdened with a heavy debt, contracted in the war of
Independence, and its resources for revenue were untried and
uncertain, the National Legislature thought it as yet inexpedient to
indulge in scruples as to the subjects of taxation, and, among
others, imposed a duty on books imported from abroad, which has been
continued, and now is, of fifteen per cent., on their prime cost,
raised by ordinary custom-house charges to eighteen per cent., and by
the importer's profits to perhaps twenty-five per cent., and more.
That, after many years' experience, it is certainly found that
the reprinting of books in the United States is confined chiefly to
those in our native language, and of popular characters, and to cheap
editions of a few of the classics for the use of schools; while the
valuable editions of the classical authors, even learned works in the
English language, and books in all foreign living languages,
(vehicles of the important discoveries and improvements in science
and the arts, which are daily advancing the interest and happiness of
other nations,) are unprinted here, and unobtainable from abroad but
under the burden of a heavy duty.
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