The Delaware gazette — Wilmington [Del.], 1810-03-31 00:00:00, page 2

THE GAZETTE.
-
Legislature of Delaware.
NUMBER 6.
fTHE following number, tho' vom« time has inter
vened since the last was published, is not too late to
do good. The subjects of its investiption are con
nected with the dearest interest and rights of the citi
zens of this state generally, but more particularly
with those cf the county ot New Castle ; wc -
recom
mend them to a careful a,id considerate perusal—
iio t
that light and unreflecting reading generally given
ephemeral publications-but to a calm and dispas
sionate examination—a cool, liberal and candid in
vestigation of the important truths which the writer
discloses.]
H
AV1NG stated in a former number that
the county of Kent (although her property is
valued at about four hundred thousand dollars
more than either New Castle or Sussex coun
ties) pays exactly one third part of the state t ax
and that the inequality exists between the rc
It may he asked why,
malng two counties,
seeing New Castle is so deeply interested, an,l
Kent a neutral character, is not justice and a
more equitable order of things established ?—•
The reason is obvious—the county of Kent can
not expect to he benefited by an equitable dcs
tribution of taxation between Newcastle and
Sussex counties -, and the cordiality of conge
nial political sentiments which h.ive subsisted
between Kent & Sussex, uniformly hostile to
every vestage of democratic representative go.
vernment, and tlut elastic sensibility of jus
tice which knows no principle but that of party
a
prependerattcy must remain, with the present
order of things, an impenet; able barrier against
the ob'.uinment of equal and exact justice.
It is equally the interest of Kent, as it is con
sonant with her politics, to prevent every inves
tigation of a subject so interesting to Sussex—
she receives emphatically the loaves and fishes
of government .— i'he Governor, with a salary
ofnearS1400 per ann. is of lier junta—the
Chancellor with §1000 per win.— the Auditor
with Sb'OO per arm.—the Secretary of State
with S400 and perquisites of SlOO more per
ann .—two Judges with *- salary each ol S500
full per ann.—the State's Attorney with 8400
three to four
per ann. and perquisites of ho
hundred dollars more ; and the Stale's treasu
rer w : th a per contage and trimmings, worth
8400 per ann. ail these officers who hold the
purse-aliings, direct the destinies and ru e the
political roast of the state, are from Kent, arid
aid to be station.
many of them may lie ju
To these salaries, amounting to
ary tlieie.
tipwuitls oi S500-1 annually, may with stint
propriety be added at least three fourths of the
expences of the General Assembly, which is
actually circulated in Kent county, making in
the whole the round stun of 8000 dois, or fr.'.l
three fourths oi'ihe ordinary state tax, actually
drawn from the stale funds for the benefit of
Kent county.
iy to the county of New
The c ve
ins on.
Castle two ch'ct judges, tu a ta! ary each of 1 000
■r. and to tiie county of Sussex a
d<
p
:o 1. with a salary of 100
i. ihtary Adjutant G
dois, a year.—But in the pursuit of die interest
of Kent it may be the ,
itiAt 1 have lost sight
of a subject of raoi* importance, that of taxa
tion, to wivch 1 shall now re": », and endeavor
to give the most candid ■ summation.
it was the prat
., under tiie former order
of thing«, er before the organization of the pre
sent constitution, for each county to pay its
own representation, and the practice is still
continued in some of the states ; to prove this
assertion i wish not to quote any better autho
rity, in the estimation of the present Legislature
of Delaware, than that of Mm<.,achusttta ;
In
this slate each township is t liberty to 'send
.-any number of representatives, to their General
Assembly, not exceeding t
;ht, and it is én
fuel) optional widi them
uat number they
may determine to send—each county having
to pay its own representation there ha- general
ly been more calculation about the
expences
than of the political atlvauta
;es resulting from
the full exercise of their
constitutional rights.
It was said to be owing to this circumstance
that the federal par
uccceded at the last elec
lion—the tHwmhips under the influence of these
principles sending their full constitutional
nu rn
btr, while the.democratic towns.
ii n suspicious
of this intrigue, sent only tbu-ir accustomed
number, a considerable disproportion to' that of
their political opponchrs.
