United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1802-03-06 00:00:00, page 2

the lame time, to give a stab to his
character, and to endeavor to consign
him to infamy, as well as to want— If
a federal speech is made in Congress
lo brilliant as to charm and aßonifh—
Id forcible in argument as to be unan
fwerablerft ispartfed by asserting, that
- "' e Speaker is an anti-republican. Such
thingshave been and arc. .
No'w thole calumniators well know
that they have been deceiving arid
dupingthe people and blading the char
acters of innocent and deserving men :
7% are the devil's advocates.
m ACT fa the apportionment 'ofßepre
fatatives among the federal States, to
' ceding to the second enumeration.
BE it enabled by tbe Senate arid Hokfc of Re^re
fentetroes of the United States 'of America, in
Congress flfcmtad, That from and after the third
day of March, one thousand eight hundred and
three, the House of Representatives (hall be
composed of members elected agreeably ^ a ra
tio of one member for every thirty-three thou
sand perfous incadh State, computed according
to the rule prescribed by the Conflitutiou, that
is to fay : Within the state of New-Hampshire,
five; within the state of Massachusetts, seven
teen ; within the Pate of Vermont, four; with
in the Pate of Rhode-Ifland, two ; within the
state of Connecticut, seven ; within the Pate of
New^Vork, seventeen ; within the Pate of New-
Jersey, fix ; within the Pate of Pennfylvznia,
eighteen ; within the state of Delaware, one ;
within theflate of Maryland, nine; within the
state of Virginia, twenty-two ; within the state
of North, Carolina, twelve ; within the Pate of
South-Carolina, eight ; witihn the Pate ofGeor
gi?., sous; within the Pate of Kentucky, fix ;
and within the state ofTenneffee,three members.
NATHANIEL MACON,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
ABRAHAM BALDWIN,
Prudent of the Senate,pro tempore.
Approved, Jan. 14, 1802.
Th : JEFFERSON,
President of the United States.
0 ■
- RESOLUTION
lluthorifing the Secretary of State to fum
if) the Members of both Houses with
tie lams of the Sixth Congress.
RESOLVED, R, the Senate and House of Ref
r^intatives of the United States of America in
Corigrefs offembltd, That the Secretary of State
be directed to cause to be furnished to each Mem
ber of she two Houfe# of Congress a copy of the
laws of t^e sixth Congress.
NATHANIEL MACON,
\ Speaker of the House of Representatives.
AARON BURR,
Kiev-Rrefficient bf the United States, and PreJident
of the Senate.
&PLK&VED Jan. 21, 1802.
TH : JEFFERSON,
PreJident of tie United States.
An ACT concerning the Library for the
fe of both Souses of Congress.
^E^ enaacd by the Senate and House of Repre
d^J Jeutohves of the United States of America, in
G%,efs ofr.lW, That' the books and tnaps pur
f^c^l by hrf£ixn of the aft of Corigrefs, paf
' fed the twenty-fourth of April, one thousand
eight hundred, together with the books or li
' trapica which have heretofore been kept fepa
r-u) by each House, (hall be placed in the
Capped, in the room which was occupied by
toe House of Representatives, during the last
U£:..;cf the sixth Congress.
He. 2. And be it farther enabled, That the
Treficept of the Senate and Speaker of the House
in t piefentatives, for the time being, be, and
they hereby are empowered to establish such
ref jltions and reftridions in relation to the
flic ibrary, as to them (hall seem proper, and
f;cn: time to time, to alter or amend the fame ;
Provided, That no regulation fha^ be made re
- -ernaut to any proviGon contained in this ad.
Sec. 3. And be it further enabled, That a Li
brarian, to be appointed by the President of the
United States solely, shall take charge of the
said library, who, previous to his entering upon
the duties of his office, ihall give bond, payable
to the United States, in such a fpm, and with
such security as the President of the Senate and
Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the
time being, may deem fufficient, for the fife
keeping of such books, maps and furniture as
may be confided to his earc, and the faithful dis
charge of his ttuft, according to such regula
tions as may be, from time to time, etlabliffied
for the government of the said library i which
said bend (hall be deposited ih the office of the
Secretary of the Senate.
