of the army and the common defence against the common enemy; it would be in my opinion like the separating man and wife, or like amputating limbs from the body; I cannot fee where the found part ends, and the gangrene, which is to be cut off, begins. Mr. Bland hoped he had fatisfied his colleagues and the house that his vote on this occahon was not the etteft of caprice or sin gularity, but was fopnded on principle, both as it related to the general good and the good of the (late f roin whence he came, and that he would be juftifietf in voting that the assumption of the state debts, so far as it went to that incurred during :he war for the ge neral defence, (hould take place. He said he disliked long speech es, and (hould not have troubled the house on this occasion so long had fie not been fully convinced in his own mind and conceived himfelf called upfrom the peculiar predicament he flood in,in dif fering from all his colleagues in opinion on a matter of so much moment to the union and to the state of Virginia. Mr. Burke said he had a few observations to offer to the com- Tnittee, in order to fatisfy some gentlemen whose principal objec tions to the assumption of the State debts were the S. C. frigate and the Penobfcot expedition ; these two objeflions remaining to be moved away, it seems, as a fort of rubbish, before we can lay the foundation. When the fubjeft of the State debts was formerly before the committee of the whole, Mr. Burke was sorry he omit ted to enter into the bift'ory of the tranfaftions relating to the fri gate, not thinking that gentlemen would avail themselves of that affair to embarrass the measure of assumption. He begged the indulgence ps the committee while he gave a detail of it, as he had no doubt of giving such a fatisfaflofy account as would con vince the. committee that motives and reasons of that business flowed from pure patriotic principles, and principles fonnefted ■with the general interests of the Union. There is not a gentleman on the Floor who is a llranger to the feeble fitnation of our State, ■when we entered into thfc war to oppose the British power : We ■were not only without money, without an army of military (lores, but we were few in number, and we were likely to be entangled •with our domestics in cafe the enemy invaded us. When the liritifh fleet and army arrived on our coafls in 1776,f0 (mall was our quantity of powder that we could not trust but a veiy little part of it in Fort-Moultrie, the firft post in front of the enemy—a pre caution very fortunate to them, for had the garrison had a fuf ficicncy of powder, through that auspicious day, the British ships must have left their bones in the channel. And as to the article of lead, it is a fa£l which has never been related, that the citizens of Charleston were called on, and did a£lu»lly furnifh the lead iifed in their window-fbutters : fuqh was the desperate situation for want of (lores. As to small arms, those of the regular troops were generally indifferent, and th(* militia were tniferably armed. The adminillration, however, made every effort, in the years 1776 and 1777, and fparcd no expcnce to obtain those articles of de fence from Europe and the Well-Indies : but so guarded and lined were our coafls with British cruizers, that our attempts often pro ved vain ; many vessels with those articles on board were captured, often in fight of the town, and the few escaping had to run the gauntlet through the enemy's fires. In the la,Ur end of 1777 (I think it was) a Mr. Galvan prevailed on our government to em ploy him to go to France for arms : he went accordingly, charged with this commission, and with produce to purchase them. He returned with thofa arms. Whether he was imposed on in the contrail, or not, we could not tell ; but mod of them burst in proving them. The whole importation was not, I believe, worth one farthing for substantial use. In 1778 our circumstances, for want of the means of defending ourselves, were truly wrctched, and we had rumours and reason to expeilthat our situation would again invite the enemy to invade us. The means of procuring military (lores and cloathi'ng for our flanding forces, or for the militia when called out, was an objefl of such magnitude as to occupy the atteni ion of the patriots of that country, and finally the mind'of the legislature, who, taking into consideration the want of *11 kinds of necessaries requisite