The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1785-06-13 00:00:00, page 2

STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
In General Arfembly, Friday, April 8, 1785, A. M.
r r HE memorial of the committee of the mer
chants and traders of the city of Philadelphia,
read April 6th, was read the second time; where
upon.
The committee of the merchants and traders oj the
city of Philadelphia, requef the different printers
to publifo, in their refpe&ive papers, the follow
ing memorial, and the resolutions of the Jjembly
taken thereon :
To the Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, in General # 4fcmb!y met,
The Memorial of the Committee of Merchants arid
Traders of the City of Philadelphia,
Refpeafttlly Jheweth,
r riIAT it has been coefidered and lamented as a
I fundamental defect, in the constitution of Con
gress, that a full and entire power over the commerce
of the United States, has not been given to that bo
dy; no concern common to many being conducted
to a good end, but by a unity of councils.
Hence it is, that the intercourses of the states are
liable to be perplexed and injured by various and
difeordant regulations, instead of that harmony of
measures on which the particular, as well as general
interests depend, productive of mutual disgusts and
alienation amongst the several members ' of the em
pire. .. —
But the more certain inconveniencies forefeen, and
now experimentally felt, flow from the unequal foot
ing this circumstance puts us on with other nations,
and by which we stand in a very singular and disad
vantageous situation ; for while the whole of our trade
is laid open to these nations, they are at liberty to li
mit us to such branches of theirs, as interest or policy
may dilate. Unrestrained by any apprehensions, as
long as the power remains severally with the states,
or being met and opposed by any confident and effec
tual reftridtions on our part: And accordingly we
at this time are under the effeds of European systems,
which, abridging us of the most beneficial parts of
the commerce we had with them, ungenerously invite
us to those only, which have a tendencey eventually to
impoverifli and weaken our country. However tena
cious feme of the states may hitherto have been of the
privilege in question, it is impossible not to fee, that
it cannot 'be longer reftramed, but at the expence of
the general welfare. We consequently are not with
out hopes, that a recommendation from Congress to
the states, to vest that body with the necessary pow
ers over the commerce of the United States, would
be Well received on their part. It is therefore the
prayer of your memoiialifts, that your honourable
house would endeavour to procure such a recommen
dation front Congress, giving assurances at the fame
time, of a disposition in the mercantile interests of
Pennfylvahia, favourable thereto.
Thomas FitzJimons, John M. Nefbitt,
Charles Pettit, John Nixon,
John Ross, John Wilcocks,
Isaac Hazlehurft, Samuel Howell,
Mordecai Lewis, George Clymer,
Tench Coxe, Clement Biddle,
Richard Wells,
Hpril 6, 1785.
adopted upon this occasion; the enclosed resolutions
will acquaint you with the result of their deliberati
ons : Some of the expedients there used are meant
only as temporary remedies, and intended solely to
retard the ruin which threatens us, until a general
system of relief can be adopted.
Persuaded, however, that the exertions of indivi
dual cities, or even states, without the support of the
whole confederacy, will be inefficacious, or at most
can operate only as a partial relief, and that nothing
Short of vesting Congress with full powers to regulate
the internal as well as the external commeice of all
the states can reach the mifchiefs we complain of, we
would, agreeably to the directions of the enclosed
proceedings, earnestly recommend to sou an immedi
ate application to the legislature of your states, to vest
such powers in Congress (if they have not already
done it) as shall be competent to the great and in
terefling purpose of placing the commeice of the
United States upon the footing of perfect Equality
with every other nation; and to request you aifo to
petition Congress (when they shall be thus clothed
with authority) to make Inch internal regulations as
shall have that happy effect, encourage an attention
to our manufactures, and remove the embarrassments
under which our trade at present labours.
We are,
Gentlemen;
With every sentiment of refpeß and esteem,
Your friends and brethren in a common
Cause.
'To the merchants of these
veral Sea-port's through
the United States.
Foreign Intelligence.
L OND O N, April f.
MU C II has been said concerning the reward
given by the King of France to Mr. Blanch
ard, for his adventrous aerial voyage from Dover to
Calais. The fact is, that monarch soon after his ar
rival at Paris, ordered the sum of 12,000 livres to be
presented to him; and fettled a pension on him of
- 1200 livres per annum.
Extrafl of a letter from Paris, March 2fr
" On Saturday the miniftcr exchanged with the
Dutch Plenipotentiaries, in the most solemn manner,
the treaties of alliance offenfive and defenfive, between
the Most Christian King and their High Mightinesses
the States General of the United Provinces of Hol
land, and it is expected the Marquis Verac did the
fame at the Hague; so that this weighty business is
now brought to a final conclusion, much to the fatif
fa&ion of the Envoys from Holland, who have been
long pressing the conclusion of this affair. The nego
ciation between the Dutch and the Emperor begins
again to drag heavily."
Hpril 8. The continent is certainly in a state of
political fermentation. The Dutch and the Empe
ror are ready to engage immediately, if a peace can-:
not be concluded upon. The French prepare to assist
the Dutch, but wish not to offend the Emperor. Old
Frederick marches and countermarches his troops.—
An inteftipe faction saps the vitals of the Republick of
It is to be lamented that Congress, instead of adopt
ing some spirited measures relative to our trade with
Britain and her refugee provinces, Nova-Scotia, Que
bec, &c. have been engaged, ever since the establish
ment of peace, in deviling plans for erecting a federal
town, creating fnecure posts and places, with enor
mous salaries, and laying out and describing lines and
boundaries for new states, &c. A salutary recom
mendation of Congress is now as great a phenome
non to the publick as a continental bill.
The supineness of Congress with refpeCl to trade
and manufactures, Alas rendered publicle meetings ab
solutely necessary and indispensable; and the people
find themselves obliged to form and strike out modes
for that rediels which long since ought to have en
grossed the foie attention of that honourable body.—
And it will be no wonder if we fee the merchants,
manufacturers, and mechanic's of the different sea
port towns, uniting and forming committees to for
bid the entering and unlading any British vessel what
ever, until a treaty of commerce shall be fixed and
fettled between the two countries.
While Great-Eritain derives every advantage she
can poflibly wish or defile from this country, none
but an idiot or madman can suppose she will be anxi
ous to make the least overture towards hastening such
an event. It therefore becomes our duty to urge and
insist on it, and to drop all intercourse with them un
til it shall be accomplished. We had better wear
our old clothes over again, than fuffer any longer the
insults and\reftraints of Britain.
Refolded, That it is the opinion of this house, that
the privilege in the degree hitherto retained by the
states individually, of controling and regulating their
own trade, is no longer compatible with the general
interests and welfare of the United States; reason
and experience clearly evincing, that such privilege is
productive of mutual inconveniencies and injuries
amongst ourselves ; and that the systems of several na
tions, by which our merchants are excluded from the
most beneficial branches of their commerce, whilst
the whole of ours is laid open to them, cannot be
confidently er effeftually counteracted but by a unity
of councils, in the great representative body of the
United States.
Our flag has been irifulted, our Captains and sea
men abused, and our vessels driven from their ports,
and no steps have hitherto been taken to resent these
indignities. Surely it cannot be from the want of
power. If Congress, by the confederation, have
power to declare war and proclaim peace, to form
alliances, appoint ambassadors, ministers plenipotenti
ary, and confufs, to the refpe&ive courts in Europe,
it is quite idle and ridiculous to assert, that they have
no power to form a commercial treaty with Great-
Britaih or any other state or potentate. Let Con
gress do their duty, and trust the issue to the people,
who are always ready to support and forward such
resolutions as tend to the general good and interest of
the country.
Refoived therefore, That Congress be requested to
devise such a system of commercial powers as they
ought necessarily to be invested with, to be recom
mended to the states, and that Congress be assured of
finding the most suitable disposition on the part of
Pennfylvanid to comply therewith.
Extract from the Minutes,
SAMUEL BRYAN, Clerk of the
General Afl'embly.
Holland ; and the Stadtholder perhaps owes his quiet
tenure of his feat, to the necessity for a fhoW of una
nimity. The Spaniards, Portuguese, Venetians and
Maltese, are preparing for the annual drubbing, whicli
they,go to receive before Algiets. Add to this, that
the Empress has every reason to fufpedt designs of the
most hostile nature against her favourite Crimea, and
from a quarter not the most agreeable. Transylvania
is still in a state of inactive confufion, since the rebel
lion. And Old England, neighbour-like, has her tri
als and troubles.— Give peace in our time, 0 Lord !
Hpril 9. Mr. Necker, the celebrated financier, ob
serves, that England, in the worst of time, borrows
more easily than France, though her money, bank
bills included, hardly amount to a tenth.of the French
cash. This is owing to the security and confidence
in government, and activity of the circulation, by
which the money lent soon comes back again; which*
activity again is owing to the paper currency, and the
comparative smallness of England, almost all the coin
'being in London, which is at once the sea-port, capi
tal, chief place of trade, and centre of the banking
business.
While the people are corrupt, the Senate must ne^
ceflarily be so likewise ; so that all hopes or expecta
tions of a patriotick and incorrupt Parliament must
be deferred, till an entire change takes place in the
morals of the people.
The Minister has it in contemplation to oblige
every ship to flop at Gravefend, whether by night or
day. At present a great number escape the revenue
officers by palling in the night, and smuggling their
goods on shore between that place and their moor
"^ 5°.... s °....
1 he Coalition are seriously of opinion, that the re
form will pdfs the Commons ; as to the Lords, if
they reject the Bill, they will ffiew their indepen
dence, and confute all the reports of an ariftocratick
Administration.
The acute Mr. Necker divides the national debt of
France into two parts, viz. the irredeemable, except
by the. payment of the capital, and the life annuities ;
the former he sets down at 125 millions, the latter at
81,400,0001. in,all 27 millions. Ihe above financier
laughs at all the ideas of calculating in how short a
time the national debt may be extinguilhed, as it is a
thing not to be thought of till after 40 or 50 years
of peace, and an excellent Administration.
However extraordinary it may appear, it is a ftft,
that the finances of no power in Europe are better
managed than in Russia. A short time since the
French Minister Plenipotentiary (the Marquis de
Verric) ventured to ask the Empress how she did to
keep her accounts in such excellent order? She an
swered, “ She presided over the national finances
herfelf, and had no other merit than constantly exa
mining the papers produced by her Secretaries !"
The States General have lefo/ved on an augmen
tation of 50 men to each company of foot, and have
engaged for %,6og Swiss, in addition, to those they
hire from some of the petty German Princes.
The question on the ptopofed plan of Parliamen
tary reform, will cause an extraordinary change of
sides in the House of Commons; it will make tories
occupy the place of whigs, and whigs of tories; but
we fear it will not make all members of Parliament
honest, or disinterested men.
Lord ! Lord! what a number of Lords have be
come writers !/ Lord Blountmorrcs, Lord Stair,
Lord Sheffield, have al! entered themselves at the
poll of Earnaffus, to hobble up the hill in search of
fame!!
Hpril 11. The people have not yet felt the whole
burthen, or been made sensible of all the experces of
the late war. Near twenty millions of navy and ord
nance debt are yet to be funded, for the interest of
which new taxes must be imposed. What a glorious
profpea would there not have been, had it continued
for a year or two longer ! Who is not aware of the
truth of Mr. Fox's assertion in the House of Com
mons, that the peace was disgraceful and ruinous to
Britain ?
Extras of a letter from Dr. PRICE, to the
Printer of the Volunteers Journal.
" All civil authority being derived from the Peo
ple, and forfeited as soon as it is exercised in any
other way than as a trust for them, it is trifling to
fay, they have no right to petition for the correction
of abuses. Without all doubt, they (that is a fair majo
rity of them) have a right not only to petition, but
to claim. And possessing this right, they must also
have a right to assemble, for the purpose of exer
cising it, and to appoint Delegates and Conven
tions for collecting and concentrating their senti
ments. I have, therefore, been furprized to find, that
the Delegation fort his purpose in Ireland, should
have been called illegal and unconstitutional.
If, indeed, this is true, it proves that the laws in Ire
land establish Slavery, and that the constitu
tion (in consequence of an accumulation of abuses)
has deviated so far from its original principles, as to
render a reformation absolutely necessary, and
the efforts of the People for accomplishing it, their