Mr. fiumd then vofr, and fa id, he l, a d the misfortune to differ
with .ill his colleagues on so important a point as that of the ftatc
debts being assumed by the United States in its general funding
i> Item; and as that singularity might be attributed by fomc either
o cap,,cc whim, or a perverse humour, he thought it incumbent
on him to shew to the house, and to his colleagues in particular,
CO " fldert ' <! « founded upon the soundest pntuipK
both as to the general welfare of the Union, as well as to that ot
the particular state of which he had the honor to be one of the re-
I, ' 1 ' t L hat 1 t !' S to the general weal of the
non, had been doubted by some who did not know him. He
/-new that he had been denominated an ami-federalift when the
adoption of the new constitution was agitated. He then did con
. der, and at this instant did confidcr some parts of that constituti
on as dangerous to the general liberties ot his country. He wiffi
rd to fee them amended. He had since had the pleasure to fee
min part amended. He hoped in future to fee them so a
as'° I"* ob J ca,or <° f» he was an ant.-fe
ceralift. But lie assured the house thatthere was no man in Ame
rica mor e strongly attached to a firm union of the states than him
. 'or a 6°, and efficient government which consisted with the
true principles of liberty.
Among his objections to the new constitution was a dread that
fIT a ofjilcntmajonliu, on questions of great and general
firm iW had heard gentlemen in that house, some of the
™ the adoption of the new government, lament
rverhf.T f f l , , t ma J° n ' ,es w,th gt" l paihos. That how
ri ' , s ' CaS ,° binding the states together, (upon the principle
of his having been opposed to the adoption of the constitution
Without the amendments he had mentioned) might be rcd.culed,
e conceived himfelf that he was perfectly confident ; he always
, K- Uld contmue to lupport those measures
which ffiould bmd and ftrengthenthe union,lo far as was confiftem
with the constitution and the rights of a free people.
"vT a COnfldcr ,he fub J e£l before the house a. it con
cerned the ftatc from whence he came, and altho' he .ddrefied
this particularly to his colleagues, he conceived what was (aid of
A irginia would apply in part to most of the states in the un.on,
conceived, that ffiould the assumption of the state debts not
I ( u " part ,h,t mi B ht P r °P"'y be deemed con
tinental as having been incurred for the common defence during
h' ° 'ft ''l which have made the most vigorous exertions
r,IU rmb "l aircd - I" 'his predicament .t was general
-3y allowed Virginia stood. Virginia had at one t.mlin the
W, mc ' u ding infantry, cavalry and artil
lery , those were fully officered ; it was true, some of'them were
~;?h r? regiments, but they had been all fettled
witnalike. ( ro , E continued.)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14.
oundiy petitions were read.
of r thc committee on the accounts presented by the
printers tor newspapers supplied the house was taken up
Mr. Sherman moved that the report be accepted.
* Y obf "vcd that a free press is of the greatefl impor
e people, and all proper encouragement ought to be
g.ven : ; that the praaice of Congress in taking the nfwlpaperl
Srn r plan conduced to this objea; that the moll bene
fo^.t°on whie n h r^ U '"' d 10 ,he government from that in
the.r constituents had received thro this medium,
gentlemen have observed that persons at the feat of government
cumfl^ee'enahi" 'u' f "' y intc,l 'g™« wh 'ch that cir.
a U .Tosh V" '° 0bUl "- but " w '» «<" denicd that
t L r have as good a right to political intelligence,
m P CO " gr ,! f5 J PptnS bt :no modc °f convey!
laaliw as h "" bcdcV ' rcd «hieh,s attended with so much
lacUitv as this . and no citizen can grudge the cxpencc • it docs not
rrirr ore,h * n,he frafi,on ° f - f,rib ' n K
» l informatlon conveyed through this channel ha«
-.rtorded the greatrft fatislaftion to our condiments—it is expected
from u,, » nd ~ what th hjve a righ[ to _ and so
the anxiety orl feme occasions for news from Congress in lomeof
thl h,T 'a n e u a!l t r " Sutcs ' that 1 have b «» informed (fa.d he i
of rin 3 dollai h ? s >«» given lor a rtewfpaper. The hit fc-flion
®refrnrfr C l'' f WCre *" ade of thf P ar tiality and mifre
preientat.onsof the printers, and justly j in their accounts of the
ofheht and « 0 members wereW up in a point
I £ 3 mjufticc was done thro the inaccuracy of those
partial publications. This session matters have been beuer con
M : k bat " have been mo rc impartially handed to the
public—the printers publish on both fides, and are willine to
fromf ' T ° th " advanta ß= was t0 be derived
e " CO " ragCm . C " t - thlsfr « dom ™d impartiality bc-
W one n , Cn " m " lfication f° r the trifling ex pence
0 T , r prmt " S onl >-' Wfrc 'o b «c public encouragemem
° r ' be _f xc i ufiv<, ,Pr' n V n ß of for Congress—it would
preclude the public in all probability from that full and imp.r
W the hT.fr °" '° r X ar ° entitled ; " would l ™d to L:
and concludedlyobferving with refpeft to anyTLl'ngVoX'pu'b.'
