Th: rvhole natter v. '!l 'VcnTn
ucrgo a more eittn&ve investigation than it is
i.i my power to fcive; and the ev;l# attending
upon either of the proje<sU, that of feftorai
the Bouiboiw, or of attemptizig a partition of
Jr wi'.\ ) .ve the calm opportunity of Le
ng fully cis cufiVd.
Un tne part of England, it is very extraor
dinary that lhc should have engaged in a former
confederacy, ara long and oxp.nfive war, to
prevmt the fr.ir.iiy compact, and now engage in
another confederacy to pref rve it. And on the
iv.ri of the other powers, it isasinconfillent that
they should -T.|>agt in a partition project, which,
c .iid i; l»c executed, would immediately dc
flroy the :>.'hii;rc of maritime power in Europe,
and %vouiu obahly prcinc a/econd war, to
rcm-.Hy the errors of the fjrft.
A Citizen of lis United Suites oj America.
CONGRESS.
iioufi of Repn-fentatlves.
. January
In c: :;:,uhfcj of iht whole cn Mr. MaJifon s
refoiutlOfUi
Mr. Giics'e speech Concluded.
Nothing can be more degrading and in
fnlt:n£ to the United States, than the
t::r.ipor.;ry i.ifpcr.f.or.s of the prohibitory
n. iL i i'.oju. Lehold a hungry colonial piae
f< t., a", i. ill a prgfeCfc, anticipating liim
£• •:% declaring by proclamation to the ct
t:/::as of the United States, that if they
wtii furaifii ft*tt! with food wllhiua certain
jhveri limited time, he will vowchfue to
cat. it, and behold the citizens of the U
ii -d Slater catching at this fin
-g.ihr ?.:t of co;.dcfccnfion.
Although it has been contended that ,
our cominc :c with Great Britain is Upon ,
a footing not to boconrpiaine:! of, it has
bn cofleedeu, that our naviotrtioii labors
u-ulttC rctfri&ionV. A gentleman
ft >ui M.nT^chufelts, (Mr. GooduueJ. who
i.s vctijaik tbie for the perlpicaity and de
ii i<lends of lii.. ideas fecms to ha*e had
rat bet looiv. corveptiona up«n this lubjeA.
r :': :t g-. -cleman remarked, and it hrts ,
been repeated, that he was in favor" of an
encieaic* of upon all fore :'t vet- I ,
ids, o 'liout dilciiminat.iun. His motive
V. *,! :■ prot of Our own fh'pjiin
t-!3 ofcj tu the difcriininStiq;'., was
the competition of France. ■ The gentle-' i
r- n remarked at the lime time, that in
cafe high _d Uiits fhptild he imposed upon I
h,ii.in ciiajiaciures, Fiance in the pre- <
f .it it ate of things, was dlfqnalificd fiom
f.oplying us. If the gentleman really has
J'"- protection of our (hipping, as well as
t:ie manufactures at" heart, by extending
his reflection) a little further, he would
have fouwl a contolation in this truth.
That the fame cause which at present
difqualiiies France frusr. fupplyiug us with
manufactures, would difqualify "her from
any dangerous competition with o'ir (hip
ping ; but can it he deemed a serious and
varied objection to the propofuions, that
France may ultimately participate in the
advantages ? Is this a proper ground for
refufing to our (hipping and manufactures,
a prtfent, as well as a permanent eiicou
rur -lent : Ihe fame gentleman remaik
ed that the encreai'ed duties would operate
as a tax upon our conftkuents ; if this
fiiould be one effedt, it ought not to a fiord
a t -objection, li tnev be productive, it
encrcafe the ability of the trtafury,
an! is Jtnowji that an encreafe of reve
nue is anticipated. This objedtion does
not lunv.ver corriport with another, which
hrs h?en indefinitely mentioned by several
r ntiemen : but hac be. a reduced to more
1 i nt' ' i> by a gentleman from Marv
! (Mr. ForreltJ. He afierted that
t-> ce-foa: .I j of our reve-rie will be affect
c.lbr the p opolitions on the table.