Sec. 4. And be it further enabled, That no map
, shall be permitted rd be taken out of the said li
brary by any person ; nor any books, except by
the President and Vice- President of the United
States, and Members of the Senate and House
6fß< pretentatives, for the thre being.
Set. 5. And be it further enabled, That the
keeper of the said library (ball receive for his
Services, a sum not exceeding two dollars per
difo, for every day of necessary attendance ;
the amount whereof, together with the neceffs
ry eipenfes incident to the said library, after be-
Yg ascertained by the President of the Senate
and Speak# 0? the House of Representatives,
for the time being, ffiall be paid out of the fund
annually appropriated for the contingent ex
penses of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 6. And be it further enabled, That the un
expended balance of the sum of five thousand
dollars, appropriated by the ad of Congress a
forefaid, for the purchase of books and maps for
the use of the two Houses of Congrefe, together
with such fems as may hereafter be appropri
ated to the fame purpose, fall be bi^out under
the dire&ron of ajoint committee, to config of
three members of the Senate, and three mem
bers of the House of Representatives,
NATHANIEL MACON,.
Speaker of the Btafe of Representatives,
, . A. BURR,
rice-Prudent of the United States, and President
ofthe Senate.
Approved Jam. 26, 1802,
, TH: JEFFERSON,
, Prefdent of the United States.
Laws of the Union.
'—-0—
SEVENTH CONGRESS
or THE UNITED STATES,
✓IT TSIF. FIRST SESSION,
Begun and held at the City of Washington, in
the Territory of Columbia, on Monday the
Seventh of December, one thousand eight
hundred and one,
givenefs of that Almighty Being, who,
in Wisdom and mercy presides over the
universe ; and to beseech him, 'that he
would continue his favor towards us ;
that he would give 'wifdom to out
councils, and improvement to our vir
tues, and bless as in all the works of
o^r hands.
That the President arid Congress may
employ their talents and power to pro
mote justice, and establish the union and
tranquility of these States ; and that all
their measures may tend to the public
happiness : That those who are in pub
lic office in this Commonwealth may be
solicitous to preserve the peace of focie,
ty, and maintain the Yelped ability of
Government, by a prudent and impar
tial conduct, and a faithful application
to the duties of their several offices :=
That the people of the United States
may respect the authority of the Laws
and Magistrates, and yield them a just
and reasonable obedience, and that the
privileges, by which we are distinguish
ed from other nations,may be improved
by us as a rich inheritance, and be trans
mitted, without diminution, to our pos
terity:
That the ministers of the gofptl may
be active and'affiduons to plead theraufe
of Religion and recommend its prac
tice ; and that every Christian Society
may flourish in knowledge, purity and
mutual affection :—That the rich and
prosperous may endeavor to afford re
leif in every instance of necessity and
didrefs ; and that we may all Cultivate
the benevolent dispositions and offices
enjoined by Religion, and prove by our
conversation and condud, thdt we are
uncorrupted with vice and infidelity.
That He would be pleased to grant
us favorable seasons, that our land may
yield her increase, and the trees yield
their fruit :—That He would preserve
us from wafting and contagious Sick
ness, and continue to us the blessing of
Health :—That He would Hill pro
test and prosper cur Trade, Manufac
tures and Fisheries :—and that He
would regard with favor our Universi
ty, Colleges, & Academies, and Schools
in the several Towns, and grant that
they may accomplish the designs of
their institution, and that multitudes
"may receive impressions in them, which
. shall secure their felicity and nfefulnefs,
and lay a firm foundation for public
virtue :—
That he would subdue those lusts and
passions of the human heart, from
whence wars proceed, and overrule the
mifehief that has been done by the de
stroyers of mankind, to promote the wis
est and kindest purposes :—That in ev
ery nation the Religion of Christ may
be prOfeiTed and honored :—That the
revolutions among men may fubferve
the inteteft of his Kingdom ; and that
,of the increase of bis Government and
Peace, there may be no ehd.
