•f the f.oufe or tlie Secretary for this purpuje—
our Journals do nut (how any. The rtquifition,,
was to the President, and he has complied witii
the terms of it. But if we are to reit on pre
sumptive evidence, the presumption is in favour
of the Scrctary. The Prcfidei»t has yot made
objections to the condu& of his agent. He has
mentioned the loans to Congress, without dii
approbation. The agent was properly account
able to him, and he Jus not found fault with
him ; but in hit fpecch at the opening of this
and the Lift feflion of Congrtis, has
exprefled great fatisfadion in the (late of
public ailair . But if the gentlemen who advo
«ate this prokcution, really believed this fad,
badthey .it not in their power to have rendered
the evidence certain »to demonstration, by re
queuing by resolutions of the houfej that the
President would declare * whether this money
was or was not drawn in eonfequence of his io
ftrudions, or with his approbation and consent.
Can any man suppose, that so responsible an a
gent as the Secretary of ti*e treasury would pre
sume (for his own fake) to proceed in so im
portant negotiation, without the knowledge, ap
propation and directions of the President of the
United States. But for argument fake,'fuppofe
the fad to be true , is not the Secretary an offi
cer to fuperintehd the colledion of the public
revenue? As soon as this loan was made under
the ad of the i uh of August, was it notjiis du
ty without further inftrudions, to draw the
money into States for the purposes
mentioned in the ad 4 would he not have bfeen
highly culpable if he had left , this money in
Holland tUI the next feflion of Congress, aqd
' waited for a law authorising him so to io? It i»
really a rcfledion oil-the whole, to
fnppofe they would have direded a loan which
Ihould remain Iriadive on an interest of 5 per
cent, without giving a 1 ,>ower of application.
But it lias been aid tnat a larger sum, viz,
almost 3 milliohs of d liars, has been drawn
inco this country, which wq's more than tht
President himfelf was authorifcd to do. If this if
meant to criminate tlie Prefidfcnt, we ought t<
know it. How does the fad stand? It is agree<
that the President had a right to draw the mo
flies loaned under act. of the .... .. ;;
iath August, - z,000,60p
He had a righttoinake such. other
contrads refpeding the; debt, as
fliould be for the interest of the
United States;, in vConfe4Uehce
whereof, the- ?gent in Europe a
greed with the national alTembly
or the executivecf France, for the
payment of 4 millions of livres
part of their debt, in the produce
of the United States, ioi the jfup
piy of St. Domingo f which made 800,000
The interest .to foreign officers a
' mounted toabout
*.99'>.)'<> 9°
This then makes about the fuift that it is proved,
was drawn for by tha Secretary, and fhpws that
he did not exceed the powers hefted in the Pre
fldent for tKis ptirpofe. *
It hat been also held up as highly criminal in
the Secretary, that altho'he began to draw for
this money ill Dec. 1790, . yet hfr -oever gave
information to CoDgrefs or to the trustees for
purchasing the public debt on the fubjedj but
left them wholly in the dark with refpe<£t to so
important a measure, when it was his duty par
ticularly to have kept the house conflantly in
formed, and that this could only have happened
for the purpose of covering some improper de
. sign, or aiding individuals tvith the public mo
nies of the United States.
To this charge Mr. B. said he had paid seri
ous attention; for as on the one hand he would
ever be ready to bring every defaulter in public
office, however exalted in charaifter, to condign
punishment, where found guilty; on the other
hand, he wiihed ever to be fourd giving full sup.
port to every good officer of government against
unfounded charges of peculation and mifinanage
ment of the public revenue. He had fatisfied his
Qundop thisfubjedl, Dot beitag-able to find a
scintilla of evidence to support the charge, but
abundant testimony to the contrary. First, Con
gress knew that this money was appropriated
to the payment of the debts in .this country- —
that the loan was made in Holland, and there
fore that it mull neieffarily be drawn here for
the purposes of the a<3t.—idly, by the report of
thetruftecs of the finking fund, sol. 12, under
date of the 25th August 1790, is the following
entry, " It is provable that it will be deemed ad
visable to pay the interest for the year 1791 on
the amount of the foreign debt, out of foreign
loans—There is one now matured for the ac-
ceptance of tile United States, amounting to 3
millions of florins : the proceeds of "which may be
at command in the course of the present year. The
expediency of an acceptance of the loan, and of
an application of one third of it, to the purpose of the
d£?i for the reduction of the public debt, is under
the confiderathn of the Pre/ldent of tie United
States. Alexander Hamilton, Sec.of the treasury.
