SATURDAY, Map. f h 3 The committee, to whom was referred, on the 2of February, the following motion : " Resolved, That the Secretary of theTrea fury caafe to be laid before the House a (tate ment of the balances, if any, remaining unpaid, which may have been due by individuals to the United States, previous to the 4th day of March, 1789 ; and whether any and what steps havg been taken to recover the fame; and also a (latement of the sundry funis of public monies, which may have been entrusted to individuals, previous to the said 4th of March, 1789, and have not been accounted for —made a report, which, after (latino to the House the various circumstances that hud (truck them in the examination of the treasury books, they concluded by declaring as their opinion, that it will be iinpolfible to obtain the report of the state of accounts contemplated in the above resolution, during the present fef fion, without greatly retarding the current bu(i nefs of the department ; and that it will be inex pedient to take any resolution on the fubjecit matter of the resolution referred to them. Mr. Goodhue, from the committee appointed, reported a •' bill for enrolling and licenling ships and veflels employed in the coasting trade and filheries, and for regulating the fame. Mr. Findley presented nine petitions fronj the. inhabitants of Chester county, in the state of Pennsylvania, praying a revision of the Excise- Law. The House proceeded to the cortfideradori of the amendments offered by the Senate, to the " bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half pay and to invalid pensions."—Some theyagreed to, and disagreed to others. Mr. Secretary Lear delivered a mefTage from the Prefulent of the United States, together with * copy of the return made to him of the number of the inhabitants within the diftrii't of South- Carolina. A report from tlie Secretary of the Treasury, refpeifting compel' 1 ati 011 s to the commissioners of loans, was read and referred to a felecft commit tee, confiding of Meflrs. B. Bourne, Mercer, and Tucker. Adjourned. MONDAY, March j A letter from the Secretary of.State, covering certain arts of the government north-welt of the river Ohio, was communicated by the Speaker, and read—and on motion, referred to the com mitter to wh~oip those before received were re- ferred ' Mr. Grove, of the committee appointed for the purpose, reported a bill providing for the finilh ing the light houfjp on Bald-Head, at the month of Cape-Fear River, which was read the fir(t and second time, and made the order of the day on Tuesday next A report on the petition of the officers of the levies late in the fervicte of thf United States-, ■was read, which was in favor of the prayer of the petition T|ie Hotife took into consideration the amend menis-propofed by the committee of the whole to the militia bill. Some of them were adopted, others disagreed to—several new amendments ■were made, and* the bill ordered to be engroiled. for a third reading. A meflhge fram the Setiate informed the House, that they have parted a bill providing for the re lief of certain widows, invalids, orphans & other persons, with amendments, in which they request the concurrence of the House. A nieflage was received from the Preiident of the United States by Mr. Secretary Lear, com municating to the Hoi<fe the translation of- a let ter from the King of France, announcing his ac ceptance of the Constitution of that kingdom.— These were tead and laid on the table. A meflagefrom the Senate informed the House, that they lnlift on all the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill to ascertain and regulace the claims to half pay and invalid penlions—and propose a conference on the fubjetfsot difagiee ment. A" meflage from the President of the Uni;ed States by Mr. Secretary Lear, informed ihe House, that he had this day approved and signed a bill, entitled, " An acS making further pi ovifion for the defenceof theFrontievs ofthe United States " A committee of conference was appointed on the disagreement between theHoufeand Senate, refpecling the bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half-pay and invalid penlions —Com- mittee, Meflis. Livermore-, Murray.and Kitchell. The amendments of he Senate to the bill pro viding for the relief of certain widows, &x. were read, and laid on the table. Adjourned. TUESDAY, March 6. Sundry petitions were re d and cf^rcd. A representation from the legifhture of North-Carolina, was read, rcfpe&ing certain lands ceded to the Indians in the Territo ry Southwest of the Ohio. " Mr. Parker Introduced the follow was hid on the table—viz, Resolved, That theSccretary of the Treasury be dirc&ed to re port what money, 1! any, now remains in the treasury, of appro priations made previous to the year 1791 — distinguishing what funis remain of the rcfpettive appropriations. ing resolution, which being Willizmfon laid the following motion on tTie f : i'-!