1 :us is an important confederation, and
merits examination : He declared that no
gentleman was more disposed than hitnfelf
to vote tor that portion of revenue, which
lh«uld be deemed essential to the proper
awd n-ec'Tary eu/rgy of the govertiment;
lie thought th's part of the fubje6t had
been examined ; he admitted, i
the revenue may uhimatelv be lefiened,
but" it wili not be 1011. Inhere is no cer
tainty thrtt it will be lefTened. From his
view of the p.opofitfoiu, and the manner
in which l .. blanks will jrrobahly be tilled,
lie was of opinion, tiiat the revenue would
f r feme tun; be augmented by carrying
the prope(sti<r.is into effect.
j an. Hou.d continue to be the cafe, un
til the incrcafe of dutie) (hould so far di
mmish importations, as to counterbalance ;
the difi rrr.ee 1 ween the cxifting duties, <
art! these pro; ofed to he laid. 1
Ir the o • ti<m of ttie propofitionj r
(houid dimui./h the irri>ortation of luxuries, t
Ol) f\v h? It wov.Vt iocreaft ihe a
b-hiv ot t!ie Lhr.ed Sratvs to pnv revc-
nue 5 and he did not conceive the particu
lar mo le of drawing revenue, was at all
to the United But i.°
lnier.t of revenue he concl
lmpoi
this a
will it ciafe to Operate with th<
f.\me io.'ce, that it now docs ? If gentle
what t
me:' a:ii!_ip:: 4 .cd ill'-'
tlir j)!-: tvC.t, wH.m ihc na-
ti->•» ill iv uiak'j ;i.i c
tioa us violated lights without alarms to
revenue ! !
It ins be
a
a jcntkmaii frumNew Jcifcy,(Mr.Clark)
vvi.o has had great experience in American
allairs, that this was not the language of
America, at the timeofthe non-importa-
tion afibciation6 ! This was rrot the lan
gunge of Auterica, at the time of the de
claration ot Independence. Whence then
this change of American sentiment ? Has
America less ability than {he then had?
is ihe less prepared ora national
flie then was ? This cannot be pretended.
There bras been, it is true, one great
change in her political lituation. Ame
rica has now a funded debt ; (he had no
funded debt at those glorious epochs—
May not this change of sentiment, there
fore, be looked for, in her change of si
tuation iii this refpeft? May it not be
looked' for, in the ininiitative., fympathe-
mization of our fumjs with the
Britiih fwmls ? May it not be looked for,
in the i idiT iminate participations of ci-
tic or
,lnd so!'
gners in tr.e emoluments
of ti»e funds 1 May it not be looked for,
in the wiihes of some, to affimulate the
government t>f the United States, to that
of Great Britain ? Or at lead, in wilhes
for a more intimate connexion !
If these caufrs e.;i(t, it is not difficult
to find the f itirce of t'.ie national debility.
It is not difficult to.fee, that the interelts
of the f-AV, who receive and difbilrie the
nubhc e-vif»':i't!)utioii:» are more
than the intercfts of the great majority
of the society who furnifli the contribu
. lions. 'It is not di ucult to fee that the
government, instead of for a
few millions, is legislating for a few thou
sands, and that the facrednefs of their
rights, is the great obstacle to a great na-
tional c:-:
Mr. G. remarked, that political confi
scations in his opinion, combined in re
commending the pmpofitions at the pre
sent moment. The European war, the
delicate crisis of the war, afforded ill his
mind, fbong inducements to the measure.
These conliderations had been urged with
a view to anoppoiite effect ; but he would
aik, v.hat time would be chosen by a
wife nation comparatively weak, to ad
drets herfelf to an unjust nation, compa
ratively strong, for a restoration of viola
ted rights ? Would it not be, when the
strong nation fnould be so engaged, as to
be inc?.pab!e of exerting her whole undi
vided force in the refiitance ? This is the
cafe with Great Britain at present : For
whatever may be the ultimate event of the
present European contest, the subjuga
tion of Trance, will require at leajl, ano
ther campaign. Here he thought the
tart adage, quoted by some gentleman,
fitted the fubjeft much better than that
part of it to which it had been applied.
