n was encountering an immediate and certain evil for a remote and uncertain benefit; The navigating states had already obtained from CongTefs cor.fiderable favors more than either the manufac turing or the agricultural states had received; their vessels paid on y 6 cents while foreigners paid 50 ; even when fold to foreign ers tney P a 'd only 30 cents ; they had a monopoly of the coasting tra e and the East India trade, and goods imported in American ottom- were lent it led to a discount of 10 per rent on the duties. K ? by natMrC cver y advil >t»gc 'n to'P building ; they could it i. nC t^lf * UTn * n Europe, they a all the materials for building and equipping at hand, and yet 1 °n r ,C "° l at ' B^pd but were f° r further benefits ;at iealt they should wait to learn the etfeft of the laws passed last fefli- ? n s ;• there were no documents to shew whether \° C k ' ' ncrfa^e dthe American fhippwgor to what amount, T iev had not been in operation above nine months, and it was an extraordinary proceeding to double the foreign tonnage without anyother ground thana petitionfrorrt some merchants inPortfmouth. ~ a , t . cr r ,nt juiry should be made, it should appear that notwith ,.an cv ery thing which Congress had done for securing to the niud «S ates the carrying trade, our own (hipping had not in crealedinthe proportion exre£led,it might reasonably be inferred t at other circumflances thanthofe to which it was attributed ,oc -08 Aiccefi, and that iucreafing the foreign tonnage ■would not remedy the evil ; if on the other hand it should beafcer f^3t mca '" urcs feflion had produced the desired * fct, then anv further rcftri&ions on foreign shipping would be "nneceffary. Whatever was the result, it would operate against the proposed increase. It the fa& however really was as the petition dated, that no ad accrued to their (hipping from the measures of the a l< luon. he was impressed with a ftrot»g conviction that their lipping labored under disabilities not within the power of Con gre s to remove. It was not improbable that our merchauts in general, other had not fufficienr capital to engagr (erioufly in the carrying trade, or were not disposed to encounter the hazard of t iat species ofcommerce. A merchant at Boston who should pio- A° (l ° co * lccrnpd * n the carrying trade between Charleflon and have capitals and connections at both thofc pla tes : His property being thus divided, would be cxpofed to greater rifquesthan if it were all at Boston under his immediate controul : at least he would feel more fatisfa6tion in this crfe, and any trifling loss might induce him to relinquish such extensive con cerns, and tocontraft his capital to a ftnaller fphcre : This might »e one reason why our citizens were cautious of embarking in the carrying trade; another might be afligned ; some of the exporting states were accustomed to particular commercial habits adapted to their local circumstances and their immediate convenience; they v ere f ci pplied at proper seasons with such commodities as were imred to their wants, and the nation which fupplicd them, not ot:ty allowed us an exfenfive credit, but received our produce in exchange; the vessels which brought the necefTary supplies, were JCady to take away our produ&ionj, and the merchant who fold the former would naturally employ his own vessels to export the latter. Ihe only mode of supplanting these foreign merchants is to imitate their condufl ; without it, said Mr. Smith it is in vain to load their shipping with enormous duties; such a step wll on ly distress us and depreciate our produce,without securing the car ing tra de to the Eastern Rates. The true policy of the Ulll ed «■ latps was to encourage its agriculture and facilitate the '■xportdti on of its produfls—this measure would have a different tendency. I n ion at home and peace with all the world should be our mot to, because they would ensure prosperity to this country ; but the proportion if earned into operation, would occasion diiunion at home, and might induce a re'aliat on by foreign powers, and in volve us in hoftililies. The dates which would fuffer by this re itriftion on foreign (hipping,of which theyftoud so much in need, would consider it as unjust and calculated to promote the interests of «»:her flares at their exprnce : In this point of view, he difap prov<d highly of the measure, for it did not hold out to the dif ferent ftrrs that equal pr )te£liodto wh'ch by the eonftitution they wctc entitled. At any rase the "pi>.pofed increase was prematwre and they had not fuff.cient information to warrant so very enor mous an addition to the foreign tonnage. Mr. Sherman observed that the rifolutions had in view two objects; one to encourage the carrying trade, the other to encou rag» fh p building. To give due encouragement to the American carrying trade, he thought it would be expedient to lay the fame impofnions on foreigners coming into the ports of the United Star s, as were laid on citizens of the United States going info fo reign ports. Encouraging the carrying trade, in his opinion, "would operate as an encouragement to ship building, because owning American built ships should be an object to foreigners vvho traded with the United States, since thereby they would mak< a considerable fuving in the tonnage ; the resolutions proposing to add no additional tonnage on American built (hips, tho' owned by foreigners.