s
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OK REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, July 24.
D iati on the amendment of the Sinate to the Fund
' ing Bill, to afume a part of the State Deots.
Mr. GERRY.
(Concluded.) |
r T" , HE gentleman, fa}S the apportionment " P a " la '' a " d
1 fofollyoi this opinion, as it lelates to Mairachufctls, tha
nothing hut a convifftioo of ,he necelGty oT closing with tlic lc
inthisinftaiice, to prevent the loss of the landing bill could re
eoncile me to .'he measure. Ue appears to prefer an
ot the whole, to that of a pa. tot the debts, and I g
liihi in this likevsr.fe, so far a. that, after passing tht. b;U, i_» V'»-
pofuion should be made for assuming the residue of the debts, it
lhall have my hearty alfent. L , _ Ham-nrk
The gentleman has mentioned a speech of Governor llincock,
as holding op the idea that the debts of the bute, could not be
.illumed without their • xprefs authority. The *Pf *'
may admit of this couftruft.on, but .t is expressed in such en g
tnatica) terms us to admit of a diflerent meaning. Whether the
Governor wilhcd to reftrve his opinion, or what were hl» inter.-
lions by the paragraph of his fpcechalluded to, ami u
determine ; but the fenfeof the leg.Cature of the Statt ' «P^
on the occ.fion ; they did not think it neceffa.y to author,ft their
members in Cougiefno assume, but lnftrufted them to urge the
assumption; being fully convinced, as I think every one must
be who has attended to the constitution, that Congrcfs have com
petent powers lor this purpofe-The gentleman tells us of ind vi
dua! States and individuals who are in favor of the assumption .
but however interested they may be, they have discovered no felf- |
rih Views, lor they win. nol, as some who are
other part of the domettic debt, to engrofsthe whole ot the funds
hi-, payment of their particular demands, and only urge an equal
application i»l the revenue to pay the just demands o every ci
dttor. The gentleman would have preft.rtd the affamption at an
early lather than at the present period, and before anv State had
taxed for its debt ; but I confefs 1 am of a different opinion, for
then thefum to be assumed would have been fixty-f-ve or fcventy
millions of d 011..., and this would have fofwclled thepubl.c
debt as to have put the inattei in a different light, and wo
doubtedlv have deterred many who are now lor it from voting
for the assumption : whereas the reduaton of the debt has made
the measure feafible and proper. The gentleman tells us, Geor
gia after having been taxed agreeably to requisitions and to repre
fefttation, will be now trebly taxed. This to me is unintelligi
ble, lor in .he reouifuions Ihe ha. generally been exempted, with
a provilion that fhc (hall hereafter pay her proportion, and Ihe
has contributed little or nothing in this mode—as to her contribu
tions bv thciatio of reprefcntation, there has been no direit fe
deral wx, and Ihe has paid nothing 111 this way, (he can therefore
betax' d but once for any balance that may be due Irom hei.
It is fa id the federal convention having reiefied the proportion
for affunnog debts, the power ought not to be excrcifed by Con
grcfs ; but so far was the convention from doing this, that there
was .to 07.pof1t.or. to the metfure. It wa. ur-«l by | -
members, and 1 confefs myfelf to be ol the number, that at the
fame time the debts were a.Tuined p' ovifion should be made lor
those States who had exerted themfelvcs to fink their debts, and
it was obl'eivcd bv the gentleman from Conncfhcut (Mr. Sherman)
that as the constitution gave fufficient power to Congrels to al
(ume the debts, they undoubtedly would assume them, and make
the other provilion mentioned. He thought it eligible therefore to
icftr the whole matter to Congfefs, and his proportion met the
approbation of the convention. 1 think these arc the a s, an
i.rat they favor the alfumption. ,
The gentleman supposes some Stateshave not been critical in ad
lutting their accounts. Some of the States have been remarkably
careful on this head, and sure I am that no State could be more so
than Maffachuf.tts. She has not to my knowledge 111 any »»«»"««
been p.ofufe, and in many cafe, has curtailed the reasonable de
mauds of h. r citizens against the union. The gentleman ("«< he
houle have abandoned the exeife, but nolhirtg has been done that
will iuftify the assertion ; on the other hand the noufe refuted
to expunge from the revenue bill what related to the exeife and
this wear* the appearance of their having adopted it. c i
indeed wasafterwatds rtjeftcd, and every member who voted »-
~,1,(1 it can best determine the pnnciple of his vote, but I believe
a was not in general the result of an objection to this mode of
.ailingrevenue ; neither do I think with the gentleman that the
mcmbcis who are in favor ot the exeife like the long parliament,
disavow ill public what they follcr in private : for they have o
pcnly avowed their principles and brought forward their argu
ments to support them. .... , . ...
