THE OBSERVER. | No. X. To the American Planter! and Farmers THL gentlemen who pollefs and cultivate the foil, are in this country so numerous, and hold so great proportion of property, that they have right t6 a decided influence in the meal'ures of government. In addressing you I speak to the people, vvhofe will must ultimately determine the system of national police. An enlightened plant er is a friend to manufactures, by which his raw materials are prepared for the use of man—he is a friend to commerce, which converts the surplus of his perishable produce into permanent wealth, and mingles the growth ot every clime 011 the board of hospitality: Still the agricultural now is, and for a century to come must remain the pre vailing interest both in riches and in inuence. The war of independence was yours ) and there fore became a war of blows too hard for the common enemy—our present form of govern ment was firft delineated by those who roll the tongue and drive the quill ; it became a sacred reality by the seal of your fuffrages : and the measures of the treasury department must be addrefled to your good understanding and sense of national honor to render them fuccefsful. Though rhe nature of jour employment is such as precludes the opportunity of collecting infor mation ; your judgment must fancftify, and your firmnefs effectuate the public decrees. The e vils relulting from a lofsof public creditmayaf fecft others firft—on you they fall heaviest. Mer chants, monied men and those who have great property afloat, are on the watch—they havelei fure to collect every information—acorrefpond ence by every post and through half the world advertises them of the evil, and their property by some change in its situation is secured ; while you without information and unsuspicious are en snared. Every poflible imposition in public cre dit will operate thus—either the price of your produce will fall, or the articles you purchase rife, or the deceitful medium center in your hands. When the state of credit, In any couu try, is such as excites a war of artifice between its citizens, they must be eventual fufferers, wliofe employment confines them in the field, at a distance from the course of information. The firft thing you ought to demand is a stable system for the public debt, which may be done by plac ing the whole of every description under one re - fponfible board ; the next is a circulating medi um of fixed value. To accomplish this lam sen sible there must be some kind of direct taxation by the United States, for it is not probable that an impost and excise will equitably fund the whole debt. Direct taxation is now practised ■with a heavy hand by the separate States, and why ihould the exercise of this power by the general government be more dangerous, when attended ■with such circumstances that afpart of the sum you now pay will be fufficient ? If a change of system will remove half the weight you have borne these fifteen years, be not duped to lose the opportu nity, by the artful fuggeltions of some men, who expect to gain more by the old game, than by a new one. The members of the general govern ment are your representatives—your friends, and the beings of your own creation—their existence and popularity are in your hands, and they have every motive to guard your interest ; more can not be said of the State legislatures. Still fur ther to remove all suspicions that the writer is acting an infiduous part, I will compare your prelent situation with what it might be made, by an interposition of the general government. Every State in the empire is heavily in debt— in each State there are different modes of impo ling and collecting taxes, hut in all, direct taxa tion of some kind is in ul'e—in a few States arbi trary afleflinent is customary, which may be set down for the worst kind of iinpofition--in others e. very kind of property fpecifically is charged at cer tain rates affixed in the tax laws—in New-England your houses and lands, your cattle of every de scription, even your sons are taxed before their labor can pay for their support, and your mecha nics are arbitrarily aflefled for the labor of their hands. The tax laws have been varied annually, so that to understand the system of public de mands is next to impoflible—thefe changes in the tax laws, have opentd a succession of speculation definitive and unintelligible to the unwary citi zen—The general taxation of all your proper ty imperceptibly advances the amountto a griev ance.—ln Connecticut there are one hundred tax gatherers, and in the other States a number pro portioned to their extent.