—He thought that tonnage would not op'raie so un equally as the gentleman from South-Carolina had imagined. Should its operation be unfavorable to any particular State for the present, yet the geneial benefit of it would (oon pervade the whole, and like water would find its own level. Mr. Goodhue made some remarks on the importance of the car rying trade, and said that the decline of that business was owing to the reftri&ions imposed by foreigners 011 the shipping of the T uited States. In his opinion, therefore, it was neeeffary to m. et them in this refpeft upon an equal footing, and place the ship ping of the United States in the fame situation as then s. Beyond this he did not wilh to go. Confidenng the ability of our coun try to build ships, he thought that branch of business ought to be encouraged, as it was a point that in a very essential manner, con cerned our neareflinterelfs. Mr. Williamfon laid, the question was of importance. He did not think it proper that one part of the community should be burthened for the ben? fit of the other. Suppose a particular Stare Jhould pa\ Bor 10, coo dollars a year extraordinary for the pub. lie good, it would mofl certainly be proper to adopt some me thod of refunding the lum paid over and above its proportion,an 1 then the burthen would be equalized. With refpett 10 the poli cy of encoin aging American vessels he viewed the matter in a dil - light from what the gentleman from Carolina did. Whei he mentioned the encouragement of American shipping, he con feffed his ideas did not extend to a navy. He thought that period flill very remote when wc should be' al le to cortiend with the Eu- Topean powers on ttie watery element. He hoped, he said, Ame - ricans would never so far loft fight of their own interest as to bur then themfelvcs with the expence of a navy ; confidcnng'our (i ---tuation, rathe* let us endeavour to make the mod of the produef of our country. The farmer who earns his bread by the sweat ol his brow, if his induftty procures him more than he wants for his own support, he ought to have markets to go co, and every pofli- He opportunity thrown in his way of making the mot of his pro perfy. By permitting foreigners to carry our produce for us m order to pay for the fine goods they furnifli us, wr have to raise snore from tne foil by one third than if we carried it ourselves. The exports from some dates confia of bulky articles; and thV transportation of lumber to the Wefl-ludu s in foreign bottoms con fnmes 50 per cent. of the cargo. It is ufuul for a man to fill a vtl fel lumber, and thr n give on'. half for the carrying of thf other: so that one half of the property goes out of the count r v neverto return. In particular, too, with regard to tobacco : Th. value of a hogftiead was about 25 dollars, the freight to Europe 8 dollars, so that the freight was verv near pr r cent. He mentioned these particulars,' he faid,to (hew the disadvan tage of fuffcring foreigners to be the carriers of our produce. Mr Williamfon then read a statement of the annual exports of North- Carolina, and the shipping employed in carrying off tfye fame. When it was confidercd what a prodigious proportion of our pro duce went irrecoverably into the hands of foreigners by Uicir bc mgour carriers, it was highly necefTary to take some meafurrs to counteratt such abuse. And he hoped the citizens of the United States would one day or other be the foie carriers of their own produce. For it was to the carrying trade that nations owed their wealth and consequence, and experience had shewn that he that carried the produce finally became the"owner of it. The gentle man from South-CaroMna (Mr. Smilh)had said, that the operation of the present tonnage ast had either tended to encreafe liie fhip pmg, or it had not—-if it had increased it, then enough was done ; if it had not, then the failure was owing to some other cause, and the raising of the tonnage would not effe& the defircd purpose.— To this he begged leave to reply, that the tonnage might be com pared to a great weight; it was either moved or not, if it was moved and not lifted, then there was only more strength wanted ; if it was not moved, then it became necefTary to have recourse to the mechanical powers of pulfies, levers, See. Mr. Smith then observed, that if gentlemen went upon th the principle of increafmg the tonnage after they had set it in mo tion, that they might perhaps go to the length of 2 or 3 dollar-. T he gentleman had compared it to a weight, when we hid ro: the lever under it, all we had to do was to lift. But it app-ared to him that we had no lever under the weight, and that we are striv ing to raise it without one, end may continue ftnvin<r till w< break our backs. If a person should taloe a dofc of medicine, he asked whether it would notl:e pj-oper