gtited beacon 011 Shell Castle Ifiapd iu
ihe harbor of Occacock, in th« State of
North-Carolina."
Ordered, That '.he Secretary acquaint
the Houte of Representatives therewith.
A melfage from the House of Repre
sentatives by Mr. Beckley their Clerk :
" M. Prefidcnt—The House ,of Re
presentatives have pafied a bill, entitled,
" An ast for the relief of Reuben Smith
and Nathan Strong," in which they de
iiie the concnrrehce of the Senate." And
he withdrew.
The bill Isft brought lip for concur
rence was read the firft time.
Ordered, That this bill pass to the fe
csnd leading.
The petition of Dennis Mc Ready
and others, in behalf of the manufac
turers of tobacco and * :iiff, against an
additional tax un those articles, was pre
sented and read.
Ordered, That this petition lie oil the
table.
Mr. Ellfv.-orth from the committee to
whom was referi-ed the bill, to authorize
Diftrift Judges to adjourn Circuit Courts,
reported the bill amended, and the report
being agreed to, and the bill amended ac
cordingly ;
Ordered, That the rule be so "far dis
pensed with as that this bill be now,.read
the third time.
Resolved, That this bill pass, that it
be engrolted, and that the title thereof be,
•' An ast further to authorize the ad
journment of Circuit Courts."
Ordered, That the Secretary defsre
the concurrence of the House of Repre
sentatives in this bill.
After the confideratinn of the Execu
tive bulinefs.
The Senate adjourned to 11 d'clock
to-morrow morning.
Wednesday, May 14th, 1794.
Mr. Ellfworth from the committee to
whom was referred the bill entitled, " An
ast providing for the payment of certain
expenses incurred by Fulwar Skipwith,
on public account," reported amend
ments, which were adopted, and the bill
amended accordingly.
Ordered, That the rule be so far dis
pensed with as that this bill be now read
the third time.
Resolved, That this bill pass with a -
mendments.
Ordered, That the Secretary desire
the concurtence of the House of Repre
sentatives in the amendments to this bill.
A message from the House of Repre- j
fentatives by Mr. Beckley their Clerk :
" Mr. President—The House of Re- I
- prefentatives have pasTed the bill,' sent J
from the Senate for concurrence, entitled.
" An ast further to authorize the ad
journment of Circuit Courts." And he
withdrew.
v The bill sent from the House of Re
• prefentatives for concurrence, entitled,
" An ast for the relief of Reuben Smith
and Nathan Strong," was read the second
time.
, Ordered, That this bill pass to the
third reading.
Mr. Cabot from the committee to
whom was referred the bill, entitled, " An
ast for erecting a light-house on the I
sland of Seguin in the Diltrift of Maine,"
reported amendments, which were adopt-""
ed accordingly.
Ordered, That the rule be so far dis
pensed with as that this bill be now read
the third time.
Resolved, That this bill pass with a
mendmentß.
Ordered, That the Secretary desire
the concurrence of the House of Repre
sentatives in the amendments to this bill.
A motion was made that the next ses
sion of Congress be held at Boston.
Ordered, That this motion lie for con
sideration.
The Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock
to-morrow morning.
O
CONGRESS.
House of Reprefentaliies.
May 15.
This day came on in the House of Re
presentative's of the United States, the
consideration of the resolution some time
past laid on the table by Mr. Goodhue,
for guaranteeing an indemnification to
those fufferers who had sustained lodes by
British spoliation on our commerce
Mr. Goodhue moved that the refohi
tion might be referred to a committee of
the whole House, wbich was seconded by
Mr. Dexter—it was then moved by way
of amendment to the motion b" Mr. Day
ton, to these words, " to whom was
rsferrrjfcfrhc r_filuihin for the fequtjlration of
British M'ti, to which Mr. Gbodhue ob
jv/fted, because ,lt? laid fujjjefts jjtere
dillinft and in their natiiri and
flaght not to.be combined ; his resolution
went qnly to ejlablifh the principle of in
demnification by guaranteeing it to the
fufferers, leaving the fund from which it
ihould he made, {in cafe Great Britain
should refufe to do us justice) to a future
£oaiidvtjLU<U<» that whether British debts
were letnieffered or not, he said the Unit
ed States were bound to fee that indemnity
was dudt'to the merchants whose proper
ty had been kidnapped in a secret clan
destine manner, while pursuing a law
ful trade under the authority of this go
vernment and the law of nations, or to
give them an opportunity of indemnifying
themfdves by making reprisals—that it
was well known there was great oppofitic-fi
to the feqiieftration of British debts, aid
it was very doubtful whether such a mea
sure would ever be adopted ; and if this
resolution was to be referred to the fame
committee and become connected with
that, he should very much despair of ever
getting any indemnification; that British
debts were a very precarious and uncertain
fund, and the idea of ever getting indem
nification from that source would operate
as a delusion, that if fequeltration under
any circumstances could be proper, it was
highly improper at this time when an en
voy extraordinary had just been dispatched
to Great Britain, and more so as we had
difcontinucd the embargo, which would
put all onr'remaining vefiels in the power
of that nation—he (hould therefore consi
der an agreemeent to the amendment as
amounting to a determination not to coiw
fider the l'ubjeft at lead for the present
feflion.
