frJ-Bjrt-eflior., therefore the burden of
llfciro'of falls on the gentleman liimftl
Jh« nature of the government, as it
proiibits the other branch from intermed
in the Gift formation of money bills,
ard expreTsly dffcribes how far the exe
cutive power may interfere with the le
#idative, is fufficiently exprelGve of the
folign of the constitution. Legiflativc
authority is in its own nature incommu
;nicable, and cannot be transferred ; a
member of the legislature cannot appoint
a deputy toferve in his place ; if any pow
tr is evclufively veiled, it is that of giving
> the firft complexion to reveitue fy Items ;
r thss is the fpeciiil trust of that branch
which poffefles within itfelf the greatell
knowledge of the people's circnmllances,
and participation of their interefla j and
this influential power is thus guarded for
obvious reafotis. 13ut the conllitutional
principles involved in this question have
been explained with so mush ability by
fcveral ot'<er gentlerotn who have been up
before me,that it is not neceflary to detain
the House longer on that head.
However, another argument which has
! been frequently repeated, and particular
ly ur?ed by the gentleman lalt up (Mr.
> Gerry) requires some further animadver
' funs. It is, that by the law which de
fines the power of the Secretary, we are
bound to refer the revenue bulinefs to that
officer, and to receive the original plans
f-oin him ; that if we do not ait accor
ding to this law, we.will set a dangerous
example of difobe«Tienee to the citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I aik, had the Houie of
ifrrei'c ntat.'ves a right to originate in the
rit indance r venue fyltems, before tin's
l» made ? This I presume will not
kc denied ; if that Houle had the power,
rre not the powers of this Houle equally
lienfive? Can one Honfe of Reprefenta
iws abri-.!f;e or alienate the powers of
Bother Ms this can be done, we may
sway the wnftitutional powers ot
fture Hiiufis to any extent. In fliort fir,
htvc as much |>;>'.vc- now in 'his House,
bapy ir.eßiiit'i ; vtr had in any former
my conduct a« ;■ member is oi.ly
iSri&d by the couftitO'lion, ami by tiie
rulei of the House, which we
change at pleafute by a vote. I have
(nght ow to more on this floor, an o
ir'nal plan, fur the very purpcfe in quef-
BSSfrtfcTTf- s»klT piiiffl'fe ;
™i» a power veiled with every n>t niher,
Mi/tqttent}y with the whole House, and
thry'cannot transfer it to a secretary,
pthe fcMte or to any officer, cr public
kdy on eatth.
The law in qceftion gives a capacity
to the fecrctary to prepare plans when we
direst him to do so ; it makes it his duty
(how far that law is proper, is another
«jueiliou). But the law docs not, nor
cannot, oblige us to call upon him to
do that duty, or reflrain us fiom doing
it ourltlves.
It talk much of our power to
hiifyfteraj; but this is not
*e ; it has been already ob
we might alter or reje£t a
Itous by the Senate, or by
i but it ii our peculiar duty
the original cortipltx
:«ms, and this is, by univer
ftefmed the mod important
1 part of the business.
!ifceinment and virtue, is by
to urged as a fuffjeient fecu
ay influence or danger, that
srife from transferring this
>ty to an executive officer ;
ive no doubt of our
a pretty good opinion of
nt 5 it \i an agreeable thing
ea good opinionofourfel vtrs.
ipprehend, the most venal
hat ever existed, would have
irown integrity, as well as
enough for uj that the con
rowded other securities than
md virtue j our fclf-confi
ight tq> induce us to break
f the constitutional guai ds.
5 other things, I (hall ma ke
tioni upoo the vantages
ges arising from both fides
)• Some of the difadvanta-
arc, that by originating
stems in the house our mea
fluctuating, public credit
or loft, and a flop put
ial prefperity ; and, as the
U P, Mr. Gfcr>ry, has repeat
confulions of the old ro
be introduced. It is ad
icconftitution puts it in the
power of the representatiVes to give the
firft form to revenue plans, if they choose
to do it ; at lealt, that it was optional
with them previous to the law : if, there
fore. they cannot do it themselves without
all thole mifchievons confeqitences, it is
time to change the government itfelf—it
is much better to do so, avowedly and
deliberately, than in this insidious andin
diredfc manner. However, I wish we would
11 7 r rle' le experiment in a few inltan
ces, and if those bad elfeftsare produced,
l ' le . gentlemen's arguments in favour/of
their plan will receive experimental aid.
to the confufions of the
old government, I am at lome loss to
know what the gentleman means ; it is
true, the old Con rrefs was velted with a
confulion of powers, viz. legislative, exe
cutive, fee. but this is not the cafe with
U3 ; the old Congrels had also a confufed
manner of doing business ; they seldom
lud a full house : this circnmltance laid
them under the neceflity of referring much
of their business to the heads of depart
ments ; against doing which, the confe
deration had provided no such express
guard, as our constitution does ; I have
always apprehended, that, from that con
fufed habit of doing business, the pre
fect method of referring legislative af
fairs, to the heads of departments, found
its way into this house ; and it is against,
and not for, that old confulion, that I
contend.
