The RIGHT CONSTITUTION of a COMMON
WEALTH EXAMINED,
(in continuation.)
" WHERE luxury takes place, there is a
" natural tendency to tyranny." There is a na
tural tendency to tyranny every where, in the lim
plell manners as well as the molt luxurious, which
nothing but force can flop. And why Ihould this
tendency be taken from human nature, where it
grows as in its native foil, and attributed to
luxury? " The nature of luxury lies altogether
" in excefSi It is an universal depravation of man
" ners, without reason, without moderation : it is
" the canine appetite of a corrupt will and plian
" tafy, which nothing can fatisfy ; but in every
" aiftion, in every imagination, it Hies beyond the
" bounds of lionelty, jultand good, into all ex
" tremity." This is declamation and rant that
it is noteafy to comprehend. There are all pos
sible degrees of luxury which appear in society,
with every degree of virtue, from the firlt dawn
ings of civil society to the last Itage of improve
ment and refinement; and civility, humanity, and
benevolence, increase commonly as fall as ambi
tion of conquest, the pride of War, cruelty and
bloody rage, dimkiiflies. Luxury, to certain de
grees of excess, is an evil; but it is not at all
times, and in all circumltances, an absolute evil.
It Ihould be restrained by morality and by law,
by prohibitions and difcouragemeiits. But the
evil does not lie here only ; it lies in human na
ture : and that mult be retrained by a mixed form
of government, which is the belt in the world to
manageluxury. Our author's government would
neyer make, or, if it made, would never execute
laws toreltrain luxury.
" That form of government," fays our author,
" mull needs be the molt excellent, andthepeo
" pie's liberty molt secured, where governors are
" leall expofedtotlie baits and snares of luxury."
That is to fay, that form of government is the
bell, and the people's liberty moll secure, where
the people are poorelt: This will never recom
mend a government to mankind. But what has
poverty or riches to do with the form of govern
ment ? If mankind inuft be voluntarily poor in
order to be free, it is too late in the age of the
world to preach liberty. Whatever Nedliam
might think, mankind in general had rather be
rich under afnnple monarchy, than poor under a
democracy. But if that is the belt form of go
vernment, where governors are leait exposed to
the baits and snares of luxury, the government
our author contends for is the worlt of all pollible
forms. There is, there can be no form in which
the governors are so nincli exposed to the baits
and Inares of luxury as in a limple democracy.
In proportion as agovernment is democratical, in
a degree beyond a proportional prevalence of mo -
liarchy and ariltocracy, the wealth, means, and
opportunities being the iame, does luxury pre
vail. Its progress is instantaneous. There can be
no subordination. One citizen cannot bear that
another Ihould live better than liimfelf; a univer
sal emulation in luxury instantly commences; and
the governors, that is those who aspire at elections,
are obliged to take the lead in this filly conten
tion : they mult not be beliind the fjremolt in
dress, equipage, furniture, entertainments, games,
races, fpedtacles; they mult fealt and gratify the
luxury of electors to obtain their votes ; and the
whole executive authority mull be proltiiuted,
and the legislative too to encourage luxury. The
Athenians made it death for any one to propose
the appropriation of money devoted to the sup
port of the theatre to any the molt necellary pur.
poses of the Hate. In monarchies and ariltocra
cies much may be done, both by precept and ex
ample, by laws and manners, to diminifli luxury
aud rellrain its growth; in a mixed government
more flill may be done for this salutary end ; but
in a limple democracy, nothing: every man will
do as he pleases—no sumptuary law will be obey
ed—every prohibition or impolt will be eluded ;
no man will dare to propose a law by which the
pleasures or liberty of the citizen lhall be re
llrained. A more unfortunate argument for a
limple democracy could not have been thought
of: it is, however, a very good one in favor of
a mixed government.
An ESSAY on FREE TRADE and FINANCES.
f&ntinutd Jrom No. LII.)
I WILL conclude this eflay with one argument
more in favor of my principle of taxation, which
appears to me offuch mighty weight and vafl. im
portance, as must reach the feelings and govern
the heart of every upright American, viz. That
our public union -with all its bleflings depends on it, and
is supported by it. and inuft without it diflblve, and
waste away into its original atoms. To refufe any
plan its necefliiry support, and to murder and des
troy it is the fame thing ; the union cannot be
supported without so much money as is necellarv
to that support, and that money may be raised in
the way I propose, and cannot in any other. We
have a mofl; plain and undeniable proof of fatft,
that Lhe usual mode of taxation of polls and es
tates, is in its principle unjult and unequal, be
caufc it does not operate on our people in any due
proportion to tlieir wealth : This milchief was
less felt, when our taxes were very fiuall, and
therefore though unjult, were not ruinous ; but
the cafe is greatly altered, now the taxes are grown
up into the burden which the present exigencies
of the nation require.
