Mr. Williamfon stated certain particulars to
shew, that a just idea of the l\i m paid by North-
Carolina could not be known by any lhitements
from the public offices—their business is carried
on coaflwife—To judge of their confumptioii,
recourse must be had to the exportations of that
State—He said the exportations of North-Caro
lina amounted to a million of dollars annually.
Mr. Clymer said that a gentleman from Geor
gia had mentioned the averiioii that the people
of Pennsylvania bore to an excise law. Such a
law he observed had been in force in the date
for upwards of 50 or 60 years, and that the ex
cise officers were veiled with as much power as
it was propol'ed to give them by the bill before
the house ; that some resistance had been offer
ed to those officers acting in the line of their du
ty ; but that those who opposed tliein in the ex
ecution of their business were severely fined.—
He was not convinced that the duty which it
was proposed to lay on ipirits by the bill under
confuleration was odious to a majority of the
states ; —they mod of them had excise laws of
their own, and he conceived the present bill was
as well guarded as poflible, by wholfome provi
vifions against every objection—From the state
ments which had been produced, there would be
no great excess in the revenue, he apprehended;
but if there was, it would be well applied in les
sening the public debts.
Mr. Madison remarked on the observations of
Mr. Kitziimons, refpeifting the southern States
not paying their proportion of the Import : He
shewed that the trade of the southern states was
carried on by the eastern and northern States—
That theconfumption of the southern States was
proportioned to their numbers, and in this way
they bore their full proportion of the public bur
thens.
Mr. Jackson replied to Mr. Clymer, and said,
that if the people had been severely fined for a
breach of the Excise Law in this State, he had
been well informed, that the fine had, been as se
verely remitted.
The queition on striking out the 13th fecftion,
•was negatived— 33 to 17. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 19.
A bill, declaring the aflentofCongrefstoa cer
tain act of the State of Maryland, being read a
second time, was referred to a committee of the
whole on Monday next.
Mr. Sedgwick, from the committee appointed
for that purpose, reported a bill, authorising the
President of the United States'to cause the debt
due to foreign officers,the interell whereon is now
payable in]Pnris, at the rate of 6 per cent, per an
3111m, to be paid and discharged—being read a
firft and second time, was referred to a committee
of the whole, and madethe order of the day for
to-morrow.
A letter from the Directors ofthe Library Com
pany of Philadelphia, making an offer of the use
of the Books in said Library to the Members of
both Koufes of Congress, was communicated by
the Speaker.
Mr. Huntington presented a memorial from
the Baptiii Aflociation in jthe State of Connecti
cut, requeuing the interposition of Congress to
prevent incorretfnefs in future editions of the
Bible,, published in the United States—read arid
laid on the table.
A petition from sundry surgeons and surgeon's
mates, in the ferviceof the United States, during
the late war, was read and referred to the Secre
tary at War.
A petition from William Devvees, and a peti
tion from William Blackledge, were referred to
the Secretary of the Treasury.
Another petition from the fame person, pray
ing that certain claims against the state of North
Carolina be discharged, was referred to the Se
cretary ofWar.
Mr. Fitzfnnons, from the committee appointed
to consider the petition of Jofliua Barney, late an
officer in the American navy, reported a resolu
tion, that a committee be appointed to prepare
and bring in a bill, to allow to Capt. Jofliua Bar
ney, the fuinof dollars.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the House
proceeded in the farther consideration of the a
mendnients proposed to the new Revenue Bill
A motion to recommit the bill was negatived : It
was then moved tore-commit the fourth feetion,
which fpecifies the compensations to the inspec
tors—this also was negatived : The debates were
spun out to a considerable length—but an ad
journment beingcalled for, the further consider
ation of the bill waspoftponed.
THURSDAY, Jan. 20.
Mr. Fitzlimons presented a memorial from the
merchants of Philadelphia, trading to India,and
China—praying that an additional duty may be
laid on all goods imported into the United States
from India or China in foreign bottoms—this was
read, and referred to the Secretary of the Trea-
A petition of Robert Mead was presented by
Mr. Lawrance, which was read, and referred to
i he Secretary of the Treasury.
