United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1802-01-02 00:00:00, page 2

^ '" to profcrib,' them t unworthy of ev
ery cruft. ft would have been a circumOance
of great relief to me, had 1 fotind a moderate
participation of office in the hands of the ma
jority—[ would gladly have left to time and
accident, to raise them to their just share. But
their total exclusion calls for prompter cot
re^ives." r
The firft idea suggested by readingthefe pas
sages, is, that the Prefideßt of the United States
has openly proclaimed himfelf to be the bead of
a,arty. In a most severe and pointed inventive
against the partial proceedings of his predeces
sors towards their pert,, the President announc
es himfclf as a competitor, who has led his par
ty to victory in the Scramble for office and
power, and who is determined to enjoy the
triumph. “My friends have burst open the
d °°" of honor and confidence! the road to
emolument is rec—l will now distribute to
th%m a fol, (hare of the loaves and fifties."
?' a man, who, from the elevated ground
of impartiality, fy^- -fa r^J objects of gov
crnmrnt, rhe pejrc °f society, the protection of
f'.^frs m^WiVKtuals, and defence against
'external annoyance, how degraded and con
teniptible must be the character of a Chief Ma
giftratc who avows himfclf the leader of a feel
or fireinn, and declares that his fuppotters have
as good light to the emoluments of govern
ment as his oppofers—who makes it the firfl
ad of his administration to take bread from
one part of the society, who have left other
business to serve the public, and give it to those
who have no claims to the boon, but their pri
vate exertions for his benefit! ~
SEVENTH
Congress of thr U.States.
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.
A Monday, Dec. 14, 1801.
FIER tome local business was difpatebed
Mr. Nicholson called up the refoltftion, laid by
him 00 the table, re feeding the expenditure of
public monies by Timothy Pickering, Esq. late
Secretary of State. Mr, Nicholson observed
that feme ideas expressed by a gentleman from
Massachusetts, when this fubjed was before the
House, had weight with him, and had induced
him to modify bis motion. It had been proper
ly, in his opinion, remarked that such a motion
Should not point at any particular officer, but
that it should be extended to all officers who fu
perinttnded the disbursements of public money.
He had, therefore, prepared another resolution,
which, while it embraced his firft objed, would
be teen to be conceded with other objeds e
qually interfiling, as follows:
Refolded, That a committee be appointed to en
^aire and report, irbetber monies drawn from the
Treasury, have been faithfully applied to the objeAs
for übicb they were appropriated, and whether the
fame have been regularly accounted for ; and to re
port likmife, whether an, further arrangements are
necefory to promote economy, enforce adherence to h
gifaroe pftriaions, and secure the accountability of
persons e'ntrufted with the public money.
Mr. Bayard declared his high plcafure at
the liberality and candour, which charadlerifed
the mover of the resolution; which had been
manifested on the institution of it, as well as in
the modification now offered. The nation as
it now flood, however, was not confined^ one
department, but embraced the whole. He
thought it would be best to confine it to one
department; but to givuit a more retrofpedive
tft&, and to apply it not to Mr. Pickering only,
but also toSecretaries of State that preceded him.
He believed, that, on investigation, it would be
found that monies disbursed had not been ex
pended conformably to the flritl letter of ap
propriations. But such a deviation was the re
lult of necessity Th# poQ? Gr^tv- ftribaiic uc
raying certain measures, for the execution of
which competent appropriations had not been
made, to the next session of Congress. He be
lieved that the fame thing had occurred in other
departments. It had been the custom, in cases
where money was wanted for one, though ap
propriated to another, under the fame depart
ment, to take it from the latter, and to apply it
to the former. This was illegal; but its being
the custom palliates it.
Mr, Bayard could not but approbate the
condud of the gentleman from Maryland,—
He had honorably to himfclf, and honorably to
Mr. Picketing, declared his conviaion that Mr.
Pickering had adied like a man ofhsnor and in
tegrity; and that though he had fandioned de
partures from the letter of appropriations, yet
that this had been only as he had termed it a
technical misapplication of money. For this
enquiry Mr. Ba,rd thought there was fuffi
cient cause.— The public mind had been agitat
ed. The vilell Handers had been circulated.