In support of the amendment it was
argued, that the two fubjefts had an inti
mate connection with each other, and ne
ver ought to be separated ; that Brjtifh
debts and British property, were the na
tural and only funds, for paying British
depredations, and if indemnity was not
given this way, it ought not to be given
at all; that as it was probable, the reso
lution fo> would lay dormant
for some time, it was belt to refer this to
the fame committee, that they might.ffeep
together-—the amendment was supported
by Messrs. Lyman, Dayton, Nicholas,
Smilie, Dearborn, Madison, Clark and
Giles.
Mr. Dextei against the amendment,
said, that very ftiong reasons existed both
for taking into confideraunn a proposition
for indemnity to the futferers, and also
against connsfting it with fequeflration or
any other fubjeft. Each ought to stand
or fall on its own merits. The fufferer's
were numerous and deserving citizens;
they had waited a long time, and had a
right to know before the close of the fefli
-110 what protection they were to expect
from the government of their own coun
try. Sequestration without a change of
political circumstances would never pass
both Houses of the Legislature ; to con
nect them then, would be to deny relief,
without even examining the principles on
which they claim it. He said British debts
had been called the only proper and natu
ral funds ; in his opinion they would be no
fund at all, even if fequeltration could be
adopted ; the debls would never be col
lected ; and not only so, but fequeflration
would be the beginning of hoflilities, and
wai must ensue; this at the fame moment
would pi event all hope of obtaining justice
from Britain, and also discharge our own
government from every obligation to in
demnify. Mr. D. said he would slate,
what in'his opinion was the proper and na
tural fund ; the money to be demanded of
Britain by our envoy extraordinary. Should
this fail, the government of America would
either pay the fufferers or grant them let
ters of marque and reprizal. This, he
said, is the conflant course of nations, and
this the fufferers have a right to demand
as a counterpart of their allegiance. Mr.
D. said it had been objected that the Bri
tish government would be encouraged by
it to refufe a recompence. This if true,
would be a serious objection, for he had
always viewed negociation as affording the
only probable chance for indemnity to'the
fufferers; if a recompence be refufed by
B. itain, war will be the consequence. The
objection however he thought would be
entirely removed by attending to the reso
lution itfelf. It is not he said a provision
or taking the debt on ourselves, but meet
ly to guarantee a recompence to the fuffer
ers ; the very word implies that the 20-
v* cf At - t ,-rt th* tr-w"'®!
f debtor, but is to tompel another to make
f iidemnity, ot- become the debtor- Mr.
D. closed with fa; ing that he had attend
? Ed only to the teafoning of the gentlemen
1 aid not to their personalities ;it was not
i his practice to leave the to impute
tj otheis, motives either corrnnt or pal
i try ;if they chose to glean iihaginary lau
t rds on this ground, he was not anxious to
i flare them; they could but judge whether
; in this way they were likely to encreafc
3 their reputation, or benefit the public.
MefTrs. Sedgwick, Ames, Murray,
Smith of South-Carolina, and Hillhouie,
also spoke against the amendment, and
said the merits of neither proposition were
now before the house, but only the mode
in which the fnbjeft should be considered
i —that they were in themfclves separate
and independent, and ought to have a se
parate and independent consideration—
i they were questions of very great nation
i al concern, and that blending them toge
ther would give an undue bias, and neither
would be fairly and impartially decided.
