I <■ ■
Ht}U3E of RKPKESENTATIVES.
Monday, December ij.
Mj.New, ot the corai\iitt<?e an en
rolled bills, reported, that the l.ill enti
tled " Afl aft to explain and amend the
twrnty-fecond fe£tion of the aft ellab
lifhing the judicial courts of tlie United
States,'' was on Friday, laid before;the
Piefidcnt for his approbation.
Mr. Nicholas brought in a report, on
the rqeyfures taken for the defence of
the frontier, and What faittter steps aie
neceflSfy-fof iu t >|>of;;ing the military ef
tablifhmer.t of the United States.—
Read'a firilitnfl fee oik! time, ordered to
' be printed, a id j-efcrred tiua committee
of ihtf o!e. liouC; t»-niimnw.
Jn . ("-mm!: tee or,the whole on Mr.
Blount's motion for * reduction of the
pay of the officer*, of militia. -
Tail motion occasioned a fhovt de
bate. Ir ws« opposed on ' the 'ground
and a» civating a disagreeable
diilinction between the officers of the
m litis and the officer* of the regular
troops. The arguments in favour or
. the motion were derived from th« ine
quality between the pay of the officers
aid priva'e»i The proposition being
re -I ed to thefit words—■" Resolved, as
the opinion of this committee, that the
pav of the militia officers ought to be
' reduced"—after a few additional ob?
fervations pro and Con, the committee
disagreed to the refaction, and report
ed accordingly.. In the house the yeas
• and nays were called on the queftibri for
agreeing to. t.he.,report of the commit
tee of the whole—-and w?s- determined
in the affirmative—Yeas 50.
N?ys *9.
The refohttion fcit reducing the pay
was consequently loft- . - V -■
In committee of thewhole on the ef
tiuiatts of appro; ration ; t'ie estimate
for payment tirf the militia on the late
expedition wasconGdered ; this part of
the estimate being gone thro' with, a
resolution was proposed, foj appropria
ting the funis itatelL-thercM)—theTum
was on further iponfidctation left blank';'
the refohnioif being reported to the
Itoufe and agreed to, a bill was ordered
to be brought in. '
-Mr. W.' Smith, of the committee
appointed for t]ic piirpofe, brought in
a report on the meafts proper to be a
dopted, for accelerating the discharge of
the public debt—this was twice read,
and referred _t»--ri>e committee of the
whole oil ThuvfjJaj:—ljiterim, to be
printed for the life of, the hoyfe.
A till to amend the naturalization
'air, was brought iri; twice read, «»d
committed for Monday next. _
In committee of )tl)¥ whole on the re
port of the Secretary of State, to whom
had been referred during" the last feflion
the petition of Stephen Sayre—Thi» pe
tition is for for services
rendered the United State* in various
parts of Europe during the late war
Many objections were urged against the
prayer of this" petition or memorial.
The petitioner brought forward claims
for services oir-different occasions
.being influential ifi producing the armed
neutrality, &c.—-this was contravened ;
and the petitioner's silence during the
lifetime of Dr.'Franfclin and Mr. Ar
thur Lee, who would have been the best
evidences in fnpport of his claims, was
objefled to as an eifential deficiency.
Mr. Parker, who fop ported the petiti
on, said that absence
from this country .precluded the oppor
tunity of making .»fe of the teftinlony
alluded to. Aftei' some further remarks
the committee rose, and on putting the
que (lion for leave to fit again, it was
carried in the affirmative— 37 to 33
Adjourned.
Turfday, December 16.
The hoLfc resolved itfelf into a com
mittee of the whole, Mr. Cobb in-the
chair, and took up the bill for the relief
of Tobias Rudolph.
This bill was founded on a report in
favour of his petition, as" legal rrprefen
tative of his brother, for payment of
money advanced on public; account—
A terfome debate, the committee rose,
reported progress, and a iked leave to fit
again ; this request was negatived, and
the {.etition, on motion, was referred i
t»> the committee of claims.
