PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENXO, No. 69, MARKET.STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 6s, of Vol. ll.] Saturd ay, December ii, 1790.
PHILADELPHIA
SPEECH
OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and
House of Representatives,
xN meeting you again I feel much fatisfa&ion in being able
to repeat my congratulations on the favorable profpefts which
continue to dillinguifh our public affairs.—The abundant fruits of
another year have blefled our country with plenty, and with the
means of a flourifhing commerce—The progress of public credit
is witnessed by a confide rable rife of American Stock abroad as
well as at home—And the revenues allotted for this and other na
tional purposes, have been produttive beyond the calculations by
which they were regulated—This latter circumstance ts the more
pleasing, as it is not only a proof of the fertility of our resources,
but as it allures us of a further increase of the national refpeftabi
lity and credit ; and let me add, as it bears an honorable tefti
roony to the patriotism and integrity of the mercantile and marine
part of the citizens—The pun&uality of the former in discharging
their engagements has been exemplary
In conform ing to the powers vested in me by the a£ts of the
lad feflion, a loan of three millions of florins, towards which some
provisional measures had pievioufly taken place, has been com
pleted in Holland, as well the celerity with which it has been
filled, as the nature of the terms (considering the more than ordi
nary demand for borrowing created by the situation of Europe)
give a reasonable hope, that the further execution of those powers
may proceed with advantage and success. The Secretary of the
Treasury, has my direction to communicate such further parti
culars as may be rcquifite for more precise information.
Since your last fcilions, I have received communications, by
which it appears, that the diftrift of Kentucky, at present a part
of Virginia, has concurred in certain proportions contained in a
Jaw of th at State ; in conCequence of which the diftrift is to be
come a diftinft member of the union, in cafe the requisite fan£lion
of Congress be added—For this fanflion application "Is now made
—I shall cause the papers on this Very impoitant tranfaftion to be
laid before you.—The liberality and harmony with which it has
been condutted, will be found to do great honor to. both the par
ties ; and the sentiments of warm attachment to the union and its
present government, expressed by our fellow-citizens of Kentucky,
cannot fail to add an affectionate concern for their particular wel
fare, to the great national impreflions under which you will de
cide on the cafe submitted to you.
It has been heretofore known to Congress, that frequent incur
sions have been made on our frontier settlements by certain ban
ditti of Indians, from the northwest fide of the Ohio: I hefe,
with some of the tribes dwelling on and near the Wabafh, have of
late been particularly active in their depredations ; and being
emboldened by the impunity of theif crimes, and aided by such
parts of the neighboring tribes as could be seduced to join in
their hostilities, or afford them a retreat for their priloners and
plunder, they have, instead ©f listening to the humane invitations
and overtures made on the part of the United States, renewed their
violences with frefti alacrity and greater effect. The lives of a
number of valuable citizens have thus been facrificed, and some
of th«m under circumllances peculiarly (hocking, whilst otheis
have been carried into a deplorable captivity.
These aggravated provocations rendered it essential to the fafety
of the Wettein Settlements, that the aggressors ihould b<* made
sensible, that the government of the union is not less capable ol
punifliing their crimes, than it is disposed to refpett their rights,
and reward their attachments. As this objett could not be effect
ed by deienfive measures, it became necefTary to put in force the
ast, which empowers the President to call out the militia for the
protedion of the Frontiers. And I have accordingly authonfed
an expedition, in which the regular troops in that quarter are
combined with such draughts of militia as were deemed
The event of the measure is yet unknown to me. The Secietai)
©f War is directed to lay before you a statement of the informa
tion on which it isfounded, as well as an estimate of the expcnce
with which it will be attended.
The disturbed lituation of Europe, and particularly the ciitical
posture of the great maritime powers, whilftit ought to make us
more thankful for the general peace and security enjoyed by the
United States, reminds us, at the fame time of the circumspec
tion with which it becomes us to preserve these bleflings. It re
quires also that we should not overlook the tendency ot a war,
and even of preparations for war among the nations molt, cori
ecrned in a&ive commerce with this country, to aDiidg- t ie
means, and thereby at least enhance the price of tranfportmg its
valuable productions to their proper markets. I recommend it
t® your serious reilc£hor»s how far, and in what mode, it ma r b
expedient to guard againil embarrafTments from these contingen.