With refpeft to the advantages arifin"
the Secretary of the TYeafury giv
ing the firfl principles, and oiiginal com
plexion to our revenue systems, they are
nated to be great and numerous ; but
they are well summed up, by the gentle
man from New-Yofk (Mr. Lawrance)
who fays, that to this method of doi.xr
bufinels, we are indebted for the retrieved
(late of our national affairs, for all our
wealth and prosperity. Surely if this
proves any thing, it proves too much ; if
the Secretary's influence and abilities can
| do so much good, it is a proof, that if he
j is either mistaken, or wants viitue, he may
by the exercise of this power, do much
hurm. According to this way ofreafoning
Congress mud be responsible for all that
is wrong, and the Secretary have the
credit of all that is done well; will any
pcrfon who fuptwrt* thi-s aflVrHon, pre
tend to si y, that -f entrusting the fe'cie
tary with originating r.fra«.
ney biib, produced (uch important effects
that it does not veil him with the means
of an undue and dangerous influence.
But does the gentlemen believe that
the preient government, vetted with fnch
rxtenfive and eftcdive powers, and poffcf
fed of such ample means, would have left
those powers unexercifed, and those
ritans unapplyed ; that Congress would
have paid no itfpeA to the contradls, and
made no for the debts of the
Uiuted States, if the Secretary ha<J not
or inflated 'lie plans 1 surely this is not a
fuppofable cafe ; nor is it very conliftent
with another obiervation made by the
gentleman, when he told us, that the Se
cretary's preparing apian was attended
with no more influence than' would be
produced by the clerk of this House m
fertiug a clause in a biil—both instances
being equally fubjeft to our control. I
would not content, nor do we permit our
clerk to originate systems; but if we
cannot do it ourselves, it would be much
more confident -and fafe, to trust it with
our clerk, who is»wholly dependant on
the House, and may be liifmifTed by it at
pleasure, and has no patronage conneded
with hig office, than to entrust that potr
er with an executive officer, chosen by the
Prcfident, and dependant on him for his
continuance in office, and having an cn
creafing patronage connected with his of
fice. Certainly, fir, if an officer mast be
paid to originate our revenue systems, we
ought to provide that he should be ap
pointed by and dependant upon the House
of Representatives.
When we reflect upon the fabjeft, and
look rouni us, we will find no example
in the state governments to countenance
our conduit, and theie were the models
after which the government of the Union
w is tormed j nor is it pretended that the
Constitution under which we ad, and
have fvvorn to support, expressly gives a
ny such power, and I am persuaded that
the general Convention which originated
the government of the Union, nor the
State Conventions who adopted it, con
templated no such implication, as is now
contended for in lupport of our piaAice.
(Debate to be continuid,-)
207
MONDAY, November 26,
Mr. Wadfworth, member from Omnc/ti
cut, took hi: sent this dnv.
r^rK 0 /' J° h "^ n, S -a, rrad and
reurrert to the Secretary of y/ar
The petition of William Storv, qnd the B
«ndn, t / Ke Williams ' and 'others,
'° the Secretar y ths
The petition of sundry persons, matters and
Zr^ S e T pl °> od e coaf,!:
J ,'f! r complaints of the duties and
are ftbjeA to, as being extra
vagant, and praying relief: read and referred
roa& d r e ° nthebin " r= 3 ll 'fte the
A !ko.*» reirnburfe certain extra exo-nces
w C^ n,millitmers for of'peace
with the drwfc ln.lian,, was read "the fS
W , and referred to a committee of the
whole to-morrow.
J™?. bl " Providing for the rc s ifterin|r and
ve(r - ls , brought in,
v. ioned, read the thud time, the blank'!
ailed up, ai»d passed. '
In committee of rlie whole,,on the Ml] f or
regnlatis^ foreign coin,, and for other pur-
P "■ Sed £ w 'ck in the chair.
The committee agreed to fuiidry proposed
inendmeitcs, which were reported to the
t t,,e c ,", airlna "- Ti ' e ho,lfe '""k the
Mme into confrderjtion, and adopted them all.