The said tax hitherto in use, is further ruin
ous, because it carves what money it does pro
duce, out of the very firlt resources, the original
principle of our national wealth, which like ten
der cions, lhould be nurfedand guarded with all
care, till they arrive to strength and maturity,—
then we may pluck the fruit without hurting the
tree :—To cramp and diminifli any of thel'e, is
like making bread of our feed wheat, or feeding
our mowing grounds, every quantity we take
leilens the next crop ten ; but what gives decilion
to the point is, that we have the clear proof of
experience, that the utmoll efforts in this way
have been fufficient to produce one quarter of the
sum neceflary for the public service ; nor is there
any probability of an increased production.
The mode of supply by foreign loans need not
be further reprobated ; 'tis plain to every body,
that if they can be continued, (which isdoubtful)
they will loon involve us in foreign debt, vailly
beyond all possibility of payment: Our bank
ruptcy niult ensue ; and with our bankruptcy will
go all our national character of wifdoui, integ
rity, energy of government, and every kind of
refpec r tability. Wefhall become objetfls of obloquy
—buts of insult ; and bye-words of disgrace a
broad ; an American in Europe will be alhamed
to tell where he came from. Every stranger
takes some share in the character, in the honors
or disgrace, not only of the family, but the nation
to which he belongs.
THE BASTJLE.
EXPLORE yon Cavern, frowning on the fight,
Where one faint lamp fends forth a sickly light ;
Thro folds of darkness, where yon wicket glooms,
Perfidious power lias fcoop'd the livinq tombs !
Along the filth that oozes from the walls,
The slimy snail, with track abhorrent crawls,
And oft. augmenting poisons from the top,
With sullen founds falls How the with'ring drop.
The pcililential toad that squats below,
Gathers frefli venom as those poisons flow!
Here many a fathom down, despotic rage,
Hung human vittims in the dreadful cage—
Here the poor captive, torn from child and wife,
From youth to age groan'd out detested life—
Nor nature's fun, nor art's supplying blaze,
E're Hole one beam of comfort on their days !
Noj human form, nor human hand was nigh,
To soothe the grief that gather'd in his eye ;
Save one brief glance.of man, as thro the hole,
His daily bread the silent goaler dole—
No human voice beguil'd the endless night,
That cruel (hut him from creation's light.
To soothe a miilrcfs, wanton LOUIS gave
To one who dar'd be just, this lingering grave !
To one who dar'd a proflitute pourtray,
And bring his honest satire into day.
How finks the heart, to pace this gloomy round,
How pants the Muse to leave this Tyrant bound !
CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES.
Begun and hi Id at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the Fourth
ol March, One Thou (and Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine.
An ACT for Allowing Comtensation to the Mem
bers of the Senate and House of Reprefentathes of
the United States, and to the Officers of both Houses.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That at every fefliion of Congress, and at
every meeting of the Senate in therecefs of Con
gress, prior to the fourth clay of March, in the
year one thousand seven hundred and ninety -five,
each Senator shall be entitled to receive fix dol
lars for every day he shall attend the Senate, and
shall also be allowed, at the commencement and
end of every such feflion and meeting, fix dollars
for every twenty miles of the eltimated distance,
by tli# most usual road, from his place of residence
to the feat of Congress : And in cafe any mem
ber of the Senate ihall be detained by sickness
on his journey to or from any such fefiion or meet
ing, or after his arrival shall be unable to attend
the Senate, he shall be entitled to the fame daily
allowance : Provided always, That no Senator
Ihall be allowed a sum exceeding the rate of fix
dollars a day, from the end of one such feflion
or meeting to the time of his taking a feat in ano
ther.
And be it further enabled, That at every feflion
of Congress, and at every meeting of the Senate
in the recess of Congress, after the afore said
fourth day of March, in the year one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-five, each Senator
fliall be entitled to receive seven dollars for every
day he shall attend the Senate ; and ihall also be
allowed at the commencement and end of every
such feflion and meeting, seven dollars for every
twenty miles of the estimated distance, by the
molt usual road, from his place of residence to
the feat of Congress : And in cafe any member
of fae Senate fliall be detained by sickness
his journey to or from anj such session or meet 11
iiig, or after his arrival fliall be unable to attend
the Senate, hefhall be entitled to the fameallow
ance of seven dollars a day : Provided always-
That no Senator shall be allowed a sum exceeding
the rate of seven dollars a day, from the end of
one such session or meeting to the time oi' his
taking a feat in a another.
