[No. LV.]
PLAN
of the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.
(A NATIONAL PAPER.)
PMijktd at the Seat of the National Government,
CONTAINING,
I. EARLY and authentic Accounts of the PROCEEDINGS
ot CONGRESS—its LAWS, ACTS, and RESOLUTIONS,
communicated so as to form an HISTORY of the TRANSACTIONS
qJ the NATIONAL LEGISLATURE.
11. Imp a rtial SketchEs'of the Debates of Congress.
111. ESSAYS oti the great fubjc&s.of Government; also uppn
the national and local Rights of the american citizens, as
founded uponthe National or State Constitutions ; alfoupon every
other Suhjeft, which may appear suitable fomowfpaperdifcuifion.
IV. A SERIES of PARAGRAPHS-, calculated to catch the
lt living manners as they risx," and to point the public
attention to Obje&s that have an important reference tvdomeflic,
jocial and public happiness.
V. The Interests of the United States as conne&ed with their li
terary Institutions —religious and moral Obje&s—l mprovements in
Science, Arts, EDUCATION' and HUMANITY—their foreign
Treaties, Alliances, Connexions, &c.
VI. Every species of INTELLIGENCE, which may affe&the
commercial, agricultural, manufacturing, or political INTERESTS of
the AMERICAN NATION.
VII. ACfiAINofDOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.
VIII. A SERIES of FOREIGN ARTICLES of INTELLI
GENCE.
X. The STATE of the FUNDS—Courses of Exchange—*Prieoj
Current, See.
CONDITIONS.
I.
PubMed every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY.
11.
Theprice toSttbfcribers{cxclufive of postage) THREE DOLLARS
tr. annum.
111.
Thefirftfemi-annua! payment to-be made in three month} from the
time and future payments to be made every fix months.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Will be rccefted in all the capital towns upon the Continent; also at No.
9, Maiden-Lane, near the Ofwego-Markct, New-York.
To the PUBLIC.
AT this important Crisis, the ideas that fill the mind, are preg
nant with Events ot the greatest magnitude—to ftrenothen and
complete the UNION of the State*—to extend and protett their
COMMERCE, under equil Treaties yet to be explore
and arrange the NATIONAL FUNDS—to restore and eftablifli
the PUBLIC CR-EDIT —and ALL under the aufpicesof an untri
ed System of Government, will require the ENERGIES of the
Patriots and Sages of our Country—Hence the propriety of encreajtng
the Mediums of Knomlege and Information.
AMERICA, from this period, begins a new Era in her nation
al exifter.ee— u tha world is all before ker"—The
wisdom and foilv—the misery and prosperity of the EMPIRES*
STATES, and KINGDOMS, which have had their day upon
the great Theatre of Time, and are now no more, suggest the most
important Mementos—Thcfr, with the rapid series of Events, in
vhich our own Country has been so deeply interested, have
taught the enlightened Gitiaeo* «f the United States, that FREE
DOM and GOVERNMENT—LIBERTY and LAWS, arc inse
parable.
This Conviction lias led to the adoption of the New Conftituti
«n; for however, various the Sentiments, xefpe&ing the ME
RITS of this System, all good men are agreed in the nercflity
tfiatexifts, of an EFFICIENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
A paper, therefore, efhbKftied upon NATIONAL, INDE
PENDENT, and IMPARTIAL PRINCIPLES—which (hall
■aKeup the preinifcd Articles, tipon a competent plan,, it is
presumed, will be highly interfiling, and meet with public ap
probation patronage.
The Editor of this Publication is determined tohrave no avenue
of intormaton :—He fbheits the afliiiance of Persons
of leisure and abilities—which, united with his own afliduity, lie
flatters himfclf will render the Gazette of the United States not
unworthy general encouragement and is, with due refpeft,
the public's bumble fefvant, THE EDITOR.
POSTSCRIPT.
SIX Months have now clap fed since this paper was ufieveA
wtoexiflenct how far the fpint of the plan has been exhibited, and
* hired to, is not Jor the Editor to fry.—A generous and candid pub
lc * a s awarded its approbation, by a fubjeription which is said to be
m ort'txtenfive than ujual on pmlar occasion achnoicledjremeHt of
t e favor is therefore due-from the publisher.—The expence attending an
w erUking of this kind is always great; in the prcjent infance, it has
*ot teen counterbalanced by any of the cvjfomary receipts on account oj
a vertl f lents—the objefl being on extcnfwe circulation, the Editor con
cetvi ng th&t their insertion would have eoitrterafied that part of his plan,
■as never admitted any. This con fide ration if it loas necessary to be
Tu ovld point out the importance of pujiftualiiv on the part of the
jMjcribcrs—it appears to have been very gsnerdtly attended to, as th)
payments have been unufkally prompt.
