/<
py of thi* ptoanlmg before the Prtfi
dent of the United States.
The Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock
to-morrow morniug.
Friday, Way 16th, 1794- 7
Mr. Foiier reported from die commit
tee on enrolled bilk, that they had exam
ined the bill, entitled, " Ao a& for the
relief of Reuben Smith, and Nathan
Strong," and that it was duly enrolled.
A message ft urn the House of Re
presentatives by Mr. Beckley their Clerk :
" Mr. Ptefiilent—The Houle < f Re
presentatives have appointed a committee
to join fych committee as the Senate (hall
appoint, to report what bulineis is iie
i cfiary to i>e done before the c!o<e of the
feflion, and when it (hall be proper to
end the present feflion ; and request the
appointment of a committee on the part
of the Senate.
" They have palfcd a bill, entitled,
*' An adt making provilion for the pay
ment of the interest on the balances due
to certain States, upon a final fctllement
of the accounts between the United States
and the individual States," in which they
i'efire the concurrence of the Senate.
" Tlie Speaker of the House of Re
presentatives having figncd sundry enrol
led bills, 1 am diietled to bring them to
the Senate for the signature of the Vice
President." And he withdrew.
The b'.ll lr.it brought from the House
of Representatives for concurrence was
read the firil time.
Ordered, That this bill pass to the
second reading.
The Senate proceeded to the conside
ration of the rcfolution last sent from the
House of Reprelentatives, for the ap
pointment of a joint committee, and
Resolved, That they do concur there
in, and that Mr. King, Mr. Ellfworth,
and Mr. Hawkns, be the committee on
the part of the Senate.
Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint
the House of Repiefestatives therewith.
The Vice-President (igned the follow
ing enrolled bills, to wit, the bill, enti
tled, An act providing for the pay
ment yt certain expenses incurred by
tulwar Skipwith, on public account."
Hie bill, entitled, " An ast further to
authorize the adjournment of Circuit
Courts." The bill, entitled, "An ad
for eredting a liglit-houfe on the island of
Seguin, in the Diftri& of Maine ; and
for erecting a beacon and placing three
, buoys at the entrance of St. Mai y's li
ver in the Stare of Georgia." And the
bill entitled, " An ad for the relief of
Reuben Smith and Nathan Strong," and
they were delivered to the committee on
enroll ecs bills to belaid before the Presi
dent of the United States.
The petition of Moses Brown and o
thers, merchants of the State of Mafla
chufetts, praying that further time may
be allowed than the law provides, to ena
ble them to recover the drawback on cer
tain foreign goods intended for exporta
tion, for reasons dated in the petition.
Oideied, That this petition, together
with the petition of Oliver and Thomp
foii and others, merchants of the State
of Maryland, on a fimifor fubjrft, be re
ferred to Mr. Cabot, Mr. Ellfworth, and
Mr. Hawkins to consider and report
thereon to the Senate.
On motion,
O; clered, That Mr. Langdon have
leave of absence after Monday next.
The Senate adjourned until Monday
morning at 11 'oclock.
From the Maxtiand Journal, &c.
CONVERSATIONS— No. 111.
™ S - h ' ntinued Agathon, as we
entered the Lyceum, will appear more vift
ble in times of imminent danger. If there
fliould e*ft a F art y in the republic, who
I S overnmcnt ' or an ambi
thev wilM n ' r a " n f :he a dministration,
a I ant tl r eonjundlures, to
adapt their measures to the current passions
■ the people, in order to reduce those who
are cnarged with the care of the public wel
fare, to the disagreeable dilemma of oppo-
t S fl\ P T iar err ° r ' or ihe fafety of
the state, by yielding to it. "
we sownH d T ° W reac s e l the M hall, where
we tound Jimon and Zenocrate;, ene-aeed
in a very animated discussion. and furrE
ed by a very numerous crowd, who seemed
tohften with uncommon attention.
y i° U W3nt reven S e ? exclaimed Timon •
trust only to your paflions; who ever though?
o, revenging mfults in cold blood ? Phflfo
r r °j- C JOU lmmen (e wrongs, Why think
oe of hi, V ! • bct,er to ftLce l; p°" !
h raid ast .r ; P ' • W -" S an J i
a-rald afterwards to miorm him upon m Jut 1
terms you tra! reftwr it. He has violated
your rights, why nal violate his ?
