*t cotrotenanw tt>e enquiry into tl* state tf
the public resources, have been often branded
with the epithet of antifeclcra). And this ap
pellation hath been liberally |*ftowcd upon
them by the fifcal faction.
It is of importance to the community to
know, to whom this epithet in truth belongs.
The cry it no criterion by which to judge.
Tne perpetrator of a feleny, it usually more
vbcifGr.ius in his exclamations than his pur
faers themselves.
The constitution eaafts, « that a regular
(tateineiit and accouut of Iht nctipn and ixpeti
diturts of public *«0 shall be puhlilhedlrom
time to time." An account of public monies
and funds rs here explicitly directed by * con
stitutional mandate. Can it be imagined.that
the only individual capable of complying with
k, and actually provided bylaw as the instru
ment for it, is the only individual entitled to
•11 absolution from the injunction ?
The Secretary admits that this account
hath never been produced, but aflerts, " that
until the last resolutions, no coll has been made
upen him, which rendered it proper to exhi
bit a general view of the public monies and
funds." He is deaf to the voice of the con
stitution, although in this instance its lungs
*re exerted in the loudest and mofl articulate
tone.
Such accounts were designed as a check,
and do certainly militate powerfully again It
monarchy and ariftocfacy ;
ftrjl. By counteracting corruption, and
money-influence of every kind in the legilla
ture.
Secondly. By producing (economy, leflening
taxes, and diminilhing the number of tax-j,a
therers, whose interest geneially unites them
With administration.
Thirdly. By obviating the acquirement of
exorbitant wealth, from the temporary use of
public money. ' • '
Is the genius of th« constitution monarchi
cal or republican ? Who are most federal—
thoft who join their voice to the call of the
constitution, or those who are deaf to this
fundamental remonftrante !—Let the impar
tial judge. The apology of the Secretary in
its best view, is an acknowledgement that he
has been guilty of a fupprelfion, in violation
of the constitution.
But it is proper to enquire, whethar this
fupprelfion has been accidental o,r I'yftematiQ ?
—If the former, a plain, placid, intelligible
statement of the public funds may be expect
ed. But if a system hath been conflicted by
the enquiry, passion, artifice, perplexity, will
be resorted to in its defence.
Let a fcfolift in politics and human nature,
refleCt on the following indications of this let
ter, and doubt if he can, whose image and lu
perfcription it bears.
It feleCte the indiviflual member, who mov
ed for th* enquiry into the state of the Trea
sury, at the objeCt of newfpiper animadyerfi
•ii } although the tacit breacli of the constitu
tion by the Setretary, and the rejection of a
propofitfon of like import at the preceding
fellion, Confpiied in stimulating him to do Ms
duty.
It is in theftile of a remonstrance from a
constituent, who " acjuicfces in tie fujficierty oj
motivesbut yet censures the ast itlelf.
It censures the reasons leading to the reso
lutions ] it admits of the fufficiency of the
motives inducing the refolutiens ; it censures
the resolutions as requiring an impracticable
compliance ; it still promises to perform this
impracticability; and having easily effected
it, boasts of a success, which " must obviate
every idea of a balance unaccounted for."
What is this but one tissue of contradiHion ?
It amuses people, by a labored explanation
of an ingenious contrivance, by which two
millions may be turned and turned, until the
result is—o.
It endeavors to change tlie objeCt of enqui
ry, by soliciting the public attention to an
examination of the accuracy of a conjectural
statement:
And it concludes with an injunction upon
the members ofCongrefs to wait upon his of
ficers for information, left their enquiries
(hould turn out to he iiifignificant, especially
iffnujHted upon a " voluntary difdojure" of the
Secretary himfelf.
The motives and ''ffeCts of theft indicati
ons, deserve some portion of the public atten
tion.
What member of Congnefs wilt in future
move for a " Jlatement oj the receipts and expen
ditures of pui/ic money," if be is to be dragged
into a newspaper controversy, and expoled to
the odium and abu « of tlw paper feftion, set
on-hy the matter of the pack?
When Cotigrefs itfelf isaccofted in a m«-
jefteria! stile of condef'cention (if the expreffi.
on is allowable) does it not evince a reliance
upon foine hidden influence ? Especially should
Congress {hi ink from its own ast, and surren
der at discretion one of its own members) as
a hostage for their future good behaviour.
Are not contradictions, and uninteresting
transmutations of fifcal entries, indicative of
a design to deceive and mislead ?