It had been averted, not merely that Ms. Pick
ering had violated the appropriation of public
monies, but that he had applied them to his own
personal purposes. But after the praise-worthy
candour of the gentleman, he trusted that all
,lfc impeffioos, would be removed—and that
it would be found that all the noise made, arose
from inattention to proscribed appropriations of
money: —and that the fame inattention applied
to the other departments.
Mr. Bayard desired to know the extent of
the motion. If confined to the department of
ftatc, embracing all the Secretaries, he would be
in favour of it.'
Mr. Nicholson would answer the gentleman
from Delaware, that it was his intention that
the motion should apply, as far as it affected
the department of state, not only to Mr. Pick
ering, but to his prcticccffors also; and he had
so framed it as to include the departments of
War and the Navy, in case rh# *onihitteo favs,l
fit so far to extend their inquiries. The ac
counts of the department of State could be ea
sily examined, while those of the War and Na
vy departments, from the want of fpecific ap
propriations, precluded so fpecific an investiga
tion. But the committee may examine the fub
jedl, and the terms of the resolution gave theml
authority to pursue their enquiries, if they tho't
fit, into those departments. They may also go
back, if necessary. For himfelf, Mr. N. had no
objection to this. Net that he thought such a
measure ncceffary, as it was well known that
the accounts of Mr. Pickering's predecessor had
been fettled, and that a suit, which had arisen
from such settlement, was now depending. He;
had plainly apfwered the enquiries of the gen
tlemen, and he hoped fatrefa&orily.
Mr. Giles observed that he had always been
in favour of giving the people the fullcft . infor
mation on the expenditures of public money,
ft would be recollected that he was among the:
firft to institute an enquiry into the difburfe-|
ments ofthe Treasury under this government.|
It was true that his efforts were attended with
but little success ; they had been treated with
but little refped; and he might, perhaps, add
that they had been created with some mre of
difrefpedt He rejoiced, however, in the change
which had taken place, and he expelled that
his house would hereafter be as jealous of pub
k dkburfements, as he had long been.
The difouilcment of public treafcres 6t
cited, and defervcdly excited the nation
, al ferifibility. The people felt it as all impor
: j tant. He was, therefore, well pleased with
. I the resolution whofc effedl would be to enquire
I I into the condu& of all prefeut and pad Secre
: 1 taries. As the whole would be included, it
would exclude all party consideration.
He hoped that they were now assembled to
legislate for the public good ; and that Handing
ion the ground of truth, all calumny, let it come
f from whatever quarter, would be dismissed.—
: He felt no ill will to any public officer, but he
thought the official<ondn& of all of them should
be tested by fa&s. He believed there had ex
- ifted practices dangerous to our happjnefs ; and
I /his remarks were directed against those practices
• ! not against any particular per forts. Ifinconve#
: nience and injury had fprnng from the practices
)we should find a remedy for them.
) Mr. 'Giles hoped that at the commenterr nt
of a new administration art the doqs of infor
-1 mation would be thrown open, tty the people
might be well informed, and be able to repel all
f calumny that was popagated, and know where
I real blame attached.
- Mr. Giles said he wished to know, when cle
practice alluded to commenced. The house fat
I here as a board of enquiry into the trardadions
: of the government, and without refpe& to any
particular mao, it was their duty to enquire ir'o
I the conduct of all. He, therefore, hoped, not
I only that this morion would pass; but that
r something similar to it wouid be incorporated in
: the (landing rules of the house ; whereby the
ad of enquiry would be general and a matter of
course. If this ihould be done, the measures of
all the departments would pass in review every
session, and checks would be fufficiendy multi
plied to fatisfy the public mind.
Dr. Mitchell profeffed himfelf well pleased
with the substitute offered to the original mo
„ tion, which had in some measure excited his sur
prise. When an individual of great probity,
1 and who had long served his country, was point
, ed at by the original motion, he could not avoid
p a painful sensation. The mover had wifely re
.folved, under the influence of such feeling, to
1 modify his motion, and to make it general, in
-1 Bead of particular. Dr. M. did not know how
.business had been tranfa&ed in the departments;
| but he did know that suspicions and danders had
been levelled at our public officers. It was in
1 the power of this house, if they were unsound-
: ed to disperse them. The house might be con
fidcred as the protestor of the innocent.
