3Ci)c
PHILADELPHIA ,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9.
To the Committees of the Senate and House
of Representatives, unto whom are refer
red the Address of the Select and Common
Councils and the Memorial of the Citizens
of Philadelphia, requesting an enlarge
ment of powers and a grant of efficient aid
to the City Corporation for the purpose of
obtaining and introducing a supply of good
water into the city.
GENTLEMEN,
AS a Memorial of the President, Man
agers and Company of the Delaware and
Schuylkill Canal Navigation dated the 21ft
and prcfented to the Degillature on the 22d
instant, hath been attentively considered by
us, and as its obvious tendency seems calcu
lated to fruftrate any viws of the City Corpo
ration for obtaining a supply of water, ex
cept through the medium of that Company,
it appears highly proper for us to offer some
remarks threon, arid to prevent or remove a
ny incorrect impressions which may take
place if unnoticed.
This Memorial after making mention of
the exertions of that Company to complete
the Canal, referring the communications to
the Legislature on the fubjefts of their pro
gress and the difficulties they had labored un
der from sundry causes, as well as to. .their
applications for aid, and after reciting their
. authority, to supply the city of Philadelphia
with water from the Canal, and their power
by virtue of the 3d feftion of their act of in
corporation, to take water from any of the
streams lying within 8 miles distance from
the North Bounds of the City between De
. liware and Schuylkill, fcc. proceeds to
mention a nejociwion which commenced I
between the City Corporation and the Canal i
Company in December 1797, quoting and
Connecting separate parts of a report made
to the Select anil Common Councils by their
Joint Committe in a manner that, with
the general context of some other parts of
the memorial, has a tendency to give this ne
gscistion the completion of an attempt on
the part of the SeLdt and Common Councils
to form an union of the City's and Canal
Company's interest and resources for intro
ducing water by a completion of the Canal.
Though the quotation of the separate
parts of that report is correft as to words and
sentences, yet their connexion and different
arrangements, together with the general
Context of the memorial on this
sent a view foreign to the object of the Coun
cils ; true it is the printed report of the
Council's Joint Committee is referred to,
and that a recurrence to it would furnifh
correct information, but a, she re is little pro
bability, that those who nave heard or read
the Memorial will have an opportunity of
examining the report referred to, that mif
takss and misapprehensions may be avoided,
it becomes proper for the true iinderftand
ini; of this bufittefs to state
That though u r»o method then appeared"
to. that Committee 41 so well calculated to
ensure" the introduftion of water into the
City ?s the completion of the Canal, they
r.everthekfs neither contemplated or recom
mended any union of interests or partnership '
with the Canal Company, but "on the con
trary after Hating that the Stockholders had
rejetted the proportion to alienate their
right to water the City for £50,000 and also
another proportion, viz. That the Stock
holders fliould convey three fourths or the :
whole of th.-ir flock to the City on receiving
payments of monies advanced on such flock
with interefl, &c, and that the Stockholders
had in tdrn proposed the City Corporation*!,
pnrchafing fliares and appointing Managers
in proportion to the flock they might hold
—The Committee fay 1
With refpeft to the proposition of a pur
chase " of half the flock, it appears to us
inadmifiable, many difficulties and objec
tions present themselves, your committee
will only mention the following ; a perfett
harmony among Managers, having different
interests to watch over could not beexpedted;
jealousies would hereafter arise, and the ob
feet of watering the City might be defeated,
or at least procrastinated, a number of years
—B?fides, the premium of 10 per cent, on
the capital expended for watering the city,
would not be relinquished, and is it not the
duty *£ the Corporation to extinguish
this premium, which in the 'opinion of
some of the Stockholders will alone dou
ble the value of their flock, and in a few
years operate a* a diredttax on our Fel
low-Citizens, equal, if not superior in a
mount to what is now paid by them for
a,l the purposes of the city. Upon the
wh<~le, your committee are of opinion, that
an application be made to the Legislature for
3 grant of the duties upon the sales at Auc
tion, and in cafe this Ss obtained, a purchase
of the whole of the stock of the Canal fliould
be effected ai d an immediate attempt made to
carry on the work by fif.aU and judicious con
tracts under the superintendence of an engi
neer of approved talents and integrity.
