appeared to him n much fitter officer to fill that station—He was originally chosen by the people into the fenatc. When amendments to the Conflitution came to be thought of, perhaps it would be proper, he said, to provide for this cafe by a fpccial clause in it, impowering the electors, who had chosen the President and Vice-Prefulent, in cafe of vacancy, to meet again, and make another choice, only, however, for the remainder of the four yeais ; because at the end of that time the power of chu fing theeleiitors ibould return to, and be exercil'ed by the several Hates. If the motion before the committee was nega tived, he gave notice, that he would bring in his, viz. to fill up the blank with the perfonlalt ante cedently chosen President ofrhe Senate. Mr. Baldwin said that he fliould vote for the present motion, because lie conceived that the conftitiuion is express, that an officer of the go vernment, c'efignated either by the law or the Conititmion, should be appointed to fill this va cancy. He dated some objeiflions against the Chief Justice : He is an officer who ought to be entire ly detached from all political agitations whatev er : His mind oughtto be kept calm, and as un embarrafled as poifible : He quoted the precedent cftablifhed in the law, instituting the governor of the We,tern Territory—there the secretary is to succeed the governor. The secretary of slate is an executive officer, an affiltant to the President, and mult be supposed, from his situa tion, to be the moil proper per foil to supply the vacancy. Mr. Sherman was of opinion, that putting the chief magistracy into the hands of a subordinate officer was by no means proper. As to the ob servations made by the gentleman last up on the arrangements in the government of the Western Territory, he did not think they could be ap plied to the present cafe : That government was a subordinate one, and a kind of legislative pow er was veiled in tlie governor, of fele&ing from the laws, and regulations of the different States such as he thought requisite for the goverjiment of ihofe he had under-his care. He was in favor of giving the fupreine execu tive in cafe of accident, to the Prelident of the Senate : The government would certainly fuffer fevver inconveniences by that arrangement than if the head of a department was put in. The Vice-President, by the conilitution succeeds to the President ; the President of the Senate to the office of the firft, it is therefore very natural that he fliould also exercise the duties ot the le cond in cafe of vacancy To designate any officer, as poflible fucceflor o the President, he said, would be giving him :oo much dignity, and raising liini in a manner :ven above the legUlature. Mr. Carroll observed that the vacancy might happen in the recess of the legislature, or in the abfenceof the President of the Senate: the Se cretary of State would always be at the feat of government. Besides the conllitution declared the vacancy should be filled by an officer of the go vernment ; the President of the Senate was on ly an officer pro tern. If the framers of the con llitution had intended the vacancy should be filled by an officer named in it, they could have de fignaied hiin ; but this they had not done ; he therefore supposed they had in view some officer then not in exiftencc. Mr. Gerry regretted that the ,fubje<ft iTiould have been taken up at this moment, when so much important business is before Congress. He advert ed to the motion, and said, that the character which now fills the office of Secretary of State, undoubtedly poilelled the confidence of the legi slature in ihe fulleft manner—and very justly— but when the exigency {hall arrive for which we now are about to provide, a character may fill that office, who would be a fceurge to the Union. Besides said he, if the office of Vice-Preiident was now to be filled, the Secretary of State would be ineligible, coming from the fame State wth the President. He itated other objections from the Constitution : He thought thenomination ftiould not be confined to officers of the U.S. He supposed the views of government may be extended even tg officers of the several States—He however wished the whole business postponed ; but if this idea is over ruled, he fuggelted the propriety of filling the blank with the conilitutional clause relpeifi ingthe highest candidates who are primarily vo ted for as President and Vice-Prefident. (To be continued.) SATURDAY, January 22. Mr. Lawrance, from the connjiittee to whom was referred the petition of Seth Harding, made a report,which w as read,and ordet ed to lie on the table. Agreeable to the order of the day, the lioufe proceeded in the further consideration of the new revenue bill. An additional fedlion was proposed, pointing out the purpofesto which the revenue, raised bv the a<ft ftiould be applied. This was Superceded by a motion to re-comrait the bill, which was loft. Several amendments were offered to that fec r tion, which underwent fouie difcullion, but were poft poi)ed for further consideration. Adjourned MONDAY, Jan Mr. Li vermore presented the petition of Peter Johnson, praying to be placed on the pension lilt. Referred to the Secretary of War. Mr. Muhlenberg presented the petition of William Lane, praying compensation tor lolles sustained by him during the late war. Referred to the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Madison presented t he petition of George Gibfon—which was read, and referred to a feletft committee, confiding of Mefi'rs. Giles, Vining, Muhlenberg, Mathews, and Wadfworth. Mr. Beni'on presented the petition of John Cockran, which was read, and referred to the Secretary of War. Mr. Heilter prefenred a memorial and remon strance, from a uumber of the citizens of Phila delphia, againfl Exciie Laws, and particularly againfi the bill now pending in the House, laying duties on diltilied spirits.