PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENXO, No. 69, MARKET.STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA [No. 6s, of Vol. ll.] Saturd ay, December ii, 1790. PHILADELPHIA SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and House of Representatives, xN meeting you again I feel much fatisfa&ion in being able to repeat my congratulations on the favorable profpefts which continue to dillinguifh our public affairs.—The abundant fruits of another year have blefled our country with plenty, and with the means of a flourifhing commerce—The progress of public credit is witnessed by a confide rable rife of American Stock abroad as well as at home—And the revenues allotted for this and other na tional purposes, have been produttive beyond the calculations by which they were regulated—This latter circumstance ts the more pleasing, as it is not only a proof of the fertility of our resources, but as it allures us of a further increase of the national refpeftabi lity and credit ; and let me add, as it bears an honorable tefti roony to the patriotism and integrity of the mercantile and marine part of the citizens—The pun&uality of the former in discharging their engagements has been exemplary In conform ing to the powers vested in me by the a£ts of the lad feflion, a loan of three millions of florins, towards which some provisional measures had pievioufly taken place, has been com pleted in Holland, as well the celerity with which it has been filled, as the nature of the terms (considering the more than ordi nary demand for borrowing created by the situation of Europe) give a reasonable hope, that the further execution of those powers may proceed with advantage and success. The Secretary of the Treasury, has my direction to communicate such further parti culars as may be rcquifite for more precise information. Since your last fcilions, I have received communications, by which it appears, that the diftrift of Kentucky, at present a part of Virginia, has concurred in certain proportions contained in a Jaw of th at State ; in conCequence of which the diftrift is to be come a diftinft member of the union, in cafe the requisite fan£lion of Congress be added—For this fanflion application "Is now made —I shall cause the papers on this Very impoitant tranfaftion to be laid before you.—The liberality and harmony with which it has been condutted, will be found to do great honor to. both the par ties ; and the sentiments of warm attachment to the union and its present government, expressed by our fellow-citizens of Kentucky, cannot fail to add an affectionate concern for their particular wel fare, to the great national impreflions under which you will de cide on the cafe submitted to you. It has been heretofore known to Congress, that frequent incur sions have been made on our frontier settlements by certain ban ditti of Indians, from the northwest fide of the Ohio: I hefe, with some of the tribes dwelling on and near the Wabafh, have of late been particularly active in their depredations ; and being emboldened by the impunity of theif crimes, and aided by such parts of the neighboring tribes as could be seduced to join in their hostilities, or afford them a retreat for their priloners and plunder, they have, instead ©f listening to the humane invitations and overtures made on the part of the United States, renewed their violences with frefti alacrity and greater effect. The lives of a number of valuable citizens have thus been facrificed, and some of th«m under circumllances peculiarly (hocking, whilst otheis have been carried into a deplorable captivity. These aggravated provocations rendered it essential to the fafety of the Wettein Settlements, that the aggressors ihould b<* made sensible, that the government of the union is not less capable ol punifliing their crimes, than it is disposed to refpett their rights, and reward their attachments. As this objett could not be effect ed by deienfive measures, it became necefTary to put in force the ast, which empowers the President to call out the militia for the protedion of the Frontiers. And I have accordingly authonfed an expedition, in which the regular troops in that quarter are combined with such draughts of militia as were deemed The event of the measure is yet unknown to me. The Secietai) ©f War is directed to lay before you a statement of the informa tion on which it isfounded, as well as an estimate of the expcnce with which it will be attended. The disturbed lituation of Europe, and particularly the ciitical posture of the great maritime powers, whilftit ought to make us more thankful for the general peace and security enjoyed by the United States, reminds us, at the fame time of the circumspec tion with which it becomes us to preserve these bleflings. It re quires also that we should not overlook the tendency ot a war, and even of preparations for war among the nations molt, cori ecrned in a&ive commerce with this country, to aDiidg- t ie means, and thereby at least enhance the price of tranfportmg its valuable productions to their proper markets. I recommend it t® your serious reilc£hor»s how far, and in what mode, it ma r b expedient to guard againil embarrafTments from these contingen. Ie«, by fuel) encouragements to our own navigation as will ren- der Qur commerce and agriculture less dependent on foreign bot toms, which may fail us in the very moment most interesting to both of thefs great objetts. Our fifheries, and the transportation of our own produce, offer us abundant means for guarding our- Iclves against this evil. Your altcntion seems to be not less due to that particular branch of our trade which belongs to the Mediterranean. So many cir cumstances unite in rendering the present state of it dillrefsful to us, that you will not think any deliberations mifcmployed which may lead to its relief and prote&ion. The laws you have already passed for the eftablilhment of a Ju diciary system, have opened the doors of justice to all defcrip- ions of persons. You will consider in your wisdom, whether 'mprovements in that system may yet be made ; and particularly whether an uniform process of execution on (entences issuing from the Federal Courts, be not desirable through all the States. The patronage of our commerce, of our merchants and feamcn, has called tor the appointment of Consuls in foreign countries. It <ems expedient to regulate by law the cxercife of that junfdic- ion, and those functions which are permitted them, either by express convention, or by a friendly indulgence in the places of ieir residence. The Consular Convention too, with his Most Christian Majcfty, has stipulated in certaio cases, the aid of the national authority to his Consuls eftabli(bed here.—Somelegifla- ive provision is requisite, to carry these flipulations into full effe£b The establishment of themilitia—of a mint—of standards of weights and measures—os the poft-office and post-roads, are fub je£ts, which (I presume) you wi 11 resume of course. and which are abundantly urged bv their own importance. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, THE fufficiency of the revenues you have established for the objects to which they are appropriated, leaves no doubt that the refiduaiy provisions will be commensurate to the other objects fo r which the public faith Hands now pledged. Allow me more over to hope that it will be a favorite policy with you not mere- to secure a payment of the interest of the debt funded, but as far, and as fact as the growing resources of the country will per mit, to exonerate it of the principal itfelf. The appropriation youhave made of the Western Lands, explains your dispositions on this fubjeft, and I am persuaded the sooner that valuable fund can be made, to contribute along with other means, to the actual reduction of the public debt, the more salutary will the measure be to every Public as well as the more fatisfaftory to our conftitu^nts. Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives, IN pursuing the various and weighty bufincfs of the present feflion, I indulge the fulleft pcrfuafion that your confutations will be equally marked with wisdom, and animated by the love ot your country. In whatever belongs to my duty, you (hall have all the co-operation which an undiminifhed zeal for its welfare can inlpire. It will be happy for vis both, and our best reward, if by a fuccefsful administration of our refpcftive trusts, we can make the eftablithed government more and more instrumental in promoting the good of our fellow citizcns, and more and more theobjcft of their attachment and confidence. United Slates, December Bth, 1790. FRANCE. national Assembly. September 9. TUMULT AT St. ETIENNE, IN FOREZ. A number of people had afiembled on the 4th instant, of which M. Birtheas was thcoftenfible cause. The commandant sent a detachment of the National Guard to condudt M. Birtheas to the Guardhouse. —This detachment was followed by a very great croud of people of both sexes—it was feared the guard would be inforticient—it was accordingly doubled, and being even then not of fufficient strength, M. Birtheas, by way of fafety was imprisoned. He was accused of having monopolised corn. __To appease the people, his house was exam ined, in which there was found only a fiViall quantity of corn. After this, the guards about the prison were almost dispersed, and the peo ple were proceeding to break open the gates. Neither prayers nor entreaties could hinder them they broke them open—seized M. Birtheas, and murdered him ! ' Next day (the 9th) the inftirgents proceeded of their own accord, to the election of new Mu nicipal Officers, and to make regulations ref pe<sting the prices of corn. On this a number 669 G. WASHINGTON. [Whole No. 169.] of citizens armed thetnfelves, and proceeding against the insurgents, nrattcanu».