A petition of C. and J. Sands, and W. Living
lion in behalf of themselves and afibciates, pray
ing compensation for damages sustained l»y a
contract, for supplying the army,with provisions
—read and referred to the Secretary of the
T re a fury.
A meilage was received fromthc Senate by Mr.
Otis, their Secretary —informing, that they have
palled a bill for incorporating the fubferibers to
the Bank of the United States.
The house resumed the confideratiou of the
amendments proposed to the new revenue bill —
and after some debate the latter part of the
fourth feAion, referring to the compensation of
the infpecftors, was struck out.
Amotion vvasagain made to re-commit the bill
generally to a fele(ft committee, this was loll—3o
to 27.
Mr. Lee then moved that it (hould be re-com
mitted for the purpose of inserting a clause devi
ftng a mode of colleifting the revenue—this was
negatived, 33 to 24.
Several amendments proposed by Mr. Fitzfi
nionswere adopted—Some letflions were expung
ed—The further consideration of the bill was
postponed till to morrow.
Mr. Sedgwick laid the followingmotion 011 tlie
table, that a committee be appointed to bring in
abill for making conipenfation to the inspeCtors
of the duties on diltilled spirits.
Mr. Tucker, Mr. Partridge, and Mr. Lee were
appoin ted a committee on the part of the House,
to join a committee of the Senate to consider of
and report a time for the commencement of the
next Congress. Adjourned.
FRIDAY, Jan. 21
The a£l !o incorporate the subscribers to the hank of the United
States received f»om the Senate yesterday, was read the firft and
lecond time, and referred to a committee of the whole houle on
WVdnefday next,
Mr. Madison prcfcntcd the petition of W. C. Webb and Con
yers Wythe, which was read and referred to the Secretary of the
Treasury.
Mr. William Ton reported a bill for preventing the invalid pen
sioners from felling their perifions before they fha'il bicome due ;
read a firll and second time, and made the Older of trie day on
Thursday next,
Mr. Sedgwick's motion for a committee to bring in a bill to
jrovidefor the compensation of the infpc&ors of the duties on
distilled spirits, was taken into consideration, and a committee
consisting of McfTrs. Sedgwick, Madison and Lawrance was ap
pointed.
The house proceeded in the confederation of the amendments
proposed to the bill laying duties on distilled fpiriis.
A motion was made by Mr. Jackson, in the following words :
And be it further enafled, That if any infpeSor or other officer or
pcijon concerned in the colleflion of the revenue to be rased by this a£l t
shall, by word, mejfage or writing, or in any other manner whatfuever,
perftade or endeavor to persuade, an Eleflor to give, or dijjuade or en
deavor to dijjuade anyJ rom giving his vote for the choice oj any person to
be a member of the House of Rcprejentatives, member of the Senate, or
President of the United States —such infpetlor ot other Jo ojfend
ing, shall be forever d fabled from holding an office under this att t and
shall be fubjecl to a penalty of dollars.
This motion occahoned a lengthy debate. The yeas and nays
being required by Mr. Jackson, were, Ayrs 21 —Nays 37. Tie
further confederation of the bill was poftponcd till to-moriOA'.
A message was received from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Se
cretary, informing that they have concurred in the vote of the
house, in appointing a committee on their part to confiderand re
port a time for the commencement of the next Congrcfi.
Adjourned till to-moirow.
MR. FEN NO,
I CALLED this morning for the firft time, to hear the proceed
ings of the House of Representatives ot the Itate of Pennsyl
vania ; and was much surprised to find them warmly engaged in
a business that iu my humble opinion ; and I believe in the o
pinion of their constituents generally, they had no more to do
with than with the King ot Great-Britain's late fpcech to both
House* of Parliament.
The contention was about palling a sett of resolutions said to le
late to a law pending in the house of representatives of the United
States, refpefting revenue. Nopeifon will pretend to qucltion
the right of the house in exprefling their sentiments on the public
measures of the national legiHature ; but in the present cafe, I very
much question if there wasa neceflity for such caution, and much
more the propriety of the mode of cxcrcifing it.