to wait till he saw whether it operated or not, before he (hould take another ? The fact was Congrefshad not time to fee the operation of their measures : But a few mouths had elapfrd since the tonnage a& had begun to be in force. The propoftd refolutjohs put him in mind sick mm. who was informed by his pUyfipan that if he could takehalfa p -n of medicine every day sos <ir months, that it would r store him his health. The man then reamed thud : Half a pint a d-iy of this potion will make me well in fix mom s ; but a pint per day for three months is equal to half • pint for fix months—Ergo, a pint .1 day for three mouths will cure me J CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTA iV£S. MONDAY, MAY 24, 1790. bill for the relief of Thomas Jeilkins, ■L and Co. and the bill foreftablifhing the Ju dicial Courts of the United States in the State of North Carolina, were read a third time, and palled the House. r The amendments proposed by the Senate to the resolutions refpefting the arrears ofpnydueto officers and soldiers of the Virginia and North- Carolina lines of the late army, were taken into consideration. Mr. Lawrance informed the house that the fpe cillations in this business had nor originated in New-York—that he had been informed the whole amount,purcliafed by persons here, is about 2600 dollars—that the speculations in Virginia and North-Carolina, had taken place previous to the appropriation, and to a much grater amount — lie mentioned,thefe fadts, hefaid, to do away the aspersions which in the course of difcufiing this business, had been thrown out against this city He was of opinion, that it would be belt to disa gree to the amendments, and let the resolution lie tor turther con.; ration. Mr. \\ illiani (ori ! Ihe hoped the house would agree to the allien. rnts, as in cafe of noa-con currence the refoh ,tis would be loft—and he was firmly pei luaded that it isnecellary that some thing (hould be done. Mr. Blood worth made fomeobfervations in re ply to Mr. Lawrance. Mr. Ames observed, that as there appears to be a contradiction in refpeft to fatfts, and as the ie folutionhad been opposed on ce tain principles which had not been controverted, he wished the amendments ffiould lie for the present, and made a motion accordingly. -Mr. Vining opposed the motion. Mr. Sedgwick supported it. Ihe vote being taken the motion was loft — The amendments were then ag.eed to. In Committee of the whole on the funding bill. 9th Sedtion Under consideration. This appropriates so much of the revenue from Inipolt and 1 onnage, as may benecefihry to pay the interest on the domestic debt of the United btates, agreeable to the principles of the bill Ml r ur r 7 obr f rved ' that the provision fo'r the non-subscribers, by the bill, does not include in terest as ,n the cafe of fubfc. ibers. He moved an amendment to make such provision. He observed that thisclaufe as it now {lands, conveys the idea of compulsion, to a much gieater degree than without it—whereas the only difference 'which has been contemplated is, a priority inpayments. bM A-? - 7, some S e nt"emen, that the bill did virtually make this provision. 1 he motion being put, was negatived. Mr, Boudinot then moved that 'lieclaufeftiould be made definitely exprefling the word " prin Pal, agreeable to the sense of the committee as now declared """itcee Mr. Sherman moved an amendment to this a mendment, to providp forifluinga Certificate for /bribers' "t 1 V"* 1 °f the I 7 9 r, to non fub were whhdTaw?. n,oU ° nS ' aftCr 3 ft ° rt difcuffion > Mr. Heifter moved an amendment refpeftina: he non-fubfcnbing creditors, by which thef ihouldreceive their interest " fromand" during n 'f n a ' 17 9 - This was objected to as eftabliih? r Kr' n -l" ent: for P a y>"g the interest to them 11 at 6pr cenr - which is giving them advantages over the fubferibers— where J Lir;T en,pl ? redb ' the bill r <> fund the de! vde f° K ° U fubfc| i b er S _the } are to be pro filed on'th a " m,al & ' * mS Some debate en nithJd b«!ngp„ t „„ 466 Section 12, refpe<fls the appointment of com. miffioners in the ieversl States. Mr. Steele moved that the fetftion fiiould be a mended, by adding the words—to reside at This motion was loft. Mr. Williamfon moved, that the clause which empowers tl*e Secretary of the Treasury to an. point the reqnifite number ofClerks to each Coin niiffioner should be struck our This was car ried in the affirmative. The committee went through the bill as | far as the 12th section, and made several finull amendments. Atthe end of the twelfth fetftion Mr. Gerry said, he rose to mike a motion, which was to ini'ert a clause for the assumption of the Stitr hots. Sir, (said he) when this que ft ion was be. fore under consideration, a gentleman from Vir ginia urged a variety of arguments againlt it. but ai lie did not come forward with his arguments till near the time of adjournment, there was 110 opportunity <>f replying to them. Sir, his argu ments appeared to a number of gentlemen to be unfounded, and to require not only invcftio-jtion but coiirradUflfortj Since that time the houlehave called for