CONGRESS or the UNITED STATES. HOUSE OF REPRSS E'HTATtVE-S. Monday, January 16. Mr. Dwight Foster, from the committee of I C '.ims, made reports on the petiiions of Frederick and Andten Dunftan, which w-ete against 1 the petitioners. Tfre (irfl was concurred In by the honfc ; the lad was ordered to lie on the table. .Mr, New moved that the petition of James Gar net, !• gatee and administrator of James Mercer, should be referred to the committee on the laud-of lic.e bulinefs. Agreed, Mr. Ames moved a refoiution to the following rtirCl, viz. " That the committee of commeice Hpd manufaftutes be direfied to enquire whether it v. ould r.ot be expedient for the better fecuiitv of i nsvigation, to place, a number of Buoys within and '..car the harbour of Bollon, and report b) bill or ot her wife." Agreed to. Mr. Havens prefenteu a petition from the c»llec tor of cufloms and revenue for Sag-Harbour (I.ong- Island) praying for an increase of salary. Mr. Mierborne presented also a petition from Je remiah Libby, Poftmaftci of Portsmouth (N. H.) 'o the fartie effcA ; both of which wererefeired to the committee of commerce and cianufa&ures. / Mr. Milledge presented a petition from -William Matthews, clerk to the corr.miiTary of The state of Georgia, for compensation. Referred to the com mittee of claims. Mr. W. Smith, from the committee of ways and means, made a report on the fubjeA of appropriati ons, which was twice read and committed to a com mittee of the whole. Mr. Harper laid a refoiution on the table, direc- ■ ting the secretary of the treasury to lay at stated periods certain statements of duties and drawbacks, ! before the lioufe. * Mr. W. Smith said the attorney-general had ; been directed to makea report tocongrefsin March ' ' 795« relative to a claita-ofLthe n f Crurpiii ' to certain lands, which had never been made to that ' houle, but to the Senate only. He'fa'd the land . in question was of gieat extent and value, and [ some measure ought to betaken on the fubieift. He j therefore proposed that a meffaga ihould be sent to 1 the attorney-general for a copy ef that report. A greed. , Mr. Malbone.faid he found it inconvenient to at- « tend both the committee of commerce and m«nu- e fattures and the committee of claims, and desired i to be excused from attending upon the committee f of claims. He was excyip), and his colleague Mr. ti Potter was appointed. f In eommittee of the whole, R,'r. Dent in the chair, e on the report of the committee of ways and means, \ on the fubie& of a land tax. Mr. Henderfon. Mr. Chairman, lam very sensible that our present revenue system is not fufficientlv pro- ? dutpVe, toanfwer the exigsncies of government, and that it isneceflary, during the present session, to adopt '' forme measures to improve it. This,, I believe, will be si admitted by all, and the only question is, as to the ti mode by which it lhall be ac&mplilhed. a iwo modes of obtaining an increase of revenue, are _ contemplated. Ihe one, by extending the present fy- , ft*m of muireA taxation, as far as prudence will ad ir.R—The other, by having recourse to direst taxation. t llfon taking a comparative view of the two differ- « ent modes, the advantages that appear to my mind, u to arise ont of, and flow from tne firft, have so much the preponde'rance, that 1 cannot give my aflent to the adoption of the other,- until the improvement of the 1 IvAem of individual taxation has bcentairly tried, and ihall prove infufficient to meet the necessary expendi- a tures of government. * .' 