A NATIONAL PAPER, PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 69, HIGH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 108, of Vol. lII.]
SECOND CONGRESS OF THF. UNITED STATES.
AT THE FIRST SESSION,
Begun and held at the city ot Philadelphia, in the State of Penn
° fylvania, Monday the twenty-fourth of October, one
thousand leven hundred and nineiy-one.
AN ACT to indemnify the Estate of the late
Major General Nathaniel Greene, for a
certain Bond entered into by him during the
late war.
BE it enatted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the Uni'ed States of America in Congress afTembled, That
the Unued States shaH and will indemnify ihe estate of the late
General Greene, for the sum of eight thousand fix .hundred and
eighty-eight pounds fix (hillings sterling money, being the amount
due on the fiift day of May, one thouland seven hundred and
ei"htY-f lx » on a certain bond executed to Mcflieurs Newcomen
and Collet, by the said General Greene, as furcty lor John Banks
and Company, and the interest thereon; excepting therefrom a
certain conditional bond given in June, one thouland seven hun
dred and eighty-fix, for about one ihoufand fix hundred pounds
fterlii.g, (be the fame more or less) being part of the aforefaid sum
of eight thousand fix hundred and eighty-eight pounds fix lni!-
Jings* which was to be paid, only in cafe the said General Greene
/hould recover from the said Banks, or Banks and Company, a
sum fufficient for his indemnity ; Provided It (ball appear upon
due mveftigation, by the officers of tnc Treasury, that the laid
Ceneial Greene, in his life-time, or his cxecutors, since his de
cease, have not been already indemnified, or compenlatcd for the
/aid sum of eight thousand fix hundred and eighty-eight pounds
j'ix IhiHings, except as aforefaid : And also provided, I hat the
said executors shall account for a sum being about two thousand
pounds ftcrling, (he the fame more or less) recovered of John Fer
-3 ie, one of the partners of the said Banks and Company, by the
jaid executors, to be in part of the indemnification aforefaid ;
and also (hall make over to the Comptroller of the Treasury and
his fucccflors, for the Un ted States, all mortgages, bonds, cove
nants, or other counter-lccurities whatfoevcr, now due, which
■were obtained by the said General Greene, in his life-time, from
the said Banks and Company, on acconnt of his being furcty for
them as aforefaid, to he fuea for in the name of the said execu
tors for the ufc of the United States. And the officers of the 1 rea
fury are hereby authorized to liquidate and fettle the sum due to
the estate of the said General Greene, to indemnify the fame, as
aforefaid, according to the true intent and meaning of this aa.
ind to pav the fame, out of the Treasury of the United States, to
the laid executors, to be accounted for by them, as part of the
said estate,
JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
RICHARD +lENRY LEE, President
pro tempore of the Senate,
APPROVES APRIL THE TWE N1 Y -SE V fc NT H , I 79 2 *
GEORGE WASHING I ON,
President oj the United States.
FROM THE AMERICAN MUStUM.
REFLECTIONS on the STATE of the UNION.
THE export trade cf the United States and the increase of
the home coniumption have placed the American produ
ces on a very advantageousfooting. The competition which
ctifts in our markets, between the purchasers for the account
of foreigners of various nations, for our own merchants, for
the great consumption in the leaports and parts adjacent to the
coasts, and for the use of the manufacturers, together with the
occalional lhipments made on their own accounts by the fouth
crn planters, by the millers of the middle States, and by the
owners of the eastern fifhing vessels, afford the cultivators and
fifhermen Co many alternatives, that they can always obtain
the best prices which circumstances will juftify. In ffioit,
these several demands, at once various, steady, and extensive,
efficiently fnpport our agriculture : and though peculiar en
terprise and faculties in commerce and manufactures, the
power of capital, and an intimate knowledge of our trade and
interior system, enable a particular nation to participate
largely in the exports of the United States —the remainder |
of the world receive from us a very considerable value, and |
the variety of demand which the destination of our exports
proves to exist, affords us certain relief from the confequen
res of the commercial errors of any oi tho e countries, whose
citizens are our consumers. Whenever such errors ihall oc
cur—or so far as they may have already taken place,, to dif
fufj a knowledge of our resources among all nations, to in
l'pire them with confidence in our laws and modes of dealing,
-nd to convert our commodities by manufactures, into every
iliape which their occasions may require, will prove the effica
cious corrective, by enabling us to obtain from wife nations a
favorable market for our productions.
It is fatisfaClory toobferve the regular increase of manufac
tured goods in our returns of exported commodities. The
number in each of the two lad years is upwards of one third,
in a lift which amounts to near three hundred articles. Hence
we may infer, that the time is really arrived, when foreign
trade is iucreafed and enlivened by home manufactures. This
idea, together with the domestic commerce produced by them,
will be more particularly noticed in another place.
CONCERNING THE M ANU F ACTU RES OF THE UNITED STATES.
In considering this subjeCt it will be unnccelTary to adduce
any arguments to influence the judgment of the eastern parts
cf the union. Many of our citizens near the ica-coaft oi the
[continued.]
