from the fame, views result, with regard to
she Executive power.
Tlut it may be neceflary, in certain cases, that
the functions attributed to the King, throughout
-all the parts ofthe French empire, should be pro
niifctioufly exercised in the colonies, by a gover
nor who represents hiin..
That therefore the choice and installation of
officers, which are in his nomination, the appro
fcation neceflary for the execution of the decrees
ofthe administrative aflemblies—and the other
adts which require celerity, may be provisionally
afligned to this governor, under the positive re
ierve of the King's approbation.
But that, in the colonies, as in France,
liingis the only and Supreme Chief of the Execu-"
tive power—thaoall the officers of justice, the
administration, the military forces, ought to ack
nowledge him as their chief-—and that all the
, powers attributed to royalty, in the French con-
only be exercised provisionally by
those he has charged with them, and definititely
by himfelf.
These principles being acknowledged, all the
■views which may concur in favor of the prolper
ity of the colonies, may be taken into conlidera
tion by the colonial aflemblies.
The French nation does not wish to exercise
over them any other inflikcnee than that of the
ties eftabliflied and cemented for the common
-utility—it is in no wife jealous to eitabliih orpre
ierve the means of oppression.
What sources of prosperity are offered to the
patriotifni of the colonial aflemblies by the dif
ferent parts of the labor entrusted to them. The
eftablifliment of a simple judiciary order, fecur
in®' to the citizens an impartial and piompt jus
tice, an administration committed to the hands
of those who are interefled in it, a plan of imports
iuited to their convenience, the forms of which
cannot be changed, and rhequamity can only be
regulated by the >ote of the colonial aflemblies
themselves
France, to which its commercial laws with the
•colonies ought to secure, with fonie benefit the
Teimbuvfenmnt of the expences, which it is obli
ged tofupport for their protection, does not con
sider their polleffion as a fifcal resource. 1 heir
particular imposts shall be confined to the expen
ds of their own government, they themselves
ihall propose the e)tab!i!limeiu mil proportion of
them.
France does Hot consider its colonics as the
means of juftifying avidity, of flattering the ty
ranny of foriie persons appointed to superintend
their ailminiftration —the intereltsof the citizens
ought to be managed by themselves, and the ad
aminiilratiou can only be entrusted to such as
they have freely elected.
The essences of a complicated justice, the de
lays and artifices of chicanfcry, the removals oc
casioned bythe too refined spring of certain tri
bunals, cannot l'uit men continually engaged in
ianadvantageous cultivation, and the commerce
■of its produ&ions—the colonies therefore require
anore rigoropfly than the metropolis, a prompt
stdminiftration ot jnftice divested ot every means
of defpotifni and oppression.
There is then none of these views but which
the National Aflembly will adopt with fatisfa&ion
"whenever they shall be proposed to it by the co
lonial aflTemblies—but, after having considered
"whatfuits the interior happiness of the colonies,
it remains to pay attention to their exterior in-
lererts
The National Allenihly exercises towards each
of thepartsofrhe I'rench empire tliedutiesvvhich
belong to the social body over all the members
B'iat compose it-.-every one finds in it the g'.iar
dian ofits interests and liberty— every one is fub
■jecled by it to theexercile oft he will ot the whole.
The depositary of the most legitimate and most
imposing authorities, the nation which has char
ged it with the preservation ofits rights, has pla
ced at its dilpofal all the force necessary to gua
ranty them. It is then arigid duty, a sacred ob
ligation to maintain them without alteration—
1. it tlie more inconteflable these rights are, so
.much the greater means has the uation which has
nmtrufted ihem, to support them, and so much the
3efs does it fait theaffembly which represents it,
Jo call to their alliftance the arms of weaknels
and of tyranny. A timid circumfpedion, a vain
xJiflimiilation, would dejbafs its character to a le
\el witli'ufuiped or tottering powers—it can then,
it ought then, in treating with the children of
the country, to forget for a moment, and lay aside
Jill the rights and all the powers which it is char,
ged to exercise over them, to examine and dif
cuss their interests with freedom, to attach them
to their duty by the sentiment of their own wel
fare, and to lend to the majority of the nation
it represents, the only language which can suit
it, that of reason and of truth.
A FREE people are naturally high spirited ; efperially those
vVho are torn and nurtered in the principles of liberty ; ihey are
rlways governed with difficulty—and the tefliaints which are ne
ciltVv to prevent those excesses w.'.'ch alwavs precede the loss of
th e1 " so justly p ; ze a are fcldom fubinitted to without
f#ti Pa nee ; a truly independent Jcgiflator mufi thejffcrc nccef
lin'.y be ftraicltiats unpopular.