'v * tl Sir, I will take the liberty to enumerate » few of the «1 advantages lhat the present system poflefies, which can- h not be attached to the new one. This fyftiin harbeen 1 organized, for a eonfiderable length of time, and the citizens have got accuftcmed to, «ud are generally well fittst.ad with it. It can be extended without any •change in the- system, or perhaps the appointment of one new officer. It will occasion the least possible ex- •pcnce in thecolleaion. It is the molt easy aad agree- » able mode of raising revenue from our citizens, in the tl •power of government to adopt. They pay the tax a vbiuntarilv and imperceptibly; they have an option, to coniumc much, er little ; and in proportion to their r eonfumption, will bc their contribution to the revfnue. Sir, the revenue arising from this -fyliem, has been l ' 8 state progreflion ever since the system was Ic got into operation, and.l trust may be jireferved ia w that state. It has, I believe, answered l ' sanguine expectation of its promoters, and I have £ very little doubt on my miud, but that i» would have ff: met all the common exigencies of govermtient, if there had not, of late, atifen some very extraordina- 31 ry aad heavy greatly augmented ci our public debt. b Sir, with regard to the system of direst taxation, cl almost every member who has advocated themea- el sure, acknowledges that it will be attended with ? coufiderable and I belfeva the opi- 11 nion to be well founded. Great innovations upon G fyllems of taxation, are generally embariaffing. It r( isto tu unexplored giound. The drawing of reve- u cue, by coercion, trom our citizens, appear&to me " one of ttit mo ft delicate and difficult fuljeas <jo- r ' vernment can engage in. Besides the danger*of u ehcreafing the excitement of public mind, and 0 of alienating the affections of o*:r citizens from die ei present government, 1 think that the difficulty of " levying a land tax upon principles of equal juftics u {a priiieiple that ought always to be kept {n view.) tc W ..I be almost infuper bk. Thtsjfentiment was so ll fully and ably difcufled by the metnber from South- f< Carolina, who was-lafc up 00 the fubje&,jthat there § is little room for any fur"her remarks upon it. 1 a ' will proceed t.i observe, thatthisXyftem wilLrequire 111 jii. entire new organization, which cannot he c-med ll imoioperation short of a very heavy expenfc, and w tijt earlielt probable time that it will afford aid to r 3 our revenue will be coflfi-krafcly icmote. With w t» the expenses of the fyilem, the feereiary w of the treasury appears to have been, sensible that ul the cidleition of taxes in this way would lie very — expeuiive, as will appear by a ftatwnent m his re port upon the system In that report, he appor t'one the sum of .1,484,000 dollars to the fcveral h%; deduCls for abatements, er k. leousaffeffments, an<j diaries of colh aion, fifteen ;er cent, amon ;i ng to 222,600 toliars, ieaviug ti,e utt j.ru.ecd. ot the ta* tlaiku, au tt ■ expfnfe .Vißiy (lie <-xp*nfes of colled,f under the picfent a view which I wi ' attempt to exhibit, as contained in the last ilate ment of tife secretary of the tteafiiry, (hew ing the amount of duties upon imports, tonnage, &c. »he net proceed* ate stated at 7,959,4x39 : 7° f lars, and'the expenses of collection are Hated *< ! 260,359: 'SI dollars, making between three anil U an halt and four per centum. The difference will be as ! j to 3 3 4, or at mod to 4 C Sir, with regard to the txpenfes of collection, I would nft, if any member would want a moment s time to which is the preferable system ? I apprehend net. Sir, the gentleman from Pennfylvaoia, who wis r firftupoa this lubjeiA, regretted exceedingly that a fy ' -stem of direst taxation hid not been adopted long lince c by government. For myj»art, I differ very much in * .opinion from that-gentleman on this point, and-J can f fay, that instead ot' regretting, I rejoice rtiit fucb a 1 system has not yet been adopted, aad have full confi r dence that the measures of government will not be pa ralysed, as that gentleman seems to ihiflk, if ' l fcoeld be further postponed. That gentleman is eegaged in the commercial line, I am in the agriealturli line, which, perhaps, may account for our great difference in opinion upon this