Why then flioulc our laws fnppofe the citizen to
have the quality that he certainly has not ? Why shall
they make it neceflary for him to be treasuring mo
ney for months, who never cared for to morrow ?
Ihe mod indolent or the most carelcfs citizen cannot
possibly be incommoded by an excise ; If he {hould
have no money during the year nor any thing to fell,
he will buy nothing, and consequently will no tax.
When he is able to buy foreign commodities W will
pay his tax. The excise is fuppofqd chiefly to fall up
on articles of foreign make, and prudence will diredt
that articles which are lead neceflary and such as may
/©oneft come to perfection in our own country, ftnll
bear the greatest (hare in the excise. The natural ope
ration of such taxes is favourable to the poor. No
man pays the tax who is not able and willing to buy
luxuries or foreign articles, therefore it is volun ary.
The man who is diligent has less occasion for such ar
ticles, therefore it is a spur to mduftry. In a word,
all taxes on property are bur ens on the good citizen ;
they difcourageinduftry. All raxes on consumption are
taxes on difiipation and luxury; they puniih ldlenefs,
and promote industry. Can we hefitatein making our
choice ?
The revenue of the Roman empire, in its prosper
ous days, arose chiefly from an an excise and customs.
That jealous and wife nation did not readily submit to
a land tax. There was a wafteful trade carried on be
tween Rome and the East Indies by way of the red
sea. By that trade much fijver, near four millions of
dollars, was annually exported from the Empire, and
we have reason to conclude from the allegations of
Pliny, chat East India goods were'forced to contribute,
by an excise more than twenty millions per annum to
the revenue. A land tax and poll tax were in early
use through the Roman provinces, but do not ap
pear to have been generally imposed on the Roman
people before the reign of Galenius,the fucccftbr of Di
oclefian. I'rora that period dire<ft taxes became uni
▼erfal. What was the condition of the Roman peo
ple under an administration of customs,—excise and
other indire<sVtaxes, when compared with the times in
which the land tax and poll tax became'general ? It
was an age of gold, compared to that of iron Hu
manity is Ihocked by the tales of woe that are told con
cerning rhe poor of that age. Parents are said have
fold tfeeir children and to have fold themselves into
slavery, in order to Ihun the burden of taxes.
I have laid that an excise is more favourable to the
poer than a laniLor poll tax ; I will venture an addition
al sentiment. There never was any government in
which aaexcife could be offo much life as in the Uni
ted States of America, fn all other countries taxes of
every fort are j, species of grievance. [11 the United
States an cxcife on foreign joods would not be a griev
ance ; like wholesome flood if wouid give us strength.
It woald help to close that wafteful drain by which o::r
honour and our wealth are consumed. What tho'
we did not owre a florin to any foreign nation ; though
we had no domestic debt and though the txpences qf
government could be supported for many years without
taxes, (till it may be quelfioned. whether ail excise on
foreign articles wouM not be prudent. It is the bell
expedient bv which we ean promote domestic manu
factures and the condition in which we now live—our
general dependence ob foreign countries for arms and
tloathing is. dilhonourable, —it is dangerous.
CONGRESS OF the UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESSfWATITE3.
Thirfday, December 29.
The house resolved itfelf into a committee of the
whole, Mr. Muhleaberg in the cbait, on the report
•f the committee of commerce and manufa&HieS',
on the subject of kidnapping negroes and mulat
toei.
This report was greun !ed on an application from
the Hate of Delaware, for some provilioii tu pic-
Tent the carrying off from that (late free negroes
and mulattoes, by matters of veflels to other Hates.
The report to cure this evil, provides that every
matter of a reffel Should have certificates with such
negroes.and muiattoes of thciV being free. No ef
fe&uai regulation, it was dated, could be made »n
this fuhjett by the individua! tlatcs, as their jtirif.
diiftion did not extend beyond their territorial li
mits. Some members contended, thai the laws of
the individual Hates were fufficient to provid.- a
gainst the e*il. The report was oppiifed as iicom
plete, and the fubjeft was fpokc-i of as of too de
licate a nature to engage the attention of thelioufe,
88 it bore an affinity to thefubjeflof emancipation.