Dr. Mitchell did not believe that the gentle
, man pointed at had been guilty of corruption.
I He believed what was so called, was an allowa
ble departure from the Arid letter of the law
in order to promote the public good.
Mr. Bacon said, if he underflood the motion,
, it had nothing to do with the condud of Mr.
Pickering, which not only contained no partic
ular reference to him, but avoided all personal
reference to any of the officers. It applied sole
ly to the expenditure of public money. He
therefore saw no reason for bringing him, or any
• other person, into view.—When alt enquiry had
been made it would be time enough to approve
or condemn the conduct of public agents.
{, The debate continued in the temper of the pre
ceding for Jome length; when the question on Mr.
Nicholfons motion was carried without a divi
fa—and Messrs. Nicholson, Griswold Giles, Haf
'i"gs, Jones, Bayard, and Elmendorf were appointed
the committee.
President's Message.
The house went into a Committee of the
Whole, on the state of the Union ; when
Gen. Smith observed, that among other ob
jedls to which the President had attraded the
attention of the House, was our commercial fit
nation. We were informed that the United
States were at peace with all Hasten, —a AO
peace nan taken place among the powers of
Europe. It became Congress to dired its at
tention to consequences that might proceed from
such a state of things ; and particularly to the
injuries that might attach to our carrying trade.
It was known that under the British Treaty
Great Britain going perhaps beyond the mean
ing °f the treaty, had imposed heavy counter
vailing duties on our goads, and that certain
ads of France had the fame effects, whereby
many of our most valuable exports would cease
to be carried in our,own bottoms. Early dim
dcr the present government, it had been deemed
wife to lay diferiminating duties, which had
tended greatly to assist our carrying trade. Our
capitals had greatly increased, and if foreign na
tions reftriaed our trade, by unfair regulations,
it became us to adopt counteracting measures ;
and this could now be done with the more fafety'
and effect from the force of our capital. He
therefore voted:—
Refolded, That so much of the several
afts irnpofag duties on the tonnage of Jhips
and vejels, and on goods, <wares and mer
chandise, imported into the United States,
as imposes a diferiminating duty oftonnage
between foreign vessels and vessels of the U
nited States, and between goods imported
into the United States in foreign veffcls &
vefels of the United States, ought to be re
pealed ; such repeal to take effe& whenever
the President foall be informed that the
diferiminating duties of foreign nations, so
far as they operate tothe disadvantage ofthe
"commerce of the United States,Jball have
been abolished.
Ordered to lie on the table.
CENSUS.
Mr. Giles, referring to the certfus
lately taken, moved the fallowing reso
lution :
Resolved, That the apportionment of
Reprefentatiies amongst the feveralfates,
according to the second enumeration of the
people, ought to be in a ratio of one repre-
Jentativefor every thirty-three thousand per
sons in each fate.
BARBARY POWERS.
Gen. S. Smith moved the following
resolution :
Refilled, That it is expedient that the
President be autborifed by law, further
' and more effe&ually to protect the
commerce of the United States against
the Barbary powers.
Mr. Nicholson said, he did not like I
the resolution; as it had a reference
to a point with which we were unac
quainted. The President had inform
ed ns that he had sent a squadron into
the Mediterranean. It may have been
a wife a&; but he did not with the
house to commit rtfelt until fully in
formed.— He moted, with this view,
to strike out the/ words " further and
more effe&ually/
Mr. Giles propbfed that the motion
lie on the table until the documents oh
this fubjeft were printed, which was
agreed to. .
The following resolution was then
adopted :—
Relived, That the 'la vs refpe&ing
naturalization ought to be revised or
amended.
ITr'ESDAV,dec. 7s, 180 k.
The consideration of the refolutioh
refpe&ing the apportionment of repre
sentatives was pot ^ed until to-mor
row
:NATURAL. IN LAWS.
? committee of le,en was appoint
ledI ed bring in a bill for altering and a--
,m 1g the naturalization laws
BARBARY TOWERS;
In remittee of the whole, the fol
lowin, resolution was adopted :—
That it is expedient that
'/'"dent be authorized by law,
an d more effectually to protect
•the commerce of the United States a
;gain! the Barbary powers. Concur
red hby the House.