point. Hawever confonmt it may be to the feelings and interests of the commercial | part of our-citizens, to have the revenue raised in this , way, sure I am, that the gentleman, with all the force of eloquence and reasoning that he is poffelTed of, w ill never be able t» convince the great body of the yeo , manry of this country, that it will b« snore for their\ interests to colleift the revenue at th« expence of 15 per cent, than at the expence of 3 or 4 per cent. Sir, it Appears that the geutleman from Pennsylva nia has it in contemplation, tothiow the whole bur then of government upon tbe farmer. If I rccolle£l right, his words were these—" The wealth of the country rnuft have bccome so eonfiderable, from the high price which eveiy agriculturalproduilioo had long been at, as to enable them very well to fuppprt the ex pences of government."—With regard ta which, I would obfewve that under the present system/ in my •- piaion, the farmer generally bears an equitable pro portion ef the expences of government, 't here may be'fome few sxteptions, as it is impeffible that any re venue Jyilenn can, be ettablilbed that W'H operate equal ly in proportion to wealth upon every citiaen aad it would he SljElyrajpolitiato ray tire whole burthen of •the revenue upon anyone particular class or descrip tion of citizens, but the surest policy, is to I«t both a gricuhural aad commercial bear their parts as they now do. The gentleman farther •bferved, " that if peace was made between tbe nations a: war, he had po doubt, but there would be a defalcation of she rev enue," He offered no reason to support hi« opin ion, and as lam of different opinion, I will, in a -few words offer the reasons why 1 think our reven ue, instead of meeting with any ccnfiderable Chock from that event, (so ardently to be wished for by every humane mind, by every true American) will be improved. Commerce depends chiefly up on wealth and population. If peace fnould take place, our wealth and population will pregrt fs very tact. I think we n_ay reasonably calculate upon a larger ratio of wealth and population emigrating from all parts of Europe to America.' In propor tion to the increase thereof will be the demand for, and eonfumption of imported articles. Our com merce will not only be continued with the old, but be extended to uew markets, which will of course, tncreafe the quantity of impoftj asd tonna|c, and in proportion at they are increased, will cur reven ues be augmented. The gentleman observed that, with refpeft to excise, he need not fay how unprodu&ive it had been. Ihe article of fnuff, instead of producing any thing, bad brought the revenue in debt j and that the cxcife en another article;' hatjlalkd forth v the military to enforce ft. Sir, if the gentletpan had attended to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, speaking on the fubje<3 of internal rev enue, he would not have made so unqualified an expression as to the produtft of the txcifc. The Secretary of the TreafuTy informs, that tbe pro. dust of the internal revenues for the prefest year will be eonfiderable more than the year past, for the year past they were stated at between 300,000 | and 40®,000 dollars. With regard to the article of fnuft, it is obvious to every one that this arefe from, the advantage that was taken of the law, but the lav being suspended, there cao he ip further loss ; and I think that when it (hall ie amended, we may count upaa a-net prodnft hereafter ,f ro ra that article. With regard to the article that the gentleman allsdes to, that the ex C lfe upon had en'led forth the military to info,roe it, I would only remark, that it is now become certainly productive and generally fatisfa&ory, a*d as to the unhtppy circumftanee ot the .military being- called forth \I believe that it was not-owing to any inherent pr'm cip.e of the law, but much more to extraneous cauf. es, which I (hall cot