It is netejfaty toobferre that the Trimmer of norres which hare honored
j * s nat f u .fJ tcr ent to defray the expence of the publication,
an to afford the Editor a competent support, a f\ppcfit\OH that the
n ejiiQuidbe colicfl ed.—Additional Jubfcriptions aj e therefore folio ted;
an when rt it covfidered. that the paper is new in its conflruflion ; con
a*n< intelligence of the mo ft inter efling nature ; abounds with more ort
pfoiitSy than any other periodical publication ; and, viewed as a rtrtf-
C f iaM cheaper than any nagazine t regifltr s (3c. it can not be doubted
but that it will receive a A adequate patronage.
In the prcjent number, the publication of the Journals of the Sen fit e
is commenced. As there is no gallery to the Senate Chamoer, all thai
e known of the proceedings of that Moss Honorable branch of Chi
f a j} 9 ** l Ligijltturejsfrm their Journals ; iptuis veivof the fkbjeS.U
isjuMofd they will be interring to the public. The price of the Laxus and
f 'e Journals of the tiuo Hovft* only, which will be gucu in the conrje
°t °xe year, amounts to more than the subscription.
r Jb* F-d'tor is determined to prpfcvte the ffUbHcttion. upon its ongi*
Principles : He hopes to make it wore intereftingy by the comr/uni*
or * of his ingenious ctrrefpgndcnti : He falicits the aid of every
J ru freedom and government: And such fpeculati&is as
ara Jnendly ajpeft to -thepeace, honor and prosperity of our rising
ion, will be received witkgratitud'. by the public r humble servant
v , JO M N FEK NO.
Wew-Yorr } OClobcr 14, 1789. *
WEDNESDAY, October 21, 1739.
THE TABLE T.—No. LV.
Ci IV.k.en human creatures once submit to govern*
wenty and. are nCed to live under th c rejlraint oj laws,
it ij incredible how many ujcjul cautious and felj-de
nials they.-mII learn toprattife by experience audimi
tation."
'T'HERE prevails a* opinion, even among
sensible politicians, that men are only
obedient to government from compulsion. Iffear
of punishment, fay they, is removed, there will
no longer be any obedience to the laws. Whe
ther this conference would follow to such a de
gree, that, upon the removal of penal laws, go
vernment would be diilolved, need not be brought
into discussion. Certain howeverit is, that many
ufeful, virtuous citizens pass through life, with
out ever feeling any emotions of such a fear.
Their obedience therefore is to be ascribed to other
causes. Perhaps habit constitutes the molt pow
erful one. Men are aecuftomed to perform du
ties without a repetition of the motives which firft
ilimulated them ; and they learn to sustain bur
dens and l'acrifices without opposition or com
plaint. Obedience resulting from such causes
has a preference over that, which is produced
by penalties. It colls the government less, and
is a demonstration that the people love and re
gard the laws.
In a well regulated community it will be found
that the orderly conduct of the citizens becomes
a matter of general consent. It is understood and
expected among the inhabitants that certain rules
of decorum with refpeCtto behaviour, andaftea
dy, peaceable observance of the laws fliould be
deemed requisite in obtaining weight and popula
rity of character. When a government has been
long eftablifhetl, such regulations will introduce
themselves as a matter of course, and will contri
bute to relieve tlieinagiftrate from many painful
aCts of duty. But inthe firft organization of go
vernment, the friends of good order and virtue
Ihould discover a peculiar degree of care and vi
gilance. Otberwife the people will early form
habits of difobedieuce to the laws, and disrespeCt
for the magistrates. lhavebeforedifcufled points
something like these, in the 13th and 14th num
bers of my speculations, which were principally
confined to the fubje<;t of fntuggling. In thole
eflays I dwelt largeiy upon the advantage of as
sociations, and pointed out how far they would
prove efficacious in giving the revenue laws a fa
vorable introduction.
I afn inclined to imagine that the people are
now so opposed to the fraudulent practice offmug
gling, that few individual's will dare risque the
attempt. Indeed I should feel a strong degree of
security that the revenue would be honestly col
lected, were not the ports of entry so numerous
and scattered as to increase the temptation to the
practice, by lert'ening the difficulty and hazard.
Those persons who live in the vicinity of the lit
tle ports will do well to refleCt that they hold
their advantages only in a state of probation. If
they discover an honest indignation against every
attempt to defraud the revenue, aud give equal
demonstrations of integrity with the inhabitants
of larger ports, it is not improbable they maybe
long indulged with the present accommodating
arrangements. These people would likewise do
well to refleCt that, it was with difficulty, Con
gress were prevailed on to consent to the eftab
liihment of such various ports of entry, as it was
predicted that the produCt of the revenue would
be endangered by the indulgence. If therefore
the anticipations of those members, who objected
to the plan, should prove true, it will no doubt
induce Congress to make alterations in the sys
tem less adapted to the general convenience of
the citizens. In whatever light the subjeCt is
viewed, there results the strongest arguments
in favor of watching carefully over the reve
nue, that it may prove so productive as not to
defeat the purpose of the present lenient regula
tions.