he "~ the ' x P encc was so 'rifling compared to the advantage th.it
Mim of • a r7 COnt T pt,b ' C ob j cft of econ omy, in a national
CnnL /£ W £ "J 01 " 11 ,ore j ea theclaufe which proposed that
efptc^ 0 " 0t ' UPPlicd Wllh a, ' y P a P"® * the pub!
■wirh r a GENS °j said he hop '' d lhe rcfolut 'on would be agreed to
Me!\n r amt r W 'hr moved > by ftrlkl "g out what re
Jates to fuppWmg the Senate ; he was for leaving that nart of rhe
business tothemfelves; he gave a (ho* account"of of
tion he C faid C 'r ßPP s w " h Pyers—Under the old confedera
tion he (aid, Congress was considered as a diplomatic bodv the
members were amenable to the States who sent
could not compel their punctual attendance— hence the exnediem
of taking the papers to keep the members together fmmthetim
ofmeetmg, „ 11 they formed a house ; but he obfaved Zs did 'o,
?h l ° C 'J fe xi nt Con S refs ' whoa re a differently organized bodv
1 theintroduftion of newspapers interrupted (public buiinefV 1
"■ S-itt.
uZXrP C ) °':* r< '' J 3 vari «y of ohfervations to fliew the
f r AN ° bfervcd that he d,d not particularly rccollcft
r. 1 in Congrels taking the uewfpapeTs, but the pun6lualitv
thought neccfT.ry that Consicfa Oiould b. fupp], r d 'with' the" m'
; p :
that—-he thought that they had al£y s '%£&\ 1 !"
conceived ,t was for their intereilto be so ; it is true tCv arlTi
m<T" f r r ft a '.I* PUrP °' e l ° mch greateVextend' $
«atTved 8 ° Ut What rChtrS to lh£ was ne
"ejitived ■ agr " d to — th c latter part was
In coiii mittec of the whole on the bill to icgulate the poft-olTice
of the United States.
The committee nude conliderable progress in the difcuflion of
the bill but did not finilh it.
THURSDAY, APRIL rj.
A meflage was received froru the President of
the United-it tares, informing the house that the
ast further to suspend part of the law to regulate
the collection of the - Revenue, has received his
aflent.
The bill for tlie government of the territory,
south of the Ohio, was read the fecondtime, and
made the order of the day to-morrow.
A nve(l age was received from the Senate with
the bill for the puni/hment of certain crimes a
gainst the United States,informing the house that
they agree to some of the amendments proposed,
and disagree to others.
A motion was made by Mr. Boudinot that a
committee be appointed to originate a bill for the
mitigation of penalties and forfeitures accruing
under the Revenue Laws in certain cases therein
mentioned. Laid on the table.
Mr. Gale moved for the order ofthe day on the
report of the Secretary of the Treasury for the
iupport of the Public Credit. "1 he motion being
seconded, occasioned a debate.
Some gentlemen wi/hed the committee to be
dilcharged from further proceeding in the Re
port, till a plan of accommodation ihould be a
greedto, m refpedl tothe ail'umption of the State
r e u- tS k^ The h °" l f were w armly agitated on this
fubjecl for a considerable length of time. Several
members were called to order, and a variety of
motions refpedling order made. At length the
yeas and nays were called for, and taken, and the
queltion tor going into committee was carried.
1 he propohtion for effecling a modification of
the public debt being read, Mr. Seney moved to
itnke out the clause which rejates to the debts of
the particular States. This motion was second
ed by Mr. Parker—Mr. Sherman, Mr. Gerry
Mr. Ames, and Mr. Bland spake against the mo
tion. Mr. White and Mr. Seney in its support—
but the committee role without coming to a de
n (inn ®
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
Sundry petitions were reaa
Mr. Boudinot of the committee to whom was
referred part of the petition from the inhabitants
of the town of Portsmouth, N. H. brought in a
report which was read.