An amendment was raovrd in the house by
Mr. Madison, and agreed to : the hill was
then ordered to be read a third time to-fior-
Mr. Ames presen ted a representation fi 3 ned
\Wrntr M.tftin, 011 the subject of the negro
*t w:is rcad and laid the table
Mr. Murray on the table the following
aiotion : 1 hat the clerk of the honfe be di
reflcd to purchase for the use of the house,
maps of ihe separate States, and of the United
On motion of Mr. Fitzfimon-, a resolution
was that the tomnyffionei s for fettling
t ie acwunts between the United States and
indivH ual States, be Arerted to inform the
house, u what time they shall be ready to
make report; and what obstacles, if any, exist
to obttruft their pregrefs in the business.
Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Nov. 27.
Mr. v/. Smith, of the committee appointed
for trie purpose, reported
A fjl] to afeertain the fee? demamiable in
the »dm>raltv courts of the United Stsfs and
to amend in part, the a t for the government
of teajiien in the merchants' service which
wauu-ice read, and referred to a committee
, vv ""le house 011 Monday next. Interim,
to be printed.
Mr. of the committee appointed
for *h.? purpose, reported
-4bi!l tor licencing 'and enrolling shins or
+ 1 ? ' 0 * ■MpBWW in' the etaftln*' I 'ade and
i i.4rie<, ard for regulstir" the ( \;r —which
' •a' \>id tf ice and committed iVrr Tur.Day
jiext—loo copies to be printed.
Tl'e e'erk began the third reading of the
bid f'~r regulating foreign coins, nndfor other
purposes—hut, at the request ofMr Page, the
resdiiifr was fufpended,and the bill laid on the
table till'to marrow, forfurther coniidei at ion.
A of the Secretary of State on t';e
petition of John De Neufvilie, was read
which, after recapitulating add examining the
items referred to in the petition, con
cludes with this o;.'nion—That no part of it
ought to be graured.
Aconirr.un'cation from the Governor of
the territory N.W. of the Ohio, enclofmg a
petition of the inhabitants of Port Vincennes
on the Wabafh, praying to be exempted from
the chavjes cf iutvey, was read, and referred
to Meffis. Li verm ore, Muhlenberg and Leo
nard.
The p?t:troij ofjtnncan Campbell, praying
for reasons fet'forth, to be placed on tlie pen
sion liit—was read, and referred to the com
mittee already appointed on iimilar applica
tions.
Mr. Murray called up his motion empow
ering the clerk to purchase maps for the uf"e
ot the honfe—which being taken into conlide
ration, was agreed to.
In (committee of the whole on the report
of thfl Secretory of the Treafu'v, resetting
101 lor destroyed certificates—Mr. Sedgwick
in the chair.
Mr. Lee, after some preliminary remarks
on the pilipoferi and moved sundry
re r o!arion-, which he read, and submitted to
the coinmitte?, as abafis for further proceed
ings in the buftnefs.—
The motion being ftennded, the refoltiiions
wcif uken into confidei ■ tion—after some de
bate, Jhe question being taken on the firft resolu
tion, ic wr»s difygreed to.
A motion Win then made that the committee
rife ; (he committee accordingly rose and the
chairman reported that they had come to no re
folutwn on the fubjcfl ol the report : A motion
w.is then made thai the committer should be dif
cbr.rpcd from any further confederation of the
bi:lin-f« ; this mo:ion was negatived—and the
commit I e had leave 10 fit again.
Mr. Giles moved that a committe be appoint
ed to bring in a bill granting further compen
sation ft) certain receiver* of continental taxes;
laid e>n the tabic.
Mr. Muhlenberg callcd up the report of a fe
left committee on the petition of Moses Young.
The rrport being read, wai made the ojder of
the day for Monday week,
Mr. W. Smith called up the report on ihe ps
• tion of Ch?rlfi and Garanja£ which
wis read, and made the fßer gf the Hottfe on
Tcefdav next.
On motion of Mr. Goodhue, of jbt
Sfcrttjry of fbr TreaOiry petition of th«
exccutori of Edward was read,
aad commitlceof whole House
on Fiigay next. i« ■ ■ Adjou' ncd^
Philadelphia, Nov. 28.
a " d
of the U ft :ted States, for Maffnchu'etts •!!
SnmZ, TLn !^'V'. r . anCi^ Daa!,, Incrfafi>
Moses G;jl, ShepaVci, Dwis'.t Foiv'r'
V/"te?r J - S "T r ' £fccn^'-
I „ " fln 7' Solomon Freeman, wilU-.i
uiv"'- 1 r- nt '' Pe:e s^ovtb,N a .
IU '• c! 'v, L.quire?.
of in Co " erect tar ti,e SWe
S' :hCr Am , e,: . Er q- FJix, Benjamin
vv„ V"' f Sairwl Ockter, {»».
Thp 1 Altcllius WaH - E'q- terkkirc,
Theodore Sed S w,ck, EG,. Jtrijlot, Pele a Coffin,
Esq. AtUrg,-, {lon. David Cobb, Elq.