Is not the attempt to detach the public eye
from its tme obieft, fulpjcious I The Jure
often decoys a whole flock of pigeons from
their f'afe line of progress, into the net of the
merc'fefs sportsman. And is not an attempt
to avoid public enquiries, by a reference of
individual members tofifcal officers, designed
to continue the p'efent darkness of the pub
"llc mind, as to the knowledge of public funds ?
Fellow citizens, piece these circumstances
together, and extract the result for your
felvts.
Democracy delights in public knowledge
—Simplicity ought to be the garb of her fifcal
arrangements—with inviolability (be reveres
and fulfills the constitution, because it is the
will of the people—She is jealous of the inde
pendence of the legislature, collectively and
individually—She abhors artifice, perplexity,
and intrigue—with alacrity and pcrfpicuity
flie gives an account of her conduct—and Jh'e
exhibits public funds in doilari and cent*. for
erery palTenger to view.
A contrary coniiuft cannot be tlie effect of
accident; it is the result of political f/fteijl,
and ignorance itfelf, unblinded by inte»»fl,
cannot find a difficulty in difcorering irflit
that system is. f ttANKtyjtj
Feb nary 15.
M * . Fen no,
THERE rs a curious ftatcment rerpabltfbed j
in your Jaft Gazette, from the American ]
ftailv Advertiser, refpe&inp the states who voted
ogainjl Mr. Adams, and againjl the doors of liic|
Scnate bring ihut. A.drpitttng tht ftateYnw to
be conefl, which is not the fa£l*, Whit does it
prove?—lt provei tmt—that Mr. Adams is re
elected Viee-Prefident, by a large majority of-theJ
dates— and that a large majority ofr the states
have not expieffcd an opinion refpe&ing the k
opening of the Senate Chamber Doors.—Hot it
would puzzle any one to find out the lead con
nexion between these circumstances. Are the
fentimems of the Vice-President on the que (lion
of opening the doors, afeertained hereby? or
rather, does it not clearly appear, that a majo*
rity of the states ag»ee in opinion with the very
large majority of the Senate. It is granted that
the majority is nothing, when, put in competition
with the views of party. > C. .
* Nfirth-Caroh'/ra, it appear j, divided on the qvej
tion-~as tvel!as South-Carolina and Maryland*—and
one oj the Georgia Senators was absent.
MR. Fen NO,
The following extraftjrom the New- Brunfuiick Ad
vertijer,if recommended to the peru sal ofM* candid
invejligators oj the bay* Your's, Z.
" IN free governments, where men enjoy the
JL rightof judging for themfelv*», divorfity
of fcntimcnt refpe&ing public men and meafurrs
mull be expe&ed, and is, indeed, unavouWtfle.
This d'yerfity however, is attrnded with good Or
bad effeftt, according to the principle from
which it If the agent be an honrft and
candid enquirer, it his object be truth and in
formation, he will be ever open to conviction—
and,, when convinced, will think it no dishonor
to retra& and acknowledge his error. But on
the contrary, if his mind be darkened by preju
dice,, be guided by felfifli views, or a&uated by
party spirit, his opinion, however erroncoufly
formed, no course of reasoning nor of facts can
induce him td forego. He may be refuted, but
will be convinced ; truth mav dazzle him
by its brightness, bu* will nev«r eradiate or cheer.
To attempt conri&ion under such circumftanees,
would be labor unprofitably bestowed."
Of the GRATED LODGE of free and accept
ed MASONS for the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, . r
TO THEIR HONOURED AND ILLUSTRIOUS
BROTHER GEORGE WASHINGTON.
WHILST the hijlorian is defcribihg the
career of your glory, and the inhabit
ants of an extensive empire are 'happy
in your unexampled exertions—whiltt some
ce'ebrate the //fro, so diftinguiihed in liber*
ating united America, and others the Patriot
who nrefides over her Councils, a hand tf bro
thers having always joined the acclamations
of their countrymen, row teftify their re
fpeft for those milder virtues which have
ever graced the Man.
Taught by the precepts of our Society that
all its Members /land upon a level, we venture
to afTume this station, and to approach yon
with that freedom, which diminishes our dif
fidence, without leflenitig our re/pest: Deli
rous to enlarge the boundaries of social bap
pinefs, and to vindicate the ceremonies of
their Institution, this Grand Lodge havepub
lifhed a " Book of Cmjlitutions," (and a .copy
for your acceptance accompanies this) which,
by discovering the principles that actuate,
will speak the eulogy of the Society—tkough
they fervently wi(h the conduct of its Mem
bers may prove its highest commendation.
Convinced of his attachment to its cause,
and benevolent designs, they have taken the
liberty to dedicate this work to Out, thoqua
lities of whose heart, and the anions of Wiofe
lifej have contributed to improve personal
virtue, and extend throughout the world, the
mod endearing cordialities; and they jhum
bly'hope, he will pardon this freedom, arid ac
cept this tribute of their efleem and homage.
