4 * P . ... .1 -■ . — PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FEXKO, No. |vBROA'D-STREET, NEAR THE EXCHANGE, NEW-YQKK. [No. zo, if Vol. 11.] THE TABLET.—r-No. CXX.IV. *' A oftencr has tccafton to guide tht pub r .:c opinion, than to bt guidtd ,by it." IHAV.'J observed that there is a gajiera] dis position in legiflarfct's to consult and follow what they call the public opinion. Whether c'his regard to the public voice proceeds from a with to gain popularity, uu ,froni a real desire to promote the public welfare, is not material la the purpose of this eflay. It mult be prefunied that legislators acft with as much purity of intentions as other men, and that the tendency rather than the motives of their conduct ihould be made a fubjedt of examination. The frequent reference to the public opinion, in legillative afiemblies, seems to pre-fuppofe two things ; one u, that the popular sentiment is fixed, and cun he definit ]y ascertained ; and the other, that it ought to be deemed proper and obligatory upon the legislature Boththefecenclufions however Ihould be adopted under some iclh rdions. As I hive before touched upon this subject, in the 7th and Stli numbers of my speculations, I lhall be the less diffufe on this occalion. That the public opinion cannot be diltinguiih ed by unequivocal marks, may be jnK;j*re<) from its being quoted by persons, who, in the (amp de bate, are advocating oppofue fides of the quef lion. It is certain botli cannot be perfectly in the right ; and yet neither seems able to prove that the other is absolutely in the wrong. From this circumstance, I conclude that the public opinion is often too indefinite to be admitted as a rule of conducfu If indeed we are to jrT.her the public opinion by obtaining that of every indi vidual in the community, it would be not only ffn<siuating, It would amount to nothing. Men, living ia different diftrkis of the comm unity,or purfiung diifcrent occupations, cftnnot be supposed to have an cxaft fTiuUarjty of opinions and feelings. Were the various clafiis of people to be confuked, it» fur.as xo render their advice obligatory, tlicy would re commend such a contrariety of meafui es,as would lead to conlulion, and terminate in the dilfolu tion of civil society. To avoid the perplexity of putting into operation luch clashing views, a le <jiflature is formed ; whole duty it is~to leprefent those various diftriifis and occupations. Such a ' leprefentative bodylhould bring together all the ' inferefting faifts that relate to their constituents, ] and from an aggregate view of their rircumftan ces, adopt fucli expedients as will equalize rhe ad vantages and burdens of government. In this manner the lharp points of local interests and willies may be worn off, and a fy Item of laws enacted, that w ill in the greatest degree embrace the general intereflandconvenience. The legi llature therefore have only to consult the public welfare, and their laws will generally create a common consent in their favor, though there pfe exifted 110 general sentiment relative to the af fair ; or even though there did pre-exifta gener al sentiment contrary to the tenor of luch laws. There is scarce an individual who ascends from a piivate into a public situation, but will find he I liad entertained ideas refpetfting legislation that were erroneous and partial. Mod men will have the candor to confels, that their moll pertinent opinions, in public matters, have been the result of experience. And however they were disposed to gratify the wishes, and promote the interest ofevery class of their constituents, they are flill conftrtuned to believe that the public good is a very different thing from the views and prejudi ces of individuals. There are some occalions where the public opinion will be ftcady and uni form, and where it inuft and will control the le gislature.' In my next , number 1 will enter into some exemplification of the subject. Extraß from a late Proclamation of the Covtrnor of, Vermont, appointing a Jay of fa fling and prayer. ■TMIA F tlie Supreme Governor of the Universe -8- would remove every obstacle put of the way. ct the reception of this State into the Federal Un ion— tliat he would bless the Uiiited States of A- Jiierica—fucceed their councils at home, and ne gotiations abroad—preserve and ftrengtheti their Union, bless their allies, and render the connec tion formed with them mutually beneficial—that he would