1 he Seledt and Common Councils fully ap
p eciate the value and importance of naviga
ole Canals, to the interests and prosperity of
both city and country: and believe their pro
motion and encouragement by ever)' prudent
measure, countenance and aid, is well wor
thy the attei tion, not only ot the Common- \
wealth and of the City Councils, but of eve
ry citizen whovifhestbe growth and advance
ment of the commercial wealth and prosperi
ty of Pennsylvania. But considering the
diitrcfTes the citizens of Philadelphia have
sustain -d from the prevalence of pestilential
disease ; the impending ruin threatened by its
annuil return, and that the introduction of
pure and wliok-fome water, in the general be
lie promises to be one of the mc't effectual
iE.nediec, this object alone hath become para
mount to every other inferior confitkration,
and thi reforv che Stledt and Common Coun
cils at this time, confining theii views to the
teJth and tafety of the city only, are de-
iitous that th'.s - ~Jki f t rimary importance,
(tJj.ll ujt uy auy act ot the Legislature be
made io aay dfrgrce dependent on the comple
tion of a navigable Canal, as it may totally
defeat the de fired obiedt or proenftinate its
attainment 1 for a lenjth cf time, ruinous to
the welfare of the city. They are desirous,
(if the neceflary powers and aid are granted
to the City Corporation for the purpose) to
introduce waters, not only for washing the
streets, but suitable for drinking and culina
ry uses ; such, as for that end may be defirea
ble to the great body of their conftituents—
and to introduce them by such modes and
means as on mature examination (hall be
found, not only molt effectual, but at the
' fame time, molt couducive to the advantage
of the citizens of Philadelphia, inall refpe&s
unconnefted with any view for the promotion
■ of private or partial interests whatever.
Without better demonstration than hath
:; yet appeared, the City Councils do not admit
i that the waters of the Schuylkill conveyed by
• means of the Canal is the only source of fup
| ply, or the only tract of conveyance. If the
aids are granted and the management fliall be
: committed to them, the Srleit and Common
Councils wish to be left unrestrained in the
j choice of sonrces of water and modes of an
oyance guarding and rtfervhig' to the Canal
Company unimpaired all the rights and pri
vileges anting out of their afi cf incorpora
tion ; and IhoulJ the medium of the Canal,
prove, on the result of the on
ly practicable, or (under a full view of all
circumstances) the most eligible means where J
by the intention of watering the city can
best be answered, the City Councils on such
'ventual result are desirous they lliall be then
at liberty to apply the funds committed to
their trust to purchase the whole flock of the
Canal Company, and to complete the Canil,
with the special view however, that the pro
fits, (if any (hall arifeontof the tolls there
of) shall in the first instance be applied to
reimburse the costs andexpencesofcconstru- t
i lion and completion, and thereafter to be ap
j plicableto nopurpofe other than the creating
of a fund for the purpose of aiding the com
pletion of the Sufquehanna and Schllylkiil
Canal, and for the further purpose of gradu
ally extending the chain of Inland Caii.il
Navigation from time to time to the con
•neftion of the western with the eastern waters
of this Commonwealth.
