CONGRESS HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1790. MR. Vi n1 n g took his feat this day.—The bill to promote theprogrefs of the ufeful arts, ■was brought in engrolled, read the third time,and ordered to lie on the table till to morrow. The bill to accept of the ceflion of lands in the weltern territory, by theftate of North Carolina ■was read the second time and refered to a commit tee of the whole lioufe. The resolve of the Senate for giving further inftru£tions to the collectors of the revenue was read the second time. This resolution enjoins a compliance with the llate infpetftion laws previous to clearing out vef lels, and was referee! to a committee confiding of Mr. White, Mr. Tucker, and Mr. Contee—who are inftru<fted to bring in a bill pursuant thereto. A bill to provide for an addition to the salaries of the clerks in the otßce of the commissioners of accounts, was read the firft time. Mr. Livermore presented a bill, making appro priations for the services of the year 1790 Read the firft time. A report of the secretary of the treasury, 011 lundry petitions, was read. A meliage was received from the President of the United States, 'oy his secretary; with a copy of the ratification of the amendments proposed by Congtefs, to the conttitution oftlie United States, by the ftateof Delaware. A petition of Gilford Dally, was read, and re ferred to the committee of appropriations. Mr. White presented a bill to regulate the ex portation of certain articles, fubjetft to infpedlion, by the laws of the several Hates. Mr. Ames presented the memorial of David Olyphant, Director-General of the Hospitals, in the southern department of the late continental army. Mr. Hartley moved that the report of the com mittee 011 the memorials of the people called Quakers, Ihould be taken up for a second read ing, which motion being adopted, it was read as follows—l »iz. That from the nature of thematcers contained in those memorials,, they were induced to exa mine the powers vetted in Congress, under the present constitution, relating to the abolition of flavery,and are clearly of opinion : Firit,that the general government is expressly restrained from prohibiting the importation offuch perfonsasapy of the dates'now existing shall think proper to admit until the year 1808. Secondly, That Congress, by a fair conftru<fti on of theconftitution, arc equally restrained from interfering in the emancipation of slaves, who already are, or who may, within the period men tioned, be imported into, or born within any of the said Hates. Thirdly, That Congress have no authority to interfere in the internal regulations of particular Hates, relative to the inftrucftion of slaves in the principles of morality and religion, to their com fortable cloathing, accommodation and subsist ence j to the regulation of their marriages, and the prevention of the violation of the rights there of, or to the reparation of children from their parents; to a comfortable provision in cases of licknefs, age or infirmity, or to thefeizure, tran sportation, or I'ale of free negroes, but have the fulleft confidence in the wifdoni and humanity of the legislatures of the several Urates, that they will revile their laws, from time to time, when neces sary, and promote the objetfts mentioned in the memorials, and every other measure that may tend to the happiness of slaves. Fourthly, that nevertheless, Congress, have authority, iftheyfliall think it neceflaryto lay at any time, a tax or duty, not exceeding ten dollars for each person, of ally description, the impor tation of whom shall be by any of the states, ad mitted as aforelaid. Fifthly, 1 hat Congress have authority to inter dict, or (so far as it is, or may be carried on by citizens of the United Stares, for supplying fo reigners) to regulate the African trade, and to make provision for the humane treatment of slaves, in all cases while on their paflages to the United States, or to foreign ports, as far as it refpetfts the citizens of the United States. Sixthly-, That Congress have also authority to prohibit foreigners from fitting out veflels in any port of the United States for tranfpprting persons from Africa to any foreign port. Seventhly, That the niemorialifts be informed, that in all cases, to which the authority of Con gress extends, they will exercise it forthe humane objects of the niemorialifts, so far as they can be promoted on the principles of justice, humanity and good policy. Mi. omith (S.C.) moved that the above be re ferred to a committee of the whole, to be taken upthefirft Monday in May next. Mr. Boudinot proposed the firlt Monday in April. Mr. Jackson opposed the latter period ; he ur ged several reasons which rendered it extremely inconvenient to assign so early a day : A proper knowledge of the present state of the importati ons, and other particulars refpe&ing the flave trade, which cannot be known so early, call for a longer time—he adverted to the peculiar cir