grant wisdom and council to their legi llativc, executive, and judiciary departments, v nnd that he would prolonp and render eminently ufehi! thelifc of the Preii'Jent oithe United States of Amcrica. SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1790 AT THA IEQOKO JESfiION. Begun and held at the City 00 Monday the fouith of January, one th(*u(a^ickfevenhundred and, ninety. AN ACT for giving E(Fec> to the fcveral Ads therein juentiopro, in r-ei;>3& to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. BE it mailedhvticSeijle mid Hats: d •?eprcfrttitivcs of (he Uni ted States of 4*ttlCtitt. £ait,rtt/t afjti hUd, Thai the fevcral and r(.if\c£h?c ilutus aui laid n» ,i"(t by the a& t intituled, 11 An aCi far laying a duty pp (*oor!s, \4trrs ->nd merchandizes im pottirtl into,the Unittß S;Mcs,'* an din c*vkl by the aef, intituled, " An att iiupofing <fu tflts- on toniaf)' shall p<? paid and coll ed upon all wares and metchandmrs, which after the ex piration of five days from the palling astmj ast, lhall be imported into the S*ate of Rhode-Island and Pru/.dence Plantations from any foreign port or plice, anc( upon <\c tonuagr of ail tbip> and veirels which afirr the f a ,d d*y fh.vil he entered wit .in the said State ot Rhode-Jfljnd and Providen-e Plantauons, fubjeft to the exceptions, qualifications, alk>* <*oce» syid abatements in the said atts contained or which atUlhall be deemed to have the like 'force and operation within thr hid State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, as elffcwhetc Wuhin the United States. And bf it further /na£UJ % That collision of- ihe said t here fhjlJ be m the said Slate oi Rhode-Island and Provi dence flirtation's. t4ro diftridts, to wit* the diitridfc of Newport, and the tiiftnft of Province. The diftnft of Newport thall comprehend all the waters, shores, bay*, harbors, creeks and in lets, tiom the Will line of the all along the fea-coalk, and noi ihwaid up the jr ragout, ! .i. 1. twit »»Ic-• !y Mnnimuut point at high water mark ; arid fhill in<Jw(ie the fcveral towns, harbors and landing peaces at Westerly, Charlef town, South-Kingstown, NOl Eaft-GTeenwich, and alj that part ot the town ot Warwick Southward of the latitude of Kmnimicul-potnt ; and also the towfts, harbors and landing plaees of Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton, Little-©ompton f and all the towns, harbors and landing places of the island of Rhode-island, Kinnunicut, Prudence, New-Shoreham, and eve ry oiher island and place within the said State Southward of the latitude of the (aid Kinnimicut-point. The diftri£l ot Providence shall comprehend all the waters, shores, bays, harbors, creeks and inlets within the laid State Northward of the latitude of said Kin nimicut-point. The town ot Newport shall be sole port of entry in the said diftrift of Newport, and a collc&or, naval-othcer and surveyor ihall be appointed to reside at the said town of Newport; and North-Kingllown, Jkaft-Greenwich, Barrington, Warren, Bris tol, and Pawcatuck river in Westerly, shall be ports of delivery only, and a surveyor shall be appointed to reside at each of the ports of North-Kingstown, East-Greenwich, Warren, Bristol and Pawcatui k river, and the surveyor to reside at Warren (hall be surveyor tor the port ot Barrington. The town of Providence shall be the sole port of entry in the said diftnft of Providence, and Patuxet in the fame diftrift shall be a port of delivery onlv ; and a colledor, naval-officer and surveyor shall be appointed to reside at Providence, and a surveyor lhall be appointed to reside at Patuxet. And be ♦/further er.afied, That all the regulations, provisions, exceptions, allowances, compeniations, directions, authorities, penalties, forfeitures and other matters whatsoever contained or cxpreired in the ast, intituled, " An ast to regulate the collection of the duties imposed by law on the tonnage of lhips or vefTels, and 011 goods, wares and merchandizes imported into the United States," and not locally inapplicable, shall have the like force and ctfeft within the said State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plan tations, for the collection of the said duties, as elsewhere within the United States, and as if the fame were repeated and re-enaCted in this present act. Provided always ■, and be it declared, That the thirty-ninth ftftion of the said ast, and the third seCtion of an aCt r intituled, 44 An ast to suspend