The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-11-06 00:00:00, page 1

NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
From the New-Brunswick Gazette.
Mk. ARNETT,
B, inserting the following ADDRESS in your next
paper,you will greatly oblige a constant reader.
The confederation, together with the most of, our
state constitutions, were formed under very unfavour
able circumstances. We had just emerged from a
corrupted monarchy. Although we understood per
feftly the principles of liberty, yet most of us were
ignorant of the forms and combinations of power in
republicks. Add to this, the britifh army was in the
heart of our country, spreading desolation whereever
they went :—Our resentments, of courk, were awak
ened. We detested the British name, and unfor
tunately refufed to copy some things in the admini
stration of justice and power in the British govern
ment, which have made it the admiration and envy
of the world. In our opposition to monarchy, we
forgot that the temple of tyranny had two doors.
We bolted one of them by proper restraints ; but
we left the other open, by negledhng to guard againlt
the effects of our own ignorance and licentioulnefs
Mott of the present difficulties of this country
arise from the weakness and other defects of our go
vernment.
My business at present shall only be to suggest the
defers of the confederation. These coniitt, ift,
In the deficiency of coercive power. 2d, in a de
feft of exclusive power to issue paper money, and re
gulate commerce. 3d, In veiling the sovereign pow
er of the United States in a tingle legislature: and
4th, In the too frequent rotation of its members.
A convention is expected soon to be appointed for
the purpose of obviating part of the two lirß defers
that have been mentioned. But I wish they may add
to their recommendation to each state to surrender
up to Congress their power of emitting money, In
this way a uniform currency will be produced that
will facilitate trade, and help greatly to bind the
states together. Nor will the Rates be deprived of
large sums of money by these means when sudden
emergencies require it; for they may always borrow
them as they did during the war, out of the treasury
of Congress. Even a loan-office may be better in
stituted in this way in each Rate, than it can in any
other.
The two last defeats that have been mentioned
are not of less magnitude than the two firft. Indeed,
the single legislature of Congress will become more
dangerous from an increase of power than ever. To
remedy this, let the supreme federal power be divid
ed, like most of the legislatures of our states, into
two diftind, independent branches. Let one of
them be called the council of the states—and the
other the assembly of the states. Let the firft consist
of a single delegate, and the second of two, three or
four delegates, chosen annually by each state. Let
the president be chosen annually by the joint ballots
of both houses, and let him possess certain powers in
conju&ion with a privy council, especially the pow
er of appointing most of the officers of the United
States. The officers will not only be better, when
appointed this way, but one of the principal causes
of faction will be thereby removed from Congress.
I apprehend this divifibn of the power of Congress
will become more necessary, as soon as they are in
vested with more ample powers of levying and ex
pending publick money.
The custom of turning men out of power or office,
as soon as they are qualified for it, has been found to
TO THE
People of the United States.
THERE is nothing more common than to
confound the term of the American re
volution with that of the late American
war. The American war is over, but
this is far from being the case with the
American revolution. On the contrary, nothing but
the firft aft of the great drama is closed. It remains
yet to establish and perfeft our new forms of govern
ment, and to prepare the principles, morals and man
ners of our citizens.
[Vol. JX.]
TRENTON: Printed by ISAAC COLLIN S, Printer to the State.
MO ND AY, November 6, 1786.
be as absurd in praftice, as it is virtuous in speculati
on. It contradicts our habits and opinions in every
other tranfadion in life. Do we dismiss a general,
a physician, or even a domestic as soon as they have
acquired knowledge enough to be ufeful to us, for
the fake of increating the number of able generals,
fkilful physicians, and faithful servants ? We do not.
Government is a science, and can never be perfected
in America until we encourage men to devote not
only three years, but their whole lives to it. I be
lieve the principal teafon why so many men of abili
ties objeft to serve in Congress, is owing to their not
thinking it worth while to spend three years in ac
quiring a profeffion, which their country immediate
ly afterwards forbids them tofollow.
There are two errors or prejudices on the fubjed
of government in America, which leads to the most
dangerous consequences.
It is often said that the sovereign and all other pow
er is seated in the people. This idea is unhappily
expressed. It should be—all power is derived from
the people. They possess it only on the days of their
elections. After this it is the property of the rulers,
nor can they exercise or resume it unless it is abused.
It is of importance to circulate this idea, as it leads to
order and good government.
The people of America have mistaken the mean
ing of the word sovereignty: hence each state pre
tends to be sovereign. In Europe it is applied only
to those Rates which possess the power of making
war and peace—of forming treaties, and the like.
As this belongs only to Congress they are the only
sovereign power in the United States.
io conform the principles, morals and manners
of our citizens to our republican forms of govern
ment, it is dbfolutely neceftary that knowledge of
every kind should be dilTeminated through every part
of the United States.
For this purpose, let the Congress, instead of lay
ing out half a million of dollars in building a federal
town, appropriate a fourth part of that sum in found
ing a federal university. In this university
let every thing conceded with government, such as
hiltory; the law of nature and nations; the civil
law; the municipal laws of our country, and the
principles of commerce, be taught by able profef
fors. Let masters likewise be employed to teach
gunnery, fortification, and every thing conceded
with defeufive and offenfive war. Above all, let a
ptofeffor, of what is called in the European universi
ties, of oeconomy be established in this federal se
minary. His business should be to unfold the prin
ciple and practice of agriculture and manufactures
of all kinds; and, to enable him to make his lec
tures more extensively ufeful, Congress should fop
port a travelling correspondent for him, who should
visit all tile nations of Europe, and transmit to him,
from time to time, all the difeoveries and improve
ments that are made in agriculture and manufactures.
To this seminary, young men should be encouraged
to repair after completing their academical studies
in the colleges of their respective states; the honours
and offices of the United States should after a while,
be confined to persons who had imbibed federal and
republican ideas in this university.
For the purpose of diffufing knowledge as well as
extending the living principle of government to eve
ry part of the United States, every state, city, coun
ty, village and township in the union, should be tied
together by means of the poft-office. This is the
true electric wire of government. It is the only
means of conveying heat and light to every indivi
dual in the federal commonwealth. Sweden loft
her liberties, fays the Abbe Ra,nall, because her ci
tizens were so scattered, that they had no way of
anting in concert with each other. It should be a
constant injunction to the postmaster to convey all
news-papers free of charge for postage. They are
not only the vehicles of knowledge and intelligence,
bur the centinels over the liberties of our country.
The conduct of some of the strangers who have
visited our country Since the peace, and who fill the
British papers with accounts of our distresses, shews
as great a want of good sense as it does of good na
ture. They fee nothing but the foundation and
THE
Foreign Intelligence.
%&)==ss== ^
CONSTANTINOPLE, June 28.
SEVERAL changes have taken place in our minfo
Riy; the Stomboul-Effendi, or the principal of
ficer of the police of this capital, uas deposed the
15th of this month, and ordered into exile; the fol
lowing day Suleiman, Kiaji-Bey, or lieutenant to the
Grand Vifir, was also deposed, and he is succeeded
by Alta-Bey, Reis Effendi, or minister of foreign af
fairs, which office was heretofore held by his uncle
Abdurezak.
she most perfect tranquility prevails in this capi
tal; and the grand Signior, to manifeft his approba
tion of the administration of the Grand Vifir, has
presented him a superb fable robe, and a sword richly
adorned with jewels.
^O^<>^eoteg^.fri^
UTREC H T, August
This place is now in a state of perfect tranquility^
The burgesses daily proceed in the eleftion and no^
mination of counfellers to supply the places of those
who have been deposed. Eight counfellers are already
appointed, and they accepted the honour with great
acknowledgment.
-<> w <»o<HMHp.<fe4>
L OND O N, August i.
By an aft palled the last session of parliament, cap.
60. all British vessels having a deck, or being 15 tons
or upwards, are to be registered at the port to which
they belong. No fubjeft residing out of hit maje-
walls of the temple of liberty, and yet they under
take to judge of the whole fabric.
Our own citizens aft a Rill more absurd part, when
they cry out after the experience of three or four
years, that we are not proper materials for republi
can forms of government. Remember we assumed
these forms in a hurry, before we were prepared for
them. Let every man exert himfelf in promoting
virtue and knowledge in our country, and we shall
soon become good republicans. Look at the Reps
by which governments have been changed, or ren
dered Stable in Europe. Read the history of Great-
Britain. Her boasted government has risen out of
wars and rebellions that lasted above 600 years.—
The United States are travelling peaceably into order
and good government. They know no ftrife but
what arises from the collision of opinions; and in
three years they haje advanced further in the road
to Stability and happiness, than most of the nations
in Europe have done in as many centuries.
There is but one path that can lead the United
States to destruction; and that is their extent of ter
ritory. It was probable to effect this, that Great-
Britain ceded to us so much waste land. But even
this path may be avoided. Let but one new state be
exposed to sale at a time, and let the land-office be
shut up till every part of this new state is fettled.
I am extremely sorry to find a passion for retire
ment so universal among the patriots and heroes
of the war. They resemble fkilful mariners who,
after exerting themfelres to preserve a ship from fink
ing in a Storm in the middle of the ocean, drop asleep
as soon as the winds subside, and leave the care of
their lives and property during the remaining part
of the voyage to the sailors without knowledge or
experience. Every man in a republick is publick
property. His time and talents—his manhood—his
old age—nay, more—life, all belong to his country.
Patriots of 1774, 1775, 1776—Heroes of 1778,
T 779' a °d 178° come forward! your country de
mands your services. Philosophers and friends to
mankind, come forward ! your country demands your
studies and speculations; Lovers of peace and order
who declined taking part in the war, come forward!
your country forgives your timidity, and demands
your influence and advice —Hear her proclaiming in
sighs and groans, in her government, in her trade, in
her manufactures, in her morals, and in her manners,
" The Resolution is not over."
NESTO R.
[Numb. 443.]