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