This entry affords strong presumption against all
the suggestions of the want of inftruiftiqns from
the President, or his ignorance of the proceed
ings of the Secretary.
3d. The speech of the President delivered to
both houses of Congress on the Bth Dec. 1790,
has the following paragraph : " fn conforming
to the powers v fted in me by the ast? of the
last fefiion, a loan o> three millions of florins, to
ward- which some provisional measures had
previously taken place, has been completed in
Holland."—" The Secretary of the treasury has
my di're&ions to communicate such further far
ticulars as may be requifits for more precise in
formation."
4th. the report of the Secretary in conformi
ty to that direction dated 24th February 179!,
mentioning terms of the loans and application
of monies.
j'th. The preamble of the nil of 3d March
*791, already read.
•tlx. In the rep&rtdE the Secretary of the*rsf
fuiy of the receipts and .expendit^*/rom the
commencement of the government to tjv; of
Dec. 1751 ijthe following article of receipts.
Fouign Loans. . -
Fromrbe Hrefidenf ,dire<9urt Jt Co.
. of the bank of North . America,.
being the produce of bills of ex
change, drawn on the agents for
negociating foreign loans in Hol
land, - . up,z6f, 47
From President, director* & Co.
of bank of New-York, being the
produce of biH» of exchange, ' : ■
d/awn on the agents aforefaid,' 87
Dolls. 3*1,35 134
7th. Inthetreafurer's account,cnjtimtpcirjg ift
Jan. 1793, and endinggon the 3 ift March i 79fl>
are found the following entries of receipts: ,c
" On the proceeds of bills of exchange drawn
on Willhem & Jan Willink, Nicholas & Ja
cob Van Staphorfl &Htibbard, of Ai&fterdam,
on account of loans made for the United
States, p«r statement, Dolls. 401,902 89
In this account, commencing on ift April 179 2,
and ending on the 30th June J 791:
" On the proceeds of bills of exchange &c. in
fame words, - - 1,140,000
Inhis account commencing the firft July 1791,
and ending oa the 30th Sept. 179 2.:
" On the proceeds of bills of exchange &c. itj
fame words, - 1,000,000
Mr. Boudinot > after reading these vouchers,
proceeded. TJ)sfe,Mr. Chairman, ue the fa&s
that have convinced my mind, at firft much
alarmed at the severity of the charges and the
ppfitive assertions of gentlemen, that difcovcries
would be made, (hewing corruption at the very
heart of the government, these have convin
ced me fully, that this proTecutfcn has been
raftily brought forward without i proper exa
mination of the tranfa&ion. My mind, in a
confciehtious research into the fa&s, his hot
been able to raise a doubt on which to, found
even a suspicion of the integrity or abilities of
the Secretary in this whole negociatton So far
am I from considering those charges ftppoj-ted
by testimony, that I consider the conduit of the
officer concerned in this tranfa&ion jot only
whoHy cleared up,but the measures hehas pur
sued, as (lamped with wisdom and officii Jcnow
ledge. So far am I from judging hin reP**e
henfible for the manner in he h;s nego
ciated and applyed these loans, that I tlink him
deserving of the thankful approbatitn of tlis
country, for his economy and ftri& att:ntion to
the true interests and credit of the United
States. I rejoice, Sir, that after so Full and
zealous an investigation, this officer, tbugh un
heard\ appears to be free from even a iifpicion
of mal-condu& in the whole tranfa<fti*n; this
is not only honorable to him, but does credit; to
our country. On the whole, therefois; lam
decidedly of opinion against the prefen.'refolu
tions, and (hallgive them my hearty negative.
be continued."] |
191.316 90
For the GAZETTE of UNITED ST.
Mr. Fenno, | ~
AS Charges against the executive bfncers
of thi general government haVei lately
become fafhionable, I beg leave through your
paper to lay the inclosed refollitions before
the Houfeof Citizens of the United States.