Good Heavens! laid Zeuocrates, when
has it become a rule hi politics, to decide up
on the mterelis of a Hate during thole violent
movements of the foul which pervert the
judgment, and change, in the fight of the
molt confederate, the true afpeA of things
To enable a people to determine wifely,
ought we to excite their passions, or render
them tranquil! Surely it is one iliing to ob
tain justice, and another thing to revenge an
insult. If, Athenians, you are of opinion
that war ought to be made upon Philip, on
account of the inftilt, it is very well; but if
your obje«sl is only to obtain juitice for the
wrong Philip has done you, would it not be
prudent to put yourselves in a condition to
keep the town before you rcfolve upon seiz
ing it ? Timon telis you that Philip will ne
ver actempt to recover it, should you take
it; but how can Timon know 1 what Philip
inttnds ? Philip has committed a flagrant
violation of your rights, and Timon advises
you to become as criminal as Philip. I lhould
like better, O Athenians, to fee you conform
to the culloms of wife nations, the obliga
tions imposed upon you by justice, the dut ; es
of humanity, and the interests of the repub
lic. Call upon Philip to repair the wrong
he has done you, and as the town cannot be
removed, prepare to seize it with a Jiifficient
force, lhould justice be refufed, By this up
right proceeding you will be applauded by
mankind, and favoured by the Gods, who
abhor injustice and violence.
At a little distance flood Menilleus, ex
plaining and recommending to the Athenians
a new lyftem of commerce.
Menilleus always discovers ingenuity, said
Agathon; but his genius inclines him too
much to abilra<slions, or, as Crito exprefles
it, the occult qualities and eflential forms of
politics. I lis present proposal is not h s least
chimerical, and reminds me •of the project
of Epimac'hus, who believed that he could
change the position of the world by the pow
er ot mechanics : In like manner, Menilleus
thinks th::t he can transfer manufactures and
wealth from one country to another by a
fifcal operation, or resolve of the people of
Athens. It is to this turn of mind we ought
to afcr:bc his delight in metaphysical proba
bilities, above practical demonftt ations ; and
to the tincfture he has received from the vi
rions of his mailer, tliofe beautiful fyllems
so incompatible with experience and irredu
cible to prats ice. If from a rhetorican, Me
nilleus lhould ever happen to become a feha
tor, do you think that he could persuade the
Athenians, that it was good for them to de
molilh their fortifications, to be without gal- (
lies, to abidge their trade, and refill the in
troduction o' thole eftablilhments which have
increased the riches of other countries, and
assisted their governments with loans, in their 1
wars and emergencies ? These are among 1
the nl nii ii'.-rentier the Arhc i
nians more happy. The race of refiners, i
continued Agathon, have of % late greatly ]
multiplied; but, owing to the flourilhing
Hate of indullry, and easy circumstances in
which moll of the people find themselves,
their harrangues have as yet attracted few ]
pupils, save among the revolutionills, the '
discontented, and ambitious. |
I perceive Agathon, said Lyfander, 1
that you allow the refiners no merit for
their everlasting endeavors to please the I
people. I lhould be very far from cenfur- i
lug them, replied Agathon, for attempts t
of this nature, were they, instead of low t
and contemptible means, to employ only r
against those they abuse, superior virtue, c
knowledge, and genius. Are you sure,
Agathon, that the people would always
decide in favor of the latter, or that su
perior virtue, knowledge, and genius,
would invariably obtain their fuffrages > I
am sure, Lyfander, that no counterfeit
com can long continue to circulate, with
out losing the gilding that concealed its
baseness.
The fun had nearly arrived at the gold
en doors of the weft, and the throng and
the difputers were fall leaving the Lyce
um. Let us feat ourselves for a moment
on this vacant bench, said Lyfander, and
beg Agathon to indulge us with the con
clusion of the remarks, which our en
trance here has suspended. You forget,
laid Agathon, that we are to sup w ith
Anarchus, and that it is time to put our
selves in motion, if we would avoid being
the la(l of his gnefts- As to what I
have to fay, it can as well be talked over
| dunng our walk thither, and will serve to
| give a greater relilh to the animated fai
lles we may expert to have from the firft
wits of Athens we are to meet at supper.
