jeA—that a compliance with the •"efolution
would operate agnnft the intereft'of the United
States
The officers of the treafiry are proceeding in
this business; no charge of remifsnefs has been
adduced—they have already made greater pio
grefs in fettling the old accounts since the new
government came into operation, than had been
done in many years previous thereto ; and their
investigations receive no interruption but what
arises from the more important bufineis of tiie
present government.
It was enquired what would be tbe effVrt of this
resolution ?—it would bring forward 1000 or
1500 names of persons apparently debtors 10 the
United States ; but the principal part of whom
were either creditors, or did not owe the public
one ng. What is intended to be done as a
consequence of this "disclosure ?—is it designed
that suits shall bs inltitu ted ngainft these per
sons f—that would induce an unprodutfti ve ex
pence, to an amount which cannot now be elti
inated. The Comptroller is empowered by law
to sue every delinquent; but is he to exercise
no discretion in the discharge of his duty —It
had been ilated as a reason for adopting the re
solution, that its object was to afcei tain to what
amount these balances if any-,would fupercetie the
neceflity of additional taxes—but it wasafked,
■would the government be jtilt 1 fieri in adeffing one
farthing less.on. account of these balances, which
inuft be considered in a great measure as fidtiti
ous ?—lt was further said that it was utterly im
poflible for the officers of the" treasury to lfiake
out the statement in question during the present
fefilon.
In support of the resolution it was Paid that it
did not imply either direCtly or indirectly any
imputation againfi: the' Comptroller—the Houle
has undoubtedly-a right to call on any of its offi
cers for information—it is an opinion abroad,
that there are large sums due from individuals',
and the public has.a right to befatisfied that the
proper steps have.been taken to . recover tfiofe
fums-,—thofe fteps'msv have been- pursued, hut
it is not known that they have—furthar it jvas
said that this information was necefl'ary in order
to being able to form a competent judgment of
the state of the public accounts—that :tlie. infor
mation in qiieftion, the Houle had a inoft un
doubted right to receive ; and that it was a very
llrange idea indeed to suppose that it contained
any reflection on the Comptroller, or any other
officer of the Treasury • it was further said, that
no difficulties ought to deter the House from go
ing into the invelligation ; it was immaterial
whofi? names were brought forward in eonfe
quence—the balances due to the public oughtte
be known—That similar objections to'thofe now
offered, will afways lay againit going into this'
invertigation, and in proportion to the urgency
of the enquiry, will be rhe strength and ingenui
ty of those objections—with refpeCt_ to the disclo
sure of names, it was observed that the truth once
known, would let every man's character in a just
point of light—the enquiry, so far from proving
injurious to such characters, appears to be the
moll direCl method to do away the prejndicesar.d
suspicions that have been circulated againit them.
It is said to be problematical whether there are
any balances due ; but if it should appear that
there are, they may be obtained, and a much
greater I'um realized than is now thought ot, and
new burthens on the people to that amount may
be prevented.
FRIDAY, February 24.
A petition from A. M'Call, and others, nier
chants, praying to be indulged in a longer t£rm
for ihe payment of the duties on a quantity of
teas, by them imported from China, —was refer
red to the fame Ipecial committee, who have al
ready uuder confideraiion a similar petition from
New-York.
A memorial was presented, from the merchants
of Philadelphia vsho trade to India, China, and
other parts of Asia, praying ihe interposition of
Congress to protect their trade, by making a
greater discrimination in the duties imposed on
Asiatic commmodities, directly imported from
Asia, and on articles of the fame kind imported
from Europe.— Referred to a committee of the
whole on the state of the Union.
The house proceeded to coufider the amend
ments proposed by the Senate, to the frontier
bill ; —whereupon the galleries were cleared,
and the doors continued for some time fliut.
■ After the opening of the doors,
The House resolved itfelf into a committee of
the whole—(Mr. Muhlenberg in the chair) —and
refbmed the consideration ofrhe resolution, pro
posed by Mr. Livermore, refpe<sting the indem
nification of General Greene's estate.