The gentleman has mentioned a consolidation of the union as
the result of the assumption, and supposes the, authority of the
Siate governments will be thus destroyed ; he has also f.nd that
the friends to the Slate governments will b« loft. My attachment
to the State governments will probably not be doubted, and yet
to support them, I consider the assumption as a neceilary mea
fhre. The federal government has a power paramount to the
Mates, to lav aud collet! imports, excises, and direct and
probSbly will ntver be deprived of that power : mould it be aU
lniniftcred, as I have no doubt it will, in each ot thefc modes,
tiie ailumpnon will secure an application of the revenue to the
payn.mt of the State dents ; and 11 cannot be so easily misapplied
and squandered as it would be without such an application. And
it is not, evident, as was formerly urged, that if the debts are to
be funk by the States, they will'be in the danger the gentleman
menutvns ? Should the Slates lay taxes for this purpose, thelc will
be so heavy, as to make the State governments unpopular, and
the dcltru£tion of their constitutions may thereby be produced ;
„r if, 011 the other hand, no adequate provifiou should be made,
they will be considered as unjust, hnd the people contrasting the
Mate governments with the federal government, will prefer the
latter for its regard to public juiticc; and will consider the tor
mer as a public grievance and abolish them.
The gentleman fays, when Congress in 1783, required an im
post, it was undcrftood that every State should puy her own
debts, that Georgia had done what it could, and ought not to pay
an iota more. This is a newdo&rine, and is contrary to the ex
press stipulations of all the requisitions ot Congrats, of which I
think there are between twenty and thirty. He likewile fuppo
ied Georgia will pay 1-22 of the debts of the States ; whereas they
are to be apportioned according to the next cenhu by which she
will not probably p;iy more than the 50th part thereof. He also
speaks of the sum alTumed tor Pennsylvania, and of a bargain with
that State ; but if the gentleman refers to the residence bill, he
cannot suppose that the States i» favor of the assumption, made
such a bargain. For such was their oppofuion to the measure, as
-give offence to the members of that State ; and as to her debt
it is not all included in her fpecified claim. Because as (he had
ylledgedj there was not time for ftatin 5 it. Indeed, as the has
assumed of the continental debt, 5 million dollars, and must
give upjhe continental certificates for which her St " e ftc " r
lereiffued, before these can be funded, »PP«* ob.
ieftion. of the gentleman we unfounded The h " fu| }"
Used that many cithern of the States who have ,nftr U aed to »-,
fume, are ag,«.(l the measure. But the reverse of this .. P'^able,
that i great number of the citUen. of States whose member, op
pose it. are in favor of the alTumption. f .
It has on a former occasion been urgrd, that the accounts of the
State, (hould be fettled before payment, are made thereon; and
have not the accounts to be assumed been long nnce fettled,
The balance, been ascertained that are due to the State creditors?
The debts to be assumed are generally debts da-from the un
,o individu.U which have been adjuftjd according to authent c
documents issued by officer, of Congress; but if the debt were
aflually due to the States—is there any rea.on that the creditor
States seven years after the war should be longer prevented trom
receiving their balances, under the pretext that their accounts
must firft be liquidated ? How would such conduct appear in pri
vate life 1 Suppufe a creditor, wjio eight or ten years pall had sup
plied large sums, was, upon application for payment, toldl' by the
debtor that the accounts were not liquidated, and lie would there
fore pay no part thereof, although it was evident he might do
this without a risque of exceeding the balance ow«d, would he
ever after obtain credit t Would he not destroy all confidence in
hi. probity ? Surely,he would, and such a line of condua can no
more be iullifiedin public than in private life. .
But, fir, notwithllanding I am tor doling with the Senate in I
this propofuion with tome amendment, yet the apportionment or
tbe lont»obeair»rtdJ,'«i»d manv parts of the bill are si» extreme,
lv obieQionable as to gain my alfent upon no other principle than
that of accommodation ; with this view I lhall endeavor to pe re
conciled to the bill: but I conlefs it is an attempt to swallow a
political porcupine, and neceflity alone can juftity the meaiure;
for I despair >t present of obtaininga better provision for the pub
lic creditors. Bui (hould we not be able to accommodate the
bill—Jhould it be loft or pnftponed to another Congrefs,or lellion,
what will be the result f The government will be brought into
contempt—the States will be in danger of a convulsion—the reve
nue will probabl) be impaired or loft* and citizens attached to
: you will no longer be able to support your administration. For
1 these and other reasons that may be offeied I hope w« lhall reject
' the propofuion for disagreeing to the amendments proposed by
the Senate.
THE TABLET. No. 141.
" Men are of nothing so liberal as of their advice."
