Mr. Sherman, upon the general principle of opposition to
drawbacks, and to prevent a diminution of the Revenue, which he
norehended from the proposition ihould it be adopted, thought
that it would be more eligible to enhance the duties on goods im
ported in foreign vefiels.
Mr Sylvester observed, That as these drawbacks will place
the Treasury of the United Spates in a very aukward and uncertain
i taation, by taking away with one hand what is put in with the
other! he' null be opposed to the measure.
Mr. Lawxince was in favor of the daufe—He pointed out
a number of inllances in which it would prove fahitary—The
(jifcrimination which the State of New-York had made, had pro
ouccd a very sensible encreafe in her (hipping.
Mr. Wadsworth : Port charges, Sir, are against this country
all foreign ports: The American (hipping pays from 50 to 100
pr. cent, more in those ports than foreigners pay in ours : We cer
tainly, iniuftice to our'elves, ought to place this matter more on
a par; and as the proportion befoiethe Houl'e will conduce in some
<!;•>re" to that object, I wi(h it may be adopted.
Mr. [Jlckson : I took it for granted, Sir, that this fubje£l
of adilcrimination 011 tonnage, had been fufficieutly attended to
_[ thought Sir, that the interest of the southern governments,
had been fully burthened to cnceurage the northern navigation.
Sir the (ituation of Great-Britain and America, are quite diffe
rent—That nation, situated oil a little island, has need of all the
encouragement possible to encreafe her navy, and extend her com
mit—How is it in America ?—We Sir, are a nation of farmers,
agriculture is the great support ot this country, on that we rn 11 ft
depend—but Sir, how is it neglecfed !* how is it iacrificed in fa
vour of navigation and manufactures.
Thispropofition Sir, tends to theleflVning of ourrevenue, and
encourages (hip-building at that expence, as this drawback is
taicen dire&ly from it—This, Sir, will operate mod unjustly and
oppressively, for the revenue paid by the southern States, will be
as a bounty to the northern (hipping—What Sir, may we not
expect—a dry tax will come next —this is a moll odious
difcrimination —Our agriculture and produce, are already fuffi
cicntly burthened—a navy is but a secondary consideration in
comparison wi|h agriculture—But admitting it to be of ever so
great importance, it is already fufficicntly encouraged—This will
prevent the Ihipsof foreign nations, from coming to our ports—
we have not fufficient of our own—What is not to be apprehend
ed ? let. gentlemen but consider, how the States Of Georgia,
South and North-Carolina, mud be affe&ed and injured—We are
willing to give a preference to our brethren to the ctfftward : but
for God's fake do not reft the whole of that encouragement on us—
we arc but children yet—do not require that we Ihould run be
fore we can walk.—l call upon the judice of this House, that we
may not have our essential inrereft, the agriculture of the southern
States, totally facrificed—l hope Sir, the proposition will not be
adopted.
Mr. Gerry observed in answer to Mr. Jackson, that
Great-Britain is justly tenacious of her navigation laws ; As
to their salutary and extensive operation, (he owes the flourishing
condition ot her agriculture and commerce—navigation gives a
fpringto agriculture, to indudry and manufactures ; and the most
effe&ual method to promote the encreafe and sale of the southern
produce, is to encourage and extend the American (hipping.
Mr. Bland was opposed to the clause, as it would operate de
monstratively to the lessening of the revenue—which he endeavor
ed to (hew by dating the following indance, as an example, viz.
A velTel of 300 tons will pay —fay 300 Dollars tonnage one
hundred thouland pounds value in gor ds, may be imported in a
(hip• of that burthen—the impoll on (uch a cargo at 5 per cent.
is £.5000 ; a drawback of 10 per cent, on the ium is £'.500
which will prove a very great d< du&ion from the revenue.
Mr. Smith (of Maryland) dated a variety of fa£b, refpefting
the difference of the impoiitions on foreign and American vef
(cls in foreign countries.
Mr.LiVERMORE—I was, Sir,in favor of a discrimination be
tween 01' own (hipping, and that of foreign nations, as a wife
and just encouragement to our own navigation ; but I cannot
content to the proposition betore the House, as it would operate
very unequally against those parts of the Union who arc obliged
to import their goods chiefly in foreign bottoms.
Mr. Lawrence obfeivtd, that notwithdandmg it had been
. ' that the agricultural interest was tacrificcd, yet in his opi
nion, much had been done for its encouragement, as was evident
from recurring to the lift of dutied articles in the bill The
proposed claiHc will encrcaie our navigation, on which depends
"i a great measure the encouragement of agriculture : It will ope
rate to decrease the aggregate amornt of the duties, which gen
tlemen contend aretoo high : It will have a twofold operation, as
» will benefit the merchant,while it encourages the (hip-buildm
branch : Merchants (hould beconfidered as manufacturers—they
are eminently so, as contractors and proprietors in fhipbuildin^.
nelofsof revenue apprehended, is mconfiderable, compared
jvith the great, solid and lading advantages so be derived from
e encreafe of our navigation and feainen.—l am heartily, Sir,
mtavorof the proposed clauff. ,
Mr. Boudinot—As I came, Sir, from an agricultural State,
1 mi not be thought ieafonable, that I Ihould advocate measures
at may contravene the farming iutercft : It has been my opini
on ttom the begining, that tl.e proposed duties are too high,
asthev will operate dirc&ly reverse from the d sign in
impo ing them they will defeat the objedt of revenue, by ho!d
ing out temptations and inducements to fmugghng, which all
e powers of old and rigorous governments could no°t prevent.
rlaf r 8 ! naturall y l"d to the adoption of the proposed
tile, for as the fubjeCl cis revenuearrived to this advanced pe
on aV ? mc P lan that will produce a general and fcvlible dnnmuti
ne duties, will be thought more eligible, than to descend
pa ticular articles ; this proposition is in point.
0 not therefore wish its adoption, meerly as an encourage
in It, ° navl S at, on, although a very eflential point—but as it will
thc r « enue alld promote agriculture and
. IChouldtrotbeirifavoiirof the clause, did it appear to mc that
jt• ave "neqral operation : the general idea is, that the
l a S re to ° —I his sentiment, I find is entertained by the
nm mcrcamile charafurs-I have r.ken pains to acquire the mod
ln,or j mat '°" u P on the fubjeft, and from the whole, am
nue ua( kd, that a dcduCti. 11 will be in favour of the rtve
asl he f n", h 7, n Slates particularly benefited by this clause,
10 n out the strongest inducements to American fhip
and Lin"' . 6 P rodl,ce ' rom foreign countries to those States,
Tl' "\ r£ ' y encrcafe our domellic navigation.
u-Sin. V'l P rc y cnt mu AShng, as it will interest the American*
« ofT, a '" a K c "f it, to be vigilcnt,in deleting brea.h
ie aw ' and thus they will become wat nmen over fo
dedma' 31 fi uard i a n s ol the revenue.—.-The gentleman ad
bo M dih y morc " bfi;l «" f 'ns, and concluded by faying, that he
°PM the proposition would be acceded to.
Mr. s"iij ACKSON ' Mr. Tucker, Mr. Parker, Mr. Seney and
v "te be NtK! t N ' f f ver;, ' 1 y spoke upon the qncftion ; when the
Wank J ng ,i. ?!,' pafi " l ll,e affirmative—qo to 16—The
T ? Wastl *n filled up witl, ,o per cent.
chair c "!' ITnitlee tbrn rofc—and the Sot akpr having refum<*d the
md' !n J CVCr , an ' rrldn ><nt i and insertions of'the bill were
third '' W2S ordc,cd to be engrolfcd for a
commm^ 0 / 50 ''' ''''' eommittee appointed to confer with a
on ,h°T 1! Stnat "' on tbr d fa S r '- e,n 6 t! "- lwo
'heSe a e 'J' "P or,,d ' that Ihe committee of
f'nt JhA n" thrm ' ttla ttiicSenate would for the pre
l^Hobf' C f p K ' under the fame ilvle and title that
Reprcfcntauvcs had .dopud,
MjcumcJ.
