aftumed : Having taken this debt upon ourselves j
(aid he, the confequeoce is obvious, nor can we
ever get over thedilhonor of not making the ne
eeffary provision for paying ir.
He then adverted to statements which had (
been submitted to the house by the officer to whom
the Union had entrusted the direction of its fi
nances— From these it fully appeared,that a much
greater deficiency in t'-ie revenue existed than
i'ome gentlemep appeared willing to allow. It
this deficiency exiits, and if the United Stares
are bound to make provision for the debrs they
have aflumed to pay. the duties contemplated by
the bill, appear the nioft obvious for the govern
ment to recur to,
He adverted to the idea of dire<fl taxation, and
enquired on wliat principle will gentlemen con
fenttothisniodeofraifnigthenecefl'ary supplies ?
Will they make the reprel'entation of the ieveral
States the rule by which it (hail be apportioned ?
He doubted whether direct taxes, 011 this princi
ple would be even to the gentlemen
who have mentioned them.
He then remarked oa the objections to an ex
cise, on account of the mode of collection. He
iaid a rigorous collection would bear hard only
on the ififlioneft—while it would protect the fair
trader from bearing an undue proportion of the
public burthens. _ _
He observed on the uneafinefl'es which are said
to prevail in some of the States—and to obviate
the force of these reflections, he instanced the har
mony and peace that prevailed in those States,
■which bear a much greater proportion oftlie pub
lic burthens, than those which complain, as was
buiulantly evident from the documents in poflef
fion of the house.
Mr. Steele rtated his objections at large to nn
Excise: He adverted to the particular situation
of "affairs in l'onie of the southern States, especial
ly North Carolina. TheAflembly of that State
had rejected the proposal of taking an oath to
support the copftitution of the United States, with
Icorn ; they had also refiifed to admit continen
tal prisoners into their goals—and another cir
cumstance, more hostile to the general govern
ment than either of the foregoing had taken
place—which he forbore to mention.
He said I'ucli was the present state of the pub
lic mind, in various parts of the Union, that he
ihould dread taking any nieafures which might
serve to encresfe the fermentation which the
people are in. An excise he considered of this j
nature : It would in its operation produce the
vorftconfequences—Amore exceptionable mode
os-taxation, be conceived could not be devised.—
A direct, or poll tax, he supposed would not be
so odious—and tho for his own part he fliould
prefer 301 excise to. either of the former, yet. Inch
-was the aversion of the people to it, that he ihould
prefer almost any other alternative. He thought
otherobje<fts may be found from which the neces
sary revenue may be raised. He instanced duties
on inland navigation, law procee dings, legal con
veyances, &c.
He then adverted to the operation of an excise
especially in the State of N Carolina, and said
that the consumption of ardent spirits in that
State was so great, that the duty would amount
perhaps to ten times as much in that State as in
the State of Connecticut. On the whole, he ho
ped if the feition is not ltruck. out, that the excise
■will be reduced.
Mr. Sherman observed, that the fubjecft now j
before the committee was thoroughly difcufled
the lail session—and as nothing new or of weight
■and importance had been offered the present fef
iiop against it, he thought it would be a uielefs
waite of the time of the houfeto go into a parti
cular reply to the objections offered against the
bill. This he thought a fufficient answer to the
charge of carrying questions by silent majorities.
He then entered into a short conlideration of
the fubjeft generally, and defended the system
4fom the charges which had been adduced ref
jieifting its unequal operation.
(To be continued.)
FRIDAY, Jan. V
Mr. Livermnre pvelented the memorial of \Villiatn Simmons,
principal Clerk, in the Auditor's Office, prayingfor an addition to
his compensation as luch, for realons therein ltated. Referred to
the Secretary of th.-Treasury.
Mr. Goodhue observed, that the Senate having negatived the bill
for the relief of Shubael Swaine.at the houte was informed by mes
sage, vefteiday, without aligning any reaf.m ; and as he was a! a
Jots to account for its rtjetlion, he wilhcd fame itcps Ihould be
taken in the business, lor he hoped that the proceedings of this go
vernment would never be marked with an nnpioper degree of ri
gor and severity..