It hath been a favorite Theory that pub
lic advantages arc best promoted and obtain
ed, when it is made the interest of private
persons, or associated companies to advance
the public good. The history of companies
incorporated on this basis in Pennsylvania,
since 179 1. gives the evidence of
that the theory fliould be received with some
caution, and that it cannot be fafsly admitted
without some limitation. In the present in
(lance, it now reds with the Legislature to
pursue that speculative policy with the aid of
Legislative grants, or to try the effect of .
promoting the pnblic good on the basis of
public spirit; that is, to obtain the means,
or peceffary capital, for carrying on and ef- }
fefting a great work of public utility and |
public fafety, by providing and appropriating
Funds to ensure the punftual corapenfation.
of legal interest, and to secure against iol's
in preference to incitements for risque, on a
view to the contingent compensation of ex
traordinary profit.
here will conclude with observing,
that in preferring their request for aids to
enable tiie City Corporation to introduce a
ftipply of suitable Water into the City; the
Seleft and Common Councils have been en
tirely governed by a (Irong deGre to promote
the Health and Safety oi the City, without
views of personal or private interest or advan
tage whatever. They trust the Legislature,
under a conviftion of the neceflity of the
measure, will, with a liberal hand, promote
the wishes and exertions of the Citizens of
Philadelphia. And the City Councils hav
ing discharged their duty so far as to request
the jlecefTary aids, and to offer exerti
on, which means in their pqw&r, or 'means
which might be granted to them- would per
mit them to make, how submit the business
to the wisdom of the Senate and House of
Representatives. Anxiouflv solicitous only
that the great object of a supply of pure and
good water for the City -may be effeftually
attained, by whatever agency the Legislature
may deem it proper to 'devise.
JOHN MILLER, Tun.
THOMAS CUMPSTON,
H. SIMS,
HENRY DRINKER, Tun.
DANIEL SMITH,
Joint Committee of the Select and Com
mon Councils, appointed to present
their Memorial, and attend to its ob
jefts while before the Legislature.
December 29, 1798.
The Creditors of Samuel Rut
tir are informed, That the Truflees will cen
tmue to attend at the House of Chriflopher
I hotnplon, in Robefon Township, Berks coun
ty, on the 18th ar.d 29th day, of the present
month, and on the Bth, 9 th, and 10th days
of January next, in order to receive proof in
support of their refpeflive claim,—And at Nor
nftown for the purpose, at the hotife of Jere
miah Will,, on the nthand nth day, of Fe
ruary next, of which all person, concerned,
are requeued to take NOTICE.
rrifr L D,^l S i^ NS :ndeb 'e d to the said SAM
UEL RUTIER, previously to the 39th day
o June last, are informed that, unless pay
ment is made t® Tome one of the subs ribers, be
ore the ift day of February next, suits will be
commenced against them without refpefl* of
perrons. r
SAMUEL BATRD }
MOORF. rTruftees.
SAMUEL POTTS 3
jjn -
The Creditors of William Steed
man of Derr»-Town, in the county of Northum- '
herlard, ilate of Pennsylvania, are hereby inform
eJ, that the said William Steedrsan ha, applied to
the Court of Common Pleas, of the said County,
to be admitted to the Benefit of the Insolent Lav. s
of the state of Pennsylvania, and that the Judge-,
of the fad Court have appointed the fourth Mou
day ot January 1799, « Sunbury, in the said Coun
ty, to hear him ana his Creditors.
WILLIAM STEEDMAN.
| January 7
The Creditors of John Lawflie,
of Derrs-Tewu, in the county of Northumberland
Stat* of Pennsylvania, are hereby informed, that
she said John Lawfhe has applied to the Court of
Common Pleas of the said county, to be admitted
to the benefit ot thclnlolvent Laws of the State of
Pennfylvaßia, and that th- Judges -/ the said
Court have appointed the fourth Monday of Janu
ary, 1799, at Sunbury, in the said eounty, to hear
him and his Creditors, JOHN LAWSHE.
j an * 7- H3t
CONGRESS,
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.
Debate on Mr. Grisvjold's motion.
(conti nu 10.J
Friday, December 28.
