FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Extract of Manuscript Imitations from the French.—The oti
ginal was intended to be sung by the sacred choir of Hebrews, at the
cmlujlnof the jirji Ast of ATHALIAH.
An ODE.
THE WHOLE CHOI R.
BEYOND this Ball's diurnal bound,
Beyond time's terminable round,
Our GOD exists the fame :
Wide from th' Empyrean to this sod,
The Univerfc is full of COD,
Extol, extol his name!
ONE VOICE.
The beauteous painting of the flow'rs*
1 he fruitful year, the flying hours,
» His boundless pow'r proclaim :
The dew, the rain, the friow, the hail,
Seed time and harvest still prevail—
Extol, extol his name !
ANOTHER VOICE.
Though his gifts to all extend,
' Pill th' immensity of space :
Mortals, in his presence bend !
Greater are his gifts of grace.
CHOI R.
Oh, Si nai's Mount ! preserve the fame,
Of that tremenduous day ;
When to thy top, convolv'd with flame,
The LORD in clouds and dapknefs came*
And fire prepar'd the way.
Why those trumpets in the air,
Thunder's voice and light'niwg's glare,
Torrent smoke and bick'ring fire i
Dreadful ligns of waken'd ire !
How great Nature*s pillars nod,
How her old foundations lhake,
Mountains melt and vallies quake,
At the wonder-working GOD !
ONE VOICE.
Mortals, struck with holy awe,
Fear he comes to end their race :
Israel's sons receive his law,
Greatest are his gifts of grace.
CHOI R.
Their bread from Heav'n, their water from a rofck ;
His hand, through deserts guiding, made them free,
Ltd them between the billows as a flock,
And whelm'd their following foes deep in the sea.
Beneath his standard rang'd} the legions sped,
While them gainst battling bands to glorious deeds he led.
One voice.
High o'er the Tabernacle's arch,
The Warrior GOD was seen to march ;
But left the fpl ndoursfrom above,
Too bright tor mortal eyes should prove ;
He deign'd his glory ineffable to shroud,
Circled by Night in fire by Day in cloud.
Should not his pow'r and grtace our bosoms move ?
Tor such unheard-of good he only claims our love !
CHOI R.
Should not pow'r and goodness move,
Israel's sons his law to love ?
Law divine and favor'd race !
Greatest are his gifts of grace !
SKETCH OF PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
In the HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES of the
UNITED STATES.
\Debate on the proportion to make a di/crirnination be
tween the pay of the Seriate and House of Rcpre
fentatives.
THURSDAY, JULY I 6, 1789.
MR. JACKSON opposed this discrimination
He observed—We have all alike abandoned our
paiticular pursuits in life, and are all equally en
gage-'. in the service of our country—and I can
fee 110 realon for making any difference : Can a
Senator eat more—or does he drink better than a
Representative I I presume not—their expences
are equal : There is but one reason that can be
alfigned tor this diltindtion, and that is, the Senate
may fit longer than the House; but as it must be
considered that they will receive pay according
ly, this reason falls to the ground. Thebulinefs
of both houf'es is the lame, and the pay oujjht to
be alike.
Mr. Lef. observed, that the Constitution had
made a difference, and that we ought to do it :
There is a degree of refinement in the mode of
electing Senators :—They are our belt men—and
I think that every encouragement ought to be
given to draw forth the firft abilities :—The dif
ference of two or three dollars is but a trifling
diftindlion to our venerable sages : At present
there may be young men in the Senate ; but the
time will come when our molt honorable, grey
headed fires, the experienced and wife men of our
land will fill thofc feats : Old men are with diffi
culty brought into public life—every inducement
should therefore be held out—the honor and dig
nity of our government is inseparably connected
with supporting, in aproper manner, this impor
tant branch of our legislature ; The Constitution
•warrants a diftindtion : It is founded on the best
expe;ieiice—l therefore give my hearty aflent to
the proposal for a discrimination.
Mr. White : Sir, I am opposed to a discrimi
nation : I cannot fee the difference in the Consti
tution which the gentlemen refers to : There
was an artificial and political diftindlion establish
ed between the Senators and the people in foine
of the ancient Commonwealths : Phis was the
cafe at Rome in particular : The Senators were
there coniidered as pofle fling a portion of divinity;
and the reft of the people were not fuffered to mix
with them.—ls it to be supposed that becaufeour
Senators have the fame name they are of afuper
ior order to their fellow men ! Whatever may
be the lemiment here, in their refpeclive States
there is no difference in the genera) estimation
between a Senator and a lieprelentative—and why
any discrimination iliould be made in their reipec
tive allowances 1 cannot conceive.