attempt to explain The gentleman- went on toobferve tlut*the aujmenta ti.nof duties would not prove an augmentation of our revenue, * 1 believcthat lo bc ; ncor . £3c } tlllnk . ,f th « gentleman had attended to the final operations of our government, he would not have advanced tt,-Sir, our du-ies have been repeatedly raised, and daily experience convinces us that our revenue has uniformly been in a st a t e °f progfeffton Sir, the gentleman endeavoured to enforce his arguments by referring to the tecom menilatioßsof the Prcfident of the United States upon the fubjed For my part I wouldtefS Ih/pA ■" 10 tHe recommen d»tion, „t the President, as 1 f.ncerely believe that they ire founded in wtfdom and putriotifm. But until the gentleman can change ih t phraleology of theP.efi oent s recommendations upon the occiGon, h; tan not «ake the argument apply. The Prefidtti ' With, conveyed the idea of a land tax being „ cce (T a . wi'ih'h" C9n,C<ld WC arc 88 """* complying «uh h.s recommendation by raising the revenue wanted tn the one made, as we would be in the A/» Continued.]. ivir. Pickering's Letter. This Day Published, AND MR SALE Br THE EDITOR ■™c. , - Pri " thrcc «'S ht « of a Doilar. r"" 3fc ' cUr y of State, to Mr p; Pci ,' p r Pl = u, P"ttdtiary of the United States to I the rraiit Republic. Feh,u, ry 4 . 6 \ I PRtLAD " WEDNESDAY EVENINO, fEBRUARV 8, 1797. e Yesterday arrive! here the brig Susanna, Fitzpa 1 trick from Bourdeaux, which place he left Dec. I. t By this arrival we l<arn that the brig Liberty, cap [l Ridge, in which Mr PincJwrcy, our ram.lier I) plenipotentiary to the republic of Trance, went ' paffemter, had fafcfy arrived there ten day. before f he .failed, and that Mr. Pirtckney had proceeded im s mediately to Paris, but no information had been re l ceived in refpeA to his reception there. It was, however, the opinion of our consul, Mr. Fe»wici;, 5 and others, -at Eourdeaux, that Mr. Pinckney would . be received by the directory. ; • Caot Fitzpatrick brought Paris papers to the i 2.3d Nov. "which are not so late a» our Paris ac -1 counts by Ae Britifc packet, which are to the 23d. Of the number of unfortunate citizen* who hare foffered a grieveus captivity in Algiers, sixty have returned to their country and friends ia the ship ar rived at Marcus Hook. Yesterday a number of carriage* were dispatch ed by order of government to convey them 10 the city. Arrived ft Marcus Hook, the ship Two Sifters, Henry, from Port au-Prinee, and (hip Sally, Gei fton, from Honduras.. The Hope, Benbridge, is arrived at Bourdeaux, \ from Philadelphia. , ADDRESS Of the Cure and Inhabitants of Detroit, -together with the Officers, Civil and Military of the County of Wayne, in the Territory of the U nited States, north weft of tlie River ©hio. To his Excellency ANTHONY WAYNE, Efy. Major General, and Cjmrnander in Chief of the Army of the United. States. SIR, Your arrival at this Post, produced amongst -us » general'fatisfaflion—having learnt your ftuldeo departure for Philadelphia, we would think our selves deficient in «iir duty, were we not to offer you our sense of gratitude for all the favors, we have received from you—we feel the honor you have conferred upon us, in permitting our county to be called by your name.; and we embrace this opportu nity to afiure yotir Excellency that you have iiiXpi red 11s with those grateful sentiments which dutiful children entertain for the beftof fathers—you have been an eye witntfs ot our xcal and attachment to the Government of the United States ; of our joy in becoming united to ci izeni,frec and grnerous\ we. have not Jolt a moment in putting in operation both civil and military authorities, and adopting and o beying the lawseftablilhed by government. We hope Sir, that you will be pleased to inform the Prefidenr of the United States of our situation, that you will be our advocate, to intersft him, in our favor. May