M\ Smith's resolution on diferimi
natitg duties, was then taken up, and
debated, but no decision had thereon.
THURSDAY, DEC. If, 1801.
The motion of Gen. Smith, on the
fubjeft of the repeal of the diferiminat
ing duties between foreign and Ameri
can velfels, was taken up.
Mr. GRISWOLD wished to know
the grounds on which the moton was
made. Ihe laws imposing diferimi
nating duties had long existed, with
great an^ good effe<st to our commer
cial interests. He wished to know what
( effeds would flow from a revocation
of those reftridions, and whether the
proposed measure would not operateto
the prejudice of the United States. In
its effe&s the Eastern States would be
particularly interefled and the more es
pecially at this period, when from the
consequences likely to ensue from peace
our ships may be thrown out of em
ployment.
Mr. S. Smith assured the gentleman
from Connecticut that if the measure he
proposed had, in his opinion, the least
tendency to injure the commerce of the
country, he fhpuld not have advocated'
it, as well from a regard to the deep
flake he himfelf held as from a regard
to the interests of bis constituents. The
f) item of diferiminating duties was a
wife one in the early existence of the
government ; our Own Dipping was
then unequal to the carrying of our
produce. The diferimination operated
as a charm in producing a rapid exten
sion of shipping beyond the most san
guine expectation.-
Our trade remained in this situation,
until the formation of the British trea
ty. By that infrument Great-Britain
was permitted to lay countervailing duties,
tad *>••" ^ topofed, as in
time of peace, to destroy the advanta
ges attached to our shipping over theirs.
IheefteCts of this regulation were not
immediately felt by us i England was
at war, and her freights were charged
with war insurance, while ours were ex
-4 empt from such charges. Under these
circumstances English bottoms could
not enter into competition with Ame
rican, as the war insurances of the for
mer exceeded the inconveniences impos
ed on the latter.
But peace being now restored, Bri
tish ships will have such an advantage
over our ships, that no man will (hip
tobacco, rice, or any other bulky arti
cles in American bottoms.
Ihe effed of the countervailing du
ties of England would be, that an A
merican ship carrying tobacco to Eng
land would pay 18 (hillings sterling
more on the hogshead than a British
ship. The tifual freight of a hoglhead
was 35 Shillings. The difference there
fore constituted more than one half.
, Ourftnation was fill worse in relation
to France. Os the reftridive ads of the
. government he could not give a precise
idea ; but he was enabled to state, from
a conversation had rivith a gentleman
, from that country high in office, that
so decided a preference was given to
her own over foreign bottoms, that a
duty of 10 livres Upon every hundred
weight of tobacco was laid on the lat
ter. which wad f»qo;~alcy„l rol2o livres
on a hogffiead. He further undeftood
that 6 per cent, difference was imposed
upon all other articles—Peace being
now restored, French vessels will enter
our ports, and become the carriers to
France of all our productions.
How were thefe,effects, so alarming
to our trade, to be met ? He replied
that it was by taking off our diferiminating
duties ;* and by placing our merchants
on equal terms with the merchants of
other nations.
And, Sir, said Mr. Smith, have we
not enterprize, have We not capital to
hold an honorable, a fuccefsful compe
tition with the whole world ? No man
that knows the character of an Ameri
can merchant will doubt his ability to
sustain such a competition. The dif
eriminating duties once ufeful, have
* It may here pertinently be aJked,fop
pofe Great-Britain and France will net
abolifo their difes iminating duties ? What
then is to be done ? lire the United States
to wage commercial warfare with all En
robe ?
leafed td be so. Our flipping has in
'creafed, arid we now want more to enter
into the ports of other nations, than that
other patons Jhould enter into ours. We
kre willing to free trade from its tram
mels. Let the trade be taken by those
who can carry the cheapest *4 a mer
chant he was convinced that me cotald car
ry cheaper than any other nation. Our
materials for (hip-buildingwere at hand,
were cheaper, and we could navigate
our mips with fewer seamen than any
other nation.
