FROM ?HE StncJjor Clt% GREAT political agitations riot uncom monly have the effeft to throw the minds of men into a state of torpor, which is facceed *d by decrepit infirmity, and too often ter minates in fame fatal catastrophe. This vnental leprosy hath sorely vHi ted us ; its ef feits threaten to flop the circulation of the vital fluid—Half the life of our political fyf tenr, is already fwaliowed up in it, and tile other half hangs flitting in mid-air, like the spirit of a dying faint. No incenfecafl ap pease it—llo prayers to flay it can avail. We pray where all is past praying for, and our inccnfe choaks to fuffocation. I fee the spirit mounting to Heaven, in a stream of blood.—sit died of inani'tiom OUR vefTel of state is under a lee-fliore ; and the only anchor that can hold her is £bul—A dangerous mutiny on board en courages the obscene harpies who are * watching for the wreck ; and ravished at the fcenc, their rites of death* even nowfcream along the blsfh To east our over tile item, and to wreck the embarked ven tures of the'nalfion, are hopes near in prof pe<*. The measures taken to'extricate her, are partial ancl temporizing: the officers Teem exjtn astonished at their own steps, as if doubtful whether they have done too much or too little—whether to drive ashore, claw off, or attenfpt to moor—They are fig nak of diftrtfs hutig out to an enemy, that is frterciiefs, and who has a fate in reserve for 11s, that we cannot exaggerate , telling him in terms too plain to be misunderstood, that we have fuffered so much already, that we fear to trust ourselves any longer. • Decree of the Convention for executing all our fellow-citizens who fall into their hands, and whi«h feenu to have daggered even Nicholas. ■ —— FO R SAL E, Eighteen Acres and tiventy-Jix Perches of LAND. • In a fine healthy situation, with 1 small stone honfe upon it, some meadow and woodland, a run of water, and a good spring ; situated in the Minor of Morelapd, Montgomery Comity, on the Southampton and Wright's Town road, 14 miles from Philadelphia, adjoining the lande of W. Deans, Esq. W. Roberts, and J. Lau moy. Wpply to J. LAUMOY. *«* Hoffeffion will be given on the firft of vtfpril. February igth, 1799 Jtawtf • * " * 1 Caution. ALL persons are dcfired to take notice, that the red estate of Thomas Britton and ■William Mafiiy, which has been advertised for ' . fs'le at the Merchants' CoflVehoufe, by Jonathan 1 Pcurofe, esq. foeriff of Philadelphia county, on ' Wedntfday t\filing, the iQth February inllant, is , fubjedt tofundry judgments of a date prior to that ] usder which said sal« is intended to be had, that those judgments amount to betwsen 13 and 14 : ihouiand dollars, and havs been afligned to An drew furnmers, jr. for a valuable consideration, I who will infill upon the priority of their lien, and payment thereof by tne purchaser or purcha sers, whoever they may be. The said pnmifes are also fiifejedt to sundry mortgages «f which it would be advifeable for all 1 tboie who have it in contemplation to purrhafe 1 any part of said estate, more particularly to inform 1 ihcinfelves. ANDREW SUMMERS, junr. *<*>■ '9- dit | It'AT fit 10 AN. 1 THE Conimiflioners for receiving fabferiptions 1 to a Loan for supplying the City of Philadelphia 1 with whokfome water, give NOTICE, \ That they will aall on the citizens for their fubferip- , t i»B3 in the following diflrias 1 mtUarn J»„ will receive lrom Vine to South fide , of Pine-ftrett. ' Levi Rolling,worth will receive from the North fide ' of Pine to the South fide of Sprnce-ftreets. ] JeJfe Wain will receive from north fide of Spruce c to the south fide ef Walnut-ftretts. Edward •filvtman will receive from north fide of • Walnut to the south fide of Chefnut-ftreets. J John Infieep, and I w ill reee'ive from north fide of 1 Jonathan Roiinfon, f Chefnut to the south fide of 1 Market-streets. { Stephen pirarj, W) will receive from north fide of | Jacct Shoemaker f Market to the south fide of Arch-flreets. tljfi.ui, will receivefrom north fide of Arch 1 to the south fide of Race-flreets, < Leonard Jacohi will receive from north fide of Race : to the south fide of Vine-streets. < Joseph Crtiiifiank,\ will attend at the effice of Jared IS* Jared Ingeifcl j Ing< rfol, opposite the State ' Hoafe, with the hook hitherto kept at the City