Wednesday, May 9, 1792.
middle States arc equally convinced of the beneficial effects of
manufactures. The cultivators in the iouthern and western
country, and a refpe&able proportion of our mercantile ci
tizens are apprehensive of injury to themselves and to their
country from the pursuit of this object. These are two de
scriptions of persons whom it is in every view our duty to fa
tisfy, if the truth and reason will permit; and it is principally
from a due attention to them, that the iubjeft is proposed to
be examined here.
An opinion has prevailed that the fonthern States will be
facrificed to the eastern, and in some degree to the middle
State", by the plan of manufactures. It is plain, however, 1
that as the foil of the eastern States is not equal to the pro
auction of a fufficiency of provisions and raw materials for :
their own use, they must resort to the more southern States |
for several raw marerials and for new supplies ot provisions.
It is known, too, that some valuable articles for manufatfures
cannot be produced but in the southern States, such as cotton,
and indigo, and that tobacco is almost confined to them. "T he
southern States and western country will have considerable
advantages in the support which the home market of the ma
nufacturers will give at all times, and especially in time of
war (when freights will be high, and shipping scarce) to their
agricultural and landed productions. Even now, in profonnd
peace, it is the cafe. Kemp was delivered in the ports of the
middle State-., from the lands of the southern States, at lei's
than five cents per lb. in 1/9** Nothing would ha\e kept it
at that rate, but the rope and twine manufactories of the mid
dle and eastern States. The breweries of Philadelphia draw
nearly as much of their barley from the Chelapeak as they de
rive from the lands of Pennsylvania. Thef# and other xafts
(how the beneficial beginning.of things. The manufacturers
of mips and cordage throughout the union, procure from the
southern States all their tar, pitch, turpentine, oil of turpen
tine, and rolin. The ports of Philadelphia and New-York,
take three-fourths of their (hip timber fiom their, jufUy pre
ferring veflels of live oak and red cedar to all others. The
owners of the coalmines of Virginia, enjoy the monopoly ot
all the supplies for the manufacturers of the more noitl.em
States,.who live in the sea ports: a demand which is increasing
rapidly. No lead mine of any consequence is yet worked, ex
cept one near the fuperier waters of James river. The south
ern States abound with iron-, and have much moie fuel of ah
kinds than the northern States, and they have streams for the
most powerful water works. Few or no very abundant depo
sits of coal have been yet difcoveicd further noi th or tail
t 'an the waters of the Ohio and Cheiapeak, even in internal
si liations. The ircn manufactures of the United States are
a'readv important ill value, and immensely so in point of uti
lity, or rather of necessity. Farms, manufaaories, (hipping,
fiflieries, fleets, and armies, all demand them. In Ihoit, tie
all-important landed inteveft would languish, and its p^ogrefs
in prosperity would he retarded in the counties of the southern
States, even near the sea, if our present manufactures were
to be abolished, and all future eftabliftiments of thatkind were
to be given up. But their inland and western counties
CANNOT 2ESUPPORTED, UNLESS MANUFACTURES SHALL BE PRO
MOTED and introduced among them. In the counties cl
Pennsylvania beyond the Allegany mountain, are 63,000 in
habitants, and probably 10,000 of these are farmers. The
wool of that country is yet very inconfiderabie—their furs
are more abundant. From these two raw material*, no less
than 10,140 wool hats, and 2,200 fur hats are manufactured
yearly in thirty-three hatters' (Hops. Sail cloth (which, when
manufactured, would be worth 30 cents pr. lb.) could be made
at Pittiburg, Winchester in Virginia, Hillftjorough, and Salis
bury in North-Carolina, Camden in South-Carolina, and Au
gusta in Georgia, out of hemp, the value of which, there, does
not exceed 4or 5 cents. To bring a ton of hemp to the sea
ports from those towns, except Augnfta, costs from 35 to 40
per cent, of its value. To bring a ton weight of fail cloth
from the fame places to the fame ports would not toft above
6 or 8 per cent, and the manufacturers' provisions and fuel are
attended with similar savings. DeduCt for a moment the de
mand of foreign commerce from both Alexandria and Win
cheiter, and the latter would appear to be mod: vigorous and
flourifhing; because it manufactures more, having not so high
a market for its provisions and raw materials. These obser
vations apply with equal force to the whole State of Vermont
and to all our interior country. ■ The nation that supplies u
with hempen, flaxen, and iron manufactures, takes immenfe
quantities of hemp, flax, and iron from Russia. These Ruf
fian raw materials are purchased at the eastern extremity of
the Baltic, are transported to another country and manufac
tured there, ar? transported hither, and haled through bac!
roads, 50, 100,200, and 300 miles into our most productive
countries which yieldthe requisite raw materials. These faCts
powerfully incite us to fofter manufactures of the fame kinds,
there and elfewnere. Till that (hall be the cafe, we (hall con
tinue to drag those raw materials through the fame bad roads,
and (hip them under charges of carting and freight equal to a
third, an half, and two thirds of their value, according to the
distance. The present system of negleCting and repelling the
eftablilhment of manufactures, appears to otcafion immenft
deductions from the profits of our lands; and due confidt ra
tion, it is believed, would convince us, that the bed interests,
nay the neceflities of our landholders require t:;e introduction
of some kind of manufactory in almost every vicinity.
