An irregular debate en Hie J on these several
nominations,without a question's being taken on
either. Some of the members appeared dehrous
of coming to a decision ; a motion however, lor
the committee's riling and reporting progrels
was carried in the affiunative.
The committee on enrolled bills, reported the
bill, intitled an ast, to continue an atl, declat
ing the afient of Congress to certain laws ot the
Hates of Rhode-Illand, Maryland and Georgia,
lo far as it refpec r ts Rhode-llland and Georgia—
which they had examined and lound duly em oi
led. The speaker then signed the fame.
Mr. Williamfon bro't foward his motion lor
leave to bring in a bill to prevent the invalid
penlioners from alienating their pensions before
they became due. A committee was accoidmg y
appointed, confiding of Meflis. Wilhamloro,
Brown, and Griffin. _
Mr. Fitzfimons prefcnted a petition from tlie |
ilifpecftors of the port of Philadelphia—praying
for an addition to their compensation. Laid on
•he table. . .
Mr. Ames moved that a committee he appoint
ed to conlider whether any, and what further
provision, shall be made to the commiflioners ot
loans in the refpetftive states, to defray their ex
tra expences. , c
A mellage was received from the Preliaent ot
the United States, to inform the house that the
acftabove mentioned had received his approbati
on, and lignature. Adjourned.
T U*E S D A Y, Jan. 11
' A petition from sundry inhabitants of the state
of Pennsylvania was read, and referred to the
Secretary of theTreafury.
Mr. Bloodworth presented a memorial from
the merchants and others of the town of
■ville ; and another from the merchants of
Wilmington, refpecfting the judiciary fyltem ;
proposing certain alterations therein. Referred
to a committee of five, confiding of Meflis.—■ ,
Burke, Bloodworth, Giles and Brown.
Incommitteeof the whole on the bill, repeal
ing after thelaft day of next, the duties
heretofore laid on distilled spirits, and laying
others in their stead.
The 13th feftion, which provides for laying a
duty on spirits, distilled from materials, the pro
duce of the country was read.
This fe<ftion Mr. Jackson moved, should be
struck out ; a lengthy debate ensued, which
employed the residue of the day ; the question
on striking out being at length put, pafled in
the negative—33 to 1 7—the committee then rofc
and reported progress.
A mefl'age was received from the Senate, in
forming the House, that they have pafled a bill
entitled an adi for granting lands to the settlers
at post St. Vincennes ; read the firft time.
Adjourned.
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
A Letter from Jofcph to his Friend J.minadab, on
. the Exemption of the Quakers from the Militia
Service, &c.
My dear Friend Am in a dab,
I HAVE to return thee my thanks for the Memorial thou haft sent
mc, and which our Society have caused to be prefentcd to the
Congrcfs ofthe,United States. 1 like it well, because it favoreth
much ol our carnal interest, and is expressive ot that subtle policy
which is known to guide our tender consciences. Surely we ought
to be exempted from the dangers, fatigues, and expences of the mi-
Htia-fervice, because we have, in general, been such tried friends
to the independence of this country, and our conduct hath been so
truly patriotic, as to merit every encouragement and diftinftion.
It gives me also great pleasure, friend Aminadab, to fee our
great men pay such attention to our Memorial, and spend whole
clays in debating thereon : Verily, the light will arile, and we
Iball be quite happy in fitting quietly under our own Vines and
Fig-Trees, in having outlives arid property protested, while others
willbe called out to the field of slaughter, and obliged to fight
with the savages, in defence of our lands and poflejfions. This will
be true Quakerism, and if not quite agreeable to the written w?rd,
yet altogether consonant to.the dictates of that Monitor within our
bosoms, which warneth us to take care of ourselves, and to avoid
all concern with ungodly quarrels and diffentions.
I know the carnal man objetleth to our peaceable Spirit, and
maintained the tjoftrine of war and felf-defence, so contrary to
our interest and personal fafety. Hence it is, that we are often
told, that being a part of thacommunity, and receiving the advan
tages of defence and protection, we are bound to bear our propor
tion ot the~public burdens ; and that we ought not to be indulged
with an exemption from these services, because a too great extension
»t our principles might endanger the very cxiftence of government.