Mr. Gallatin, having obtained leave to
speak a third time to the fame question, ac
knowledged, that many of his remarks yes
terday were of general nature, and not per
feftly applicable to the question under consi
deration; but he had been compelled to fol
low the gentleman from South Carolina, him
felf, who according to his uf'ual habit, had
i left the question, in order to introduce a
| general declamition upon the supposed mo
tives and aftions at gentlemen who differ
1 from him in opinion. It was some of those
geperal itmarks which he called offenfive
war, because it was a deviation from the
' manner 111 which he himfelf had been in the
; habit of d. bating questions before this house,
j a"d notwithftandiug what the gentleman
from South-Carolina had insinuated to the
contrary, he believed it would be allowed
j that the manner in which he argued upon
! any proposition was as unexceptionable as
i that of any other member. It wai not hiscuf
' taji to depart from a question under difcu'f-
I fion ; (till less had he done it, and that limes
; wi hout number, at that gentleman had
I dene, for the purpose of introducing decla
-1 mati»n on>the conduft and motives, not of
, one man, but on all who differ from him in
' opinion with refpeft to his faorite measures.
By offenfive war, Mr. G. said he did not
mean personal attack ; but a retaliation of
that kisd of attack which the gentleman
from South-Carolina himfelf made. If that
gentleman tl ought proper to misrepresent
the motives of the party opnofed to him,
he would himielf retaliate, not by personal
ity, nor by vague sflertions, but by bring
ing forth fafts to (hew the true motives of
the party to which that gentleman belongs
As to the personal attacks, said Mr. G.
which he dates I have made upon him,
what are they ? That 1 have charged that
gentlemin two years ago with not under
standing the fnhjeft of revenue. Is this,
said Mr. G. personality ? Certainly not.
How could I refill an argument on the fub
jeft of revenue made by'hat gentleman bet
ter than by (hewing that he-does not under
stand the fubjeft, if that is true ; and I
think indeed the gentleman ought to be o
bliged to me for having told biro so ; because
it led him to attend to the fubjeft, and I
believe he underitands it much better now,
than be did then. Mr. G. said, that un
cor.fcious as he was of having made any per
fo»al attack upon the gentleman from South
Carolina, o; any other, he should not, how
ever, be detered on a pr-per occasion from
carrying into effeft that kind of offenfive
war he alluded to, from that invelligation
of the t«»e motives of that gentleman's
party, by any threats of pe.fonal retalia
tion, efpetjally from that gentleman. Of
whatever materials his house might be com
posed, it was at least proof again ft any peb
ble which that gentleman might call agffinft
it. He.believed that both his private and
political charafter, when compared with
that of that member, were not in much
ddnger of being hurt by any insinuations
coming from that quarter.
But the gentleman from South-Carolina
has faid,.that it is »ot cujtomary for him to
ascribe wrong motives, or'to milreprefent the
aftions of his opponents. Permit me. said
G. to a few remarksupon what has fal
len from him in thecourfe of the present de
bate. What were his arguments, or asserti
ons yesterday ? Tbey were these j It is im.
poffibie, said he, that the person who went
to France should bnve gone of his own ac
cord, that he could be so Wy and vain,
since he could not pollibly expeft to pro
duce any effeft, therefore he must have been
sent by other persons, and have taken ere
dentials with him. He brings no proof of
this, or that he was sent or authorised , but
it must be believed, because he chufes to
suppose it. This Mr. G. considered as one
of those general attacks which it wou d be
proper to repel. But the gentleman d®es
not flop here. The person who went to
France, according to his assertion, was sent
th»re by 'ndividuaU who gave him creden
tials. And who are these individuals ? They
are a party in -he United tales, which the
gentleman chafes to call a French party -a
party, he tells the world upon which the
trench depend for afli'tanc<r toenflave this
country , and the gentleman proceeded to '■
inform the house what null have bee; the i
langu ge of this party, through their agent i
to the French directory. And this is the j
ground wh ch the gen leman takes, to shew
the necessity f paffi g this resolution. This
was not thr firtt time, Mr. G. said, that
arguments of this kind had been brought |
, forward to support propositions, which had |
no other foundation 6ut 1 .at gentleman's •
own fertile imagination. Tnis is the kind 1
of attack which he rheant to repel.
When tie gentleman comes forward, said !