A (hip ha, lately arrived at W fcafl"et, in
Ca -| rom England. She brings an ac
count that the Duke of Bran/wick had ad
vanced so far towards Paris, aj that he had
fuffered the armies of France to furrcnd
him , and it was expected that he would ne
ver be able to return—their have .'/
Says a correspondent.
That partiescxift inal! governments is incon
trovertible ; pray what brought about a fccood
Ktvolution in the (.'lilted Slates, hut party ? By
party I mean the ccrtifaatc holders, vulgarly cal
led public creditor,. This body of mrn nude
the continent ung with accounts of the dea
den Itate of our public affairs ; that our uhioo
as a fopecj fund," that our commerce was
annihilated, and that the States were devouring
each other ; these weie the notes, but the ground
work ol rbr mutic was or ;l you
pica if avsrice ; and ii may perhaps fee fafeiv
'• '• h »'l not been for the paper de.
mauds agjinft ihe United States, that fccalted
fabric the New Constitution, would never have
met the support that it Hid? Now that we have
got th's constitution, those who were so zealous
in advocating it, difcoverthat it has its dele*la ;
and like the old conudcraiton, they/ear it will
also prove a rope of find, tt remains to thew
by experience how lar it is possible lor a govern
ment to I t stable, lhat is the offspiingoi pany.
VI hen Mr. Adams's Defence of the American
Conttuniions firft appeared —a gentleman ob
(erved that it would be a very popular woik
tco yea is h?rce ; that it contained too many
solemn, ftiibborn truths to n. let general appro
bation at the prefrnt day ; that lime alone could
unfold and enforce their propriety, lullxe and
applicabilily to the constitution o't man. Mr.
Adams hai however lived to fee the truth cfone
important observation verified wiih refpeft to
himfelf, at a much earlier period than could
have been reafomhly expf&cd from the strong
opinion entertained by that gentleman, and o
ther diftinguiftied advocates for the high rc
ja-b:is.ju ofefcifcScr <)] tin. people of this ecntntrv.
The go'gon luad of party frews itf< If in it«
proper form in the foiled States, and there is
the g'-ate't aspiehenfions entertain a by many
of the bi-ftfitends to the liberties of America,
that mertt, abilities, and ferviccs, in the person
of as great a patriot as this or any other country
ever, pioduccd, will be I'acrificed at its ilirine.
The re election of Mr. Adams to the office
of Vice-President, is perhaps as important to
the interests, peace and freedom of the United
States, at this period, as any erent of a fimi—
lar nature ever can he to this country—
especially when if is confide red, that not one
enemy to Union ,or the Constitution is to
be found among his friends—and that the most
a&ive of his enemies are known to poilefs fe»-
timents hostile to both.
The mode cf attacking the Vice-President
of the United States, in publi/hing mutilated
extracts from his writings, is fimiiar to that
of the Atheist, whoaffbrted thatheconldpro\e
by the bibJe il There is no Cod."
A HJi of the Fortuvate Numbers in the Net.*
Brunfwick Lottery, willbe publijhed with our next.
QS* Phi LANTHRoros camelee/tfe fir thit.
day's paper.
SHIP NEWS.
ARRIVED<2/ the PORT?/'PHILADELPHIA.
Ship Edward, Orne, NewburyuPort
Brig Per feve ranee, Brows, N. Brunfwick
Schr. Sea flower, Austin, du(o
Sally,
Dot phin,
Sloop Betfcv,
Polly,
Hickman,
Watson,
DJJRO,
lfozcnao,
PRICE OF STOCKS.
6 per Ccntc,
3 per Cents,
Deferred,
Full [hares Bank U. S. 45
| Qiarfs,* 56
Unfunded debr of U. S. 31/6 on the principal
And on the lnfereft up to Ift Jan. 1788, 13^.
THE EDITOR-TO HIS SUBSCRIBERS.
THE Arrearages oj Subjcriptionsfor tins Gazette
have been Jor a long time accnrnu'nting. Iheex
pences oj the publication are great and inevitable, and
have annualh amounted to much moke than the
receipts for fubfeription* ; the eonfeeiuences tnuji be
obvious. The Editor has no other rejource than those
arrearages, todijeharge the debts he has teen obliged
to incur in prosecuting the publication.
He is therefore "necefiliated to repent his applica
tion to those who have received fubjeriptior. money on
account oj the Gazette 0 and those who have not l aid
what is due, to make remittances as Jo on as p<Jfib!e %
On theje receipts, the continuation oj this Gdlctte. on
the plan of an extenjivefy circulating paper u abjo
lutely fufbended.
—JU&
'vtxa***
&ojion Caztte.
Portland t Nov.
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ei/fl
j e/g
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per cent. preir