He moved for leave to bring in a bill to provide generally tor
the relief of p'erfons thiisHTuiaied : heave was accordingly given
to bring in a bill. .
' The amendments of the Senate to the bill for continuing the
ast, declaring the allrnt ol Conjrcfs to certain acts ol the States ol
ilhodc-Ifland, Maryland and Geoigia, were taken into confidcra-
M'. jatkfon obserVed, that on enquiry he that the State
of Maryland had been fliilck out of the bill, b' cause it was found
that the law, 10 which the clause referred, had been repealed : He
hoped therefore, that the house wouliconcur rfith th- amendment
v! the Senate, oihcrwife the b'il would be loft.
Mr. Stncv (aid Vie had been infoimed, that the rcaion for ltrik-
mg'ont '• Maryland" was, bc;aufe the law reievred to, had not
l»cen piopcjlv authenticated, or conveyed to CongrcO. through
:i.e.proper medium, the Prcf ■ nt oflhc L'n.tcd Stales.—He hovv-
ever ftiould not at present objeftto the amendments, as he doubt
ed not that when the law of the State of Maryland was produced,
with the authentication laid to be neefffary, a bill might then be
introduced tor declaring the air.!"*, of Congrels to it.
The amendments of the Senate were a greed to by the houle.
Mr. Sheiman, of the committee appointed for the purpole, re- |
ported a bill for the efhblifoment of poft-offices and pott-roads
in the United States—read the firfl and fccond time, and 100 co
pies ordered to be printed. r ,
I It Was then voted that it be referred to the committee ot the
whole 011 Monday-week. ,1.111
The order of the day being called for, which was the bill lay
ing additional duties on diltilled (pints—Mr. Parker moved it
fhouid he pottponed, in order to give the members time to conli
der the statements icfpefling the funds received from the Secretary
of the Treasury. A short debate enfued—further procrastination
was objected to—the bill wastaid to be as old as Congress—it had
been as tullydebated as any fubjeft that ever came before the house;
the fcflion is wafting, and the time will hardly admit ot hnilhing
the business which the hnufe are particularly pledged to do this
feflion—one article ot which is to make provition for thefupport
of the public credit.
On the other hand it was said, that the house was not in poltel
fion of the necessary information ; the time while the requisite do
cuments are preparing may be employed to advantage ; and when
the members have fully fatisfied themselves of the exact turn ne
cetfary to be raised, they may proceed underftandingly 111 the bu-
linefs. j
■ The motion for postponing the bill: obtained, and the houie
went into committee on the bill direttirig the mode in which the
evidences of the debt of the United SttfCes, which (hall be loll: or
destroyed, shall be renewed.
Mr. Boudinot in the chair.
i great division of opinion appeared in difcufling this bill—the
ne of the committee was employed only on the fir ft section ;
rt.cy rose without agreeing to any determinate principles—report
ed progress, and are to (it again.
A letter received from the Secretary of the Treasury, was
communicated by the speaker, enclosing a statement of the
amount of the impost from August, to 30th September, 1789, and
from 30th September, 1789, to ftrft Oitober, 1790.
A meflage was received trom the Prefidentof the United States,
by Mr. Secretary Lear, informing the house, that the bill provid
ing for the unlading of (hips and velTels in cases of obltru6lions by
ice, had this day received his approbation and fignaiuie.
Adjourned till Monday.
A L B A N K', Dec. 30.
Mr. Sheldon, an experienced diltiller in tliis city,
has brought the distilling of GIN to such perfec
tion, that thefirftjudges (Europeans and Ameri
cans) pronounce it equal to the belt imported
from Holland.