—Read and laid on the table. The following Meflages were received from the Prefidentof the United States : United States, January 24, 1791. Gaitlemen of the Senate, and Houfecj Representative:, I LAY before you'a ftatcment, relative to the frontiers of the United Stales, which has been Submitted to me, by the Secretary for the Dcpaitment of War. I rely upon your wisdom, to make such arrangements, as may beeff ntial for the preservation of good order, and the effectual protection of the frontiers. Q. WASHINGTON. United States, January 24, 1791. Gentlemen of the Senate, and lioufe oj ReprefentativeSy IN execution of the powers with -which Congress were pleased to invest me, by their ast, entitled, " An ast for cftablifh ingthe temporary and permanent feat of the government of the United States." and on mature consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the several positions, within the limits preieribed by the said ast, I have, by a Pioclamation, bearing date this day, a copy of which is herewith transmitted, directed C«mmiflioners, appointed in pursuance of the ast, to survey and limit a part of the territory of ten miles fcjuare, on both fides the river Potowmac, so as to comprehend Georgetown in Maryland, and to extend to the Eadcrn Branch. I have not, by this firft ast, given to the said territory the whole extent, of which it is fulceptible, in the direction of the river ; be caiife I thought it important, that Congress should have an oppor tunity of conlidering,whether, by an emendatory law, they would author ife the location of the residue at the lower end of the present, so as to comprehend the eastern branch iifelf, and some of the country on its lower fide in the state of Maryland, and the town of Alexandria in Virginia. If however they are of opinion, that the federal territory should be bounded by the water-edge of the Eastern Branch, the location of the residue will be to be made at the upper end of what is now directed. I have thought best to await a survey of the territory, before it is decided, on what particular spot, on the north-eallern fide of the river, the public buildings shall be erected. The lioufe then resumed the consideration of amendments proposed to the new revenue bill. Three additional feiflions refpe<fling the ap propriation of the revenue to be derived from the bill, which were offered on Saturday, after some alteration, were agreed to. Mr. Tucker proposed a clause to limit the du ration of the bill : This occasioned a debate, which continued till near the time of adjourn ment. The motion was finally negatived. The Ayes and Noes being called for by Mr. Jackson, are as follow : Mejfrs AJhe, Bald-win, Bloodworth, Brown, Burke, Giles, Hartley, Heifier, Jaikfon, Matthews, Moore, P. Muhlenberg, Parker, Scott, Seney, Sevier, Steele, Tucker, William/on. 19. Mefrs Amet, Benfon, Boudinot, Bourne, Cadwal lader, Clyfiier, Fitzfimons, Floyd, Fojter, Gale, Cerry, Gilman, Goodhue,Criffin, Grout, Hathorne, Hunting ton, Lawrance, Lee, Livcrmore, Leonard, Madison, Partridge, Ranfellaer, Schuremau, Sedgwick, Sher man, Sylvefler, Sinnickfon, Smith ( M.) Smith (S.C.) Stone, Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, Fining, W adf worth, White, Wynkoop. 39. A motion by Mr. Jackson to expunge a clause the Certificates' accompanying the du tied article, was negatived. Adjourned. TUESDAY, Jan. 25 Mr. Heifter presented the petition of a number of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, praying for compensation for loffcs sustained du ring the late war; referred to the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Carrol presented the petition of two orphan children, whose father was killed in the late war, prayingthat the half pay which would have been received by their father, may be extend ed to them ; referred to the Secretary of war. A petition from the inhabitants of the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, against certain parts of the bill laying additional du ties on distilled spirits. Mr. Jackson of the committee on the petition of the merchants and inhabitants of Fayetteville refpefting the judiciary law, re ported that a committee ought to be appointed to bring in a bill pursuant to thefaid petition. Mr. Ames prcfentedthe petition of Abiel Smith, praying com pensation for a quantity of flour supplied the late continental ar my ; referred to the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Williamfon presented the memorial of William Poultney praying compensation for lofles iuflained during the late war ; re ferred to the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Lawrance of the committee appointed for the purpose re ported a bill, directing the mode in which the evidences of the debt of the United States which have been, or may be destroyed, (hall be renewed ; read the firft time. 719 G. WASHINGTON AYES, NOES. The house resumed the confiderstion of the new revenue bin iundry amendments proposed by Mr. Jatkfon, bv linking out certain clauses the bill—wets negatived ; other amendments weie agreed to-alter confideiable debate, at halt after three the quetlion forengroffing the bill was carried in the affirmative' the ayes and noes being as follow : AYES. McJfrsAmtr, Benfon, Boudinot, Bourne, Cadwallaier, Carrol Clymer Fttzfimoiu, Floyd, Fojler, Colt, Gerry, Oilman, Goodhue, Grout, Hun tington, Lauranci, lee, Leonard, Liver,nore, Madison, Partridge Hhureman, Scot, Sedgwick, Sherman, Syhejler, Sinniekjin, Sturee' hatcher, Trumbull, Pining, Wadjicorth, White, Wynkoop. 