FOR THE 'GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
CONGRESS.
TT was a prudent caution of the Egyptians, to
poflpone the giving a character tijl after the
death of the party. During a man's life his con
du<ft might change, and falfify the praise or'cen
fure bellowed upon it. But death, which fixes an
unalterable stamp, extinguilhes the paiiions which
have flattered, or abused, the living man. To
morrow the fir ft Congress will terminate its poli
tical life. Its whole condudi is before the public ;
fubjeiflto fuchadecilion, as truth will pronounce
lipon it.
Other public men have found the path of their
duty as beaten as the highway. Administration
running in the fame channel for ages, has worne
it deep and wide : Congress had a new path to
tread ; the conflitution, by fencing ic up on ei
ther fide, has made it a narrow one ; and such was
the state of the times, and of parties, that they
found it covered with thorns.
• During the two years, Congress has, beeri en
gaged in business about 16 months. The book of
it's laws will fliew that it has been diligently en
gaged. Perhaps no body of men has ever at
tended more punctually at the daily hours of
meeting, or continued more closely occupied du
ring the fitting. The whole number has gene
rally voted. This however is an inferior kind
of merit. The great point which afFedts the re
putation of the body is, whether it's measures
have been wife and salutary.
The firft care of Congress, was to organize the
great departments of government. The merit
of the measure inay be tried by supposing a dif
ferent organization. If instead of a Secretary of
the Treasury, the business of finance had been
intrusted to a Treasury Board, of three or five
persons, let their good sense and integrity be e
ver lo it in ay be doubted whether
sn uniform felf cor.fiftent plan would have been
recommended or adopted. It is proper to try the
merit of the firft Congress, either by the differ
ence of the state of tilings, when it began, and
when it finifhed it's period, or by comparing what
Congress has done, with the manner of doing the
like things in the state legislatures. Leaving it
to the mind of every reader to purfuethele ideas
as far as he may think proper, it may be remark
ed, that Congress has so organized the great de
partments, as to secure an orderly, efficient and
uniform adininiftratiou of the government. -The
President with his usual prudence and discernment
has appointed able men to fill them ; who are
stimulated, by every motive, to a diligent and
active employment x>f their eminent talents. The
people will know where to bestow praise, and
on whom the blame should fall. This is the ad
vantage of eftablifliing heads of departments.
Provision is also made for a friendly intercourse
with foreign nations, by providing forMiniilers.
In the judicial department as much has been
done, as circumstances would admit. Judges
of eminent virtue and learning preside in the fe
deral courts. But the very narrow limits of the
judicial power of the United States, renders this
one of the most difficult branches of leglflation.
Coutts mud be ellabliflied, and provision made
to administer justice to men, almost at hojne,and
yet the business is very inconsiderable. This is
not the fault of.Congreft. If any thing is to be
regretted, it is, that a different arrangement had
not been nfade of the judicial power by the con-
fticution
The measures of Congress have given a great
Jpring to trade. The difference of tonnage and of
import on goods, if imported in American veflels
and the favours to the trade to India and China
have greatly increased thefhipping,as well as the
foreign trade. The coasting trade, no longer
fubjetft to State regulations is evidently gaining
strength. It has increased the tonnage and sea
men—it is already a young lion, and will afford
111 a few years such naval ltreiigtli, as to be a
terror to our enemies,
The duties 011 foreign manufactures are a di
rect bounty upon our own. The increase of manu
factures since Congress firft: imposed the duties,
is not certainly known. But every one who has
lived in the country the last two years, knows
that it is very extraordinary. Our exports have
increased to upwards of 20 millions of dollars.—
Many art of opinion, that our manufactures have
risen to an equal amount.
Future controversies between the States are ren
dered improbable, by the proviflou for an equi
table fettlemenc of the accounts, which the war
had swelled into a mass, so rmidable by its mag
nitude, and more so by its confufion. This very
difficult and necelTary talk has been accomplifli
ed, tho it had been despaired of by many.
The States have been eased of their debts,
which would have crushed some of them by their
weight. But the revenue of the whole country,
under one system of management, will enable
the United States to provide for them, almost
without feeling the burden. JVloderate taxes on
luxuries have made the reveuue chest overflow
with wealth.
The advantages of the funding system, are
not to be enumerated. America, at this moment,
is in a situation equally novel and refpeftable.—
It is in a condition for felf-defence, which can
not be too much admired. With an orderly go
vernment, an ample revenue, and almost unlim
ited credit and resources, it polTefles a strength,
which itftood in need of during the war. Popu
lar governments' fuffer more by the unsteadiness
of their measures, than by the corruption of their
rulers. It is thefirft time that a permanent sys
tem has been adopted in our country for support
ing credit. The people already enjoy the fruits
of it. The new capital is every where flying to
the aid of manufactures, trade and agriculture.
The Bank is an institution which our extensive
and wealthy country ought not to be without. It
will aflift us to extend our intercourse from North
to South, and we shall like one another better,
as we know one another more.
After every pacific mealure had failed ofeffett
with the Indians, protection is afforded to the
frontiers—Our frontier fellow-citizens, tho dif-
tant, are not neglected
It would be tedious to comment at large on the
several very important ac r ts of the firft Congress.