Thusitfadly gricveth us to find, there is no living upon earth ]
without wars and fightings.
To mc, Aminadab, it fecmeth strange, that men (bould make
ufc of scripture arguments in defence of military tlUblifhments ;
for they tell us, that Wars have been, and will be, in all ages, to
the end of time ; that the great Mekhizedek met. Abraham, the father
of the faithful, when he returned from the llaughier of the Kings,
and blessed him, which he would not have done, had he been enga
ged in an unlawful aflion ; that the proleffion of a soldier, or mi
litia-man is no where forbidden, or condemned in scripture
When the Baptist was interrogated by the soldiers, as to their
conduct, he said unto them, " do violrnceto no man, neither ac
cufc any falfcly, and be content with your wages." In which re
ply, we do not find that in order to prepare themselves for the re
ception of the kingdom of God, it was required ol soldiers to r?-
linquifh their profeflion, but only that they should beware of the
vices, of which that prolcflion was accused. The precept which
follows, be contew with your wages," supposes them to con
tinuc in their fituatiot.
How great was the encomium pronounced by the favio'ur of
mankind on the Roman Centurion, or Captain, " 1 have not found
so great faith, no not inXfrael." The hrft Gentile Convert who
was received into the ChAftian Church, and to whom the Gospel
vasimpaited, by the immediate and especial direction of Heaven,
held the fame station.; and in the history of this tranfa&icn, we
discover not the fmallefl intimation, that Cornelius, upon becoming
a Christian, quitted' the service of the Roman Legion ; that Ins pro
feflion was objected to, or his continuance in it conndered, as in
any wife, inconliftent wvith his new character.
It is allealferted by these carnal reafouers, that fcj-dcf'ncc, ool.\
in individuals and society, is juftifUble. Thus when our life is
afTaulted, it becomes neceltary for our preservation, to kill the as
sailant. This is evident in a state of nature, unlefc it can be Ihewn
that we are bound to prefer the aggressor's life to our own ; that
is to fay, to love our enemy better than ourselves, which can nevci
be a debt of justice; nor any where appears to be a duty of chari
ty. This mode of reasoning is applied to nations, who are there
fore led to oppose the violence of each other.
Thus, friend Aminadab, have I suggested to thee, some ol the
objections to our received opinions, to the end that thou mayeft be
enabled to answer them, with the meekness of wisdom, and mew
the reafonablcnefs of exempting the Quakers from bearing arms,
because they live in an expe&ation ol a kingdom of peace, where
in; dwelleth righteousness. 1 will allure thee, good friend, that
these fubjefts have lately mightily agitated my fpints, so that one
day, being in a profound meditation thereon, I fell into a il.ep by |
the fire fide, fitting in my elbow-chair : During the Ihort time of
my repose, methought I saw before mine eyes a wide extended
plain, on which were gathered together an innumerable multitude
of people ; and in the middle of this plain, I beheld a huge moun
tain, on which a great number of these people were endeavoring
to ascend. While I considered theft tnings, behold a venerable
man flood by me, clothed in white raiment, whole affable, 3 S
able countenance encouraged me to enquire the meaning of the
fight I was then contemplating. He informed me, that the huge
mountain wascalled MOUNT-EXEMPTION, and that the per
sons ascending the fame, were the profejfors of various religion ° c ~
nominations. Obfervingto my good genius, that these sectaries
were so numerous as to cover the mountain, he said, that it could
i6t be wondered at, since by getting a place on the mountain,
:hey were exempted from the fatigues and dangers of war,to which
the poor folks beneath were exposed : He then gave me the follow
ig particulars, descriptive of those clcft favorites, viz.