We trufh it will never be disputed that the Aflembly of a free
State have a right to bear testimony against any law,that is " e!\ab
liftied upon principles, subversive ot the peace, liberty, and rights
of its citizens but did the 'gentlemen, who offered the refolu
t ons, make it appear that tnc proposed law was founded on luch
principles, or that it would have such a tendency ? I believe it
will be acknowledged, they did not, either in the debates or
otherwise, only by an indirect charge or insinuation, contained on
the face of the resolutions. If there was real caufc of complaint,
why not come forward and remonstrate boldly and openly ; and
if there was no cauf.-, why found an alarm, and take'up so much
time about a visionary evil that did notexift ?
If popularity was theobjeft the gentlemen had in view, the good
fenfeot the people of Pennsylvania will certainly difappoini them ;
for it is not to bo doubted, that they h3ve as well-founded a con
fidence in their representatives in the one body as in the other.
It is notorious that the members of that body, with regard t »
whose conduct and vjews too manv endeavoi to promote jcaloufy
and aiwruft, have at all times evinced the most sacred regard to the
rights and liberties of the people; and from their means of obtaining
information, are more likely to be able to judge on qutftions which
have for their objefct the general intcrefts of the nation.
Philadelphia, Jan. 20, 1791. A PENNSYL.VANIAN.
Philadelphia, Jan. 22.
The advocates of the present government, be
fore it was adopted by the people, were thought
to be very sanguine in their anticipation of the
blefli ngs which would result from its establish
ment. It has turned out on the trial, however,
that the event has exceeded the expeiflation—more
is perhaps fulfilled than was promised : But many
who allow that our situation was deplorable be
fore the union was secured by the new govern
ment, and that it is at present more prosperous
than the mod sanguine could then have expeift-
715
Ed, yet will not give all the credit of the change
to the new Conititution. But a correfpondenc
thinks it ufeful to remark, that there is one point
in which all parties may agree, which is, that
whether the surprising prosperity of the country
is, or is not, in any degree, the work of the na
tional government, it is plain, that nothing can
secure the continuance of that prosperity but the
preservation of the government : Weakening the
government, or overthrowing it, would imme
diately change the condition ;;nd prof'pedts of the
people. While we enjoy lb much, and hope lb
much more than we enjoy, we lhould reverence
our government, and conlider any attempt to ex
cite the people to deftrny ir, as more injuriousto
our wealth, than the Heflian Fly in our wheat
fields. That infecft attacks but one grain, and
not every species of that : But anarchy and civil
discord spare nothing. The infetft takes the feed
—violence would seize the crop. The adoption
of the Conflitution saved us from these evils : By
fupportingic we may hope in future to avoid them.
Before the Constitution was adopted, itw2s chargcd with tend-
ing to oppreflion and tyranny : A man who believed all that he
had heard against it, mull have expefled in 1791, to wear wooden
Ihoes, and to want spirit to fay his foul was his own. How
things are changed ! The government has been tried : And
what is fa id against it now ?—That itdoes injustice ? No : But
that it docs more than justice exatts of it.—lt pays debts, which
fay the accusers, it did not owe ; but which are allowed to be ho
nestly due—which on fettling the accounts, this government flood
bound to pay, and which the worthy creditors would have been
likely to lose, if it h:«d not consented to admit, without delay.—
So much for its tyranny, and treading on men's rights and proper--
ty. Now for its oppreflion : Why ; that its revenue is foam
pie, that new taxes are declared to be fuperfluous. Americans,
you have tried your government : You have tried to do without
one : —Which do you like best ?
A correspondent obfeves, that agreeable to the {ketch of the
debates in the Pennsylvania house of Representatives, as publifhcd
in Mr. Dunlap's paper—the cause of the union, io far as it de -
pends on revenue to support it, is in a very sickly condition.—A
torrent of oratorical declamation in favor of interfering'with the
legislature ot the United States, is countera&ed by a few detached
sentences ; and the " indujlry" of an individual tcderalift only—
it even appears that when called upon to give their reasons, the
federalifts do " not offer any particular arguments."
It appears to be the general wish of the legislatures of the seve
ral states, thatthe debates of the Senate of the United States flvmid
be public.— North-Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New-
York have that fentimrnt.