It was doubtful whether the resolution
; for sequestration ever ought to be adopt
■ ed, and that to conned the two fubjefts,
! would be to hang a mill (tone about the
necks of the fufferers—that as they were
j a numerous and very meritorious class of
i citizens, their claim merited a candid snd
• full examination, uuembarrafTed with any
other matter.
The Yeas and Nays were called on the
amendment, and were as follows: —
YEAS.
MefTrs. Bailey, Baldwin, Beatty,
Blount, Boudinot, Carnes, Christie, Clai
borne, Clark, Coles, Dawfon, Dayton,
Dearborn, Dent, Findley, Giles, Gillei
> pir, Gillon, Greenup, Gregg, Griffin,
Grove, Hancock, Heath, Heiiter, Hind
man, Hunter, Locke, Lyman, Macon,
Madison, M'Dowell, Meban*, Montgo
mery, Moore, Muhlenberg, Neville, New,
Nicholas, Niles, Orr, Page, Parker, Pick
ens, Pre (ton, Rutherford, Scott, Sher
burne, Smilie, I. Smith, Talbot, Cort
landt, Venable, Walker, Williams, Winn,
and Winfton. 57.
NAYS.
MefTrs. Ames, Armstrong, Bourne,
Cobb, Coffin, Coit, Dexter, Fitzfimons,
Foster, Gilbert, Gilmatf, Glen, Goodhue,
Gordon, Hiflhoufe, Latimer, Learned,
Lee, Malbone, Murray, Sedgwick, J.
Smith, W. Smith, Swift, Thatcher, Tra
cy, Trumbull, Allen, Gaafbeck, P.Wadf
worth, and Watts. 31.
The resolution was then referred to the
fame Committee to whom the resolution
for fequeftiating British debts was refer
red.
For the G jzette of the United States.
CONSIDERATIONS on EXCISE.
THAT the manufacturers of the United
States are unwilling to contribute their (hare
in the expences of government, and that
they reft perfectly content, let who-may,
kear that duty, so they are exempt, are
charges, which with a considerable lhare of
iiduitry, are endeavoured to be impi elled on
! the public mind.
To a class of citizens unconscious of a dif
polition inimical to the happinefsof society,
relying on their induury, ufefulnel's, and ir
reproachable conduct lor the approbation Of
their fellow men, no afpernon could have
been more injurious ; it is therefore in urn
bent upon.them to state some few faCts, from
which the unprejudiced will make the due
inference.
That the expences of government a-e to
b: defrayed is' moll true, and ehearfuhy
ought the citizens of this highly favoured
country to contribute each his apportiohate
lhare ; it ihould be considered as a free wi!l
oflcring rarher than an exaction ; it is a mu
tual participation in the expen es of' that so
ciety, by which we are protcifkd in our per
sons and property.
If the proportions of wealth is the just
criterion by which to rcgjlate the quota of
tax for each individual, and that it is, ap
pears confirmed by the popular opinion—
" that Luxuries Jhould be the mojl heavlfy r.f
fejjed, because the cpule/it are the consumers"
it could be easily diftinguilhed that the manu
facturer and they who (from their sank in
■wealth) are termed the middle class of citi
zens, have not only paid their fufficiency,but
greatly more —as a tenant, he must frequent
ly pays the tax on the realeftate of his land
lord, and as a citizen over and above his own
he participates in the taxes levied for the
protection of the delinquent personal proper
ty (however overgrown) of the wealthy ci
tizen.
Toalledge then that the manufacturer or
the industrious mechanic fliall pay, even yet
more than this excise to which he is now ac
cuHomed in order to preserve unfubfidized
that property which the power of wealth has
hitherto secured from afieflment even for its
~-r-'CVjon, is nothic?; lhort - ;c! -
1 ' '
j ration tliai .thoji (hall become the " b:vjjrs if
wood and drapers of water''. The cou
tenlpJafed tSx o'd manufactures, were it on-
If on accpAut of*nfre banditti of that kind of
exciferfxii hitherto unknown in America,
with the rigor of the laws nece.'iary to give
efficiency, and to qualify their infolenee, it
in itfelf the most execrable, and to the liber
ties oi freemen the molt dangerous.—ls ir
becaafe they poflefs more enterprise, are
more ingenious, or that they are lefe lirupu
lous of the sweat of their brow, that they
are to be fiugled out? are then their peculiar,
improvements, knowledge, or excellence,
the result, perhaps, of y< ars of a/fiduity and
research, to be of no longer value, and are
to be subjeCted to the moil common inspec
tion and exposure ? I hope not. But the a
pology (and experience proves it only an a
pology) is, that the coufumer arr.i _ not the
manufacturer will pay the duty j had this bean
well founded or the result of djie-enquiry, it
would have been some conlolation ; tluf it
is either I deny, and in confirmation take one
well tried, stern, and recent fadt, in prefe
rence to a volume of theory.