Mr. G. and tells you that the individuals,
generally speaking, with whom he differs in
opinion, are a French party ; when he tells
you it is the view of that party to revelution
iae this country ; that there is a modern sys
tem which tbey mean to carry into effeft
by means of foreign aid, am I not right, said
Mr. G. io attributing these afi'ertions to a
design in that gentleman to support a system
of alarm which he wished to exist in this
country > Nay, on this very day, that gen
tleman, following the gentleman from Maf
fachufeti#, baa gone upon ground nearly si.
niilar. - He has said that the oppofer of this
refuluiion, fuppogs a J fiiliiiMl or Jacobini
c:il dpArin'-, thai the cr.d of a thing juftifies
the means bj which it. is pccomplifhed.
This doftfine. said Mr. G. si) contrary to
eve 1 y principal of integrity, is charged upon
tis« without the 1 aft pr"of What does
this mean, but that all those who oppose this
rcfolution, and all others t f rep üblican opin
ion, are deficient in integrity, morality, and
every ihing sacred. Who ha* ever said,
that the end juftifies the means by which it
i 9 attained ? Has it been said by any member
oppoficd to this resolution, that it was wrong
in this person Crft to aft, but that if good
effefts were produced, the wrong ought to
be overlooked ?No such thing. It had
been on the contrary said, that if there was
no criminality in the aft, no bad intention,
and no bad effeft produced, the whole wa*
innocent. It had never been said, that pro
vided the effeft was good, though the aft
was criminal, it ought not to be punifbed ;
but that the aft itl> If was not criminal; and
that the resolution ought to be confined to
the punishment, not of any correspondence
whatever, but of criminal correspondence
only ; whilst its supporters infill, that every
aft of that kind, however innocent in itfelf,
ought to be punished, because the effeft
Blight be u.ilchievous.
Mr. G. said, as he was up, he now would
consider fonie other arguments which had
been used in favor of this resolution. The
gentleman from Maflachufetts has said, that
it was right to lay this resolution upon the
table, and his argument in favour of it was,
that it had bean understood at the beginning
of this feifion, that it was intended to bring
forward a motion to repeal the alien and fe
ditton laws, and that th_n gentlemen would
ot couife bring forward every argument to
influence the paflions of the public, and that
therefore the friends of the present resolution
had thought it right to give the firft blow,
and chufe their own ground to fight upon.
This, said Mr. Ci. is an acknowledgment
that this proposition is nothing more than a
man®uvre, and juftifies what I have already
laid, that the friends of the Alien and Sedi
tion bills chose rather to attack us on this
ground, thaji to wait till a proposition for
a repeal of those laws is brought forward,
where they feel we jniift have the advantage.
Mr. G said, he gave credit to gentlemen for
having felefted this ground, as the resolution
has iomething specious on the face »f it. It
is a good manceuvre ; but it is nevertheless
a man®uvre, according to gentlemen's own
acknowledgment.
In support, however, of the proposition,
the fame gentleman has told us, that it waj
at least very likely that if the person who was
htelji in France, had ever rilked any thing
[ in writing, or in public, every thing foid or
written had been extremely proper in itfelf,
iuchas no person need be aflained of, and
such as would rather operate in his favor,
when known, than otherwise ; at the fame
time, he remarked, that we do not know the
lubjefts of his private conventions with
the members ot the French government ; so
that all hii ostensible afts were right, and all
his secret ones wrong. Now, said Mr. G.
it a law is puffed on this fubjeft, it can only
have effeft upon oftenfibie correspondence,
and yet the gentleman fays that ofUniible
afts will always be right. Mr. G. believed
the gentleman had tokl the house what it
true ; and that if any person wished to carry
on a criminal correspondence with a foreign
goverhment, they will doit fecrctly, and not
in the open manner in which the gentleman
alluded to has lately done. He believed the
publicity of this proceeding, is the bell argu
ment in its tavor. He spoke, however, only
trora conjefture; when he was better ac
quainted with that business, it was polTible
he might be obliged to condemn it.
hen he had heretofore attacked this re
solution, it was said he had attacked its de
tails only, and not its principle, yet those
details made up the whole of the rcfolution.
