The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-01-22 00:00:00, page 1

NUMBER 22. —VOL. I,]
Congress of the United States.
HOUSE—Wednesday, Jan. 1.
THE bill entitled “ An aa for the relief
of persons imprisoned for debt," was
read a third time and pafled.
The engrossed bill entitled " An a& pro
viding for salvage, in cases of recapture,"
was, read a third time, and the question be
ing put, fall this bill pafo? t
Mr. Sewall said that an amendment ought
to be made in the bill, which had been over
looked, to enable vessels the property of citi
zens of the United States, to come within
the meaning of the ast —and moved for the
je-commitment of the bill for that purpose.
The motion was agreed to -and the
House immediately resolved itfelf into a
committee of the whole, Mr. Morris in the
chair, for the purpose of codfidering the a
mendment ; which having been read, was
agreed to without debate ; when the com
mittee rose, and the bill was passed.
Mr. Nicholas said, that conceiving it ne
cessary some reduction should be made in our
public expenditures ; and that any change
contemplated of this nature should be made
and considered as early as possible, he would
take the liberty of laying the following reso
lution on the table. He would not now fay
any thing on the merits of it—but give no
tice that he would some time in the course of
next week call it up for consideration.—•—
The resolution, is in the following words :
Refolded, That so much of the aft passed
the 16th of July, 1798, entitled " An act to
augment the army of the United States, and
for other purposes," as authorizes the Presi
dent of the U. S. to raise 12 additional regi
ments of infantry, and fix troops of light
dragoons, and to appoint two Major-Gen
erals, an Infpeaor-General, three Brigadier
Generals, and an Adjutant-General ; andfo
much of the aft passed the 3d March, 1799,
entitled, “ An ad for the better organizing
of the troops of the U. S. and for other pur
poses," as authorifes the appointment of a
Commander of the Army, and a Quatter-
Master-General —ought to be repealed.
Mr. Otis observed, that though the resolu
tion was offered to lie on the table, and he
was thereby precluded from a difeu ffion of
its merits, yet in justice to the Committee of
Defence, of which that gentleman and him
felf were members, he considered himfelf
called on to declare, that the committee had
called upon the Secretary of War for all such
information as would enable them to digest
a system relative to the Military Eftabliih
ment ; and was therefore fofry that the re
solution had now been offered, as it might
have an unfavorable impreffiqn, not only on
the army and the pubtic^b^k upon out pend-,
ing negociations with f'rarice— And tho' it
was probable that some modification of the'
cxifting military eftablilhment might be a
dopted with a view to save expence ; yet he
did not believe that in the adua! date of
things this House would difcbver such a ver
fality of temper and fy (ten); $s to clifband the,
army by a Qhgle refolutibn..," " ' 7
Mr. Nicholas replied,hat he would not
be in haste to call up the resolution ; and
was willing to let it lie, tilhevery informa-1
tion could be obtained that might b^ wished
Upon the fubjecl. '" }, „
Mr. Mason prefenteda petition of sun
dry inhabitants of the Miffifippi territory,
feeding on the Tombigby and Mobile rivers,
praying for a confirmation of their title to
certain lands, and for the free navigation of
said rivers—which Mr, M/ moved to have
referred to a feled committee.
Mr. Jones objected to the House legislat
ing on this fubje&, on the groynd that it in
volved a right of the date of Georgia to the
jurifdiaion of that territory ?,; and that as
commissioners had been appoirited ^y a& of
Congress to fettle all exiting difficulties as,
to the jurifdiaion of that date, it would be
improper for, the House to hold forth any en
couragement to the petitioners—an encou
ragement which would only prove delusive,
because this House had not the power to
frant tfe relief prayed for—He therefore
oped the petition would be ordered to lie
on the table till the claim of the ft^te of
Georgia to that territory should be fettled.
Mr. Taliaferro and Mr. Nicholas advo
cated the opinion of Mr. Jones.
• Mr. Gallatin thought this was bringing a
great & important question before,the House
in a very indired way. Before we decide
upon this claim, a committee ought to be
appointed to enquire what progress had been
made by the commissioners appointed to fet-|
: —
PORTSMOUTH, (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GEORGE JERRY OSBORNE, jun. MULBERRY LANE, NEXT DOOR TO ROUSSELET's MUSEUM.
—foes — — —• 4
" WHEN YOU SHALL THESE DEEDS RELATE, SPEAK OF THEM AS THEY ARE ; NOTHING EXTENUATE NOR SET DOWN OUGHT IN MALICE."