Ie«, by fuel) encouragements to our own navigation as will ren-
der Qur commerce and agriculture less dependent on foreign bot
toms, which may fail us in the very moment most interesting to
both of thefs great objetts. Our fifheries, and the transportation
of our own produce, offer us abundant means for guarding our-
Iclves against this evil.
Your altcntion seems to be not less due to that particular branch
of our trade which belongs to the Mediterranean. So many cir
cumstances unite in rendering the present state of it dillrefsful to
us, that you will not think any deliberations mifcmployed which
may lead to its relief and prote&ion.
The laws you have already passed for the eftablilhment of a Ju
diciary system, have opened the doors of justice to all defcrip-
ions of persons. You will consider in your wisdom, whether
'mprovements in that system may yet be made ; and particularly
whether an uniform process of execution on (entences issuing from
the Federal Courts, be not desirable through all the States.
The patronage of our commerce, of our merchants and feamcn,
has called tor the appointment of Consuls in foreign countries. It
<ems expedient to regulate by law the cxercife of that junfdic-
ion, and those functions which are permitted them, either by
express convention, or by a friendly indulgence in the places of
ieir residence. The Consular Convention too, with his Most
Christian Majcfty, has stipulated in certaio cases, the aid of the
national authority to his Consuls eftabli(bed here.—Somelegifla-
ive provision is requisite, to carry these flipulations into full effe£b
The establishment of themilitia—of a mint—of standards of
weights and measures—os the poft-office and post-roads, are fub
je£ts, which (I presume) you wi 11 resume of course. and which
are abundantly urged bv their own importance.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,
THE fufficiency of the revenues you have established for the
objects to which they are appropriated, leaves no doubt that the
refiduaiy provisions will be commensurate to the other objects fo r
which the public faith Hands now pledged. Allow me more
over to hope that it will be a favorite policy with you not mere-
to secure a payment of the interest of the debt funded, but as
far, and as fact as the growing resources of the country will per
mit, to exonerate it of the principal itfelf. The appropriation
youhave made of the Western Lands, explains your dispositions
on this fubjeft, and I am persuaded the sooner that valuable fund
can be made, to contribute along with other means, to the actual
reduction of the public debt, the more salutary will the measure
be to every Public as well as the more fatisfaftory to our
conftitu^nts.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and
House of Representatives,
IN pursuing the various and weighty bufincfs of the present
feflion, I indulge the fulleft pcrfuafion that your confutations will
be equally marked with wisdom, and animated by the love ot
your country. In whatever belongs to my duty, you (hall have
all the co-operation which an undiminifhed zeal for its welfare
can inlpire. It will be happy for vis both, and our best reward,
if by a fuccefsful administration of our refpcftive trusts, we can
make the eftablithed government more and more instrumental in
promoting the good of our fellow citizcns, and more and more
theobjcft of their attachment and confidence.
United Slates, December Bth, 1790.
FRANCE.
national Assembly.
September 9.
TUMULT AT St. ETIENNE, IN FOREZ.
A number of people had afiembled on the 4th
instant, of which M. Birtheas was thcoftenfible
cause.
The commandant sent a detachment of the
National Guard to condudt M. Birtheas to the
Guardhouse. —This detachment was followed by
a very great croud of people of both sexes—it was
feared the guard would be inforticient—it was
accordingly doubled, and being even then not
of fufficient strength, M. Birtheas, by way of
fafety was imprisoned.
He was accused of having monopolised corn.
__To appease the people, his house was exam
ined, in which there was found only a fiViall
quantity of corn. After this, the guards about
the prison were almost dispersed, and the peo
ple were proceeding to break open the gates.
Neither prayers nor entreaties could hinder them
they broke them open—seized M. Birtheas,
and murdered him ! '
Next day (the 9th) the inftirgents proceeded
of their own accord, to the election of new Mu
nicipal Officers, and to make regulations ref
pe<sting the prices of corn. On this a number
669
G. WASHINGTON.
[Whole No. 169.]
of citizens armed thetnfelves, and proceeding
against the insurgents, nrattcanu».\.„«i- t |,
prisoners, who were conducted to L)ons.