The crisis required thatwe should take
efficient measures. Unless such m^
: nfr be taken,/our commercial
will fefotef^eets offered by the pre
sent opportunity. It was true in two
years that the British treaty would ex
pire.—But he understood that the Bri
tish minillry demurred to the conftrUc
tion which considered that part of the
J treaty under which countervailing du
ties were imposed as expiring at that
time.
Mr Griswold declared himfelf not
Satisfied with the explanation made by
the gentleman from Maryland, it was
certainly desirable to secure the carry
ing °' our bulky articles in our own
ships „and if the refohition would have
this effect he should be decidedly for
it. But lie could not discern such to
be tne e ff e & with regard to Eng
land, it was trite that tohuroo t 43 theic
charged with a heavy duty ; but it was
well known that England confirmed but
a fmdll portion of what was sent there ;
the rest was exported; arid a drawback
of all duties allowed. ,As to the great
mass of this Article; therefore; it was
not charged any more than it would
have been charged, had it been dire&ly
exported to other countries:
For his part, he firmly believed, that
bur carrying trade would be essentially
injured by allowing a free trade, where
by English jbips mould enter our ports up
on the fame terms with our own Jhips.
It is well known, that before the
war, the tobacco imported into France
had been farmed out by the govern
ment, and that it had been a great
source of revenue. He was persuaded
~ that France would not permit that ar
ticle to be free.
From these and other considerations,
Mr. Griswold declared himfelf unpre
pared to decide upon a question of so
great importance. He was not prepar
ed to fay what would be the effects of
the principle offered to the house, par
ticularly as the resolution does not lay,
in the event contemplated, who shall
decide, whether the President, or Con
gress.
Mr. S. Smith agreed with the gen
tleman from Connedicut, that the great
bulk of our exports required an uncom
monly large tonnage. But this wasan
argument why we should secure this
important object even if me loft the car
riage of the imports of other nation.
Ihe gentleman had referred to the
mass of Shipping in the eastern states ;
but he would inform the house that
the middle states were competent to
carry their own produce. The gen
tleman was mistaken in one of his de
du&ions, viz. that which refpefted our
merchants deriving no inconvenience
from Engfifh duties; as to the quantity
of tobacco exported from England on
which a drawback was allowed : He
affirmed the injury to be great. For he
would aft what merchant would like
to export to England under the uncer
tainty of his exporting his produce
again to other countries.
The gentleman was alo mistaken in
his allusion to the farmers-genera! of
France. They did not monopolife that
article. Every man had a right to go
there with tobacco. '1 hey were only
the venders of it. The gentleman
was therefore further mistaken, when
he said our merchants could not com
pute with French merchants.
Mr. Smith was anxious that the ear
liest attention of Congress should be
paid to this important fubjeß. France
had not at preferit vessels to carry
our produce ; availing ourselves of the
fituatiori in which she was at present
placed, we might by this proposition
gain her assent to the principles of a
free trade, u hereby a large (bare of our
carrying trade would be preserved
which otherwise might be loft ; Unless
the opportunity that now offered was
immediately seized, it might never re
turn.
Mr. Giles said he felt no very lively
interest on the fubjeft in debate. The
southern states would fend their pro
duce to market in the flips which could
afford to take it on the best terms. He
thought the gentleman from Connecti
cut, (Mr. G.) had mistaken the effect
which the diferiminating duty would
in future have. The imposts in Brit
ain being higher than in the United
States, their countervailing duties,
which had, he believed, already exceed
ed the treaty allowance, would give
her most of the carrying trade of this
country. This being an important
fubjed could not be too maturely con
sidered, yet there was a point of time,
within which only, we can avail our
selves of any advantage now offered
If femething is not soon done, the high
price given for vessels in France, will
fho^d endeavour toffi burfeh
on terms of equality with *
while it was in our posy.
not profefs to be acquainted 'I,
fubjea in detail ; thele were the re
era! impressions made on his r from
a cursory view, of the fubjeef.
Mr. Griswold in reply, ohfrr^d,
I that he was desirous to give everv ad-
;vantage to obr own tohnage. QuE
I Vessels cannot bring British go ds into
this country while the prefer? twser
itt fc because a cargo of them u valu#-
_ble, and the diferiminating c";'s will
be Very eonfiderabie. The co dQaonce
is, they muff come to th ; s c i:;y in
ballast. The additional torn f^tr
will prevent their carrying 1 .t
our bulky articles for the fieiyiy ^ : 1
American veflcls will be able d
it for. We now possess a<A I
, and he wished to retain them Mi. ,
had no doubt, the British wcnld :: -
ly come into the meafure.'
