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PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 69, HIGH-STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 74, of Vol. lII.] Wednesday, Januar.y ii, 1792.
ADDRESS
TO THE CITIZENS OF
WESTMORELAND, WASHINGTON, FAYETTE AND
ALLLCfJANY COUNTIES.
ON THE
REVENUE
By JOHN NEVILLE, Inspector of the Revenue,
Survey No. 4, District Pennsylvania
(continued.)
IF the duty is too high for your ability to pay it, it might be
reason tor an application to Congress to lower it, but it can be
none for an oppofuion to the whole.
But is there fertoufly any reason to believe, that the fa£t alledg
ed is well founded ? Is not the duty payable half yearly ? Does
not the government of the United States continually fend a much
larger sum among you, towards the support of the troops <*n the
frontiers, and for the payment of such of yourselves as are called
into fervire, for your own immediate defence., than you will re
<]uir<" for the half yearly payment of the duty ?
I have no doubt myfelf, that a fair trial of the thing will con
vince you of the contrary of what is aflerted. Let the experiment
be made, and if the payment of the duty is found to produce any
real difficulty ordittrefs, then may your representation, being
founded on experience, be expe&ed to have weight with the na
tional councils, and to lead to a diminution of the rate of the
duty.
I have now, fellow-citizens, gone through those objections of
the committee, which appear to have been intended as arguments,
and I flatter mylelt you will agree with me, that I have fully an
swered them. There are, however, some observations and sug
gestions in one of the addreflfes of the committee, which ought
nor be palled over in fjlence.
It is laid, that the tax carries with it a great insult In the col-
Je&ion : bccaufc <1 freeman is treated like a knave, and an oath ex
acted as of one who may defraud, a mark set upon his door and
upon all calks and veflels, and his buildings invaded and searched
by orficejs callous to humanity.
judge, fellow-citizcns, for yourfelvcs of the candor and weight
of thele mfinuations
I have already observed to you that oaths are constantly required
oi matters and owners of veflels, in order to the colle6tion of tne
duties on impoited articles generally, that this is the common
pra&ice in like cases, and thai it was the pra&ice under the state
la ws. I have added that it is submitted to without a murmur as
an indispensable requisite.
Are matters of veflels, the mer;hants of your country, and the
numerous impoiters of goods for their own use of all proteflions,
less FREEMEN than you are ? Can a requisition which they ac
quielce in as proper and unavoidable be deemed an insult to
you ?
Are the inhabitants of free countries exempted from the ordi
nary vices and frai-Jtits of human nature ? Are there no felons,
no cheats, no fraudulent individuals among them ? Is every
FREEMAN ofcourf.* an honest man ?
Why, then, all the laws for the puniihment of crimes and for
the fupprcflion of vice and immorality ? Do not these suppose
equally with the regulations complained of that there are knaves
among freemen as well as among other men ?
Would to heaven it were not sb ! But you would laugh at the
person who should tell you it was not. And yet this is the sub
stance of what the committee fay.
As well might i( be said, the law prescribing oaths to witnefles
and jurymen in courts of juitice carries with it a great insult. A
free man is treated as a har, and an oath exa&ed as fiom one
vho may lie.
What would you fay to such an observation ? Or what ought
you to fay to one which amounts exadtly to the fame thing ? What
is the true view of the matter ?
It is this. There are knaves among all societies, among free
men as well as among the fubje&s of despots. The laws mull
luppote the fadt, bccaufe it is a fact ; and they muff make pro
vision accordingly, not only for the security of the public, but
lor the security ot honest men against kn a v es, and as the le
giflatuic have no mark by which to distinguish the honest man
iiom the knave, its precautions rnuft of neceflity apply to all. If
there were no oaths nor penalties in revenue laws, houeit men
would bear the whole burthen and knaves would go free.
Hence the oaths which are required ;hence the registers granted
toihips, and the other numerous documents they are obliged to
-provide ; hence the marks set upon them, delignating then names
and the places to which they belong, which you will find to be
required by the laws ; hence the marks upon buildings, casks
and other veffcls containing fpints, hence, in fine, all the precau
tion of all ihe revenue laws of all the countries in the world.
I he marking of buildings, however, has evidently another ob
ject, favorable to an exemption of the persons concerned, from
improper intrusions and searches. It designates to the officers the
buildings and even the particular apaitments, to which alone
they can have access, and warns them not to intrude upon any
other. It is therefore, one of the means, by which the power of
infpe&ing and searching is confined within reasonable limits.
I need not, I am sure, trouble you longer on this point,
ihe committee, after treating the tax in question with every
species of opprobrium, and reprobation, go on to aflign a reason
tor its having been laid. They tell us in substance, that it was to
conceal from the people the amount of the money raised upon
chem, left ihiy should enquire into the appropriations of it.
Judge again for yourselves of the fairnefs of this suggestion.
Ihe provifionsof the conllitution, and the practice of the go
vernment, will afford the bell answer to it.
First. hisan express atticle of the constitution of the federal
government, "That no money shall be drawn from the
tkf.asu RV, bm in consequence ot' appropriations made by
law, and thai a regular st at em en t and accounts of the receipts
and expenditures of all public money (hall be published from
time to time. r
Second. By the law of Congress efbblifhing the Treasury de.
partinent, it is made the duty of the officer at the head of that
department, who is called the Secretary of the Treasury, among
other things " to prepare and report to Congress eflima.es of the
public revenue and the public expenditure," and it is made the
duty of another officer called the Treasurer, to receive and pay
the monies of the United States, upon warrants drawn by the Se
cretary. cou.nerftgned by the comptroller, and recorded by
the regiser of the Treasury. The comptroller is the officer,
•who, aftrr they have paflVd under the examination of the audi
tor, finally fettles all public accounts. The register is the officer
A W
L A \V
who keep* the public books and records. It is further made the
duty ot the Treafurerto render his accounts to the comptroller
quarterly or oftenerif required, for fettlemen*, and when fettled,
he is to fend a copy to the Secretary of the Treasury, and on the
third day of every feflion of Congress, he is to lay before the two
Houses, lair and exd£t copies of all the accounts by him rendered
and fettled, together with a true and perfett account of the state
of the Treasury ; he u obliged at all times to submit to the Secre
tary of the Trealury and the comptroller or either of them the in
fpeftion of the monies in his hands, and for the faithful perform
ance of all this he is obliged to give lecuriiy in the considerable
sum ot one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. So far you will
fee that the greatest care has been taken to secure a due administra
tion of the public monies, and an exatt knowledge of the courle
of the receipts and expenditures.
Thirdly. The Secretary of the Treasury, in pursuance of the
provision which has been mentioned, yearly Jays before Congress
a particular liatement of all the monies which are required for the
ferviceof the year, particularly fpecifying before hand vvery ob
je£t for which it is wanted. This estimate is committed for ex
amination to a special committee, who report a bill comprehend
ing an appropriation or grant for all fach objects fpecified in the
estimates as appear to be conformable to law and right, and di
recting or pointing out the funds out of which the money is to
be paid.
Both the previous estimate and the law are afterwards inserted
in the public newspapers, so that every citizen who wonld give
himfelf the trouble, may inform himfelf of the sums appropriated,
and the purposes lor which they are appropriated.
The Secretary of the Treasury also lays before Congress state
ments of the amount of the|public debt, and of the interest upon
it, and estimates of the probable amount of the taxes proposed to
be laid by Congress, which are likewiVe published in the news
papers for the information of the people.
The fame officer, likewise, makes returns to Congress of the
yearly product of all the taxes which they lay, fpecifying the ar
ticles on which they are laid, the expences of the collection, and
the nett residue, which comes into the Treasury. These returns
too, as well as all the other documents are publifhcd in the news
papers for the information of the people/
By the instruCtions which have issued from the Treasury pur
suant to the law in question, each collector of the revenue is to
make a weekly return of the produce of all distilleries which are
rated per gallon of the spirits dift.illed to the inspeCtor within
whose survey he is, who is to make a like weekly return to the su
pervisor of the diftriCt. Each collector is also to render to his in
speCtor a quarterly account of all monies colleCted by him; and
each inspeCtor is to render to his supervisor a like quarterly ac
count of all the monies collected within his survey, and each su
pervisor is to render a like quarterly accountof all the monies col
lected within his distriCt to the Treasury, where the duties are
charged on the stills, these being payable half yearly, the ac
counts from the respeCtive officers are Tendered half yearly instead
of quarterly as in the other cafe ; and from the whole of these re
turns, a general statement will be made up at the Treasury, which,
as in preceding cases, will, of course be reported to Congress, and
by them communicated through the newspapers to the public.
Hence, therefore, you perceive, that the constitution, laws and
practice of Congress are all united in the point of giving the peo
ple the molt full and complete previous information, of the money
raised upon them in every way, of the expence of railing it, of
what comes into the Treasury, and the manner in which it is dis
posed of. Here is more communication than has an example un
der any other government; more even than has been experienced
under any of the State governments. Here is no mystery, no
concealment. Here is evidence of the direCt contrary of what
the committee suggest to have been the probable motive with Con
gress for seleCting the duty on spirits as a resource of revenue.
(to >1 CONTINUED.)
FROM THE FARMER'S JOURNAL.
THE METABASIST
SHE MUST DlE"—faid the Dodlor—
" She mull die—She has a Jpafm of
juices"—The mother wept aloud—" Is there 110
help Doctor ?" said /he, " Mult I then lose my
only child ?"—" I have tried every remedy,"
said the Doctor, setting his hand upon his hip,
" which is known to the healing arc—and there
is no man, I'll allure you better acquainted with
medicine than myfelf; for I travelled three
years with the great Indian-Doctor Mohohonock." I
The scene was truly affetfting.—While the
Dotftor without any emotion of pity, boasted of
his (kill :—The mother was affectionately tak
ing leave of her daughter—" Adieu," " adieu,
gentle spirit ; fondly did 1 hope thou wouldft
live to be the supporter of my age." 1 was
too much affected with pity for the mother, and
indignation againlt the Doctor to be a farther
witness :—I dole silently from the room.