To this latter idea it waV Well aniwered, thattht
qaeftioo was by no means about emancipating flares,
but whether prsvtfions (hould not be enacted to
prevent freemen from being made fl.ives, because
they wcte black.
The committee rose without coming to a decifi
bn, and the Teport was recommitl-ed 46 to 30,
with liberty to the committee of commerce and
manufatflures to report by Other wife.-
The house went into committee of the whole on
the report of the secretary at war, on the petition of
Hugh Lawfon White.
This petition will try the principle, whether the
(ni)itia which were called out under gen. Sevier, in
'g 3, toad again ft the Indian*, are entitled to com
pensation.
The report (lat«s, that the expedition wa» un
dertaken withsut authority frem the gcnetal go
vernment and for the avowed purpose of carrying
the war into the Cherokee country ; that the in
ftru&ions fr»m the war department forbid offenfive
eperations. That-, however, it appears that pre
vious to the expedition the inhabitants of Tenncf
/ee were much harraffed by the Indians, who had
billed at (wo Itations, one within 7 miles of the
capital, 15 persons, and that it mult reft withcon
grefs to fay whether tbe circumstances of the cafe
■warranted the expeditioa as a just and necefTary
inelfure.
i In the cotirfe of the debate it was denied, that
he expedition had been undertaken for the avowed
pnrpofe of carrying the wai into the Cherokee
country : and (tated, in addition to the circum
stances nriestioned in the repart, that 1200 Indi
ans before the expedition carried a Ration and threat
ened to attack Knoxville.
Mr. A. Jackson moved the following resolution.
" Resolved that General Sevier's expedition in
to the Cherokee country in the year 1793, was a
just and neceflary measure, and that provilion ought
to be made by law for paying the expencei there
of."
The committee rose without coming to a decifi
on and had leave to fit again.
A communication was received from the secreta
ry of the trcafwry on the fubjedt of the loan fur
ihp nfe of the cfty of ColuiubWy which was rear!
»nd ordered to bc.priuted.
Tt was resolved on account of tlie fiiortnefs of
the feflijn, 40 to 30, not to take up the Bankrupt
bill.
The following resolution was moved and ordered
to lie on the' table.
" Resolved that a Committee be appointed to en
quire if any and what alterations are in
the a& entitled " an a& refpe&iag fugitives from
justice, and peffons escaping from their mailers."
Adjourned.
Friday, December 30.
Mr. Dwight Fofler, from the committee of
claims, made report on »he petitions of Andrew
Ramfey, and Nathan Smith, recommending; a non
camp,iance with the prayer ot the petitioners. The
house concurred.
Mr. Freeman prefentcd a petition from John
! Marflon and others, graying f«>r the payment of
i-certain Sills of credit iflTut*<l by ihe United States
in March 1780, of which they are holders. Re
ferred to the com n't tee of claims.
Mr Gilbert preferred a petition from Lewis H.
Girlam, of New York, praying for a remission of
du'ies on certain wines destroyed by the late f!re.
Referred to the committee of commerce and manu-
factures,
M>. A. Jackson prefentcd a petition from
George Ciltert, one of the chiefs of the Chicka
saw Nation, cwmplarrtng- of a non-performance of
stipulations, entered into in certain Talks held with,
the. agents of the United States, in which they
were promised afiiftance in cafe they were attacked
by the red people, and praying fu payment on ac
count qf the maintenance of a Colonel and 46 men
for 60 days, who had marched to the'ir afiiftance
when attacked by the Creeks, without orders from
government Referred to-ihe committee of claims.
The house, on motion, again refolded itfelf into
a. committee of the whole on the report of'the fe
jretary of war on the' petition of Hugh L-iwfon
White, and, after corlidcrahlf difctiffion, on the
f uggt flion that farther information was necessary to
be obtained before a decifiou was come to, the
committee rof<?, was refund leave t» lit again,and
the report and papers accompanying «*, Were refer
red to a feledfc committee of five members.
Mr. Coit {aid that there had been fe*<-r->! editi
ons fr»m reve - tie officers for an increaf* of salary,
of which had neeiv jyfened t® the committers
of commerce and mjnufa&urrt, and otheri to the
committee of compenfs'ioti. In order that the
whole might-go into he fame hands, he proposed
a resolution to the following cffeift :
Resolved, that the committee of commerce and
maiuifa&tires he i -firufted and required to report
whether a'ty a-d what alterations are necefTary in
the compensations allowed by liw to revenue offi
cers, and that the . ommi'tee if c .mpenfation be
discharged from the conlideration of such memori
als as had relation to the officers of the revenue.—
Agreed.
Mr. W. Smith called for the order of the day
on the report of the committee of ways and means,
on the fuhjefl of certain bafances due from indivi
dual Hates to the United States The house went
into a tommitsee of the whole accordingly, when
a very long debate took place ; at length the com
mittee irofe, and ha'l leaye-to fit again.
Adjourned till Monday,
BOS I'ON, December 28
St.'te of the Mercury, im Friday, Saturday, See.
which fas exposed to the open a'ir, under a Por
tico the north fide of a honfe, but was shielded from
the wind' by the liable and p irt of the Portico.
Friday, at 8 morning, it ftoud at o
at 2 r. M. 7 above
at 1 1 evening 3 12 b«'ow o
Satarday, at 8 morning 7 below o
at 2 r. m 3 above o
ai IC evening, 1 below o
Sunday, at 8 morning, 9 above o '
at 2 p. m 10 ab.ive o
at 9 evening, 16 above O
Monday, at 8 morning, 8 above o
A new Penal Code is e'lablifhed in Virginia,
fimilat to that whi. .-h has lately governed is Penn
fylv nta. Murder alone is to be pun (hed witlj
d'.ath Other crimes are to be paniihed by hard
labor, confinement, See.'
REPRESENTATIVES.
Mnjfctchajeits—correft.
Hon. Thomplon J. Skinner, Samuel Lyman,
Dwijjht .Forter, Nathaniel Freeman, jun. J hi.
Read, Harrifon G. ,Oiis, Joseph B. Var'.ttm,
Samuel Sewali, Theopilm Bradbury, Peleg Ws f
wo(th, and George Thatcher, Esquires. z'j' 1"
the 2d western, 3d southern and lit eafteiH dif-,
trifts no choices have been mide. In the fecund
wellern, the whole number of votes was 1777 —
889 making a choice, the hon. William rtliepard,
had 823, Samuel Henlhaw 424, and hon, William
Lyman, 381. —In the 3d {put Item, ihe votes were
952, 477 making a choice, the hon. Elifha May
had 390, Stephen Bnllp.-k, 224, & Laban Wnea
ton 227. —In the firlt Eattetn, the voies were
1198, 6o» making a choice, the lion, lfaac Par
ker had 477, Henry Dearborn .373, and Jonathan
Bowman, Efqrs, 328 votes.
From WESTPCHNT, Dec. 12.
■' Four companies of artilleriits and engineers
have been ordered from this place by the President,
to take charge of, and put in rrpair the works in
the fea-ports.—Capt. Frye to Governor'* island,
in the'ftate «f New York, with a company ; capt;
Mitchell at Fort William, below Philadelphia ;
capt. Morris at Bahimore ; Capt. Blackburn, at
Norfolk, Virginia ; and capt. Kalliefen, at Charles
ton, S. C. On what account the arrangement
is made, we ean only coi:je£ture ; but we are all
decided -iriends to the present happy conllitution
<jf our country.
Wanted on hire,
A Ceolfcjnale or female—alfo a man servant to at
tend in ujd perform the dutie* be
longing to the dining room. None need apply who
do not underftgnd and have not been accustomed to the
xfpeflive fcrvices and who are not well recommended
for and good behavior. . , ' ,
Apply at No. zS», Mt>lberrj>-ftr«et, or to the printer.