No friendlhip in trade. The United
Strin-s only demanded a restoration of vi
olated rights. Great Britain has com
mitted the violation. It was unnecessary
to recapitulate the aggreflions of Great
Biitaiu, upon the national rights of the
United States. He could not help re
peating one circumstance: her subjecting
American veflels to seizure and search.and
exempting those of Sweden and Den
mark. This evidenced a peculiar enmity
levelled at the United States. He men
tioned this circumstance, for another rea
son. It (hould be recollected, that some
unauthorized attempts were made upon
the veflels of Sweden and Denmark, and
that firm and manly answers produced
concefiions. As the only neutral nations
except the United States, they have set
an example, which ought be imitated ; for
notwithstanding the trivial weight of the
United States, in the scale of European
affairs as has been suggested, he believed
that Great Britain would prefer a war
with both those nations, to a war with the
United States.
The recent example of Sweden and
Denmark, proves that the British cabinet
are as fenfihle of the advantages of con
celfion, in some cases, as they were insen
sible in other cases, of the diflionor of com
mitting depredations on the rights of o
thcr nations.
Mr. G. thought another consideration
of the moment, extremely important.—
The injuries and insults of Great Britain,
repeated and continued, have excited such
an impulse in the public mind, that the
whole people would feelingly second any
decisive measures, which the government
might adopt, for rellonng the"honor of
the nation; and if a national trial (hould
be the result of the propositions, it would
from that cause, be commenced under the
moS pleafmg, and promising auspices.—
Several gentlemen opposed to the resolu
tions, have declared their resentment a
gaintt Biitain, and profefled themselves
for energetic measures, to restore the ho
nor of the natio". He wilhed the gen
tlemen would fpecify their proportions,
and biing them before the committee:
he thought it would be a much better evi
dence of their dispositions, than objecting
to the present propositions without offer
ing a fubftitutc. He declared that he
ion for the rettora
was not so much wedded to the present
proportions, as not to be willing to con
i'der any others, which might he better
caloulated to produce the intended effect.
A gentlemen from Virginia (Mr. Lee)
who informed the committee, that he
was not fer.t here to indulge his resent
ment!:, profeffed at the fame time the
most violent resentment againll the cabi
net of Great Britain; while he pronoun
ced an eulogy upon the Britiih people.—
1 f the people would adopt the gentleman's
idea, and separate themselves fom the ca
binet, he might be juftified in his distinc
tion. The proportion 'in that cafe,
would be levelled against the cabinet, and
not against the people : In that event,
both his resentment and attachments
might be indulged. But if the gentle
man would recollect, that the difpofitioa
of the people, towards the United States,
is communicated only thro' the cabinet;
that they fopport tfie cabinet—that the
cabinet is the organ of their will, he will
find that his diltin&ion is wholly without
foundation.
respected,
We have been admoniftred, of the pro
priety of baniihmg feeling, and resorting
to judgment. A nation being corapofed
of the aggregate of individuals, he be
lieved poiTdftd the fame feelings, and he
doubted the truth of the philosophy,
which advised us to banifli an effentisd in
gredient of human nature. Feeling and
judgment, ought to perform their respec
tive offices ; feeling Ihould Simulate our
a 6 ions ; judgment (hould diroft the wi
f.-ft means, for its gratification j patience
is an admirable bead of burthen ; but not
of enterprrfe ; it bears misfortunes well;
but was never calculated to refill oppres
sions. The United States have been in
jured and insulted. Instead therefore of
patience and forbearance—wifdom, cau
tion herfelf, would prescribe boldness, en
terprise, energy, firmnefs. America, has
therefore purfiied this condu£t, and expe
rience has proved, that it is not unwise.
He helieved that Great Britain, calcula
ted upon her own influence, and a want
of concert in our counsels ; now was the
time to convince the world, that injury
from abroad produced concert at home.—
This conduct had therefore characterized
America : he hoped ft would always con
tinue to characterize America.
Legislature of Pennsylvania,
Mr. Evans called the attention of the
Hotife to the fubjeft of the impeachment
against the Comptroller-General, now pen
ding before the Senate. He observed,
that Mr. Nicholfon had given an answer
to the Senate, pleading not guilty to the
charges comprehended in the articles of
impeachment j it consequently now rests
with the House of Representatives to re
ply to the said answer of Mr. Nicholfon.
Mr. Evans therefore moved that the fol
lowing resolution be agreed to—viz.