Of the tribe of Quakers were exempted,
Of the tribe of Methodists were exempted,
Of the tribe of Menonifts were exempted,
Of the tribe of Moravians were exempted,
Of the tribe of Dunkards were exempted,
I then looked again, and behold ! the Methodists were harmo
niously chaunting their Hymns of triumph,for the advantages they
had received over the multitudes on the plain beneath, and their
song was, 0, be joyful! While the Menonifts andDunkards {kipped
like beaided Ram\ y and the Moravians like young (hcep, around
the mountain; but the Quakers, fearing that profane iinging
might hurt their tender consciences, teftified their approbation,
with inch a strange dissonance of founds, that the noise thereot
awaked n/e out of sleep, and lo ! it was a dream.
JOSEPH.
Elktonjthe "jth day of thcf rfl month, 1791
To the EDITOR of the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.
Sir,
SINCE the arrival of Congress in this city, there has been a
constant and general complaint of the scarcity of hackney
coaches, and of the exhorbitant price demanded for their fare.
In London, the hackney-coaches (to prevent their beir.g too nu
merous) arc limited to 1000, and this number is always compleat.
The fare is also limited, to prevent imposition; four persons tak
ing a coach for one hour, or one mile, pay one Jkilling, or three
pence ftcrliiig each, and no more, »l<hough the proprietors pay a se
vere tax to government for their licences.
Perhaps a statement similar to the following, may induce some
citizen to make his own fortune, and benefit the
)üblic. Dollars.
" ' ' *5°
150
'.5°
00
<>o
A good hackney-coach may cost
A pair of horses,
Keeping per year,
Coachman,
Wear of Horses harness, &c.
The Coaches in this city earn at present from 5 to 10 dollars
per day : Take the smallest sum— 5 dollars per day, is 1825 pr.
annum. 10 Coaches would bring in, at 1825 each, 18250 drs.
per year. Deduct for stock, intereft,and whole ann. ex. 7420
Thus may be gained in one year, 10830 drs.
by any individual who may have the spirit, with the property or
credit, to procure 7 or 8000 dollars on interest, for one year.
N. B. From 15 to 30 Coaches, it is supposed, would find im
mediate employ. A TRAVELLER.
Philadelphia, Jan. 12.
A principal cause of the low state of Agriculture is the want of
capital to make improvements : Tne plan of the National Bank,
holds up the profpea of relief : Such a great capital thrown into
circulation, will diffufe new health to quicken the industry of the
country : Many millions of new property will be set in motion,
and a new celerity given to the old stock. The farmers may now
look forward to a more improved state, and of course to an higher
degree of prosperity : With the means, it is to be hoped,the spirit
of improvement will be diffuled.
The trade, manufactures, and husbandry of a country, will re
main far behind the mod prosperous state to which they may be
carried, until Banks and inland Canals are formed : They afford
a surprising aid : They seem to aflift industry, and to bear relation
to the vfhole society, as machines do to particular arts : Our im
proving country will soon be equal to any attempts of this nature.
The Hon. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Esq. is
re-elecfted member of the House of Representa
tives of the United States, for the State of Con
necticut, vice Pierpont Edwards, Esq. resigned.
The New-York Daily Advertiser of Monday,
mentions that 150 dollars were received by Dr.
Moore—l 50 by Dr. Livingston, and 50 by
Rev. Mr. Jessop, from persons unknown, for
the use of the poor.
The Representatives in Congress for the state
of North-Carolina are to be chosen the last
Tliurfday and Friday of this month.
The intereftilig view of the " Jlate of the En
glish nation" in the firft page of this paper, is
publilhed with a view of inducing some of our
ingenious readers, or correspondents. to furnifii
a statement of the a<ftnal situation of this coun
try ; it is prefunied that a tolerably accurate ac
count of the United States on a similar scale,
would exhibit a moil pleasing perfpeiftive of the
American republic.
703
700 Dollars.
Net am mint of duties on Goods, Wares and Mer
chandise imported into the United States from
'he lit day of August, to the 30th of Sept. 1790.