A mere Ikerch is intended. A great deal has been
done, and truth seems toanthorife us to fay, that
no very dangerous mistakes have been committed
in the two years. America, which was in the
Jhads before, seems now to Hand in the fmi-Jbtne.
Its profpetfs are the brightest that any nation on
earth enjoys : All that is wanting to realize them
is steadiness. If the next Congress should
make 110 violent alteration of meafures,our hopes
can scarcely meet with disappointment.
Tho great questions have called forth strong
paflions in Congress, it is a most grateful thing
to fee the harmony and mutual goodunderftand
ing, which subsist at the end of the two years of
its being. Opposition seems to have left no ftin<r
behind it. The Members will separate with an
high degree of personal regard and esteem.—
State prejudices and prepofl'efliont lose a great
part of their influence 011 the mind, when those
who at firft felt them, find themselves obliged to
acknowledge, on numberless occasions, the can
dor, patriotism, and high fenle of reditude and
honor, which diftiriguifh their opponents. The
ties of brotherhood and-mutual affeeftion, which
are to bind America together, ought to grow
stronger every day.
Hon. Jo H N B. A S H E, Jo H nSt E E LE and N AT H A
NIEL Macon, are elertcd Members of the second
House of Representatives of the United States
for the State of North-Carolina.
766
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE, Feb. 25.
OK motion, That the following relolutionbe
entered into, to wit :
Resolved, That it be a ftapding rule, that the
doors of the Senate chamber remain open, whilit
the Senate ftiall be fitting in a legislative capaci
ty, except on fuel) occasions asin their judgment
may require fecreey, and that this rule (hall com
mence and be in force 011 the firft day of the next
feflionof Congress
The yeas and nays were required by one fifth,
of the Senators present.
Mejfrs. Butler, Fojier, Cunn, Hawkins, King t
Lee, Mac lay, Monroe. 9.
Mtjfrs. Baffett, Carroll, Dalton, Dickinfon, Ellf
worth, Elmer, Few, Henry, John/on, JobnJlon, Izard
Langdon, Morris, Read, Stanton, Strong, Win
gate. 17. So it pafled in the negative.
A mellage was received from the President of
the United States, informing the Senate that he
had this day approved aud signed the bill, enti
tled, " All aift to incorporate the subscribers to
the bank of the United States," and the bill, en
titled, " An ac r t regulating the number of Repre
sentatives to becholen by the States of Kentucky
and Vermont."
The bill entitled, " An adl fixing the time for
the next annual meeting of Congress," was read
the second time, and ordered, that it pass to the
third reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SATURDAY, Feb. 26.
A meflage front the Senate, by Mr..Otis their
Secretary, in formed thehoufe that they have pafled
the bill fupplenientary to (lie act incorporating
the subscribers to the Bank of the United States.
A second meflage from the Senate, informed
that they have palled a bill in amendment to the
adt for fixing the temporary and permanent feaq
of government of the United States, to which
they reqneft the concurrence of this house ; which
bill was read a firlt time, and laid on the table.
Mr. Sedgwick from the committee, to whom
was'refeiTed the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, on the petition of CpmfortSands, and
others, brought in a report which was read and
laid on the table.
Mr. Trumbull from the committee, appointed
for the purpose, reported a bill in addition to an
a<ft entitled, " an act for eitablifhing the lalaries
of the executive officers of government, with their
assistants and clerks, which was received and read
a fir ft and second time, and referredto a commit
tee of the whole house, on Monday next.
The petition of Elias Hafket Derby, praying re
lief in the payment of duties on goods imported
from India and China, was read and referred to
the Secretary of the Treasury.
Information was received from the Members of
the Philosophical Society, that an etilogiuni as a
tribute to the memory of their late Prefideut,
Docftor Benjamin Franklin, will be delivered
on Tuefdaynext, at the German church, at which
rhey requell the attendance of the members of
this house.
i lie house, agreeable to the order of the day,
proceeded to the consideration of the reports on
sundry petitions.
The report of the committee on the petition of
Capt. Seth Harding was taken up for a second
leadiug ; and on the queifion to agree to the
fame, it pafled in the negative.
Reports upon a number of other petitions were
agreed to by the house.
A report from the Secretary at War, on the pe
tition o. Capt. David Cook was agreed to by the
house, and a committee appointed to bring in a
bill conformable thereto—
After which thegallery doors were flint,
MONDAY, Feb. 28.
The bill to amend the ast, for establishing the
temporary and permanent l'eat of government,
received from the Senate, was read the second
time, and ordered for a third reading to-mor-
row
A meflage from the Senate by Mr. Secretary
Otis, informed the house that the Senate concur
in their vote, by which, the report of the joint
committee of conference 011 the fubje»ft of <lifa
greement between the two houses, in refpet't to
the 6111. fertion of the bill, laying duties on di
stilled spirits, was adopted—He'alfo informed
the house that the Senate have pafled the bill
for fixing the time of the next annual meeting ot
C'ongrefs.
Another message informed the house that the
YEAS
NAYS,