35. ' MejfrsAJhe, Baldwin, Bloodwojth, Brown, Burke, Griffin, GiUu Hathorne, Hartley, Heifter, Jackson, Mathews, Muhlenberg, Parker, XenJJalaer, Seney, Sevier, Steele, Stone, Tucker. 20. Mr. Tucker, of the joint committee appointed to confidcr and report thetime for the commencement ot the nextCongrel's,brought in a report, which is in substance, that the bufmefs now before Congress may be finifhed by the 4th March, and that it will not be necessary for the new Congress to commence immediately after ; but the joint committee could not agree as to the preciie time! when their firft fellion should begin. Philadelphia, Jan. 26. It is to be remarked that the oppofers of-tlie revenue bill now before Congress, have never come forward with a competent substitute . Something has been said about a tax on law pro ceedings, by which it is supposed a ftanip duty was intended, and a direct tax has been faintly whispered—but both these are found to fhriuk from the touchstone of popularity. The symptoms of aristocracy in the Eastern States, are—agrarian laws—'simplicity of manners —equality of circuinftances—a universal diffufiou of the means of knowledge—public schools being eftabli/hed by law, and I'upported by a general tax throughout the country —elections by ballot, and consequently free, being held on one, and the fame day in Imall diftritfts, throughout the refpediive governments —the foil cultivated by its independent owners—reverence for the laws —and refpe<it to their magistrates—the federal government venerated—and the statutes of Con gress obeyed—happy and tranquil because they are informed and fres —and because they poflefs the means of preserving their freedom, by malt* ing every man, from jixteen to forty, a soldier-ci tizen :—But the most alarming of all their symp toms of Aristocracy is, the silence of their repre sentatives in Congress, in refpedj; to the jealous, uneasy, turbulent spirit of their conftitueius, as to any law that the general government may, in their wisdom, enaift. It is a trite observation, that anticipation of evil, is often the forerunner of mifchief : We have, however, been happily disappointed in times past—No thanks to the dismal cacklers of the capitol. As the good sense of the people has hitherto prevented them from imbibing a restless spirit of complaint, from the oft repeated, tho groundless jealousies and apprehensions of mors than eagle-eyed politicians, so it is to be hoped they will not in future be seduced to change the solid blessings of the government, for the positive miseries of discord and sedition, because some persons fay t they are averse to measures that have never been tried. Extraß of a letterfromßoflon, Jan. If Such a December has not been experienced here for many years—Wood rose to twenty Jbil- Ungs a cord ! But since this year came in, the weather has moderated—provisions have been very plenty, and very cheap—the fleying excel, lent—Pot and Pearl-ashes, Hemp, Flax, ire. ire, have been brought in from the back country which have generally commanded good prices, and sent much money to enliven the interior parts of this state, Vermont and New-Hampflyre. The attachment of the people of this Common wealth to the general government daily encrea fes ; and 111 the rife of the public credit—the de mand for produce &c. they feel its superiority over that of the late untied fyjlem. PRICE CURRENT. PUBI.IC SECURITIES. FUNDED DEBT. 6 pr. Cents 16/6. 16/9. P r * ,£ 83J pr. cent. 3 pr. Cents qf 4,5 do. Defered 6 pr. Cfcnt* gf. 45 do. UNFUNDED DEBT. Final Settl. and other Certificates 15/6 15J9 78J do. Indents 8/9 o\f 45 do. N. and S. Carolina, debts, 11J. 11/6. 572 do. INFORMATION WANTED. |CP THE Subfcrtber requejls, if any gentleman can give him information of a purchase of Lands made by a Mr. Daniel Richardet, in the year 1781 and 1782, in some part of the United States, he will be so kind as to inform his Brother, by direfling a line t» him, at the Printer's office. S. RICHARDET. Jaruary, 1791 TREASURY DEPARTMENT,"! January 25, 1791. J THE Public Creditors are reminded that, in order to the pre. per difpofuions for paying the Interest in the several States, it is neceflary that the amount to be paid in eaeh should be pre viously known at the Treasury. And as the expiration of the firft quarter is not far distant, it is wiftied that those who have not yet done it. may be expeditious in making and fignifying their elec tion, pbrfuant to the making provision for the debt of the United States. NOES, 45 do '
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