PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENXO, No. 4 t, BROAD-STREET, NEAR THE EXCHANGE, NEW-YORK,
[No. 17, if Vol. ll.j
THE TABLET. No. CXXI.
" Nature and truth are the fame every where, a>;-f
reason Jhtvis them every •where alike."
(Continuation of the arguments in support of the position, that the
universal dtffufion of literature will preccde and prepare the
way for the universal prevalence of religion.)
BUT when £n objeA of I'iicli novelty and im
portance as the Christian religion was pre
sented to minds enlarged by It tidy, and habitua
ted to an inveitigacion of knowledge, the power
even of a Roman Emperor, in repressing the en
quiries of enriofity, in checking subsequent con
viction, and restraining the progress of truth,
proved as trifling and impotent, as the ridiculous
attemps of Xerxes to chain the surges of the Hel
lespont.—Accordingly we find ttocearly after the
publication of chriltiauity, it by
all the civilized nations domi
nions, which were principally inhabitants of Ita
ly, Turkey in Europe, and some cities of anti
ent Greece in Alia. The nations inthe Northern
and Eastern parts of Enrope, for ages after this
lay buried in ignorance and idolatry. But in
those civilized countries, religion wil diffufed
with great rapidity and continued to flourish, as
little corrupted as was polfible in this imperfe<ft
Hate of human nature, till a division of empire
took place, and Byzantium became the residence
oft he Emperors. The virulent disputes and ani
mosities that rose from this divilion, as is ever
the cafe, corrupted the purity of religion ; and
almoftjat the fame inllant, the Northern nations,
rolling like a torrent upon the Weflern empire,
spread the veil of ignorance over learning and ci
•vilization.
Here then we may observe that 110 sooner had
literature vanilhed, than religion was forgotten,
or corrupted with all the idolatrous ceremonies
of pagan superstition. This points us to the ob
vious reason, why religion was sooner corrupted
in the Weft than in Ealh C'>nftantim>plc, like a
■vcterail oak, had weathered the rude inotks ul
the Northern barbarians and of the Saracens, for
several ajies after the Western empire had been
overwhelmed with their desolations. During
this period, that city continned the feat of litera
ture and religion ; while in the Weft,both were loft
in chaotic d.irknefs, or blended with errors and ab
surdities. Thus corrupted and degenerated, re
ligion was converted into an engine of state, and
was propagated wherever it became the interest
or inclination of Emperors and Bishops to extend
their jurifditftion.
To pursue this motleof reasoning, and to cor
roborate it by tadts, it may not be amiss to men
tion, that in the fifth century christianity was re
ceived in Germany and Ireland, in the iixth cen
tury it was introduced into France, and into the
kingdom of the Heptarchy in England ; Rullia
and Poland were con verted about the end of the
eighth century ; and Hungary in the firft year of
the eleventh. Sweden was converted in the ninth
century ; relapsed again into idolatry, and its
converlion was not completed till thecloi'e of the
tenth. But what was this religion which was de
nominated christian ? A fvllein fraught with eve
ry species of absurdity, calculated to astonish the
gazing croud, rather than to elighten their un
derstandings; to fetter the conscience and drain
the purse, rather than to check tiic vices and re
form the lives of its Itupid votaries. A religion,
in almolt every inftance,propagated by thefword,
by marriage or consanguinity; confined at firft to
the courts of the great, who embraced it from
motives of policy, and whole example was imi
tated by their devoted vaflals, cither through a
veneration for their pevfons, or a dread of their
vengeance. And mankind mull forever have
continued in this situation, groaning beneath the
enormous load of ecclesiastical oppreflions, had
not learning andcivilizntion firft paved the way
tor their deliverance. When the mind begins
to investigate the principles of a religion, those
ceremonies that have no foundation in reason,
and thole doctrines that are not consonant to truth,
will gradually lose their adherents. In this gene
ral ferment of examination, men may run into
extremes, and disown the rational and obligatory
parts of religion, because they find them blended
with creeds that are capricious and useless. But
as truth and nature are immutable, it may be pre
sumed that the intrinsic excellence of the chiilli
an religion, will eventually be recognized and
celebrated, by hicti who call themselves philoso
phers. "o be continued.)