- a committee be appointed to report a hill to am-.r-J law, la tar as to permit the landing of fait at c.K .m -v.. belonging to (he fifheries—and to provide lor the alio drawback on thcl'altufecl on provisions exoorted. The militia bill was brought in, engrolfjd, and read the hird time. Mr.,Viningthen moved that the bill ftiould be re-committed— This motion, alter dt bale, was negatived—2B to 27. The House then proceeded to fill up the blanks—which being completed, the ayes and noes were called on the palling the bill—and were ayes 31, noes 27. ■ f Mr. Gerry reported a bill for reducing the rates of postage on newfpapers—this*bill proposes a reduction of the postage to one half the rates in the poft-office law. A report was read from the Secretary of the Treasury, rcfpefU ing the difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the excise, &c. and 100 copies ordered to be printed. Adjourned BOSTON, Feb. 22 LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS. House of Representatives, Feb. 21. A Bill to incorporate Henry Knox, John Coffin Jones, David Cobb, Benjamin Hichborn, and Henry Jackson, Esquires, and such others as may afibciate with them, for the pnrpofe of opening a iiavrgable Canal from any part of Connecticut Rivdr, to communicate with the town of Boston, was read 3 firft time, and ordered for a second reading to-morrow, at 4 o'clock, p. m. FROM THE CONNECTICUT COURANT. Meflleurs .Printers, TAM a man of nature—my ideas arenot twified A by the sophistry of government-makers ; yet lam for government, and here is my plan. I have followed naturp, ai}d that sense which na ture has implan ted in every mail. I would have a government, but it should not govern me—that is my fir ft article. My second is, I would govern itv And thirdly, I and .my government would govern every .body else according tomy pleafnre. Here is a plan of three parts, as it (l)ould be and which follows i.ature ; whereas every other scheme thwarts it, and may be truly said to be against nature. lam clear again it an Excise, therefore I would not submit my property to any aut-hority.—As to my person, hands off. Ami to be dragged about in the militia ? or in the wars ? or to answer mycreditors (worfethan In dians) in the law courts ? No. lam a freeman —and shall government, a creature I have made and pulled to pieces twenty times, lord it over nie ? No, Meflieurs Printers, I give the world notice that I will fill the full till go vernment h'aul in its horns, knd regulate its mea sures by my three articles of natural law. I will rail against the debt—the army—the war—the bank-—the Excise—the P I—the heads of de apartments. I will cry out re-pobli-can-ifm and the rights of man, by which 1 dont mean the iaivs%f the land, nor equal government ; but a govern ment agreeable to my three articles. 1 will hold forth loudly about republican virtue and equa lity—l will inveigh mightily against public faith — when I am tired of going on foot I will get up and ride on consolidation. The state govern ments shall be so wife, so pure, so free, so modest .and so much in danger, that I will advise the small states to take away power from Congress and give it to the large states. Congress and the public officers shall be painted like devils, except there should be fotlnd any of them who are among us who write in the newspapers, like Caius, &c. these I will praise in poetry and prose. In my next I will lend you a new song, in which foine of my heroes are celebrated, to the tune of Oh my kitty, my deary. WHISKY. Philadelphia, March 7. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS, It is hardly poflible to conceive that a more favorable opportunity than the pre fen t will ever occur of eftablilhing free schools in this com monwealth. The public Treasury is full and flowing; j so that pecuniary aid can be immedi ately afforded if neceflary, to as great anamount as may be expetSed at any future period. But it is pvefumed that disbursements from the pub lic Treasury will not be neceflary. It may be queltioned whether on the plan of County Schools appropriations of this kind, would be equitable or just. The income of the State applied to dis charge its debts, support the government, and for other general purposes, so far as it goes, will fupercede the neeefluy of taxation for those ob jects : the way then appears to be fairly open for an universal tax to support an univerfalplan of education, so far as to comprehemi reading, WRITING, GRAMMAR alld ARITHMETIC. It ought to be taken for granted by all legisla tive bodies that the people will be pleased with nieafures which reason and experience shew will conduce to their interest—but, the public senti ment is, and mull continue to be in favor of a general difFufion of knowledge—this they know cannot be obtained without expence ; and the supposition ought not to be made that they would not chearfully incur it, much less fupercede an experiment in the cafe. .? 