And the People of this State are re
quelled to abstain from labor and re
creation on the said Day.
Given at the Council Chamber, in Boflon, this
• twentyfeond day of February, in the year of
our Lord, One tbohfand eight hundred and two,
a^d in the tnventy-Jifctb frar of the Independence
of the United States of America.
CALEB STRONG.
By his Excellency's Command with the
advice & the consent of the Council.
John Avery; Sec'n.,
God five the Commonwealth of Maffaebufettr.
A democratic member es Congress, in a let
ter from Washington, exprefles his opinion, that
the claims of thefufferers by French spoliations
are frell founded and cannot be refilled by our
government. 1 ,
The President of the United ' States has re
cognixed Don Valentine de Forand, as Consul
General of the Spanish nation within the Unit
ed States.
A motion has been made in the House of
Representatives of thh United States to cred
another Capitol at the Federal City, nearer to
the public offices and more commodious for the
President and the member# of Congress,
A PROCLAMATION,
For a day of PUBLIC FAs+tNG'and prater.
'r' ——Q- Q
HE religious principle of venera
tion for the Supreme Being is inherent
in otir nature, and essential to our hap
piness ; arid our ancedors, from a just
view of his Providential government,
and their own frailty and dependence,
applied to him in all their necessities and
dangers, and with united Applications
addressed him at this season of the year,
for his protection, and the supply of
their wants : and as we are unworthy
of his regard, and' our cirCTmftances
depend entirely upon his pleafdre, it is
our duty and interest to indicate their
example, to confess, our fins with true
repentance, and "humbly to entreat the
Bivine BleHing upon us in the course of
the ensuing year.
I do, therefore, with the advice of
the Council appoint THRSDAY, the
eighth da, of April next, to be observed
as a day of Public Falling an'd Prayer
throughout this Commonwealth, and
do recommend it to Miniftefs and Peo
ple of every denomination, to meet to
gether on that day, and with humble
and contrite hearts to confefs their man
ifold transgressions ; to implore for-
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
CALEB STRONG, Efquice.
Governor of the Commonwealthof MafacbwfeL's.
'Commonwealth of Maflachuftts.
•••.'«%
For the U. S. ORACLE.
TO THE 1
Independent Eleßon of Nro-Hampfare.
I HAVE always considered it as the
duty of every man/in a Government
constituted like otirs, to ftdte his senti
ments, on fubje&s interesting to the
people, with freedom and candor
Though not a very old man, I have
lived long enough to /know, that the
performance of this duty, like many
others, p^mifes neither rewards, offices,
nor emolument. He must be an old
failbr on the t&bpeftu'ous sea of poli
tics and hardened to the element, who
does riofc find it an unpleasant duty
When I attempted it, I'was confeious
to myfelf, that I was aduated by no fel
fifli or improper motives ; that I felt
no private refepttnentagairft any Cand
idate for popular favor; but at the fame
time I well knew, that I must. not ex
;pea to be exempt from imputations of
a different fyd. If I acquitted my
felf in any tolerable mariner, I forefaw
that I should provoke a host of ene
mies. I could offend them in no way
so much; as by relating fads and
drawing just inferences from them ;—
I forefaw that in exa& proportion as 1
engaged the public attention, I should
Hir up their zeal and oppOGtion. If 1
have not cobdu&ed the inquiry with
candor and decency I have failed in
the execution of my intentions. The
public must and will judge.
A Writer iri the last Gazette under
the signature of A Citizen of Nro-
Hampd)ire has favored the public with
his Sentiments both of Lucius arid his
performance. He is pleased to confid
ler the writer as having enl^ed tinder
the banners of Arißocracy ; as a per
-1 fori of a vis ulent and berjecuting feirit ;
of a malevolent hurffir—a libeller ;of
endeavoring to flifte the judgment of his
readers § o^grofsly afperfing and abusing
the characters and reputations of Mr.