I Hall. By order of. the board, f JACOB SHOEMAKER, stc'y. t ad no 18th 5 c — e For Charleston, . c JOHN BULKLEY, J WILL in about ten days, fo'r flight or pafTage ap F !y to JESSE tt ROBERT WALN, feb i 3 ' djot t THE CREDITORS, t OF the late General Stjwaut, are 1 reqaefted to meet at the City Tavern, on ( Wednesday evening next, at 7 o'clock. Eufinel's u of importance requires their immediate attention, feb 1* d 3 t c CONGRESS, HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES, Si/fpcnfwn of Intercourse -with France. Tuesday, January 22. Be ; nj in committee of the whole on the bill further to suspend the commercial inter course between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof, and for other purpafes, Mr. Rutledge in the chair ; and the fourth section of the bill p being under consideration, in the follow ing words, viz. " That if at-any time after the passing of . this aft, the government of France, or any persons claiming, and exercising eominjnd and authority, in any island, port or place, " belonging to the French republic, shall clrar : ly -dilavow, and fliall be found to refrain from the aggreflions, depredations and hos tilities which have been, and are by themen ' couraged and maintained against the vefTels . and other projierty of the citizens of the United States, and against their national rights and sovereignty, in violation of the • laws of nations, it shall thereupon be lawful [ for the trefident of the United States, be ing ascertained of the prenaifes, if he ftlall wem it expedient and confident with the in ■ tereftof the United States, to remit and dis continue the reft mints and prohibitions afore faid, either with refpeft to the French repub lic, or to any such island, port or place be longing to said republic, with which a com mercial intercourse may be fafely renewed ; and also to revive the said restraints and pro hibitions, . after the fame shall have been dis continued, whenever in his opiniwn the in terest of the Upited States shall require, and hereby is authorized to-make proclamation thereof accordingly." Mr. Nicholas said, there are some words in this fefVion which he did not understand, and if he could not get an explanation of them in any other way, hs would move to strike them out. They are not in the former law ; and they are very extensive. They go to this, that a wan in authority in one of these islands, be his authority as limited as it may, may make an agreement on the fubjeft of intercourse different from what he is au thorized to do by the Republic of France, and in that cafe the island is to be open for olir commerce. He wished for some informa tion on this fubjeft. Mr. S. Smith underflood, that the rea- ' son why these words had been introduced in- i to the bill was, in order to meet the cafe of : 1 Hifpaniola. It was well known that a new 11 agent had succeeded Hedouville there ; that 1 he has published a proclamation stating, that notwithflanding the decree of the French re- ' public, which dire&s the feizurc of all Atrje- -f ---rican vefTels and their carg es, whenever there \ shall be found on board an article of British £ manafaclure, he was authorised to suspend 1 that decree so far as relates tp vefTels coming' '£ to that illand. And, Mr. S/iaid, if any 1 agent in the Wdft-lndies could give affura nee ' that no capture fliould take place from the. J illand of which he is Governor, then the • i President shall be authorized to open our J commerce with that island. It was on this' - ground that he had given his confentto this 1 ' clause of the bill. T * ] Mr. Nicholas said, if the clause were in- 1 tended to meet the cafe to which the gentle- < man had alluded, the agent had his powers 1 ! 