CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FRIDAY, Feb. 4. The BANK BILL under cons deration. MR. LAWRANCE, THE advocates of this measure Hand in an un fortunate iituation ; for being those, who in general advocate national measures, trey are charged with aefignsto extend the powers of the government unduly.—He however consoled hitn feJf with a conscious attachment to the Constitu tion, and with the reflexion that their conduifi received the approbation of their constituents.— If the present, said he, is contrasted' with the former circumstances of this country, he doubled not the measures of this government would con tinue to receive the approbation of the people of the United States. The silence of the people on the fubjed; now J>efore the House is strongly presumptive that the measure of a bank is not conlidered by them as unconstitutional. He then endeavored to shew the constitutionality of the bank system. It must beconceded that there is nothing in the consti tution expressly against it, and therefore we ought not to deduce a prohibition by construc tion ; he adverted to the amendment proposed t>y Congress to the constitution, which fays, pow ers " not delegated, are retained here said he, to prove that the bank is unconstitutional, the conftru&ive interpretation so much objected a gainst, is recurred to. The great objects of this government are con tained in the context of the conftituiion ; he re capitulated those objetSs, and inferred that eve ry power necessary to secure these must neceffa lily follow: For as to the great obje<fts for which this government was instituted, it is as full and complete in all its parts as any system that could be devised ; a full uncontroulable power to re gulate the fifcal concerns of this union is a pri mary consideration in this government, and from hence it clearly follows, that it must poflefs the power to make every possible arrangement conducive to that great objedl. He then adverted to the late confederation and pointed out its defe&s and incompetency and hence the old Congress called on the States to enacft certain laws which they had not power to enadi ; from hence he inferred that as the late confederation could not pass those laws, and to capacitate the government of the United States, and form a more perfedl union, the constitution under which we now art was formed—to sup pose that this government does not poflefs the powers for which the constitution was adopted, involves the grofleft absurdity. The deviation from charters and the infringe ment of parchment rights which had been juf tified on the principle of neceflity by the gentle man from Virginia (Mr. Madison) he said had been made on different principles from those now mentioned ; the neceflity he contended did not at the time exist—the old Congress exercised the power as they thought by a fair conftrutftion of the confederation. On conftruiftions, he observed it was to be la mented that they (hould evei* be neceilary but they had been made ; he instanced the power of removability, which had been an ad: of the three "branches-and has not been complained of. It was at leafl as important a one as the present. But the conftrudtion now proposed he con tended was aneafy and natural conftrudion ; re curring to the collection law, he observed that it was by conftrudlion that the receipts are or dered to be made in gold and silver. With refped: to creating a mass of capital he supposed, just and upright national measures would create a will to form this capital. Advening to the ideatliat Congress has not the power to eftablifli companies with exclusive pri vileges, he observed that by the amendments pro posed by New-Hampfbire, Mallachufets and New- York, it plainly appears that these States con fide red that Congress does poflefs the power to establish such companies. The constitution vests Congress with power to dispose of certain property in lands, and to make all ufeful rules and regulations for that purpose ; can its power be less over one species of its own property than over another ? With refped: to giving preference to one State over another, he observed, that 10 years hence the fear of government is to be 011 the Potowmac, and wherever the government is finally fettled' the place will enjoy superior advantages, but still the government must go there, and the places not enjoying thofeadvantages must be fatisfied. It: is laid we mull notpafs a problematical bill which is liable to a supervision by the Judges of the Supreme Court ; but he conceived there was no force in this, as those Judges are invested by the Constitution with a power to pals their judg ment on all Jaws that may bepafled. Itisfaid that this law may interfere with the slate governments ; but this or may not be the cafe—and in all interferences of the kind, the particular interest of a state, mult give way tothe general interest. With