for our lituation, viewing the unfortunate difappointmpnts met with hy our (mall vessels falling into the hands of the enemy's cruising fri gates : our legislature, in that year, resolved upon a bold enter prising attempt to furnifli the country with (applies. This attempt was to purchase in Europe, and equip for sea, three frigates, w/hofe united efforts might give us a greater chance of their reaching our coasts in fafety. It was an |.irdnous undertak ing ; but it was such a one as was woithy of gallant men, contend ing for liberty. And here I have to make one observation ref pefling the State I belong to—l have not the honor of being a na tive of itj so that I (hall not be charged with vanity or ostentation —Such was the native generosity of that people, that thev thought no expenee too great; such their gallantry and spirit of enter prize, that though comparatively few in number, yet they deem ed no danger or undertaking too arduous for them in the common cau/e. For the business of the frigates they provided the enormous sum of upwards of 70,000!. (lerling; and to go to Europe, to make the purchase and take the command of them, they appointed a gen tleman, Commodore Gillon, who, besides his being an able fea irian, poffelfed bravery and talents. Indigo was purchased and lhipped to France for that purpose ; but a misfortune soon pre sented itfclf, which proved the source of all the embarrassments ■which that gentleman had to contend with in Europe, and of all the trouble and expeirce afterwards attending the frigate South- Carolina. The vefiel in which a great part of the indigo was (hipped, was manned with British seamen, picked up as ihev could begot in our neceffitv; they mutinied at sea and the vessel and cargo, which they conducted into England, was the reward of their treachery, under Biitifh encouragement. Congress, about the commence ment of the war, by way of retaliation, gave a limilar incentive to British seamen to nin away with BritifW Weft-India ihips, into the ports of the Continent, which they often did, and relieved our wants of Weft. India produce. Destitute of seamen we were obliged to employ men whose perfidioufnefs was felt by their •friends and enemies. I mention it as a specimen of the honest ■jrankntfs and integrity of Britilh tars, often boasted of. Commodore Gillon met with every difficulty and embarrafT ment. It became impracticable for him to execute his commilfion fully ; but well knowing the fervent zeal and expe&ation of the country he served, refpe&ing the business he came upon, he deter . mined to procure and equip a vefiel of force. As he was destitute of the resources fufficient for the purchase, and as the credit of a State, liable to the calamities of a desperate war, must have been at a low ebb, an honorable member now of the Senate (Mr. Izard) being then in Europe, warm with a patriotic zeal to promote the service of his country, advanced his personal credit, which Com. jnodore Gillon also did, for the purchase and equipment of the fri gate South-Carolina. Those gentlemen, at that day, not only be lieved they were taking a measure which would be acceptable to their countrymen, but they thought they were doing what was wife and expedient for the public service, or they never would Jiave embarked their private fortunes in it as they did. The ship putting to sea made several prizes, and so far performed service by diftrefliug the common enemy. At the Havannah (he was em ployed by the Spamfh government to cover the expedition against ■ New-Providence, a place which the Commodore his officers and .crew were chiefly inltrumental in reducing. Any profit arising irom those services we are willing to account for. So the business of that frigate had its source in the generous hreafts of our countrymen, in thrir honest warm fervor, for the liberties and independence of the United States. In order t~» put arms into the han-isof our citizens, to supply powder, and other military lkoret, to put us on a foot ing with our enr : ny, (hould thrv again invade us, and to redeem :US fcom themiferable defenorlels situation we were plunged in in •thj beginning of 1 7^B. Mr. iiurl(f added a tew other obfeiv.