The inhabitants of populous towns are more
readily formed into habits of punctuality and ho
nor, than those in smaller places, where credit
and character are less eflential to prosperity. Ii
therefore happens, that the mean, diflionorablt
practice offmuggling finds more conntenance ir
small than large ports. But the inhabitants in
general, who derive no benefit from the illicit
gains, should contemplate well the inconvenience
to which they will be exposed, by acquiescing in
so pernicious and difgraceful a practice. It pro
motes the interests of a few unworthy individuals
at the expence of the honest, industrious part of
the community. For, if the government finds
thefources of the revenue, already in operation
inadequate to the public expenditure, new chan
nels of supply must be opened. The people, by
conniving at frauds in the collection of the iin-
on ! tt, ; J S.ii::rcin} ,'|
poft3, are giving themselves no relief, but are in
fatit encreaiing their own burdens.
Some men havefoch afalie taste in morals as to
feel no reniorl'e at pradtifing knavery against the
government. There is a J'ed-ucing kind of fallacy,
in this idea. The reason it is not generally explod
ed, and public knaves treated with the fame con
tempt and abhorrence as priv ate, proceeds from
the injury not being, l'o linking and apparent.
Men do iiQt to readily discern the inconvenience
as to complain of the injultice. All kinds of kna
very however are a public dilhonor and detri
ment ; and all good men ihould make a common
cause in preventing and pumlhing it in all lhapes
and degrees.
In the present state of our government, we
cannot depend on the penal force of the laws
alone. Virtuous citizens Ihould have an under
standing with each other, and make it a point of
honor and ambition to eftablilh a fair collection
of the revenue.
When ajult and honorable pratftice has been a
few months or years observed, men will annex
ideas of infamy to every aift of fraud committed
against the public treasury. The prosperity of fq.-
ciety depends more than is ufnally imagined on
the lioneft habits of the people. There is fuel).a
connexion between different virtues that when
one prevails it cherishes and promotes many oth
ers. Honelty will prove favorable to economy ;
and by paying punctually what is demanded,
there is less reason to expeift an accumulation of
demands. Virtuous and discerning men inuft
therefore rejoice to find a spirit of honor and punc
tuality e*ifting in all tranladtions relative to the
public treasury. Nothing will more effedluallv
contribute to this obje<sl, than good examples and
a general sentiment of disapprobation against e
very species offraudor collusion that is discovered.
LETTERS,
Written in Holland, in the Ycgr M,DCC,LXX,X f
By His Excellency
THE VICE-PRESIDENT of the United States.
LETTER 111.
Amsterdam, Oct. 6, 1780.
SIR,
YOUR third proprofition.is "to /hew that A
" merica, Jiotwithjiauding the war, daily increafa
" in Jlrertgth and farce."
It is an undoubted fatft, that America daily in
creases in strength and force ; but it may not be
so easy to prove this to the fatisfacflion of an Eu
ropean, who has never been across the .Atlantic ;
however, some things may be brought into con
sideration, which may convince if properly at
tended to.
1. It may be argued frotn experience of form
er wars, during all which, the population of that
country was so far from being diminished, or
even kept at a stand, that it was always found,
at the end of a war, that the numbers of people
hadincreafed, during the course of it, nearly in
the fame ratio as in time of peace. Even in the
last French war, which lasted from 1755 to 1763
(during which time the American colonies made
as great exertions, had in the field as great a num
ber of men, and put themfelvesto as great an ex
pence, in proportion to the numbers of people,
as the United States have done during this war)
it was found that the population had increased
nearly as fact as in times of peace.
2 If you make enquiry into the circuinflances
of the different parts of America, at this day, you
find all the States pufliing their settlements out
into the wilderness, upon the frontiers, cutting
down the woods, and subduing new lands, with
as much eagerness and rapidity as they used to
do in former times of war or peace. This spread
ing of the people, into the wilderness, is a de
ceive proof of theincreafing population.
3. The only certain way of determining the ra
tio of the increase of population, is by authentic
numerations ot the people, and regular official
returns. This has, I believe, never been done
generally in former wars, and has been generally
omitted in this. Yet some States have made these
returns : The Maflachufetts Bay, for example,
had a valuation about the year 1 773 or 1774, aii4
again the last year, 1779, they had another. In
this period of j years,'that State was found to have
increased, both in number of people and value of
property, more than it had ever grown before in
the fame period ol time. Now the Maflachufetts
Bay had a greater number of men employed in the
war, both by land and sea, in proportion to the
number of her inhabitants, than any other State
in the thirteen. She has had more men killed,
taken prisoners, and died of ficknels, than anv
other State ; vet her growth has been as rapid as
ever : From whence it may be fairlv argued, that
all the other States have grown in the fame or a
greater proportion.