Friday, May i£.
Mr. Bland from the committee appointed on the part of the
Houle, to confer with a committee of the Senate, upon devi
ing an arrangement for the patting and completing bills &c.made
a report, which was read.
This report being lengthy and important, it was voted that on
Monday next, the House would rcfolve itfelf into a committee
ot the whole, for the purpose of taking it into consideration—
Upon motion of Mr. Thatcher, it was ordered, that 100 co
pies be printed for the infpe&ion of the members.
A committee consisting of Mr. Sylvester, Mr. Wynkoof
and Mr. Smith, of South-Carolina, was appointed to confer
with the committee of the Senate, upon the fubjeft of news-pa
pers—l he fame committee was also authorised to receive propo
ials trom Printers, for performing the public business in that line
Petitions from John Swain and Francis Childs, and
Samuel and John Loudon, Printers, were read—and refer
red to the above committee—also the petition of A. M'Lean,
read yeilerday. '
from Lieute nant Hinds, of the corps of Invalids,
ot Mjfiacnufetts, was presented by Mr. Partridce.
Another petition from the inhabitants of Ncw-TerfcV, on
'r u" t'i J r lr eletlion of Reprefentativ.s, for the Conerefs
ol the United States, was read, and referred to the committee
ot elections.
Mr. Sherman aflced leave of absence for ten days, which was
granted. '
Mr. Boudinot moved that the House fliould now come to a
vote 1 hat on Tuefdav next, the House would resolve itfelf into
a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the arrange
ment of the Executive Department. Which was done.
Mr. White introduced a resolve of the legislature of the State
ot Virginia, by which a tender is made to Congrefsof ten miles
choose' 3117 Pa " ° f thatState ' which th «y™ay think proper to
The impost bill as engroffedwas then read; but an amendment
being moved and seconded, it was after some debate recommit
ed—The Speaker then left the chair, and the House formed
into a committee of the whole—the amendment provided for
extending the duty on distilled spirits, Jamaica proof, and all
other fpn its imported from any other country whatever.—This
amendment being adopted, the committee rose when the fame
wa« accepted by the House, and the bill was palled to be engrof-
Mr. Madison then introduced a claufeto be added to the bill
providing lor a limitation to the existence of the aft—This brought
on a very interesting debate, which coutinued without coming to
anydecifion, till the adjournment.
NEW-YORK, MAY 16.
Yesterday, agreeably to the Constitution, the Senate of the Uni
ted States was clafled.
The Claffcs were determined by I.ot, and are as follows, viz.
Firjl Clafs —-Jor Two Years.
Tristram Dalton, Georce Read,
Oliver Elsworth, Charles Carroll,
John Elmer, Wi l l i am Grayson,
William Maclay,
Second Oafs —-jor Four Years.
Paine Wincate, Richard Henry Lee,
Caleb Stronc, Pierce Butler,
WilliamPatterson, William Few.
Richard Basset t.
Third Clafs-—for Four Years,
JohnLangdon, r John Henry,
Williams. Johnson, Ralph Izard,
Robert Morris, James Gunn.
The moit adopted on this occafton was as follows :
A Committee of the Senate was chofento divide the whole num
ber into Three Classes.—Three Lots, marked No. 1, No. a, and
No. 3, were put into a Box—a Member from each Class was ap
pointed to draw one of the Lots—and the Lot drawn determined
the Rotation of the Class to which such number belonged.
Yesterday Mr. F. P. Van Berckel had an audience of The
PRESIDENT of the United States of America, in which
he delivered l|il Credentials of Resident from Their High
Mightinesses the States General of the United Ne
therlands, having been introduced by the Hon. John Jay,
Secretary of State for the Department of foreign affairs.