It. .\o. Tablet, ift. par.2d. line, so* '• j/a/j' ; r<au Deity
WEDNESDAY,. JUNE 9, 1790,
RATIFICATION.
Providence, May 31, 1790.
SATURDAY Night, at Eleven o'clock, an expiefs arrived in
Town trom Newport, with the important Intelligence, tha*;
the CONVENTION OF THIS STATE had ratified,the CON
STITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
The question, " Shall the Conjlitutionke adopted, or not ?" was ta- j
ken on Saturday, abont five o'clock, P. M.—when the affirmative
was carried by a Majority of Two, tnirty-tour members voting for, j
and thirty-two against it.
This pleasing and moil interefling Event was immediately an-'
no 1 need here by the ringing of bells, and firing two federal fa-"
iui : —one from the Artillery on fed' il hill—and another from
the (hip Warren Capt, Sheldon, lut<., ; arrived from India.
Ratification of the CoKsriTßtioit of the Unti so States,
ty thi Convention of tfu State of Rkoie-ijland and Providence
Plantations.
WE the Delegates of the people ' f yhe State of Rhode-Island
and Providence Plantations, duly cle£led and met in Con
vent on, having maturely considered the Constitution for the Uni
ted States of America, agreed to on the 17th day of September, in
the year 1787, by the Convention then affcmblcd at Philadelphia,
in t! e commonwealth of Pennsylvania (a copy whereof.precedes
these presents) and having alio feriourty and deliberately consider
ed the prefentfituation of this State, do declare and make known
(Here it inserted the Bill of R'ghts, a propoled by the Convention at
their Se/jion at South-Kingjlown.
UNDER these impreflions, and declaring that the rights afore
faid cannot be abridged or violated, an(l that the explanations a
forefaidare confident with the said Conftiturion, and in confidence
that the amendments hereafter mentioned willreceive an early and
mature consideration, and fpecdily ! -tome a part thereof : We,
the said Delegates, in the name and 'jfi-the behalf of the People of
the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations do, by
these presents, ASSENT TO and RAJIFY the said Constitution.
In full confidence, nevertheless. that until the said amendments
(hall be ratified, purfuantto the fifth article of theaforelaid Consti
tution, the militia of this State will noj be continued in ferviceout
of this State for a longer term than fix weeks, without the consent
of the Lcgiflatnre thereof ; that the Congress will not make or
alter any regulation in this State, refp-fting the times, places and
manner, of holding elections for Sen. ors or Reprefcntatives, un
lcfs the Legislature of jhis Slate (ha 1 neglect or refufc to make
Laws or regulations for the purpofc, c r from any circutnftance be
incapablc of making the fame ; and that in t' ofe. cases such power
will only be until the Lefcifl Sure of this State (hall make
provision in th- preinifrs ; that the Cqfrigrefs will not lay direst
taxes within this State, but when the monies arising from .the im
post, tonnage and caicik, fnall b infn icient for the public exi
gencies, nor until Cong r cfs shall firft I ive made a requisition upon
this S'ate to aflefs, levy and pay, the amount of such requisition,
made agreeably to the census si xed *i the laid Constitution, in
such way an<J m*fiurr .» <>f this State (hajl judgt
best ; and that Congrcfs will not lay any capitation or poll tax.
D 0 iV E in Convention, at Newport, in the State of Rhodc-JJland
and Providence Plantations, the twenty-ninth day ojMay, in the
ytzrof our Lord one thoufund/even hundred and ninety.
By oider ol the Convention.
DANIEL OWEN, Prcjident.
Attejl. Daniel Updike, Secretary.
A N D the Convention do, in the name and on behalf of the
people c 1 the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantation*,
enjoin upon the Senators and Representative or Representatives,
which may be clc&cd to represent this State in Congrcfs, to exert
all their influence and ufeall reasonable means to obtain a ratifica
tion of the following amendments to the said Constitution, in the
manner prescribed therein ; and that Congress, in all laws to be
in the mean time, will conform to the spirit of the said
amendments as far as the Constitution will admit.
[ Here are inserted the amendments recommended at the f<{fion y bublijh
ed in the Providence GazetteoJ March 13 —also the following additional
amendments, wz.J
1. That the several State-Legi(latum (hall have power to recall
their federal Senators, and to appoint others in their {lead.
