tereft irp to the dose of the 3afl ypar ; ant! the only question now is, whether any alteration ihall be made in the funding bill ; whether one class of public< creditors /hail have a different measure of jultice dealt out to them, from what others have had : he concluded with a wish that the fubjetft fiiould be taken up in committee of the whole. The quedion, on the reference to the .Secre tary of iii« 1 reafury, was then taken, and loft v. liere upon, JY!r. Luwranrc mover!, that the perition fhou!d be referred to a committee of the whoie house. Mi". jßondiuot was ofoplnion, th:-t tliefunding fyllem ' la d done ample juflice, and that thok v, ho complied with it, have no reasonable ground tit' complaint : at the time of thepafiing the law, it had been laid, that men would be forced by it to come in and subscribe, whether they would or not ; a clause was there/ore inserted in favor of non-fiibfcribing public creditors, by virtue'of wbirh.the petitioners,who areof the non-fubfciilv itig dais, consider themselves in the fane Jituati oii us befoie the law was enabled ; but an impio per conltrutflion has been given to that clause, and therefore it is that the creditors complain : were any one of them to bring an adlion against the public officers, he would in his opinion, ob tain redress : they applied to the House for re drew ; and thequeftion was, wiiether they should be forced to subscribe, or be entitled to the bene fit of their contract ; he would not wijh that any man should be forced to comply with the terms of the funding system ngainft his will : he would have every man at liberty to accept or reject them at his pleasure.; and he thought it unreasonable that any man should have his fix per cent reduc ed to four, without his own consent. Mr. JFitzfimons thought further information on the fuhjeift neceflary, and therefore it was, that he favored the reference : one circu'tnftance, he said, was unattended to by the gentlemen who had spoke on the Aibje<ft ; and that was, that the non-fuhfcribing creditors mult deliver up the o riginal certificates, before they can receive their interett ; but this they do not choose to do, be caul'e these certificates bear a promise of interest on the original value,and they would afterwards receive interest only on the reduced value. The quellion being then taken on the commit ment to a committee of the whole, and loth Mr. Sedgwick moved a resolution, that the prayer of the petition cannot be granted. The queflion being called for, Mr. iiarnewell oblerved that he, and probably fonie others of the new members, were not thoroughly acquaint ed with the fubjeOt ; and therefore hevyifliedthe quellion might be puftponed. The resolution Was, in conference, ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Lawrance then called up a petition of fonHry inhaditants of tlie state of New-York, holders of certain bills of credit, ilS'ued in 1780. Referred to the Secretary of the Treafory, to consider and report his opinion thereon. Mr. Baldwin called up the petition of General Jackson, relative to the Georgia election ; which, after, some debate, was referred to the commit tee heretofore appointed to report a regular and uniform mode of proceeding in cases of ronteited elections. Adjourned. THURSDAY, November 17, Mr. Hartley, member for Pennsylvania, and Mr. Schoonmaker, from New-York, took their feats this day. Sundry petititions were presented, read, and, committed. Mr. Lawrance laid the following refolntionon the table, Ilefolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for extending tlje time limited for fettling the accounts between the United States »tid individual States. IN COMMITTER OF THE WHOLE, On the bill directing rbe mode in which, certain evidences of the debt of the United States which have been loft or destroyed, may be renewed— Mr. Muhlenberg in the chair— The bill was read. Mr. Sedgwick moved that tlie words, loft or, fcould be ltruck out of the firlt clause—He said that the provisions in the bill to guard against im position on the public in cases of 101 l certificates, did not appear to him to be adequate to the pur- P"'® — an 'l this was not only his opinion, but that of every gentleman who was on the committee **ho hail reported the bill in the above foiin, a greeable to orders of the Hoivfe, He called on ihofe gentlemen who were in favor of retaining the Words, to devise a mode by which the public Blight be secured. Mr. Lawrance was opposed to the motion—He thought the bill itfelf contained competent pro viuons in the cafe ; he pointed out several other Particulars which might be attended to in the P r »cefs of this bnfinefs, that would afford fuffici ei 't security— furh as the checks which would -l-eitain that the certificates, which it was ("aid loft, had exifted—reference to the left cer li -c.aie might be contained in the certi ".nte—a procra.:>nat!p» for a considerable time "i the payment of the mtereit, & r Mr Sedgwidc . c-piied, that the difficulties would Hp ' S rr 10 "' >e obviated b what thegen .le»a, had higgelted. The committee Pl'-l for information to the Officers of the ■ ! eall!! T." ho werit decidedly of opinion that no . cfeqit.ite provifton againlb deception could bede ' ed in respect to the renewal of lolt certificates. Conhct-rahie debate occurred on the motion, bi. h was finally agreed 10, and the words 101 l or ltrr.cK out. Sundry other amend merits were agreed to by the committee—they then rose, and the Chairman raported them to the