\ efterday the Vice President of the United States, the
Heads of Departments, the Foreign Mintflers, the Judges of the Su
preme (ourt of this State, togetiicr with a numerous Circle of Citi
zens and Foreigners, vifitedTHE PRESIDENT at his House.
Last Thursday evening, His Excellency THE MINISTER of
FRANCE, gave a Ball to THE PRESIDENT of the UNITED
STATES, which was uncommonly elegant, in refpeft both to the
company and the plan of the entertainment. As a compliment
to our alliance with France,there were two sets of Cotillion Dancers
incomplete uniforms ; one set in that ot France, and the other
in Blue and Buff: The ladies were dressed in white, with Ribbands,
Bouquets and Garlands of Flowers, answering tothe uniforms of the
Gentlemen.—THE VICE-PRESIDENT—many Members of the
Senate, and House of Representatives of the United States THE
GOVERNOR of this State—THE GOVERNOR of the Western
Teritory, and other chara&ers of diftin&ion were prcfent.
A PHILOSOPHIC SCRAP.
THE city of New-York, furnifhes a just Epitome of the in
habitants of no inconsiderable part of the globe. It mud be a
grateful idea to a liberal mind, to observe such a variety of people
collect.: d from different nations ; harmonizing in all points that
are essential to the happiness and welfare of the whole. The
spirit of toleration, that has always chara&erifed the citizens of
this State, the various methods taken to render subsistence easy
and certsiri to the honest and indubious, have operated as a pow
erful means to draw to a center, people diverfified in their attach
ments, prejudices and manners.—The eye of the curious, maybe
'ratified by tracing the peculiai ities of those who came from dif
ferent countries, so far as to difllnguifh from what original they
sprang; while the eye of philosophy is delighted in observing
the accommodating spirit, and liberal views, that are gaining an
ascendency over localfeelings and opinions.—Those iharp points
of peculiarity, that have rcnd< red the people of different States
and nations hurtful or disagreeable to each other are wearing off.
At the fame time, they retain a fufficient degree of former at
tachments and customs, to (hew that they have not loft all love or
pride for their native country, or that they wifti to deny from
whence they came.
HINT TO THE IMPORTERS.
A cori efpondent, who obferv ed the cuzens on Sunday last leav
ingthe several churches after service, was extremely sorry to find
the ladies so incommoded by the rain. This inconvcnience was
occasioned by the small size of most of the Umbrellas that are at
present in use. In several instances he observed, that a consider
able part of the hats and bonnets of the ladies were without any
(helter against the rain, as the Umbrellas, from their fmallnefs,
were inefficient to cover them. It is therefore hoped, that the
next importation of umbrellas will be of a larger size. No per
son who is fond of feeing variety and qlegancc of taste, can wilh
to deprive the ladies of so fair an opportunity as they now find
n the extensive dimensions of their hats. But itis greatly to be
feared, uniefs some better expedient is fallen upon to secure them
against rain than the present umbrellas can afford, that they will
be obliged to curtail the one to the size of other.
Mr. Fenno,
The following ODE was written andinfcribed to General Washing
ton, ajkort time after thefurrender of York-Town,
The VISION.
'TWAS in a beauteous verdant shade,
Deck'd by the genius of the glade,
With Nature's fragrant stores ;
Where Fairy Elves light trip'd the green—
Where Silvan Nyffiphs were often seen
To strew the sweetest flowers.
Lethean air from Tertipe's vale,
Wafted an aromatic gale,
And lull'd my foul to reft : *
I saw, or musing feem'd to fee,
The future years of Deftmy, *
That brighten'd all the Weft.
The Muse array'd in heav'nly grace*
Call'd up each a&or in his place
Before my wondering eyes ;
The magic of the Aonian Maid,
The world of Vision wide difplay'd,
And bid the scenes arise.
I saw great Fabius come in state,
I law the British Lion's fate,
The Unicorn's despair;
Conven'd in Secrecy's Divan,
The Chiefs contriv'd the fav'rite plan,
And York-Town clos'd the war.
Nor could the dazzling triumph charm
The friends of faction, or its rage t
. Fierce to divide, to weaken and subvert;
I saw the Imps of Discord rife—
Intrigue, with little arts, surprise,
Delude—alarm—and then the State defcrt.
My foul grew Tick of human things—
I took my Harp, and touch'd the firings,
Full often set to woe;
Conjur'd the gentle Muse to take
,The power of future knowledge back—
No more I wifti'd to know.
Rash Mortalflop ! She cried with zeal,
One fecrct more I mud reveal,
That will renew your prime :
These storms will work thewifh'd for cure*
And put the State in health so pure,
As to resist old Time.
The free born mind will feel the force,
That Justice is the only source
Of Laws concise and clear;
Their native rights, they will relign
To Men, who can those rights define,
And every burthen bear.
The SACRED COMPACT, in a band
Of brothers, shall unite the land,
And Envy's felf be dead ;
The Body one, and one the foul,
Virtue shall animate the whole,
And FABIUS be the head.
Rous'd from the enthusiastic dream^
By the foft murmur of a stream,
That glided thro' the meads,
I tun'd my lyre to themes refin'd,
While Nature's gentle voices join'd,
To ftng the glorious deeds.
When lo ! HIMSELF, the CHIEF rever'd,
In native elegance appear'd,
And all things Cmil'd around,
Adorn'd with every pleasing art,
Enthron'd the Sov'reign of each hearty
I saw the HERO crown'd.
New-Jersey, May 1789.
Mr. Fenno.
IN answer to the decently-expressed interrogation of
in American in yourlaft paper, Your former
.orrefpmaent begs leave to observe, that from Custom or Cou r ti
i y the title of Excellency is given (he believes in all the 'Countries
'I Europe) to Ambassadors; and, therefore, he tuas apbrehenkve
jUt Fo reicners might be induced to consider the PRESIDENT of
he United States, if denominated by the fame appelhtwn, upon a
evelwttha subordinate fublic officer. Your former Cor
espondent neither afTeited, that " any Officer under the Ameri
can Government, in the Diplomatic or in any other Line is
1 entitled to the style or title of Excellency nor is he an Advo
ate Jor titles diflinfl from the defenptive ones conferred by the Con
stitution. But as he conceived it would not be prafticableto
prevent the People of any European Country, where an American
ft.mbaliador (hallrefide, from ftylinghim, as they do all Ambaffa-
Excellency ; the principal objefl was to obviate a
soluble confufion of ideas in Foreigners, who might not be ex
tremely capableof discriminating in regard to the relative pow
ers and functions of Perfoni holding Offices under the Ameucan
-overnment.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
The Gazette of the United States is devoted to
he cause of Truth and the Public Good ; and Speculations wrote
with propriety, candor, and decency, which have that objefl, and the
;eneral Welfare for their basis, will always meet with a ready in
ertion.—Our two Correspondents upon the fubjefl of Titles, came
vithin this description, and their favors merit our thanks.
Future Communications from the person who favored us with
he beautiful Ode inferjed this day, will be gratefully received.
PRICE-CURRENT.
NEW-YORK.
_ . New-York Currency.
Superfine Flour, - - 44 f. per barrel.
Common do. - _ ,~r
Wheat, - - - |f
Country refined Bar-Iron, - 30/. perC. wt.
Do. Bloomery, - - 2 g/
Pig-iron, - _ 9 1'
r-Afh, - - - 44/. per ton.
Pearl-Affi, . - 4 6/
Pimento, . - 1/8. a i_/g. per lb.
Chocolate, - . - nd. a 1 3 d.
Cocoa, . . -70s.
Pork Connecticut, - - j 2 f
Muscovado Sugar, . s of. a 70/ perewt.
Jamaica Spirits, - 4/0. a 4/9. per gallon.
Windward I (land Rum, - %y. a A
Country do. - 2/7.
PUBLIC SECURITIES.
Final Settlements, " - 5f
Indents, - - 2_f~-