EXTRACT.
AUTHENTIC* INFORMATION-
(Wt art haft) '< Uftefiu tkt jolttwini authentic
ligenee.)
M*. RUSSELL,
YOU will receive, 'inclosed, some papers, which the Righi Hon.
Viscount ni PoNTtvis-GirN withes vou to infertin your
ufeful and well-written Cintinei : And you will fee by them
how diffident you ought to be of all the reports too easily propa
gated by mdifcretion, or bythe rivals of your commerce, and ours.
The ports of our Colonies continue to be open to the Ameri
cans, as before, and upon the terms in the Ordinances of their re
fpeftive Governors. You know my solicitude to make public
thofc kind of publications so ufeful to the dearest interests of this
port,as well as of .lithe other ports of my diftrift ; and I lhali
continue to fend you their authentic information.
None of the letters which I have received from.ttarimjve make
any mention, " that the American vessels were boarded, and all
the military weapons on board taken away. 1
due regard, Yours, &c. DE LE TOMBE.
EXTRACT from the difpatdus of the Right Hon. Viscount DE
PON TE V ES-GIEN, tO M. DE LeTOMBE.
" OntoardHit Ihusthi.S/. Pierre, June 15.
•' STffCE the begining of the troubles there has been a point
ed enmity between the tow* of». Pierre, and the colony, whicft
encreafed continually, fronUhe anarchy which reigned in that ci
ty. The 3d of June, after the usual procession.a quarrel took,
place between the free-coloured people, and a mob, which
natrd by the sudden slaughter of 15 mulattoes, and three of their
white officers. One hundred an<Tlwenty-feven mulattoes were af
terwards confined in Jail, and their puni(hment wa» infilled upon
by that unruly mob, which the Municipal body was not able to
restrain. Every citiren lamented the |progteilive oppression of a
gang of vilians which cftablifbed themselves in St. Pierre : And
that city, so important to commerce, was approaching to be the
haunt of vagabonds of all nations : Which event, had it arrived,
would have proved fatal to all the windward Iftands. In this
exigency, the colony held a special meeting—the colonists united,
all the free coloured people armed themselves, and demanded thai
iuftice should be done ; even the slaves began to stir, and every
thing would have been in a deplorable fiwaiion there, if a fpeeoy
relief had noj been granted The Colonial Alfembiy having
therefore reqriefled the Viscount D* Damas to employ all the for
ces under his command, and to march to St. Pierre in order to e
liver that town from oppreflion, and to reilore the activity and
liberty of its commerce : And myfelC having also been equally ic
quelled, we thereupon agreed to mov<*on the bufinefs,the gth init.
by land and by water. The town "f Si. Pierre was loon surround
on every part, and taken poflfeflion of by our troops without firing
a single gun ; and every thing palled with the great-eft good order.
The Municipal body, and the citizens, being fatisficd, have pre
iented usaddreffes of thanks, which 1 have the honor to fend you.
41 In order to juftify the (laughter perpetrated the 3 inft. it was
ailed gcd that a plot had been laid by the hec-coloured people a
gainst the whites. Those who were put to jail remain th<*re and
their cafe will jbe legally fcmtitiized. The above is al l that has
taken place. We believe we have rendered an important service
to the Colony, to the Metropolis, and to their refpeftive com
merce : Especially as we have been io fortunate as to luccced in
thfs very dekcate operation without bloodlhed, and to the fatis
tad ion of all the citizens. 1 have the honor &c. See. (Signed)
" On board the llhiflre, Ju*s 17.
14 We have terminated our bufiucfs here and to-morrow wc
(hall go back to Fort-Royal, leaving at St. Pierre's a batalion, in
garrison, at the request of the ctizens. The greater part of the
disturbers have fled ; a part will be sent to France, and some vvill
be puniihed according to thejuftice of the laws : Some have been
punished bv a few days This important mi
litary enterprize has not cost a drop of blood. If we had denied
the request, the Colonics and the coloured people would have
executed that delicate piece of business without us ; and whatever
might have been the iflue, it woald have been fatal to the colony.
44 1 am now gowing to prepare for my departure for France—
and ftiould be very sorry not to have it in my power to fee your
town again, where reside an Hancock, an Adams, a Bowdoin,
and a multitude of citizens, extremely affe&ionatc and amiable ;
to whom 1 am attached by the warmcft gratitude.
44 Farewell, dear, Sir, I reiterate to you always, with new plea
sure, my aflurances of the bucctc and inviolable attachment which
have avowed to you.