>tions, and concluded by .10 ng to thefomtnittee for having trefpalfed on their time. He hxj ether things to advance, but would stop tor the prefetit, and refervc himfelf for another occasion to sheW the policy and justice of aflfuming the State debts. Mr. Jackson replied to Mr. Bland and Mr. Burke. Although he conceived the fubjett matter,, refpetting Georgia, foreign to the point before the committer, yet, as it had been brought forward, h? thought himfelf called on to perform his duty by a reply. The gentleman (Mr. Bland) had declared Georgia to have fuck ed the life's blood of Virginia, but that she had not a£ted as a du tiful child in return. He did not know that Georgia was to do as (he was bid ; but admitting the force of what the gentleman had advanced, and that Virginia was the mother of Georgia, still Georgia could not be called an undutiful daughter ; for the re presentatives of the State of Georgia were of the fame opinion with the body of the representatives of Virginia, on the fubjeft of the afifumption of the State debts. The gentleman had brought forward cftimatcs of debts and the lodes of their refpettive States. If the lodes of Georgia were to be compared, thofc of Virginia, or any other State, would be comparatively small. Not to enumerate others, the lodes of the whole cjops of rice, indigo, and corn, &c. of that State for the years 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, and 1782, would far overbalance any estimate which could be produced ; and the loss of so many crops was an inllance which could not be equalled by any State 111 the union. Mr. Jackson then added a few words in reply to Mr. Burke, and concluded by observing that he was still against the aflump tion, nor did he think the house bound for it ; the exertions of the different Stites has been üßequal; the house had only pledged i'.felf tor a provision for the debts of the union,, and that he hoped would take place. To be continued. FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, MR. FENNO, AMONG Me variousphenomena which now and then make their ap pearance, none has ever Jlrick my minifoforcibly as t/te p'ejent political phanomentm which the rejection of the ASSUMPTION exhibits. Could any thing aid to the aflonifkment which it has excited, k umild be the vers extraordinary reajons which ojlenfibly occajionei it. Had aflate demagogue, apprdievfve oftojing his influence in a slate ajfembly, endeavored to alarm the members with the terrori of a too-pow erful Congrejs, and to persuade them that the public welfare depended upon exalting theflate letiJUturcf and iepreff.ni the national one, while we pitied the weakness ofperfpns who were Hiajjedby such reasoning, we should hot h furpnfei at finding it employed by those whofepurpo/es it , anfwtrcd-, but that similar arguments \fhould be adduced in■ a certain great ajfembly, by gentlemen [penally Appointed to adminifler the nation al government, fieSed Jot that purpeftf rem the mass of the people, and under the obligation oj every fact el tie to protest it againjl every attach which might prevent its operating jor the lateral good,' it tome most un- i accountable. Are there not in the Jeveral states men in abundance whose ' expectations art to'nfiied to a featin the Jlate legijlature,and whofor that reason alone will gladly embrace every opportunity of thwarting, tie mea sures oj die general government ? Are there not in every part of the con tinent enemies to the ConJlitution who will eagerly grajp at every occur rence which may turn to their advantage ? Nay, are there not in the very bosom of this country, men who detejl the American people, wholichen at j the fight of our growing prosperity, whose ireafis Jlill rankle with dijap- '■ potntment, qndrage at our glorious Independence, and whoyet. remember that we were once part of the B'ritijh empire ? Is it Jorgotton that we are encompajfed with Joes, that Cr&tl Britain holds our pojls and refufes to deliver them up ; that her civil officers are now making encroachments on our frontiers, and violating, the rights of jurifdiflioti of a refpedahle Jlate -,that while we may be involved in hojlihties in the North and in the Fajl, in conjequence of these proceedings, a very gloomy and lowering at mosphere presents iff If to the Sifuth, and to the Wejl—i.