2. That Congress (hall not tre£l any Company of Merchants
with exclusive advantages of commerce.
3. That Congress (hall have the power of establishing an uni
form rule of inhabitancy, or fettlemcnt ot the poor, throughout
the United States.
4. That whenever two members of either House (hall on any
question call for the yeas and nays, the fame (hall be entered on
the journals of the refpettive Houses.
The Convention likewise pafled the following Resolves, ne
mine contradicente.
1. That the amendments to the Constitution of the United
States, agreed to bv Congress in March, 1789, except the second
of said amendments, be recomnunded to the Legislature of this
State for their ratification,purfuant to the fifth article ot said Con
ilitution.
2. That the thanks ofthe Cnnvention be ptcfented to the Pre
(ident, (or the candor and impartiality with which he hath dis
charged the office of President.
3. That the thanks of the Convention he presented to the Re
verend Clergy who have officiated at this Convention.
D 0 N E in Convention, at Newport, in the State of Rhode-JJland
and Providence Plantations, the twenty-ninth day of May, tn the
year of our Lord tine thousand feien hundred and ninety.
By order of Convention,
DANIEL OWEN, Prefidert.
Attefl. Daniel Updike, Secretary.
Yeflerday Evening the Delegates for this Town arrived from
Newport, and on their landing were welcomed by a D'.fcharge
of Thirteen Canuon.—Soine further Demonstrations of Joy are
expeSed to take pla«\
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1790.
DEBATE ON TONNAGE CONTINUED.
Mr. Madison's motion for a diicrimination, in the following
words under consideration. viz.
" r I "'HAT from and after the day of next the tonnage
JL of all such vessels be raised to , and from and after
the day of next, no such veflels be permitted to export
from the United States any manufactured article Che growth or pro
duce thereof."
Mr. Fitzfimons said he very much doubted the policy of adopt
ing this proposition ; he thought it an experiment of two bola a
complexion, con(jdering the recent eftabliihment of the govern
481
tffij&o
ment and the fituaiion of the commerce of this country ;
he thought we were not prepared to hazard the confcquenccs whi :h*
may result trom the operation of a system which would g»ow out
ol so great a change in our commercial atfarrs.—lts prefciu opera
tion would only be to raise the price of imports.
Mr. Lawrance (aid that he was apprchenfive that the articles of
producc would lay upon our hands, if this measure fhou'd be a
dopted, which would be an injury to us. The calculations upon
theeffc£l of its being a beneficial proceeding may be mi (taken cak
culations. The manufacture* of Great-Britain, and their manners
are in forae degree congenial to our own, and although we have
not all the privileges that could be yet we find our con
nexions increasing with that country. He was of opinion, there
fore, that the motion might prove disadvantageous ; neither could
he fee any immediate neceflity for its adoption.
Mr. Hartley observed that if the quellion was now put, he
should vote for the discrimination. It may be doubtful whe
ther the fir ft rate of tonnage, as reported by the fcle& committee,
is not too high ; but this may be corre&ed in the house. In pri
vate life, said he, the man who fliews himfelf my friend, I ftiould
affe&ionately legaid. The man who treats me with esteem, I
would wish to make a proper return to ; but the man who is vin
dictive, and drives to ruin iny intercftand my property, I would
endeavor to counteract or oppose by measures which might defeat
his purpose. The fame principles or condu£l may, perhaps, be
fairly applied to nations. I can fay for tnyfelf, I feel no enmity
toward Great Britain, so long as Ihe treats this country with the
justice and refpeft due to a nation : but ftre fecms indire&iy, nay,
I might alinoft fay direttly by htr policy and regulations, to at
tack our ship-building, navigation and commerce, and wnhes to
injure our intcrells and our property.
We have a right to oppose her by counter regulations, or by a
system arhich inay induce her to examine the lubjed, to corre&her
errors and do us juftiee.
Pad injuries may be forgiven ; I will agree that those of the
war (hall be in dust. But when 1 agree that the injuries of one na
tion (hall be in dust, I must also observe, that our Iriendfliip for
another nation, who feived and relieved us in distress, (hauld be in
marble.
At the last ftflion it was said that Britain was disposed to do us
juftiee, and relax from fomeof the policy (he had pra&ifcd. We
were dc fired to wait, and all (hould be well : We waited, but at
this feflion we cannot 1 arn from any authentic documents that (he
has ftirrtd in the smallest degree.