The aflembly, remitted theprocefs and punifii
men t of this fhameful bufmefs to the Tribunal of
Lyons, who are charged to pursue all instigators
and agents in this horrid affair with the molt
pointed severity of the laws.
M. de Sillery communicated to the aflembly, in
telligence, that in the plains of Jales, at the foot
of the Cevennes, an army of 20,000 Gardes Nati
onalesare allembled,headedbya troublefomeprieft
named La Bajlide, sword in hand, with a crols
in his hat, who had made them take a fort of
oath to set 011 foot a solemn Crusade for the re
formation of abuses at Nifmes.
Saturday, OCI. i,
The Assembly proceeded to lire order of rlie
day, the difcullion of the affair of the 6th nf Oct
Mr. Chabraud undertook the defence of Mr.
d'Orleans, with great warmth and zeal, read
ing and commenting on several parts of the re
mitter of the police, which were favorable to Mi. *
d'Orleans. He alio read fonie letters, complain
ing that the teftitnony ot several persons of cre
dit was not received.
Mr. d'Ellournal demanded that tliefe papers
lould be sent to the Chatelet.
Which was oppofedbyMr. Mirabeau, who de
clared that he Hood forward as the accuser ofthe
Chatelet, which he would profecuteto his grave.
The propoficion of Mr. d'Ellournal was reject
ed.
Mr. Abbe Maury said, that in an affair of this
fort, the Allembly should follow the ilricftelt rules
of justice—he therefore proposed to hear the ac
cused fii ft, if they wiflied to speak, then the wit
nelies, and afterwards such members of the Af
feinbly as should desire to give their opinion oil
the measures the Aflembly ought to take.
Mr. Goupil wished that such members as were
witnesses should withdraw, and lliat tliofe only
who were dilinteretted lliould take part in the
debate.
Mr. Mirabeau deflred that an exception should
be made in favor of those deputies, who having
been summoned to give their testimony, declared
they had noth?ng to depose.
The Abbe Maury then delivered a speech, in
which he argued that the Aflembly ought not to
pronounce the absolution of Mr. d'Orleans. He
laid he lliould notoppofethe decree that there is
110 ground of accufution againll Mr. Mirabeau—
there did not exist charges againll him fviflicienr-
ly Itrong to support the decilion of the Chatelet,
but that the luuation of Mr. d'Orleans was dif
ferent.
A Prince of the blood accused ofbeing seen on
the morning of the 6th of Otfiober, encouraging,
the allaflins who maflacred the gardes du corps,ana
attempted even the Queen, ought as a defend
ant worthy ofHejiry 4th, to prostrate himfelf in
the fencftuary of jultice ; and to provoke its se
verest scrutiny ;he declared that it was by such
ineansalfo, he could clear up his innocence, and
that his friends,and the friends of his reputation,
ought to advise him to demand the vengeance of
the tribunals.
Mr. Mirabeau then appeared in the tribunal,,
and declaimed with great warmth against the
proceedings of the Chatelet, which he declared
to be a monument that would attest to future ages
the iniquity and anticipation of the judges of this
tribunal. ' He then examined the different accu
sations which were made against him, and an
swered them all in a fatisfacftory manner.
Mr. Barnhave undertook the defence of Meflrs.
d'Orleans andMirabeau,bothof whom he declared
to be irreproachable ; and it was the judgment
of the Chatelet alone which merited the indigna
tion of every good citizen.
I The Aflembly divided 011 the question, and de
clared the two deputies free from all inculpation.
Sunday, 08. 3.
A letter was read from Mr. Silles, a young of
ficer, who diftinguilhed himfelf at Nanci, mo
destly thanking the Aflembly for the eulogium
they had bestowed upon him, and desiring that
this might be conlidered less as the exercise of a
virtue than as the performance of a duty.
A report was made to the Afleinbly of commo
tions in Languedoc, with information that the
people of Carcaflonne Ihewed a difpofuion to re
volt.
The Aflembly decreed,that the Executive pow
er Ihould be called upon to interpol'e, and with
tii&o
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