—The gentlemen qua lified to do this duty, must be men of sagacity and as such will not forget themselves, nor can •we wilh theyfhould serve the public for nothing. —An average emolument to themselves of less than 200 dollars per annum, would not tempt them to execute the duty—this emolument arises from a public reward, mileage, forbearance mo ney, with an opportunity of speculating among the ignorant; anil tho it be not charged in the tax bills is eventually paid by the people—l blame not Uie collectors, their business requires industry and watching, and is attended with risque, for they must lose the taxes of those who abscond, alter their warrants are received ; but I accufea fyftemfo expenfiveto the people. One hundred tax gatherers at two hundred dollars each amount to twenty thousand dollars—this furn though not charged in any account whatevei-, is annually paid by the people of Connecticut—an enormous burthen ! for the simple collection of taxes, and all this, on a plan which you have often been told is mighty cheap, and full of economy and liber ty. Let us talk no more of the high salaries giv en by the United States, when our own plan bears so much harder on the people. The em ploying too many men in any public business, that it may be done at a cheap rate, always proves a fpunge in the event. With the great sums you have paid, and collected in this expensive man ner ; with the general taxation of your whole property, you have not obtained the reputation of being just to your creditors. The evil still remains, andmuft temain without a general re form of system. Most of my remarks will ap ply to all the States, and as this publication firft appears in Connecticut, I have taken it as an m (tance to exemplify the whole.—Let not these truths excite faction—be calm—reverence go vernment, and public justice, and you will be remedied. Compare with this picture a system I will propose—Let your State debt be afl'umedby the United States.—ln addition to the import and excise, give them a dire<t tax.—Let this tax be imposed on the (ingle article of improved land. Three cents per acre, which is twopence curren cy of New-England very nearly, will be fuffiei ent to ertablifh the faith and justice of your coun try, and content the public creditors, if theyare reasonable men.—Let this be paid in the money of th« merchant, for if there be a depreciated currency in circulation, you will eventually rue the consequences.—Eight tax-gatherers will be fufficient to collect an excise and land tax in Con necticut, which now employs one hundred. Make these men responsible ; give them the sala ry of eight hundred dollars per ann. and fuffer no kind of fee robe taken from the people, This will make a saving of nearly fourteen thousand dollars, in the article of collection, which is prin cipally paid by the poorest citizens ; and for which they have no credit in the public opinion. The planter, pofTefling one hundred acres in fair cul tivation, will have to pay annually sixteen (hillings New-England currency, for the whole amount of his taxes, and without any additional fee to collectors ; and those who have less estate in pro portion. Every wife planter would compound with the public for thisfum—l believe it would be fufficient ; and I appeal to the honest cultiva tors of the earth, whether it be more than one third of the sum they have beenufed to pay. My next number (hall contain further remarks on a land tax. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. ABSTRACT of JOURNAL of the first SESSION of the SENATE of the UNITED STATES. FRIDAY August 7. T N the absence of the Vice President, proceeded to elect a Prefi- X dent pro tempore, and the votes being colleaed and counted, the Hon. John Langdon was unanimously appointed. A message from the President of the United States, by General Knox.—See Gazette of Augujf 12. This message was ordered to lie for confider»tion. Mr. Morris, 10 behalt of the committee on the bill, entitled " An ast for allowing a compensation to the President and Vice President of the United States," reported an amendment, to wit • To expunge the provision made for the Vice President, " Five thou sand dollars," and insert " Six thousand dollars." On motion to reduce the provision for the President of the Unit ed States from twenty-five thousand to twenty thousand dollars Palied in the Negative. * On motion to make the provision for the Vice President eight thousand dollars instead of fii e thousand dollars—Patted in the negative. And on motion, the futher consideration" of this clause of the bill was postponed. health Grayf ° n rei l uefted leave of absence, for the recovery of his The concurrence of the Senate, upon the resolve of the House on the mode of enrolment, and the presentation of bills, &c. va» carried to «he House of Representatives. Adjourned. MONDAY, August jo. Mr Strong, on behalf of the joint committee appointed the sth of August, " To consider what business is necrlTdry to be