The iate excise on wines, &e. in the state
of Pennsylvania was Bd. per gallon, the fair
dealer paid the duty, and demanded a profit
ot io per cent, which included waiie, &c.
the falfe fweartr de uanded no fich profit,
the duty answered his purpose, the ultimate
proved that nfftead of a revenue to the state,
it became a bounty tor his perjury, mau°*re
all the watchfulnds which could be exerted
for its lupport. "Need Ito add that what lit- ,
tie duty the state received, was paid by the
| iuir trade, whole bufmefs in Confeqnence itc
camepf no value, while the abandoned cha» '
raCterflourilhtd on thfc bulk of the duty con
teinplated for the commonwealth.
The receipts into the Treafurv became
daily less, until at the formation of the fede
ral government notwithstanding the vigi
lance of a worthy office it became wh~n
compared with the expeCted amount a v-ry
pittance, but if viewed with refpedt to its
effect on foviety, dreadful.—Should I be-here
told that it was in confeqnence of the Inef
ficiency of the law , the hi'ilory of all revenue
fyltems in Europe will make the answer aril
prove that the utmoil deipotifm is unequal
to their maintenance.
One of the greeted securities which the
community have is, that when the Legisla
ture levy a tax, they in general alio tax
themselves ; but iu the instance of an excTe
on manufactures it is possible they may
-overwhelm, while themfeives fee! none of
the effect. Wealth begets gower, and po\ver
too oft leads to ufurpatjoii; to obviate these
imprefiions, protect the riling interests of dis
country, induce harmony <n society and good
W'U to its rulers is peculiarly the duty of the
reprelebtative of a free people, and hiseleva
tron to that h.'iior which his feliow
ciiizens can confer, will I trust, be a pledge
lor the faith'ul and exemplary maintenance
of the compact for support of just and equal
rights, forbearance in power, rejection of
felf interest, and an attachment to the prin
ciples of equal liberty, are the means by
which his rose to the highelt pinnacle of hu
man honor, and real dignity one of our fel
low citizens, and whose prudence and mag
nanimity receive apphufe even in the cabi
nets of Europe.
As flourifhes the state, fuffer then to flou-.
rtfh the manufactures and cherilh the arts,
chargeable only with an equitable (hare of
its burdens, and having arrived at just earn
ed wealth under the countenance of a good
administration, their participation in its ex
pences lhall bear its fulleft proportion, so
(hall the happiness of the community be
permanently fixed and the rulers of govern
ment receive th:ir higjieft reward in the ap
probation and attachment of a free people.
i ANTI PRCETBXTUS,
UNITED STATES.
COLUMBIA.
Proceedings of the Legislature of South
Carolina.
HOUSE of. REPRESENTATIVES.
May 3, 17^.
j Col. Anderfon (late chairman of the,
j committee, appointed 6n the second day
of Dec. 1793) with full powers to fend
for persons, papers and records, to exa
mine into, and ascertain the truth of a re
port, " that an armed force was levying
within this state, by persons under a fo
reign authority; without the permifiion,
and contrary to the express prohibition of
the government of the United States,"
informed ihe House, that himfelf and the
other members of that committee, had
been sued for their a&s done as members
of that committee (which they had sub
mitted to the House, and which the
House had thought proper to approve) by
Stephen Drayton, for a fuhi of 60,0c0
dollars ; and that their meflenger, Col.
Wade Hampton, had also been sued for
executing their warrants and orders ;
which luits have been brought by Alex
ander Moultrie, attorney at law.
Whereupon ordered, that the informa
tion of Colonel Anderfon be referred to
• -■> privileges and elections. '
'