tlie neighbourhood of the city of Mexico—this happened in October lad ; and about the 20th of Nov. upwards of 7000 of the inhabitants appear ed under arms, amongst whom were the molt ref pecfled characters of the country ; they marched and attacked the troops who had taken poflelfion of their property ; an engagement took place— thegreateft part of the kings troops fell a facri fice, and the people retook their poperty —they were afterwards joined by a large body of Indians (who make the greater part of the inhabitants) and then proceeded to the city of Mexico, where they took pofleflion of the King's magazines, arsenals, &c. the viceroy, the chief officers, the priests andjefuits, the moil obnoxious to the na tives, fled towards Carthagena. . Two exprefles arrived here over land. Government wishes to conceal it from the people, but time will disclose the whole of this interesting affair." N E W-Y O R K, Feb. y The diftritft court for the di(lri<ft of New-York was opened on Tuesday last by the Hon. James Duane, Judge of said Court. The following Gentlemen who had been sum moned for the purpose, appeared and were sworn as Grand Jurors, being the firlt Grand Jury aflembled in this State under the authority of the United States, to wit : Jacob Le Roy, Ten. Foreman, Francies Lewis,fen. John Broome, Richard Plate, John Blagge, Elea zer Miller, Samuel B. Webb, Henry Reinfen, fen. William Denning, Walter Livingfton, Wil liam Maxwell, Comfort Sands, Alexander Ma comb, William Edgar, Paschal Nelson Smith, James Farquhar, Alexander Stewart, James Ni cholfon, Frederick Jay, Nicholas Hoffman, Cor nelius Ray, Abijah Hammond, Joseph Hallett. His Honor the Judge then gave the following Charge : Gentleman of the Grand Jury In a charge to the firft Grand Inquefl convened for this DiltriOt, I tread an unbeaten path. We are now become emphatically a nation. A new Constitution pervades the United-States, with a dequate powers for their government and pro tetftion. New laws are promulged, both with refpei.l to crimes and civil obligations ; and new judicatories eftabliihed for the administration of justice. To examine the nature of those inilituti ons, and their aifetfts on our former fyitem, would be a work of time, and indeed difficult to be ac complished without further experience. But I have no intention to enter upon a difcuflion so extensive. For us it is fufficient that the conlti tution and laws of the United-States, are the law: of the land, fantftioned by the highest authority, paramount to all political obligations ; and com manding ourrefpedt and obedience. Happy are we that thus bound to fubmiflion, this constituti on, after the ftritfteft scrutiny, is so strongly marked with the approbation of a vigilant and enlightened people ! Happy that we may confi dently trust it will anfvver the inestimable purpa fes exprefled in its preamble, that it will " form a more perfecft union, eltablifh justice, ensure domeltic tranquility, provide for the common de fence, promote the general welfare, and secure the yeflings of liberty to ourselves and our poileri ty " After this introduction his Honor explained the judiciary powers of the United States—the Nature of the Courts instituted by virtue of those powers —and the several laws of the union, vio lations of which are the fubjeifts of cognizance to the Grand Jury of this diltridt—and concluded with the following interefting,and important ob servations.— " You have perceived how tnuch it must depend 011 you, and thole who may t'rom time to time suc ceed you as grand jurors, to vindicate the au thority of the United States, and particularly to prevent abuse of office, and frauds in the reve nue—evils offuch pernicious tendency. " You will therefore be careful and diligent in executing your high trult. Thefolemn oath which lias been administered to you, will regulate your conduct. Fromyour refpedlable characters lam afliired that you will act independently and im partially, as much uninfluenced by the fear, as the favor of men. • " You will present things truly as they exifl in, or fhallcome to your knowledge, weighing every circumstance with deliberation, so that the inno cent may not be vexed, nor the guilty escape un punished. " I am happy that I have no particular accusa tion to lay before yon ; and therefore dismiss you to your duty : not doubting but you will dis charge it conscientiously, and merit the thanks of your country. Thursday the Diftridl Court of the United States, for the Diftridt of New-York, again met, accordingto adjournment, when the Grand Jury presented the following address to the Court, in anlwer to the charge delivered to them at the o pening of the court. To the Hon. JAMES DUANE, EfiU Judge oj the Diflritf of New-York. SIR, We, the Grand Jurors for the DitlricT: of New- Yoik, beg leave to present our sincere thanks for your excellent charge, in which the nature of our duty, andtlie judicial system of the