acted upon prior to an adjournment, and to report a proper time at which an adjournment shall take place," reported ; and the report was ordered to lie for consideration. A message from the House of Representatives, with a bill, en titled, " An ast for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the officers of both Houses," requesting the concurrence of the Se nate therein. The Senate proceeded to the second reading of a bill, entitled, . T clearing of Aelfc-1., regulating the coifting trade, and for other purpose." Ordered, That it be committed to Mr. Morris, Mr. Dalton Mr. Laogdon, Mr. Butler and Mr. King. Adjourned. ' 1 U £ S D A Y, August u. A message from the House of Representative*, with a resolve of the House, of the 10th of August, providing, « u di ; taed by Congress, in their aQ of June the 6th i; 88, be made and returned into the Treasury without de lay." Adjourned. FRIDAY, August 14. The petition of Nathaniel Gorham, praying that a resolution of the House of,Reprefentatives of the United States, providing • 1 hat the above survey be made," might not pass the Senate in its' p/efent form, for leafons set forth in the petition - 1 he resolve of the House of Representatives of the United States of the 1 ith of August, referred to in the (aid petition,—and The petition of Andrew Ellicot, on the fame lubWft. wer e fe i::! l ;S,r oi,,lJm,ion ~f i;,c buf,ncfs ** Proeeeded to a second reading of the lull, entitled » A providing for the expenfei which may attend nesou.it „L '8 ties with the Indi n tribes, and the appointment of Commiff' 1 " crs foe managing the fame._ m °n. Ordered, That the bill t>e committed ro Mr Few m. woith, Mi. King, Mr. Lee and Mr. Butler. Adjourned M O N D A Y, Angnft tj.^ The committee appointed to take into conlidcration thebilL titled, " An a& providing for the expenfcs which may attend g-.ciationsor treaties with the Indiintribcs.andtbcippoua of commiiiionerj for managing the fame," reported that it be " Resolved, That it be allowed and paid to a SuDeriatcnd of Indian affairs in the Southern Department, that may be n nated by the President, and appointed by, and with the adv.ee consent of the Senate, the sum oi pet j ay his expenfcs, for the time he may be employed in a'lteudnto® treaty, proposed to be held by the Commi'dioners of the UnuM States and the Creek Indian , at the Rock-Laudiug, in the Sate of Georgia, on the 15th day of September next A 7" a thC treaty ftxQuld fa.l irl lhe de r,red ob. jett, of eltabblnuig peace between the citizens of the United Stat and the Creek Indians, Congress will make such grants of montv and pursue such other measures, as will be necessary fottheprottt tion and fafety of the inhabitants of the southern frontiers a .j best secure the peace of United States," And on motion to accept the report, it patted inthe negative On motion, that it be 6 Resolved, That the President of the United States be requeued to nominate a fit person for Superintendant of Indian affairs inthe Southern Department, in order that he may be fentforward ailoon as may be, to ast with the Commiflioners of Indian affairs inthe Southern Department, appointed pursuant to a refolutionof Con gress, paifed on the dav of and aid them in carrying into effect a treaty that is proposed to be held with the Creek Nation on the i s th day of September next, in the State of Georgia at thiJ Rock-Landing.— * ' That the sum of dollars be delivered to the faidSu. penntendant, to be appropriated for the immediate purpose ofthe faii treaty, for which sum he (hall be accountable That the President of the United States be-eequefted to inftruft the said Superintendant and Commiirioners, to hear and fully i U . veftigate all the complaints and grievances, of the said Creek In dians, and to use all the means in their power to quiet their minds and do them ample justice, agreeably to the aforefaid refolutionof Congress, and inilru&iam heretofore given for that purpose: That if the said Indians (hould prove rcfraftory, orrefufeto treat and establish peace oujuft and reasonable terms, then and in that cafe the said Superintendant and Commillioners be dire&ed to make immediate report thereofto the President of the United States, and Congress will make such grants of money and pursue such other measures, as will be necessary for the fafety and prote&ionof the inhabitants of the Southern frontiers, and best secure the peace of the United States,"—lt pafled iu the negative. On motion, that it be Resolved, That the President of the Uuited States be author, ifed and empowered, and he is eereby authorised and empower ed, (hould the Creek Indians decline to make peace with the State of Georgia, to take effectual measures for covering the Srate of Georgia from the incursions of the Indians, either by ordering foiae of the troops now at Fort Harmar to march to the frontiers of Georgia, or by embodying such a number of the militia as he fliall think fufficient to insure to the citiiens of Georgia protection, and the cultivation of their lands in peace and security, and that he be empowered to draw on the Treasury for defraying the expenfei of the fame"—And on motion for the previous question, to wit: 44 Shall the main question be now put ?" it pafled in the negative. Adjourned. ADVERTISEMENT. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE OHIO COMPANY. \ X /'NEREAS, in the opinion of the Agents, it is very much VV for the interest of the proprietors at large, that all the lands of the purchase (hould be divided and allotted as immedi ately as may be—And in order to accommodate them generally by the option of claflingas they may think proper, and drawing their rights or (hares (where they may poflefs more than ose) either together in contiguity, or by detaching and annexing them to diftinft claffesor divisions (at their own ele&ion) to give them the greater chance for variety in foil and fituation—Jtisunani moufly refolved,That as foonas the exploring committee /hallhave appropriated the lands for donation fettlemenU,in quantity fufici ent for all the proprietors,Wi nthrop Sarcent,JosephGili- man, and Rrtur n J. Meigs, Esquires, who are hereby appoint ed a committee for that purpose,(hall immediately make out,upon a large fcale,a complete map or plan of the whole purchase from the bed information,which they may be then able to obtain,exprefling all the lands of the eight acre, three acre, city lots and common*, one hundred and sixty acre, and donation lots, the referred lots of Congress, school lots, and lots appropriated for religions pur poses—also, the two townships given by CongTefs for an univer/i ---ty,and the towns or situations for towns to be reserved bythecora* panv for a future allotment.—That, all the residuary lands Hull be, by them, the said committee of three, divided andnumbtrtd upon paper, into forty equal grand divisions of twenty-five ftiarcs each, as like in quality as may be: That each grand divifien be divided into five sub-divisions of five shares each, and eachfub divifion into fe£lions of single (hares :—That as soon as the map or plan is completed, the agents will form or class their fubferib ers (who (hall not previously class themselves) by fe&ions or single (hares, into sub-divisions of five, and grand divisions of twenty five, and immediately proceed to drawing V>y lot for said lands; by grand divisions, sub-divisions and feftions : That in ail draughts of sub-divisions (into fe&ions) which may be madeup ot proprietors,holding four,three, or two and single (hares,it (hallbe the usage for the greatest proprietor, or holder of the greatest number of shares, to take his lands in contiguity, by lot, either m the southern or northern part of the sub-division, where they (hall be numbered from north to south, and in the western or eastern (by lot also) where they may be numbered from weft toeaft; aoa where sub-divisions may be made up of two proprietors of two (hares each, and one of one share, the two greatest proprie tors (hall receive their feftions, by lot, either inthe fouthernor western part of the sub-division. ReJolved> That the before na med committee, be directed to prepare the names and numbers, and make all the neceffarjr arrangements forth# intended draught: That previous to the drawing for this ultima** grand division <>' lands, there fhallbe returns of the proprietors, as they may"be claflfed by the agents (or other wife) lodged in the Secretary's omcc» and it is recommended in all cases to consult the inclinations and interefUof the proprietors in the order of clafling. Resolved, That the agents will give public notice of the rime an place of drawing, and that there be two perfonsno ways mtereit ed in the draughts, who shall be sworn to the faithfully raN^ n .?. out the names and numbers from the boxes, and who alone (ha be employed in this business for the draught of grand aivifions, sub-divisions, and fe&ions. Resolved, That the Secretary cause the foregoing resolutions to be publilhed in the newspapers of New-York, and the England States ; to the end that the proprietors at large may the option of clailing themselves as they may think proper • n they are hereby requested so to do, and to express theme upon thisJubjetl r either to their refpe&ive agents, or by inform tion in writing addrefled to, and to be lodged with the at his office in the city of Marietta,previous to the firftMon a ) ~ March, 1790 —Upon which day it is expe&ed the J? take place. W I N T H R O P S A R G E NT, Secretary to the Ohio Marietta. 3d November, 1789.
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