documents from the Secretaiy of the T-eafu-y, from the Secretary at War, "and the Com niffi'Hiers for fettling the public account?. It is reasonable to fupoofethat the arguments for > afl nnption would derive new force fro a thefepa psrfc, if any additional force was wanting. As far as concerns myfelf, however, I wish not to en ter into a difcudidn of the individual exertions of the States, if it C3n possibly be avoided. In mv ! view, every state has obtained an ample share of ! honor, in .he public caofe, wirli which they ou<;ht ! to be fatisfied—nor is it my wish to reflect more honor on one State than another. This, however he thought might probably betheeffeciuf an in vestigation of the papers, although he hoped the necessity offuoh an investigation would be pre vented by an acquiescence of the committee in a motion which he would make, and which was founded upon principles of conciliation. Should it be attended with such consequences as these, if would indeed be a happy circumstance—and in that expectation he begged leave to submit it to the confidpration of the committee. It is not at all iny wish, however, (continued Mr. Gerry) that the committee should decide haftilyon my proposition—it shall be moved, and then lay on the table to afford gentlemen an op portunity of examining it, and making up their minds thereupon. . Gerry then read the following as his inO' tion : AND WHEREAS a provifirn for the debts of the refneflivt e-> by the United States would be greatly conducive to an or aer y, »o4 efte'im? rrjnjnwnt of A.-roMie fc-nm. CCS ; would tend to an equal diilribution of BmTVnTTrnoSFtKF cit'ii-ns of the several dates : would promote more general juftict >0 it different claires of public creditors ; and would fervetogive additional (lability to public cicdit: And whereas the said debts having been essentially contratted in the prosecution of the late war, ii >s just that such provifiou should be made. therefore furthtY entitled, That a loan be also propofedto the amount of the laid debts, and that subscriptions to thefaid loan be received at the fame time anc* places, bv the fame persons, upon 1 r a^ C lCr,ns ' the fame optionito the fubferibers, as in refpeit to the loan above proposed, concerning the domestic debt I, United States, fubie& to the exceptions and qualifications hereafter declared. And be U further enaclcJ. Th.it the funis which ftiall be fubferibed to t it said loan, shall be payable in the principal and intereftof the certificates, which, prior to the day of lafl, were k ü byth< ' rcfp?6five states, as acknowledgments or evidences of e t by them refpeftivelvowing ; and which shall appear by oath, or in regard to a known Quaker, by affirmation, to have been the propertv of an individual,or individual s, or body polifc, other than a state, on the said day of 1-ft. Provided, at no greater sum shall be received, in the certificates of any ftatc, than as follows, that is to fey, In those of New-Hampftnre, In thofc of Maffachufctts, In those of Connecticut, In those of New-York, Intho'eof New-Jersey, In those of Pennfylvauia, In th. fe of Delaware, In those of Maryland, Inthofeof Virginia, Inthufeof North-Carolina, In those ot South-Carolina. In those of Georgia, from" th e'ien' ° k no / L " h ccrt 'ficate shall be received, which mem 'hereof or from any public record, ,£* or" docu wv du?L r 3P T r ' ? rcanbc ascertained to have been iffucd for vices or funnt r J compenl,„on 5 and expenduures for ser vice, or fuppl.es toward, the prosecution of the late the I which ih ''\/\ lrt>l ' T '"j"' l "^' lat 'he '"tcreft upon the certificates the laid lm " pa y mcm of 'he fumsfubferibed towards : nclufivJv ' i bcc ° m P«*d to the last day of the year ,791. c Si'™ hl [ ' l tl, V nlmlt u P° n ,hcftock which (hall be crur nrid'n Th" ' 0an ' a " comme nce Or begin to ac ter \ 'rlv » C »i.ft day ol the year 1792, and (hallbe payable <]uar ontLftA'i u C times, and in like manner as the interest tic Heht '' *° r C T crCf ' by virtue ot the said loan in the domef on nne th'* A C ""ed States. Provided, always, that the interest cord in tr (nth °i i re fp e^'ve '""1! which may be fubferibed ac fnlif ■ ■ ■ C 1 ? 'h rc e options or alternatives upon which to I , U r' > " onS |' T1 c C „ n,ac ' e 35 aforefaid, (hall commence or begin H :T'! he firft da V of the /«' '799- t V n f"' l ier '""fled, that if the whole of the sum allowed to (lull Ln , ' n th e debt or certificates of any state as aforefaid, furh ft\ rv, u°i. Cr whin the time for that purpose limited, ," a 11 b = "'"led to receive, and (hall receive from the much of Ih/r' j r rate n° f . four per "ntum per annum, i)pon so r t . C f U L m ' 38 not ave keen f° fubferibed, in trust ™In!?! non u 'n s creditors of such (late, to be pa.d in like t ' 1 , e , lnte 011 ' he flock which may be created by vir < 3 l Qan » 4 to continue until there (hall be a settlement ot accGunts between the United States and the individual rtates, orovT?™l, J n a ' Lnce '^ n appear in f.vor of s U ch state, unnj provmon shall be made for ihe said balance.
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