United-States are described in the cleareit manner, and recom mended by the molt cogent reasons. Convinced that a government marked with the approbation of a vigilaiK and enlightened people, and calculated to extend the great blelfings of li berty and union, to the lateftpofterity, is entitled to our fulleft confidence and support. And sen sible that we must chiefly depend upon the due execution of the laws imposing duties, and an iinpoft upon trade arid navigation, for the sup port of our government,the payment of our debts, and che re-establishment of public credit. We conceive it our duty to declare, that our whole con duflfhaM be regulated by these sentiments ; that both by our influence and example, we will en deavor to promote the colletSion of the public re venue ; and that,not only in our present capacity, but as private citizens, we shall exert ourselves to bring offendersto the bar of public jultice. Such sentiments as these wetruft are not pecu liar to ourselves, nor confined to any rank 01- des cription of Citizens ; but pervade and will govern the whole community. They are the natural re sult of universal attachment to a government formed to secure the rights as man,and in which, by neceflary consequence, public prosperity is con ne<ftedwith thehappinefs and fafety of individu als. The Court in reply, thanked the Grand Jury for their refpectful address ; and observed, that the sentiments it contained were honorable to themselves, and must produce great public good. The Grand Jury were then discharged, and the Court adjourned to meet again according to law. CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 1790. r T~ , HE bill providing for the adlual enumera tionof the inhabitants of the United States was read the third time. The time for commencing the business, and the period to be allowed the Marlnals for compleat ing it, and making the returns, occasioned conii derable debate. The firft Monday in August next was agreed to, as the day on which the enumera tion shall begin by virtue of this law. But the House did not come to any decision refpecfting the time to be allowed for making the returns. Se veral motions were made, which met with vari ous objections—and the further confidcration of the bill was postponed. lii committee of the whole on the bill to estab lish a uniform system of naturalization. The terms on which foreigners shall be admitted to the rights of citizens, occasioned a lengthy de bate— which turned principally on the questions Whether residence should be a requisite to enti tle to all the rights of citizenship ? and if neces sary, for what time, previous to the enjoyment of those rights ? A diversity, and opposition of sentiment appearing to prevail, 011 motion, the committee role, without coining to any determi nation—and the House adjourned. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4. The enrolled bill for giving effe<ft to the laws of the United States in the State of North-Carolina, was brought in by the committee, who reported that they had examined the fame, and found it correct—the speaker then signed the fame. Mr. T rumbull of the committee on the memorial of Roger Alden brought in a report which was read, and laid on the table. The bill for establishing a uniform fyftein of naturalization was again taken into considera tion by the committee of the whole. The motion made yellerday for striking out the words from the bill " and fliall have resided within the United States for one whole year" was resumed. Mr. Stone was in favor of extending the previ ous of residence to four or seven years. Mr. Jackson suggested the propriety of a term of probation, and a recommendation from the grand jury ofthe diflritft, before foreigners should be admitted to the rights of citizenship. Hewifh ed that such guards should be provided as would prevent the privilege from being bestowed 011 un worthy objects—for he hoped the time was nigh at hand, when it would be deemed as honorable to be a citizen of the United States, as it former ly was to be a citizen of Rome when she was mis tress of the world. Mr. Lawrance observed that as the United States contained vast tra<fts of uncultivated ter ritory, it is their interest to have it fettled with i nduftrions citizens—and as fucli citizens are to be obtained by emigration,it becomes the duty of government to hold out every encouragement, they therefore ought not to make their terms of admiflion difficult. Mr. Huntington said that the terms of the bill are indefinite—that it requires the emigrant to take an oath that he intends to reside in the Uni ted States, bnt how long and for what purpose are not ascertained in the law.—He may deter mine to reside here till he accomplices a particu 342 lar objed:—and may go into the mod obfeure part of the Union to take this oath—'l he community will not be benefited by such emigrants, and there fore ought noc to admit them to the privileges u s citizens. The mode of naturalization pointed out bv this bill is much too eafy.