Madison’s proposals were intended to unify politically the agricultural and manufacturing interests in support of this commercial realignment at the national level, damaging to Great Britain and beneficial to revolutionary France.[29] Many representatives of northern business were wary of abandoning Great Britain as their primary trading partner and merchant marine, and doubted whether France could adequately act “as the principle supplier and market for the United States.” [30] The House of Representative, nevertheless, initially passed Madison’s “controversial” legislation[31] with the discriminatory provision intact. The Senate, however, removed it from the bill and sent it back to the House, where it was passed, without amendment, 31 to 19, on July 4, 1789.[32] The Tariff of 1789 placed France and Great Britain on an equal footing with regard to shipping, manufactures and raw products delivered to American ports. All foreign-owned or -built ships paid fifty cents per ton duty; American-owned vessels were charged six cents per ton.[33]