cumltances of the southern states, and urged the neceflity and justice of requiring a more perfecft knowledge of the sentiments of their constituents; to adopt it in its present form, would produce infinite mifchiefs in the southern states—it would excite tumults, seditions, and infurre&ions. Mr. Vining opposed a postponement—he con sidered the report if adopted as an honorable de claration of the sentiments of the legislature, on this important bnfinefs ; he could not conceive that there was any grounds for the alarming appre hensions entertained by some gentlemen. Mr. Boudinot answered Mr. Jackfon —he ob served that if the report was calculated to produce such effe<fts, the argument is in favor oftne fliort eft period ; that the report may be so amended, as to prevent those effects.—He moved the firft Monday ift April, because, he expected thatCon grefs would rife in May, and he thought it would not be giving the business that attention which it deserved, to postpone it to a period which may preclude all discussion of the fubje<ft whatever. Mr. Smith (S. C.) and Mr. Stone urged the poftponeinent, the latter Gentleman observed, that he had not approved of the interference of Congress in the buunefs. He thought that per sons who are not interested, ought not to inter fere j such interferences favored very strongly of an intolerant spirit; and he could not suppose that any one of the Rates had a right to interfere in the internal regulations of another : The states are not accountable to each other for their moral conduift. He wiihed that the interesting circum stances of the flares, which would be so material ly affedled,might be taken into confiderarion,and the fubjedi postponed to the firft Monday in May. Mr. Vining replied to Mr. Stone, andobferved, that it was very extraordinary, that a humane li beral spirit—a wilh to diffufe universal liberty should be called an intolerant spirit; and disinte rested persons, he had always supposed the most likely to form a just judgment; he could not but approve of the report of the committee, it was couched in terms of humanity and prudence, aiid did great honor to the gentlemen who framed it. Mr. Boudinot observed that as there were some expressions in the report which if altered, might give fatisfa&ion to all parties, he would move that the house should now go into a commit eeof the whole, in order to make those alterations. Mr. Jackson said for the purpose of altering the phraseology, he should have no objection to going into a committee. Mr. Burke was for postponing the business al together, he dilated on the pernicious confe rences which may be expe&ed to flow from an interference in the business. Mr. Smith (S. C.) moved that the report should be recommitted—he expatiated on the conftruc rion which might be put on the several parts of the report and shewed their pernicious tendency; he was pointedly severe in animadverting on the conduct of the nicmorialifts inmedline with the business. Mr. Sherman opposed this motion ; he said that this report was agreeable to his ideas, it was prudent, humane and judicious. The motion for recommitment was negatived —It was then voted thac it should be referred to a committee of the whole house—the time when it should be taken up, occasioned some further de T bate ; it was urged that as so much time had been spent in the difcullion and many ideas were thrown out of alarming inf'urreltionfc. it was be come neceflary to make an early decifioh on the business ; Mr. Boudinot therefore withdrew his motion for April, and moved that the House should at this time go into a committee of the whole 011 the report. Mr. Jackson was opposed to the motion ; he animadverted with great severity on the memo rial ills, and introduced an account of the mis chiefs wich had resulted from the interference of a fed: called Anabaptists in the State of Georgia. Mr. Gerry juftified the Quakers —he was a stonished he said, that these persons lhould be treated wich so much severity, when it was well known that they had exerted themselves in the fame cause in Great-Britain and other, parts of the world—that they had formed societies to ef fed: their humane purposes, and for their exer tions, had hitherto met with universal applause It was finally voted to take up the report to'. morrow week. In committee of the whole on the report of the Secretary of the Treafury-the aflhmption of the State debts under confidet-ation Mr. White Mr Stone, Mr. Smith (S. C.) and Mr. Gerry, spoke on the fubjedl ; but the committee rose without coming to a decision Mr. Clymer had leave or absence for a few days. TUESDAY," MARCH 9. Mr.Benfon presented a memorial from Wil liam Bedlow, late deputy Post-Master of the city ot New-York—winch was read. * -380- The bill for encreafingthe falai ies of the sub ordinate Clerks, in the office of the coinniiliion ers on accounts, to the sum which is allowed to such Clerks in the Treasury department ; was read the fecondtime and ordered to