• Ihe accounts received yesterday, from
a neighboring republic, contain the sum
mary a„ de ff en f
R [ a, f °" the f "¥ct of our investigation.
Behold that republic, continued Agathon
so justly celebrated for the consummate
dillnbut.on of its powers, prostate and
..ruins by the usurpations of the people.
Its fundamental ordinances vested in an as
sembly the right of making law ß , aild in
fe P V ds£ ; , i httoap p°i"t its mem.
* " afS^ned to the people freedom
of opinion, and the right to state to the
a (Terribly their opinions and grievances ;
and to the assembly freedom of debate and
the iihcontrouled excrcife of their judg
ment. Some of the rhetoricians held,
th it freedom of opinion meant fretdomof
abuse, and the right of the people to
state their opinions a right to dictate and
control. In time, the people believed the
new do&rine, and put themselves under
the banners of the rhetoricians. The fun
damental ordiance, veiled in a feledt body,
chosen by the people, the sole right to
make treaties ; the rhetoricians contended
that a different body might prescribe the
conditions. In time, the people believed
this too, and celebrated the difcOvey by
public rejoicings. The fundamental ordi
nance? defined the court in which, and
the persons by whom, the thief magistrate
might be impeached : The rhetoricians
said he might be impeached by clubs. If
the republic was threatened with war, the
rhetoricians declared againlt navies, and
armies, and taxes, as dangerous to liber
ty. Did the preservation of peace com
poit better with the welfare of the repub
lic, they urged the necefTity of meafure-s
calculated to prevent accommodation. If
the fitted man in the republic was appoint
ed ambassador on fiich an occasion, the
rhetoricicns invieghed bitterly against
fending any, and called upon the clubs for
their opinion. The rhetoricians held that
a proiperous state of the republic,- by ren
dering the people content, was the sure
forerunner as tyranny. To demolish this
■barrier against their power, it was necef
lary to render the mcafures which had
been inrtaumental to this prosperity, and
upon which much of it depended, odious
and detested. This was attempted by
falfehoods incefiantly repeated, and ascrib
ing the most mischievous intentions to the
most virtuous citizens. The weak, with
whom suspicions are always proofs, and
the wicked, in whom proofs of innocence
produce no change of conduct, oonfpired
alike to propagate the clamour, till, by
its violence and progress, it acquired a
kind of certitude in the minds of the
multitude. Their confidence in the most
tried patriots was converted into diftrull,
obedience to the laws into an intolerable
burden ; clubs into assemblies ; and every
citizen into a legislator. The crisis of
their fate was nearly arrived. Virtuous
men gradually disappeared from the pub
lic- cum.tila, -nirafalc xo ft em the Torrent of
disorder, or defparing to save the repub
lic. The rhetoricians composed toasts on
the occasion for the clubs, and took their
place, amidst the acclamations of thg- peo
ple. Thele, however, did not long ex
ercise the authority thus acquired. They
split into factions. Civil diflentions en
sured, and—
At that moment we arrived before the
house of AmarchuSj who was conveifing
under the portico with Timoleon the po
et. Let us thank God, whifpercd Aga
thon, as we approach them, that we find
none of these symptoms of disorder and
diflblation at Athens.
Baltimore, May 12, 1794.
CONGRESS.
House of Reprefntatives.
Friday, May 9.
On the report of the committee on
Ways and Means—A motion being made
by Mr. Nicholas to ftrikeoutall the stamp
JDuties.