< not the /Million ' of Georgtc atoneJvffictcnt to arOuse our attention and exciteoir'alarms ?. Embroiled with the Creeks in a fierce and vindictive war, not like!)' to ter- i mm ate but by the deflruSlion of one or the other people—fie >< now cm- J broiling ktrf.if Act Brttijk debtsjlu emffated dur.! mg the ftiar by a law which had been long o&fHete, but which has been | recently called into afltve operation, and Jhould Great Britain confiderl this an mfraClion of the treaty,the consequences may be readily anticipa ted ; what then will be the deplorablefituation oj that unfortunate slate ?' Attacked in the rear by the Creeks, (who it is well known are fipported by Spain) her vejfels and produceJeized in the ports oj Great-Britain in retaliation Jor the confijcatfon of the debts due to its Jubjeds ; She will loudly call on Congrefsfor protection, andproteßion /he will undoubtedly' He entitled to : Should Congress withhold it, Georgia mvjlbe utterly and compleatly ruined: Should Congress afford it, we are immediately invol ved in a war with Great Britain, Spam, and the Creeks. The fe are fer to*s confederations, a ndJhould maie forte imprefjion on the minds of our civil rulers What ajijtance are we to expeCt from abroad f None: Our allies are not in a condition to afford us any : We muff depend on our ownjlrength alone ; but what will that avail, difnnited as we are, pull ing in different directions, and tearing the machine to pieces, in/lead of drawing it forward! Nor is this all we have to contend with, the fitrn "on of Rhode lfiand, tho in itfef not very a/arming, \et, as connected with other ctrcurnftances, may welljuflfy difagreealle apprehensions. 'he enmity oj that State will ctmfida abh injure the revenue: She will be ' "s r o ff mu SS lers •' Her fcjition is admirably calculated to ensure wealth and fajety to those who may engage in that profitableJpeculation, and the precautions which the government may rejort to Jor the proteßlon of the revenue will probabh cojl a largerfum than will be obtained from them Such being then the precanoufnefs of our situation, haying ample cause of uneasiness from a view of the Nortf WeJlern pojls, the contentions about the Eajlern limits, Vermont, the WeJlern country, the Indians in every quarter and the Creek nation more particularly, Rhode lfiand, the Bri ttfh and Span fh empires, and the commotions in Georgia, each of which ought alone to cause some anxiety; but all of which combined should excite the greatefl apprehensions, and promote the utmofi harmony in the govern ment, having nothing to depend on but our own resources, which will be inejetlual without unanimity : Ought we not to execrate those, who un der thefanClificd garb oj liberty arejowing the Jeeds ojdjunwn, that tee may become a trey to the jirji invader. Say, my fellow citizens, is this a timeto cripple the nationalgovernment " nt "s aT tf° r our protection ? Is this what yoil expected from thoje who were to adminifler it ? At a time when a hojl ojJurrounding dangers Jhouldprefs the States into the mo/1 compel union, would he be your friend who Jhould promote disunion, and anarchy 7 wir "i>ng tht States to be jealous of the government, to fufieCl iti mo' tions, to arrefl its progress, and toflnp it ojusjlrengthandrelources ? Say rather, such a man would be wholly fwayei ly some little grovelling intercjt, mjleadojexpanding his mind to embrace the great obiefts of the federal government : He would be hankering after popularity at home Jrtghtenedatthefhadow of some Jlate demagogue, and securing another eleChon by gratifying thefiate prejudices of a Jew conjlitue.nts, whose fi tiuition dfqualified them fromforefeeing the mifeiies attendant on a vote at which their ignorance might induce them to rejoice. I fmcerely hope my fears are imaginary, and that there is not in our councils anyberfon of that defer,ption. Should however any such terfon offer hmfelf to you as a candidate at the approaching eleClton, tell h,m my Jellow citizens that his mind is too little, his nerves too weak, ffs ideas too contracted, his views too nat-row, tojullify your Ithxanp him in him tl colfil hilSiesTo Z iMle circle of a corporation, or at furthejl to a Jtate ajfembly, whrre he ™yj™ e h' l S co t e to his rhetorical powers, andpteaje all his confidents rl? ny "' JUry V h L °"" r S "" a: Sh °«Ul« however by the Zltn'L o J hs t on f,"'< mdth <} la «JM'ly of his manners overcome your repugnance or should your vanity be gratified in being tetrefence/by a man of br,",a"t talents remember that you will be answerable for all the of flllTy \rf- aJjUrta ' / notwithjlanding a man may be po/fej/'d ofjplendid abihties or extraordinary eloquence, yet if he carries,ft" Longref Jlate inter efts, and illiberal prejudices