Mr. G. here repeated the objeftions which
he had before stated to the resolution, infill
ing that no unauthoril'ed individual could
usurp the Executive Authority ; and that a
diftinftion was not made between private
correspondence and public negotiation. Mr.
G. said, lie had also made a diftinftion be
twixt an individualaftingon hisownaccount,
and a person being sept tD a foreign govern
ment by a party. He thought this distinc
tion correft. If a person, from enthufiafin
or any other cause, not criminal, undertakes
to open a correspondence with a foreign go
vernment not intended to defeat any negoci
ation of the government, or to involve the
country in a war, or to invite foreign aggres
sion, he believed it would be perfeftly inno
cent ; but, if a combination of men were to
combine themfejves as a party against the
government of their country, and for that
purpose to feleft an envoy in order to nego
ciate for them, he fiiould consider such a
conduft as highly improper.
A gentleman from Connefticut made use
of an argument yesterday, which had not
been noticed. He said, that a foreign na
tion who means to confer a benefit upon ano
ther nation, will never negociate with an un
authorised individual; that if one govern
ment was difpoi'ed to treat with another,
they would forever rejeft the interference of
private individuals, and that when a govern
ment opens a Correspondence with an indi
vidual, it shews, upon the face of the tranf
aftion, a want oi sincerity to obtain the ob
jeft in view ; and that the French govern
menment, therefore, ihaving lent an ear to
an individual-American citizen, had (hewr, a
want of its sincerity ; that it is always crimi
. t0 * u£ h a correspondence, «nd that
« ought to be restrained. But did the gen
tleman who laid this doctrine down, perceive
*suther it would lead to f If it be criminal
tor an individual to negociate with a govern
ment, is it not equally criminal in a govern
ment to negociate or correTpond with an in
dividual ? If it be, and a proof of a want of
Sincerity, how will this apply t» the conduft
of our government? Take the resolution '
upon the table, and transfer it on that of the
council of Five Hundred, and it will appear
in the (hapeof law for punishing MeflVs. X
and Y for carrying on an unauthorised cor
• rcioonJence with the American gov . J
; through oar commiffiftners. iAitiv' *
. rn-mber;.*d that ouf cwv v; did t >,>. n .j' "
I rcfpond-uce with X and'Y.; one of aC,"
i avarred that he was not an av e ,',t of ;hi
; French government, and that he had no ab
i ject except that of promoting the welfai- a .'
. the L mted States, and that when
I ed that negociation they had no proof tii
, even the other was authorized". Would
t it be fa id, then, that our government w
r not lincere m their wishes to '.Obtain peacr
r from their having carried 01i such a corrcf'
1 pondence ? Mr, G. said, as he did not
, in the dodnne, he did not agree in the con
| clulion. He believed there are cases In
, which governments are obliged to have'm.
course to mdiredl means of negociation, and
a? our comnjiffioners were not accepted, w ,
haps .t was right for them to do a s thev
did, in order to get finally heard by the ?o
vernment. In the fame manner, after\n
intercourie had been cut off between the
two countries, the French government mieht
correspond with an American citizen in
France, without given any evidence of their
insincerity. Whether they had done Co or
stew C ° Uld not ! tlleir muf!
The fame gentleman spoke of what it
called the diplomatic skill of France. Thi,'
Mr. G. said, had lring been a favourite ex!
preluon to him it always appeared ridtu.