3 from the French government, and whatever ' '< he did must be considered as done by 1 \Trnment, , until his power should bc-'revok- t ed ; but,' claufe stood, it would autho- ' rize the President to treat with usurpers ; f not merely with persons in power, but with t any person having momentary pofleffion of a t place, and he could not agree to such a prin- a ciple. Why, asked Mr. N. was this law ' originally passed ? Was it not in order to 'f bring France to terms by diftrefluig her ill- J ands ? Suppose France should fay to one of f her agents in the Weft Indies " you shall ? be authorized to make a stipulation with the » United States to take off the suspension of t intercourse with re'fpeft to your island." f Would not this be to acknowledge "that our « regulation pinched her? And wouldnot the t opening of intercourse with such a place, by f relieving the diftrefles of France,, defeat the si original intention of the law ? [Mr. Har- g per asked if there was any qoeftion before si the committee ?] Mr. N. said he would f make one, by moving to strike out this fee- a tion. A clause of this kind, Mr. N. said, a held out an invitation to agents to abandon I their country, and to set up governments, of v their own. If it were to operate only in a I partial mannerforthe relief of such of the g French islands as are so far diftrefTed as that e the government ftiould be willing to restrain o her depredations so far as related to n particular places, where will be the efficient cy of the law afterwards ? It will only prove o a burden upon our own citizens, without in- I juring Franc*. If we are to have a free h trade with the Weft Indies, why deprive to- o bacco planters of going immediately to the ft country where the article is consumed, in- r flead of going through Spain, and by other il circuitous routes ? But the other afpefl of \ the bill, Mr. N. said, was the moll extra- f< ordinary and exceptionable he ever saw. It a authorized the President to treat,wi,th persons h " claiming authority." This provision may t produce conferences the most fatal. Sup- n pose any of these islands make a separate ne- tl gotiation with this country. What will be t the effeft of our having thus enticed them to g disobey their government ? Will this gov- k ernment not be chargeable with having assist- u ed in detaching such a colony from its gov- a ernment ? And if so, could any thing af ford a more lasting cause for war than an aft v of this kind ? If there be any difpofitioU in d the French government to treat (which how- b ever the Secretary of State denies) a conduit a; of this kind would cftedtually root it out, g and there could be no treaty, no peace be- p tween the two countries, for years to come, a If gentlemen, therefore, can give no better rt txplanation of this clause than has already si been given, he hoped it would be (truck tl otft. ft - j Mr. Otis did not believe frhat a more toft-- juftiliable jealousy ever entered the heated imagination of the genti'tnan froni Virginia I than that which occupies it at this moment. He seems to tjiink chat this fedtion of the bill is intei'tded onJy to encourage usurpation and rebellion, whereas a flight attention lhould convince him, that when any of the iff French illands or dependencies revolt and de r. Clare for independence, neither the law pafT id ed the lafUfeffion, ner this bill will apply to id such a. cafe. In i'uch an event theß- is ho be thing ixifting laws to prevent our car ill on a v- and- if attention be paid totnefirTTleSUoli" of the bill, it will be seen to apply only to 0 f filch places as are under the acknowledged 1/ government of France ; and the moment a id place is no longer under her government, e, both the existing law and this fedtion become null with respect to that place ; and a new in relation Would be created, which wiould be jf- regulated under the law of nations. If a re n_ bcllion of this kind should break out, it Is would become a question to what extent we re ought to carry on commerce with the rebel al lious place ; and we should then be governed ie by existing circumstances. If we should be U 1 at war with France, we should doubtless, said p. Mr. O. avail ourselves of the trade to its [II full extent without refpeit to her wishes ; but if an accommodation of differences should f. be :ffe£ted, and the mother country should e . prohibit all trade with the revolters, it is not b- presumable that this government would fanc e. tion any commerce that would provoke a war n- or protect adventurers from the feizbre and ■ confifcation of their property. 