The Republican Ledger.
went into a committee of the whole, on the
report of the Committee of Claims, on the
petition of John Vaughan, Mr. Morris in the
chair—when the report haying been, read,
and a resolution passed, dirtang the ac
counting Officers of' the Treasury, .to dis
charge the difference due him for bullion es
sayed at the Mint the committee rofe : —the
report was concurred in, and the committee
of claims inftroded to bring in a bill for
/that purpose.
I Mr. Claiborne having called for the order
;ofthe day on the bill for the preservation of
pe^ce with the Indian tribes, the House went
linto a Committee of the whole on said bill,
;rife, report progress, and aik leave to fit a
gain. Mr. H. said, he wished to have fur
ther time to conlider this fubjed ; it was one
of great importance, and on which he was
• not yet fully prepared to a&. An honorable
member, from Virginia (whom he did not
IttienTee in his feat) was to his knowledge,
§oppofed to the principle df fc bill ; he hop
led, therefore, his motion would prevail.
I Mr. Claiborne law no good reason why
Ittetomm^tCe should agree to this mot ion.
:It was not; hf ta£ jhew fault, that one,
: member was unprepared, and another was
Inot to be found in his feat. I'heYnajority
jof the committee lie believed, were ready to
Idifenfs fetubj^ rrafpn w^s
(given, he hoped&, biU.would bep roceefed
[in.. &^ # .^ : ^ r '^~''? ','"? '.:•.-./ ^qr r
j Tfe question for rifag was put, and rie-
; gatfed.,
IJTte blanks were then filled up, the bill
;was agreed to, and the committee rofe.'
On the questions being put in the Hpufe
ty'agree to the report of the committee,
),M,. D, Foster said, he believed there
were several gentlemen unprepared to meet
the fubjea; and hoped the further coniider
atipn of it would be postponed till Monday
next. He therefore made that motion, which
was agreed to by the House.
A message was received from the Presi
dent of the United States, bv Thomas.B.
Adams, Esq. in the absence of his secretary,
Mr. Shaw, informing the House, that the
President had approved and signed the fol-
Idwing a&, to wit : "An ad tor extending
the privilege of franking to William Henry
:Harrifon, a delegate from the territory N,
W. of the river Ohio ; and making provi
sion for his compensation ;" and " an „
supplementary to an aft to provide for the
valuation of land and dwelling houses. „c|
the enumeration of Haves within the United
States." ^-
Mr. Waln presented a petition of Abfo
lem Jongs arid others, free men of colour, of
the city and county of Philadelphia, pray
ing for * revision of thefaws of the United
I States relative to the slave trade ;of the a&
relative to fugitives from juftic^; and for
Another member, to wit, Richard Dobbs
Spaight, Esq. from North-Carolina, appear
ed this day, was qualified, and took his feat.
The House, on motion of Mr. D. Foster,
Messrs. Macon, Sewall, and Rutledge
were also in favor of the committee. After
, a long debate, Mr. Macon waved his mo
tion, so as to have the petition referred to a
committee to whom was committed a simi
lar petitipn on the 24th ult—Which was a
greed to.
I Mr. D. Foster, called for the decision of
the House on the report of the committee
of claims on the petition of Wm. Donald
son ; when the report having been read,
Mr. F. said, it was the desire of the peti
tioner himfelf to withdraw his papers
arid therefore moved that the house concur
in the report. Agreed— Adjourned.
tie claims of Georgia ; and if the question
came before the house in any fliape, it ought
to be in the only proper one, " to whom
does this territory belong r" Mr.G. was de
cidedly against the referrence of the petition
to a felea committee.
Mr. Claiborne said, the petitiqp contained
other objeds than the right objeaed to by
Georgia. The navigation of the Tombigby
and Mobife rivers, of which they were de
prived, was essentially neceflary to the com
merce of that part of the world, and their
; claim to this was certainly worthy of atten
tion, The committee in their report might
Ibe silent as to any fubjea which could in
jvolve the objection urged against the refer
ence. '
Mr. Morris in the chair, when after pro
ceeding to the confederation of the ift, 2d
and gd fe&ions.
Mr. Harrison moved, that the Committee
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY^, 1800.
THURSDAY, ,AN.2.
THIS was the lordly and contemptuous
'reply of the Princes of Succoth to Gideon,
who requeued bread °f them to sustain his
army, when ptufuing after Zebah and Zal
imuna, kings of Midian<—The Princes of
; Succoth little thought that Gideon would
be fuccefsful—and consequently refused to
I comply with/his modest request. They not
[only refufefout add to their refufal, the con
temptuous language, as above. Irritated at
.their condpa, GtUon makes this reply—
rTberefire, when the Lord, hath delivered
I Zebah and Zalmuna into mine band, then will
, I tear ,afrfrfrwith the thorns of the wilder
:nefs, and^h briars." In contemplating
Ithe condiq of the men of Succoth, we are
I led to cempare it with that of those men of
jorir-country, who when France was holding
out the dive branch of peace and reconcilia^
tiqn, YRtfoinglft %&w to fay—Ate Suwar
;rauLandthe Duke of York now in thine hands,
! that wefhould make peace With thee f These
I men (Pliricc^ffoey would with to be) little
thought'a few months since, that those re
doubtafle .tapes would have been reduced
tortheirprefeßt humble and contemptible fi
tultibitf but they flattered themfelve, that
speedy lefirfflion was about to overwhelm
the Fr@ch republic, and the American Re
public p the bargain. The French may
now c„e forward, and like Gideon reply,
B^hlg'Zebah and %almuna, with whom
yedid upbraid us , &c. Like the men of
Succoth, how greatly have these enemies to
Republicanism been disappointed. Their
punishment is their disgrace, arid you may
add to this, |he teachings of a disturbed con
science, fonieibing limilar to the thorns and
briars with which Gideon taught the men
of Succotb.) Gideon was as good as his
word : fa qA his return from purfoing after
the two Mjdfenitifh kings, the divine histo
rian informs^, life " ty came to the men of
Succoth, and fad — behold Zebah gad Zalmu
na, with whom ye did upbraid me,fading, arc
the hands.of Ztbah and Zaimuna now in thine
band, , hat wejbould give bread to th, men that
are wear, ?" And He took the elders of the
city, and thorns of the wilderness, and with
them he taught the men of Succoth. Thus
it fared with those uncharitable mpn ! How
it will 'fare with that class of men, in
this country, who have difeovered Simi
lar dispositions toward France, time must
determine. It is neceflary they should be
taught (not in the manner of Gideon) but in
a manner more congenial with the mild tem
Mr. Speaker said, he believed this was the
only legislative Body in the world, in which
a motion, after having been debated on, and
become the property of the House, Was per
mitted to be subsequently withdrawn!^ the
mover and the gentleman who seconded it,
but it had been a custom, gpd he therefore
Was of opinion, the motion was in order.
Mr. Rutledge then moved that the House
adjourn, which was agreed to, 47 to 39.
Mr. Rutledge called far the yeas and nays
which were agreed to be taken. He wished
to shew by how decided a majority Congress
had refuted all interference in the business,
and thereby allay the fears of the communi
ty that this question would ever again be a
gitated in our national councils.
When the House went about to take the
question, Mr. Waln, withdrew his motion ;
and substituted another, which went to fay,
that certain parts of the petition should be
referred, so as to obviate the molt particular
objeaion urged against a reference.
Mr. Rutledge wished to know if the mo
tion was in order.&
Che Republican Lap preacher,
‘ No. 11.
AND T#X PRINCES OF SUCCOTH SAID, ARE
*THE,'HA^D£,QF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNA,
NOW IN THY HANDS, THAT WE SHOULD
GIVE BREAD TO THINE ARMY?
This motion produced a long debate—
Messrs. Rutledge, Otis, Lee, I. Brown, Ran
dolph, Christie, Harper and Hill, opposed
the motion ; and Messrs. Waln, Thatcher,
Smilie, Dana, Bird, Edmond, and Gallatin,
advocated it, from an opinion that certain
parts of the petition, which prayed for a re
revifion of our laws, were entitled to atten
tion. 1
the adoption of such measures as shall in
course ameliorate the whole of their brethren
from their present situation: which he mov
ed to have referred to the committee appoint
ed to enquire whether any and what altera
tions ought to be made in the exiting law
prohibiting the flavc trade from the United
States to any foreign place or country.
[1 DOL. 50 CTS. PER ANNUM.
Copy of a Declaration made by his Imperial Majefr
t, the Emperor of all the Ruffians, to the Mem
bers of the Germanic Empire.
“ His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the
Ruffians, ever animated with zeal for the cause of
sovereigns, and wishing to put a flop to the ravages
and disorders which have been spread by the im
pious government under which France groans, to
the remotest countries ; being fully determined to
difyatch bis Tea and land forces for the fopport of
the fufferers, and to restore Royalty in France,
without, however, admitting any partition of that
country ; to. re-establish the ancient form of gov.
ernment in the United Netherlands, and in the
Swiss Cantons ; to maintain the integrity of the
German Empire : and to look for his reward in
the happiness and tranquility of Europe : Provi
dence has blefled his arms, and hitherto the Ruf
fian troops have triumphed over the enemies of
thrones, religion and facial order.
“ His Majesty the Emperor of all the Ruffians
having thus declared his views, and the motives by
which he is guided addresses this declaration to
all the members of the German Empire, inviting
them to unite their forces with his to destroy their
common enemy as Speedily as possible, to found
on its ruins permanent tranquility for themfelveil
and their posterity.
^Should bis Imperial Majesty of all the Ruffian,
perceive that they fopport his views, and rally a
rouhd him, he will, instead of relaxing his zeal,
redouble his exertions, and not (heath his sword
before he has seen the downfall of the Monger
which threatens to crush all legal authorities.—
But, should he be left to himfelf, he will be forced
to recall his forces to his States, and to give up a
cause so badly fupparted by those who ought to
have the greatest share in its triumph." •"
“ Gatjehina, Sept. 14, (dd-Jlyle) 1 „,.
From Lt. Col. H. Clinton, to Lord Grenville.
< . Coire, 03. §, 1,„.
MY LORD, A ' .1;
When I sent your Lordihip my last difyatch on
the 2d inlli from Glaris, the report from General
Rosenberg, whose divisions composed the rear
guard, had not reached head quarters. I have
now the honour to inform your Lordihip that the
enemy, having received a considerable reinforce- ~
ment from Zug, renewed on the ift inst. their at
tack near the village fl Mutten, where, in conse
quence of the fatigue the troops had undergone
the preceding day, they had been obliged to halt.
A strong column of the enemy advanced by the
road in the centre of the calley, while two others,
Ikirting the foot of the mountains on each tide,
endeavoured to get in the rear of the Ruffians.—
The division of Geh. Rosenberg codfifted of eight
weak battalions and two regiments of Coffacks=
Difeovering the intention of the enemy he left five
battalions as a reserve, and with three (the breadth
of the valley not admitting of a greater front)
supported by the Coflacks, he attacked the centre
of the enemyri their heavy guns for a moment
gave them advantage ; but nothing could with
stand the steadiness of the Ruffian attack. In the
hurry of their retreat an ammunition waggon was
overfet; which choaked the only road by which
the cannon could move ; three pieces were imme
diately taken pofleffion of by the Ruffians.
The flank columns, feeing their centre pierced,
fled. Gen. Rofenburgh profited of the conlußon
of the enemy and purfaeg them beyond Schwitz.
In killed and wounded they loft above geo men
and 13 officers; and 1020 men were taken prifoh
ers. The Ruffians had io this affair about 300 men,
killed and wounded. It was the 4th in rhe even
ing before the sick and wounded could be tranG
ported to Glaris ; the road opt admitting of the
passage of artillery, the guns were destroyed ; on
the stb the army marched by the valley of Semft,to
Elm ; the difficulty of die roads made it iropoffible
to remove the wounded. The enemy followed
the rear guard, and gained some trifling advanta
ges over it during the firft three or four miles of
the march : upon a well timed attack, however,
of the Ruffians, they defined , from any farther at
tempt. On the 6ih the army paffgl the Danix
Mountain, which'the few had fallen during
the last week had rendered dangerous, and federal
mules and baggage horses were loft on the mar#
temperature of Republicanism—They should be
taught to know their place, and keep in it too ;
and not to forget where they were in '75 and ',6
—when our American Gideon, (late decea fed) was
purfoing after the Eritifh Zebah's and Zalmuna's.
—ln Pennsylvania, the Gideon of that State has
begun to teach them better manners, many of
them who held offices of trust, are, it is said, o
bliged Again to commix with their fellow-citi^
vens, Thill is moderate teaching,but it answers all
the purpose of briars and thorns. Peter Porcu
pine has lately been taught fumething severely—but
the severity of his nunilhmeht bears no proportion
to his aggravated Primes. Virginia; will un
doubtedly follow the example—and, who knows,
but in a Short time, the fame discipline may be ex
ercised in our own State upon many, who now
fay—to the Republicans, are the hands of Zebah
and Zalmuna now in thine hands, that we Should
come to thy terms. These men have literally re
fufed to give bread to them that were weary—•
they have added abuse to insult, for they have felt
Strong and powerful—they have been placed in tile
highest feats—and io the gates. To them the Re
publicans have bowed, and the people have done
obeisance. But no more of this—their power is
falling ; and we trust, ere long, that the measure
which they have dealt to others shall be dealt to
them, and that they will be taught that the tri,
umphing of the wicked is but for a moment—but
that the Pillars of freedom are like Mount Zioh
which cannot be moved.
[Zia New-York—London dates to-November B.]
Late foreign ^intelligence.
IMPORTANT STATE PAPER.