" Resolved, That the House of Re
presentatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennf\lvania, prosecutors on behalf of
themselves and the people of Pennsylvania,
agamit John Nicholfon, Comptroller-Ge
neral of the Commonwealth, reply to the
answer of the said John Nicholfon, and
aver that the chargc of high misdemeanor
against him the said John Nicholfon is
true, and the said John Nicholfon is guilty
of all and every the matters and things
contained in the articles of impeachment
by them exhibited against him in the man
ner and form as they are therein charged;
and tliii the said Hotife of Representatives
(Delate to le continued.)
Wednesday, February 5,
are ready to prove again ft him at fucii
convenient time and place as the Senate
(hall appoint for that purpose."
The rcfolution was accordingly adopt
ed, and a committee appointed to carry it
to the Senate.
Mr. M'Lene from the committee on
the fubjeft of the several petitions in re
gard to the revival of the laws agninft vice
and immorality, brought in two reports
—viz. One of them 011 the petition of the
SeventhDayßaptiftsjthat the prayer there
of cannot be granted. The other,
" That the ast for prevention of vice
and immorality and of unlawful gamiiig,
and to re (train difoiderly sports and dissi
pation, palled the 25th day of Sept. 17 86,
ought to be continued in force, with a
mendments and alterations.
" Soft. I. To be altered to- suit the
present constitution.
" Sett. 2. Continued.
" Sect. 3. The exception in favor of
stage coaches and waggons to be struck
out.
" Se£t. 4. To remain without any al-
teration.
" Sect. 5. Imprisonment for drunken
ness to be altered from 36 to 24 hours.
" Seel. 6. Judges of common pleas in
stead of justices of the common pleas, and
to include mayor and aldermen of the city.
" S. 7. Complaint to be made within
72 inilead of 48 hours.
" S. 8. The penalty on cock-fighting
to be 230 dollars itiftead of 51. and to
be confined to persons fighting the cocks
or batting, and not those that niay be as.
fembled.
" Bullet playing in any place for mo
ney, or on any public highway without
any bet, two dollars.
" Horse racing for money or other va
luable thing, fine to be 5I. —and the jus
tices of the peace to have ju,rii'di£lion.
" Gaming for money at cards, dice,
billiards, bowle, ihovel board, or any
game of hazard or address, two dollars—
justices of the peace, mayor, aldermen,
&c. to have cognizance.
" S. 9 & io. To remain as they are,
only juitices of the peace, &c. to have
cognizance.
"S. 11 & 12. Toftand, with the al
teration of the !ine from 501. to iol. and
justices of the peace to have cognizance.
"S. 13, 14. & 1 To remain as at
present.
« S. 17 to Ire it. [N. B. Sea. 16
was l-cpealed in 1791. It was against the
theatre, and. is not to be renewed.]
" S. 18 to be 19, and the recommen
dation ior tavern licences to be made to
the Governor.
" S. 19 to be 18. One half of the fines
imposed for a breach of the law 6 to be al
lowed to the prosecutor, the other half to
the poor of the ward or townliup where
theoffenee is committed.
" S. 20 to be 19 and remains as it is.
" S. 21. Struck out.
" Therefove the following resolution is
submitted, viz. That a committee be ap
pointed to bring In a bill agreeably to the
foregoing principles."
Order of the Dav.
The house resumed theconfiderationof
the hill for dividing the state into ditlrids,
for electing representatives in Congress.
A question was taken on a motion
w ''ich had been debated yesterday, for
postponing the prefentconfideration of the
bill, for the purpose of taking up a re
solution for a substitute, which p.opofed
another mode of elettion, for throwing
the whole Hate into one district. The
poftponevnent was negatived, ayes, 2o r
noes 44, so that the original plan of di
viding into twelve diftri&s, recurring, it
was considerably debated, and feveial a
mendments proposed.
The report was finally adopted, and
committed for a bill.
To the Senate and House nf Representa
tives of the United State! in Congrejs
The Memorial and petition of the Dc.
legates from the several Societies,
formed in different parts of the U:iu
ted States, tor promoting the aboliti
on of slavery, in Convention a,Tem
bled at Philadelphia, on the lit It day
el January, 1794.
RtfprSfuUy /he w,
That your memorialists, hnvfnr
been appointed, by various Socie
ties, in different parts of the Union, for
the benevolent purpose of endeavouring
to alleviate or fupprtfs forr.r of the tnlfel
ri.s ui tlietr fellow creatines, deeiu it