beengrofled The bill for making appropriations forthefer vicesoftheyear 1790 —was read the second time and ordered to be referred to a commkteeof the whole on Thursday next. The bill to prevent the exportation of goods not duly infpedted according to the laws of the refpedtive States, was read a feroud time and re ferred to the committee of the whole on Thurs day next. The report of the committee appointed pursu ant to the memorial of Robert Morris, Eiq. was read, with certain papers accompanying the fame. In committee of the whole 011 the report of the Secretary of the Treasury—the proposition for the afl'umption of the State debts under confidera- tion After further debate on this proposition, it was adopted, 31 to 26—as in the following words : Resolved that the debts of the respective States ought, with the consent of the creditors, to be as sumed and provided for by the United States - and at the fame time that effectual provision be made for the liquidation of, and crediting to the States the whole of their expences during the war as the fame have been,or may bejftated for thepur pofe—and that the best evidence of the fame be taken, the nature of the cafe will admit. The next propolirion' was also agred to, viz. Resolved that it is advifeable to endeavor to eifeCi a new niodiiicatiou of the domeflic debt,- including that of the particular States, with' the voluntary consent of the creditors by a loan, np» on terms mutually beneficial to tliem and to tnp United States. Relblved, That for the purpose exprefied in the lalt preceding resolution, subscriptions to ward a loan ought to be opened, to the amount of the said domestic debt; including that oftherei petftive States, upon the terms following, this resolve was adopted ; the firft alternative which follows being read—a considerable debate ensued, occalioned principally by a motion of Mr. Boudinot to strike out all that relates to the weltern territory—the committee finally role without deciding 011 the motion or the rate of interest. Adjourned. NEW-YORK, MARCH 19. A Correspondent observes, it is so long frnce the agricultural interest of this country enjoyed the advantage of a considerable temporary rife in the prices of grain, that it is not a little surpri sing to find persons coming forward with their proposals of an embargo. To fay nothing of the extreme modesty in which this proportion has obtruded itfelf on the public—provided we are favored with a very great surplusage of grain, as is to be prefutned—the project of laying an em bargo on its exportation would be as wife, as tlie conduct of a merchant, who should shut up his warehouse at the moment of a brisk demand for his commodities. The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Maf fachnfetts, has appointed the Honorable Nathan Dane, their Agent, to support the claims of that Commonwealth againftthe United States. A Correspondent would suggest the propriety of Government's offering bounties for the en couragement of Agriculture the ensuing season, mori particularly to those farmers, who lhall raise the greatest quantities offummer grain of all forts —and of such vegetables as are the nearest sub stitutes for grain. _ The plan of rendering Federal Officers ineli gible to State appointments is hostile to the best interells of the States—as it will very frequently deprive the people of the abilities of their belt men—excite jealousies, and an opposition ofin terefts :—Tuftice to the people requires, that good men fhoula in all cases be competent to different appointments, that are not in their natures in com patible. ** Phi lelutheros"—" Americanus," See. are received, and will appear on Saturday next. To be SOLD, At PUBLIC AUCTION, on the First Day of April next, (if not disposed of before, at Private Sale.) 'T'HAT pleasant and valuable Place formerly cal led COLES-FERRY, now by the name of VAN DUZER'S, on Staten Island, Richmond County, with two good fufficient Pettiaugers for the ferrying business. It is a beautiful situation, and one of the best stands tor a Ferry, or Tavern, on Stat en-I Hand, and an excellent Shad and Herring Fifhcry within 20 yards of the door, Black-tifh, and all other kind of Fish in their season. It is likewise the best and most convenient Ferry to Long-Island, where a number of palTengerspafs and repafs. It lies within two miles of the Pointof the Narrows, and between 8 and 9 miles from New-York, There is about 30 acres of excellent good Land, chief ly Meadow, with a very good Wharf t House, Barn and Garden — the whole being in good repair. p It will also make a beautiful Country Seat, fit for any gentleman. *or Particulars enquire of John Anderson, corner of the Exchange, or Charles M'Lean, White Hall, New-York, or ot Messrs By er ss and Rei ll y, Staten-Ifland, or ot the Subfcri bei on :h= premises, where the conditions of sale will be made kn ? wn - ABRAHAM VAXDUZE K Statcr.-IJland, March 6, 1790.
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