I have quoted these circumstances in order
to shew that the practice of taxation,
not onlv
in our own state, but that the usages of othe,
states has been, arid stiff \ , j n
conformity with
House of Representatives.
Monday, inarch 26.
Mr. PINKNEY'S LETTER.
Mr. Livermore offered the following res
olution :
Resolved , That the President of the Uni
ted States be requested to cause to be laid
before this House a copy of uny letters or
dispatches which may have been received
in the Department of'State, and do not
re
quire secrecy, from Mr. Pinkney, our min
ister at the court of London, since his re
ceipt of die letter of the 23d November,
1809, from the Secretary of State, commu
nicated to this House bv the President
on
the 29th of said November.
Mr. S mi lie said he saw what was inten
ded by the mover of the resolution,
It
was wished that the House would deny the
call. It had already been denied in Mass
achusetts that 'itch a letter existed ; and if
the call was rctused, they would produce
the refusal as proof ol their assertion. It
it was proper to publish a private letter, he
said he wished to see it, to put to silence
those people in Massachusetts.
Mr. Cook wished the resolution to pass.
He said it would be inferred from a refusal
to pass it that there had been no such letter
or that it was not of the purport which it
was said tobe. It might lie an unofficial
without being a confidential letter. Wbe
tiler it was confidentai or not some answer
would be received.
Mr. Livermore said that he had been
told by gentlemen in conversation that in
formation bad been received by the Secre
tary of State that the doings of the British
minister here were disapproved by its gov
ernment, and that a new minister would be
If this was the fact, it was very
sent out.
important that the House should know it.
1 he gentleman from Pennsylvania seemed
to suppose that the mover wished the reso
lution not to be adopted, flow in the name
of common sense or candor, Mr. L. asked,
could it be supposed that the resolution
was introduced for. the purpose of being re
jected ?
Mi . Van Dijke said he had heard it said
that a letter had been received by the Se
cretary of State going to this object : that,
notwithstanding the dismission of Mr.
Jatksan, the British
. , government retained
an amicable disposition, that Mr. Jackson's
conduct was disapproved, that he would be
recalled, and that another minister would
be sent. A motion had been submitted
to
reduce the army and navy—was it not pro
per, previous to a decision on this motion,
to know what was the situation of affairs?
At.d if such a letter was in existence, ought
not the representatives of the
people to
of
have it f U r their information ?
Mr. Me Kim said he had not seen the
letter, but he had understood the purport
oi it, he believed correctly, and satisfacto
ry to himself. Others might not have
the same satisfactory account, and he had
and it was
then proportion ol representation—.
left only for the solitary State of Delaware to
pursue measures at once d'estruclful of the fun
damental principles of its constitution, deroga
to the honor and character of the state,and
tory
oppressively unjust as it respects the county of
New Castle.
But this system of taxation did not or ginatt*
with former legislatures—it remained for the
last memorable sitting to immortalize its cha
racter by a further provision in the bill lor the
support of government, which has copped the
climax of their political infamy j and which de
mands, in a language powerful as the ties ot
nature, irresistible a3 the voice of freedom, of
every friend to justice and equality to oppose
by every constitutional measure proceedings
which have for their object the prostration of
the interest and liberties of New Castle county
to the will of an overbearing and unpiincipled
A future number shtill further investi
junta,
BRirrus.
gale this subject.
Congreftional 2£egtGet\
in Senate-.
Monday, March , 26.
The bill for the establishment ol a Quar
ter master's department was read and pass
ed to a third reading.
The bill for the establishment of a Na
tional Bank was read a second time.
The bill n alter and amend the act fixing
the military peace establishment was read
a third time and passed.
Mr. Pope reported a bill authorizing a
subscription on the part of the U. States
to the stock of the Ohio Canal Company ;
which was twice read.
The Senate resumed the consideration
of the bill appropriating a sum of mooey
for the purpose of providing munitions ot
war.
The bill was passed by Yeas and Nays,
65 to 53.
Mr. Livertnore,hom the committee ap
pointed to wait on thePresident with the
resolution adopted to day,reported that they
had performed that duty and had received
for answer that the President would attend
to the request of the House.
INVALID CORPS.
On motion of Mr. Nelson, the hill for
the relief of the infirm, disabled and super
anuated officers and soldiers oi the late re
volutionary army and of the present army
of the U. States, was passed through a
committee of the whole, Mr. Pitkin in the
chair, reported to the House, and ordered
to be engrossed for a third reading on Wed
nesday.
On motion of Mr. Mumford, a resoluti
on was adopted requesting the President
of the LL S. to communicate such informa
tion touching the impressment of American
as had been received since the
seamen,
communication made
to tiie Senate in
1807.
Messrs Mumford and Seave
r were ap
pointed a committee to wait on the Presi
dent with the resolution.
1 he bill front the Senate to alter and
amend the bill fixing the military peace es
tablishment ol the United States was twice
read and committed.
Tuesday, Mu ch 27.
Mr. Sawyer reported a hill to alter the
times of holding the district courts in the
district ot North-Carolina.—Twice reud.
Mr. Morrow made sundry reports from
the committee of Public Lands,which were
disposed of.
Air. Morrow al
. reported a bill provid
RO
ing for the final adjustment of claims to
lands in the territories of Ohio and In
diana, and for the sale of the public lands in
the I erritory of Oilcans.—Twice read and
committed.
Mr. .©i linrey from the committee ap
pointed to enquire into the btate of the an
cient public records, made a report recum.
mendiug measures to be taken for tlpdr se
curity j which was ordered to be printed.
to tliv ;
no objection that i • • •• o
It c.ould nut he got except tailed I >r, 'k i b
unoßci#l letter,-because it would-be tn
an
the President to sublhxt it to
decorous in
•he House without a call lor it.
Mr Dann was not disposed traçai! upon
the President to violate private confidence.
He did not imagine, where the l resident
of State in their private cap
or Secretary
acitv received letters as pnva-e gentlemen,
that' the House could call for them. But it
information Irom a public
minister as to
tho manner in which he had done his pub
letter at the
lie duty had been received in a
abuse ol
Department of State, it was an
terms to call it a private letter. And it such
a letter had been reeeived,ho was decided
ly for calling it.
Mr. Bunnell said he had not seen the
as far
letter or any extract from it ; but,
he understood its character, it was a
as
letter intended mure to give the govern
ment of the United States an idea of the
of some officers ot
temper and disposition
the British government than to make any
It stated a conversa
statement ol lacts.
lion with a leading member of the British
ministry, in which he had expressed him
continue friendly inter
self disposed to
with this country, and stated that
course
nothing which had occurred would alter
the existing relations. However import
ant this information, it formed no ground
which the House could act ; and he was
on
therefore opposed to calling for it,
more
En
especially when the next arrival from
some official
gland would probably br'ug
act of the British government which would
decidedly indicate its disposition.
Mr. Lyon said .hat this private letter,
which had been made so public , reminded
of a sign he had seen of '
Private enter
tainment so private, that it was adver
tised by a sign, lie was for the rcsoluti
ou.
Mr. Mumford hoped the House would
call for this information and all other inter
resting to the people. As they were to
fight all and pay all, he wished them to
know all.
The resolution was passed—Yeas 109
Nays 14
Those who voted in the negative were
Messrs- W. Alson, Boyd, Burwell, Daws
on, Holland, Johnson, Jones, M' Kee,
Miller, N. K. Moore, Morrow, Nelson,
J. Porter, Whitehil!—14.
Mr. Livermore anti Mr. Knot were ap
pointed a committee to wait on the Presi
dent with the resolution.
TORPEDO EXPERIMENT.
The waking an appropriation for the
purpose of making an experiment on the
practical use of the torpedo or submarine
explosion was again taken up.
A motion was made by Mr.Fi.sk to re
commit the bill and negatived—j(i to 4 5.
The bill was passed Yeas and
! .V* >*f ! '
;
.■»ey was u. .»i .
ILf*.
M
CO A a
Agreeably tu the Older t
.1 tl>e
the
House took up the hill cone
ruing com.
inercial intercourse, 6tc. with its several at
menduteut» and mortifications.
A motion was made by Mr. Gholsoh t|. :
i.
fhe'fuither consideration of the hill b
V pus.
poned to Monday next.
After a debate >d two or three hou
rs.
this motion was negatived—Yeas 76, N
ays
64.
Mr. Macon moved that theHouse adhere
to their disagreement to the Senate's
:i
meiidments (which would totally destroy
the hill.)
The motion was supported by Messrs.
Macon, Studie, M' K.er, ,M' Kim
and
Fisk,
and opposed by Messrs. Troup, Ly
on and Shelley.
Mr. Fisk was speaking when an adj
nurn
ment took place, at about half past four.
( \ message from the President of the
[T. S. was received, while the bill
cancer«
intercourse
ning cominertia
tinder
was
consideration ; but was not read, in conse
quence of au adjournment, before and de
cision was had on the hill. Wc understand
that the message is in reply t > the call for
Mr. Pinkney's late letter, and states that
as
that letter is not official and
contains re
marks of a delicate and personal nature, its
communication was not considered as with
in the cull ol the House.]
intelligence.
S. CAROLINA.
ClIAULtsroN, MARCH 1 0 .
A gentleman arrived at St. Bartholome
ws,
from Antigua, just before the sailing of the
Nancy, informed capt. Colfax, that the British
had entire possession of all the West India Is
lands. After the capitulation of Guadaloupe,
fieri. F. ft neuf had requested permission to cotne
to thé United States, but whs pietempiorily re
fused, both by Admiral Cochrane and General
Beckworth, who determined he should be sent
to England, together with all the French for
ces at (itiadaloupe, corsisting ot about 15,00'.)
men. Capt. C olfax was further informed,that
the French inhabitants were very much incens
ed against Geti. F.rneuf in consequence of the
capitulation, and immediately repaired to
one
ol the forts, which they gallantly defended and
kept possession of until tiie t -tili of February,
alter much bloodshed.
when it was g.vcii up
Tiie British, previous to going against GuaJa
loupe, had reinforced their West India regim
ent by a number of recruits, taken iron' the
plantations of the inhabitants of tiie British Is
lands, an.1 had given bonds for the Value of
them ; all of w hom had liven cut to pieces be
foie the fort which the inhabitants-had taken
possession of, after general Kriicnf's capitulati
on. Gen. F.rneuf was said to have been so
much ashamed of his conduct as to have passed
through the town to the Biitish vessel in which
he was to embark, with the utmost secrecy.
The British were observed from the heights of
St. Bartholomews, to take possession of St.
Martin's, on the 15 th Feb. without the least
opposition.
The prevailing opinion in the West Indies
was that F.rneuf capitulated underceitain pleas
ing expectations, which have not been realised
—one of which was that he should have been
allowed to come to the U. States, where it is
said he has the principal part of an immense
property, accumulated since his government
in the West Indies. He is now an old man,
and probably retirement in the U. States would
be desirable to him. It is pretty certain be will
not wish to go to France again.
'I'he captain and purser of the French priva
teer Superior had been on shore s>t St. Bartho
lomews, where it was currently reported as in
fo; mation coming from themselves, that tiicy
had captured, burnt and sunk 3 J British ves
sels ; but they treated Americans with the ut
most respect. 'File brig Eliza, 'laylcr, of tlii3
port, was hoarded by them on the 24th tilt,
and treated politely. 'File captain of the priva
teer informed capt. Taylor that lie had cash c
riough on board the Superior to ballast her,
and that he defied all the cruisers on the West
India station.
Pittsburg, (Pa.) March 19,
Finr.,—On Friday morning last about
the citizens of this borough
day bre
were alarmed by the cry of fire. It proceed
Wood street,
ed from a brick building in
nearly opposite the epijcopal church, the
bilieve, ot Mr. Whitesides,
property, we
an honest and industrious mechanic, I his
building, with three others, were entirely
destroyed,before the progress of the flames
could be arrested. Nothing but the inter
position of a benign providence saved a
la rge portion of the town from destruction,
as tiie houses which surrounded those con
sumed were entirely frame. When the
fire first broke out, the wind was high ; hut
it fortunately fell before the flames had ris
en to their bight.—Mr. Whiteside, and
industrious mechanics
two or three other
It is not known in what
have lost ihetr all.
way the fire originated.
Remarkable .—A son of Mr. Charles
Stewart of Sedgwick, was employed a lew
days since in falling a tree, one of which :o