could mention other*, if he was at liberty to do
to. Under such circumftancej, success i» hardly
to be expefled ; —but he knew that the merits
ofthfcqjoiion deserved it.
He Could not fetdown, without making one
remark upon the calculation! and statement ot
expenccs in the war deparimcnt, offered to the
Committee by Mr. Wadfwoith last Wedneldav {
aud though the gentleman then spoke unguard
edly of mv calculations, I feel too much deli
cacy to retort. I ftatid at the commencement
of this debate, that in 1792 there was appropri
ated by law for the Quarter-Master's Depart
ment, 50,000 dollars ;
Mr. Wadfworth ftatesto have
been iftthat year appropri
ated by law,
Difference* 7«,00Q
I have re-examined my statement, compared
it with the law, find it was correct ; and there
is no document in poffclllon of the House to
prove, either that his statement is.so, or that
mine is not so.
Indeed, the inaccuracy of his statement if ex
plained and proved by this {ingle circumstance :
In 1792 the law appropriated 50,000 for that de
partment, on ancftimateof 2128 noo-commif
fioned officers and privates, and in 1793* which
is the mod extravagant estimate wc h«ive ever
had, the Secretary at war only demands for the .
Quarter-Master's Department, on an establish- ,
rnent of 5x20 nop-comm; {Honed officers and
privates, the sum ol 100,000 dollars. JsiMea
fonable tofuppofe, that an army of 2000 men,
would require more (lores, than an army- of
5000 ? Or hns it been customary for that officer
to leflen the demands, as the establishment en
creafed ? Tha appropriaiion laws, and the Trea
sury of the United States, can answer this ques
tion. The gentleman's llatement is inaccurate
in moreinftances than this—but one is enough
for my purpose. Having made this appear,
Mr. Steefre said he would not speak .again, noi
would he hold himfelf bound to reply to any
observations that might be .made, either in re
gard to his motion or his calculations.
Mr. Hillhouf<* obterved, that nothing had been
advanced in the whole course of this de
bate, but what he had heard mentioned last
winter in the house. He was then opposed iri
principle to a war establishment and he still re
tained the fame opinion ; but from the present
complexion of affairs, it appeared to him, that
be ought to submit, and give up his own opinion
to the general feiife of the legiflaturc, which at
present seemed to be, for persevering in the fyf
tcmalready adopted,and which, as it had scarce
ly had time for a fair tri?l r he thought, ought not
to be arrested, perhaps in the very instant when
its efficacy was to be expe&ed. ,If peace ftiou-ld
not be'cftabliffied.during next ,fiimmer, he
would then join with such as would
propole a better system—but as the la w provides
for exercising the discretionary powers of the
executive, it would" be be# to rely 011 .them—
a standing aimv lie said was a thing impoflible
to be established in th£ United States whilst -
the House of Representatives have the power of
granting money on'y for two years at any time ;
he therefore had no fears on that score. An ar
my existing in time of peace, was the idea he
had of a (landing army i anxLnoL »'my em
bodied tor only a year or two : upon the whole,
it would be as expensive to disband the present
force, and institute another of militia, See. as.it
will be to keep up the existing e.ftabHfhment r for
a little longer time ; it was therefore his advice,
to let the matter reft where it was, with-the ex
ecutive for the present. Butincale ; of a peace
not being acconiplifhed within a reasonable pe
riod, he would join those who would be for a
change in the system ; and he was, clearly of
opinion, that a system rnVght cafily be adopted,
not only to protett our frontiers by repelling the
Savages, but to exterminate them altogether.
(Debate to be continued.)
Saturday, January 12,
Mr. Benfon presented a petition from Robert
Eden, a Yorkshire (England) farmer, stating
that he has emigrated to the United States, and
brought with him to New-York, a stock of hor
ses and cattle of the.firft quality; for which he
was charged 7fper cent, import, and for which
he has been obliged to give fecunty. Tne prayer
of the petition is for an exemption of duty,
and to extend a similar benefit to such of his
countrymen as may emigrate to the United
States; many of whom, he intimates, are inclin
ed to come hither, and to import part of their
moll valuable stock. Ordered, that Mr. Eden's
petition be referred to a feleft Committee, Mess.
Benfon, Madilon, and Sedgwick.
Two petitions from the files of the !aft house
were referred to fele& committees, viz. of Abra
ham Kimberly, and of Francis Keller 5 each
praying a grant of land on the river Ohio.
The Secretary of theTreafury's report on the
petition of Griffith Jones, was referred to a fe
le& committee.
The petitions of Ludwig Kuhn, and Ebenezef
Foster, were referred to the Treasury Depart
ment.
The House took into consideration the fubje<a
of the resolutions for loaning the balances which
may appear to be due from the United States to
the individual States. On this a lengthy debate
took place.
