averse from every measure which liail a teirlen- j
cy to chat point—he then enlarged on the ideas
lie before fuggelted —he had no objection to die
mode of ex predion proposed by the gentleman
from Maflachufetts [Mr. Ames,] but lti.ll contend
eel that uniformity pointed out the neceimy ot
one clay's being fixed on—this he (uppofed might
be done in perfect conliftency with the claule in
the conltituiion. .
Mr. Seney was in favor of striking out the
words.
Mr. Sherman (hewed froin the Conlututionthat
Con<Tiefs polfefs the power of appointing the
time s os chufingtlie electors, and the tune when
they fiiould meet lo give in their votes : He was
in favor of Congress' exercising this power m or
der to guard ag'ainft all intrigue, and this ne
conceived was agreeable to the people, for m none
of the conventions was an amendment of this ar
ticle ever moved for. _
Mr. Viningwas against (trikingout the words, |
he thought that uniformity was an eflential ob
ieift to a free and independent election—with
that uniformity, the equal rights of the citizens
is inseparably connected—l he manner of chu
fino-may be left with the legislatures; but the
time of chufing and voting said he, fliould be de
termined by Congress.
Mr. Lawrance ihewed that the operation of
this principle of uniformity, would be to pro
duce the very evil apprehended. should the
time come, when the states are reduced to a size
more proportionate to each other, this uniformi
ty may be introduced.
Mr. Williamfon was in favor of striking out
the words as proposed Mr. Jackson.
The vote being taken, the words were (truck
out : so that the time of chufing eletftors is left
by the bill with the state legislatures.
The next clause refpedts the time when the
votes (hall be counted
Some of the members supposed that the votes
iliould be counted by the old Congress.
Mr. Benfon said if the votes Ihould be counted
by the new Congress, they may be counted by
men chosen with a special reference to influence
finally in the election—no alteration was made
in this cla-rnfe»
The discussion of the bill being finifhetl, the
committee rose and reported the fame, with the
amendments, agreed to —which being taken into
confiderarion, they were adopted by the houlc,
and laid on the table. Adjourned.
MONDAY, Jan. 31. -
Mr. Conteefrom Marylaud took his feat this day.
An engrofied bill declaring the consent of Congress to a certain
ast of the state of Maryland, was read the third time and passed
to continue in force one year.
Mr. Lawrance from the committee appointed for thatpurpofe,
reported a bill making appropriations tor the year 1791.
Mr. Floyd, from the joint committee on enrolled bills, reported
that they had examined the bill, entitled an ast admitting the line
of Kentucky into the federal union, and found the fame to be duly
enrolled ; the fpeakerthen figncd the bill.
Mr. Sturges preferited the pitition of Colonel Thomas Hobby?
of the Hate of Connecticut. Referred to the Secretary of the
Treafurv.
A motion being made to go into a committee of the whole on
the bank bill as the order of the day—the fame was obje&ed to—
it was contended that the militia bill was of moie immediate im
portance, when the neceflity of making fpcedy provision tor the
relitf and protection of the Frontiers was taken into view.—ln an
iwer it was said that a committee was nearly ready to report on
this fubjeft, and that more speedy and effe&ual relief to the inhabi
tants of the Frotiers was contemplated} than could pofllbly be de
rived from the bill.
The obje&ions to the motion were overruled, by the question's
being determined in its favor, thirty-five Members rising in the
affirmative.—The house accordingly in committee of the whole
took the Bank Bill into consideration.
Mr. Boudinot in the chair
The bill was read in paragraphs; and no amendments being ol
fered, the Chairman reported it to the house, who voted that
lhould be read the third time to-morrow.
Mr. Boudinot moved the following Resolution : That during
the residue of the present fcflion, no debate should be admitted oij
the qutftion for taking up the order ot the day. Latd on tlie table
n committee of the whole on the Pott-Office Bill,
The committee difcufied the firftand second fe£lions ; and then
rose and reported progress. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Feb. i
The Appropriation Bill for the year 1791, was read the second
time, and ordered to be engrofied for a third reading to-morrow.
The Bank Bill was read the third time : A motion by Mr.
Smith, [S. C.] tor a re-commitment, occasioned a debate, which
continued till near 3 o'clock ; and was finally determined in ihe
negative. The Ayes and Noes being as follow.
AYES.
Mcffrs. Alhe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Bourne, Brown, Burke,
Carroll, Coirtee. Gale, Grout, Giles, Jackson, Lee, Maditon,
Matthews, Moore, Parker, Smith (M.) Smith (S. C.) Stone, Tucker,
White, Williamfon. —23.
McflYs. Ames, Benfon, Boudinot, Cadwallader, Clymer, Fitz
fimons. Floyd, Foster, Gerry, Gilman, Goodhue, Hartley, Hathorne,
Heifler, Huntington, La wrance, Leonard, Livermore, Muhlenberg,
Partridge, R nfellaer, Schureman, Scott, Seney, Sherman, Syl
velfer, Sinnickfon, Steele, Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, Vining,
Wadfworth, Wynkoop.—34.
Mr. Amis of the committee on Indian Affairs, informed the
Speaker, that a report was readv to be laid before the houfc—
011 which the doors of the gallery were ordered to be (hut.
Philadelphia, Feb. 2.
SOME people have thought it a great affair to
prove, that the Stares are free and independent.
The word is not worth contending about
—but those who use it, certainly mean to secure
the date governments from the controlling pow
er of Congress : The Rate legislatures are to ac
NOES.
count for their use of power to tlie people from
whom they derive it, and not to Congress.- —
If Congref:s should meddle with them, they would
make a fad outcry of invaded rights, of infiilted
sovereignty, &c. and why should they not ? in
aftnuch as they could (ay to Congress, you med-
dle with what is none of your buiinefs
Brother Antifed. take the thing by the other
handle : Is n<t Congress a sovereign legislature,
whose power is derived from the people ' It
ihe several afleinhlies should meddle with Con
gress, what would you fay ?—O ! that is quite
another affair, you answer : Then I find your
argument will not work both ways.
1 ins government was framed to bind the parts
of the Union lightly together : In order to have
unity of counsels, ihe Coiiftii ution veiled certain
powers in Congress : But several of the States
are lUrring, giving counsel, and directing the af
fairs of the nation : If all should be liflened to,
the federal edifice w on Id go on like another Babel.
With the powers given in the Constitution, the
oppofers thought one Congress dangerous. In
this regard, tilings turn out worse than they ap
prehended—for half a dozen Congresses have al
ready begun to adt: There is the Congress in N.
Carolina, and the Congress in Virginia, and the
Congress in I'ennfylvania—and they will all be
doing. A plain man, that cannot fee far into
things, is terrified by the number of Congrefles,
and because he is told their powerlias no bounds.
When Virginia or Pennsylvania aists Congress, a
man, who is counted vastly tunning, remarked,
tliar there is no check upon them—for, said he,
they have no power to do any thing which will
not hold out to do everything.
We must not let Congress swallow up the state
governments, fays an honest antifederalift, my
neighbor, becaule, fays he, Congress cannot go
vern us well : They will .not know what ipecial
laws we want to have made : At least as well,
(aid 1 ill repiy, as one State can govern all. Vir
ginia has members in Congress—it is therefore
more proper for Congress to govern Virginia,
than for Virginia, or any other State, to govern
the Union. On this a bye-ftander demanded
fneeringly, Which has molj: reason to be l'atisfied,
the state assemblies, with the fullnefs and clear
ness of the information upon which they have
decided on the measures of the Uuion, or we,
the citizens of other Staves, with the modesty,
pi udence,and national spirit of their resolutions ?
My antifederal neighbor and 1 had nothing to
i'ay to this : 1 do not know which fide of the
queltion he meant to take up ; but he proceeded
to fay—
Better times certainly are coming—when the
state aflemblies give themselves the trouble to ac r t
beyond the bounds of their jurifdi&ions, and in
deed of their territory, fui ely the passions will
have no part to play in their doings. When one
body contents to do another's business, we may
expert more impartiality on one fide than grati
tude on the other :—Ah perverse human nature !
Neither Congress, nor the people of the other
States, will ever thank Virginia or Pennsylvania
for all the trouble they have given themselves :
Let the reflection on their virtuous motives of
atftion,make up what is wanting in the reward.
Indeed, if the people ftiould chufe any of them
to Congress, ihey had better let that reflection
alone, becanie they would be rewarded without it.
The opinion ofthe State, exprefled'by the mem
bers, is nothing in the judgment of some people
but when exprefled by the aflembly is an oracle.
One state came very loath into the Union, because
the amendments were not made the condition of
their acceding to the Constitution : Congress af
terwards agreed to sundry amendments, andpro
pofed them to the States. The State alluded to
rejected one of its own precious articles.—What
regard is due to the opinion of an aflembly, if
it should mistake the opinion of the people, or
change its own ?
We have one government over thirteen : What
fort of an administration would it be, if every
one of the thirteen (hould insist upon governing
a thirteenth part, and be allowed to do it ? Tho
these are not lcripture times, yet, if that should
happen, we may live to fee the tower of Babel
finifhed.
■ People are informed, that it is proper to tell
Congress the mind of the State upon the measures
before them—and that the aflembly is the tongue
of the State—and so, they lay, it must be fuffered
to run : That unruly member ought to be kept
under prudent restraint. The state has its mem
bers in Congress : If the aflembly is to speak for
the state, what becomes of the duty ofthofe mem
bers ?—They were chosen to speak for the peo
ple : Shall they be silent—or, shall they call
themselves the tongue of the State, and speak too.
Beiides all this, the people may remouftrate
to Congress, and use their own tongues. What
abundant means of speech to the national go
vernment ! This fupei fluity of tongue might be
so used, as to overpower the common stock of
ears and brains, especially if the adembly should
recommend one thing, the membeis of a State
another, and the people themselves, by petition
and remonstrance, a third.
727
Exlraft of j iell;r from a gmthman in the country
to his jritnd in Philadelphia.
" I am pleased with the spirit of the debate on
the part of Mr. Bingham's motion—" that it is
inexpedient for this legiilature, at prefent,to en
ter into any difcullion relpediing the laying and
collecting excises by the government of the
United States"—contained in the paper you lait
sent me.
" I have wondered, nay have been vexed at the
imprudence of i'ome Pennfylvanians. Some pe
tition lor altering the funding bill—Pome sub
scribe for the exemption of certain very impor
tant members of society from the militia bill (I
mean minors and apprentices) btsaufe, if they
were all excufed,the muller-mafter would be put
to difficulty to find his men. Others spout and
bawl againfl excise. And if some people were
indulged in their wishes and attempts, we might
soon expedt a resolution moved for—" that Con
gress might go home, as the Pennfylvanians were
(in their own opinion) competent to do their bu
linefs for them." Not a few, with indignation,
behold their presumption.
" But it is believed that the Federal Ship will
truly find her own course : That fbe has the head
of the Branch at helm, the world acknowledges ;
That she is in the main well-manned, all the pas
sengers teftify : That she fails well, two years
experience has proved : That her voyages have
been profitable, appears from the credit of her
bills.
" The expectations ef the owners are by no
means allayed from some little appearance of a
mutiny on board one of her' Tenders—for they
fay, that the materials of thefhip are good—that
fhc was built by the firft of the profelfion—that
her fides in particular are ltrong—that the crew
are in good spirits, and well paid—and that they
are confident, the Ship will take more than one
broad-iide, before fire will quit seas, in .which she
has an indubitable commission to navigate."
e'oston duck manufactory.
Quantities of this Duck have already been fold
at Philadelphia and Baltimore—where it is in
high estimation—which inuft be the cafe, when
its principles are confidered—lt is made from
Klax, the raw material of our own foil—-which
has not fuffered from that fermentation which
mult arise from all vegetable substances confined
in the hold of a ship, whereby the fibre is greatly
weakened. Ir. the Boston Manufa<ftory the whole
of the clean flax is worked up—which is separa
ted in foi'eign parts, into eight different forts,
the fin ell; of which they never permit to be work
ed into their fail-cloth, but reserve for tlie finer
linen manufactories. Another peculiar excel
lenceof'tlie Boston Duck, is, that it i9notful>jeCt
to mildew, as all foreign Duck is—this is owing
to the difference of the fizingsmade use of in the
several manufactories—ln the Boston Manufao
:ory, it is made from animal substances—in Eu
rope from vegetable.
Lad Saturday (he Senate of the legislature of this Common-"
wealth non-concuired the Resolutions sent on the 22d inft. from
the House of Representatives ; which resolutions were intended to
express the d'fappiobation of the Legiflatureof Pennsylvania, with
refpeft to the Excise Bill, now before Congress ; and were palled
in the form of inftru&ions to the Senators from Pennsylvania in
Congress, by a very considerable majoiity.
Hon. Thomas Johnson and Daniel Carrou, Efq'rs, of
Maryland, and Dr. Stewart, of Alexandria, in Virginia,
are the Commiflioners appointed by tile President of the United
States, for running the lines of Experiment defining the territory
on the Potowmac to be located as the permaaent feat of the go
vernment of the United States.
Died the 16th injiant, at Bojlon, much lamented, Mr. Samuel Gil
ma n, Merchant, iate partner in the house oj Blodget and Gilman of
that town, and oj the house oj Blodget and Co. in London.
PRICE CURRENT. PUBLIC SECURITIES.
FUNDED DEBT.
6 pr. Cents 17f. 17/3. pr. £
3 pr. Cents Sfg qJ.
Defered 6 pr. Cents 9f
UNFUNDED DEBT.
Final Settl. and other Certificates 15/6 15/9
Indents 8/g gf
N. and S. Carolina, debts, 11f. 11/6.
The seat of the late governor
LIVINGSTON,
situate about a mile from Elizabeth-Town, on the public road to
Morris Town. The contains between 90 and 100 acres of
land, 15 or 20 acres of which are wood land ; there is also apper
taining to the said farm about 19 acres of fait meadow. Particular
attention having been paid to the cultivation of fruit ; there is on
the farm a very large colle&ion of various kinds of the choicest
fruit trees, &c. in full bearing; the house is large, convenient,
well built and in very good repair.
Enquire of the Printer, for further particulars.
New-York, Jan. 1791
Pcnnfylvania Hospital, 31 Jan. 1791.
Wanted a Ground Rent, of
15 or 20 J. pr. annum, well secured. Enquire of
Josiah Hewes,
Lawrance Seckel,
Owen Jones,jup'r.
By Carey, Stewart, and Co.
No. 22, in Front-Street,
The American Museum,
For JANUARY, 1791-
[Contents in our next.]
86J pr. cent.
45 do
-45 do
78! do.
45 d °-
57 i do -
TO BE SOLE),
This day is puilifhed,