A message was received from the
President of the United States by Mr.
Dandridge, with fiindry communicati
ons relative to the intercourse of the li
nked States with foreign nation*.
A message from the Senate by Mr.
Otis informed the House, that the Se
nate concur io palling th; bill, auvbori
zing the PieQdeut to borrow tvyo mil-'
lusns of Collars.
A number of petitions were read
and refened to the committee of
claiwii.
CONGR E S S.
Oil .nation, a committee confiftir.g
i of Mr. Oilman and Mr. P reft on were
appointed to wait on the Prelident.of
tion refpefting 'the piogvefj made in
building the frigates.
In committee of the whole on the re
port of the Seoetarv of Stare, to whom
had been referred the petition of Ste
phen iiayrc jisfter some remarks on the
whole was discharged from any furthet
proceedings in the bufmefs. The re
port on the petition being taken up in
the house was ditagreed to, and leari
jiven to witlidraw the petition.
In committee of the whole on theVc
jorted resolution, for indemnificatior
o the Aifferers by the weltern infurrec
ion,-after some debate the refolutiot
vas agreed to jand the fame reported
o the house.
-y * A Iffl wai brpaght in, makinganap
propwatipft for paynmit of thc militia
employed intH# bf«-expedition to Fort
Pkt—-wn read twice* aod »trftrre4
to the epnsMttw of whaio ouMoo
day next.
Legiflaiure of Pennfylvaaia.
IS
IN SENATE,
December 10.
THE report of the committee, as
imrnded, was agreed to, and so it wa«
RcfcWed, That, for carrying into
execution the ninth feftion of the firft
article of the conditutivn of this com-
monweakh.'the Senate (hall, in the firft
inflance, be farmed into divifiont to be
Compofcd of four Members each ; that
the iirft of these divifiong shall consist
of the Senators representing the city
and county of Philadelphia and the
county of Delaware; the f&ond divi«
Con of the Senators from the counties
of Bucks, Montgomery and Chester ;
the third of the Senators from the coun
ties of Northampton, Berks, Dauphin
and Cumberland; the fourth of the
Senators from the comities of Lanca
"fter and York; the fifth of the Sena
tors from the counties of Luzerne, Nor
thumberland, Mifflin, Franklin, Hun
tingdwr.and Bedford ; and the iixth of
the Senators from the counties o.f Weft-
Fayette, Walhington and
Allegheny, That the Senators coin
pofing each of these diyifions, shall then
proceed to draw sots.successively in the
following manner: Four tickets, on
one of which shall be written Firjl elafi,
on another Secondclafs % on another Third
daft, 03 another Fourth class, .shall, in
the preftnee of the Senate, be folded*
put into a box and shaken together ;
immediately after which the Senator*
composing the firft division shall proceed
in the order in which their names stand
in the roll, to draw out of the box one'
of the said tickets, and shall be ranked
in the firft, second, third, or fourth
clafj, according to the irucription on
tickets drawn by them rd'peftively,
which shall be duly noted by the Clerk,
and by Tellers appointed for that pur
pose ; the Senators composing the se
cond division shall proceed, after the
fame form, to draw other tickets, in
scribed in like manner, and so on with
the other diViflorre.
The Clerk shall then proceed to de
clare aloud, and afterwards to record on
the Journal, which Senators have res
pectively drawn tickets of the firft; se
cond, third and fourth clafles. After
which, agreeably to the constitution,
the Senators of the firft class will be
considered as holding their places for
one year from the time of their elec
tion ; thofc of the feedfia class fjr two
years; tliofe of the third for three years;
and thufe of the fourth for four years ;
and if, hereafter, any Senator, by death,
resignation, or otherwise, (halk,vacate
his feat before the expiration of the
term of the class to which he belongs,
his fuccefTor shall be considered as taking
his place in hia ciafs, and (hall accord
ingly hold his feat until the feats of the
other Senators of that class shall become
vacant.