house. On motion to agree to the fir ft amendment, Mr. Bourne (R. I.) said he hoped that it would not be agreed to, as he conceived the bill in its pi e.ent form would not afford the relief proposed in any degree—because, he obl'erved, that there were very few cases in which politive evidence of i,ic delh uction of a certificate could be pro- Mr. Sedgwick observed that, most undoubtedly, Itrong prejianpthe evidence would answer in eve ry cafe, which would come before the perlbn ap pointed to judge on t bote occasions. Mr. Seney was opposed to the amendment he laid it made a difcriminatioli between twoclafl'es of unfortunate per.sons, which was not warrant ed in reason or justice. If this amen J-nent Jhould be agreed to, he should think himfelt obliged to vote sgainft the bill altogether. Mr. Sheredine and Mr. Murray spake a)fo a gainfl the motion to agree to the ameadhient An adjournment being tailed for, the house rose without taking the vote. FRIDAY, November 18. Mr. White prefemed the petition ot Philip Bonfh, prayingthat a loft or destroyed ce»tificate t his property, may be renewed. Mr. Vining presented a petition from the branch pilots of the river and bay of Delaware, stating certain disadvantages which they labor under, on account of the suspension of a certain law of the state of Pennsylvania, in their favo*.; also on account of the reduced rates of pilotage, which were ellablifhed upwards of 30 years ago read a.id referred to the committee appointed to ic port a bill for the regulating of pilots, &c. in the bays of Chcfa peake and Delaware. Mi. La w ranee prt Tented the representation and petition of John FraiikJm, praying compmfation for a quantity of mahogany, See. used in the public service during the late war—read and referred to the Secretary of the Treafnry. Mr. Boudinot prefemed the petition of James Weeks, praying com pen faiion for loss fuflained on a vefTel destroyed during the' late war, to promote the public inttreft ; laid on the table. Mr. Page repo.'ted a bill apportioning the reprefentaiion of the people of ihe United States according to the firft enumeration, which was read the firft and second time, and referred to the com mittee of the whole house, on Monoav next—to be primed in the interim ; Bv this bill New-Haniplhire is to have 4, MafTa chufetts Rhode-Island 2, Vermont 2, Connecticut 7, New- York 11, New-Jersey 5, Permlylvania 14, Delaware i, Mary land 9, Virginia 21, Kentucky 2 after next June, North Carolina 1 1, audGeorgia 2 Keprefentativcs in iheCongrefs to be chosen alter Minch 1793 ; South-Carolina accotding to the census after it is compleaied. Sundry petitions were read, and committed to the Secretary of War 10 icport thereon. A (milage was received from the Senate by Mr. Secretary Otis, communicating to the Houle a letter from the President ot the Afli mbly of'thc Colony of St. Domingo to the Congress of the United States. The Speaker communicated a letter from the Treafurrr of the Uniied States cnclofing a copy ot' his Indent account ; thcfc were read andlaid on the table. 1 he amendments proposed by the committee of the whole to the bill dirc£ling the mode of renewing certain certificates of pub lic debt which have been loft or destroyed—were taken into con sideration, and after considerable debate accepted by the House ; but tht question for engrossing in order to the third reading be ing put was negatived, and the bill consequently loft. Mr. Ames of thecommtttee to whom the petition of James 'Jackson was referred brought in a report which was read, and laid on the table. This report had reference to the mode of pro cedure in investigating the fubje&of the contested election. The memorial ot the commiflioned officers lecving in the army of the United States, refpc&ing the redu&ion ot their pay, &c.— was read and referred to a feie&committee, consisting ot Meftrs. 1 awrance, Williamfon, and Kitchell. The (Unding committee of flections, reported on the letter from the Executive of the state of Maryland, refpe&ing the resig nation of William Pinckney, and the ele&ion of John Francis Mercer in his ftcad—the report was that John F. Mercer was duly cle&ed. The report was read and lai don the table. The petition of Capt. Jonathan Hafkell, a sum of money received by him on the public account, and which he had loft, was read and committed to the Secretary ot War, to report a state of fa£fs relative thereto. The petitions of Jofias Clapham, Daniel Robbins, Philip Boufh and Phineas Ware, praying that certain loft or destroyed certifi cates may be renewed, were iead,and referred to the Secretary of the Tr afurv. Mr. Fitzfimons, of the committee on the petition of Stephen Zacchary, reported a resolution for the appointment of a com mittee to bring in a bill to grant relief pursuant to the prayer of laid petition. Adjourned till Monday. The Speech and Oath 0} the King ej the French, spoken in the National Atfembly, on the 14th Sept. 1791, for the Acaptation of the Constitution. Gentlemen, I COME here solemnly to confirm the accept ance I have given to the Constitutional A<ft ; in consequence—l SWEAR TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE NATION AND TO THE LAW, and to employ all the power which is delegated to me to maintaining the Conftilution decreed by the Condiment National Aflembly, and causing the laws to be executed. May this great and memo rable Era, be that of the re-eft ablifhm en t of peace and unity, and become the pledge of the happi ness of the people and