CONGRESS.
Houfz of Rcp'i tfcntafivcs.
January 30.
In commit'.: t - uj -;<•
rcj<J*utiuru
SjKicb of Air, Madijon.
[ .'ONTINUED.]
4t'jfy. T.i* prjpofcd rcfolutions would
favor an advantageous competition and
dntribution ot our trade, among the ma
nufactqri ng nations of Europe. At pre
f nt, it may he said to be monopolized by
one ; To great is tire di'proporlion of its
m inufadtures which come to our market.
I nat this is an evil, has been admitted,
*;id cinnot be doubted. It exposes us to
the greateit and molt sudden cmbarrafl*-
tn« nts from th£ capiiee, the paiTuns, the
mistaken calculations of mterelt, the bank
-1 nptc.es, and the wars of *a Jingle foreign
country. Miny of embarrafTmcnts
are felt at the present moment. If it were
poflible to liquidate them into a pecuniary
ltatement, it would be found that, in a
permanent view of our interest, there would
be economy in making very considerable
temporary facritices, for the purp9fe of
dividing our custom among a number of
competitors. It was not true, that Great
Britain alone can fupplvthe manufactures
we want. Fiance, the United Netherlands,
and fevcral other nat\>ns, are capable of
Supplying us with a variety of articles, as
well as the nation from which they now
come; and, if invited to our markets
V prudent encouragements in the firft
mlUuce, will soon lcain to faPnion their
manufactures to the wants ar,d tailes of
this country. The policy of favoring* par
ticular branches of ftracje, even at some ex
pence, in order to guard againlt the evil
of depending on a single one, was exemp
lified by the condu6t of Great Britain her
iv lt. A •though he viewed her difci.imina
tions generally, refpeaing, us, in .the light
he had explained ; yet, he thought it pof
fibie, that in the iiutance of naval stores
a-.vl it might be her intention
to fofler a ri/afeh:p ,n a dillant quar
ter, in order to provide against a casual
pi tvation of the lupplics of a nearer quar
ter. 1 nefe artieies are central to the ma
rine of Great Britain ; her marine is
eiTcntial to her greatuefs Were (he to
have no reiource but in the Baliic, a war
wfth the Baitfc powers might be fatal to
h r. .It may be wife in her, therefore, to
iteep ooen t.e American resource, even at
tle p?ice of a tax on hei fe:r. In this' cafe
(he mult' quarrel with both the Baltic
powers and the United States at the fame
time, be for? thefupplres will be cut off.
A member from Maflachufetts, (Mr.
D&ter) had not, Mr. M. said, been very
eo.uiltent in his i eafoning on this fubjedt.
rich id contended againit all attempts to
Excite .a beneficial competition, on the
idea tli t no competition could be benefi
ci 1 .vhich would not spring up of itfelf;
and yet he had warned us against the dan
ger, that Area's Britain, by exciting a
competition agair.ft the United States, in
tiiofe parts of Europe, which mod refera
ble the infant situation of our country,
might eftablilh new sources from which
supplies would afterwards fpontaiieciufly
flow tu her, without being «ver again
w anted from the United States. The fame
remaik was applicable to the leafoningof
the other gentlemen who had represented
the danger of exciting a permanent rival
(hip for the Weft-India market, in favour
of Canada and Nofk Scotia.
Fifthly. The plan of the resolutions
tended to conciliate nation! in treaty, or
disposed to be in treat)' with lis, into ar :
rangemen:B still more favourable to our
commerce-. This argument had peculiar
weight in relation to France. It had been
said that Great Britain was our belt cus
tomer. The fa£l, he said, was that we
were her bell cullomer: but that France
w;',6 our best customer. We consume more
of British manufactures than any other
nation in the world consumes. France
consumes more of oiir productions, than
any other nation confurr.e3. He referred
to the statement* he had before offered for
proof of this. Her consumption was also
of the most valuable kind ; and under fa
vourable regulations would be a very grow
ing one. It confiltcd of wheat and flour,
kit provisions, and firh; articles which
were not admitted by Great Britain ; and
which without the market of France,
would glut every other.
Of ourfilh (he consumed si ve eighths of
the whole exportation. Her use of our
live animals was another important cohfi
deration. It amounted, in the lilt of our
exports, to 352,795 dollars, for the year
1791. In the fame the Britilh de
mand amounted to no more than 62,4.15
dollars. The superior proportion of na
vigation we enjoyed in the French chan
nels of intercourfc had already been {hewn.
In examining the policy of cultivating
and securing the Fiench markets, he said
it ought not to be forgotten, that the pro
fits and the revenue ariling from the rum
diltilleries, depended on an article obtain
ed almoit, if not from thifc
French dominions alone ; and which was
the only raw material of any confequcnce
imported into the United States. It was
paid for also, as had been much urged on
otiiei occalionsby members on the oppo
site lide, in the worll fifli, which could
find a vent in no other part of the world.
