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