This diftimftion will operate against the inde
pendence of the members of this lioule—and may
in some future day enable the Senate to carry
points, by being able to prolong the feflions when
it may be greatly to the inconvenience of the
lioufe.
Mr. Madison was in favor of the discrimina
tion : He said it was evidently contemplated by
the Constitution to hold out iome distinCtion in
favour of the Senate, as an inducement for men
ot ltaid and fixed principles, whom habits of re
tirement might render averse from the active
scenes of public life, to devote the experience ot
years and the acquilitions of lludy to the service
of their country—and except fomerhing of this
kind is done, we may find it difficult to obtain pro
per characters for the Sfenate, as men of enter
prise and genius will naturally prefer a feat in
the house which will be considered as a morecon
fpicuous situation.
Mr. Vinimg was opposed to the motion for
discrimination : He observed that wealthy men
would in all probabilit/ be chosen Senators, and
that the reprelentatives would not in general be
of that class—the discrimination ought therefore
if any was made, to be in favor of the latter:
This (said he) is a fubje<ft on which we can feel,
but which it is difficult to discuss. lam against
the reducftion of the sum mentioned in the re
port, as I think that sum quite infufficient: Six
dollars Sir, is not equal to the expence per day
at which many gentlemen live when at home :
We surely do not intend to make the public ser
vice unpleasant, by rendering the situation of
gentlemen less eligible.—As to discrimination,
the constitution has fufficiently pointed out the
proper diftindion : Mr. Vining added many
more observations and concluded, by faying ]
have exprefled myfelf fully up >n this occasion :
1 am not afraid that my sentiments ffiould be
known to my constituents, because 1 think theirs
are agreeable to my own.
Mr. Seney : I am sorry Sir, that the question
of discrimination has been brought before the
House: What real'oii can be alligned for making
this diftindion ? Are the services of the Senate
greater than those of the Reprelentatives ? 1 think
not. —Gentlemen have brought forward the con
stitution upon this occasion ; but I conceive it is
opposed to the principle they mean to advocate.
The independence of the several branches is to
be ftritftly preserved, this will destroy that inde
pendence : If we eftabliih a discrimination in fa
vor of the Senate, will it not naturally tend to
create a sense of inferiority in the minds of the
Ileprefentatives ? and the time may come, when
they may find it for their interelt to be entirely
subservient to the views of the Senate: Sir, 1 feel
lo sensibly the impropriety and unconftitution
ality of this measure, that if 1 had the smallest
idea that it would comport with the sentiments
of a majority of the members of this House, I
ffiould call for the ayes and noes upon the ques
tion—but as I do notconteive tliatto be the cafe,
I ffiall for the present wave the proposition.
Mr. Sedgwick observed that whenever he
had a motion to make in the House, he always
endeavoured to fatisfy himfelf of the reafonable
nei's and propriety of the proposition it contain
ed : When he had determined is was proper, the
mode of decision that lhould be adopted, he con
sidered as not of very material conlequence—but
in determining the present question, he hoped
the ayes and noes would not be called. There
is a principle in human nature, which revolts
from the idea of inferiority—hence when a pro
position is made which has for its object the cfta
bliffimentof a luperiority, in whatever form you
please, that principle is alarmed, and excited to
opposition—but in difcufling such a question as
the present we ought to divest ourselves of every
partiality and prejudice which may bias our judo-,
ments to a decision that will not bear the test of
reason and experience.—The constitution has 1
conceive plainly pointed out the precedence of
the Senate: rnere are grades in lociety which
are neceflary to their very existence. i his is a
fell* evident —it is recognized by eve
ry civilized nation : It is recognized by the House
in the report before us : Why else have we made
a difference between the President andVice-Pi e
fident ? Is it not on account of his superior ftati
-011, and weight of dignity—and between the
Vice-President and the Senate ? This diftindtion
is also eftabliffied in the difference of the terms
for which the Senate and the House of Ilepre
fentatives is chosen : The tune for which the Se
nate is chosen, points out the propriety of a dif
ference in the pay they ought to receive : The
acfmimftration of the government will require
that they ffiould more completely abftraift them
selves from petfonal pursuits : Their attention
will be alrnolt wholly absorbed by an attention
to public duties : They fliouiu therefore have-'
adequaie and independent allowance : They \ "j!
generally be of an age that will preclude
tiom all idea of ever engaging in cheir feUr-l
profeiiions after once having engaged in th» lb?
vice of their country : Their age, their wisdom
and experience, all warrant this Uilcriinination
Mr. StDGwiCK added many more obfervatiom
to (hew the policy and constitutionality of the
discrimination, and concluded by faying, thr
lie thought the real dignity of the House lb %
from being diminilhed by adopting the propositi
on, that he conceived it Was cflentially counter
ed with it.