The MolafTes imported into the United
Statcsin one year, amounted to upwards
oi leven millions of gallons, more than
one half of- which went into the state
of MalTachufetts. He took notice also
of the article of sugar, as rendered of
great importance by our habits and our
finances; and of which more than one
half was fuppliedby the French Weft-In
dies. Out of 17,142,723 dollars impor
-9,32 dollars were received
from that source. The residue came from
the Danifti, Dutch, and British domini
ons, in the following proportions, to
wit. Danish, 2,833,010 dollars, Dutch
*»7°7» 2 3 J dollars. Britilh 2,280,647
dollars. This ltatement was taken from
the imports of 1790, the only year he
had been able to examine on this point.
It had been said, why grant privileges
before a mutual grant should be secured
by positive stipulation ? Why throw away
by a legal regulation, wtoat ought to be
the price of treaty ? He answered, that
the legal regulation threw nothing away*
as i; was always recoverable : That in the
p: „fer.t iiiftance, it was only meeting the
legal regulations of which France had set
the example : that inltead of being a bar
to treaty, such a courie of proceeding,
more than any other, would smooth the
way to it, by explaining the objects, and
eftabli/hing. a confidence, on both fides—
that it be happy, if in all cases,
where treaties are in view, this open and
cone ilia t orjr -process. could take the place
of that relerve and mysterious r
on, with which the parties approach each
Other. Were Great Britain deiirous of
forming amicable arrangements by treaty,
he affced what readier or more prudent
step could file have taken for the purpose,
thap to have followed "the example set her,
by holding out in her laws, the spirit in
which Hie was willing to meet us in nego
ciation ?
on Mr, M.iitjoiis
Having gone through these explanati
ons, Mr. M. entered into a view of the
principal obje&ior.s to the " resolutions
proposed.
I. It was said they would diminish the
revenue, and endanger the funds.
With refped to the public debt, his
general ideas had been exprefled by several
who had spoken before him. He acknow
ledged that he had disliked and opposed
the modification given to it; but after it
had received the fanchon of law, he bad
entertained no other with on the fubjea,
than th.it the debt might be honorably
difeharged, as fact as the circumstances of
ttye country would permit. This he was
r well frtisfied was the prevailing sentiment
of the great body of the people, lie did
not believe, that there was a fingfe state
in the Union, or any considerable part of
a single state, that did not acquiesce (where
they did not approve) in the provisions
vyhich had been made in behalf of the pub
lic creditors. At the fame time he was
equally sure, that it never was either meant
-by Congress, or understood by the' public,
that in mortgaging the import for their
security, it was to be an hostage to foreign
countries for our unqualified acquiescence
in their unequal laws, and to be worrte,
as long as the debt (hould continue, as a
badge of national humiliation. The nature
of the obligation could certainly import no
more in favor of the creditors, than that
the fund appropriated (hould be applied,
as far as requisite, to their nfe ; unless e
quivalent funds (hould be substituted ; nor
more against the public, than that all de
ficienrfiei in the fund (hould be made up,
whether arising without, or in consequence
of, a change in the laws. If it (hould
happen,- then, that in consequence of any
mcafure, dictated by the general good,
the impofi: (hould become inadequate to
its obje£t, all that could be exacted by the
public creditors, would be some other
provision that woiJd supply the defalca
tion ; and it ought not to be doubted,
that the people at large, whose good was
purfaed, would readily support whatever
other provision might become indifpenfi
ble. He had made these remarks, how
ever, with reference to an event, which
he did not by any means admit to be pro
bable. The more he had revolved the fub
jedl, the more clearly it appeared to him,
that a very operative addition might be
made to the duties on the enumerated arti
-cles, without endangering the Aggregate
product of the importations. Ai.d he en
tirely concurred in opinion with those,
who had observed, that the greatest injury
which' could be done to the class of citi
zens holding the public paper, was to re
present their interests as more to be re
garded, than any national considerations
whatever; and to oppose to the latter,
even the most imaginary contingencies to
the former.
(Speech to be continued.)
March 11
Sundry petitions were presented and
referred.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the bill to provide, for the de
fence of certain ports, See. and, after
some time spent in the business, the bill was
reported with amendments and pafled to
a third reading.
A bill came down fra&tlie Senate pro
viding for building 3, light-house on Cape-
Hatteras, and one near Occacock Island ;
twice read in the House.
A bill was reported, providing for
building a light-House on Seguin in the
Diet rift of Maine—twice read.
These two bills were incorporated to
form one.
The amendments of the committee of
the whole to the bill providing for the ex
pense attending foreign intercourse were
agreed to, and the bill pasTed to a third
reading.
Adjourned.
Wedrlefday, March 12
The bill providing for the defence of
certain ports and harbors was read the
third time and passed.
The bill making appropriations for the
fopport of the military eftabliihment of
the United States for the year 1794. was
brought in engrofled—in filling up the
blanks, the estimate of expences which
will attend the fortifying certain ports and
harbors was incorporated— the bill was
then pafTed.
The foreign intercoarfe bill was also
palled this day.
Mr. Sedgwick, after some prefatory
remarks, read agreeable to notice on Mon
day lad the following resolutions :
Resolved, That there be raised, armed
and equipped, fifteen regiments of auxi
liary troops, toconfiftof iooo men rank
and file each, with the proper officer*.