Accordin? to some recent resolutions pafled in the lcgiflatures
of particulai fiatcs—we appear to be in a fair way to get rid of
•he cxpence of supporting a federal government ; efpeciallv as
the work oflegiflation for the whole union appears to be bett.i un
derstood, by detached bodiw than by i!ie concentered wifcom of
the Rates—even in the opinion ol some who are sworn
the federal constitution,
We hear from, Albany that the contention of Vermont made a
houfc on the 6th inft. in order-to deliberate upon the adoption of
the Constitution of the United States. From the degree of unani
mity which appeared among the members, it is (fays the Albany
account)probable that they adopted the constitution on Saturday,
the Bth instant.
The Governor of this state has been pleased to appoint Alexa n
ander James Dallas. F.fo. hi* STreiarv.
PRICE CURRt.NI'. PUBI.IC SECURITIES
FUNDED DIET
6 pr. Cmts 17/4. V- £
3 pr. Cents of.
Defercd 6 pr. Cents 9/4.
UN FU NDED DEBT.
Final Settl. and other Certificates 1 sfg. do.
Indents of. 45 do.
N. and S. Carolina, debtsj 11J. 11f&. do.
WANTEIJ, TWO OR MORE
Convenient ROOMS,
in Chefnut-Street, or as near the Bank as poflible. Enquire of
the Printer. (rptf.)
South-Carolina Lands for Sale,
ABOUT one hundred mile?? from Charleftonf'for any kind of
Goods. One third part of 63 Tra&s of Land, containing
51,900 acres, lying nea 1 the rivers of Savannah, Big and Little Salt
Cohachees, and the fork of the Edifto : These Lands are a
dark, or a copper-coloured foil, in an inhabited part of the State.
Also 5 tra&s of Land in Ninety-Six diftrift, 4 in Orangeburg dif
trift, 6 m Camden, all containing 7,600 acres, all good land, with
streams of water running through them. These Lands will be fold
so low, that a man may make his fortune in buying them, for the
purpose of felling them again, as emigrants are naily arriving there
from Europe, to fettle.
Duplicate Plots and Grants maybe seen, and indisputable titles
will be given by the fubferiber. FREDERICK KING.
Morri,
}owv, Jan. 1791
Forty Dollars Reward.
LOST by the Subscriber, on the 12th day of January 1791, b<"-
tweeii Penollopon and Freehold, in the county of Monmouth,
and State of New-Jersey, the following Ortificatcs, i filled by the
said State, to fundi y Soldiers, for the three-fourth parts of the de
preciation of their pay ; all of which are signed by John Stevens,
jun. Treasurer, and countersigned by James Ewing, Auditor, viz,
No. Dated, Payable to
323 June 26, 1781, Powel Alston,
399 January 27, do. Jacob Long,
593 J Line 29, do. Oliver Cromwell,
664. J t|nc 30, do. James Kinfey,
740 July 2, do. George Long,
869 ,ufy 4, do. Ananias Clark,
938 July 30, do. Samuel Dotey,
1060 March 20, 1782, Ephraim Patten,
1128 August 8, do. James Coullion,
11 33 August 8, do. Moses Thompson,
12 3° January 27, A fa Gilderfleavcs,
1237 April 9, do. Michael Lane,
841 July 4, 1781, James Clark,
Any person who may have found the said Certificates, and will
retuinthem to the fublcriber,living at Penolloponaforefaidjlhall re
ceive the above reward ; and in proportion for any part of them
which may be returned.
All perfor.sare hereby cautioned against purChasing any of the
above Certificates, as payment is flopped at the public office?.
If anvof tbem Ihould be offered for fale,the person to whom they
are offered is rerjueftcd to stop the fame, and give notice thereof
to their humble servant. KENNfcTIi HANKLNSON.
Monmouth Ceurty, Nero J<fn. 15, 1791.
86J pr. rent. ■
45 Ho.
46J do..
(77 —6wiw.)
Amount.
£.6o 8 o
30 16 io£
60 8 Q
57 12 6
5 4 li
3 • 2 4i"
1 30 7 6|
3< *3 9
30 7 io§
a s° 5 94
63 7 .54
61 16 io£
4 '7 '°i