L. and Judge W— —of making an in
famous imputation of fraud on a very
good man and last and not least of his
demerits; of having been born in the
country where rough language is famil
iar. So much for the man. The per
formance itfelf ^honored with the ep
ithets of an itfdious plan ; barefaced
calumnies ; kicked attempt to deceive ;
fpohtings ; ridiculous obferpatidns ; nenv
jangled logic, ^c. Wc. These I consid
er as so many fgnals of the distress /?^
by the good Citizen. I am fill refrained
(whether from piet, or a regard to de
cency matters not) from returning
railing for railing. I would much rath
er be the perfan upon whom these epi
thets are bellowed (I flatter myfelf so
undeservedly) than the author of them.
If any rough language, any coarse ex
prellions have escaped me, I am ready
to agree that they were improper even
for one born in the country to use ; tho'
at the fame time, I fee no reason to ad
mit that they have been improperly ap
plied. The public have no interest in the
characters of two anonymous writers in
a news-paper. Their interest lies in the
queftiori before them. Though I can
not descend to notice all the observa
tions of the Citizen, yet there are some
things in his address deserving a reply.
Silence might be construed into an ac
quiefeence with the Hatements he has
made.
In treating of the merits of the Can
didates for the chair, Lucius Rated
fa&s, and drew inferences from tliofe
fads. He carefully avoided every
thing of a private nature, or relating
to private character. Ife did not go so
far as he might. The evidence to sup
port his statements is to be found id
the. journals of the old and present
Congress. Accounts transmitted to
us of the debates and proceedings of
Congress, in the newspapers and by
bur other Senator and Representatives
in that body—the Journals of our owri
Legislature and other things of apublic
nature and which rest in the knowledge
of many of our Citizens. It will be
found oh examining the Citizen's ftric
turds, that few; vety very few of Lu
cius' fads aretienied. The instances
in which they are controverted I will
now confider. The statement made
by Lucius refpeding the assumption, is
said to be artfully drawn up Q fait the
accufo'tion—that the interests of this
State were facrificed by the measure.
Let us examine this matter. Lucius
stated that the sum assumed was twen
ty one million, five hundred thousand
dollars—that the proportion of New-
Hamplhire was upwards of eight hun
dred and forty thousand dollars—-that
three hundred thousand dollars only
was assumed—the finalleft sum, in pro
portion to her numbers, Which was as
sumed from any Rate in the union—
That thfomuft have been done on the
idea that we were the most delinquent
state—that if justice had been done us;
we should now be in the receipt of a
large sum annually from the public.—
These fads are not denied ; but the
consequences drawn from them by Lp
cius, are attempted to be evaded.
It is said by the citizen to be quite
immaterial what sum was assumed
Political.
it was charged in acecount—and the
inequalities of the assumption are or
will be rectified by the final settlement.
Ihe sums affirmed Were charged and
contidered in the settlement ; but are
the inequalities reElified by that settle
ment ? Is there a fihgle than in the
united States who at the time of the
assumption believed that this would or
could be the case ? Ittould only be
done by payment made by the debtor
Rates to the creditor states $ or by filch
payments into the Treasury of the U
riited States, who were bound to pay
the creditor states—Has any such pay
ment been made by a single debtor
state :-—Have not the Creditor states,
New-Hampffiite among the rest, been
obliged to contribute equally with the
debtor states to the payment of the bal
ances due to themselves ? will icbe
pretended by the citizen, who is a man
°f figures that we have received or can
receive the whole sum found due to us ?