and carno'ZJn,„Z*l que/I,ons contemplate the good of,he whole, Juch a man w,lll e a cufefo the people and h,s aHities a,A eloquence will only contribute to make him more dangerous than he othertcje would he. I have been drawn into iheje ob fervations by a consideration of the bre sent awjulcrfis, which threatens the very exijlenceof'a governZt J^ 426 was the hjl refute of the American patriot, and which hat Jiarr.l menced its curecr. Vhe violent division in the H. of Ron } COrn ~ tional quepon, which has been once decided in the' efftrmatir,"""!"'' in the negative hyfmall majorities, and the iicertainty of the i'h °" e ajion are cncumjlances which mufl defrefs the [pints ofj!T f' while they piejent afubjett of joy to our enemies Lrt f r '"is, that while there appears (from the debate's which have been PubT/kJfi muchjujhee, policy, fa.rnrfs, equity, liberality, and federaliC fide, and Jo much/late mterejl, partiality and Injufiict or, the 5,™ 7 the reason, goodfenfe, and virtue oj the majority null triumth « J ? feme plan of accommodation will be devised, which at tit / ' it will remove any real objeßion which might have emh„,rl7j.'!" U " t fare, will rejlore harmony to the States, and lay th'roZt t T credit and national prosperity. A PR/END TO TH F. FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED Statuc MR. FEN NO, > l *T£S. I fend you the extraß of a letter, uihich you uW puiliA ■ more particular and authentic account than has hithertoaiptarei'.f"? " REVOLUTION IN THE BELGIC STATES^ Extratt of a letter f rom a gentleman in Br,dels, tohiicmd AJew-York, dated Dec. 25, 178^, YOU arc si nable Sir that bickerings nnd difoutrs •, and fubfifled for several years between the Beleic nro"'" and the emperor, which in the year .787 induced the P e„ D ,'" C " arm and discipline themselves under the title of volunteers j " m one instance they came to blbws «iththe emperor's tnxJ.f veral people were killed in the grand place in this city and'tif" patriots were quelled for the moment ; their affairs were notri The beginning of last summer, their leader, Mr. Vandertm' and the committee of the provinces afTembled in the Baromlj Breda, where their deliberations could not be interrupted bv ifc Austrian government, and from this place they the patriots in the different provinces. They collcard asm men as poflible to form an army, but in so secret a manner Si they conduct their bufuicfs, that the government gave no creditt the which were daily circulated through the country they affrfteo to call them the army in the moon ; the army in™' na.re, and however this army in the moon descended and fori' zed the fort of Lillo, where they found a few cannon and ft Imall arms ; the panic of the government was ioftamly v ,a' the gates of BrufTels were (hut, the inhabitants difarmrd, 60 to' sons of the firft rank and consequence iinprifoned, all clubs and foeieties prohibited from meeting, and the streets broken unto lorm barriers and ditches all over the city; the cannon were pli. ced upon the ramparts, and the garrison confiding of moieiL five thousand men constantly employed in repairing the work and four thousand men collected from the different pofli fc raH )' a flying camp, and marched up and down the country, under the command of General Schroeder. Thus we continued several weeks, till at last Schroedcr entered the small town of Tournhout, without having duly examined 11 and was attacked from all fides, from the cellars, the windows' the roofs, from mills and from churches by the inhabitants: He 101 l 6cc men and five pieces of caimon.and was himfelfwounded He made a fhameful retreat or rather flight, and notwithftandinr the hurry, so alert were his foldicrs at pillage, they plunderedfe. veral houses, where they malTacred the inhabitant's men, women and children, to the number of 40, which was nearly all thai [ell on the fide of the patriots. After this defeat they marched to Ghent and joined tiegmi fon under the command of General D'Arberv, wherea terrible scene was exhibited, but as you will fee it detailed l'n the pamph let, I shall pass it over with only faying I believe that account to be very jufl, and come to the affair of BrufTels, of which I have been a witness. Wt ether from a convi&ion in the government that they were purluing a wrong mode with the people, or whether it vnt u\ consequence of orders from Vienna is not known, but the begin ning of this month