IF it be asked why men are so free in giving
away advice, it may be answered, because
it is generally of very little value. It colls the
giver nothing, and it is seldom worth any thing
to the receiver, lnllrucftion 1 take to be different
from advice. Were 1 difpoled to acquire a know
ledge in music, or any mechanical art, Ifliould,
liktTa prudent man, apply to some person lkilled
in the matter 1 wiflied to learn, to be my instruc
tor. Profeflional men ilionld be supposed better
acquainted with the Icience of their profeffion,
tl.an rhofe whose pursuits are different.
Information is likewise a different thing from
advice. A man, who has travelled a road 1 have
nor, can inform me what accommodations he met
with, and give me such an idea of the country as
C£>ulxl never b - ufitainei! kji analogy w ictiijc'-"-
ture. All I fliould ask of him is information
about his difcovcries. But whether I fliall travel
that road or not, no person (hould determine but
myfelf. Every man who does not diredt his own
rteps, will have them badly■ directed. It is very
usual for men to solicit advice with refpetfi to any
obje>ft of hulinefs, and even with refpe«sfc to a ge
neral plan of business. But there seldom results
any good from following such advice. The va
rious contingencies which attend the affairs of
every individual, and which can be known, or
which perhaps ought to be known only to him
felf, make it expedient that every person (honld
be the keeper of his own secrets, and the manag
er of his own concerns. Those who have so lit
tle sagacity as to need advice, will, in moll in
stances, have too little judgment to determine
whether what is given them, be proper. That
knowledge which is most beneficial, is the result
of experience. If 1 look to a friend for directi
on about my affairs, he must predicate his advice
not on any experience which is peculiarly appli
cable to my cafe, and therefore I had better do
without it. 1 may ask him for fatfts ; 1 may alk
him to recite instances of his own experience, but
I inuft myfelf judge whether my situation be simi
lar to his, and if I have discernment enough to
tell whether his conduit be a model for my own,
1 have likewise enousrh to a<si without fuchatno
del.
It furnifhes a strong argument against the be
nefit of general advice, that our friends alk no
compensation fbr it. A lawyer demands a re
compense for all the counsel he profeflionally
gives, andfodoesaphyfician. Yet either of them
will pretend they take a pleasure in giving ad
vice gratis, that is out of the line of their pro
fefiion. Their alking nothing for it, is a pretty
good proof, that ic is worth nothing. It will ge
nerally hold good, that men prosper best, when
they are left to their own discretion in managing
their own affairs. The reason is obvious. No
man can so completely state his cafe to another
person, as to give him a perfect idea of all the
circuniftances. Some material point will be
omitted. An acquaintance of mine, who was a
lawyer, complained to one of his friends that he
got little buiinefs in his profelfion : fays the other
to him, lay afidc the practice of the law, and en
gage in commercial affairs. The lawyer follow
ed his advice, and soon involved himfelf in debt,
which proved his ruin. The truth is, he was too
indolent and careless to beeome an eminent law
yer, and could just make out to gain afubfillence.
But when hearted according to the advice of his
580
friend, turned merchant, lie found the want of
industry and carc did fomerhing worse than pre
vent his acquiring honor and profit. His friend,
however, not knowing he was lazy and heedless,
was unqualified to advise better than he did.
Innumerable instances may be produced equally
to thepurpofe, and such as will authorize aeon,
clufion, that unless a peiTon depends on his own
judgemnt for the general management of his af
fairs, he runs a risque that they will never be
| well managed.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
.7 ul r »3> «790.
NOTICE is hereingieen, that Proposals will bertceithdtt lit tfict
of the Secretary ej the Treajury, to thefirjlday cf 08ohr nejrti*.
clafive,for the /apply *J all rations, which maybe refuted for
the United States, from the firfl dayaj January to ttu thirty jits „j
December 1791, both days inchjtve, at the places, and wtliulietfriitj
herein after mentioned, viz. - J
At any place or places, ietwixt Yorktoun h thefiate tf fetffihutUi
und Fort Pitt and at Fml Pitt, ' .a -
At any place or places, betwixt Fort Pitt ana Fat JTfcgt, w ife
Ri-.tr Ohio. and at Fori M'lntojh. ,
At anyplace or places, betwixt Fori M'hto/k o*4 rinM|l if tit Ki
ver Mujkingum, and at the mouth oj the River Mujkitgm.
At any tlace or places, ir(teixt the month of til K rtjtr Utfifgtn, Out'
up the fiid River to the Tufcarouias, and at the Ttfimutt, M thence
overtii the Cayoga River, and down the said River (A its *auC 1
At anyplace or places, betwixt the mouth of the tfotr
the mouth of the Scioto River, and at the mouth ojftkefitd liwUH. '
At any place or places, betwixt the month ofSciot*River, ud tit
of the great Miami at the mouth of the treat Miaki, ondfnmtkaUlt
the Rapids, on the Falls of the Ohio, and at the said Rapids. .