Resolved, Fhat the commiflioned *flp
cers thereof be appointed as other officers
of the United States, and that the non
commissioned officers and privates be in
lifted for the term of two years ; and with
this condition, that if war should break
out within that time, between the United
States and any foreign European power,
they (hall be bound to serve for the term
of three years, after the commencement
of the war, if the fame (hall so long con
tinue.
Resolved, That in the cafe of such
war, the officers of the said regiments
shall be entitled to the like pay and sub
sistence, and to equal rank and command
with the officers of the present military
eflablifhment of the United States ; but
except in such cafe (hall be entitled to pay,
only for the time they (hall actually attend
on the days of training and excrcife here
after mentioned.
Resolved, That each non-commiflioned
officer and private (hall, by virtue of his
lnlittment, be entitled to a bounty, con
filling of a suit of clothes per annum, of
the value of twelve dollars, and (hall also
be entitled to a compensation of half a
dollar per, day, for each day he (hall as
semble for the purpose of training or
exercising ; which except in cafe of war,
with some foreign European power, (hall
not exeei d twenty-four days in one year ;
& in th-t cafe each noncommissioned offi
cer & private (hall be entitled to the fame
pay and rations, and (hall be fubjeft to
the fame rules ami regulations, as the o
ther troops of the United States.
Resolved, That the said regiments (hall
be furmihed witharms and accoutrements
at the expense of the United States to be
returned at the expiration of their ferm
of services
Resolved, That revenues by taxes br
duties, competent to the purpose of de
fraying the expense of raising and paying
the said troops, be provided.
Resolved, That within two years and
Gx months after the time, which (hall be
prescribed by law, for beginning to enKtt
the, said troops, if no war (hall in the
mean time break out with any foreign
European power, the regiments aforefaid
(tfallbe abolilhed andceafei
Resolved, That the President of the
United States be authorised, if in hia
judgment the fafety or welfare of the
United States (hall require it, to lay an
embargo generally or particularly, upon
(hips in the ports or harbors of the Unit
ed States,, fpr a term, not exceeding at
any one time, forty days, and also to pro
hibit for a like term, generally or particu
larly, the exportation of commodities
from the United States, and such embar
go or prohibition to continue from time t6
time, until the expiration of fourteen
days after the commencement of the fat
(ion of Congress next ensuing the present.
These resolutions were read- twice and
committed, and ordered to be printed for
the use of the members.
A (ketch of the remarks which accom
panied the above resolutions (hall be givetf
to-morrow.
A mefiage was received from the Pre
sident of the United States, communicat
ing sundry representations from the offi
cers of the Spanish Legation—these were
read with closed galleries.
Foreign Intelligence.
LEGHORN, Nov. 27.
Yesterday we witnessed one of the mod
dreadful catastrophes. Le Scipion, a
French fliip "(If 74 guns, carrying
600 men whicß was lying at anchor
in this port withthe Britifli lquadron un
der the command of Admiral Cofby, be
came a prey to the flames. At three
o clock in the afternoon, large columns of
black imoke, riling from all parts of the
(hip, were the fore r unners of the flames,
which began to break forth a few mo
ments after. The crew, who were almolt
all on board of her,& had not the fmalieft
luipicion of any accident, finding they
could not withstand the rage of the fire
mostly flung themselves thro' the flames
into the sea, every one driving to es
cape with his life. Mean while a great
number of the jolly-boats belonging to the
Bntilh, Swedilh, and Neapolitan men <
war, picked up many of the unfortun
lufferers, and a great number of dead 1 -
dies were afterwards taken up, fuffocatei
or.drowned.
The reft, being invalids, or Ivifhinir to
ratingmlh the flames, which Wan to
spread in every part, fell victims.
About 4 o'clock, all -the and
malts were seen on fire ; the port-holes of
the cannon resembled ft, maty furnaces if.
fmng a fiery lava. The guns, loaded ei
ther with grape (hot or balk, we „t olf,
and threatened to set fire to the reft of
the ihipping.
Rear-Admiral Colby, finding the squa
dron of his Britannic Majesty too near
the French (hip, and exposed' to the moil
imminent danger immediately failed from
the harbour. Shortly after, the French
Ihip bore away from her anchors all on
hre ; fortunately a strong gale from the
kind, had preferred the (hipping i„ the
harbor from definition,while Le Scipion
pal Ted along, and that prevented great
misfortunes.
About eight o'clock in the evening.
-Le ocipton was four Italian miles from"
the port, when the great explosion took
place in the store-room, containing 300
barrels of gun-powder. The column of
fire, rose to the height of near 300 fa
thoms ; a large smoke ensued, which ap
peared interfered with flames, and du
ring several minutes the whole horizon
leemed to be on fire.
The explosion was so great, that it rr
lembled the effect of the mod dreadful
(hock of an earthquake, and an immense
number of window panes in this city
burst. After the explosion of the flore
room, the water rushed into the body
of the hulk, which began to fink.
About two o'clock in the morning no
further fignt of fire appeared on the fur
race of the sea.
t ' >e morr| ing, a piece of the ship wis
14,11 fecn out of the water, full of coali,
and covered with b«dies.