Jaflulry J. V ftw*w
Philadelphia,
THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1797
A gentleman from New York informs, that a Telfe!
has arrived there days from Hambvirgh.
Tuesday last Thomas Willing, Esq. wa9 unani
mously elected President of the Bank_of the United
States,
On Tuesday last the fallowing officers were ele&ed
for the Schuylkill and Sufquehaanah Canal—
Prefidenty
Robert Morris,
Managers,
John NicholCon,
Standifh Fnrde,
Jeremiah Parker,
Wm. Young, B. S.
Samuel Bio Iget,
Win. Siafom,
Wm. Smith, D. D,
Joseph Call,
John Steinmet2,
Francis Weft,
Timothy Mstlack,
Wm. Montgomery.
Treasurer, v
William Gorctt.
For the Delaware and Schuylkill Canal.
President,
Robert Morris.
Managers, ,
Wm. Smith, D. D.
Joseph Ball, *
Benjamin R. Morgan,
Wm. Yuiing, B. S.
John Miller, jun.
James M'Crca.
John Nichoifon,
Standith Forde,
Jeremiah Parker,
John Steinmet*,
Samuel Bladgct,
Wm. Sanfom,
Treasurer,
William Govett,
F.xtraS of a letter from $outh Carolina.
" You will no doubt feel both pity and indigna
tion, when you are i|ifo-med that that Charles
Pinckney is ele&ed our Governor. Ab soon 33
he uai (worn into office, he began his speech by
m.ikin ■ a most indecent attack on the perfoiis who
did not vote for him (confuting of 53 of the most
respectable perions-iu the country) and like
wise upon the measures of the federal govern
ment. H» is too cunning to have liis speech
printed, as he delivered it, but his firft nbfer
vation was, he was happy to find, as was
proved hy his ele&ion, the tiitimph of republican
principles (rifum'teneatis f) He then contrasted
I the prefept (ituation of the country with its fitua
tioo when he was formerly Governor. He said,
that we were an ungratefwl and degraded people—
(one would think so from his being eledted Goner
nor) —that we had behaved most infamously to
our allies, the French ; "Who, .we itOPED, WOULD
SOON BRING US TO A SENSE OF OUR POLITICAL
errors." These last words were taken down. It
was, in (hort, a mojl abominable performance, an.l
with the exception or his creatures, was reprobat
ed by men of both parties. It is thought here,
Jelfe-i son's ele&ion to the Presidency is certain ;
;;nd owr new Governor, who lias been long feekins;
for a foreign appointment, thinks this jacobin
speech will be a charming recommendation of him
to Jefferfon's good graces : so that if he is Prili
•lent, you may judge of what you are to expert
front the French party."
NEIV THEATRE.
On Monday the Tragedy of Richard
llhl.
Mr. Warren gave great feeling the f harafter of
Henry 6th.
Mr. Fox told his tearful tale is Treflel, with a
pathos quite in chara&er. This young gen'lenian,
when he has added a little experience and ftndy
to his performance ( which has already merited great
praise) will nndaubtedlv be an ornament to the
Theatre.
Mr. Cooper's maflerly perfonification of Rich
ard, was received with that applause that generally
attends his'public exhibitions. He gave the link
ing traits ot the chara£ier with an energetic bold
ness, and fire, .that attends only the performance
of native genius, and without which art can do iit
ile. He gave great farce to the folilnquy of
" Why, now ray golden dream is out."
And indeed all of Them were malterly expressed.
Mrs. Francis was corredl and fpitited in the cha
racter ot* .Lady Anne, but was certainly deficient
h pathos awd exprrfikm. In the tent scene, she
was particularly faulty, and spoke,
" ) hink on the wrongs of wretched Anne thy wife
" E'en in the battles heat remember me.
" And edgelel's fall thy sword—despair anddie."
With the faiAe tone as (he did,
' But since you teaeh me how to flatter you
" Imagine I have said farewell already."
The address in the chat after of the Ghojl would
have (hac. it been properly exprefled ) produced
great effedt. However by what we hav» said it
niufl not be thought, that we intend to rob her of
all praise—her performance often merits it—and in
spite of the dsfi;fls we have noticed, (he certainly
is entitled t«< a (hare of otir approbation.