0'- But it is not enough, objerved Mr. O. f. to fay, that this feftion does not relate to n _ rebeHious colonies ;it is merely a provision id to meet such conditions as the agents of the >n Executive Directory are entitled to make, consistently with their allegiance to their 3s own touutry, such at leaf! as they constantly d, undertake to proppfe. Without affumingto of define the powers of these agents, it was very ; 0 clear, that they have undertaken to dispense -•r w 'th the decrees and laws of the Republic, -o whenever the exigencies of their govorn }f ments have, in their opinion, made it lic it ceffary or convenient, ft At St. Domingo and at Guadalo-jpe, the i- agents seem to exercise an unlimited con troul over the trade and maritime concerns , r of .thole islands. He prelumed they had a i- discretionary right given to them to relax or suspend many of the decrees of the mother i- .country, with refpett to the territory they : 1. are appointed to govern. The uniform con >f ; dust of Santhonax and Pclverel, and of all ' w | the tommilTioners at St. Domingo, shew this 1 lt to be- the cafe ; and arQu&daloupe, Victor -t Hughes has proved hitnfelf to be nothing * > less than a despot: If this bill passed, these 1 . copimiflioners may open the commerce with : e tbis country,even though an open war should ' b eiyft between this nation and France. Nay., ( :1 Mr. O. said he had a proclamation of He aj Jpuvijle, the ..late agent -at Cape Francois, in { y sos hand, which shews that he had determined 1 e 10 adopt this line of conduft. (Mr. 0. read i e . which states that neutral r c . fliips and cargoes, that provisions and dry v r goods shall be admitteU inu> St. Dommju kn * s' Arserican bottoms, that they shall not be ,5 '. fcized when destined to French ports, but v " pass, unmolested by French cruizers even if 1. war. should break qut between the mother £ . country and the United States.) Now, fa# v S-! Mr. 0. the interest of this country, and of 1 r j our mercantile citizens in particular,"require « - s to jl ace ourselves in a fitnation to meet v . j tljefe'advances. Can there be any difficulty t . irt giving to the. Prefidem a power with rc- c ; fpea to the trade with a part of the French "J 1 dominions, which he at prefent-poflefles over r a the whole ] Gentlemen have said tfiat an a - agent is arrived from an usurper in St. Do- F if mingo. Ms.. O. said he did not know the 1 3 tact. He v did not know of any usurper in c - St, Domingo. 'He believed general Tops- f f faint had succeeded Hedouville in the go- 1 1 vernmentof that island-; that he had, in 1 i imitation of his superiors, fcirt him off in g f the fame way as in the mother country are h " lent <?f those who may be obnoxious to the t r designs of the reigning and the strongest par- " c ty. But it does not follow, that these mea- r r fures of general 1 auifTaint will not be rati- 8 ; fied by the French government. Tfce fame » - general had heretofore sent off the commif- o s fioner'Santhonax. He was not, however, F 1 for this cause, declared to have forfeited his t; - allegiance, but pains were taken to appease u , and reconcile him, and Santhonaxcaine back. t< i He was afterwards succeeded by Hedouville', tl f who is, in his turn,, sent on a voyage to 1 France. But, said Mr. O. shall we now be- Cl : gin. to examine into the legality of the pow- c< t ers of persons in authority, either in France t< 1 or ib her Weft-India pofTeffions ? Have we ; not uniformly adhered to the principle, that f, - those who exercise power de fafto are the 7 ; only persons that we are bound to recognize ? si - From the firft dawn of the revolution, we w ; have, said he, never questioned the legitimacy f< - of the power exercised in France ; to us it c . : seemed indifferent whether Jacobins or Gi- f a rondifts were at the helm of affairs ; whether „ r it was a reign of terror or of moderation. n f We have constantly sung hofannahs, and of ■ fered adorations to the great Republic, one J, t and indivisible, without considering by whose ; hands the power was exercised. It'is now ™ ' too late to change this fyflem. We have ft - no way of knowing, said Mr. 0. whether t l ■ the agents of the Diredtory a<!t in conformity p : to the will of their masters. or not, until the j, 1 government declares them out of their al- ic - fegiance. It will then be soon enough for ft ■ us to determine the posture which good faith t e ■ and policy require us to take. But the gentleman from Virginia fays, J : we ought not to with individuals un- v 1 cer but it appears V( ■ ble that' the French Republic may permit her p : agents to carry on this commerce, and to 1 give us