part of an ast, intituled, " An aCt to regulate the collection of the duties imposed by law on the ton nage of (hips or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandizes imported into the United States, and for other purpof s," did, by virtue ot the adoption of the Confiitution of the United States by the said State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, cease to operate in refpcCt to the fame. Andbeit further enafled, That the ast intituled, "An ast for regiflering and clearing vessels, regulating the coasting trade, and for other purposes," shall, after the expiration of five days from the palling of this ast, have the like force and operation within the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, as else where within the United States, and as if the several clauses there of wcie repeated and re-enacted in this present act. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Reprefentattves. JOHN ADAMS, Vice-PrcfidentoJ the United States. and President of the Senate. Approved, June the fourteenth, 1790. GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States. (Tku£ Copy) THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State. ANECDOTE. THE poor old Man who quitted his native hills, and from the summit of Mount Ju it a, undertook a journey to Versailles, to behold and retuin thanks to the National Assembly for the vote which had freed him and his poor countrymen from the feudal yok.r, died litely at Pans, at the prodig'ous trz 0 f 1;1 years. 493 CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTA I IVES. TUESDAY, MAY 25. Mr. Gerr\'s motion $nt e ajjumf fion oj th: 'State debts, ivfiicK wat injerted in this piper of the I6M, under confi deration MR. m man.— Ilic (jutllion now under conlider.;liou i , whtliujf the State debts that have been contrived fbr ihe be nefit of the Union ftiall be aflutned by the I) iiiied Stales. Tins 11 eircniul pan of thefyftenl repotted by the Secretary of thr Tredfui y for funding the National debt. The fubftan eof the at gumenrsin favor of the affuuipticn are . * 1. That the debts were contracted on behalf and for the benefit o the United States, and therefore jufticc that thev ibouid be assumed. 2. That fame ftatcs have t?.kcn upon thcmfelvcs giea;er {firni t! an othets, and beyond ihcir just proportions or abilities to pa). 3. That the funds oiitof which thefc debts outfit to be paid, are by tiie constitution put under the direction of tta fedual govern ment, and this has been done by the authority of the people, since the debrs were ( outraged, and tor the cxprei's purpose of payinj* the debts of the United States, ot which these are a par., and there fore ought to tbllow the funds 4. That the imports andexcifes, f« far as excises may be neces sary, can be best managed under 1 one dirc&lon, 5. That equal justice ought to be done to all the creditor?;, but this cannot be done by the individual ftatrs, some of th< tn unable to make the nccefTary provilion, they bein-j burchcnod be yond their quota, and deprived of their former revenues. 6. That the mcature is founded in good policy, as well as juftit e as it will promote harmony among the ditlerent clafies or credit ors, and among the fevcra! fhtes, and attich them to the gov; rr.- m nt, fnd facilitate its operations. I (hall now take notice of some of the principal obje&ions. 1. It is said that the accounts ot the teVeral ftatcs with the Uni t d ought 10 be felllcti. X agree that no pavmeut to le made to thelites unfil their accounts are fettled. But that not to etfeft the rtyjits ot individuals, who have liquid, ted claims for (Vrviccs or fupphts tendered for the ben: fit of the Uni on, whc.h r the contrail was made with a member, or an offi cer ot the United States. It is not in the power of thele crcduois to compel a fettleineni, nor ought their claims to be p< llponed or affiled for want ot Inch f.-ttlement, tut suCh of the fccunties is may be the property ot a state are on a different footing 2. It is objected that when the it ites Look tne debts eta thenj felves, they expected 10 pay then. This cannot br admitted with out some explanation—by the confederation all charges of war,&c. incuned tor the common defence and geueral welfare were to be paid out of a common Treasury, which was to be supplied by the fcveral totes, paying in their refpcttive quotas, and a final adjuft mcnt ot the accounts was to b« made ; and the individual ilatcs ex petted that all the sources ot revenue would remain in their hands, out cf which if.