What I really am, is a matter of no con
sequence to any one—*but I profess to be a
mart of great candour and to be influenced by
no motive beside that of the public good ; I
am clearly of opinion that capable servants
are dangerous to the public fafetv—that they
Ihould often be charged with maladmfniftra
tion, either before, or without the produc
tion of evidence, (imply to introduce the good
ly principle of rotation in office—that when
they obtain influence by eminent abilities and
ufefuTnef', the, United States (hould adopt
the Athenian plan and fubjeft them to irre
vocable ostracism—that when violations of
official duty are charged, there (hould always
be a promise on the part of the to ac
knowledge his error when proved, l>u| every,
care (hould be taken to elude performance
whatever proof may be produced on the part
of the accused ; in (hort I fully acquiifce in
the doctrine of old Hudibras, and make it uiy
invariable pra&icethat
" H'tien convinced againjl my witt,
" I'm of the fame opinion JiilL" •
These with the principles contained Sn the
following resolutions are mine, and 1 hold
myfelf to be as (launch a democrat as any the
dominion can produce. MARAT.
ARTICLES OF
Impeachment againjl Alexander Hamilton,
C t ./' U.. T f--- "JL."*
Ift. RESOLVED, That every officer of
the United States who by talents and integ
rity—by important services and republican
manners, conciliates the esteem arid ajffeftion
of the people, " violates the law" of equality
—;s an aristocrat*—exposes the coujifels of
the United Spates to confifteiicv, liability, and
confidence, and therefore is highly reprehen
sible.
2d, Resolved, That a violation ofthelaw
of equality is the violation of tl* people's
right, which requires that every free man,
fliould enjoy the privilege of despising tafents
—degrading worth and demolilhing reputa
tion, by resolutions nninveftigated and un
founded.
3J. Resoxved, That the Secretary of the
Treasury has been guilty of a violation of this
law of equality. 1. By his long and diftin
guiflied Ibrvices during the late war. a, By
his indefatigable exertions to effect the efta
blilhment of the federal government. 3. Bv
his fidelity and industry in the discharge of
his present office, by which he has obtained
the confidence and efteera of his fellow-citi
zens, and is likely from his talents, virtues,
O J- — ~ ~ " --
Secretary of the Treasury.
334
anrf Cervices, ta wtr/hmdow ot?ter mtn . wTlfl
have a Statt-clum- to greater importance than
hijnfijlf.
. 4th. Resol-ved, That it is reasonable to
perfume that the Secretary of thG . T rea '* ,r y
has deviated from the inftmftionj of the Pre
fidcnt.—Becggfe the Prefiderit who is Angu
larly inattentive to the conduct of hU agents
and univerfaily reeardleft of the public inter,
eft, has omitted to enquire into the measures
the Secretary has purlued, but has knowing
ly fuffered him contrary to express orders, to
mifmina'e tholie public finances, which Con
gress had confidentially charged to the Presi
de nt'j care.
' jth. Hesoiv»s, That the Secretary of the
Treasury has omitted M discharge an essential
duty of his office vt» failing to givi the citi
zen? of th s honfe, at onre, inforrtiation ofhij
irteafures, and capacity to tinderftind them—
tljat Be hasTaid too little for those who wifli
to det«& h : m in errors and contradifHoni:—-
yet lo "much as to bewilder thbfe who are "too
indolent to examine the reports with atten
tion.
6th. Resolved, That the Secretary has ex
officio, and without inftrutftions ventured to
promote the interest of the United States, by
construing a doubtful authority according to
its spirit, without adhering to what some
deem the ftri<st letter—that he has thus avoid
ed a manifeft absurdity—has saved fomt thou
sands of dollars, which fliould have been fa
crificed for the hflnor of government—and
that he has "omitted todifcharge an eflential
dotv of his office in filling to give infoi mar
tion" of these services, where a detail of them
was fnperfluOiKi or would possibly either have
been forgotten or mifreprtefeu ted, had they
been communicated.
7th. Rf.solVeo, That " the Secretary of
the Trea'ury did not consult the public in
terest" by borrowing a sum of money at J pr.
cent, of the Bank, when it might nave been
had elsewhere at 7 and upwards—that he ap
plied this to the support of public credit by
paying demands on the federal Trealbry as
they became due, instead of relying for this
purpose on funds already appropriated, or on
bonded duties, payable at a remote period.
Bth. Resolved, That the Secretary has been
guilty of an indecorum to the citizens of this
House, in prefumin? to judge for himfelf, on
fHfts obvious l 6 every one—in obliquely ftig
gefting, that he wa* capable of diftinguiflilng
between motives and public good, and private
envy—for defending himfelf in too independ
ent a manner againlt charges of corruption—
for proving certain wild statements of his
own accounts to be " one tiflue of error"—
for comprehending the true import of orders
he had received, and failing to obtrnde in
formation, for which he had never been call
ed on.