And be it further enafled, That at every session
of Congress, each Representative lhall be enti
tled to receive fix dollars for every day lie (hall
attend the House of Representatives ; and shall
also be allowed at the commencement and end of
every session, fix dollars for every twenty miles
of the e(Unrated distance, by the most usual road
from his place of residence to the feat of Con
gress : And in cafe any Representative shall be
detained by sickness, on his journey to or from
the feflion of Congress, or after his arrival shall
be unable to attend the House of Representatives
he fliall be entitled to the daily allowance afore'
said : And the Speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives, to defray the incidental expences of
his office, shall be entitled to receive in addition
to his compensation as a Pveprefentative, fix del
lars for every day he shall attend the House : Pro
vided a/ways, That 110 Representative shall be al
lowed a funi exceeding the rate of fix dollars a
day, from the end of one such feflion or nieetino
to the time of his taking a feat in another.
And be it further enaflcd, That there fliall be al
lowed to each chaplain of Congress, at the rate
of five hundred dollars per annum during the
session of Congress; to the secretary of tlie Se
nate and clerk of the House of Representatives,
fifteen hundred dollars per annum eich, to com
mence from the time of their refpeetive appoint
ments ; and also a further allowance of two dol
lars per day to each, during the feflion of that
branch for which he officiates : And the said secre
tary and clerk fliall each be allowed (when the
President of the Senate or Speaker fliall deem it
neceflary) to employ one principal clerk, who
shall be paid three dollars per day, and an en
s rolling clerk, who shall be paid two dollars per
ay during the feflion, with the like compensation
to such clerk while lie fliall be neceflarily em
ployed in the recess.
And be it further enabled, That the following
compensation shall be allowed to the officers here
inafter mentioned, viz. To the ferjeant at arms,
during the fellions and while employed on thebu
finefs of the House, four dollars per day the
allowance of the present ferjeant ar arms to com
mence from the time of his appointment: To
the door-keeper of the Senate and House of Re
presentatives, for their lervices in rliofe offices,
three dollars per day during the feflion of the
House to which he may belong, for his ownfer
vices, and for the hire of neceflary laborers; the
allowance to the present door-keeper of the Se
nate to commence from the day appointed for the
meeting of Congress ; and the allowance to the
door-keeper of the House of Representatives to
commence from his appointment ; and totheaf
fiftant door-keeper to each House, two dollars
per day during the feflions.
And be it further enatled, That the said compen
sation which shall be due to the members and of
ficers of the Senate, fliall be certified by the Pre
sident ; and that which fliall be due to the mem
bers and officers of the House of Representatives,
fliall be certified by the Speaker ; and the fame
shall be pafled as public accounts, and paid outoi
the public treasury.
And be itfurther enabled, That this act shall
continue in force until the fourth day of March,
in the year one thousand seven hundred and nine
ty-fix, and no longer.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG,
Speaker of the House of Rcprtfcntittw-
JOH N A DAMS, Vice-President of the United States,
and Prefider.t oj the SetuH
APPROVID, SEPTEMBER 22, 1 789.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States.
An ACT for the temporary establishment of th.
POST-OFFICE.
BE it enailed by the Senate and House of 1
present atives of the United States of America in Cw
grefs ajfembted, That there shall be appoints a
Post-Master General; his powers and salary a"
the compenlation to the assistant or clerk and j
puties which he may appoint, and the regu at*
ons of the Poft-Office fliall be the fame as tie
last were under the resolutions and ordinances o
the late Congress. The Post-Master Geneia
be fubjeeft to the direction of the President o
United States in perforiningthe duties of » s 0
sice, and informing contracts for the trail po>
tion of the mail. ' •
Be it further enabled, That this a<ft fha c 0 f
line in forcfe until the end of the next le ' lon
Co„ g r. ft , »^-g- c „ sn|S
Speaker of the Nouje oj Rtf'f"""
JOHN ADAMS,
APPROVED, SEPTEMBER THE "22(5, ;J •
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the unn-.
Fublirtied by JOHN FENNO, No. 9»
Lake, near the Ofwegc-Markct, L 3