-, v expe&td to pay ti*t:r <juyut of«H thedchtt and expences of the Union : But by a revolution in g&vernmem, rh£. revenues are put undtr the power of the federal government, tor the express purpose of paying the debts, fj that the Qiode of pay ment is materially altered, and the obligation transferred froau it:c individual Hates to the United Scares, 3. It is objected that this is a new proje£l— and not mentioned in the conAitutioo. The novelty of it is no just objection againlt adopting it— if the measure be just. It was mentioned in the ge neral convention—but it was nor thought necetfary 01 proper to insert it in the conllitution, for Congrels would have lulticieut power to adopt it if they Ihould judge it expedient. 4. It is favd that the Hates mod urgent tor this mcafurc are not incapacitated by adopting the new constitution for paying their debts. . Anf. The states moflburthened with debts, and the only ones who expected to have sums greater than their quotas assumed, are Massachusetts and South-Carolina, and these depended chiefly on impost, of which ihey are now wholly deprived. Connecticut docs not wish, or expect to have n*>re of her debt assumed, than her just quota of the whole sum to be assumed, so that no other state will bear arly greater burthen on her account. The debt of New-Hampshire will not amount to half the sum of her quota, of ihe 4 bts proposed to be assumed, but i"he has been id favor of thcjmealure on principles of justice and national policy. But a very fallacious argument has been advanced refpefting the ratio in which some dates contribute to the common funds by way of import : And it comes with a very ill grace from the gentle man who advanced it, bccaufe it is so fully refuted by the report of a committee of the late Congress, of which rommittee, he was a member. It appears on the journal of the 29th April 1783, page 203, whereby it is (hewn that the several states contribute- by * general impo«t, in portion to the number of their inhabitants, whether the articles are imported, and the duties paid, in the state in which they are consumed or not, as the tax is ultimately paid by the confumers—(Here a part of the journal was read.^ 5, It is odjefted that it will be difficult to discriminate the state debtscontracted for the Union, from their other debts : But what neceflity is there for such a difcrtmmation, if only certain sums are assumed, and the states charged with them, the whole will be adjufL-d among the states 011 the settlement of their ac counts ; besides their debts for other purposes arc lnconfidcrablc. 6. Objection, if only part of the state debts be assumed, equal justice will not be done to all the creditors. Anfwcr, The small sums that will remain of the debts of any of the states can, and doubtless will be, as well provided for by the lefpeftive states, as those assumed, will by the United States. It is proposed to assume the whole of the debts, of the states ot New-Hampshire, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Deli waie, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia* and the small sums that will remain of the debts, of Maffachufctts, Connecticut, North- Caroling and South-Carolina, can easily be provided lor by those Slates. — j. It has been obje&ed that Virginia has made great exertions in complying with the specie requilitions of Congress, and in fink ing a considerable part ot the principle of her debts, since the peace, and therefore it would be inequitable to incrcafe her bur then by alfuming the debts of other States which have not made like exertions. The answer is, that it is not proposed to lay any additional bur then on that State. The amount of the State debis to be assumed will not exceed 23 millions of dollars ; the debt of Virginia to be assumed amounts to 3,681,000 dollars, which is something more than that State's quota ot the whole sum to be assumed, in proportion to its number of Representatives, so that the mteretfcof Virginia would be no otherwise affected by the assumption than by transfering its debt, from its particular fund to the common fund?. It is also proposed, to aflume of the debts of Connecticut end North-Carolinr, the just amount of their refpechve quous of the whole lum proposed to be assumed. [Whole No'i ; i'24-]
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