At any place or places, betwixt the mouth of th: great Mfrtlft 'tpirtfi ,
said Miami, to and at Pijuetown, and thence over to the Mimifillqc,.
on the river of the fame name which empties into Lake Erie. \ - •
At any place or places from the rapids of the Ohio, to Me Mil tf tb
Wahafh', thence up the said Waiaftto Poji St. Vincennes, atMSt.W**
cennes. and thence up the said river nabijk, to the Mtami Fimgt, be*
fore dr failed.' . 'L
At any place or places, from the mouth of the Watafi. n«* frlfcantt
if the finer Ohio. .
At any place or places, on the etfl fide of the river M
mouth of the Ohio river, to the mouth of the Illinois river.
sit any place or places, from the mouth of the Miami river
Village. . '
At any place or places, from the Miami Village to Satjtpf, Ms 0
Sandujhy, and jrem Sandufiy to the mtuth of Cayoga river. ■.
At any place or places, hetwixt Fort Pitt tud.Venango,
At any place fir places, betwixt Venango and he Beuf, andMlttof
htnixt Le Btuf and and Press Isle, at Prrff lp, and bttwkfftejf
ke and the mouth of Cayoga river. , j"
At the mouth of Cayoga river, and at any place or placet,# the rM
from Fort Pitt, to the mouth of Cayoga river, by Hit way eflfig tmif
At an v place or places, on the eafi fide of the Mijffppi, itiwten <J)
mouth of t'lt'Ohio anithe rivrr Marg'ot inchfvtly, / , t
At any Place or places,from thefaid river Margot, ft Itlritt ffM
inclufivtly _ ,
At any place m placesfrom the mouth of the river Tentejee, ttOcctUf
' to or Sear creeh,on the said river inelu/tvfy. s
Should any rations be required at any placcs, ir n>Ml'» other dsfrti!\
not fieri fid in theft propojah.tke price of the fine to be hereafter agrt*
j on, heta ixt the public and the contradar.
( Tht r*ii«rr *r ■
One pound oj brcid or flour,
fine pound of beefs or cf a found of porky
Half a pll of mm, brandy or zvlrjky,
One quay t of fait,
Two quarts of vinegar, f p er , jcordticns,
Two pounds oj Joap, f
One pound of Candles, J ~ .
( l u,rcJ ' Secretary of the Treasury.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE LOTTERY.
THE Managers as the STATE LOTTERY,
with the Jirft C'afs of the Mt/fukujitu j
tery, which will commencedrawingin the ReptJOWn* a*
in Boston, on the Seventeenth of M*rck next, tr Jtfth
Tickets (hall be disposed of.
SCHEME.
NOT TWO BLANKS TO A PRIZE.
25,000 Tickets, at Fivt Dollar, each, are
.25,000 Dollais, to be paid in the following I "J
deduttion of twelve and an halj per cent, for the u -
rnonwealih.
Prizes.
1 of
2
3
6
10
3°
So
9°
100
12©
i6i
200
75 8 5
8388 Prizes.
16612 Blanks.
2«ooo. ,
C 3" TICKETS may be had of the fcveral Manig
pay the Prizes on demand—of the TREASUR f i.yj./to.
wealth—of JAMES WHITE, at his Book-Store, ft*
Court-Street, and at other places as usual.
BENJAMIN AUSTIN, Jin. j
DAVID COBB,
SAMUEL COOPER,
GEORGE R. MINOT,
JOHN KNEELANP.
Bojton, Jul) 28, 8790.
By Order of the Honorable Richard Morris* Efl>
State of Nea-Ytrk. .<CetadS&
NOTICE ithereby given to Lewu M'Donald.o
an abfe* debtor, that upon application ain«
to the said chief juftiee by a creditor of the Urf>ew afltlc
pursuant to an ast of the Legislature of the ' l-btofl,"
" An ast for relief against absconding and,® Jir(Be
fed the 4 th April, 1786; he, the fa.d chief w be
all the said Lewis M'Donalds ellate, within ,„eh
ed, and that unless he shall discharge his ° tb " be W
months after the publication of this notice, tlHe
tor Ihe payment of his creditors. Patcd the 3
Ncu-Yirk, -Wjv 7, 1790.
IMG Wiw «• •—
Mm,
is 1 0009
are f » oi
boo*
M*
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6oot
8oc» 1
45°*
40«
3«o'
j!J»
20CC
6068<
ni»*
Dollars.
10090
3000
2000
1000
,500
soo
100
6°
40
30
20
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