Since the adoption of the New Constitution and formation of
this government, Great-Britain has experienced many advantages ;
(he has gained much by the fweeis of commerce. This govern
ment has (hewn the fulleft disposition to comply with the spirit
of the treaty. We have eftabhfhed tribunals of juftiee, in which
Britilh fubjtfts may recover fatisfa&ion for any demands they may
have against the individuals of these States ; without the smallest
danger of partiality or iijjuflice. What has (he done in return ?
She has been civil in some instances, for which we give her credit:
lor her friendthip or juftiee, we cannot fay (o much.
The attack ujkk. oui tommcrct has hern fpok.cn of before.
Why has (he not given up those posts ? She still retain# the ports
which by solemn treaty (he was bound to deliver up ; and to the
want of those posts may we ui a great measure impute the depre
dations and murders of the savages upon the inhabitants of the
western frontiers. Ido not fay that the Britilh countenance or
support those invaders ; but, were the posts in our hands, a great
check, might be given to such enormities.
It has been observed that we risque much by adopting the re
faction ; a commercial warfare might turn out ruinous to Am?-
rica. If our risque is great, that of Great-Britain will be greater j
(he has immense capitals in this trade ; we import many of her
luxuries ; we are chiefly cloathed in her manufaaures, and I think
it will be difficult, if not almost impoflible, for her merchants to
changs those capitals into other channels, which would be equal
ly produ&ive. I fay, as at present informed, 1 (hail vote for the
relolution.
Mr. Sedgwick said he was induced to believe this a measure of
very great impropriety, and one that would prove injurious to
the interest of the United States. He could not tell for what pur
pose, or what was the object of this discrimination. Who are
concerned in the carrying trade ? We are declaring aganift onr
country, in favor of another : for what purpose ? Do gentlemen
expect that France will aid our carrying trade ? He believed not.
It is a useless declaration, an impotent measure of paflion, said
Mr. Sedgwick, not dictated by the understanding; and fuppofini;
the elf eft intended Ihould not be produced, the confequenre
would probably be advantageous to Maffachufctts, but very in.
jurious to Georgia. 1
Mr. Smith (S. C.) thought it highly impolitic to enter into a
commercial warfare with Grcaußritain. We ought not to con
demn her for following her usual policy in her navigation laws;
they arc not particularly aimed at us ; her navigation was oril
ginally aimed at the Dutch. We have not heard of anv alteration
particularly against this country, and therefore we have no room
for being displeased. Whenever (he finds her advantage, (he will
propose a commercial treaty, perhaps now, at the present time,
tt may be contemplating. The parliament rose in August Jaft ;
a new parliament may ast differently, and it will be more be.'
coming in us to wait for some little time, than precipitate this
measure This country has been so disjointed since the peace,
that we could not form any treaty with advantage ; And even now
this government is but little more than a year old.
With refpedt to the advantage Great-Britain reaps from her
trade with this country, which advantages (he will lose by the
adoption of this meafuie, we (hall also be injured. The effett
may be more alarming than is now apprehended, and may bric<r
about a revolution in one-year. *
Great-Britain is a more compact country, and has a more stable
and permanent administration ; but we change our administration
every two or three years : this gives them a decided advantage,
and they might cripple our commerce exceedingly from one Con
gress to another.
The gentleman from Virginia has said that we have it in our
power to starve the Weft-Imlits ; but bethought this an idea alto,
gether repugnant to the feelings of Americans ; they would pre.
fer a furrcptitious trade to such a principle.
Some articles I rom America pay no duty in England, wh'ch 1
pay duty from other countries ; we have, therefore, some indul
gences there which are not allowed us in f ranee.
Mr. Smith concluded by observing that we fliould not resent
the policy of Great-Britain's supporting her own navigation laws,
from which he read some passages, and then declared his opinion,
that if the proposition under consideration (honld be carried in the
house, it would prove very injurious to the interests of tlvs country.
Mr. Madison replied to the several arguments againfl his motion.
A gentleman said he (Mr. Sedgwick) had called it "ameafureof
padion." H« observed thatjit had neither been ii&atcd by pas
[Whole NO. 121.]
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