\.„«i- t |, prisoners, who were conducted to L)ons. The aflembly, remitted theprocefs and punifii men t of this fhameful bufmefs to the Tribunal of Lyons, who are charged to pursue all instigators and agents in this horrid affair with the molt pointed severity of the laws. M. de Sillery communicated to the aflembly, in telligence, that in the plains of Jales, at the foot of the Cevennes, an army of 20,000 Gardes Nati onalesare allembled,headedbya troublefomeprieft named La Bajlide, sword in hand, with a crols in his hat, who had made them take a fort of oath to set 011 foot a solemn Crusade for the re formation of abuses at Nifmes. Saturday, OCI. i, The Assembly proceeded to lire order of rlie day, the difcullion of the affair of the 6th nf Oct Mr. Chabraud undertook the defence of Mr. d'Orleans, with great warmth and zeal, read ing and commenting on several parts of the re mitter of the police, which were favorable to Mi. * d'Orleans. He alio read fonie letters, complain ing that the teftitnony ot several persons of cre dit was not received. Mr. d'Ellournal demanded that tliefe papers lould be sent to the Chatelet. Which was oppofedbyMr. Mirabeau, who de clared that he Hood forward as the accuser ofthe Chatelet, which he would profecuteto his grave. The propoficion of Mr. d'Ellournal was reject ed. Mr. Abbe Maury said, that in an affair of this fort, the Allembly should follow the ilricftelt rules of justice—he therefore proposed to hear the ac cused fii ft, if they wiflied to speak, then the wit nelies, and afterwards such members of the Af feinbly as should desire to give their opinion oil the measures the Aflembly ought to take. Mr. Goupil wished that such members as were witnesses should withdraw, and lliat tliofe only who were dilinteretted lliould take part in the debate. Mr. Mirabeau deflred that an exception should be made in favor of those deputies, who having been summoned to give their testimony, declared they had noth?ng to depose. The Abbe Maury then delivered a speech, in which he argued that the Aflembly ought not to pronounce the absolution of Mr. d'Orleans. He laid he lliould notoppofethe decree that there is 110 ground of accufution againll Mr. Mirabeau— there did not exist charges againll him fviflicienr- ly Itrong to support the decilion of the Chatelet, but that the luuation of Mr. d'Orleans was dif ferent. A Prince of the blood accused ofbeing seen on the morning of the 6th of Otfiober, encouraging, the allaflins who maflacred the gardes du corps,ana attempted even the Queen, ought as a defend ant worthy ofHejiry 4th, to prostrate himfelf in the fencftuary of jultice ; and to provoke its se verest scrutiny ;he declared that it was by such ineansalfo, he could clear up his innocence, and that his friends,and the friends of his reputation, ought to advise him to demand the vengeance of the tribunals. Mr. Mirabeau then appeared in the tribunal,, and declaimed with great warmth against the proceedings of the Chatelet, which he declared to be a monument that would attest to future ages the iniquity and anticipation of the judges of this tribunal. ' He then examined the different accu sations which were made against him, and an swered them all in a fatisfacftory manner. Mr. Barnhave undertook the defence of Meflrs. d'Orleans andMirabeau,bothof whom he declared to be irreproachable ; and it was the judgment of the Chatelet alone which merited the indigna tion of every good citizen. I The Aflembly divided 011 the question, and de clared the two deputies free from all inculpation. Sunday, 08. 3. A letter was read from Mr. Silles, a young of ficer, who diftinguilhed himfelf at Nanci, mo destly thanking the Aflembly for the eulogium they had bestowed upon him, and desiring that this might be conlidered less as the exercise of a virtue than as the performance of a duty. A report was made to the Afleinbly of commo tions in Languedoc, with information that the people of Carcaflonne Ihewed a difpofuion to re volt. The Aflembly decreed,that the Executive pow er Ihould be called upon to interpol'e, and with tii&o »
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