° us ,' if any nation has given p :0 of
of their want of wisdom in this refpeftthe
French have done it in their diplomatic in
tercourfe with this country. Amongftall
the foreign ministers who have been fentt.
this counsry, it mud be acknowledged tia:
none have evinced so little diplomatic skill a ".
those of the French republic. The French
Mr. G. laid, appeared to him to have in their
enthukilm at firft, and then in the intoxica
tion of yiaory, very unwisely set as.de thoft
rules which had been adopted by all other
nations in their mutual intercourse, and, in
so doing, they had been guilty in his opini.n,
not of a display of diplomatic fliilj, tot of
egregious folly They had made a most cu
rious di.play of diplomatic skill in having
called home their minister from this country?
and in havmg sent back ours unaccepted.
that « though there is in this country, ac- 4
fording to the representations of certain
gentlemen, a party ready to join the French
nation in any of their schemes againt this
country; and although the French with t»
countenance and promote that party, they
have themselves cut off every means of cor.
refpondence, through which those doiheftic
traitors might have carried on their nefarious
projects, without any suspicion whatever.
But, Mr. G. bdie\*d it was immaterial to
us whether the French have not diplomatic
skill or not; whether her views upon this
country are inimical, or not, as it refpefts
this resolution. He had himfrlf never been
alarmed, as the gentleman from Maflachu.
setts had exprefled hirafclf to be from the
view of what has passed in other countries.
He had not been alarmed, because he confi
dertd the internal situation of this countrj'j
and our distance from £urope as two fuffict
ent lifeguards. He considered our internal
lituation to be such, (divided in opinion as
we unfortunately are) as not to admit the
supposition that there can be a party in this
country difpoled to make any change in the
form of government which we have the hap.
pinefs to enjoy. There, are, said he, I
know, men in this country who are diffatis
fied with iome ot the measures of adminiftri
tion, and not only with the meafirres of ad
ministration, but also with l'ome of the a&s
of Congress ; but th- remedy which they
wilh and seek for, is not a revolution, but
by the meahs pointed out by the confUtution,
by enlightening the minds of the people,
the medium of the pfefs, with refpeft to theif
true interests ; by convincing them certain
meaiures are wrong, and by persuading them
to effect a change inthefe measures by means
of elections. Any other change which could
be accompliflied, would undoubtedly, as the
gentlelYian from Maflachufetts had said, (
plunge a dagger in the brtafts of thole who
opposed it. No man in this country can
possibly have an interelt in changing thecon«
ftitution. Men who generally enjoy inde
pendence, or more than independence (whick
is mostly the cafe in that part of the country
where foine of the measures of the
ment are most condemned) have nothing to
hope from such a change. They may wilh
to fee other perlens in the administration of
government ; but would never conlent to
any revolutionary risk to obtain this end.
And if there are no men in this country
who wilh toeffefta revolution, said Mr. G.
still less are there any who wifli for foreign
aid to allift them in such a work. But if
they did, how was it to be obtained ? Did
notour diftanceftom Europe, and the lyant
of naval resources of that nation whose in
terference was apprehended, secured us from
that danger, that alarm appeared to him too
ridiculous sos serious consideration.
Mr. G. had already observed, that if any
laws were passed upon this fubjeft. it ought
to be founded upon a resolution which fliould
define what is criminal, and what is not;
ami he was confirmed in this opinion, by
no nation ever having palled a law of a
nature like the one now proposed. He re
collected having seen printed, during the
present war, a correspondence between an
F.nglKh fubjetfl and an agent of France on the
fubjeft of the dispute between the two coun
tries ; and he recoliefted that on a trial for
treason, it had been stated, that where a cor
respondence tends to lead an enemy to deflft
from their violence against the country to
which the correspondent belong, it is so far
from beihg criminal, that it is worth} of
praise. He had never heard (fa nation legi
llating on the genei al ground proposed; and
though it has been i'aid, that when a bill is
redoitei, it will be more defined ; gentlemen
by their arguments, tell us the reverse, for
they fay any ki.d of conefponrence ought
to be ; unifhed. Mr. G. mentioned this on
account of What had fallen from the gentle
man from G.orgia,
Mr. G. concluded by faying, that he was
fenfib" that the ground felef'ed by gentlemen
for this delmte is a one, and had