(Signed)
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, JUNE 18.
MR. SMITH of (S. C.J Mr. Sedgwick and Mr. Lawrance
having spoke against the rqotion made by Mr. Parker for
adjourning Congrcfs to Philadelphia, and blamed Mr. Vming for
bringing it forward again after Ihe deciCon of the Senate against
the measure. *
Mr. Parker rofc and laid. T take to myfelf Mr. speaker the
blame, if the thing is hiameable, lor restating the question which
my worthy friend from Delaware has supported with so much
energy. I think if he is with zeal on thisnccafion it is
a laudable zeal, and worthy of that independence of spirit which
the honest representative of a free people ought ever to pofkr s • for
my part I am convinced of the rettitude of his intentions, and I
do not entertain an apprehension that the gentlemen in opposition
will dare to impeach the matives by which either o( us are actua
ted.
Under animpreffion that it is adverse to the common interest ot
this great republic tohavethe feat of government placed in an ec
centric position—l thai; continue by all juftifiable me3 ns to at.
empt the application of a remedy to an evil which I so iuftl
deem a grievance. ' J
Was I the immediate representative of the city of Near-York
• »rone of the more eastern States, I might forget in a tnomen'
like this, that I was a representative of America, but as a repre
fentative of Virginia, and far removed from the present feat o"i
Congrtfs I can with more concern reded on this improper fltua
:ion. Hen e I must be excused lor doing my duty in advocatm 2
a removal to a place more central and mort. agreeable t6 my im
mediate constituents as well as to the great body of the people o'
United America ; lam the more countenanced, Mr fpaker ir
this exertion by the late declared voice of this Hnafr If I a ,.,'
not mistaken, when the question was last before this Hoafe then
ppeared to be more than two thirds of ,he reprefcntatives'of th.
people in Uvor of a tcraoviUo PluUdslpuij ; and ihall wc sub
534
BOSTON JULY 15.
PONTEVES-GIEN.
PONTEVES-GIEN."
I
mil what appears so dearly to be the desire of the majority *{
h dcopte of America, to the small majority of a tmglc mtmst
iri the Senate.— We who are the reprtfenutives of the people for
whom this government was inaitmed as the conilitution expressly
declares, to concede to a bare majority of the rcpiefcntative, of the
States. Snail we remain ina&ive and fink into nlent apathy, be
cause the Senate has been pleased not to concur with us lu the
firfteffay made to promote the equal diftnbution of the benefit,
•f the poverniriert to all its parts—do gentlemen wi(h to be d c .
2 a led into a (late olvaffalage to the Senate, and only bethemotk
guardians of our country's welfare—are we to fit here to do no
thing but register the edicts of a body, whose councils are con
cealed within the impenetrable walls of a dark divan ? The .re
moval of Congress is a measure of neceflity and those who teel it,
importance cannot, nor ought they to avoid prefling it—gentle
men tell us it !• an irritating fubjeft, but are we who fuftam tie
oppression not excufeable for being irritated ? I inako this ap
peal with confidence to the northarn gentlemen, and aJk if ibey
wDuld fit quiet if they were dragged to Halifax in North-Caroli
na, a place not an inch more dillant from the extremity ol New-
Hampshire, than New-York is from the mod distant, part ot
Georgia t For myfeK I declare, that were we there I Ihould join
th»m in a removal to a place mote central to the union though
more inconvenient to the part of Virginia I represent ; I fttall
c xnfider an accommodation in this bufinek as aftrengthenmrbaud
of union Those who are real friends to Uniud America, will
diflipatc their local attathmeots and meet on central ground. I
vould not like the gentlemen from the Eastern States and \e w .
York throw embariaflments in the way of a measure lo cjlcula.
ted lodo iuftice to aU, and which ought to give general falufa G%
tion, and by such means cease the murmurs of thole who have jult
cause ot comolairit—let those gentlemen cohfider that this go.
vernment is a'government of the people, and not of a few gieat
men, the whole and not a part only are to receive the bc.iefm
which it is constituted to dispense; let them consider what the
voice of the people is ; we are the representatives of the people m
an equal andjuft pi oportion—two thirds of these reprefentativei
lave declared the fentimrnts of their conftiluents; Pennf,lvai:;a
is evidently the present center of representation,, coufequeotlydf
population, and as the centcr of wealth for the present may be a
bout Philadelphia, for the' present I will submit to a removal
there, in full confidence that when the permanent feat is hied it
will be further South, as population and migration will (hortly
give strength to our Southern and Western country. Who afe
they then Mr. Speaker, that atreft the removal to Philadelphia-
Tne Senate ? And who are the Senate? The representatives ot
political communities, of States unequal in their extent and po
pulation—and although I admire the propriety of their tlhblili
ment and their utility in manv cases i yet as this is a question m
which the representatives of the people are more interefled than
the representatives of the States arc—l think their opinion ought
to prevail—and not to be blown away by the still voice o( men
(hut up in a conclave, wrapt in secrecy their high mightinelln (for
so they may be termed from their introduction of titles, ic. 6t .)
are tbey to diftateto the icprefcntatives of a free ptoplt—l trust
not.