Mr. Randolph, role, he aid.%f
reluctance; but when gen cn : #
ability and experience differedf^
ly as to fads, he thought feme rir
fhould be allowed hr confide f -.
- He therefore moved that the >:mu.
tee rife. ~ Agreed to.
Wednesday dec. 16,
A communication from th Secrei.f
ry of State, relative to the re .
merican seamen. Ordered to :_
ed.
Several fubje&s were introduced,
which will be noticed in their
stages.
, NEW CENSUS.
The fubjed of apportioning tie
Representatives agreeably tc the &<
fus lately taken, was difcuQ!
era! numbers were proposed; :h:,
tio of one member, 30,0%, ;t,cao
and 40,000. ,3,000 was tlh r.ur : >
in the resolution before thq Cm.
of the Whole.
Mr. Griswold was in favor of ;r :
—in order that the house migr- ,be
increai'ed to an unwieldy nd cure
berfome size. At the ratio Cm. .fr
ever y 33^^ there would be ipv..
of 170 members. He the ht ^
House fufficiently numerousa 1' t ,
answer every valuable purpei -the
expense would be increased, oH ih:
business delayed.
Mr. Giles was in favour of 3,0.^
He did not confider the experil: a ef
ficient reason for increasing ikr^tio
and diminishing the number. Th ex
pense, he said, was a mere tiif a. We
are told, said Mr. G. tl,at the Icis
fufficiently numerous to ans- every
valuable purpose of legillation 1 et
gentlemen look to the differs it .0\
Legislatures. Virgina had ri + .ay
bers in her house ; yet we dot .re
ceive that body mere cumbe" 'as er
disorderly than if its members c re
duced one' half. The exp^ Cm; of
the fear of disorder, is a r<a .m.
aginary thing ; and as to the owaf
it is too inconsiderable to elain ^ se
rious attention.
Mr; Bayard coincided in pmicu
with Mr. Giles.
A motion for recommitmen ?f 'he
I refolntion being negatived :
Dr. Ennis observed, that, ft .atis?y
the community at large, to prevent ^
incumbrance, and to make the : pre
fentation as fair as pollible, he v ,c :.
vinced that 33,000 was the me
ble number. The motion t<hri :
33,000 being negatived, a core
was appointed to bring in a bill r r :-
ably to that ratio.
After dispatching local, an. priv
ate business, the House adjourni
Thursday, dec. 17, 1; 1.
A letter of the Secretary
Tr&ifury, inclofmg a return of t e i:
ports into the United States, frora
oa. I, 1798, co o&. 1, 1799." £
received.
SINKING FUND.
A letter from the Commifliont of
the Sinking Fund, was received, it in
clofed a statement of the Stock re<h:i>-
ed, amounting to 14,738,367 d lla <
83 cents, and that there remained, ^? $
the 12th December la#, in tlie har %
the Treasurer, 449,064 dollars 31
cents ; fubjed to the difpotition of
Commiffioriers of the Sinking Fi f
which, with the growing, refotuct s 0,
that fund, would be equal to meetf.tr
the 7th instalment of 6 per cent, he
firft installment of deferred stock, and
and the loth of a loan becoming<
NEW CENSUS.
A bill was reported, appprtionin,
the representation of the several Stir
—as follows :
New-Hampshire, 5 I Delaware, 1-
Massachusetts, 17 | Maryland, £
Vermont, 4 Virginia, 2;
Rhode-Ifland, 2 N. Carolina, 1 a
Connedicut, 7 S. Carolina,. 8
New-York, 18 Georgia, 4
New-Jersey, 6 Kentucky,
Pennsylvania, 18 Tennegce,
V
After a Ihort conversation on th^
bill, it was postponed until Saturday.
FRIDAY, DEC. 18.
Mr. Nicholson, reported a bill, re
fpeding fugitives from juftice,|and per
lons escaping from their makers,whicl
was twice read, and committed for
1
'A
0 ?
f
V
1