If all, or any, of the Senators belong,
ing to either of the said divisions, (hall
be abient at the time appointed by the
Senate for proceeding to draw lots, as
aforefaid, such absent Senators (hall
draw tbeir refpeftive lotß, as soon as
may be after they (hall attend to take
their places in the Senate ; for the ac
compli fhtsent of which, copies" of the
Undrawn tickets of their refpeftive di-
Viiion (hell be put into a box, in man
ner aforefaid, (hhjch (hall be repeated
as often as may be neceflary, until all
the Senators (haft be clafle^.
Thursday, Dec- li.
The Senate met accorOlng to adjourn
ment. J
According to the order of the day,-the
oenatr proceeded todafstfee Senator* ; &
Mr. Brown and Mr. Newlin having been
•appointed Tellers, the Senators'compofine
t>.e it-venJ dal&s, now present, rtfpedUve-
aGa&Hcit?' llWjfe**
4 Nath™nie/Newlin 5
1 Thomas Lillv &. V *^ rc w the
5 Third Class.
2 John Kean * 0
( Brew the
4 Dennis Whelen &. V vius
t -V/
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Thursday, i itKDecembcr.
On motion of Mr,. Bvbbs and fecotld
ed by Mr. M'Murtrie—
Refolvcd, That an enquiry be insti
tuted into the cause which prevented
a prompt and effectual compliance
with the requisition of the Prefideut of
the United States, for a certain num
ber of the militia of this commonwealth
to suppress an infurreftion in the four
wefteru counties of this state ; and also
to afccrtain as nearly as possible how
far the provisions of the militia law o
perated opprtffively, and require the
interference of the legiflaturt to miti
gate its unequal .hardships an the
poor. 1
. A committe wai appcitrtcd to take
intor coo6deration the-, propriety ot a.
pew orgalutatkm oftht Tr&fery <Je
pattflient of this (late. i-Thi
Wwb MdTr». Wab, "PttftftT TCtrfflJe,
JUtehie and Evan*.
isth" December.
A,Committee waited on the Gawmjy i
witfe the following aditeft...., ,V
T»t H O M A S M I F F L I N
Govtrntr of tbf Cmmutitvei/iM of
rennfyhmuai ■' * ' '
**'''" "' ' ' i
Drew the Eirft
Friday, 12th December.
T H I y;
SIK,
■ that alone on which truth cannot be
' (haken. Induced br this. belief, the
framert of our eonftitution hare wifely
directed the Lfgiflature ro provide for
public inftru&ion, so that the paths of
ufeful science might be alike optfn to
the indigent andthe wealthy. It has
thus bccome our constitutional duty to
undertake this great work, and we
flatter ourselves we (hall not want either
zr-S perseverance in endeavouring to
jit oh a broad and permanent foun
uatiorv. ' 'i
c sensible, that although the 00
sos retorting from the political
it.-, the physical ilrengthef society mull
.v rtiminifhedby diffufing of knowledge
yet from the palftons and imperfections
of our nature, cifesmay arise, in which
such a resort will be inevitable. It
therefore becomes incumbent on us to
place the military arrangements of
Pennsylvania on a footing as efficient
as a due regard to tbe convenience of
our condiments, and a just confor
mity to the lates of the United States,
will permit.
The rapid progress of population,
and the numerous fet.tlemeots making
in the hitherto uncultivated parts of our
(late, mutt evince to the Legislature
tht policy of continuing to facilitate the
means of intercourse, by making of
roads, and by a judicious and liberal
improvement of the numerous waters,
with which nature has so bountifully
invited Pennsylvania to enjoy the bene
fits of inland navigation.
In pursuing as well these as the less
important objects of the present session,
many obflacles will be removed, and our
progress facilitated, by the abundant
(late of the Treasury. This pleating
evidence of public prosperity, -i it as
iords the means, ought, and we trust
will help, to excite in all inverted with
the sacred character of Guardians to the
People, a laudable emulation and Ore- '
nuous endeavour to increase and confiim
their happiness.
Foreign Intelligence. <
The progress of the French arms hav- ,
ing rendered the levy of National Militia '
a meafufe of absolute neceflity, general 5
Colomera, commander in chief of the ar- 1
mies of Navarre and Guipuzcoa, has pub- j
liflied the following addreft to the Gene- 1
ral Assembly of the States of Blfcay :
" The enemy having received large re
inforcements, and having penetrated to
Trun j I was obliged to retire with the
troops under my orders as far as the village
of Hernani, and thence to Tortola, where
I received the news that Fontarsbia and
St. .Sebailian had surrendered without
making any refillance. lam allured that
the Alcaides (bailiffs), and the inhabi
tants of these pl*ces even contributed to
the success of the enemy, and I even en
tertain the fame suspicions of the depu
tiesof the provinces of Guipuzcoa, fijice
there are proofs that they drew off such of
the inhabitants as were armed, and be
sides furnilhed no intelligence of the move
ments of the enemy ; but if it be true
that they have submitted to them, they
cannot fail of experienc ng the deftrmfii
on of their property, and the ranks which
they enjoy, but also the definition of the
wifefl laws and of the religion of their
ancestors.
" These circumstances which are in
truth of the greatest import, require a
speedy remedy and extraordinary exerti
ons.
" Loyalty and love for ourjuguftand
beneficent sovereign are equally inttrefted,
and op that account I have no doubt
that you will, with your accuflomed fide
lity, remedy such great evils by uuitii;/ all
I your force for the defence of the frontiers,
and by succouring me with such trocps as
you ran fend (mine not exceeding 4000
men) in order to enable me to maintain
my present position, to check the enernv,
and to prevent them from any further
progress.
(Signed ) The Count de Colomera.
Tortoia, Aug. 6.
Reply of the General Affemby of the
States of Biscay,
" 3v
Class.
" The States, animated with a deter
mination to Died the lail drop of their
blood in defence of religion, of hi« nia
jefty, and of the noble and faithful pro
vinces of Biscay, decree, That the irha
bitants requested for the military fervid,
feall be divided into three corps. The
firfl ihall aflemble at Tortofa, and join
| tht troops under the command of general
| Colomera ; and the troops which the pro
vince of Aluba has deflated for the fame
place, in order to prevent the progress of
the enemy, and to repulse them in such a
manner as fha'll be agreed upon by the ge
neral and commiflioners appointed for this
purpofo.
" The fecosd corps Ihall be stationed
on the frontier of Biscay, and the third
<h*lj remain as a corps de refer ve, in order
to watch the curreat of events. The
States oblerve, that the corps which Ihall
be at Tortofa Ihall be relieved after a
month's effefHve service. The corps de
reserve (hall then tafce the place of the Sift
corps, and in like manner lhallbe rt-litvcd
after a monjh's fcrv.ee. The recruits shall
tonlift of persons between the age of j7
4
)
e and 20. —The State* W e dcttrmin 1
e that the fcrvice thali be pcrionat V
y 17 1 ? h rerfon . on J whom !te 'H n.ayfii;
ir stall be required to attend without bun,
permitted to (<nd a fuhftitute. S 5
O H ' I ? ey , hlve determined that the*
0 wJ! take the molt efficacious mealure. hJ
s procuring the return of such of the na
-0 tives of the province, as are pow absent
e by levying m cafe of neceffitv, upon tW
r property, the expences of the neceiTarv
B requisitions in order to cblige t hem to re
turn. In future noperfojrtviU be permit
ted to leave the province under the p rr ,
: tv eftabliflied by the General AffcmUv of
tne 6th May of this year.