—Of all quacks, quacks in phyficare most per
nicious to the common people.—Can a man of
feeling be a witness of the daily havock, made
by these officers of death, among his fellow crea
tures, without a sigh ?—lndeed I could hardly
refrain from tears, while tny uncle, the other e
vening, told how his father was physicked out of
the world by one of these Doctors, because he
had a red spot upon his nose, which the quack
declared to be a cancer. —But said my uncle,
" my father had as found a nose the day he di
ed as the Doctor himfelf."
—Perhaps, reader, you are learned,may be,
member of the State legislature; you fay, " I de
left a quack, I would never employ him"—but
your neighbour is an illiterate man, who cannot
determine whether a physician be a man of learn
ing an J Ikill or not.—But, reader, if you do not
2 93
[Whole No. 2 82.]
in reality belong to the legislative body, yet for
this once imagine you do.—lmagine that twice a
year you afleinble yourfelf with the wile men of
the State to ena<ft laws for the good of the peo
ple—lmagine that you have kindly provided a
gainst quacks in law, by impowering our County
Courts co inquire into the learning and abilities
of those who design ihemfelves for the profeffion
of the law, and to give licence if their know
ledge is fufficieAt—lmagine that you have by a
statute restrained swine—And then iipagine (but
blush while you even imagine it) that these quack
physicians are permitted to depopulate your do
minions.—
By an English statute, 5 Eliz. chap. 4, no per
son is allowed to execute any trade of (kill, un
less he has firft served a regular apprenticeship
ot seven years.—Surely as much care ought to
be taken that men (hould not be deprived of
their health and lives, as that a clock (hould keep
time regularly.— By a statute of this state, a tan
ner is not allowed to fell leather, unlets he has
firft manifefted his (kill 10 the County Court,and
from them obtained licence ; nor then until the
leather has been approved of, and sealed by a
sworn sealer : But phyficiansare allowed to make
and vend medicine, and are not even themselves
required to knsw what they are, or what will be
their eflfedl.— It is a serious confederation.—ls it
not high time there (hould be some regulations
concerning physicians. .tffo
FROM THE COLUMBIAN CENTINEL.
MR. RUSSELL,
WITH a lingular species of zeal and philan
thropy, the cause of the hostile Indians,
againfl whom the army under Gen. St. Clair,
was directed, is advocated—their fufferings deli
neated—and their diftrefles depicted. But to
impute any of these, if they exilt—to a want of
humanity in government, is unjust—The desire
to establish permanent and honorable peace be
tween the United States and all the tribes of In
dians, has been zealously exhibited both by the
former and present governments. In some in
flances they have been attended with success—
as the treaties between us and the Creeks. Choc
taws, Cherokees, and others. But all endeavors
to effe<fl Peace with the Indians in the regions
North-Weft of the River Ohio, have proved abor
tive.
" The General Government took early mea
sures for this purpose Treaties had been form
ed, under the old Government, with the Six Na
tions, the Wyandots and Delaware!, and fomemore
of the Western Indians ; but the Wabajh Indians
always declined to attend at the negociations of
those treaties, notwithftandiijg they were invit
ed thereto.
•' In order, If possible to bring those deluded
people to a just sense of their situation, the Pre
sident of the United States, directed that they
fliould be invited a-new, to treat of peace, and
that the consequences of their refufal, and per
sisting in hostilities, fho-dd be fully placed before
them—and at the fame time, the people of Ken
tuckey were prohibited from making any further
incursions into the Indian Country.
" This invitation was executed early last year,
to all the Tribes inhabiting the River IVabaJh,
from Polt Vincennes up to Miami village. The
invitation was not only refufed by the Indians,
but their hollilities were renewed with greater
violence than ever.
" The campaign, therefore, of the Jaft and
this year, were ineafures of neceflity—The Indi
ans had been invading our frontiers, and had
killed many hundred innocent men, women and
children.
" It became just and highly proper, that the
power of the United States should be put in mo
tion againlt these blood-thirsty tribes—and than
it should be ineffectual is to be deplored—and at
tributed to the fmallnefs of our numbers.
" Notwithstanding the provocations of these
Indians, it is said, nieafures will be taken to o
pen their eyes to their true interell : But if the
measures taken for this purpose fliould be in vain,
the meekness of christianity willjuftify the go
vernment, in taking efFecflual nieafures to prevent
the murder of its peaceable citizens ; and the
arrangements to be made, it is hoped will be en
tirely adequate to the full convidtion of the hos
tile Indians, that they have abundantly more to
hope, from the mercy, than to expetfl from the
weakness of the United States."