359 The cftabiifisment of county schools or aca demies, will not be of universal utility they will benefit the more wealthy part of the com munity—and by the accommodation they afford to this cjafs, willlelfen the number of those who feel interested in a more general plan—and,in the fame proportion, procraltinate the period when a fv Item for the poor as-well as the rich, shall be adopted. It is an imputation on the good sense of the people, to ftippofe that they 1 would not with chear fulnefs pay a tax for the support of learning tor it mult occur to them that the rich wiil pay more than their proportion, when they consider that the major part of children are the inheri tance of the poor anxl middling clafles of citizens. The plan of education here Contemplated is, that every person who pays a tax, however finnli, shall have an equal right to the benefit nS this free and universal institution. The wealthy are interested peculiarly iri this work of benevolence ; for the knowledge of the people is x\\e ficurity of tranquility underajuft government—without knowledge, they cannot appreciate the value and importance of govern ment—and hence the poflcflions of the rich, among an ignorant people, are held by a very pre carious tenure—unless the people are slaves. The poor and middling clafles are deeply in terested in this public provision for the education of their children—For it is tantalizing to fay that there shall be no diftiniftions of ranks, or exclii five privileges—and that the avenues to the poll* of honor and profit under the state and general governments, /hall be accessible to all, without diftintSion, who poflefs talents and virtue—while the paths of learning are not, and cannot be trod den by the poor. There is a double security to the liberties of the people derived from their being well.inform ed— The firfl: is, it leads legislators to lie cautiou* in ena<fting laws, led they infringe on the rights of man—and secondly, it enables the people to discern the more speedily those errors ordefigns of an adminiftratioti which have an unfavorable afpedl on the public interest and happiness. , Some old fable tells us, that Jupiter wasfo much teazed by the prayers of mankind, that at length he resolved to grant them whatever (hey asked. But the spirit of discontent was so far from being, allayed by it, that it broke out in murmurs more than ever. If this tale were of modern date, we should believe the author had intended a fling at us. 1 Some time ago, before the new government was put in motion, all the cry was—we are a poor diftrefled nation—there is 110 money, &c. The revenue and finances are put into order, credit is revived, and money is plenty—and now the cry is louder than ever.—We are too rich tQ free.— Money is too plenty—the people will not work to earn it. * • The Lanfingburgh paper fays, that on the no mination of the Hon. Judge Jay, and Mr. Van Ranfellaer, as Governornor and Lieutenant-Go vernor of the State of New-York, at a large meet ing of the citizens.of Albany, only 5 diflentients appeared—and that the fame unanimity in their favor appeared in every place from whence in formation had been received. " PRICE CURRENT.— PUBLIC SFXURITIES. FUNDED DEBT, 6 pr. Cents 2sf pr. J. 3 pr. Cents 14f6 Defered 6 pr. Cents 15J UNFUNDED DEBT. Final Settl. and other Certificates 22f 110 Indents nf 7° Mo hair shares Rank Stock—los per cent premium. CONTRACTS. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Mirth 6, 1792. NOTICE \s hereby given, that Proposals will be the Office of the Secretary of the Treasury, until 5 o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday the 21ft day of March inltant. fi»r the supply of the following articles of Clothing tor the Troops in the feivice of the United States, viz. for the Infantry and Artili.ery. 4,608 hats 18,460 shirts 4.608 coats 7,956 pairs of socks 4,608 veils 4,608 blankets 8,668 woolen overalls 4,608 flocks 9,216 linen ditto 4,608 flock clasps 18,376' pairs of shoes 4,608 pairs of buckles. For the Cav alky. 320 caps 640 do. of (lockings 320 coats 1,280 shirts 320 veils 320 blankets 320 pairs leather breechcs 320 flocks 640 do. of boots 320 flock clasps. 320 do. of spurs Also, 1,200 rifle shirts, to be made of Ruflia sheeting. Of the above clothing, five hundred suits are to be delivered on the 15th day of April next; one thousand suits on the 15th day ofr May next; one thousand five hundred suits on the 15th day of June next; and the remainder on the 15th day of July next.— The place of delivery may be either at New- York, Philadelphia or Baltimore, at the. option of the contra£lor or contra6lors. Proposals will be received for the whole of the above mentioned clothing, or for any one component article fcparately to be fur nifhed agreeably to patterns or specimens, which may be seen at the War Office. Good security for the punflual and faithful performance of the contract will be required. The payments will be on the delivery of the clothing; or, if neceflary, such reasonable advance* will bs made as may be desired. pr. cent. 72J do. 75 do.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers