CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31. The proportion for ajfuming the Jlate debts under consideration. MR. Williamson, observed, that North-Ca rolina must be confefledly a fufferer, un less the accounts of the several ltates within the union should be fettled. He had said it was his firm belief that the final settlement of those ac counts was intentionally delayed.- He also be lieved that if the aflumption had once taken place, a settlement would never be effe<fted. He was not bound to answer so many questions. Why "were commiflioners appointed ? Why were they continued ? Why were they allowed clerks fuffi cient, .with liberal salaries ? There was an ans wer at hand. All this might be done tofave ap pearances, until the aflumption was afFecfled—but he rather fuppofedthatthefchemeof aflumption, was new, and not coherent with former lyftems. It questions might stand for arguments, he would take the liberty, in his turn, of asking, Why are not the commiflioners furnifhed with a rule for determining the quotas of the several States ! It is known that, without such rule, they cannot possibly fettle the accounts. The neglect of this provision, and some other concomitant circum llances, Hand with him for a good cause to fuf pe<ft that the accounts are to await the final fet tlemeut. The member from New-York had ob served that Congress, being in pofleflion of all the funds, ought in justice to pay all the debts of the individual States. This position, if well founded, proves too much : it proves that Con gress should pay the expence of the civil govern ment of the States ; but it is not true, as he con ceives, that Congress have the exclusive benefit of any fund except the import duty. It is grant ed that Congrels may impose taxes of excise ; it may demand twelve cents per gallon for all the rum that is retailed in the United States, and the legislature of any State may lay an additional ex cise of ißd. per gallon on rum. Are gentlemen afraid that the consumption of rum will be pre. •vented ? It is strange that gentlemen should of fer to support this new and exceptionable mea. lure by allegations that are so ill founded. Mr. Page. One of my colleagues has taken pains to convince the house that it was the inter est of his State for Congress to afl'ume payment of the State debts, and had concluded that his colleague differed from him in opinion. I rife to shew upon what grounds they so differ from him ; and this I do notbecaufe I suppose I ain the best qualified to undertake the business, but because, as I have said but little as yet, and may have been misunderstood, I wifli, whilst 1 answer my res. pedlable friend, I may have an opportunity of ihewingin what light I view the queltion before the committee. Sir,my colleague stated that it was the interest of Virginia that Congress should afl'ume the payment of the debts, because taxes laid for that purpose by her legislature bore unequally on the state, particularly in the middleand eastern parts. But lir, granting this to be true, it is only a proof that the weight of legislative influence is against those parts of the country, and, if so, it is a proof that a majority of the legislature at least must be a gainit our flieltering ouvfelves under the gen eral government, against the exertions of its au_ thority ; That if the present mode of levying tax. es be agreeable to a majority of the people, the innovation proposed must bedifagreeable to them ; and that it is disagreeable even to the holders of public (ecurities, appears to me to be evident from the sudden and great fall of state certifi cates, and the eagerness with which creditors get rid of them. This is a fatft of which lam well informed ; they fell 30 or 40 per cent, it is aflirm_ ed, soon after the plan of all'umption was propo. fed ; and lam afl'ured, by some of the most sensi ble and best informed gentlemen in Virginia, that they think the aflumption of the state debts unjust with refpedi to Virginia, and impolitic. This, then, I think ought to be a fatisfaclory answer to my worthy colleague, especially when I add that the state now pays its debts in its own way, in its own time, upon very easy terms, and the creditors are fatisfied, and cannot but be alarmed at the aflumption proposed by Congref?, at least at the delay of two years before they can poflibly tell what their certificates will be worth. Sir, my friend (Mr. Bland) and other refped:- ab)e members on his fide of thequeftion, suppose that policy and justice dl(ftated the resolution be fore you, but I conceive that policy demands that we fhonld do nothing which may wound the cre dit of thea;eueral government and excite the jea lous fears of its late oppofers and secret enemies ; and as to justice, that requires that Congreft should pay the debts of the late Congress, and sacredly comply with all its own engagements ; and that state legislatures should pay their debts, and comply with their engagements ; by doing this, both the general government and the indi vidual states establish their credit and follow the dictates of the soundest policy As to the debt of America, it is two fold ; one part was incurred for the general defence, some times under requifitious of Congress, and some times by virtuous and voluntary exertions; the other part was incurred for local purposes, some times indeed against the common enemy, but sometimes to fliew the power and spirit of the state ; perhaps sometimes to lay the foundation of future grandeur and pre-eminence amonglt the. states, which, it ought to be remembered, were separate, sovereign and independent, vieing with each other and clashing in their interests, so as to render it neceflkryto abolilh the confede ration which feebly held them together only a. gainst a common enemy, and to eftablilh the pre sent federal government, under which alone pro vifioncanbe made for payment of such debts as are nowpropofed to be a (Turned ; butthofe particu lar debts, further than such as are truly continen" tal charges and contracted under the late govern" ment, Congress ought no more to meddle with than the debts of our allies in Europe. Sir, if we undertake to pay a debt beyond that which the late Congress was bound to pay, and a debt too which is said to be enormous, mult we not alarm the creditors of the late government ?— Mull we not weaken the credit of the new go vernment, and perhaps to such a degree as to injure the very Hates which suppose they will be benefited by the afl'umption proposed ? 1 conceive lir, it would be good policy in Congress to efta its credit upon the firmed balls : If it should do this, it may hold forth its protecting hand to the weaker states, and enable them to flourifh in agriculture, arts and commerce, foas to be able to pay all their own debts with honor. Here, by the bye, 1 will observe that I think it highly improper in gentlemen, to represent the State debts as so large as to be beyond their abilities so pay them ; 1 think this injurious to the credit of the States, and, I fjope, founded on a mistake. I, for my part, think there is not a State in the union which, the foftering hand of the general government, cannot pay its debts in a reasonable time ; and sure 1 am, that the iinpoit, tonnage, and back lands, will abun dantly fnfßce for the payment of the debts and supplies of the general government. It is said that these, and all the resources of government, being taken away, leave the States without the means of paying their debts ; but this is a miltake : for if we rejeifl the resolution before you, fir, the States will have diretft taxes in their own hands for this purpose. If, indeed, the resolution be adopted, I know not what the States will have left : we lhall then have grasp ed at all their resources : we lhall prove the truth of the predictions of the enemies of this government, and wound the feelings of its friends, who so often declared that they could pledge themfelvet that Congress never would lay direct taxes but in cases of extreme neceflity, and where the general good evidently requii ed it ; but in the cafe before us there is no such neces sity ; on the contrary, itispropofed merely to afford a partial relief to a few States, to the in jury of a majority, and perhaps to the deduc tion of public credit, which may terminate in the ruin of all. Thinking, therefore, as I do, fir, oftherel'o lution before the committee, I /hall vote to re jertit. Mr. Bland. I rife to explain myfelf to my honorable col league over the way (Mr. Page) or I would not now have troubled the House. That gentleman seems to have rested his arguments in his opposition to the sentiments I expreflcd yefterdav, on a (ingle point, and that not the principal one which I made 'use of but only a collateral one ; nor do I think, he has by any meani invalidated what I then said even on that point. I could wish the gentleman had taken the whole of my arguments, and answer ed them fatisfaftorily to me and the committee, and not have de" tached them ; he would then have found that I yesterday men" tioned some fafls not easily to be disproved ; that Virginia had fuf fered the loss of a very great number of her citizens by emigration to Kentucky,. Franklin, Georgia, and other places, ofiwhofe as fiftance in the payment of her State debt (he was totally deprived • nay, to those of Kentucky, (he had yielded a very expensive prol teclion, since the war, without receiving any return in taxes • that in conference of her citizens emigrating, great quantities oi the lands ot those emigrants were offered for Tale, which witho thcr cautes, had produced a very great fall in the value of thl lands held by those who nad not emigrated, and who had now to pay the debts which were properly the debts of the union, to pav then own State debt, and the debts which thev owed to British creditors prior to the war, to those creditors and tlmt vat,on who had taken from these very people their negroes, laid wide those very lands, and burnt those towns, from whence they were to derive the means of paying any thing. It is true I mentioned in a cur Tory manner, and meant to apply it in its proper place, that the weight of wealth lay towards the sea coast, and in the track of the armies ; that there Mo, of course, lay the burthen of war, and the principal part o those who were creditors of the State for monies loaned and fupphesfurmfhed.&c. and that the weight of leeilU twe influence lay towards the mouniains, and beyond them I called upon the gentleman if this fact had not been ascertained in the leginature of Virginia, when the fubjeft of the payment of Britilh debts was agitated in that assembly ; and aflced him if loud complaints were not uttered from every part of the house from the lower members above defenbed, nay, even from members fur! rounding the Honorable gentleman's placeof abode. How much then mud the State creditors, as I contend thev are i called, for the bulk of the State debt, dread a similar proceeding* if the alTumptiondoes not take place, (hould any measure be mol ved which might effect the credit of the State funds, and efpecTlly when the fecuntiei, by being transferred, shall get into the hands of a few persons compared to the whole, or toShofe who now pofTefs them and who may be obliged to part with them J I must remind the gentleman that the Bntifh debtors are liabTe to be rued fortheir debts m the federal court, and that to many to luin muftenfue A peace was necessary for America at the time it was made ; few persons, except those who profited by the war, would have been willing to h«e continued it in our circum fiances ; those debtors were made a facrifice to the obtaining"^ 438 peace; and without they are relieved by the affumpiion of the continental debt, which was aflumed by the States when the cou tineht was deficient in resources, their ruin would be complete. He would candidly hear and argument that could be urged ; but had yet heard none that, either on a general or a State principle, had induced him to believe he lh ou lid vote on this great question otherwise than he had hitherto done ; that he was optu to convi&ion, but could not change his opinion on flight grouuds. SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28. On motion, ordered, That Mr. Carroll, Mi. Ellfworth, Mr. Morris, Mr. Izard, and Mr Butler, be a committee to confidcr what provision will be proper for Congress to make 111 the prc fent feflion refpetting the State of Rhode-Island. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House resolved itfelf into a committee of the whole, on the bill for the remiflion and mitigation of fines, forfeitures and penalties in certain cases -the fame having been gone through with, the committee rose, and the House ordered it to be enfeof fed and read the third time to-morrow. The bill fer the government of the territory south-east of the river Ohio, was taken up by the committee of the whole, and reported without any amendment, but in going through the House some amendments were made thereto, and was ordered to be engrofled for a third reading to-morrow. Mr. Page, from the committee appointed for that purptjfe brought in a bill to describe the mode in which the ads, records, and judicial proceedipgs of the several States shall be proved, &c. —which was read the firft time. The House then resolved itfelf into a committee of the whole on the bill to regulatetrade and iutercourfe with the Indian tribes, and made progress therein. THURSDAY, APRIL 29. Mr. Sherman, Mr. Smith (S. C.) and Mr. Vining were appoint ed a committee to report to the house if any, or what further rules were neceflary to regulate the proceedings in the house ; and also to confer with a committee of the Senate refpefting fnrthcc regulations in conducing bufmefs betweeh the two houses. Mr. Fitzfimons, Mr. Smith (M.) and Mr. Sturgcs were appoint ed a committee to bring in a bill for the government and regula tion oi seamen in the merchants service. The house then resolved itfclf into a committee of the whole on the bill fuppleiriLritary to the a£l, entitled, "An ast for eftablifh mg tne lalaries of the executive officers of government, their af fillants and clerks." The bill being gone through amend ed, the committee rose, and the house agreed to the fame. By this bill the secretary of state is allowed to employ another clerk at a salary of 800 dollars per annum. Ihe house Look into consideration the bill for providing the means of intercom fe with foreign nations, and agreed to the fame as amended by the committee of the whole on Tuesday last. The house then rifolved itfclf into a committee of the whole on the bill •' For the encouragement of learning, by securing the co pits of maps, charts, and other writings, to the authors and pro prietors of such copies, during the times therein meutioned." FRIDAY, APRIL 30, Sundry petitions and memorials were reac A committee was appointed to report a catalogue of books /ui. table to form a library, for the accommodation of both Houfeiof Congress, and the Executive Officers of Government with ii elfimate of the cxpencc. Some reports of committees were read—and then the Hoafc adjourned till Monday. , The firft session oi'the General Aflembly of Vir ginia, subsequent to the eleiftion o{ the Pr*. ndent of the United States, not haying bccit heltl until several months after that -vgpr ceflarlly delayed an address of congratulation to rhe President until the winter following; and the ill health of the Senators from that State, who were dire<H.ed to present the- ad dress, having interposed a further delay, uutU Tuesday the 27th instant, when The following Address was presented to the pre sident of the United States, at his houie in Broadway, by the Senators from the Com- inoiiwealth of Virginia in the Congress of the United States. TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. The Address of the General Aflbmbly of the Commonwealth of Virginia SIR, r I ''HE General Aflembly of your native State, embrace the firft moment in their power to present the congratulations of your countrymen, on your election to the Chief Magistracy of a free and enlightened nation. In early life you engaged the affections ofyour fellow-citizens, by the exercise of those social virtues, which have so eminently marked your conduct, and acquired their confidence, by the display of these abilities, which, under Divine Providence, afterwards saved their liberties, ants eltabliihed their independence. 1 hat you were a citizen, was never forgotten by you, whilst a soldier ; and the end of yonr military command confirmed the profeilions with which it commenced. The very toils and dangers through which r° U .trc V j P a,lecl for our defence, although they anctified your claim ro retirement, yet by pre enting an earnest of your worth, created a ti tle in your fellow-citizens to demand your re turn to public artion ; yes, Sir, you have been ca led to your present high station, by the 11 nan lnious voice of a free people ; you have obeyed them with a peculiar greatness of mind, dis daining all scruples which could induce even a momentary pause, and renouncing that doraeftic u anqui ity, which alone you claimed as the re ward of victory. Devoted as we are to republican government, we tear not to utter these truths to you, for we beheve you will feel no emotions from the cor dial offerings of universal praise, but those which the purest virtue inspires. e l , ° ok /° rward w ' ar dent hopes, that the great chipofer °f events may long continue you t ie inlti ument of general happiness ; and when APRIL 28. kit into tned If lea cow 11101 fine 1 bill He Un fyri, nay, , Ulrua V" I lu. »■ '
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