The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-03-20 00:00:00, page 2

Ordered, That the said petition be read a second
time.
Five petitions from sundry inhabitants of the county
of Morris; two petitions from sundry inhabitants of
the county of Somerset; and one petition from sun
dry inhabitants of the county of Hunterdon ; all pray
ing that paper-money may be issued on loan, were read,
and ordered to be read a second time.
A petition from Stephen Kent and Phebe his wife
was read, praying that a law may pass to authorize
them to dispose of, and make a good and fufficient
deed of conveyance' in see-simple for a traCtof land
belonging to the two daughters of the wife of the
said Stephen Kent ;
Ordered, That the said petition be dismissed.
A petition from Frederick King, coroner of the
county of Morris, was read, setting forth that he hath
several bills of costs for inquisitions taken before him,
upon which he cab get no fees; nor will the justices
and freeholders allow him any, and praying that a law
may pass to provide 'for the discharge of the said bills
of costs;
Ordered, That the said petition be dismissed.
Mr. A. Clark, from the committee to whom was
committed the bill, intitled, ' an aft tor making cur
rent one hundred thousand pounds in bills of credit,
to be let out on loan, and directing the mode for fink
ing the fame,' reported the fame with sundry amend
ments; which bill as amended, was read, and the
further consideration ordered to be resumed on Tues
day next.
A motion was made by mr. Sinnickfon, seconded by
mr. Swain, that on Tuesday next the doors of the
house be open; on the question, whether the house
agree thereto ? It was carried in the affirmative, as fol
lows:
Yeas. Messrs. Terhune, Blauvelt, Nicoll, Garritfe,
Combs, Schuurman, Bonney, Schenck, Kelley, R. S.
Smith, Biddle, J. Smith, Cooper, T. Clark, Davis,
Sinnickfon, Hall, Baker, Swain, Whilden, Lambert,
Cook, Burgin, Bowen, Sheppard, Hankinfon, Beard-
Ilee.'
Nays. Messrs. A Clark, Walton, Stillwell, Bunn,
Blair, Houghton, Starke, Arnold, Longstreet.
The petition from Theodosia and William Norcrofs,
executrix and executor of the testament and last will
of Joshua Norcrofs, deceased, was read a second time ;
Ordered, That the fame be committed to meffrs. R. S.
Smith, J. Smith and Biddle, who are directed to enquire
into the fads set forth in the said petition, and make
report thereon.
A petition from 450 inhabitants of fhis state, lying
near the line of partition between the eastern and
western part thereof, was read, letting forth, that a
dispute has long subsisted between the East and Weß-Jer
fey proprietors, and praying that commissioners may
be appointed to fettle all disputes between the general
proprietors of East and West-Jersey by a law of the
state, that the general peace of the state may be the
better established, and all further disturbances pre
vented ;
Ordered, That the said petition be read a second
time.
The bill, intitled, ' an aft for altering the time of
holding the annual town-meetings in the counties of
Essex, Middlesex and Somerfet,' was read a second
time, debated, and ordered to be engrossed.
A message from the council by mr. Newbold.
' Council-chamber, Feb. 21, 1786.
' THE council having taken into consideration the
' report of the commissioners appointed in a resolution
6 of the 26th November last, and also the resolution
6 of the house of assembly of the 20th instant accompa
-6 nying the fame;
' Refolded, That the house do approve of the said
' report, and concur in the said refolution.'
The house adjourned till to-morrow morning ten
of the clock.
Wednesday, February 22, 1786.
The house met.
Mr. R. S. Smith, from the committee appointed to
examine into the fads set forth in the petition of The
odosia and William Norcrofs, reported as follows :
THAT having examined the papers, as vouchers
accompanying the said petition, we do find the several
matters therein set forth to be true.
Bv order of the committee,
R. S. SMITH.
Whereupon,
Ordered, That the said Theodosia and William
Norcrofs have leave to present a bill agreeably to the
prayer of their petition.
( To be continued.) .'
•^ - ~ — ■ ^^ ====== -=;^
American Intelligence.
NEW-HAVE N, February 23.
A gentleman lately from London informs us, that
a mill is conftrufting on the bank of the river Thames,
and near Blackfriars Bridge, which is to carry thirty
fix pair of stones.—The great power necessary to pro
duce this great effed is derived neither from water nor
from wind, but from a more simple, though less ob
vious source, viz. steam. The whole expence of the
mill will be about £. 36,000 sterling. The great pow
er of steam has been fufficiently experienced in the
fire-engine. Its application to the purpose of carrying
a mill cannot, we conceive, be difficult to a mechanical
genius; and should an easy method of making use of
it for this purpose be pointed out, it will obviate the
disadvantages which many parts of this country may
experience from the drying up of mill Breams, an&
which will increase as the country is cleared up.
PHILAPELPHIA, March £
By late papers from South-Carolina, we find that
the debates of the house of fenatc and reprefentativcs
T RENTON, March 20.
On Monday last the committee of Congress, con
sisting of the hon. Charles Pinckney of South-Carolina,
hon. Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, and hon. Wil
liam Grayson of Virginia, had their audience of the
assembly of New-Jersey, agreeably to the resolution
of Congress of the 7th instant, and the appointment
of the house assigning that day.
The resolution of Congress appointing the commit
tee, and dating its purposes, was read—the resoluti
ons of Congress of the 15th of February last refpedtmg
the revenue system of 18th April 1783 were also read, and
a schedule of the foreign loans laid before the house.
Mr. Pinckney then addressed the house in nearly
the following terms :
" Mr. Speaker,
THE United States in Congress assembled being in
formed that this house had, on the 20th ultimo, re
solved, that they could not confidently with their du
ty to their constituents assent to the requisition of Sep
tember last for federal supplies, they have conceived it
incumbent on them, as guardians of the general rights
and interests of the confederacy, by a deputation of
their own body, a measure they never adopt but upon
the most important occalions, to present to the view
of the state of New-Jersey, the absolute necessity there
is in the several states to a Britt and punctual com
pliance with the requisitions of Congress, and the fa
tal consequences which must inevitably attend an ad
herence to the present determination of the assembly.
When these states united, convinced of the inability
of each to support a separate system, and that on their
union depended their protection and existence, policy
as well as prudence dictated the necessity of forming
one efficient government, which, while it protected
and secured the whole, left to the several states those
rights of internal sovereignty it was not necessary to
delegate, and which could be exercised without injury
to the federal authority. In them were placed all those
essential powers which constitute a nation —Such are
the exclusive rights of peace and war —of fending and
receiving embaffies—of forming treaties and alliances—
and equipping and railing Beets and armies. To them
also were delegated the power of obtaining loans on
the faith of the United States, and of apportioning to
the several members of the union, their quotas of the
publick expences. The mode established by the con
federation for ascertaining the quota of each was at that
time supposed equal and practicable. Experience,
however, has proved the contrary, and the dates',
though frequently urged, having neglected to furnifh
returns of the value of their lands, and the buildings
and improvements thereon, agreeably to the article,
Congress were induced to recommend an alteration of
it. This has been under reference for some time —ten
of the states have complied, and some of them furnilhed
the returns of their numbers in conformity to the re
commendation. —New-Jersey has done both. —It is the
belt information Congress have been able to obtain of
the comparative Brength and resources of the different
states, and the only one on which they could proper
ly found those requisitions the services and supplies
of the federal government render necessary.
The states having thus, by their voluntary aft, form
ed one government as essential to the protection of the
whole, and placed in one controling power the ad
miniltration of its concerns, and to whom they were
to look up tor support, each state is bound according
to its abilities to furnilh a proportion of the expences,
and the whole are jointly and severally pledged for
of that state, are published in a very ample and fatif
faftory manner in the Charleston Morning Post. The
members of both houses appear to possess a very high
degree of eloquence and abilities: there are more
speakers in proportion to the number, than in the Bri
tilh parliament. But what redounds more to their
honour than either eloquence or abilities, is, that their
proceedings are marked with candour and liberality,
which proves that no low cavilling, quibbling, or party
ipirit prevails among them. Would to heaven the
fame could be said of all the states ! —We shall give
one very Brong inttance of their enlarged spirit, which
reflects the highest honour on them. On the Bth ult.
the bill for vetting in Congress a power to regulate the
trade of the United States, was debated for the 3d time
in the house of representatives. It was admitted on
all sides, that this bill would be very likely to injure
South-Carolina by limiting the number of vessels to
carry her produce. Nevertheless, it was contended
for pretty generally, and met with hardly any opposi
tion, that it was incumbent on that state to facrifice
some of her interests to her lifter states. This noble
principle (which came down to the house enforced by
the Brongeft recommendation of governor Moultrie)
prevailed; and the bill was passed, and forwarded
to the senate for concurrence. How much more laud
able is this conduct, than if that body, split into
parties, had spent the time in vain nugatory quibbles
about trifles; or had fuffered themselves to be so far
led away from the good of their country, that one fide
of the house should esteem it fufficient cause to oppose a
measure, merely because it was supported by the
other ! —Yet this is too often the case in the assembly
of Pennsylvania.
The likelihood of disunion arising from the great di
versity of interests between the northern and southern
states, whereon was founded the Brongeft hopes of
Britain, is now entirely annihilated. When South-
Carolina shall have passed the above adt, there will re
main but Georgia of the southern states, which has
not yet vested the necessary powers in Congress—and
little doubt can be entertained that the example of her
neighbour will powerfully operate on this younger
lifter of the union. New-York, which has continued ob
stinate, is now addressed by a variety of able writers,
whofc praise-worthy endeavours will, it is hoped, pro
duce the wished for effect in her councils.
the publick engagements, foreign and domeftic.—Trie
mode preferred by the confederation being impracti
cable, it follows that the proportions are to be quo
taed agreeably to the belt lights in the possession of the
union ; for, while the government exists, its members
are bound to contribute to its maintenance ; and New-
Jersey having not only assented to the mode by which die
is rated, but furnifhed the returns on which the affe£
ment could be made with exattnefs ; the certainly can
not with propriety complain of bearing an undue pro
portion; nor will she, I trust, upon serious reflection,
suppose die can, consistently with her duty to the uni
on, refufe the requisition. If the has been over-rated,
let her substantiate it in evidence to Congress, and the
will always find that body inclined to do her the com
pleted justice. Nay more, if die conceives herfclf
oppressed under the present confederation, let her,
through her delegates in Congress, state to them the
oppressions die complains of, and urge the calling of a
general convention of the states for the purpose of
increaling the powers of the federal government, and
rendering it more adequate to the ends for which jt
was instituted. —In this constitutional mode of appli
cation there can be no doubt of her meeting with all
the support and attention die can wish.
Had her resentment, in concert with Connecticut,
been pointed against New-York, and the means in their
power by duties, and by opening a free port immediately
opposite their city, been exerted to oblige that state to
do them justice, so far from injuring, die would have
received the countenance of every federal state in the
union. But her present conduct, in refufing the con
stitutional requisition of Congress, and involving the
states who were friendly to her interests in the gene
ral confufion that must now ensue, so far from obtain
ing the ends the proposes, will divert the attention of
the union from New-York, and from that system which
could alone relieve the non-importing dates, and ap
ply it wholly to her —For, with what propriety could
compulsory means be used againß a state, for not as
senting to a measure on which we confefs (he had a
right to deliberate, when we fuffer another in fierce
and cuith impunity to refufe a requisition the is consti
tutionally bound to comply with ?
It will be proper here to remark, that the present
requisition is founded upon more advantageous prin
ciples than any hitherto adopted, so far as it refpeCts
the eight northern states, whose citizens probably hold
more than three-fourths of the whole certificate debt
of the United States--for of the 11,400,485 dollars, being
the total specie value of the loan-office debt, 9,998,880
dollars being more than seven-eighths of the whole were
loaned in the seven eastern states. The state of New-
Jersey is in proportion a considerable creditor of the
union.—How far therefore it becomes her to support the
measures of Congress in providing for the interest of
this debt, and 111 asserting its credit, is left to the good
sense of the house to determine. —The several requisi
tions of September 1782, April 1784, and September
1785, which have been just dated to the house, and
their principles fully explained, obviate every objection
with reipett to a larger number of certificates being
issued than are provided for, and prove that certificates
will not issue from the loan-offices to a greater amount
than the interest of the domestic debt to December
1784. —If the Bates comply with the several requisiti
ons, the funds on which the interest certificates depend
will be co-extensive with them, and the certificates all
be funk and called in by the taxes levied by the states.
As to the commutation to the army, it is only necessa
ry to remark, that the late Congress found an aft of
a former Congress finally adopted upon the fubjed,
and the national faith piedgeu to carry it into effect.—
The certificates are lo exchanged that it would be
impoflible now, even if it was proper, to make any
discrimination between, them and the other publick
securities. To rhe army, however, I am of opinion,
their country are bound by the ftronge ft ties of gra
titude and affection and if it could be cvtyudmiffible
to make any diftin&ions between the public creditors,
they certainly pofiefs the purest claims ^preference
and attention. 7
That the commercial states are indebted to the joint
efforts of the whole for the advantages they en
joy, will be readily admitted. Upon these principles
Congress have again, by the address of the 15th of
February last, which you have just heard read, pre
sented the revenue system to the view of those states
that have not complied. Georgia, it is said, has ac
ceded—New-York is now deliberating upon it—and it
is hoped that a measure so just in itfelf, and so neces
sary at this time to strengthen the federal credit, will
meet with their concurrence—if not, we reflect with
pleasure, that a great majority of the most important
states in the union have, upon every occasion, by their
acts and ready compliances with the recommendations
of Congress, manifefted so warm and zealous an af
fection to the federal compact, as leaves no doubt
of a system soon being formed which will in its ope
ration relieve every embarrassment and inequality com
plained of. But this will altogether depend upon the
concerted measures of such Bates as are friendly to the
system.—By divisions upon the fubjett of the requisi
tion, you not only defeat and prevent the measures of
Congress, for obtaining this definable end, but furnilh
the non-complying states with new and forcible arguments
against it.—Perhaps I do not go too far in asserting, that
a perseverance in your refufal must inevitably tend to dis
solve those ties which bind us as a nation —For, Iliouk
the other states suspend their supplies to the common
treasury, until New-Jersey complies with the requif
tion, the existence of 0e federal government must b
endangered—probably cease.
To this house, therefore, an application is now made
to rescind their aft, as one pregnant with the mofi
alarming evils.—The situation of our commerce lam
guifhing under the most ruinous and opprobrious rc
ftraihts, and which nothing but a wife and wcll-cor
certed system of federal policy can support, has so