Here Mr. Parker was interrupted by several gentlemen calling
to order ; Mr. Smith of (S. C.) hoped-the gentleman might be
permiited to go 011—but he would allure him he ihould at au
fwered.
Mr. Parker proceeded. I do not wish Mr. speaker, to take
up the time of the House, but I jpi strongly persuaded that in a
government like ours, in a question like this, the Senate (hould
be faiisfied to let the representatives of the people feletfc the place
*io(l convenient to the communitv at large ; for myfelf 1 declare
I have no pcrfonal objcftion to New-York, so far from >t that
was I to fele£t a place to spend my own time, I (hould p~efcr it
10 Philadelphia; butas a representative of America, I have n>
right to consult mv private happiness nor overawe the
weal with it, my advocating a removal then cannot be afcrit-ed to
private views or felf-intercfted motives; what (Insulates toe is
the wilh of the people I represent and a conviflion of the prop
erty of the measure. When deliberating on a national of
great importance private wifh.s (hould be baqifhed and the com
mon cause c«nfulted.
Gentlemen tell u» there it no neceflity for prefling this question
at this time ; but fir, I think since we are embarked in it weoug'.l
to prosecute the voyage untiljwe arrive at that place, which will
restore union, harmony, and good humour ; even if we now re
linquifli the bufmefs we have no Security, but it will haunt us
and meet us at every turn. Hence I think, lir, there is an abso
lute neceflity of temoving immediately, if we wish the govern
ment to last, andtofome place from whence the legiflatuie ray
extend its influence in an equal and regular manner to all the ex
tremities ; the people know and feel its partial operation, and i:t
very uneasy under it.
Gentlemen fay we ought to determine the permanent refidtnee;
to me, fir, it is a matter of indifference which is lirll deternised,
permanent or temporary residence—but as a majority have refu
ted to consider of the permanent residence at this time, 1 am wik
ling to give up to their aesifion, and contend for the prefentoniy
for the temporary feat. I wilh this to be nearer the center of the
United States than it now is ; I repeat again, that whilst I have a
majority of the people and their reprefeutatives, I will tot re
linquish my endeavor toobtainwhat they desire with so much
anxiety and what they are entitled to on every principle of justice
and equity.
It is said that no petitions are come forward praying thts re
moval. I admitthere are none—our constituents have confidence
in us, and could not suppose it ncceffary to trouble us with peti
tions, in order to induce us to adopt a measure, the propriety o£
which rauft be obvious to every eye ; but if we now decline to
fatisfy their just desires, we may expect not only petitions, but
rcmovjlranccs against our culpablenegle£V. When people feel what
it is to travel, cxhaufted with fatigue some hundred milts more
than an equal apportionment requires, they will not only c° m "
plain of us, but will have reason to wurfe and execrate the authors
of their ca! .mities
Tue ge»i .emen from the Eastward may feel easy under eve'y
thing of this kind, whilst they remain in New-York; but the
foutfcefn gentlemen will be guilty of great inattention to the in*
tereii ot those they represent, if they remain any longer idle fpcc
tators of a game, by which their particular constituents only can
be looters. (From Lloyd's Minifies.)
_ WEDNESDAY, JULY 21.
Theengrofled bill refpefting consuls, was read
the third time and parted.
A petition of John Tucker, Clerk of the Su
preme Court of the United States, was read,pray*
ing to be repaid ceitain funis he had advanced to
procure seals tor the Supreme and Circuit Courts.
Mr. Sedgwick, from the committee of confer
ence 011 the lubjert [of the bill for fettling the
accounts between the United States and the in
dividual Hates,reported ceVtain amendments that
it would be proper to make in the said bill ; the
house took the report into consideration,
agreed to the fame, with a small alteration.
A meflage was received from the Senate, that
they had pafled the funding bill, with sundry
j amendments, the amendments were made the ° r "
der of the day to-morrow.
I Adjourned.