9th. Resolved, That he be convicted of
these charges without a hearing; that lie
therefore be adjudged a dangerous minister,
and difmifled from office—becaufe bis " ad
mtniftration" instead of " disgracing Pande
monium" will probably ensure him too much
confidence and popularity in violation of true
democratical equality, and in prejudice of
certain " pure and virtuous characters," who
would fain rife upon the ruins of his reputa
tion.
sr-1
Fer the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.
Princeton, March 15, 1793.
The fsllowing is an extrafl from a letter lately
" TN Mr. Fenno's paper of the 13th March,
X there is a Speech of one of the members of
the National Convention of France, that con
tains sentiments which must excite disgust and
horror, in every mind, not wholly debauched
and hardened. They aie uttered by a M.
Dufont, and applauded with (bouts of accla-
mation by almost the whole convention.—
What! (he exclaims) Monarchies are extirpated
—thrones arc overturned— and sceptres are bro
ken to pieces—Kings are-no more; yet the
altars of God remain. Shame to the enlightened
spirit of Frenchmen 1 Will you permit still to
exist these ignominious monqments of our igno
rance -ari4 r np(s ? You have freed your coun
try from the bondage ot execrable tyrants;
rtfeue them alio from tjie infamous dominion of
fuperjlition, that enfbjves aud ftVackles thq mind.
Nature and Reason—these ought to be the Gods
of man—these are my Cods. Kings and Priests
are leagued in one cursed design—-and the cursed
fnftrument' of the latter, is eternal fire. " 'Let
others tremble at this terrifi bugbear. As for
me, I despise it ; as for m\felf, I here honestly
confefs to this AlTembly, lam an Atheifi. '
<l What are we to think of such an open avow
al of fentimenis, so absurd and so ruinous. From
the thunders of applauses with which they were
received, they appear not to be confined to a
finale breast. They expre/sthe feelings,,'the ge
nuine and undisguised feelings, the t greater
part ol the Convention. Heaven defend us from
such corrupted and mifchievou* principles.
May our manners be preserved simple, and our
morals pure—and may weeftabhfh our national
fafetv and gTbry in national ftrift justice and un
affc&ed piety. May we reprobate the folly
and wiCkedness of the wretch who dares to
question the existence of that Providence, whose
arm was so lately and so mamfeftjy bared for our
defence and happiness. May we not be asham
ed publicly W declare to the world that we are
the humble and grateful warfhtppers of the
" only living and true God." For myfelf, were
the aflfcmbled universe before me, I would not
blush to acknowledge, that I conceive it my dif
tingui(hed privilege, my highest honor and uu
fpeakable delight, to know, avow, and love,
that Being who reigns iu heaven and rules upon
the earth."
FROM THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE.
Iranian might conclude, a Correspondent
obferyes, on the posture of our affairs the
administration of the general government,
even the integrity of our pnreft characters,
from fume inflamatory northern writers, lie
received.
ainft Umrof t«j ouf Wn ßit;<»h inwtrie*-
. ' ® Tlt < n >. »nd a combination formed to
.mpof, oa the Uuifed States the fembl.uc'e of
v,.T° tl "!. r J eprdinUtio " U frper-added th.
hackneyed dirges of an army unpaid—fpeeu.
" t °. rs < - n nriched . foreign debts uncomplied
with, and, in a word, every brace and (pok.
tin ZITL ot government uufi, f or O L a .
, I ke J. y tycu u nti,, « »ntit couTaia.
the fu|>r ? me direction of,
republic to whole principle, tl*y were, and
ever will remain opposed.
Tho'every f,||able of this is re fl, tsd and
laughed at yet it is the duty of every good
PRF« of a FREE.
PRESS, that meftiinable ENGINE of p„oii C
happinef.,re(er ve d for tlie Ul ages of th«r
woi ld, f'k»ar to notice such predutfipns as to
preserve as much as pollible, within the ex
tent of his own circle, every good. citiwA
from the baneful anarchical contagion intend'
to 'Pread trom the uViiiMu labors of tlwfe
ingtnwus mm, so eager to change the whole
lyltem to have it administered on new prin
ciples and for sinister purposes.
EXTRACT Jrom Dr. HENRY's HISTORY.
