*
S.'
(
c O N GRtS S.
HOJSE ok ftEPRESENTATIVE3.
tui-LlizaLioj4.biH, Mr. Ccbb in the chair.!
t :c importance of the fubjetf before the
Committee ; and exprefiing bis disap
probation of the facility by which, under
the exiftiijg laW, aliens may acquire citi
zenitiip moved that the term of two years
iu the bill referring to the prev'ci* re!i
dence should be firuck out and a blank left,
tioii—this motion was agreed to —ancJiet
ainenUinent was proposed by that gcntle
foreigners who may wish to acquire citi
ztaCup—but tliis after some debate was
withdrawal;
Mr-Gilec then proposed an amenuinent
tjie object of which w<*» to impede a re
tiirti to citizenship if thole who should ex
patriate tliemfelves—he proposed tfiat a
lpecial law of the ft&te from which such
persons should detach themselves, should
be reqjifitc ill order to their beiris? re-in
flated.
Mr. Tracy—after obfervjng, that altho'
he was not in favor of a perpetual allegi
ance as under flood by the British Govern -
rum of perfoin who should expatriate
ler impediments than fnnpiy a law of a
particular ftate—lf the amendment is a
• oubts, he would suggest to the gentleman
an addition, by making a law of the ge
ner.il government also neceiiary in the
cafe.
Mr. Giles observed that the object of
his motion was not by any means to lefleil
the impediments in the way of to return to
c!tizenfhip,fcut the reverse; he.flioi.tld there
fore agree to the amendmefit of the gen
tleman from Coi\ne£licut—'The motion
was afterwards considered in feverj! points
of view, usbli-ndi»g state and continental
legislation, as interierring with the legifla
operating in the fame manner in respect to
the right rtl'erved by the constitution to the
general government, which is authorized
pals uniform la ws 0f naturalizationby othei s.
Mr. Sedgwick having stated that his
colleague had prepared a motion with re
gard to the kind of evidence, that an
ness of his moral chatafter and of his
attachment to the Government: He re
quelled Mr. Giles to withdraw his moti
which he did, and thereupon, Mr. Dex
ter moved that no alien should be admit
ted to ti.e rights of citizenfliip, but
on the oath of two credible witnefles,
that in their opinion bt was of good
moral character and attached to the
welfare of this country, which motion
was seconded by Mr. Sedgwick who
added the following observations.
He said, that the fubjeft undei
consideration was certainly of great im.
port a nee, and opened an extensive fielc
ofdifcuflion. The present motion, taker
facility, with which aliens may be ad
mitted to the tights of citizenship. H<
would fuhmit to the conlideration <>
the committee, fopie of the leading
ideas, which had occuied to his mine
on this fubjedt.
America, he said, if her political in
ftitutions, should on experience be fount
to be wifely adjuftcd, and (lie shall im
prove her natuial advantages, had o
pened to her view, a more rich and glo
lious profpeff, than ever was prefentet
to man : She had chosen for herfelf 1
government, which left to the citizen
a.-- great a portion of freedom, as wa
believed the preservation of this govern
:nent, in its purity, indifpeniablc to thi
continuance of our happiness. Thi
rrrnl intelligence and public virtue ; L
ot her words," wif3om to discern, Juld
patriotism to pursue the general good.
He had pride, and he gloried in it, in
believing his countrymen more wife and
virtuous than any other people on earth;
hence he believed them better qualified
to admiiijfter and support a republican
govtrmneiit. This chaia&er of Ame-
ricans was the rcfult of early education,
aided indeed by the difciplineof the re
volution. In that part of the country
with which he was best acquainted, the
education, manners, habits and institu
tions, religious anfl civil, were republi
can. The community was divided in-
Jtot corpoi-ations, in many refpeds re-
R-mbUfg independent republics,of which
slthoit «vny man, the qualifications
were so small, «as a member. They
had many important and iaterefting
concerns to traofaft.. They ■appointed
their executive officers, enacted bye
h"vs, raif*d money for many purpofts
of use and ornament. Here, the*, the <
citizens early acquired the habits of
trmpeiate difcuflion, patient rcafouing,
and a capacity of endurrng contradic
tion : Here the means of education and
inftruftion aie inllitutcd and maintain- I
cii ; public lihrnriis pnrcltaied and read'
" . htrft- arc," said he, " the propei
fcnuoU for the education of republican
citizens; thus are to be planted th-.
feeds of republicamfm—-If you will cul
t:v3tc the plants which are to be reared
from thdfe feeds, you will gather an
abundant harvest of long continued n?.-
ional profperitv." B
Much information, he said, might
be obtained by the experience of others,
ned to be guided only by a vifionarv
theory. " The ancient republics of
what jealousy they guarded \the rights
of citizenship against adulteration by
fo-eign mixture"—The Swiss nation,
he said, in modem times, had not beeu
less jealous on the fame fubjedt. Indeed
no example could be found, in the his
tory of man, to authoiife the experi
ted States..,. It teemed to have been
adopted by universal practice as a max
no way to be formed but by early edu
cation. In fume ii. (lances, to form this
character, thofc propenhties which are
generally considered as almoil irrefifta
ble, were opposed and subdued. And
fhali we, he afield, alone adopt the rash
theory, that the fubjedls of all govern
ments despotic, monarchical, and arifto
cratical, are, as soon as they set foot on
American ground, qualified to partici
pate, in administering the sovereignty
of our country ? Shall we hold the be
nefits of American citizenship so cheap,
contented, the ambitious and the avari
cious of every country to accept them ?
only example but warning—" Will gen:
tlemen," said he " recclledt the tage of
ages, which exifled in the country from
which we c;,me, between the Saxon,
natives of the country ? The cruelties,
the opprefiions, the afiaffinatians, in a
word the miseries to which thin gave
birth ? Perhaps it might be said that
in this inltance the emigrants were hos
tile invaders—but the lame events took
place, in the decline of the Roman em
pire, between the emigrants who wert
invited to occupy the vacant frontiers
and the ancient inhabitants; altho the
the latter by every principle of affec
tion, and gratitude. By these and al
would not be rash to conclude, that by
the undevjating principles of human na
ture, whenever the inhabitants of on<
country, should be permitted to fettlt
in atiother, by national affe&ions, ar
union would be formed, unfriendly not
only to the ancient inhabitants, but at
ence was not, he believed, in oppolitior
to the general observation. Altho this
against a general and indifcriminatead
million of aliens to the rights of citi
zenship; yet he did not wish it ihoulc
go to a cortipleat exclusion.
It was said in support of what wai
termed our liberal policy, that oui
country wanted commercial capital
territory ; and that we ought not, wit!
the avarice of a miser, to engrufs tc
our political treasures.
Mr. Sedgwick said he had never beer
convinced, that we ought to make fc
great a facrifice of principle, for th<
tapid accumulation of commercial capi.
tal—He had never been convinced, that
by an improvement of our own resour
ce«, it would not accumulate as fall as
might be for the public benefit. Wt
heard much of equality. Property was
in feme sense power ; and the poffeffior
of immense property, generated daring
paflions which scorned equality, and
with impatience endured the reflraints
of equal laws. Property was undoubted
ly to be protected, as the only sure en
couragement of industry, without which
we should degenerate into savages. But
snxietv with which we wished ar ; ac
cumulation of capital, in the hands o!
individuals, was founded on corredt re
publican reflection. The ardent ambi
tion inspired by the pofTefiion of greal
wealth, and the power of gratifying it
R'hich it confered, had in many inftan
:es diftuibed thepublic peace, and in no
» few destroyed liberty.
The vacant lands which some with ft
Jiuch avidity wished to fee in the occu
nation of foreigners, he considered a
he best capital (lock of the future en
oyroent of Americans; as an antidoti
igainft tl>c poison of luxury ; as the nur
cry of 'obuft and manly virtue, and as;
preventative of a numerous ciafs of ci
tizens becoming indigent, and therefor
dependent. Whenever the time fhoult
arrive, and might that period be ver
difUnt, when there should no longer b
Jrefented to the poor adccent competence
ind independence, as the effect of iuduf
ry and economy, which would general -
y bet lie cafe, when lands were no lon
ger to be obtained, on their prefenr ea
y and reasonable terms, then, that de
cryption of men, now perhaps the most
iappy and virtuous, would become mi
ierable to themselves and a burden to
rntered on the Itage of life, without
property, had a realonable a {finance,
that a few years of induflry and econo
my, won d giv» him independence, com-
He planted himfelf on the frontiers, and
sure and it was a glorious one.
Mr. Sedgwick said he considered A •
m erica as in poffellion of a greater flock
of enjoyment thasi any other people on
earth. That it was our duty to hulband
ther exclude fu<;h virtuous individuals,
as might fly here, as to an atfylum a
lie would not diflipate our treasures with
nor would he, on the hoard
them, as in the unfeeling grasp of a
mifei. " Our glorious fabric," said
he, " has been cemented by the richett
blood of our country, and may it long
continue to ftelter us again* the blasts
}f poverty, of anarchy, and of tyranny."
The present, Mr. Sedgwick, said, hi
* •' n • r •
relieved the most inauspicious time for %>* (lr on failed for Martinique or Guat
:he indifcri.7 inate admission of aliens to lou P e - It was reported at Barbadoes, thi
the rights of citizenflnp. A war, the "'T 0 ,^ 1 } t J mo P s were dail y <*»«<»«
moll cruel and dreadful whieh had been
SZfcZF*, was '.'°T ra^ing in BALTITORE, December 22.
ail thole countries ttomwhichcmigrants
were t<J be expedtcd. The most fierce unfortunate accident happened
and unrelenting passions were engaged on Fl "' da y morning last, at Herring
in a conflict, which fltook to their foun- Run ' near Mr * Webftt r ' s °" ,he P!l!
dations all the ancient political ftruc-| acklph ' a . r . oad - As AUSTIN, a Mu
tures in Europe. This contest was ' atto waiti . n ß man , belonging to Gene
fupported on the one hand by men who I ral Waftlington was riding towards
believed personal political diftinftions I the a,d on a Mare, accompanied
were necessary to the great purpose of 'by 3 mule CoIt * the Mare fto P' to drinJi
security; and ort the other by those I whe " fuddcnl y fusing to her colt, f)ie
who thought that society could be pro- > l . hreW ° ff . Au(l ' n . ' nto the water, hang,
teded and individuals fccured by a eo- ' lng his foot tl>e ftirrll P- A Ne
vernment with departments, and with- F-° fcilov T P re . sent attempted to save,
out checks; neitherembiacing theprin- b " 1 ln va,H - He wa! afterwards
ciples established here, where without pri- carrleJ to the House where he lodged
vileged orders diftinft portions of power i a '! d thc assistance of a PhyCcian,
were to be deposited ii different hands, I , fo T d b ' m P ast It it
in such manner that it was almost im- i !?. / A "" ,n has heen a ,on g and
possible for the mind even to conceive i fait " hll Bryant of our beloved President
that the different depaitments (hould j attended ,llm through all the various
form an union for any mifchie/ous pnr- ; . nes tbe Revolution, and no doubt
pose ; and altogether impcffible to be- I j*! 8 uncx P efted death will be deplored bi
lieve that without such concurrence ei- J uTI '
ther alone should be capable of execu
| ting any wicked design.
| Could, he asked, any reasonable ma:
| believe, that men who a&uated by such
palfions, had fought on grounds so op
| pofite, almost equally distant, from the
happy mean we had chosen, would here
mingle in social affedions with each o
ther, or with us ? That their passion:
and prejudices would Aiblide as soon ai
they {hould set foot in America ? o
that poffefling those paflions and preju
dices they were qualified to make or t<
be made the governors of Americans ?
He believed that the amendment now
proposed by his colleague, in conjunc
tion with that which had already suc
ceeded, would on the one hand check
the admiflion of foreigners in such num
bers as might be dangerous to our poli
tical institutions; and on the other,
that it would not exclude such merito
rious individual* an might be willing to
serve the which might
qualify them to afliime the character
and discharge the duties of American
citizens.
He concluded by faying, that he had
always been opposed to the policy of
the government on this fubjeft— that
his opposition had not been abated by
reflection, but encreafed by the exit
ing state of things in Europe.
Tuesday, Dec. 23.
( Concluded.)
The bill to regulate the pay of the mi
litia when called into the a&tial service of
the United States having Keen returned
with an amendment from the Senate, the
fame was taken into consideration, and
the house agreed with an amendment to
the amendment of the Senate.
The house in committee of the whole
took into consideration the reported plan
for the redu&ion of the public debt.
Mr. William Smith one of the ««■
n " l . tee brought in the report, enter
ed into a detail of the present and proba
ble state of the finances, and the princi
ples on which the report was founded.
iMr. Nicholas offered loiur remarks, the
objefl of which was to (hew that a much
■arger surplus than that contemplated by
the report, may be applied to the reduc
tion of the debt.
The committee, without taking 1 any
vterofcand reported progress, and the
heufe adjourned.
r! 1 *>rCign InteJiigencc
i-
Q PARIS, Septl 10.
LITERATURE.
fterday died at Seaux (near Paris)ih
\ ci-devant count St. Florian, celebrated so
_ his many literary productions in profeain
yerfe which breathe fenfiblity, riifplay »
temper, and announce a refined judc
J ment.
1 Enough this diftiaguifbed author
before the revolution proteficd thetrueprin
ciples of republicanism, particularly in hi)
Numa Pcmpilius, he fell neverthelels a
prey to the jealousy, iJlimited fear a u
cruelty of Robespierre, and was arretted by
order of that tyrant; but after the dicta
tors death he was set free His health
however was confiderab-y impaired by the
• hardfliipg hfe fuflered during his long deten
tion at Port Libre, (Port Louis) and the
most cruel of the three lifters, cut the fa
tal thread and deprived the Republic of an
estimable citizen, when he had hardly at
i tained the age of 30 years
| He left among his papers fomenew and
. complete works, which will perhaps foou
be published.
UNITED STATES.
PORTLAND, Dec. 15,
A brig arrived at this port last Saturday
belonging to Scarborough, having had 21
days oaiTage from Barbadocs ; the Capt.
of which informs, that a British Admiral
(vhofe name he does not recoiled) had
arrived at that island about the 17th Nov.
with four 74 gun (hips, in 24 days from
j England ; and that two days a.'ter the
I r 1 r -i 1 r •« • • . '
Extratfl of a letter from a gentleman at
Hamburgh, to his friend in this town.
In the course of 36 hours, about iro
fail of veflels, loaded chiefly with We ft.
India produce, have arrived at this place
from Amsterdam, which has given us
reason to expt&, that a few days will
put the French in pofftflion of that city.
Arrived yesterday, in 17 days from Rjr
fcadoes. the ftiip Nancy, Captain Ander
fon, who informs that a tranl'port had ar
rived there, full ot troops ; and reported
that the relt of the fleet (which it appears
had failed for that place) might be daily
expedled.
Captain Anderlon left there the brig E
liza, of Philadelphia, and two brigs from
Alexandria, the names of which lie dees
not recolledl.
He spoke the brig Nancy of N. York,
bound from Jeremie to that port, all well.
He confirms the account under the Bar
badoes head, of the arrival on the 26th of
twf> 74 s with the prize ship of war La Ja
cobin, of if guns.
We were yeferday favored, by a friend,
with the Barbadoet Mercury cf the
22th of November, from which the
following intelligence is extr. tied.
BRIDGE-TOWN, Nov. 29.
Wednesday last arrived in Carlisle
bay his Majesty's {hips of war Mon
tague, captain I'ookes, and Ganges,
captain Trefcott, of 74. guns each, in
thirty-two days from Cork ; and bro't
with them the French national (loop of
war La Jafobin, of 22 twelve pound
ers, and 220 men, commanded by citi
zen Dandy Colle. This vefTel fell in
with the above men of war off Cape
Clear, four days after their departure
from Cork, and taking them for two
Spanish regilter ships, run along fide
the Ganges and fired into her, but
immediately perceiving their miftp.ke
itrurk her colours ; notwithstanding
which, however, the Montague coming
up at the time, they also fiitd into her
*nd killed three men ; in conlcqnence
of which, when her command-r deli
vered up his ftrord to captain Fookcs,
he threw it overboard as a mark of his
displeasure at their infamous con<Jutf.
LA JACOBIN
is, perhaps, for Jitrr fr/x, one of tt"- fin
eft fliip* in the French i:av V , bu 1 on
a new confWUoo, entnclv fiu'h fore
and aft, working all her j Uns on one
• '-ViThtLt" r r>
injury of tile w ea tl»e r (jr , .
billed wit!, „, u< . r> _ ai|d | , I .«**
e a greater q u,v„> y &c "' d
than any firit rate ft ,*£ S
; rfM i « BVe(i, , llfl •. %
- * Jaft, #nd C( ; •- ««
w.rh great expedition'i 6n ha '
> n,C , "P l,,rt;d fevcnteen fail o/
- ■**»*« on »hi ß h;r second. ' t
short time previous to her „ pture
Wtl computed , a , ue is at L\ 7 ooc
. and (he cannot but prove a
. quifition to our navy, i n theJV Teas „
, ban)- a well adapted to ,W
• the trade of the iil,,; ds. P ®
By the arrival of the Mon, 2Rut and
Cj.uiges, we lean,, that a vefTei had ar
imed at, Cork tuo days previous to
| their departure from thtpce from Gi
i braltar, the captai . of which inf.,™ e d
• on an examination before admral Ki -jf
mill, that he saw eight ship,
•Bntifh flair over the National tolvu.s
•»'« th «; e-t »f c.ih,:,it:, r , f, )U ;
ot which he took for line of battle fi,i ps
and the others frigates ; fupp J C J to vJ
captured by Lord Hood, ,ho, in tLe
Victory ot no K „ la . with the Bvittri*
run or ico, admiral H»th.• ra
meinnon of_ 64, captain N*!,;»* ■ a
lqua iron of frigates, failed f r ', m I „
horn on the ,9th ,f Scjterhh,,,
quelt of tome French men ofwarwhk-t
they had an account of having , ot oli ,
of Toulon.
From Martinique we learn, list
Zebra (Toop i f wnrhas captured a bri"
called the Saris Culotie, mounting 10-
fix panders, and cairyino f 0 >y"men
principally A merit ns, fittitl out , t
Boston, and failed from thence in com
pany with a flap- of iff gu! .< and ICo
men, on a cruize aniQ
It appears that this {hip wag formerly
tiie Lovely Lass, biig belonging to
this port, which was feme time palt il'e
gaily in Americi, a. d h face
been altered for the piiip.k of privateer
ing. In eoi fe ;eence or thiVinVli...-! ce
admiral Caldwell has dilpatcl ■d'a fri
gate to windward of this iflandin q- c ft
ot her, and for the protection of unr
trade.
Admiral fir John Jervis and general
fn Charles Grey, failed in the B..yne,
from I'ort-Koyal, the 2 ill initam. fs>r
Entrla'd.
d Yesterday evening failed for Martfii'r
it cd, the Montague, Gangts, and
is Jacobin.
it.
y H ALLOWFLLrMaine Dec. 9.
IMPORT AST NEWS,
t A gentleman from Wifeafllt ; fcrms
in, —that a vefitl had nirived iheie after
a short paflage, fn m .Liver pi.o] (Ei
0 land) which brings the tr.'.i 1,-
gence, that the French had t£,v.\v
ts GOT POSSESSION of AMST F.R. <
U DAM (the Capital of Holland) That
J>ine tenths of the inhabitants were tlad
to receive them—and thai at their zp
proach the gates weie opened, and the
] and the place given up without rctiil
j ancc.
' NEW-YORK, Dec. 23.
T he following determinations of the
Commiltee of Public Safety are ex
| tremely difficult to be obtained in print,
there being only a f<_w copii; p.inttd
( for the use of the Generals. Tir?y re
. fpe£l the general security of the con
quered countries, and enjoin tlie-dif
chargecf all the native military orTice.s,
and that the armed force {hail be ccu
ftituted from the armies of the Repub
lic exchifivelv. C vil office's are to re
tain their fitnatTori, provided their ci
vifm is not fufpetfltd. To p event vex
atious imprifonmerts, See. criir.iraJ a(-
fails are to be fubjeft to lhe decisions of
the Generals, and the represent tivegof
the French nation. All ih?" inhabi
tants must bring their arms to the ma
gazines.
The second part of these res lations
treats of the difpohtl ot ammunitii v., ar
tillery, forage, and other effi£ts, not
cepriug accotilitme : s, cmnp efliripage,
&c. which mnft also be delivered up,
and, if there is more than necefTaiy for
the army, be sent to F:a> ce. Thcfe
tequifitions extend to horses, amn".t;ih
tion-waggons, and the like.
The third part treats of the public
revenue cherts, eatables and merchan
dize ; the fourth of materials ttfat may
be manufaituied,; the fifth ofhoife*
and other cattle in general; the fiutk
of corn, meal, and foiage; and the se
venth contains mftni&ions for agents of
every clasp. It is also rndertlood that
1 the best commodities aie to he puulia
fed by aflignats, paitly fcrthe use <f
| the army, and part'y for conveyance to
France.
BOSTON, Dec. li.
Fi o>'i Friir.ce, I Si. 24 ■
On Sunday arrived the fcboonei Gepettl
Heath, Captain Hi.con, iu jx