you be bleflcd with a lucky passage a cross the Lake ; enjoy a perfett health and receive froift Government, the reward you are so justly en titled to for your great services, your fuceeffes, and your toils; and may the Almighty grant us the favor of feeing you here agai-. to compleat the happiriefs of ua all, is the fincete.with of Tour Excellency's m»(l obedient, and very humble fervanu. s Signed by the Cure aad others. Detroit, Nov. 14, 1797. To the Cure and Inhabitants of Detroit, and ths Officers, Crvil and Military of the County of Wayne. Gentle msk, I haxe received with much pleafor* your polite iddrefs of this date, which not only demands my grateful acknowledgements for the flattering tefti inoiucs it comains-of youi esteem ; but affords me an opportunity to remark with what pleasure 1 have observed the general fatisfaaion, which has appeared to prevail among the citipena of Detroit, and its neighborhood, upon the tflablifhment of the government of the United States ; and the alacrity and laudable dtfirs they havc.evinced, to.pro»iate the due execution theresf j a condii® so wife, whilst it merits the warm regard of their fellow-ci trzens of the Uaien, must ensure to themselves all ihe advantages which will flow fr«m and be the na tural effect ot the adminiftratioa of govt! law*, uh dci so happy a government. I will with much pleafare communicate to the rrehdent, the warns fenrsmentj of zeal and attach ment, which yon haveexpreffed towards the govern ment or the United States.; and I cannot permit myieli 10 depart from hence, without assuring you, that 1 (hall always takes peculiar interest in whate ver is ay contribute to promote the happiness and profparity of this county, to which my naote has the honor to be attached. • I have the lie Nor to be Gentlemen, With much efteeK, Your molt ehedient, And very huaible Servent, „ j . ANT*. WAYNE. Head Quarters, 1 Detroit, 14H1 Nov. 1796. j Three foil heufes will f ure | y have suggested to the Jd ll^, rs ' , w! ' at was v.-a*ti»g at the theatre. They WW? b " n tau sht to know, by many thin ones —ot what there was too mwfk. tJi i, S !f ,d , tth at.t i*? 7 another novelty in (lore, hut » c the Dublic lf l they Wlll try how far ,hc P Jt ' e "cc edlv fiifd-hemfV co " nte£i on, they may UMexped menMHll u" 3t th " poim ' at wWh r4nt pafl indulgence ° U ' '° 1 b ? < he of its SNUB. CO jbUV h " rd mUCh ° f f P ie ' a iS'ex raft r ns V aUOnB - Allowing is J mittee of fr- m the . ra P J . rt the French com- | I | "We have agents-ill ejrery part of F.uro>p?__ w (have ageotf even in America, from w - | r ** she plots of the from ihe colonics a^d i the envoys from '!>e European courts." <« Tj." j is as it were an echo in Europe, and this echo r * peats to the committee every .political fyflem a J n—" ed in Europe." P" These confcfii®n» are very candid. The f A are perfc&ly in the charaAer of the nation. p er * haps no nation ob earth take the fame pains and equally fuccefsful, in worming out the secrets of other people. The following anecdotes are told in private circles. When the negoction of 1783 was pend.W ,h- Bntifh minister, Mr. Oswald, 1 0 * hi, papcrfco,,. tainißg hu inftruaions. They were taken out of , hrt bureau, the locked. Mr. Ofwaid told Mr lay his papers were gone, and asked him how he , trivea tofecure his papers. Mr. Jay replycd, he Pt tllem IXI a pocket within his coat, usder hU arm, and when he went to bed, he laid them un. .er him. But fays Mr. Jay, ye u need t ive y OUr . leit no uneabnefs about the papers; the French wimfter has them doubtless and is taking copies —ana when he has done this, the papers will b" returned to their place. Accordingly, a ft er two or three days, the papers were replaced in the bu reau, and the bureau locked aCufual. V\ hat led Mr. Jay to his conclusion, was, a knowledge of similar tricks before. During the war, and while Mr. Jay was in Spain, a certain pa. per r/as sent by him to thefecretary for foreign as. fairs in America. The paper arrived fafe. Mot long after, it was miffing for several days, k then refiored fafely to ltj piacc. A few months after, and the fir/t that Mr. Jay beared of it, the French minister in- Spain showed him a copy of it. A clerk in the office of foieigu affairs had been bribed, it was supposed, to obtain the paper for the French minis. ter in Philadelphia, who copied it, sent back the original, and a copy to France ; from whence is was sent to the French minister in Spain. , A 7. J'. Min. New Theatre. -~ — < ON WEDNESDAY-EVENING, February S, Will be presented, (for ch« fourth time) an Hiftoricil Flay, called ' Columbus; Or, A WORLD DISCOVERED. WITH NEW SCENERY, MACHINERY, DRESSES AND DECOJSATiONS. Tne raufic composed by Mt Reinagle. Tlie proceiEons and Pageant b,y Mr. Byrne. In this Play the manners and customs of Mexico and Peru characterize the tirft discovered njtions of America. Such deviation from Historical truth was deemed nece:L: • for drsmatic offed, and has enabled the author to imn* duce the pathetic Tale of CORA ,awj> ALONZO, irora Marmontel's Incas. The PROLOGUE.wiII be Ipoken by Mr. Wiciuii.) SPANISH PARTY. Columbus, Mr. Cooper Alonze, .Mr. Moretcn Harry Herbert, Mr. Wignell Dodtor Dolores, Mr. Banvoad Bribon, Mr. Francis lioldan, Mr. Fox Valverdo, Mr. Hurley Motcofo, Mitt — - " Mr. M"JJon*ld ill Spaniard, , Mr. Darlcy y \^ 3d Spaniard, Mr. Morgan INDIANS. \ i Orozimbo, Mr. Warren Solatco, ( Mr. VEJlranre Catalpo, Mr. Warrell Cuto, Mr. f.WarrM Cora, Mrs. Merry kelti, Mr«. Francis Pricftefles of the Sun, \ JJ™. range , , < Mrs. Mcchtlcr, Int. Indian Women,—Mrs Harvey, Mrs. poflor, Mifi Mil .bouf« AliUOJdfield. Mis. L Eltrange, Mis, Halo, Mil* Anderfon.apd M'clle Sophie. In a& t. A PROCESSION OF JNDJAN*, and the firft ' * Landing of Columbus. « ~ Q. . . AT lON OF A ST OHM AND £ARTHOVAKI?• VVKha Grand Eklftion fiom a Vowa.vJ. In aft A March of Saciuhci, and-Proceffion to the E*ecutio» of Cora. The whole to conclude with A GRAND PAGEANT Ihe fee tie of the Volcano dsfigned by J. Richards, Elq. a. A. principal Scent Painter to Covtnt-Gardcn i heatre. The reft of the-S« W r--ch.Cg n ed by Mr. Milbourne. and the whole executed by him and under his direc tion. Machinist, Mr. LentbalL The dresses dpfigned by Mr. Gibbons. To which wil! be added, A FARCE, called Love a-la-Mode; Or, THE HUMOURS OF THE TURF. [Written by Charles Macklin, Ef« ] Sir Calaghau O'Bralighau Mr. Warren * Sir Archy M'Sarcafm Mr. Bates - Squire Groom Mr . Harivood Beau Mordec*. Mr . p ra , uij \ bir I hcodore Goodchild Mr. Warrell * Servant , Mr. Mitchell Charlotte Mrs. Hartvy P^' lc are rcfpe<9ful]y informed, that the new comedy of "I lie Way to get married is in preparation. and wi" be speedily brought forward ; after wh.ch Co- 9 iumbus will neccflariiy fee laid aside. Box OneDolbr twen V -fl ¥c cents. Pit Seven Eighth. a Dollar and Gallery, halt a dollar. te !l " at Hook-liore. Thea s tr l ' " th ' ° ffice the ladies aiid Gentlemen arc requested to fcrd their Jervants to Kceppbies a quarter before 5 o'clock, and as as cofnpany are feattd, to with'traw, is they cannot on any account be permit, ted to remain. r Ihe Doors of the Theatre will open at 5. a*d the Curtain rife precisely at 6 o'clock. Places for the Boxes to ue taken at the Office in the front of the theatre, from 10 tUI a o'clock, and from 10 till 4 on the days of performance. ' ; *VIP~AT RpSPUBf jr,/l' AL 1. f RSO N S TNDEETED to the Eflatc of the late David Kilwnidt, X Esquire, either by note, bill, bond, book account, or it f u 'l. Jre to make immediate t» the iubfenbers, without delay, and allpcrfon.havi„ ?a n r just demands aga.nft said hltate, are d,fired >• exhibit ihe lame for adjuftrucnt. ANN ICENNEDY > Adm'x. pv , .... c FRANCIS JOHNSTON j Mmr. Philadelphia, Fsbruary 8
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