I W ?'"• continuc to he a rapiol ani
' ,° >he internal and foreign trade of
Britain. When a., eftatc w, s conveyed f ° f
one proprietor to another, .if the villa, ns „
fuyes annexed to that cftate were conveved«
thtj'fame tithe, and by the fame deed. VVhe<i
any person had more children than h. could
Maintain, ot more domcftic Oaves than he chose
to keep, he fold them to a merchant; who dif.
posed of them either at home or abroad, as h e
found would be moll profitable." ft was*
common vice, (fays Gir.ldus Cambrenfts) „f the
EnglilH when -thev were reauced to
that rather than endure it patiently, they «pof c d
their own children to sale. Many of thele an
happy persons were carried into Irehnd, a»d n»
doubt into other countries, and there fold \
ftmng law was made against this barbarous'kind
of commerce, in a great council held at Si Pe
ter's Weftminfter,A. D no,. no m ,„;
for the future, presume to carry on the wicked
trade of felling men in markets, like brute
beads, which h.ihcrto had been the'common
o.ftom of England." But this law did not put
»n end to the trade in slaves. For in the e.eat
council held in Armagh, A. D. i, 7« the whole
clergy ot Ireland, after having deliberated lon»
concermngthecaufeofthecalanmies with which
they were threaiened, by the itiv.fion of th»
Engli Ih, at length agreed, that (he great judgment
had been lntlifled upon them by the difoleafure
of God, for the fins of the people ; particularly
for their having bought so great a number ol En.
glifh Oaves from merchants, pirates and robbers,
and for detaining them fti!) in bondage. The*
therefore decrced, That alUhe Enfcllftj slaves in
ths whole island of Ireland, (hould be immedi
ately emancipated, and reflored to their former
liberty."—Hiftoty <5f England, vol, 6. p. 267,
268, 269. \ , *
■ A. .... .6
Foreign Affairs,
By the Slip Favourite, arrived on Monday LJl t J rm
' \ . ! " Liverpool.
I'M" L EPST.ADT, Dec. j 4 .
THE day before yesterday arrived here M.
Fayette, and his companions, under the
escort of two commiflioned officers and ten fa.
balterns. They set out from hence yesterday on
their "way to Magdeburg.
VIENNA, Dec. 16.
Accounts have been received at Prefburgh, in
Hungary, that the Porte is resolved te take the
field againit Ruflia. Near Akiertnan in Baffsra
bia, 20,000 Ruffians are Rationed, and 25,000
more near Choczim, to watch thc4t)oti®ns of the
Turks.
WARSA W, Dec. 22.
Letters from Cherfon state, that the Ruffiat\j
are filling out a fleet at Sebaftapool; to meet ths
Fr< nch, who Wish to appear with a formidable,
flcet beforc Constantinople.
B E R L I N, Dec. 29
By a Courier who arrived here on the 24th
from the received ccrtarin intellu
gence, that his Majesty will pass the winter with
his troops. He will probably stay some da)j
with the Landgrave of Heffc Caffelj but he in
tends by his presence to hasten and dire£l the
dispositions for another campaign against the
French. It will be carried on with the utmost
vigour, and the court of Vienna will make efforts
proportionate to the greater intcrefts which
has in the war. The forces of the two powers
will afii separately, but they wiJI probably be
augmented by troops from the principal Germa
nic States ; for it appear* there will-be no diftioA
army of the empire, and that the cohimgents of
the different Princes will serve with the Auflrian
and Piuflian troops.
PARI S, Jan. &.
This morning the Convention decreed, thil
till the resumption of the trijal cf XVF.
which is postponed till Monday next, they will
attend fpiely to the subsistence and the doathing
of the army.
NATIONAL CONVENTION, Jan. 5.
Marefchal Luckner, detained at Paris by a de
cree of the Convention, obtained to-day the pcr
miffion of retiring wherever he plealcd.
Manuel read a Ifft Of the new members of the
committee of General Safety. The names of
Chabot, Talien, fngrand, and others of the fame
(lamp, were no longer in it.
Marat cried out, as he heard it read, that there
was a conspiracy againlt the good citizens ; an 4
the afletnbiy laughed.
Paine was expected-" to deliver his opinion
yesterday on the trial of Louis, but had not an
opportunity. H's opinion, which is well known,
is t that Loujs should be kern m fate custody du
ring the war, and then baniihed from theterru
tories of tbe Republic.