relpeiit to the corporation pofl'effing the power of pafling laws—this he observed is a pow er incidental to all corporations—and in the in stance of the Wellern Territory, Congress have exercised the power of instituting corporations, or bodies politic, to the greatelt polfible extent. He defended the right of Congress to purchase and poflefs property, and quoted a paflage in the conltiuuion to Ihew that they poflels this right. He then touched on the expediency of banks, and of that proposed in particular : The advan tages generally derived from these institutions, he believed, applied peculiarly to this country. He noticed the objection from banks banifliing the specie—he said the surplus only would be lent out of the country—but is it given Sway ?—No, Sir—it is sent off for articles which are wanted— and which will enrich the country. With refpe«ft to a run 011 the bank—he men tioned the circumstances under which those runs on the Britiftt banks, which had been noticed, took place—and (hewed there was no parallel that would probably ever take place in this country. From several particulars he (hewed, that the objeiftion which arose from the United States'not having made a good bargain by the fyflem, was not well founded. He then mentioned the pecu liar advantages which the United States will en joy over common subscribers. The objection from banks being already estab lished in the several States, he obviated, by fluting the inifchiefs which might arise from an ignor ance of the situation of those banks—and con cluded by some remarks 011 the inexpediency of the general government's having recourse to insti tutions of merely a local nature. Whoe'er thou art—thy Genius boasts the Pow'r To soothe the Soul in Nature's darkejl hour. FROM THE NORFOLK and. PORTSMOUTH CHRONICLE. " Come gentle Spring, ethereal mildvefs comg."- BLINDNESS. " gentle Maid, celestial Comfort, come V_y And from yon azure opening in the Sky, (White Peace attends thy train) veil'd in a Show'r Of (hadowing Bleflings, on the Blind, descend !" Those, blefl with Sight, who walk abroad and dare With Eagle Eye, survey the radiant Sun, Take in the Blaze of Light, and fwiftas thought, Can from the dark Retina throw it back, And catch Ideas from the Face of Things. Those, blest with Sight, who on some Summer's Eve, Walk slowly musing, on the pebbled Beach, And take the fcatter'd Rays, light as they fly, from Star to Star, or, broke in countless Angles, As thro' the flying Clouds they (hoot along, And half unveil the Beauties oi the Sky, Pleas'd with such scenes, they little heed the Blind. But let them turn with me, to yon fair form,* To yon mild mind, that even in Blindncfs charms* Her gay, her cheerful Soul, once sent Ideas From a blue Eye, that fcatter'd Bleflings round ; Peace and gay Pleasure dwelt about those Orbs, And the bright Rays of Day, that rested there, Return'd delighted with the Mind within : But envious darkness drew her fable veil, And hid their radiance in eternal night. No day-break now is her's, and the gay Sun 1 hat rides triumphant the meridian Sky, Shoots not a cheering ray to light her path : Thick, thick around, impervious Gloom fits brooding And tho' Ihe change, her room i ever dark. She holds no converse with the fpeaki'ng Eye a ICI, ° f ° f Fr,en<^s » that fit* and talk, And lmile around ; and when her prattling Babes Draw her regard, with fond maternal mind, She looks for some fwcet likeness of herfelf • But looks in vain !-Her children, but by voice, knows not!—'Tis but a general blank F.om which the Soul recoils; the Eye rolls in, And turns with Horror, from the dreary Void. Oh come some pitying Spirit of the Sky, Seize some tair wand, dipt in the Fount of Light, 1 ouch those Blue Eyes, and give them to the Day ! Jhe ardent Gaze, with which hr grateful Soul Will fly abroad, and take Creation in, The smile of peace w.th which (he'll look on all Will pay your pleating talk, and promp a wish ' To quit e'en Heaven, to relieve the BLIND, A T orfolk ) February 9, iygi * Mrs. C—lv«—rt, FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES. SONNET Sent to Miss with a Braid of Hair. fliews the rose, but soon its beauty fades, tuj"™ 115 balm y- br «thing frag.ance fails; Aj , ~.d ow; n > P each > fw «t pear, DECAY assails, And cluttered purples of the vine invades. Nor docs alone the vegetative realm Feel the destroyer's over-bearing power; Wejovs in ruin, cities to overwhelm, •To shake the column, and to fink the lower. Nor yet can Beauty, radiant at the morn, wrath The rosy cheek he pales; jP tr y ° t ' le " < -' n prevails; And flowing honors that the head adorn. The foul refined in fentimem and truth, 1)15 power, and fmilcs eternal youth. 