the gates were fetopen, the people were in formed theirarmswould be returned upon application, (fewhow ever applied) and this was followed by the removal of the barriers and the discharge ot the 60 persons who had been confined. The people were cxafperated tomadnefs by the insolence of the soldiery, which was neither checked nor punished by Dalton, who commanded them, he haa given out that he was provided for a three months siege, and that he was determined to fuftaio:/, and if at last he should be obliged to leave the place, he would yield it to plunder and reduce it to ashes ; nothing better could be expe&ed from this savage, who some years ago commanded in Wallachia, where he destroyed the poor wretches without mercy, and hung some hundreds of the firll nobility; in one inllance thirty at a time upon the fame tree, without any form orproccfs; for this and other proofs of his ferocity he was sent here to fuper cede General Murray who old Kaunitz thought was too mild : but as cowardice is the inseparable companion of cruelty, Mr. Dalton has proved that he po fie fled the one in as great a degree the other, as will appear from what I shall add, which you may depend upon being the real truth of the matter : When thego vernment began to relax in their Severities, to open the gates, re move the barriers, return the arms and rcleafe the prisoners, to publish humiliating placarts two or three in a day ; the people per ceived that they had found their mistake, and were attualto afind of the consequences, and those meafurc's instead of having the et* fe£l expetted, operated quite differently upon the people, the)' served to convince them of the weakness and fear ot the govern ment, and gave them a proper idea of their own strength, andthu added to what they felt before prepared them for the event which was to follow. It isufual on Thursdays to perform grand msfs at the pnnci pal church called St. Gudule, and raoft of the city go there on that day to perform their devotions; it happened the tenth of Df* cember was Thursday, and after mass a person took a cockade from his pocket, and putting it upon a (lick held it up to the ple, rhey took the hint, it spread like wildfire, and not a per fori was to be seen without one. However everything remained quiet, Dalton fired his alarm guns, and put hi* lr oops under arms, and thus they continued till four o'clock next day, when the people afTembled from all quarters to take two piece* of cannon from the main guard, which was on the grand placf« this guard confided of 100 men under the command of a captain atid two subs—there are seven streets that come into the gfar.i place, the patriots had by this time collected about two hundred people armed, but without order or command, and at fi' e 0 clock the attack commenced, the two pieces of cannon were play* ed alternately at each of those fevem ftieets, not with grape or a°y thing that is ulual, but with rivits, nails, old iron, broken bot tles, &c. See. and the foldicrs fired much the fame fluff from their muskets, which proved by the cartridges found in their boxes many ot which 1 have seen. The firing conti/iued seven hours without a moments intermiflion, when Dalton having made a truce with the Baron Vanderhagen (who was called upon durirj the night by the patriots tocommanu them) for the purpose, three hundred men to bring off the guard, which they did about two o'clock in the morning, the firing then ceased and all thing' were quiet.—About to o'clock the 12th, Efelton having drawn a" his troops together upon the square called the place Royale, pro* posed tc? quit the town, provided the Patriots, who were now prt paring to attack him,would engage to let him depart in peace, bet while his officers were negociating with Mr. Vanderhagen andthf committee, the panic came stronger upon him, and he went o fuddenly towards Namur, so that when the officers returned totW" place Royale they found it void ; and as soon as the troops pa»fd the gate the desertions commenced, and before the next night onC half of his army were returned to BrufTels who were kindly r f " ceived.—Thus ended all the threats of Richard Sans Pcur, v/b'C name his parifites had given him ; the remains of his army abou -12,00 men mostly Germans got to Luxembourg but he witndrc* may digo their tins, Engl tk Pi Kiiv furr wri Yon ftrui Frar <Ufp Eur. aai: ticlf
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