A committee, consisting of Mr. Boudinot, Mr.
Goodhue, and Mr. Huntington, was appointed to
bring in a bill for the mitigation of penalties and
forfeitures, pursuant to a motion laid on the ta
ble yesterday.
The order of the day being called for on the
report of the -Secretary of the Treasury— Mr
Fnzfimons said, he wished a suspension of the
motion while he read a proposition which he
meant to offer for the confederation of the house ;
It was 111 fubftanceas follows—viz. That a Com
mittee be appointed to devise a plan for the as
sumption of the debts, payable by the refpe<ftiv e
States—and a mode of paying the interelt there
on— also to provide for the speedy and effectual
settlement of accounts between the United States
and individual States.
vr T kr S i"!| otion J be u ng ob j e<fled to > as informal •
of the'vvhole theh ° UJe went inr ° a committee
- T *Vf 1 " otio » for striking out the clause refpecft
lng the State debts in the proposition for effecting
a new modification of the domestic debt wa s
earned in the affirmative. '
The proposition for opening a loan on the firft
Plan was then read ; when Mr. Boudinot mored
that the words, " To receive the other third in
lands in the Western Territory at the rate of 20
cents per acre," should be ftruckout- and l!
posed a substitute similar to that which he offered
in the foriner discussion of this fubie<fi — This
motion occasioned a debate which laited J 3
o clock ; and the vote the run!; 3
was negatived. The committee then rose and"
the House adjourned till Monday. I
N. B. While Mr. Sedffwiclc wac
° Ur i af )Y- Mr "r Page hiln to order a fd a Ve n
minded him of the great
on the floor of the fommitteeTnd2 H™'!" g
tion for the afluinption which he Wr tlle,lho
againft i„ pS°>* r: '""""Whw.
Mr. THE FEDE KAL GAZETTE.
T ded on the ap P ear ™ch divi
dual States for thefupfon oJth(
422
considered «s a great rational question ami .1
portance of the United States depend in , . ' and in,,
determination. B lc « measure upon its
I agree with the Secretary of the Treafurv .u
of the debts of the particular States by the'' "' he alr M>pti 0 „
sure of found policy and fubftamial ,ufti ce ' be a
. contribute in an eminent degree to an orderli ft u U w °uld
torv arrangement of the national finances » r! , and frtisiat
m a 1" 1 r it,te to 3,rert lhat public credit can B ofa "«e.,
blifced but by one uniform system of revenue thr/T 1 bc cfts -
State, ; that impartial justice cannot be done to ,u § out a " the
the creditors in any other way, but bv amm C P eo pl= and t u
ment : and in fact that if ever the national debts ind"!)' 1 arran Be
particu ar States eontrafted as aforefaid, are oairf gth " tc °*
natomaljmi constituted on the resources of the Un'innT' 1 be b y a
and directed " by one authority." 10n drawn forti,
When it is said the alfumption will augment tk, j L ,■
that it cannot be paid, it is evidently meant that the /k' a mucll
mam with the States and fame of them not j bls fl l * l 're-
dely an aggregate of the funds wodld „t lead k " all > for
less efficient than so many separate ones • henc it C Wea^cr or
quellion involved in this bulinels is, fha'll the crJ^'V 11 " 01 *
States receive payment of the debts due to them dcbt °r
another is, (hall the general government exercTfe "th," 0 ' ? And
drawing forth the resources of the union for l pnw " of
(hall it be impeded in doing its duty bv Slates or
"us interests drawing dUfcreA way! L""#?*.
that a liquidation ftiall take place, of the accounts hi Pr ° P ° fcd
union and the individual States ; " the fettlemenr. u " the
" fupenntendance of commissioners, veiled with , be L ?" d « the
'• ..on, and final authority " And that
creditor States " 'hall be provided for by the U n ,.1,1 c e
a reasonable interest, but not to be transferable" "
At whatever period the company accounts may be fart,,. l
will be balances due to and from the different St».» 'i e
meafurecomendedforis perhaps the only possible mnT.i, the
deviled, by winch the creditor States will be re.mh?, f J be
advances-And it is the best mean that can be fallen ™ ' heir
ue the burthens ol the States ; for the longer the aa£
open and the States go on in the way they have 1. remain
the greater will be the inequalities * V ° nC h "«°fore,
We (hould judge of this proposition upon true ,
pies, and extend our inquiries beyond the limit, T ? , pr ' nc '-
and throughout the union, order to fe w£'h Sta,e
isthe molflike.yto dojuftice, and to efabiShtSto SS.2
the States are in a situation to pay their debts, but there are mK
who have not the means (race the surrender of thefr fund?^
ting they were ever so well disposed ; and in such cafe. I ! :
that the creditors have unqueltionably a iuft claim on th COn ! cn4
because all the debts the erX oh m 0 ":
as well as of the individual States fro n th- „1 . si. thcum °a
of the members was known to the whole'°''M P " Ch
alk .fCongiefs can eftablift c«d,t
debts, for which the union is bound, unprovided for?
But it will be said -that the credit-.. s must comDe 1 their Ct
pay them; and if this cann it be done that f„„, r I
pel them, not only to pay their creditors, but to pav
quifitions. Tne hrft is out of the question the rrZl'J? rC "
make use of conipulfory measure., and as U the litter 7 """"
ly answer that I have heard ol but one method „,„lu C u" ° n "
that the general government Ihould levy taxes
St V"= a . n t th,i 1 b =!'«c Will never be'putm pX c dCl ' n<!UeDt
If the debts are well funded, it can surely make no dff
to the creditors; and the argument that some ofthe
under contrails with their citizens to receive said debt, !!!
for land, and confifcated estates, must cease t b iT'
when it is considered that it will be in th- r objection,
states to pass laws for recewmg the fundedTbV °J P
States in lieu of the former, in discharge of all such
And for so much of the continental debt as
.his way (he will have a cl aim upon the B
1 Wilh to fee the whole of th e na,,oval debt funded on h, f
terms and but one fperies of certificates in iJ th , V
Why (hould different part, of a d'bt hatTs all 11 '"
equally p„d f Which P w,II be thcafc ,sb D Y J U « bCU ""
to be provided for by the several Sra.« . "li f q " cftl0 ° art
but to be commensurate to its object. fy " g
}R ™ E gazette of the united states.
MR. FJENNO,
A r S h^W° f p ge " tlemen ' anXious tO P
palob! eft "of p " Z?* 1110111(1 be the >'™-
Feveral T Pi" b ° ,net ™ this city
leveral months ago, and continue in it yet/fitey
conic from different • mfi «-u • • •
:,;. n „ AmtA r , orates , and their intention
on n,rh P ? f PUbllfll ' fr ° m tinle co
fuchf L? J t , SaS ln3^be '"terefting, baton
Ah onah l'- y3B 111311 be of "ational concern.
pea edft N° g fcciety ta. ap
nianv thjr th Ne ""P a Myet as it is known to
and wSftJ, 7 av f 'net, — when they met,-
that thevh ct or; anc * feme may suppose
thlnklJ - VC nothing all this time, I
world 1 ITr ° f J - Uftice to the that the
world should be intormed they have n^beeni
and s, 7 ,neeC re S ularI y every day, Saturdays
nefsrfnr .r « cc P" d — Their hours of busi
ness [for they have stated hours] arefullr em
fii th ? Public may be gratified ere long,
Tcnowlrd ° °P' 1 "SP Ü blications, which, from my
!n ° ; e j« e °f che genius and erudition of the
SH ™ h ° c °n'Pofe the lociety, lam per
suaded will be masterly performances; viz. ?
ill ivh, t 071 tr 'fl"'g> in Folio, shewing
diflimt r n T lf>Ur h° ul "s of every day may be
I dlfl) P ated » the greatelt advantage :_the motto
. . a' re " nt ktrte, et imputantur.
craftSn,? - Y ° n Procra JH»<"ion -, in which Pro-
Stoup P rove^to he the true Philosopher's
bv rhp. , r ' C f . turns things into gold, and that
e'ifilv f° 11 a .( ortune may be acquired more
- I ri! ex P ed «io"fly than in any other way.—
Irh -ru terrors of election. A Poem.—
ri . ' le art °f milking the Ram:—an elabo
nfH. r 1 ? r i n . ance ' tending to shew the falfehood
the old scholastic adage, "Ex nihilo nihil fit."—
.V Dutch Pensionary's rule of doing
I I\ K r* 3 c ' nie > or not beginning; a second
whirl o, U c^s be f° r e the firft was fini/hed;in
ablurd" ' natle a PP a rent that the rule is a very
«.«* J*.? t abov . e are P art of the refuk of the so
y abors ; but it is said that a number of pam:
Hi. .o'.