(to be continued.)
anecdote
A COUNTRYMAN in Birmingham market (England) was
observed lo laugh while the Clerk was taking a quantity o
butter from a woman, which was deficient in weight ; the offici r
not being pleased with the fellow's want of decency, observed
that it ill became him to laugh, adding, "I took two pounds
from you lad week"— *' I'll lay a guinea ot it," said the country
man " Done," said the officer ; and putting a guinea into the
hands of an eminent tradetman, the countryman instantly covered
it and then with a sneer laid, " had it been two founds could .yon
have taken it Irom me, was it not for being Jhott of that weight
that I loft it ?" The officer attempted to explain, but the gentle
j man who held the ftakts was so perlrftly convinced, that he gave
i if e countryman the lv/o guineas immediately.
429
[Whole No. 516.]
FRANCKKORT, February 12.
THE Emperor's troopscertainly march to Bri ■
gaw, and they only wait the answer to the
i equintorial letters for their paflageto put them
selves in motion : 20,000 men will be drawn from
Bohemia, of whom 12,000 will proceed to Fran
conia, under the command ot General Count
Wallis, and Bcoo to Suabia.
This measure, however, is only to cover the
frontiers of the Low Countries, and the Auilrian
poileflions in Suabia ; but even, on thai iuj pofi
lion, it is a measure that cannot fail being at
tended with bad effetfts.
They write from Berlin that the foreign de
partment was never I'o occupied as at the piefenc
moment: couriers arrive and depart daily, chief
ly to Peterfburgh and Vienna. The affairs of
France and Poland are the objedt of their la-
bours.
PARIS, February 17.
On Monday the following letter, in the King's
own hand, was received by the Mayor and the
Municipality :
" Gentlemen,
" I have already mentioned to some of you the
reports which are spread about my pretended
leaving Paris: I thought that what 1 mentioned
ot it would have been f'ufficient for discrediting
these reports ; but as evil minded people conti
nue to propagate them, in order to alarm ther
inhabitants of Paris, and to calumniate my in r
tentiors, 1 will explain my felf clearly 011 my way
of thinking.
" 1 know the duties which the Constitution
imposes upon me, 1 will always fulfil them ; but
1 also know the rights it gives me, and 1 will ne
ver refufe myfelf t lie power of making use of
them. Nothing keeps me at Paris but my will
of being there, as 1 think my pretence neced'ary,
and 1 declare, that 1 will and (hall remain there )
and whenever 1 (ball have teafons to leave it, 1
fliall not disguise them.
" I have 10 add, that if a person is not qnire
deprived of the use of his senses, or incurably
perverse, he cannot entertain the lead doubt ut
my inviolable attachment to the welfare of the
nation, and the inhabitants of Paris.
(Signed) LOUIS." ,
March i. The three generals are ttill at Pa
ris. Luckner is supposed to advil'e war, Rocham
beau peace, and Fayette an offenlive war in pre
ference to defenfive.
A division is talked of among the ministry, of
which the minister of marine is the cause. Iwo
of his colleagues are of opinion that it is impos
sible to fnpport a man against whom he public
opinion is so pointedly declared; and the reft,
that he ought not to resign, and mult be fop
ported.
The Emperor's answer to the King's late re
presentations, wai communicated _ to the diplo
matic committee on Ttiefday, and is expecfted to
be laid before the Aflembly this day. It is long
and elaborately ambiguous. The. substance on
the mod favourable interpretation is :
That his Imperial Majesty does not wife todif
folve his alliance with France; that he never
ineant to interfere in the internal affairs of the
kingdom, nor to disturb the order of things
established by the new constitution—only feeing
the person of the King in danger, and the king
dom threatened with a total diffblutiofi of go
vernment, he entered into engagements.with the
oilier powers of Europe, to succour th'eking and
his kingdom, if neceflary ; that the political Itace
of Europe, and the rank which France holds in
it, made such engagements neceflary to save her
from ruin; that these engagements still exist,
but that the execution of them depends on what
{hall pals in France; and that if the person of
the king (hall be menaced, if the republican fpi
rir (hall make such progress as to attempt the
fubvevfion of the monarchy, hislmperial Majesty
will find himfelf obliged to interfere, in conceit
with the other powers who have an interest in
maintaining the order and the balance of Europe.
It inveighs against the republican spirit and the
Jacobin societies, and concludes with a lequifi
tion for ptibliftiing it, that France and all Europe
may be informed of his Imperial Majesty's Hefire
to live in peace with the French nation, as long
as the king and the new constitution accepted by
him, {hall be refpeded as they ought.
Yesterday the Priiffian Minister presented a
Declaration, profeifiug the adherence of his mas
ter to all the points of the Emperor's answer.