Mr. (ackson in reply to the enquiry of M r
Sedgwick,—Why have we made a difference
between the Prelident and Vice-Prelident? ob
served, That the President will be employed the
whole of his time : The Vice-President may re
tire to his farm whenever he pleases. Reference
is had to the wisdom of the Senate—but how is
this superior wisdom made to appear ? If a dif
tinc r tioli is to be made 011 this account, it follows
that a difference ihould be made between the ie
veral members of this House and alio between
those of the Senate.—We cannot be too cautious
how we eftabliih an undue pre-eminence and
give an intluence and importance to one branch
of the legillature over the other: All govern
ments tend to despotism asnaturally as rivers run
into the sea.—Despotism carries its points giadu
ally by flow and imperceptible steps: Despotic
power is never eflablifhed all at once : We ihall
ere we are aware get beyond the gulph, and then
wonder how we got there : The Cervices of the
Senate are not more arduous thanouis; then
proper business is legislation, and I never will
consent to any discrimination : Had I any idea
that the queltion would be determined in favor
of discrimination, I fliould be for calling the aytt
and noes, and ihould it be so determined, 1 (hall
chufe to enter my negative againlt it.
Mr. Page made a number of obfervations,which
as he spoke low were not diflintftly heard: thus
much we collected, that he was in favor of the
discrimination: He said, that in his opinion,
the Senate ought to have permanent salaries, that
they might be placed in an eligible and indepen
dent situation.
The proposition for a discrimination as menti
oned in our lall was however negatived.]
MONDAY, JULY 20, 1 7?ip.
A meflage was received from the Senate by
their Secretary, informing that they had con
curred with amendments in the bill, for esta
blishing the department of foreign affairs—alfo,
that they had palled a bill for the establish
ment of judicial courts in the United States, and
requeued the concurrence of the Hon. House in
the fame.
1 he Secretary then delivered in the bills and
Withdrew.
A meflage was received from The Presi
dent, by Mr. Lf ar, his Secretary, who infor
med the House, that he was directed by the Pre
sident of the United States, to return to the Hon.
House the bill, impoling a duty on tonnage, to
which the Prelident had affixed his signature.
I he engrofled bill to regulate light-houses,
&c. was read : A motion for its recommitment
was negatived.—The queflion, fnall this bill pass
was carried in the affirmative.
Mr. Smith (S. C.) moved that a committee
Ihould be appointed to bring in a bill, to autho
rise the several States to provide funds for the
support of Hospitals, for sick and dil'abled Tea
men, and for the regulation of their refpe&ive
harbours. This motion was adopted, and Meflrs.
Smith, (S. C.) Carroll, and Clym-R, ap
pointed the committee.
The report<jn the petition of Andrew Elli
cott, was again read, and recommitted.
The bill for establishing an executive depart
ment to be denominated the department of fo
reign affairs as amended by the Senate, was read
and the amendments agreed to.
1 he bill for eftabliftring judicial courts in the
United States, was read.
Voted that it be refered to the committee of
the whole House, to be taken into confkieration
on Monday next, and that 100 copies be prin
ted for the accommodation of the House.
In committee of the whole 011 the bill, for esta
blishing the government of the territory north
west of the Ohio.
Mr. Bo UDI not in the Chair.
The committee went through the discussion or
this bill, in which they made but one amendment,
and that was in the preamble : The committee
then rose—and the chairman reported the fame,
which was taken up in the House, and agreed to.
It was then voted that this bill be engrofled,
for a third reading to-morrow.
Mr.Si nnickson asked leave of absence for three
weeks—which was granted.
The house then adjourned.
TUESDAY JULY 21 •
The engrofled bill to provide for the govern
ment of the territory North Weft of the Ohio, " ,13
read, and passed to be enadled.