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.