—ln the Hate ro which ! belong no peiTon can be naturalized but by an aifl of the legifiature ; the fame is the cafe in i'eve ralof the other States, and in England—and I ne ver knew a good inhabitant who wifhedto be ad mitted to the rights of citizenship that did not find this mode firfficiently easy. The term that the emigrant should refide,ought to be long enough to give liim an opportunity to acquire a knowledge of the principles of the'wo vernment, and of those who are most proper to adminifterit,other\vife he cannot exercise his pri vilege to the advantage of himfelf or the com munity. —He wiflied therefore that the clause might be amended in such a way as to leave the naturalization of foreigners to the State Legisla tures. Mr Clymer after some introductory observa tions said, that in his opinion foreigners should be gradually admitted to the rights of citizens, —that a reiidence for a certain time should en title them to hold property, &c. but the higher rights of citizens, such as electing and being ele<fred to oflice, should require a longer period —permitting these rights to be aflumed s(nd ex ercised at a shorter period would not operate as an inducement to persons to emigrate—as the gre.it object in emigration is generally to pro cure a more comfortable subsistence, or to better the circumstances of the individuals—and the exercise of particular privileges is but a fecond arv consideration. Mr. Page and Mr. Lee, were in favor of art ea sy mode of admitting foreigners—that the period previous to their enjoying and exercising the rights of citizens, should be short—as this would tend greatly to encouraging emigrations intothe United States. Mr. Seney observed, that the United States have a right to impose the qualifications on the eledtors of officers for the general government— but have 110 right to interfere in those of the electors of officers in the State governments—and while lain in favor, said he, of holding out proper encouragement to foreigners, and would very early admit them to hold property, yet I think it would be of dangerous tendency, to admit grangers suddenly to all the rights of citizens. Hewas opposed to adopting any mode that should interfere with the laws of the particular States, and in favor of recommitting the bill to a feleft committee. Mr. Jackson, was also in favor of a recommit ment. He said there were so many propositions before the committee that he should not know how to vote —he observed that the ideas of some gentlemen with refpecfl to naturalization, will fubjetfl the United States to the inconveniences and impositions which take place in some of the individual States ; where it has been frequently the cafe, that in a warmly contested ele«stion, the wharves and shipping have been stripped of sail ors, and carried in bodies to vote. Mr. Burke spoke largely 011 the fubjecft, and reprobated a system that would produce corrup tion and a violation of the rights of the citizens in elections, and moved for the recommitment. Mr. Clymer said he was in favor of the motion, but thought it would be best to pass to the next clause firft, which involved the cafe of that parti cular class of persons denominated refugees. Mr. Tucker proposed a clause by which fo reigners should be admitted to the rights of ci tizens, so far as to poflefs property, immediately after their arrival into the country 011 taking ail oath of fidelity to the United States, and giving fatisfadlory evidence of their intention to reside therein—and that three years residence should be requisite to entitle to the rights of election. Mr. Livermore said, that if he could get thro the labyrinth oi order, he would move that the committee should rife, and that the bill fhouli be recommitted to a fcledl committee—he ob served that in the committee of the whole the bufinefe is now involved and perplexed, by mo tion after motion, in such a manner, that it put in hiin mind of a certain book which fays, that in a certain aiiembly onehathapfalm, a second hath a docftrine, and another hath a prophecy, &c.— till the whole is in confufion. He pointed out the difficulties that would re fultfrom not making residence a qualification of citizenship—upon the plan of some gentlemen who would admit foreigners upon taking an oath, it is not the United States who make citizens of foreigners—they make themselves citizens. Mr. Sedgwick was also in favor of the com mittee s rising, and urged it from the considera tion of the small progress that the committee had made in two days discussion of the bill—motion has been piled on motion in such a manner said he, that we app ear to be involved in an inextri cable labyrinth. The motion fo 1 " rising of the committee was rppofed by M r - Smith (S. C.) he said, that several questions h at ' been difcufled so fully, that
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