May the Supreme Architect of the Uni
verse protest and bless you, give yon length
of days, and inci ease of felicity in this world,
and then receive you to the harmonious and
exalted Society in Heaven.
JOHN CUTLER, Grand Majltr.
JOSI AM BARTLETT, ? „ in, .
MUNGO Mackay, £ Gr " nd War
Boflon December 27, A. 1. 1792.
7# the GRAND LODGE of fkf.e end ac
cepted MASONS far the Commnnu ealih oj
Massachusetts.
FLATTERING as it may be to the hu
man mind, and truly honorable as it is, to re
ceive from onr fellow-citizens testimonies of
approbation for exertions to promote the
public welfare—it is not left pleasing to know,
that the milder virtues of the heart are high
ly refpefted by a society whose liberal prin
ciples are fonnded in the immutable lawiof
truth and justice.
To enlarge the sphere of social happiness is
worthy the benevoJent design of a Masonic
Institution. And it is most fervently to be
wished, that the conduct of every member of
the f aternity, as well as those publications
that discover the principles which a&uate
them, may tend to convince mankind that
the grandohjeft of Maforiry is to promote the
happiness of the human race.
While I be« your acceptance of mv thanks
for the " Book of Constitutions" which vou
have Tent me, and for the honor you have
done me in the dedication, permit me to aflure
AN ADDRESS
ANSWER.
302
yon, that I fee) all thole amotions of grati
tude which your affectionate Address and
cordial wiflies, are calculated to inspire.—
And L finely pray that the Gjmat Archi
tect of the Univet fe.may bless you here, and
receive you hereafter in tys fmmortal Temple.
. , & WASHINGTON.
LAW OF, THE UNION.
SF.COM)
CONGRESS GF THE UNITED STATES,
aHt the second session,
1 afed held at the City of Philadelphia,
in the St arte of P6nnfylvania, on Monday
the fifth ®f November, one thousand
Ifeven hundred and ninety-two.
An ACT to continue in force for a
limited time, and to amend the
A<ft, intituled, " An Ast provid
ing the Means of Intercourse be
tween the United States and Fo
reign Nations."
ca- *D E lt ky the Senate and
■ m *' X3 1 House of Reprrfentativrs of the •
Uinited States of America, mCongrefs affcmbled,
That the ast, intitule*, " An aA providing the
means of intercourse between the United Stales
and foreign nations," which wonld expire at the
end of the present feflion of Congress, be, and
the fame hereby if, together witbthis ad, conti
nued in force for the space of one ye*r» from the
parting of this ast, and from thence, until the
end of the feflion of Congref»the«, or next there
after holden, and no Irvuger.
See, 2. And be it further enabled, That ifi all
cases, where any sum or sums of money have is
sued, or (hall hereafter issue, from the treasury,
for the pu» pofes'of intercourse or treaty, with
foreign nations, in pursuance of any law, the
Prcfidem b«r, »nd he hereby is authorized,
to cause the fame to be duly fettled annoally with
the accounting officers of the treasury, in man
ner following, that is to fay ; by causing the
fame to be accounted for, fpecificaHy, in ail in
stances, wherein the expenditure thereof may,
in his judgment, be made public ; and by mak
ing a certificate or certificates, or causing the Sc
cicfary of State to make a certificate or certifi
cates of the amount of such expenditures, as he
may think it advisable uot to fpccify ; and every
such certificate (ball be dc< mcd a fufficient
voucher for the sum or sums therein exprefled
to have been expended.
JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Speaker
oj the House of Reprefrvtatives.
JOHN ADAMS, Vice-Prejident of the
United States, and Prejident of the Senate,
APPROVED, FEBRUARY C), 1793.
GEO. WASHINGTON,
Prejident of the United States.
Foreign Affairs.
M I L A N, Nov. 1 5 .
THE government of Austrian
Lombardy having offered the
pay of thirty-two sous and a half
per day (about thirteen pence ster
ling) to every volunteer that chose
to goto fight the French, who threat
ened to invade that country, such
was the enthusiasm among the peo
ple, and particularly among the in
habitants of the mountains, to de
fend their country againftthe inva
ders, and so many crowded to the
places of rendezvous, that it was ex
pelted an army of more than one
hundred thousand of the ablest fight
ing men would be formed in a very
(hort time.
FRANCE.
NATIONAL CONVENTION.
DECEMBER I.
LETTER FROM GEN.~JDUMOURIER.
Liege, Nov. 28.
" Citizen President,
" AT the head of the bravest
troops in the universe, I attacked
yesterday morning at seven o'clock
the rear guard, of the lmperialifts,
commanded hy Gen. Staray, and
confiding of 12,c00 men at least. I
had not so many for a great part of
the day,' but when the whole of the
National Army displayed itfelf, the
enemy thought of retreating, after
having been forced in fix villages
with the loss of their General.
" Prudence, and the fltortnefs of
the day, prevented me from enter
ing the city. J entered it at nine
this morning, and it is impoflible for
me to describe the joy and the de
lighful sensations which the inha
bitants experienced at our arrival—
Republican ideas have here the fame
characters of reason and energy in
France. I dare affirm, that in four
days a National Guard will be per
fectly Organized, and that in fifteen
Liege will have a National Conven
tion. The French ariny (hews it
felf every day more and more wor
thy of the cause which it supports,
and deserves that you fiiould at
tend to its wants. Our loss dees
not exceed ij or 20 men killed or
wounded—that ot the enemy to j
or 600 at lealt, among whom they
b«. t« npn, .fc„, .11, o„ t
rill, '"* •»"
" I have taken up' my lod £ i n ..
in the Palace of the Bilbopof Lit e e
who went off precipitately at three'
o'clock yesterday morning. I
cßufe Citizen Jolcvet to take an ex.
a«ft inventory of the papers he ha»
left.
(Signed) DUMOURrER..
" P.S. Lieut. Col. Philip Devaux
il the bearer of these difpaicbes."
Kerfant moved, that a letter of
thanks might be sent to Gen. Du
mourier; but this was opposed by
several members, who Paid it would
be time enough when he liadfinifli
ed his career.
The committee of public instruc
tion was oedered to draw up a ge
neral address to all the armies, and
their commanders.
Gen. Dumourier's Aid-duCamn
being admitted to rhe Bar, said, 1
cannot N yet officially announce t«
you, tliat the citadel of Antwerp it
taken, but I can assure you that i*
has furreiidered.
Dccembtr j4. Eurther particolat-i
were read from the somtniffioner*
sent 10 the Belgic army. On the
evening of the Bth of' December,
there was in the army chest 445,00»
livres in specie, and 243,000 in dlig.
naj». The inhabitants of the coun
try will not receive attignats, which
proceeds from a number of forged
ones having been circulated by the
emigrants. On Saturday night Du.
moorier waited on the commission.
ers, and laid before them a letter
from the war minister, relative to
the march of the army. He told
them his views differed from those
of the executive council, and that
he wished some old experienced of.
ficers to decide which were the best.
The army has plenty of provisions,
and is only in want of cloathing
and forage. Their {hoes are of a
very bad quality, the leather tear
ing like paper. The men, howe
ver, are all anxious to march, noi
withftanding they are almost naked.
Ir O N D © N, December 4. "
""* "fr'J'n**"'' »PT|*icrj»
parts of the kingdom appear to b<
the mod alarming. In Scotland
there have been several infurree
tions, but of no other importance
than that they fliew the turbulent
difpolition of some of the people
there. In Yorkfhiie, particularly
at Sheffield, in Northumberland,
and in Durham, a spirit of riot hat
(hewn itfelf. In imitation of the
French, the general cry among these
rioiers is, let us have a more .equal
division of property, for whyfhould
one man be richer than another?
The number of seditious clubs in
and about the metropolis, has like
wise become a feriousevil. Bu.tfuch
is the vigilance of government, and
so strong is the spirit of loyalty in
the people to support the conflitu
tion, that we have no reafoivtobe
under very great alarm.
One hundred and twenty perfon#
mostly lrifh, are forming a plan of
an intended republican system for
Great-Britain, at White's hotel in
Pari». Paine and Gen. Santerre are
alternately chairmen.
Domestic Articles.
BOSTON, Feb. 6.
The Regent of Sweden, in recog»
nizing the French Rupublic, adled
rather prematurely. The proper
time for such a nieafnre will b e
when the new conftitmion of France
is adopred, and in operation. When
this takes place, the government of
the United States will, if poflible,
be the firft to acknowledge and cor.
dially to congratulate her fitter.
Capt. Snow, who arrived hereyel
terday, in 27 days from Martinico,
informs, that on rhe day he failed,
a capitulation had been agreed up
-011, that the National Flag of France
ihould be fubftitnted in the room of
the Aristocratic Flag, the next day;
and that on the fame day the Hag
was hoisted at Thac
the downfall of the late spirit of re
bellion was complete, and that
mavket for American produce wa*
good.
•• ,r