1 " Finally they hive resolved, that a,
1 nTnJ. relat ." • l °, fea "P° rts . an .exception
e be made in favor 01 perfens eir.p: ,-cd
s m the marine fervicr, according to ;| lc
enumeration made last in the General As.
' lembly."
f UNITED STATES.
NEW-YORK Dec. 13.
marine intelligence.
ARRIVED,
• Brig Peru, O'Brien TenenfFe
Extraa from thr Log-Bed of the Brig
Peru, Captain O'Bric;., in 37 dun
from Teneriffe.
DvC. 6. 3 P. M. ftw a fail a head
with her Outboard tacks on board, close
hauled: at halt past 5 came up an 1
(poke her; (he was an Englith (hip from
St. Augustine in Florida, bound to
Hamburgh; (he v.-ouuted 10 gUBS;
theCapt. of which informed us t' e*e
were a number »f Fscnch privateer# on
the coast, and said he had a tcverc en
gagement the night before with one of
them, and b<ratheroff.
—18th. At 4 o'clock P. M. saw a
fchr. to leeward : bore away for her, at
6 ipoke her—the was bound from Pcrt
au-Pi ince to Philadelphia, 6 day» from
the Keys : the informed us, that th»'
French had got the entire poffeffioh of
Guadal>upe, and had also taken Port
Paix on Hifpaniola ; he likewise said,
they hourly expeded in jhe Welt-In
dies a formidable French fleet, for
the purpofc of subduing the Wtft-In
dies.
When the Capt. was at Toier'ffr, a
: Spanilh (hip of lic guns put into La.
I zarole, who had an engagement with a
I French 74 —and had hir matt 3 and rig l - '
ging so disabled that tiieicuid with diffi
culty get into port.
PHILADELPHIA,
DECEMBER i 7k
d ,
' Says 4 Corrcfpondent,
There is no doubt the people wist to
j j support their own Government. Their
- own understandings and the experience
- of a million (pent for an infurreflion
* ought to teach them that the way, the
only way, to have it maintained is to
chute members of Congress of such as
. had rather hold it up than puij it down.
r Human nature has not ceafcd to be
- human nature since the Roman times.
1 Craffus, Pompey and Cari'ar combined
■ together, as our leaders of parties have
done. Their united influence fileaced
, the laws, brow-beat the Senate, and the
bed men io Rome such as Cato, Cicero,
Lucullus, and ruled ihe ali'ynblies of the
people by violence and mobs. Calar
was the fierceft Democrat—the friend
of. the people, their charr.pion sgainft
the Senate, the contriver and public
orator for every ralh decree its the rf
fcmbly of the people. He fqtiandered
his money in public (hews and bribe?,
till he was bankrupt. Craffus who w; s
immensely rich, ttood bound for him
two hundred thousand pounds ftcrling.
So much do 1 want, said Csefar, to- te
worth nothing. The whole power 1 f
the Republic fell into the hands of this
felf-creatcd combination. Powerful men,
feeing what they could do by thus join
ing together, follewed the example, and
Roman liberty fell to rife no mot#.
Americans should draw tVcunty fiom
the fate of otheis, l"ie Romans wete
as much attached to liherty, as piwd
and ltiff-necked as any people ewer werv.
Libei ty never had and perhaps rev
will have betfer nor wifet defendersth:-. .
Cato and Cicero, and that croud o:
worthies whose blooi was (h«d for i:.
Yet all >yas in vai.i. Combinations t f
men became stronger than the la»s.
The ftiff Roman a yoke-r-
I that foncreign people ai they were
called, became (laves.
Citizens, demagogues are tyrants in
masts—The enemies of the laws are the
afla(Tins of liberty.
Extraff from a tret i publication, ''ti
tled, " The Lajl Shift of the Jaco-
Uns who have not a Sous cihich
throws fume light on their proceeding!.
Fiom the time that the society f«*
the tMUu about to be diffufird, and the
V '>