fatisfadory aflurances of.fafetr and ■ proteftion without a treaty; and such an "1 arrangement would be advantageous to that '" • republic. We find, indeed, said Mr. 0. r" from the papers on the table, that of the complaints from that government is ! founded on this iufpejifign of mtcrcourfc, f c and therefore to ltflore the trade in part is I to diminish the caule of complaint. With i refpett to the remark of the gentleman f rom . Virginia, that it was the object of the ori ginal adt by diftrefling France to bring ' her to terms, he differed in opinion ' from him. It was merely a defenfive mea • lure. Our trade became so inlecure, that it was neCessary to do——what ? conquer France? • No ; but to prevent the luin which tlireat > ened our citizens, by prohibiting all inter ■ course with that country, and its dependen cies ; and whenever an end is put to thoft ~ anc * depredations, the iufpeniion > 1 his, laid Mr. O. is not a novel practice, i At the commencement of the late war, the i citizens of the Bahama islands were excepted , from the general regulations and orders pre feribed to our privateers. It is very pofll t>le, laid he, to be at war with a nation, and yet at peace with a certain portion of its territory. We find, by the papers upon our t-ole, that France fays her privateers have iranfgrefled their authority, and that they ■ have now determined that no comniiflion's , br l{ruf d, except by their agents. Let us be prepared to meet them if they will a& accordingly ; an j ;f a g ents ; n the co j Q _ . rues itftrala privateering and depredations within their refpeftive jurifdiaiors, let us i avail ourselves of their good dispositions i without any nice enquiries. Mr. O. had said, that this law has no al lufion to any country in rebellion ; but h could conceive it proper that St. Domimro [ may declare itfelf independent, and become so, in spite of the opposition of France, or , the withes of this country. Far be it from i me, continued Mr. O. to contend that it is i desirable for the interest of the United States : that fcich an evam should happen : such a , doftrinp at this moment would be unseason able and improjxfr; but if it-does take place, he might fay without offence, it would be , good policy to be upon the best terms with the persons in authority there ; if not, the inhabitants of that illand may become pirates upon our tr»de, and do us more mifchief than we formerly fuffe-ed from the Barbary powers. To prevent which let us feed and clothe them, and deprive them of in ducements to quit their island. Mr. O. hoped, therefore, this fedtioa would be retained, and that we lhould not, by refilling to listen to these people, throw them into the hands of another power. 1 his illand, said he, may prove a very "for midable enemy, or a very ufeful friend, if we recolle<ft, laid he, what was done by a handful of Maroons of Jamaica, we (hall lorm no contemptible idea of a population of 500,000 fouls, of which 30 or 49,000 are disciplined troops, and who have in their Rof feffion one of the richest islands in the Weft- Indies, and if driven to despair, would have it in their power to inilidt deep wourvds up on our commerce. While, therefore, we carefully nbftain fiom inciting them to revolt, and are liient upon the result of their independence, in re ference to this, country, we should not o mit any fair occasion to teach them the ad vantages to be derived from an amicable in- . tcMvurK. nii.li ' ru, j- ana TO TmrcT-" vate those good dispositions which others' will improve if we unwilely repel them. Mr. Harper did not know that he could give an explanation of this feftios which would be fatiifaclory to the gentleman from Virginia ; but he would state what was the intention of the bill, and what he thought would be its effedts. He conceived that the fetYion now under conbderation is in ft rid conformity with the bill heretofore .passed. The object of that bill was twofold ; firft, to save our commerce from that speculative and hazardous enterprise, which the high profits made by fuccefsful voyiges enticed the merchant to go into which was a spe cies of gambling, by which some made large fortunes and others fuftaintd heavy lofles. This trade was fotnething of the nature of Faro Banks, or Lotteries, which all good governments have thought proper to pro