Mrs. L'Eftrange was but' ill calculated to tx
prefs the torrowsof the dutchcfs of York, tjie mo
notony of her voice could not convey that spirit
that Shakcfpcare intended (hould be given to her
exccration of Richard. W. L.
J3y this day's Mail.
NO.RFOLK, December 22
Tuesday lad arrived hen.- the Medufi, French
frigate as 50 guus, commanded by commodore
Barney, and the lnfurgenteof 44. guns.
BALTIMORE, January 3.
We congratulate our reader? 011 the strikingly fplemlid
appearance of our new city, the two preceeding evenings.
The lamps with which o»r street* are lighted, appear to'
be a considerable improvnaent on those we have gensraHy
tee«—the refle&ors with which they are furnifhed, cast
out great light. Although thcfe jiaKsling ornaments are
not planted lo thick as in Philadelphia, yet it mull be con
fsrffed, from th/ir evidently fuperi&r excellence, that our
ttreets are much better lighted—ft that 'iti future we JhalJ
hear of no more complaints of diityocated necks or broken
bones, on the score of darknefc. Tlie birth of a nt.w
year, a new eity, and new light, is a novelty indeed, ami
cjunot, to our city, fall to be matter of much joy.
•' Velterclay wars brought to town from One of th
farms of William Smith, Eiq. a HOG, ;which, when
cleaned, Veighed 473 U.
NEW-YORK, January 4,
ARRIVED. Days,
Schooner Pomona, Gardner Bolton 27
Sl.iop Eliza, Nicholfon St. Croix
Eagle, .Wood Richmond —
The Tiow Pegfry, of New-York, was loft on
Sandy Key, Turk'j Island.
The sloop Betsey, Lyon, arrived at N-W| London
from Anguilla—left there, brig Polly, ChceTe*
broujh, to fail in three days for Wilmington—and
f'iow Jnhn, of New York.
Pantheon,
•* '
AND RICKETTS's AMPHITHEATRE.
. Corner of Chefnut and Sixth-street»
For Equestrian and Stage Performances.
THIS EVENING, Thursday, Januarys,
Will be presented, the following f nteitainments, viz.
HORSEMANSHIP,
A Comic Bjllet Dance, called
POOR JACK ; Or, Tfee Benevolent Crew.
A DUE r, by Mr and Mrs. Chambers.
The SIEGE OF TROY,
Or, The World turn'd Upside Down,
A S n|> by Miss 'mliy.
Between the intervals of the Stage,
EQ.T E S T R I 1 M EXERCISES.
In the course of the evening, Mr. Rick'etts willgiv*
in the Sailor's defcripnon nf a Fox Hunt.
Proceeding the Panto Races with Rhl Po
nies, the whole to conclude with a. Comic Panto
mime. Doors to open at and the Performance to
commence at 1-4 after 6 o'clock.
Philadelphia, Jan. 4th, 1797.
All persons indebted to the Estate of
Joseph Paschall, deceased,
ARE rcquefted to pay their refpe&ive debts without
further delay, otherwise their accounts will be put into
the hands of an Attorney to recover—*\nd ail those who
have any demands against said Estate are deiired to bring
in their accounts for settlement, to
SAMUEL COATES, •)
CHRIS I'R. MARSH ALL, jun £ ExVt.
CHARLES MARSHALL. J eox
Public Notice,
(S HEREBY GIVEN, that I have applied to the
judges of the Supreme Court of this state, to supply the
defcit in my Title to a lot of grourtd, situate on rhe Weft
fide of Fourth-itreet, containing in breadth 20 leet, and
in length 56 feet, bounded Northward and Weft ward, by
ground of the fubferiber, Southward by ground of Edward
Shippen, and Eastward by Fourth-street, occasioned by
the loss of a deed from J'ijnothy Harrington, John Lewis
and James Walton, by their attorney Robert Mollyneux,
—All persons concerned, required to appear before
two ofN.the justices of the said court, at the house of
Thomas M'Kean, esq. the Chief Justice of the state, on
the jioth inft. at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, to make their
answer to rhe bill of the fubferiber, filed in the oihee of
Edward Burd,efq. Prothonotary of the said court.