of the prosperity of the empire 235 Philadelphia, November 19. In elafling the Senators from the Hate of Vermont, Mr. Brad ley ot the cl<Hs whose feats will become vacant at the expira tion of four years, trom March, 1791— and Mr. Robinson, of l/fat whole feats will be vacated in fix years, A bill refpe&ing Consuls and Vice-Consuls, and a biU to deter mine the time of choosing President and Vice-President of tl, - United States, have had a second reading :n the Senate of thcfUniic*! States. In our lad it was mentioned that the King of Spain had declar ed war against rhc Moor*—it now appears that the sovereign of Morocco had been before hand in declaring war against .Span;. The letter from the King of France to the Natipnal AHembly, «n which he accepts of the Couftmnion, is dated the 13th <S C p:! On the 14th he was to meet ihe National AlTemblv to ratify th<- eeiebrated instrument in their presence. The Ceremony of the proclamation of the Constitution took pJace the 18th, in the FieJd of Confederation. The Mayor of Poms, preceded by Heralds', and surrounded by a numerous and brilliant troop of grenadiers' ascended the Altar of the Country \ arrived at the summit, he held up the Constitutional Code to the veneration of an immense mul titude of citizens, who rent the air with shouts and acclamations of joy. At 5 o'clock, a superb balloon -/as raised, and in the evening the molt brilliant illuminations took place in the £lyfi3n Fields, &c. &c. Ihe King and Queen, with the Prince Royal, vi sing these, were received with enthusiasm, and shouts of Vive U Roi, and Vive la Reine, were heard from all quarters. The Aristo crats, it is said, are all in the utmost consternation at the Kino's ac cepting the Constitution. Thus the National AfTembly have brought their labors to a tri umphant ifTue, by giving to the people of France a Conllitution, in which, like that of the United States,the principle of improve ment is infufed ; so that, if on experiment, it (hould be lound in adequate to the preservation of «' peace, liberty and fafctt," it is fufcepuble of being carried to the delired degree of perfection. The fubjetH of the disturbances in the French Colonies has occasioned much warmth in the Na tional Aflembly, according to the latest accounts. 1 he intelligence we may expert to receive from France after the recent accounts from Hifpaniola lhail have reached Europe, will bo peculiarly in teresting; for notwithstanding the idea of' dif tanc Colonies as appendages to a government has been lately philosophized upon, as disadvan tageous, and pernicious to the parent country, it appears that very powerful intei efts :\re in volved in the question as it refpecfts France. As a free government depends on the virtue of the people, and every degree of virtue owes its exigence to light and information—the friends of our happy Constitution and the rights of the people, may be felic'.ated on the profpec't which now prcfents of (opening the channels of infor mation to all parts of the Union. The Prefidenc of the United States, with that promptitude ai;«l decision with which he delivers his opinion on erery fubjetft connected with the public welfare, has recommended this business to t he serious con lideration of the Legifiature.—And it maybe de pended on that every individual member of both houses, a* well as every officer at the head of the executive departments, are fully imprefled with this idea—that the people have a right to be fully informed of the tranfadtions of their government, and of the reasons on which all its decisions are founded. This being the cafe, it is hardly pos sible that the public expeiftation fliould be again disappointed. Extrafi of a letter from Port-au-Prince, dated Oil, 25 " I have the pleasure of informing you, that peace is once more made between the Whites ancl Mulattoes, on Saturday last, the 22d inlL andyef terday 2500 of the latter marched with their arms into town, and paraded in company with the for mer before the church ; at which time the inha bitants, with the officers of each party, entered the church, and lung Te Deum. How long the peace will last, is uncertain, as a number of the inhabitants are not well pleased. Upon what terms the peace is made, I cannot at present in form you." The English newspapers are, according to some late accounts, divided into three descriptions Ministerial, Anti-Ministerial, and Neutral—that is, thofein favor of Administration, thofeagainft it, and those who are indifferent. In this account we do not find that there are any who are in fa vor of the people—What a set of venal wretchec does this make of the Printers !—The fame, or similar accounts, appear refpe<fting the French papers—thej are said to be licentious to the highest degree—the fa<fts only, which they de tail, are to be relied on—for in the collisions of party, right and wrong, truth and falfliood are merely convertible terms—Hence weare obliged to go to the Netherlands for impartiality and ho-- nefly—hence also the celebrity of the Leyden Gazette, which is now said to be the oracle ot politics in the European world. PRICE CURRENT.—PUBLIC SECURITIES, FUNDED DEBT, si pr. Cents ttf afi pr. £. 3 pr. Cents 12J6 Defercd 6 pr. Cents 13/ a UNFUNDED DEBT. Final Settl. and other Certificates igj Indents 11/6 do. Bank Subfcriptiors, Ito 143 Dollars, An Orro\ENT is received, but prior engagements prevents ils appearing till our next. s 5E »11 pr. ceftf. do. 66J do.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers