National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-03-16 00:00:00, page 2

Continuation, from our last, of the Sup
plementary Report of a Committee ot
Congress oil the failure of the expedition
under General Sc. Clair—(concluded.)
IT is dated in the original report, that—
'• Mr. Hodgdoii was appointed qunrter
m after genera! in the month of Marclj, and
continued at Philadelphia until the 4th ot
June 17-•) i;he then proceeded to Fort-Pitt,
where'he arrived on the tenth of the fame
month—no fufficient causes have appeared
to the committee to juftify this delay, and
his presence with the army appeared to
have been essentially necell'ary previously to
that time."
In this statement, the duration ot Mr.
Hodgdon's stay at Fort-Pitt was cafnallv
omitted, which appears to have been from
thetenth of Jane till the tvventy-hxtn ot
August. The insertion of this fact will
fufficiently explain the sense of the com
mittee, in the inference refpectkig the
time in which the presence of the quarter
m ilter general was necessary at the ar
my. L
It is (tated in the original report, that—
" There were fix hundred and feventy
five stand of arms, at Fort-Walhington, 01
the tirit of June, and most of those totall)
out of repair."
These arms, the precise number ot whici
appears not to be accurately afcertaincd
are admitted by the Secretary at War, t<
have been at Fort Walhington. in the lun
ation deferibed, but he suggests, that the)
were old and useless arms, which had beer
collected at that place, and were 1101
counted upon, as any part of the supply o
arms for the expedition.
It appears, that the regular troops am
levies were completely supplied with arms
without recurrence to this stock ; but :
number of them was repaired, by order:
of the commander in chief of the expedi
tion, with a view,as he fuggefts,to arm the
militia from Kentucky, who, it was ex
pected, would arrive, either infufficienth
armed, or not armed at all : and he die
not conceive the arrangements made b)
the war department, competent to arniinj
the militia, together with the other troopj
The original report dates, that—
" The privates of the levies received bill
three dollars pay each, from the time ol
their relpective inliftinents to the time ol
their respective discharges, and were actu
ally discharged without farther pay or set
tlement ; notes of discharge were giver
them, fpecifying the lime of their service,
and bearing indorsations, thatfome advan
ces had been made to them on account
without dating the amount, the object o]
which is suggested to have been to prevenl
transfers ; the intended effect was not pro
duced by the measure ; the notes were
("old for trifling considerations, the real
sums due on the notes were various, from
ten to twenty-five dollars, and they were
frequently fold for one dollar, or one gal
lon of whilky; the monies for the pay ol
the levies did not leave Philadelphia til
the fourth of December, one thousand fc
ven hundred and ninety-one, nor arrive al
Fort Walhington till the third of January,
one thousand seven hundred and nine-two,
some time after the last inlifted levies are
known to have been entitled to their dis
charges." .
In addition to the reasons contained in
the original report, respecting the difchar
eingot the levies, without their stipulated
pay, which are admitted by the Secretary
at War, to have been justly stated, he has,
in his late communication, suggested to the
committee, that, at the time of the dis
charge of the levies, there was aflually 111
the hands of the quarter-master general,
the sum of sixteen thousand two hundred
ninety-two dollars and seventy cents,
which were fubje£t to be applied to any ob
ieft agreeably to the difcretionof the com
mander in chief of the expedition, and
mieht have been applied, if he thought
n-op«r to the pavment ot the discharged
levies 'and would have been fufficient for
two months pay to the officers, and four
months pay to the privates. This sum is
admitted by the qnarter-mafter general
to have been in his hands, at the time of
the discharge of the levies, and would have
been applied to their pay, if orders had
been givep by the commander in c.nef of
the expedition, for that purpose ; but that
no such orders ever were received by
him. The Secretary at War infers, from
these circumftar.ces, that no censure fiiould
be imputed to the war department, for not
having paid implicit attention to this lub-
The circumstances refpe£ting this tran
faftion have been attentively examined by
the committee, and appear to them to be
'the following : The quarter-master gene
ral upon his leaving Philadelphia, wasfur
nilhed with the sum of twenty thousand
dollars, for the life of that department.—
He was afterwards furnifhed with two o-
Mier Turns, to wit : the sum of seventeen
thousand eight hundred and forty-four dol -
lars and fifty cents, on the twenty third
(lav of I "ly ; and the sum of two thousand,
two hundred and twenty-four dollars and
fixtv cents, on the feventn day ot July,
making together the sum of twenty thou
f-ind and li'ity-nme dollars and ten cents.
It appears by letter from the Secretary at
War to the commander in chief of the ex
pedition, that five thousand dollars of this
fain were to be applied to the pay of the
regular troops, if the commander in chief
should deem that a proper application of
the money, which, however, was not done.
The remaining part of this money was in
tended to form a kind of military chest, to
answer contingent expences ; subject how
ever to the controul of the commander in
thief. It appears that the quarter-master
general, in addition to those supplies of
cash, was authorized to draw bills on tlie
Secretary at War, with this relfriftion .—
that the commander in chief fiiould approve
of all draughts, and certify the neceflity ot
propriety of making them. The quarter
mailer general commenced his draughts at
Fort Pitt, previoully to his arrival at head
quarters, to the amount of two thousand
Six. hundred dollars, .and continued their
after his arrival; but it does not appeal
that those draughts were certified, or func
tioned by the commander in chief; al
which draughts were honored by the Se
cretary at War.
It is suggested by the commander ir
chief, that he never conlidered the money
before mentioned, appropriated to the paj
of the levies, upon their discharges, 1101
that it was ever intended to be applied t(
that objea. He further suggests a wan
of knowledge of the money, said to be ot
hand, at the time of the discharges of th<
levies, although he admits, that the quar
ter-master general, shortly after hi 3 arri
val at head-quarters, tendered him a state
ment of the cash on hand, which lie ie
turned, without examination, observing
that he had already received fufheient in
formation relatively thereto, from the Se
cretary at War ; that he was informed o
the amount of monies originally receiver
by the quarter-master general, and con
ceived that he could form some idea of th<
balance on hand, from the films difburfei
in consequence of warrants drawn by him
which, he expected, were paid from tlia
fund—that his want of information, as t<
the real balance, arose from the circum
Itance of the bills drawn by the quarter
master general, without his knowledge,_o:
the reqnifite certificate from him, whicl
bills operated, as a relief to that fund foi
their amount. The commander in chie
of the expedition further suggested to tlit
committee, in presence of the quarter
master general, that, upon making draught
upon the fund before alluded to, he usual
ly enquired of the quarter-master general
whether it was fufficient for the purpose o
infwering the draught, and upon repeat
ing tliis enquiry, just before the difchargt
as the levies, he received tor answer
"that the chest was very low." Tin
statement was acquiesced in, or at least
not denied by the quarter-master general
The quarter-master general has furnifh
?tl the committee with a statement of hi:
liicount, by which it appears, that he hac
jn hand, on the fifth day of November, ont
houfand seven hundred and ninety-one.
rafii. to the amount of fifteen thou fane
line hundred and twelve dollars, and for
y-two cents, and two thirds of a cent,
ivhich, he suggests, have been since applier
q the use of his department. This balance
s denied to have been on hand, by the
•ommander in chief, at that time : and he
las furnifhed a statement of difburfe
nentsfrom the original fund ; which leave:
;he amount of the balance, at the time ol
lie discharge of the levies of one thousand
"our hundred eighty-three dollars, eighty
ix cents, exclusive of five thousand dollar!
ippropriated to the pay of the old troops.
The commander in chief further fug
refts, that there was no paymaster to the
irmy, nor any person authorized to fettle
he accounts of the soldiers and afcertaii:
he real balances due to them,until the ar
rival of Mr. Swann, on the third day ol
January, one thousand seven hundred anc
linety-two ; and infers, that he had no au
:hority to direst a settlement and order p;>>
:o the until he was informed ol
:he arrangements made at the war office,
-elatively to that object. This suggestion i;
Irongly confirmed by a letter from the Se
cretary at War, addressed to the comman
ler in chief, and forwarded by Mr. Swann.
u'hi' h designates Mr. Swann as paymaster,
ind contains instructions relatively to the
:erms of fettling the accounts of" the foldi
■ry. The fume letter serves to shew. that
lie twenty thousand and lixty-nine dollars,
and ten cents, put into the pofleffion of the
quarter master general, were not conclu
lively destined for the pay of the levies, noi
To considered by the Secretary at War.
Becaufeit isaflerted in the letter, that Mr.
Swann is furnifhed witlfafum of money
fufficient for the whole pay of the levies,
without making any deduction in conse
quence of the monies furnifhed the quar
ter master general.
It is aliened by the Secretary at \\ ar,
in his communication to the committee,
that the time of the service of the (evies
did not expire until after the arrival of
Mr. Swann at Fort Washington, particu
larly Gaither's and Rhea's battalions, the
term in their inliftments having been, to
serve fix months after their arrival at Fort
Washington; which was denied at the
place of rendezvous. Tlie time which had
r lapsed from the period of inhfttr.cn's ro
their arrival at Fort Washington, or the
evident impropriety of annexing such a
condition to the cnliflmer.ts, car,fed tti2
condition irfelf to be dil'penfed with, alio
tliol'e levies; were actually discharged short-
Iv after the twelfth of November, one
tVtoufand seven hundred and ninety-one,
In consequence of having f rved fix month-,
which is the extent of the service autho
rized by law, and actually received certiii
cates at that time, of having performed f.:<
months service.
Upon a re-examination of the residue ot
the original report, and the evidence now
before the committee, they are fatisfied
with the fame, and find no material altera
tions or corrections r.eceflary.
A regard for candour lias induced the
committee to adopt this mode of reporting:
Liecaufe the original report is thereby pre
['erved, mistakes existing in the fame, and
which are now corrected,and the causes ol
thoffi mistakes rendered obvious, and the
whole fubjea presented to view, upon the
faireft terms, in the opinion of the com
mittee, to all persons in any degree con
cerned therein.
"From the American Daily AduertiJ er, oi
last Wednesday.]
Mdrefleel to the Citizens of America.
PERMIT me to call your attention acpof:
the Atlantic, and bring to your view
the present glorious contest, in which out
generous allies are engaged. The natior
who can forget the benefits, which have
been conferred on her, or despicably con
fines herfelf to the bare recolleaion ol
them, deserves to be coufigned over te
contempt, detestation and infamy ; but, 1
am fully persuaded, that America can ne
ver, deservedly, incur such odious impu
tations.
We are daily entertained with account:
of numberless meetings of citizens, in eve
ry part of the union, whose object !s tc
celebrate the revolution in France, an evi
dent proof, that they feel themselves inte
rested in the event. The French revolu
tion is, confefledly, one of" the most mo
mentous and intcreftingto the human race
as well as one of the molt Splendid event:
which adorn and dignify the records o'
time.
The French, after having for many age:
groaned under the galling and oppreliivt
yoke of civil and religious tyranny ; aftei
having been debased and brutalized foi
centuries, in ignominious servitude, una
ble any longer to bear their chains, ant
roused by long Sufferings from the languoi
of" pajfive obedience and non-reiiftaii c£,
have rushed out of (lavcry, claimed and re'
covered li the Rights of Ulan, 11 and <
pronounced We will be free.'' Pomet
tic despotiSm has expired under the ner
vons strokes of Liberty, and the fair goel
defs, raised «n the ruins of the departee
monster, and arrayed in all her native
fpleudour, irradiates the gloom of >io
lence and opprellion.
The crimes and excefi'es, inseparable
from great commotions and popular fer
mentations are undoubtedly greatly to be
lamented, and tHo' they may call forth the
figli and tear of pity, they ought not to be
ascribed to the principle of the revolution,
nor ought they to be conftdered as the ne
cefl'ary and unavoidable consequences at
tendant upon all revolutions. They ori
ginated in the licentious phrenzy of a mob,
intoxicated with a draught to which they
had been unaccustomed ; or, it was the
opprefTed breaking their yokes on the necks
of their oppreflbrs. If we take a retrof
pea of the general tenor and Spirit ot the
condna of the French nation, we fliall fee
much to admire, and little to condemn.
At this critical moment, we fee Fiance
fired with all the enthusiasm of liberty,
engaged in the greatest, the inoft noble and
heroic attempt, hitherto made in the cause
of man. Toe generous tei be* free alone,
too humane to wifli to enjoy happiness ex
cluSively, (he melted into eompatlioji at the
Sufferings of other nations, and declared
herfelf the inveterate and irreconcilable
enemy to tyranny, and the protettrejs ol
liberty.
We are no longer to consider the Fj-ence
as engaged in a national war, merely under
the guidance of their own interests.and en
deavouring to establish their own happinet:
::lone, upon a folic! and permanent bafu
;Vo—Tliey are aauated by purer ami more
magnanimous motives. Inflamed with in
dignation at the barbarous and cruel ty
ranny of a few wicked and fanguinai y eleS
pots, called kings, over millions of then
fellow-creatures, they have Sworn to ex
tirpate the former, and difTeminate the
hit-flings of freedom among the latter.
Had they contented themselves with ac
eomplifhing their own emancipation j had
they wrapped themselves up in callous in
sensibility ; had they been Impelled by the
narrow,'illiberal and pusillanimous princi
ples of felfifhnefs ; had they beheld with
apathy and indifference, the wretchedneis
of other nations, they would not have been
a flailed on all fides by the mercenary hire
lings of enraged tyrants, who, terrified at
their own certain and approaching ruin,
and unwilling to give up their usurpations,
are exerting their utmost eli'orts, to render
abortive the feeds of freedom anil know -
ledge. —France is expofoig herfelf to the
tempests ot war; she is bleeding at evti)
pore, in the cpufe of humanity; she is fa
crtficing 'hei- own happiness to that of other
nations ; And she is left to contend alone,
maided, unsupported. againfl the united
efforts of imp-rial robbers and crowned
villainy, tlie I worn artd eternal enemies of
mankind. And (hall we, niggardly and
parsimoniously become the cold fpettators
of this great," this generous nation, who
are endeavouring to eftablilh she efl'ential
rights of humanity ? "Shall we, like (laves,
flirink from the duty imposed upon us by
gratitude? Do we exist, as a nation ? Arc
\ve free ? Are we happy ! To w lumi do
we owe that existence ? Our freedom to
whom ? Whence the source of our happi
ness ? Can we afkourfelyes these jjueftions
and not blush? Shall France be opprefed
and we free ? Forbid it virtue ! Forbid it
honour! Forbid it every manly, every no
ble sentiment, which ought to be cherried
in the bosoms of freemen ! Let us awaken
from this lifelefs, ignoble torpidity—Let
us for once ftifle the base iniiiitiations ot
interest, iiften to the voice of gratitude,
and obey the rational dictates of honour
and humanity.' In a word, let us with one
accord, step forth to the' assistance of our
benefactors. It is time that this torrent
of ferocious villainy, this crusade of bloody
despots, against the votaries and victims
of liberty,fliould be counteracted in its pro
jrefs. Let us in our individual and pri
vate capacities, endeavour to,put an end
:o this unequal and iniquitous conflict ; or
our inattention upon the present occalion,
will transmit our names to posterity with
odium, ignominy, andexecration.
I have already observed that the French
-evolution lias beeil celebrated throughout
:he union. Immense funis of money have
urcn spent in feline rejoicings for the fuc
:effes of the French revolution. Ido not
ntend, at present. to censure this manner
if exprefling our joy rnd fatisfaftion by
'efiivity, and prove how futile it is in the
rye of* rationality, I fiiall only observe,
hat, if the money which has been expend-,
'd, in thrs fellive manner, had been col
efted into one mass, the sum would not
lave been so small, as not to have been ve
v fenfiMy felt, by our fuffering benefactors,
t is not too late—Let us endeavour to
nake up for our pail neglcft—Let us open
i fubfeription, the amount of which fiiall
;e employed in filch a w ay, as fhali remove
n the fpeedielt manner the wants of a
M-ave and generous nation. Let com
nittees be appointed, in proper places,
hroughout the union for this purpofc, as
befen done in Great* Britain, though the
>nemy of France, as a nation. lam con
ident, there exists not an American free
man so ungenerous, and unfeeling, as not
o forego, with alacrity, many of his ac
:u(lomed luxuries, and even facrifice a few
if his conveniences, rather than fee a li
ltral and brave people deprelTed.
Had the French, when we were drug
ging for our liberties, exprefl'ed their ap
irobation nf our conduct by splendid and
umptuous banquets, and by quaffing burn
>ers of Champaine, accompanied with flo
•id toasts ; I fay, had the French done this,
ind left us to our own feeble etlorts,
.vhere would have been the freedom of
\merica ? Long before France, as a na
:ion, declared herfelf in our favour, how
iiany of its magnanimous and intrepid lie
■oes had alreadv dyed our shores with their
ilood ! And whom have we to put in the
lalance against these defenders of our iree
lom ? One brave, one generous, ono truly
patriotic citizen.
Alas! the spirit, the energy of freedom,
[ hope has not fled from these regions, v ith
:hofe trans-atlantic warriors, whyfefwords
ecured to us its blessings !
Approved by the Ghosts or
WARREN,
MERCER. &
MONTGOMERY •
Kote —In cities, caih will uioftly be fnb
cribe'd, but in the country, produce :
which is the very article our friends and
brethren are moll in want of.
[The different Printers in the United
States, are requested to infer: the above.]
For the National Gazette.
"The AiMERicAN Farmer, continued
from No. 142.]
Number VI.
yUCH is the dreadful pi£lure of Funding
Systems given by (owe of the firfl hilto
i-ians of the age. They are indeed accom
panied with a degree of oppreli,on on ac
count of t!ie demands of the creditors, thi.
ihev could not exist for a moment, weif
thev not fnpported by a fyOem ot financial
deception which preii'es v itli accumulated
weisrht upon the molt deflitute and help
less"part of the community. The ne.i
•md powerful would never inbmit to ex -
artions by a direst tax on their real and
personal property, which would annually
deprive them of one half of their incomes.
The labourers, the mechanics, s!nd manu
fafturer<. in England pay no direst taxes,
and vet one full half of the profits ol their
induitry is absorbed by government, by ex
cises, (lamps, and duties tin the nece laries
ot life. All oicicer of fin.-nee finds lull em
ployment '.11 deviling -ways and means to
procure money trom the people; and h