The resolutions were finally amended to read
thus—
Resolved, That a loan to the amount of the
balance which (upon a final settlement of ac
counts) (hull be found due from the United States
to the individual States, be opened at the Loan
Offices in the rcfpeftive States, to commence
within months after the said balances
(hall be reported at the Treasury, and to contin
ue open for the term of months from
the time of its commencement: Provided that
no such loan fliall be opengd in any State wlth
eut the afient of the Legislature thereof, by an
a6l approving of the meaf'ure.
Resolved, That the sums to be subscribed to
such loans, be payable in the principal or inter
est of the certificates or notes issued by any such
of the said States, as (upon the final settlement
of accounts) (hall have a balance due to them
from the United States, and which (hall have
been liquidated to specie value, prior to the
day of lad.
Resolved, That every fubfiriber to the said
loan, (hall be entitled to certificates, according
to the sum subscribed, of the like tenor uid de
fcriptiotis, in the like proportions, and upon the
ike terms, as are fpecified and directed by the
fifteenth and finteenth fe&ions of ad the aintitu
led, " An ast making provision for the debt of
the United States," except, that interest on such
of the certificates, subscribed to the said loan,
as bear interest, shall be computed to the last
day of the year one thousand seven hundred end
ninety-three, indufively, and that interest shall
not begin to accrue upon any of the certificates
which (hall be iCTued in lieu thereof'till the firft
120,000
day of January, one thousand seven hundred
ninety-four. ,
Refolded, That in all cases, wher* the sum
subscribed in the evidence of the debt of any
State, (hall exceed the balance due to such State,
the famelhall be reduced (in equal proportions)
to the sum a dually du« to such State.
' The resolutions as thus amended, being adopt
ed by the House, a committee confuting of the
following members, viz. Meflrs. Fitzfimons,
Sedgwick, and Smith, S. C. was appointed to
report a bill. Adjourned.
MONDAY, JANUARY 14.
A report was read on the petition of Elijah
Boftwick, which was in favour of the peti
tioner.
Mr. Lawrance presented the petition of the
officers of the Delaware line of the late continen
tal army. Read and referred to the committee
of the whole.
Mr. Parker prfcfented the petition of Thomas
Wifliart, a ferjeant in the Virginia line of the
late array. Read and referred to the Secretary
of War.
The bill for fettling the claims ofperfons not
barred by any ad of limitation, and which have
hot been heretofore adjusted, was ordered to b"c
engrossed for a third reading.
The House proceeded in the discussion of the
bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the
Indian tribes. Several amendments were pro
posed and difcufied. Some of these were agreed
to, and then, by general consent, the bill was
laid on the table till to-morrow.
Mr. Hartley laid the following motion on the
table, That a committee be appointed to pre
pare and report a bill to make provision of half
pay for the widows and orphans of such officers
of the army of the United States who may have
been killed since the third day of June, 1784,
or who may be hereafter killed in the service of
the United States.
A meflage was received from the President
of the U. S. by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, inform •
ing the Hotife that ne has approved and signed
two ads which originated in the House, viz.
an ad to amend the ad for establishing a mint,
and to regulate the coins of the United States, so
far as refpedi the coinage of copper—and an ad
for granting interest on a claim allowed by a re
solution of the late Congress, as an indemnifica
tion to the pcrftms therein mentioned.
Mr. Boudinot moved for. the order of the day,
on the Bankrupt Law—The importance of this
fubje<st to the general interest, and that of
a number of individuals in several of. the dates,
who, by reafori of the state governments being
precluded from pafling bankrupt laws, are in a
very diftrefled situation, was urged by several of;
the members. It was further observed, that it
had long been before Congress, and if it was not
taken up at the present feflion, it was very pro
blematical whether it would be completed at the
next feflion.
In opposition to the motion it was observed,
that though the business has been a long time
on the carpet, yet it had not been reduced to any
fpecific fqrm till very lately—that the bill had
been laid before the public for the express pur
pose of collecting..the general sense of the peo
p e on the fubjedl—fufficient time has not elaps
ed for this purpose, and therefore it was not pof-'
fible for the legillature to proceed in the busi
ness, aidtfd by the general sense of their consti
tuents relative thereto.
The. motion was at length withdrawn, and,
on motion of Mr. Gerry, the House refblved it-'
felf into a committee of the whole
in the chair) and took into confederation tfre me
morials of the officers of the several lines of the
late army, on the fubjedt of a deficiency of their
P a y* The several memorials were, from the N.
Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsyl
vania, Delaware and Maryland lines. The New
Hampshire and Pennsylvania Memorials being
read,
Mr. Gerry said, in order to bring the fubje&
before the committee, he should move the fol
lowing resolution, viz. Resolved, as the opinion
of this committee,* that the contra# between
Congress and a part of the officers and soldiers
of the armies raised for the establishment of the
Independence of the United States, has not been
fulfilled on the part of Congress.
This motion, was seconded by Mr. Parker.
Mr. Gerry accompanied his motion by several
observations,in which he shewed that a deprecia
ted medium could never be confideredasan equi
valent for services and supplies which were con
tracted to be paid for in specie.
Several members objededto the indefinitenefs
th s is L refo,Ution * They suggested the proprie
ty of the mover's bringing forward a sketch of
the plan for which he intended the resolution as
a basis.
Mr. Midi fen suggested a variation of the
proposition to the simple quellion on the pro
priety of granting the prayer of the petitions.
After several observations from other mem
bers, and the Chairman had remarked that the
resolution of Mr. Gerry was not in order, as
refering to a part of the officers, whereas the
memorials made no diftin&ion.
Mr. Clark moved, in order to take the sense
of the cemmittee, the following, Refofved, as
the opinion of this committee, that the prayer of
the petitions of officers of several lines of the
262
late American army, cannot be granted, and tliat
the petitioners have leave to withdraw their pe
titions.
This motion occasioned a debate. Mr. Ma
dison, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Mercer, sustained
the general prayer of the petitions. Mr. Clark
opposed it. Some gentlemen opposed the_torm
of the motion, as tending to cramp the difcufli
on of the business. It wasfuggefted to the mo
ver, the eligibility of suspending it.
After some further remarks, Mr. Clark mo
ved that the committee ftiould rife. The com
mittee accordingly rose, and had leave to fit
again. Adjourned.
» TUESDAY, Jan.-U-
An engrnffed bill, relative to
claims against the United States,not
barred by any atfi of limitation,and
which have not heretofore been ad
justed, was read the third time and
parted.
Mr, Fitzfimons reported a bill to
authorise a loan, payable in the cer
tificates or notes of such states, as
shall have balanc* due to tbem on
a final settlement of accounts with
the United States—read twice, and
committed for Monday next.
A report in favor of William Sey
mour was read,and laid on the table.
Mr. Greenup called up his motion
for a committee to report a bill, for
placing on the pension lift ftich offi
cers and soldiers of the militia as
have becrifjuMna/ bo wowuded or
difabledin the service of the United
States, and who are not provided
for by law—this motion was refer
red to a committee of the whole
House, for Thursday next.
The bill to regulate trade and in
tercourse with the Indian tribes,was
again taken into'confideration —Mr.
Madison read an amendment, which
he proposed as a substitute for the
Bth feJiion,which refers to purchas
es of lands from the Indians—this,
with a proviso to another fe<Sion,
moved by Mr. Greenup, w as laid on
the table.
Mr. Smith called ujj the memorial
of sundry merchants of South-Caro
lina, stating the lofles they sustain
ed by the depreciation of paper mo
ney, and the peculiar hard(hips they
arc exposed to in consequence there
of, by the 4th article of the treaty
of peace with Great-Britain—and
praying relief in the premises.—
This memorial being read, Mr.
Smith moved that it should be refer
red to the committee of the whole
on the petitions of the officers of
the late army.—This motion occa
sioned a debate ; those who opposed
it, contended that it was a distinct
and different cafe from that of the
officers—that it involved a very dif
ferent investigation and could not
therefore be connected with it—it
appeared to be designed to embar
rass and perplex the application of
the officers.
In support of the motion, a varie
ty of reasons were adduced to shew
that the cases were parallel—and
that there was no propriety in mak
ing a diftindlion between different
clafles of citizens in their applica
tions for relief in similar cales.—
After considerable debate, it was
moved that the ayes and noes (hould
be called on the motion : This mo
tion was arretted by the previous
question being moved, in the follow
ing words—-' Shall the main ques
tion be now put ?'—this was deter,
mined in the affirmative, yeas 30,
nays 24. The main question for the
jeference was then put, and nega
tived—ayes 24, noes 30.
The hotife then went into a com
mittee of the whole on the petitions
of the Officers.
Mr. Dayton in the chair.
Mr. Clark withdrew his motion
for a rejection of the prayer of the
petitions, laid on the table jefter
day—Mr. Gerry then offered ano
ther proposition in lieu of the reso
lution he moved yesterday, which
is to the following purport —
That provision ought to be made
for the petitioners to the amount of
the ditference between the value in
the market,of funded and unfunded
debt ; an amendment >yas moved
by Mr. Clark to incorporate in the
proposition these words—all such ci
tizens who have received liquidated cer
tificates /or J'erviccs performed and
fuf plies furnifhed on account of the
United States— ] his amendment was
agreed to—the comnmtee then role,
and had leave to (it again—and the
rioule adjourned.
Foreign Affairs.
PARIS, November 2.
M PET lON has just publifted an able let.
. ter to the Society of Jacobin!, in whirl,
among other paragraphs, the followin.
very remarkable. .
" I Caved the club at the time „f t i, e f
motts Tchiftn—Roberlpierre, who then ha!
the reputation of being a pati iot, did
however enjoy that kind of weight whirl,
confidence gives a man in thi conduct of J
litical affairs. I have seen Roberfpierne trcm.
ble, wanting to get away, and afraid tr>
himfelf in the Aflsmbly. Afl: him if eve I
trembled. I have laved Roberfpierre him
felf from deftruttion by flicking by him when
every body else had deserted him.
i I declare that I know not a faction can
ed Briflot's : that faction is a chimera am j
there is not a man lels fit to be at the head of
a party than Briflot. I declare that the Ja
cobin Club has done great service, that it ctn
still lender more important ones, and that I
will support it with all my might, but with,
out prejudice; that I will adopt its opinionj
when I think them good, and will combat
them when I think them bad."
Two deputies from Frankfort have ap pe *r
ed at the bar of the Convention, presenting i
petition from that city to be released from the
fine imposed upon them by M. de Cuftine.
Their memorial was referred to the Diploma
tic Committee.
M. de Cuftine had ordered the horses and
equipage of the Elector of Mentz, found b*
him ill that city, to be publicly fold, on the
xatlvinitarit.
The advanced guard of the centra! armv
now to be commanded hy M. ®ournonvil|p'
marched the 6th instant from. Mentz to rein
force M. de Cuftine. The main body follow
ed on the 7th and Bth.
Tl»e artillery found at Mon» confined 0 f
97brafi cannon, 19brafsmortar3 and i4how.
itzars; 107 iron cannon. There were alfb
3000 bombs, 300,000 bullets, and ijoci jnuf
quets. ,
The emigrants were all executed vefterday
in the Place de Carousel, excepting four ser
vants, who were not taken with arms in their
hands, and were therefore acquitted. Thev
all ihewed the utmost fortitude; some of
them declared they died with pleasure for
their King, yet these men declared on their
trials, that they never intended to bear arms
against the Republic. Their execution did
not occasion any commotion, as was dreaded
To-day we expert the report of the com
mittee on the Decree of Accusation against
Marat. The cause of France will not only
be avenged without, but some reparation of
the national honor is about to bemade within.
More blood may be ftied in Paris, but it will
be that of the murderers of the 2d and 3d of
September.
HAGUE, Ottober 23.
The Austrian Generals have had the pru
dence to take care of their troops, who were
never fuffered to be in want of any thing,
whilst the Pruflians experienced the utmost
want, both for themselves and their horses.
This appears to have been the principal cause
of thafccoolnefs which has taken place between
the commanders of the allied armies. !n
vain did the Pruflians implore assistance from
their allies ; the latter Fent a deaf ear to their
entreaties, and extricated themselves from
that mire in which the others perished. Of
80,000 men whom the King of Prufliafnrnidl
ed, not more than men will return to
that country. His cavalry are quite ruined.
This is an absolute fact, which may be relied
upon.
LEWES, November 5.
Apartments have been engaged in the Brighton
packcts for the conveyance of Ninety more Nuns
from France, and for wbofe arrival curiosity is
daily on the look out. They are not turned
adrift without any provision, In annuity of 25
pounds each being allowed them by the French.
CALAIS.
The ardour of Patriotism, for which Calais
has been so properly celebrated, continues with
improving zeal !—lf there ever was a commu
nity of men unanimous, it is in this populous
town. Paine, our deputy, in all his intereourfc;
with our municipality carries it ort in English.
Mr. paine's letter.
The following is the leftcr u.'hich M r . Paine, being
igvoravt of the French language, transmitted on
Saturday tajl y to the National Convention of
France.
" Citizen President, I have the happiness < 6
transmitting to Ihe National Convention, the
testimonies of gratitute of the department of
Am du Calais, for the dectec which abolilhes
Royalty in France.
" In the midlt of the fatisf?.ftion, which
the regeneration of France inspires, they cannot
withhold from lamenting the folly of their an
cestors, which made it neceflary for them seri
ously to combat a phantom.
(Signed,) THOMAS PAINE."
L ONDON, November 5.
General Anfelm's sister commands a body o
1500 men. The gallantry of the army itife*
her an imperfonification of Liberty.
Church Lands in France.—Disney Fitch, &
Lincolnshire gentleman, has laid out upwards
of 100,0001. and Sir John Gallini has stepped
into a purchase of 30,000!.
The Pariiians are about to give a grand
triumphal Fete, upon account of the evacua
tion of the French Territories by the com
bined armies. All the Sections are to be ad
visers in the hufinefs.
The accounts received from Sierra-Lcone
by the Duke of Savoy, Capt. Hoffmdn, are of
a very favorable nature.