Dot's. CtK
2,980 76
52,697 3'o|
11,112 78
86,215 36
1,200 32
New ■ Hamp(hire,
Majfac'hufetts,
Comiefticut,
New-York,
New- Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
South-Carolina, -
Georgia,
415,159 171-
Net amount of duties on Goods, Wares and Mer
chandise imported ilito the United Stateifrom
the ill day of Ocflober, 1789,10 the 30th of
September, 1790. Doll. Cti.
New-Hamp/hire 14,550 19^
Matfachufetts, 320,430 9§i
Rhods-JJland, 17,67? 20* C
Conne£iicut, 64,336 20'
Neiu-York,
New-Jersey,
Penttfylvania,
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
North-Carolina,
South-Carolina,
40,000
40,000
Georgia,
10,000
5 , 000
5, 000
The following companion will fliew, that what
are called Charity Schools, are hostile to the in
terests of education and the poor.
100, COO
In the city of New-York, which contains about
30000 inhabitants, there are 3 Charity Schools :
In which, according to a ftatemerit published in.
the New-York Magazine for December 179 0 / °" s
hundred and eighty-fix children are inftru&ed in
reading, writing and arithmetic.
In the town of Boston, which contains about
18000 inhabitants, there is not one Charity School
—but in the Public Schools of that place, support
ed by a tax, near fifteen hundred children
are taught the above branches—and in one of
the Schools, Greek and Latin
In New-York there is probably one third more
children than in Boston : The number therefore
of those, who are unprovided for in the former,
is greatly disproportionate. Of the fifteen hun
dred who are educated in the public fchoolsin the
latter, more than a tlioufand would |be deprived
of all opportunity of acquiring learning without
this public provision, agreeable to the experience
of New-York, with those Charity-Schools.
This makes good the old faying, that " Chart
TY covereth many omijfions."
Learning ougjit to be free as air :—This can
only be effected bylaws, which ihall throw the
burthen of supporting schools on the whole com
munity, that the provision may be made lo am
ple, as to be within reach of the poorest member
offociety—furely it is in the power of the free
citizens of every capital in the United States, to
"devise ways and means for the education of their
children without depending on charity ; the
foregoing example proves that it is.
The legislature of the state of North-Carolina
finished their session at Fayetteville, on the 15th
ult. after having pafled fifty-feven laws.
PRICE CURRENT. PUBLIC SECURITIES.
FUNDED DEBT
6 pr. Cents 17/ pr. £ .
3 pr. Cents SJ6. —%/q.
Defered 6 pr. Cents 8/6.-3/9.
UNFUNDED DEBT
Final Scttl.and other Certificates 15/.
Indents 8/6. —8/9.
State debts —8/9.
AMERICAN CLOTHS.
SUPERFINE and ELASTICS,
CONGRESS BROWN,
LONDON SMOKE,
LEAD DRAB,
BLUE and OTHER fafliionable Colours,
Manufactured at Hartford, (State of Connecticut,) ju,l received;
and are now offered for Sale, at the
At which Store are also opening a large and general aflortment ol
CLOTHS,
Linens,
Cambrics,
Painted, sprigged, tambour
ed book, and jaconet Muflms,
Chintzes,
Cottons and Calicoes,
Silks,
And many other Articles, too numerous to insert in an Adver
tisement ; all of which are now felling by WholtJaU and Retail, on
folow terms, as to make them an object to the purchasers.
N. B. A few Barrels of MACKAREL, and Nova-Scotia
HERRINGS. Philadelphia, Jan. ia, 1791.
CHEAP STORE, No. 38,
North Third Street,
EUROPEAN and INDIA GOODS.
ELEGANT Vest Patterns—
adapted to the season, v
Silk, Cotton, and Worsted
Hose,
Corduroys,
Velveretts, and Royal Ribs,
Best Buck, Beaver, and While
Kidd Gloves,
A Variety of STUFFS
99,349 86
3.363 77
25,163 57
89,003 9
37,060 57.
7,01 r 7S|
446,646
4,291
472,756 35
9>9 I 4 arj
206,750 27
2r 4,341 ?r 3
M,340 15*
102,438 62
15,237, 64}
I>9°3>7°9
85 pr. cent.
43 J do
-43i do
75
43l do -