Mr. Smith, S. C. chairmanof the com
mittee observed that in the present fitua
tipti of our affairs very considerable addi
tional revenues w*re neceflary for the sup
port of government and to defray the ex- i
pences which had been or were likelv to
be incurred this fefiion. He stated that
the attual probable appropriations for the 1
current year, would amount to the sum
/ >694,217 dollars, while the revenues
to meet them would notexceed the sum of 1
5.3 '8,584 dollars, leaving a deficit of ,
2 >3/5>633 dollars—But as one of the i- 1
terns in the expenditures, viz. the million |
tor foreign mtercourfe wonld probably not ,
be wanted, or if wanted, might pe.haps '
be borrowed, the committee had onlv ftat- 1
ed the interest on that sum, namely 60,000 c
dollars, which therefore left to be provid- f
ed this fcflion the sum of 1,435,633 dol- v
lars. And he was clearly of opinion that r
CongreU ought not to rife until they had a
provided that sum. He was within bounds c
when he lated that sum as fufficient; for f
it the million above alluded to (and which 0
was deftmed for an objedt which, the phi- ' c
lanthropy of every member would urge the ii
J >
e employment of, if judicable) HlonUv
t wanted, and there Ihould be auvduii
i in borrowing it, an event not
- the house would regret the a «l e A 'f /'
, interelting an object. The ° of io
f however, calculating on the imn
1 and on the profpeft of a 1 0 J- n > '
' lln S to impoie any fuul.er i>un|, tlls U ' t T
r were ablolutely eifential, had \rm ,
- depend on the interelt alone th! k-°
, might have been more expedient r!!l "
! P ro yided for a part of the pnnci| h j vt
1 bmith said that in the report t L r ,
: 650,000 dollars was ftatcd bsf ur ° f
1 gent expences which might, orwhU
■ not be incurred ; since tVre^ h fe ht
- made, a law had adually fc
1 men ting the military eflablifhtnent b
: addition of a corps of artillerists a „'d l*
' neers ' for g/"*(oi«ng the fortification, i
\ expences of which he estimated at 1 - o ' c
: dollars; another law had paiTed 1
the Prelident to call into favicc 800
militia; although this was a continJm
; expcnce, yet a, the Prtfideht was autho.
! riled to incur it, a provifio i ought to be
. made for discharging it, this was cltimsM
1 at 150,000 dollars, the only item then
| lemaining under the head of contingencies
j was the provisional force; it was probable
this might not be wanted; it would reft
with the house to determine whether the
present crisis did not require fucna mea
lure, and in that event, whether pvovifion
ought not now to be made to carry it into
execution. He confeffed he was among
those who thought that a vigorous p r(pa .
ration for war was one of the bell means
to avert it; at all events, if it was thedc
sign of any nation to force us into it, we
ought to be prepared for it both as to mi.
litary strength and pecuniary resources;
admitting however that,this measure was
not contemplated it only produced a re
duction of 330,000 dollars from the sum
total of appropriations and would itill leave
a deficit in our ways and means of 1,105,
r * observed that the appropri
ations of the current year would exceed
those of any former year by upwards of
two millions and a half of dollars;
The several items which occasioned that
excess were as follows:
Building and equipping fix
frigates, 700,000
Fortifications of ports and
Building additional arsenals
and pu,chafe of military
stores, 350,000
Appropriation for foreign
intercourse, 1,000,000
Corps of artillerists and en
gineers, 170,000
Expences of militia, 150,000
v Dolls. 2,670,000
Deducing the expenses of the mili
tia, which was a war expence, still there
remained the sum of 2,520,000 dolls, as
an excess beyond any former expenles for
our peace ejlab!i/hment, for there was not
an item of expence in the foregoing
statement which would not, or might not
be incurred, even if peace Ihould conti
nue.
It was a fortnnate circumstance, at
this moment of public exigency, that tha
national treasury was in poifefiion of a
surplus, ariling . from the revenue of
former years, which furpafled our molt
sanguine expectations. This surplus
amounted to the important sum of
1,618,584 dollars, and was a mofl fatif
faftorv evidence of the growing produo
tivenels of our revenues in times ot peacc
and tranquility, and while it helped to
enable us to face the increafcd expendi
tures of the country, it taught us to che
rish that state of things, which was pro
ductive of such national blcllings. But
we could not flatter ourselves that the re
venues of this year would be as produc
tive as those of the preceding year; ma
ny circumstances would contribute to di
minilh them considerably, even if peace
Ihould not be interrupted ; the very prof
pe<st of a war would cause a diminution
of exports from Great Britain, to the
United States, and at the fame time a
diminution of consumption among our
selves : prudent men, apprehensive of war,
would retiench their expenses in order to
meet the diminution of their incomes,
and to be better able to contribute their
quotas to the public treasury. The mea
fnres which have been diicuTed in Con
gress, relative to a sequestration of Britift
debts, and a fufpeniioo of all commercial
intercourse, would, by deltroying that
%