WILLIAM SHIPPEt , jun,
Philadelphia, January 6th, 1797. dt3oth
Loft, or Mislaid,
At the Bjiik of the United States —Joseph Higbee'»
note, dated aijth December lift, for twelve hun ed
dollar#, payable at 60 d'ys to Nathaniel Lbwis & Son.
Wiioever may si d the fame will pteair return it to faii
Bank, or to the fuliferibei s who will allow a reward
Payment being barred, it cannot be of use to any o*
ther person.
NATHANIEL I.EWIS & SON. 1
, it-
Jan. s
Territory of the United States, N. IV. of the Ohio*
Turner }
v, > Foreign attachment.
Parker, j
Notice is hereby given,
To JOSEPH PARKER, late of Kaikafk a if. the (now)
county of Randolph, in the Territory aforefsld, Mer
cha:it, that in'purfuance of the laws of the Territory in
that cafe provided, a foreign attachment hath iffuedoutof
the county court ol common pleas of the said county.,
against the lands and tenen ents, goods, chattels and ef
fects, lights and ctedits of the said Joseph Parker, at th«
fu;t O. George Turner, Efqeire ;.and that unless the said
Joseph Parker appear by himfclf, or Attorney, to give
fpeciai bislto such suit, judgment by default will be en
tered against him, at the court to f>e held in and for the
said county, next, after the expiration of twelve months
from this date ; and the estate or estates so attached, will
be fold for the fatisfaition of all creditors, who lhall ap
pear to be julUy iutitled to a demand hereon, and lhall
apply for that purpose. Dated at Kalkafkia,- aforefaid,
thi« twenty-ninth of March, 1796.
JOHN RICE JONES, Attorney for Plaintiff.
By Authority.
Schuylkill Bridge Lottery.
Sold by WILLIAM BLACKBURN, No. 64,
Snath Secondjlrect.
SCHEME of a LOTTERY,
For raising Sixty Thousand Dollars, agreeably to an .A& o£
the Leg'flature of Pennfylvaaia, pa (Ted during the lalt
feflion, for building a Stone Bridge over \he River
Schuylkill, at the Borough of Reading, in the County of
Berks. Dollars,
i rriie of 20 000 Dollars • 20,000
of <0 000 do. » - 10,000
of 5,000 do. • • » 15,000
of a,OOO do. • • 8,000
of *1,000 do. - 20,000
of 500 do. • • 19,500
of eoo do. • 16,000
of 100 do. - • to,ooo
of 50 do. - 15,000
of 500 do to be Daid the posses- >
for ®f thefiril drawn no. J ,
5 do# of 3,000 do. to bq paid poiTeffors /
of the five lalt drawn nos £
ifi do. ; - 141,000
1 do.
3 do.
4 do.
so do,
39 do
-80 do.
soo do.
300 do.
1 do.
do. o
9 ,4°<
10,054 Prizes
10,046 Blanks
go,opo Tickets at Jen Dollars 500,000
All Prizes ftiall kJe paid fifteen days after the drawing is
finifhod, upon the demand of a pofleflor of a fortunate
ticket, fubjeel to a dedu&ion of twenty per cent. The
Drawing will commence as foonas the Tickets are disposed
of, or perhaps sooner. of which public notice will be giver;.
Philip Miller, Peter Kerjhner, William lVitman >
Joseph Hiefler, J dmes Diemer y T/xjmas Dundas•
Jame f May, John Otto y John Keim, Dcmiel Graejj\
Sebajlian Miller, Commissioners.
Reading, May the 9th, *796.
Tickets in the, Canal Lottery, No. a, to be had at the
above office, where the earli«fl information of the drav<
ing of the Walhington No. a, and lottery'#,
are received, ami ch«ckkook» for examination and regif
tcring are kept.
O&ober 7
300,000
; aswtf