Mr. Sheldon having madefome experiments o
the Juice of the Maple Tree,' declares, that when
distilled, ic yields a liquor not unlike ARRAC,and
superior in flavor—and that, from the bell com
putation he has been able to make, a tree will
produce as many pints of this liquor, as'it docs
pounds of sugar. Admitting this fatft, a con el u
lion highly favorable to ths interell of the Uni
ted States must be drawn, viz. .that our import
trade from the Wett-'lndietfituuft soon decline, as
the two principal articles-of'k are fiigat.and.puin
—the firlt of which w-art«rodiice itiperior and
in fufikknt quantities, and a fubftitnte for the
latter not inferior to the bell Jamaica spirits.
NEW-TfORK, January j.
The le<riflatnre of this state is now in session.
i
At a meeting of a refpe<ftable number of the sub
scribers to a Dispensary about to be introduced
into this city, for the relief of the poor and
diitrefl'ed, held at the City-Hall the 4th day of
January, 179 1.
The honorable Judge Duane was unaninioufly
requested to take the chair, and William Cock
to officiate as Secretary.
Dodtor S. Bard moved that it berefolved, that
the managers of the institution ihall have power
to make alterations in the original conlHtu
tiou of this society as they from time to time shall
find neceflary.
Provided always, that Aich alteration shall be
fubje<£t to amendment or revocation at any an
nual meeting of the members ; and the lame be
ing seconded, and the queltion being put, it was
carried unanimouily in the affirmative.
The subscribers aflcmbled then proceeded to
elcdt twelve managers, of the Dilpenfary, for
I the ensuing year. And the ballot being taken,
ir appeared that the Rev. Dr. Beach, the Rev.
Dr. Rodgers, the Rev, Dr. Livingfton, the Hon.
Judge Hobart, Mr. Moses Rogers, Ifaae Stouten
bnrgh, Esq. Melandton Smith, Esq. Gen. M.
Clarkfon, John Watts, Esq. John Broome, Esq.
the Hon. HhacßoofevelD and James Watfou, Efq
were duly eledted.
On motion, ordered, that the said managers be
requested to attend on 1 liurfday the 1 3th day of
January instant at the lioufe of Mr. John Simmons
111 Wall-Street, at 6 of the clock, in the evening
for the execution of the trusts, repoled in them,
and it is further ordered, that the proceedings
of this meeting be publilhed.
Publijhed by the direction of the Society,
Jan. 4. W. COCK., See.
Extract of a Ltterfroin Liverpool, dated i\Q October
hjl, to a Merchant in New-York.
" We beg leave to acquaint you, that an order
of council, is ifl'ued to prohibit the importation
of wheat, rye, barley, beans, and oats, into any
part of the kingdom, at the end of fix days after
the price of each fort, taken npon an average of
the prices of the whole kingdom, according to
the tables published weekly in the London Ga
zette, (hall be below the price at which fucli fort
of grain is allowed by the consolidation a<ft to be
| imported at the low duties.
699
11 The firft general average prices of the whole
kingdom, ro which this order of council refers,
will be published ill next Saturdays London Ga
zette ; and as the prices have been on the decline
for several weeks pall, it may be expedted that
the ports will very soon be (hut againll all forts
of foreign grain, peafe,alone excepcedjWhich are
not included in the prohibition."
Philadelphia, Jan. 8.
Extratt of a letter from Cover nor St. Clair, to the
Secretary of IVar, dated Marietta, I'oth Nov.,
" If rhe report refpedting Major Hamtrauick
be near the truth, tliat he had tie it roved four of
the Indian villages, and all their provisions, and
had returned without the loss of a man, the suc
cess will then have been as a complete as it could
have been wished ; and the firft news we shall
hear from the Indians, will be a humble f impli-
cation for peace : Should that, however, jiol
happen soon, I will find means to let them know,
that it will not berefufed if they desire it on rea-
sonable terms."
Christopher Richmond, Esq. is appointed
commissioner by»the State of Maryland, to fettle
the accounts of that State with the United States.
The information contained in the exiraCt of a /etttr■
from Fayittcvills, as publijhedin our lafl, purporting
that the Senate of North-Carolina had rejeficd the ex
traordinary refolittior.s which had pafied the Houfs of
Commons of that (late, we are tnjormedis previteui e*
It seems that those refulutions were amended in the Se
nate, by fi rifling out the preamble, and changing the
word " tnonftrous" to enormous ! and a meffagf was
then sent to the House from the Senate informing, that
if the House would agree to these amendwints, the
Senate would concur in the resolutions .—The Houje
accordingly agreed.
If government Jhould be deterred jron exacting
particular laws, because some perlbns fay t and per
haps •with truth, that they are contrary 11 the fenti
mtnts of the people in some parts oj the uniCn : ~f iS
evident the business oj legislation mujl Ji Mid Jliil.
There cannot be a more odious law to many persons,
and the number is not inconjiderabl'e, than that which
comptls the payment oj' debts-— he>:ci every previous
Jlepto that point is proportionably obnoxious tosthe ca
vils, objetlions and oppojition of those it may ulfimate
ly asf eil .—One great objett oj government, and of /A
new conjlitution in particular, is the dijlril/utifn of
equal juflice—the administrators .of this government
are as the arbitrators btltueen debtors and crsditor
but it is a mojl monstrous, enormous business, that
they fbou-ld be paid, even at a less rate than private
'persons often pay .the referred, in a commer
cial difpu(e between man and man. —It -ixxtuftd be
doubtless a confurnmation of the wishes of many, who•
would rejoice to fee jhis country revet t to its form-r
jlate of anarchy and itnbtcthty y to have the co?np-e?Jja
tions of the legijlature and the executive branches Jo
reducid, as that the goveirment may fink into con
tempt.
A correspondent otferves that the reafonablenejs.
and mode fly of a late resolution of a certain Ifgifu
ture, in which the senators of the united
states are inflrutled to oppose every excise, and ds
rett taxation-law, are abutidantly evident yihen it is
considered, what a monstrous disproportion of the im
pojt and tonnage is now, and ever will be, colhfted
from that Jlate !—■
The spirited and humane exertions of the ci
tizens of New-York, we find have beeri crowned
with fuccef's in the eftabliftiment ot a public dis
pensary in that city. This institution is one of
the most benevolent and extensively ufeful that
can be devised ; and it is but a juit or
praise to fay that on this, as well as on vanou.s
other occasions, the philanthropy and good citi
zen(hip of the gentlemen ot the faculty is abun
j dantly exemplified. /
Extraflfrom the new year's address of the carrier of the Connc<nic
Courant.
" THEN let's leave other realms alone,
And lee what's doing in our own.
" Congress, 'lis true, in various arts
Right manfully have play'd their parts ;
And in the scale of empire rais'd us
So high, in truth it has amaz'd us ;
Fram'd resolutions and reTcindcd,
'Till all they'd done was fairly mended ;
Made treaties with one tribe of Indians,
And to another threatened vengeance ;
Sent General Harraar in a fever,
Tojnake a dam o'er Joseph's river;
To tell the world one Indian Savage
Is worth two white men on an average ;
To throw away the lives of many,
And recommend Lieutenant Denny.
All this has Congress done, and more ;
But why Ihould we the lift run o'er,
For mighty deeds in Congress done,
Or other States, when in our own
We've quite enough on Imall rcfl©£lion,
To load the fterceft recolle&ion ?"
PRICE CURREXr. PUBLIC SECURITIES
FUNDED DEBT.
6 pr. Cents 17/—l7/3- Ps- I •
3 pr. Cents BJ6. —8/9.
*Detcrcd 6 pr. Cents 8/6.-8/9,
UNFUNDED DEBT.
Final Settl. and other Certificate 15/.—15/3
Indents 8/6.-8/9.
S ate i '/6.—8/0.
86J pr. cent.
43i <*o.
a oi tio.
43} do.
76J do.
Usl d# -