Afier some debate, the resolution (amended as
foil ows) was agreed to ; —yeas, 25 ; nays, 23.
' Whereas the late Major Gen. N. Greene, on
the Bth day of April, 1 783, the more effectually
to procure rations and supplies for the southern
ariny of the United States, became bound as su
rety for John Banks & Co. to Meffis. Newcotrien
afid Collet, merchants, in Charleston ; for the
payment of 57431. 15
the condition of t!ie laid r- ;; :: > , _
the firft day of May, 1786, the . ,f pr ,
cipal and iutereft of the (aid bon .
86881. 6s. (lerllng, was paid by the laid Genei
Greei e :—Therefore,
_' Resolved, That the United Stares {hall indem
n 'fy the eltate of the said Gen. Greene for the
(aid sum 1 ast mentioned, and the inrereltthereof,
or for such sum as (upon due investigation, by
the officers of the treasury, of the tralifaction be
tween John Banks & Co. and Mefl'rs. JNewcomefi
& Collet, in which Gen. Greene was security for
laid Banks & Co.) it fliall appear, that neither
Gen. Greene, nor his executors, /hall have re
ceived any payment or compensation for Pro
vided, the executors of the said Genera] Greene
lhall account for a sum, being about 2,0001. (be
the fame more or ]ess) recovered of John Ferrie,
one of the partners of the said Banks & Co. to
be in part of the indemnification aforefaid, to be
sued for in the name of the said executors, for
the use of the United States."
The committee having risen, and reported the
resolution, as amer.ded—the Houl'e adjourned.
SATURDAY, February 25.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
the amendments, proposed by the Senate, to the
bill making further and more effectual provjfton
for the defenfive protection of the frontiers of
the United States—whereupon the galleries were
cleared.
MONDAY, February 27.
Mr. S. Bourne brought in the enrolled bill re
lative to the election of a Prefidenc and Vice.
Prefidentof the United States, &c. which was
signed bv the Speaker.
The order of the day on the contested election
of the member for the lower diflritft of Georgia
being called for,
Mr. Wayne rose, and after observing that the
last postponement had not afforded fufficient time
to receive the evidence which he meant to bring
forward on this occasion, offered a resolution for
a further postponement to the Monday in
March next.
On -it was unanlmotifly voted that a
feat be assigned for the petitioner Mr. Jackson,
in which he might, either by himfelf, or his at
torney, flare his objections, if any, to a further
postponement.—Mr. Jackson accordingly took a
feat withirMhe bar, and addrefling the chair, of
fered several objections to 9 further postpone
ment. To these objections Mr. Wayne replied ;
and after fundrv observations from various parts
of the House, the question on taking up the order
of the day was put and carried.
The resolution for a postponement was then
further discussed and amended, and finally agreed
to in the following words, viz.
" Refolded, That the trial of the contested
election of Anthony Wayne, returned as a mem
ber of this.House to represent the state of Geor
gia, be postponed to the second Monday in March
nexc " —36 members rose in favor of the motion.
, Mr:. Baldwin informed the House that he had
received certain papers relative to this election
from the fuprenje executive of the state of Geor
gia, which he aiked leave to lay on the table a
greeable to inftruciions.
Many objections were made to receiving these
papers from all parts of rhe House. Mr. Bald
win, after remarking that they contained many
documents which the house mult neceflarily re
cur to 111 the coot fe of the trial—and that he had
so far piirlued his inftruftions, as would fully
exculpate the executive of Georgia from any
charge ofremiflnefs in duty ontthe occasion, took
back the papers.
A report was received on the petitions of the
importers of teas from India, which was in favor
of the petitioners—and proposes extending the
time for payment of the duties from one to two
years—Laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. W. Smith, the laws for the
government of the Wettern Territory, received
f1 om the Secretary of State, were committed to
the committee on the petition of Judge Turner.
Mr. Murray laid the following motion on the
table :
Refslved, That the Clerk, on every Monday
'Horning, call over the names of committees to
whom business has been referred. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, February 28.
A rnefTage was received from the Seriate, informing the House
that they recede from some of their amendments to the bill mak
ing further and more effectual provision for the defence of the
frontiers, disagreed to by the House, and insist on o.hers.
A memorial was read from the inhabitants of Chester county,
(Pennfylvaniaj inlavor of the cxcife law—and praying it may not
be repealed. This wasfigned by fifty persons.
Mr. Murray prefer.ted an addrefsfiom J. Chuichman ; praying,
for reasons let forth, a speedy decision on his memorial' prefenttd
some weeks since, and reported on by a feleft committee.
The House took into confideiation the mefTage from the Senate
—on which it was ordered that the galleries should be Hint.
Tne doors being opened, the House went into committee of
the whole on the militia bill—Mr. Muhlenberg in the Chair.
The committee finifhed the difcuflion of the firft fettiori of the
bill ; the- second fe&ion which dehgnates the exemptions being i
lead; Mr.Sumpter moved that the several defcriptionj therein men- I
tioned should be struck out. I
, r, o*
This mfl'ion v»aj debited without coming to a decision tin .
cTdmsw". 3 ' ,hC C ° m,n,tteeto rife = "-e committee ac-
The Houf,, on motion of Mr. Williamfon, took , lp , he rcp „ rt
*f mecommtttee on the memorial of Jolln Churchman • theZ
ponbm.g.cad-a mot,on f or an adjournment was made and
eas, o
SOUTH-CAROLINA
RFC * n '^"° u S'°J J{ <P , <S<>'<<'fWs, D, rm l,- r 20 , 17QI .
F.SOLVtD, fh , tin O. Urates „t , , tc !„ £> f| be
rcqu.rted to exprd, botn Hmife* . C,,,,cf, I. J
Uu State ot the propriety of Cune.ef* .tfuri h, wi, 'i .
public debt ot this State,* incurred i u th, piofccutio,, t ,f' "th" lite
Ordered, That the >efolution be sent to the Senate for th-r
concurrence. ■ *
By order of the Houf-,
John Sandfoku Dart, C. H.U,
Senate, Drcemhtr 20, 1791.
Resolved, That this Hotile do concur with the House of Repre.
ieniauves in (he above rcfoluiion.
Ordered, Tliat the resolutions be sent to the House of Re re
lentatjves.
Felix WAR LEY, C
A true extract, and which I at-teft.
John Sand ford Dart,
r , Clerk ofthe Houle ot Reprcieniatis/es.
folumbia, December 27, 1791.
Philadelphia, February 29.
On Sunday the 19th inft. Id, this city, for the Cherokee couti
ry, the hx Indian Chiefs who arrived here on the 29th of Dc
cember bfi, together with the Squaw who came with mem. Tiiey
were attended with fix waggons, contain,ug thei, baggage. piuvii
fion, &c. and accompanied by a white girl, who had 1 milieu tne
heart oi one of the chiefs, during his residence in this city: and
it is said, has consented to become his wife.
FX rl T n\°/? let r te - toedCtpe-Francois, 24th January, , 7 q 2j to arc-
J put able houje in this city, received by the brig Pratt, Capt. Florence.
1 Referring to a few lines I wrote you two week-, „go, by war
of Baltimore, I have now to add, that profpetfs here, in ajnioft
every respeCt, are daily growing more diflrelfing : the troops ex
petted from have not yet ariived, and the people are ai
moft ready to doubt their coming,
I am truly sorry that I, as well a* manv others, have been too
langtjine in my expe&aiions, refpe&ing matters being accommo
dated with the Blacks, because I am tearful it may have induced
you to adventure property to this port looner than you would,
other wife have done. The treaty with them is entirely laid aside
and they have again began depredations with additional vigour!
La ft week the Blacks revolted in .he neighbourhood ot Fort Dau
phin, and immediately putto death all the troops, fay fiam 40 t 0
50, that were stationed at a village about four leagues from that
P'W, and have deOroyed all the plantations in that quarter, except
very lew adjoining the town. Two nights ago we were exceed
ingly alarmed, at this place by a fevcre attack on the out polls of
this town, by**!e Blacks, who succeeded in getting possession of
one of the small forts, when they turned the guns on the town ;
but fortunately it was again retaken by a party of regular troops!
-ast night this town was again alarmed by small parties of Blacks
>ut were soon repulsed."
-xtrad of a letter from Cape Francois, dated January 23,1792.
ceivcd per brig Pratt, Capt. Florence.
The drums beating to arms Idil night was occasioned by the
negroes wading through the river, and surprizing a small fori ac
the hospital, which they took, and fired fevera (hot into the
town; fever a 1 whites were killed, and seven negroes taken pri
soners, fix of whom were hanged about 1 hours after, and one
brutally mangled by breaking his arms and legs, made fact to a
cross, and there left to die."
O ne ™ an steal an horse while another must not look ovt
th( hedge.
This proverbial faying is verified in the Philadelphia papew,
by the writings which of I.te have pointed out the ruioous eife&i
resulting from members of Congress being permitted to be Di
ridlors of thp National Bank. Many membejrs of the State Legif*
latures are Directors of the State Banks—and the propriety of their •
conduct has not been qucftioned. Have these fault-finders iuft re
ceived the gift of wildpm todifcern the evil tendency of Congress
men being Bank Directors—and is that wisdom blind of one-,
\ eye, so that they can fee but half the evil ? It seems the Dite&oi* »
of the State Banks have the luck to stand on the blind fide of these
centinels for the public.
Congress has been wicked enough to fund the debt—and fa the -
horn is blowed, and the world summoned to arms to defend re
publican liberty which is finking under its enemies, the monied,
men. Congress is to answer for all ihis. But havernot feieral of the.
Stales evui gone beyond Congress, and given an additional two or
three per cent, to such of the creditors as hold the certificates of
thofe States ? These States, however, are innocent of this mifchiet;
and though what they have done may have increased the evil, the
whole fin lies at the door of Congress.—And what is the fin?
After keeping our creditors 12 or 14 yearsiuut of their dues, we .
prpmife to pay them 1 and to make the promise appear better than .
a score of old promises which we have broken, we fay, we pledge
certain revenues which lhall remain sacred to pay the intercflC
Yet for having done this, certain writers have seen fit to treat the -
government as bad as if it was managed by pickpockets. Thev
infmuate that the debt was not fiyided till it had changed haods.
If the funding ast was a long time delayed, after it was firft dr»
bated, it was not the fault of the advocates.of that act. They
would have been glad to hasten its passage. The length and vio.
lence of the debates spread through the country as general a know
ledge of the a& and its principles as can*be cxpefted to accom
pany any measure of the government.
No New-York papers were received by yeflerday's mall—Some
of the Boston papers reach the Editor about once a month, others
not so often.
The lines addrefTed to a young; lady we arc apprehensive would
give offence—there aie other obje£lions to ihem.
Died lately in Pencader, Newcastle County, State of Delaware
in an advanced age, Mrs. Edwards, consort of the Rev. Mr!
Morgan Edwards.
——In the Western Country, Col. Gibson, of the wounds h<;
received in the action on the 4ch November lafl.
Errata—ln Mr. Murray's fpeerh in our iaft for " the pay.
men: of the Dutiesread bounties : And in Mr. Gerry's, last pa
ragraph, after the word branch, add, which Jlands in need of hie
fapport oj government more than any other branch in the " U/iited
Sraics."
PRICE CURRENT.— PUBLIC. SECURITIES.
FUNDED DEBT.
6 pr. Cents 24[6 pr. J.
3 pr. Cents 14^4
Defercd 6 pr. Cents 14/10
UNFUNDED DEBT.
Final Scttl. and other Certificates 22f Iro r?o.
f"' i <*nts 1 4./" 7° no.
Half (hares Bank Stock— >104 per premium.
By order of the Senate.
FROM CORRESPONDENTS
pr. cent.
71 § do.
74 do -