774 ' T HOMPSON, YANKEE. ILIA EXTRACT from the ar.fmcr of the two Houfis ofth Central Court of Matfachufetts, to tht CoverLr', Speech. THE United States of America are now placed in a refpeiftable situation. Their honor and credit, which at certain periods seemed doubtful are now eftablillied 011 a permanent bails. Bv enlarging the system of our government, and bv bringing the rtrength of the fevei al States into one uniform plan of operation, we are enabled to form connexions with other-nations ; todefend the Union against foreign in vafions ; and topre ferve harmony, and support juilice between the citizens of the different States. We prefunie it will ever be the disposition of our legislature, to guard againlt every infringe ment on the Constitution of our own State, being convinced that by fucli conduct we give vigor and energy to the general government. The debt of the United States and of the par ticular States, we conceive to be the price of our peace, liberty, and independence, and it must be a pleasing reflection that we are not obliged to hare recourse to oppreflion and violence, to can cel this debt, as the resources of our country with decent economy, are amply fufficient to do justice to our public creditors. While contemplating the pleasing enjovment of liberty and independence, we are no less bles sed with the fruits of industry and peace. The liufibandman rejoices in the increase of his fields and we acknowledge with gratitude the prosper ous events which in the year pnit have attended the various branches of commerce prosecuted in this State, and have in some degree revived the fifheries under rheir continued embarrafsmems; our manufactures and mechanical arts are rapjly inciejfing, and daily improving. NORFOLK, February iy. SHIP NEWS. CapeHenlofen, Feb. P. M. WindE. N. E. a heavy bank hovering over Philadelphia—dark gloomy weather. The B 1, a line of battle {hip of New-Jersey, in the offing, making signals, but not understood by the fleet. The A s, one of the fir ft (hips of Mafiachu fetts, flieltered herfelf under the bank, but was iniflaken in her foundings. The Conlliturion, a new ftiip, conftruded for the Eastern Ocean. 1 lie crew of this ihip, it is said, has disobeyed orders, in ajfuming preroga tives which they were not entitled to, at which, the late Lords of the Admiralty are much dis pleased, and for which {he has been so generally ailaulted, that her frame is much wrecked, and it is said she muff be coppered, as her bottom is worm eaten. She is supposed to be a fliip too large and nnweildy for the Atlantic Ocean, and' it is thought by some (who are not acquainted with navigation) that it would have been better to have laid out the money that she cost in two light 74's, one to have cruised on St. George's Bank, and the other off Charlelton bar. c. U.s. ]he J n, an active 74 of Georgia, has never seen an enemy, but has attacked it with firnmef* and intrepidity, but has unfortunately been over powered by heavier metal ; being much (battered, it is said she is to be laid up in ordinary, for two years, having received a found drubbing from the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary at War, two flag fbips of the enemy's squadron. Ihe M n, a finall ship with heavy ord nance, has been attacked by every capital (hip of the enemy s fleet ; she, however, broke their line and fought herfelf clear, but by an error in keep ing the log, she over-run her reckoning to the Eastward, and got entangled with the rocks of Scilly, and the whirlpool of Charibdis ; but by altering her course she escaped shipwreck; — she is a valuable lhip and it is to be hoped (lie will be more cautious in her reckoning for the future. It is apprehended the bank has opened a falfe channel for her to enter at, to take her off from the support of her squadron, but it is expected flie will keep a good look-out and not be decoyed -her batteries have been opened against thebank, with well diretfted fires, but it has such a number of heavy metal ships inoor'd around it, that lit> tie impression has hitherto been made, being co vei ed with the W eallh of the Nation, a (Ilip of 120 guns, the A s, a 74, the G y, an old (hip that has proved herfelf very obflinate in many haid fights, the S k, commanded by a purita nical presbyterian, of more felf-importance than any in the navy, theSh n commanded by old Reynard, who scarcely ever loft a battle, the ' e whole captain is very confident in the weight of his own metal, the V g, aSO gun (hip, wliofe captain expecfts promotion from his ftip s quick (ailing, and his 1 eadinefs to repeat signals from the Admiral, with a number of other of (mailer note ; hence it is ftippofed the M » and its fleet will not be fufficient to dispel the bank, as he has in his fleet the J n which has as already observed, been much wrecked in the service, the G s, a new 74 from Virginia, the ciew of which has not been yet well disciplined, theL ea64 who was never considered a found flnp, the \V ean old crazy fli-ip, her command
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