Does the citizen manage his partnerlhip
concerns in the way, those of our state
have been managed > Did not our legifr
Nature immediately after the assump
tion took place, view it in the fame
light I have done ? I appeal to the
recollection of every person from this
state in Congress, and of others, who
were in the way of knowing the faft,
whether it was not then well under
flood, and avowed by the members from
what were known to be delinquent
states, that the debtor states never could
be coerced to make payment. Hence
the zeal of every state in the union,
except this, to obtain as large a sum as
possible—-Hence the members from
New-York, who did not pretend (he
would be a creditor state (but their
Votes Were necessary with Mr. L's. to
carry the meaftre) had one million
two hundred thouiand dollars assum
ed for their state-^-these observations
apply also to other states as well as
New-York—so far from believing or
expelling that payment could be enforc
ed from the debtor states (and no one
Was ever so absurd as to suppose it
would be voluntarily made) Congress
have not been able (tho' the thing has
been attempted) to get a vote to invite
them to make payment. They have
^even left power than the famous Owen
Glendorver who could call spirits from
the vafty deep, tho' to be sure they
could not come—Congress cannot even
call for payment and to be sure if they
had called, the money motild not have
come. —Has Mr. L. ever attempted to
compel the debtor states to pay ?—
Does he believe that it is practicable ?
lam certain he does not. What then
must we think of bis defender ?, I will
not fay he intended to mislead. I hope
he. will not accomplish it, if he did in
tend it.
The citizen tells us that if our just
and equal proportion had been affirm
ed We should now be a debtor state.
I am not very fond of debts public or
private. But I think the condition of
a debtor state rather the most eligible for
us in this Case.
In thf firft place our vouchers were
deficient and the balance on the final
settlement confequeutly less than what
was justly and equitably due. This was
known or ought to have been known by
Mr. L. at the time; and this clearly
entitled us to justice in the aflumption,
and in equity to retain what should have
been affiimed. In the next place, we
should then have been relieved from the
burthen of contributing to pay our
selves. We should then have been in
the situation of New-York, Pennsylva
nia, Delaware and other dates, entitled
to feceive from the public that portion
of the sum assumed, which wasleft af
ter our date creditors wefe paid. I re
fef my readers to a late statement of
the finances of New-York from which
it appears that tho' The is a debtor to
the Union 2,074,846 dollars, yet the is
receiving the interell from the public
of the whole sum affiimed from her.
The perusal document suggests an
observation worthy of notice, and
which demonstrates in the cleared
manner her intention never to pay
the United States a single tent of the
balance found against het; at the time
when it sxaeproofed to callon the debtor
dates and request payment, New-York
was then a creditor in theUnitedStates'
funds for the sum assumed from her ;
for ihe had no creditors to swallow up
any part of it. It was suggested in
Congtgfs, as one way to compel her
make payment, to withhold payment to
to heras a creditor, when she herfelf
was a debtor to a greater amount. This
mode of fettirig off one debt against the
Other, was the more equitable, as the U
nited States had received no considera
tion from the date for the fuffi (landing
in her name. But the state feeling po<w
er and forgetting right immediately tranf
ferred the debt to the bank of New-
Yotk, who now hold it and from the
bank the state receive the annual interest.
The Citizen laments that the debtor
states ate backward in making payment,
but fays the thing is in a train of ac
complishment. Does he believe this
himfelf? If he does I should pity his
credulity. Perhaps Virginia, now that
she is exalted above the ftates,forgetting
po«er and^eling tight will let the exam
ple# Virginians you know,are remarka
6le for their juftice and punctuality in ^3
ing their debts. lam not in immedi - %1
ate expectation of the Millennium, but]
I believe it will come upon us long be
fore the debtor states pay what the, a]
owe the United States.
l ean hardly give the Citizen credits" '1
for firicerity or even ferioufoefs, when 1
Ihe founds his belief on co/,a? has been done ■
by New-York. That state long before Ihe 1
made the generous offer to the U.States
of fortifying & improving her &wn har- 1
bour had expended considerable fams
for the purpose. Does the defender & I
vindicator of, the injured Mr. L. who
refilled to do any thing towards fortify- I
ing our harbours, protecting our trade,
or even obtaining indemnification for ■
fpoltations actually committed, docs he
believe, that the United States would I
expend upwards of two millions of dol- I
lars in fortifying the harbour of New-
York? Will New-York expend that
sum ? Have they expended the interest ■
of it? But let us suppose they will ex- |
pend the rehole sum upon their harbour |
for die benefit and proteCtion of their J
own Commerce ; if we had the sum that
ought to have been assumed for us 1
465,000 dollars as the Citizen dates it,
could we not With advantage lay out
a part of the annua! interest for the im- 1
provement of our town of Portsmouth, I
and the rest on public roads & Bridges,
to facilitate the communication be- 4
tween our farmers and the sea-port I
towns; and in this way, increase the■
value of their farms and the price of 1
their produce ? Would this be a state
of things # less pleasing to the Citizen 1
and his friend Mr.L. than that in which 1
we now are. Lucias is from the country A
and acknowledges that he would pre- ]
fer the former. He believes, in this at ,
least, he is on the fide of the majority.
Even the Citizen himfelf seems to have ,
some faint glimmerings of suspicion that 1
this business of the assumption is not|
quite as it should be. He fays it is ,
comparatively an hmocetit thing. In con>
parifon with what ? lam ready to ac- fl
knowledge that it is not so bad as the j
treatment of the French to their allies, 1
the Dutch, Swiss, &c. butih the annals ,
of the United States Ido not believe J
there can be found an ihltance of equal
injustice done to a state.
On this fubjed I may have exprefled
myfelf in strong terms, but am I no§ ■
juftiffed by the solemn deliberate deci- |
fion of the supreme power in this State? I
Did hot the Legislature remonstrate in
terms more feVerc than 4ny I have used
against the measure. I refer my read-4
ers to that document * It is at least as '|
refpedable as the sayings or opinions
of the citizen.
Qn the fubjeC lof the funding fyftera 1
Lucius suggested that Mr. L.was deep-■
ly interested in the question, and voted
for the mod favorable terms for
the creditors whd Were mostly fpecu- I
lators. The Citizen fays the funding
system is more exceptionable than thej
affuraptioq. Be it so. How does this
exculpate Mr. L? But the Citizen tells
us that Mr. L. had only a final! pro-1
perty at (lake, and that the only Certifi- 1
cates be had mere received by him at par J
for gold and fiber loaned for the use of our ■
arny in Canada. I wish to be civil to ]
&c Citizen, tho' I think he does not
deserve it ; Byt I feel myfelf bound to >1
tell him that the fid is not so. The
affirmative is upon Mr. L. He must
prove it if he can. I afferc that Mr. L.
did not loan to our army in Canada or
any where else, money to the amount
of ten per cent of the sum he subscrib
ed to the loans opened under the fund-;
ing alt. Let Mr. L. fay how much
hard money he actually lent to the pub
lic, and then let him state bow much
funded (lock he had (till he fold out) in;
the different offices in the U. States.
And let him tell us why he did not fund
the whole in'New-Hampfhire. I scorn
to take any advantage of this bafly inac-'^
curacy that has escaped the Citizen.
Let him tevife what he has said, and
let him be sure that he draws his infor
mation from pure sources. On this Tub- *
jed I can (and possibly may) fay more
if any thing comes from Mr. L. or his
friends that shall make it necessary.,
' „Lucius Rated that Mr. L. voted a
gainst opening the Senate doors to the
citizens who were desirous of hearing
the debates of that body, till oppofi- <
tion became unavailing, and thathedid'
this against the unanimous desire and
request of his constituents. In proof
of the latter, f refer rhe reader to the'
journals of our legislature, Januarv
fefiion, 1791, where it appears that Mr.
L. Was inftru&ed ,d use his bffl endea- ,
vors to procure the admission of , the citi
zens to hear the debates in the Senate.
How has Mr. L. fulfilled the duty en
joiied upon him, or the request made 1
to him by the Legislature es the State
to which he belonged and u hose repre-
Tentative he was3—The Citizen fays \
the statement made by Lucius is part- 4
ly true and partly falfe: By the way>
this is not very polite for a Citizen. 1
contend, I hope without any breach of .4
decorum, that it is all true. I refer my
readers to the journals of the Senate of
the U. S. at every feflion, till 1794.
It is not true, as fluted by the Citizen,
that the room was so small as to make
it impossible (I will add even inconvenient) °
to admit fpeQatOM without incom-