hibit. The government of this country thought it wife to interfere, and fay to the merchants, \ou shall not run these great risks ; for though a few of you make great gain by the trade, the loss Upon the whole, is much greater than the gain." This was one object. The other was, to deter the French nation, and those exercising authori ty under it, from committing depredations upon our commerce, and thus procure pJlp tedtion to our trade. By what means was this to be aecompliftied ? By withholding from the French thafc articles of prime ne ceflxty, which they were accustomed to re ceive through the medium of our commerce to produce an effeft which they should feel. Let us examine, said Mr. H. whether this fedtion is in conformity to these two objedts. ' There could be no doubt with refpeft to the firft ; becaufeif you can prevail upon those ' who heretofore encouraged privateering to : forbear to make further depredations, our commerce will unquestionably be rendered 1 fafe. The reason, therefore, for layin- the ' reftridtion, is thus removed ; and he°faw no reason why it should be continued. ! But gentlemen fay, that this clause will 1 hold out an incitement to rebellion, as it 1 proposes to negociate with unauthorised a- 1 gents, it fays to the colonies, « rife and 1 ihake off your allegiance." How? I s it 1 throwing off allegiance to the French re- ' public, to- fay they will not fit out privateers 1 against us ? Mr. H. asked whether the co- = loniei are obliged to fit out privateers ? No : such thing ; they may, in cafe of war, pri- ' teer ; but it is a privilege, and not a duty. < is the advantage held out to the colonies by ' tius bill, on condition that they revolt ? < We fayexprefsly the contrary, viz. " Whilst you continue uuder your alliance to the ' trench republic, and shall nevertheless cease ( to exercise against us the right of privateer- ' ing against our ftiips, we will trade with you 1 asufual." This cannot surely be construed I into an exciting of rebellion. We know, 1 , ■ l^at these colonies have priva- 1 tee red against us. Whether they have done 1 what they were not authorised to do, is not ; tor me to enquire. If they will not give up ' 1 is the privilege of privateering, rhey cannot th have the benefit of our trade. If they hav m not the authority t> do it, lie fuppoii ci tiny ri- would not do it; but if general Touflaiu 1S prohibits privateering, we shall fuppofc te an has the right to do it. a- If the effeft which the gentleman fron it Virginia mentions, could be produced upon e? the French government by continuing tic it- reftriftions, it would be well to continue :r- them ; but, said he, we have seen how lit -1- tie France cares for the welfare of her color nits, and therefore cannot reckon upon fuci an an effect. Toperfevere with a view of ob taining an uncertain good would be bad pc :e. 'icy, when bjTmaking the proposed change he we can obtain a certain good. Scarcely cat e.i any good man hesitate about the choice, whei ■e- certain and precarious advantages are set be si- fore him. ■>4 Mr. Gallatin said, one of the objefts ol ts this bill, when it pafled at the last session, ur was to prevent depredations upon our com. ve merce ; but a majority of the bouse who vo ■)' ted tor it, did so with a view of compelling tis 1' ranee, by the lots of our trade to her illands, et to come to reasonable terms of settlement ft with the United States. It was then fai£ , 0- by some gentlemen,that it was not improba us ble that the trade to the Weft-Indies was us even more advantageous to the United State* is than to France, valuable as- it was to her ; and that therefore, it would not produce the 1- effeft j>redifted. 1 his was his opinion, and w he therefore voted against the bill. But, r 0 though he voted against this mcafure, and ie some others, which he thought at th? or time premature, yet a majority of Ccngrefs m having, by adopting them, placed the nation is in its present situation, whatever his opinion ; s, mi ght then have been, and whatever if might a now be, as to the probability of an end he n- isgput to our differences with France, he :e, Ihould think it bad polity, under present cir be cumftances, to recede from the ground then th taken, unce such a cenduft could betray he thing but weakness, and tend to defeat the es objeft which all doubtless have in view, >e f whatever might be the different opinions of ry obtaining it, a a honorabfr peace. Though id this Jaw, therefore, was limited to the prf n. fentfeflion, he was ready to vote for a con tinuance of it; but the feftion now under , a conlidrration, goes entirely upon a new ,t, ground, and entirely different to any either w taken or avowed at the last feflion. r. The law now in exifteuce has a feftion r- lomething fimilarto this, tho\jgh widely dif- If tcrent 'n iiMance. It is to this effeft ; that a if before the next feflien of Congress, the go ill vernnient;of trance, and all persons under its authority, Ihall dil'avow and be found to re refrain from depredations upon our com f- merqc, then it shaH be- lawful for the Prefi l- to suspend the operation of this law ! ■ e Not to -any part, but with the whole. Ey j. that law, we laid, *We are not yet at war with you, we will adopt such measures as we n think ncreflary for our present iituation. ,t We will suspend commerce with you as ana - tion,; but ifyflu, as a nation, shalL disavow j. and refrain fr3m depredations, we have gi- J. -.ven the Prehdent power to renew ourcom .mercial intereourfe with you/.' I- But what, said Mr. G. is the language of faction ? It is this. [FJe read the sec tion as above.'} It is, that if any part of the •i nation, or any coAmai.diiig officer, or per h ,son claiming authority, in anj; one port, or ii i/land, fha.ll take, thole steps which we con e ne< ell.ti y for that nation to take, it 4ttU it be lawful for the Prefideht, to remit and ie dilcontimie the rtftraints,'prohibitions, Bcc. j> Instead of taking * general Rational ground, • it provides for the negociition cf an individ > llal > ° n his private account, Who may either e exercif?, or claim to exercise authority in " any island, ?cc. are not, said Mr. G. at war, and an aft of thU kind, is an aft, which, if it can _ be juftified at all, can only be made use of ,f ' n a ite °f w ar. It is only in such a state j we are authorised to declare, that we will aft a different part with certain parts of a country at war, from what we meant to e treat, make fpecific regulations, with pri t vate individuals, provided they (hall do— . * hat ? D 'favow what the French republic s . s not disavow. The present aft makes e it necessary tor the disavowal to come frogi . government ; but this feftion fays," that s although the French government shall not - vo . w p r , <ftrain her depredations, &c. yet s if an individual shall do it, we will open a t trade with this individual. This, laid Mr. » G. would be to encourage infurreftions ; it ■ s eftablidiing a dfiftrine which is reprobated » every day on this flooi, that it is right to divide a people from their government. s Before he examined what would be the , con sequence of such a conduft, it might be . P ro per, Mr. G. said, to notice what had _ fallen from the gentleman from MafTachu- fetts and South Carolinai r 1 iic gentleman from MafTachufetts told 1 the house that this feftion couid not apply ; to any place in rebellion, because no part of f this bill does apply to any such cafe; and therefore that It is wrong to suppose that [ this feftion holds ou£ any encouragement to t rebellion. In proof of his aflertion, he re . fers to the firft feftion of the bill to shew 1 that it relates only to places under the ac t knowledged government of France. By ad . verting to the words, Mr. G. said it would ) be found ; the bill prohibits intercourse "to . any port or place within the territory of the , French Republic, or the dependencies there . of, or to any place in the Weft-Indies, or , elsewhere, under the acknowledged govenfi . ment of France." This description relates, > said Mr. G. to two different states of things ; t ift. commerce with any port or plate with . the territory of France, or its dependencies, . (and here is included St. Domingo, for so . long as France has not renounced her oolo i nies, they are her dependencies) or to any [ place in the Weft Indies, under the acknow , ledged government of France, These word* relate to places which they may take in the . course of the war, which, though under the acknowledged government of France, do not j make part of her dependencies. Therefore^
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