The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1790-08-20 00:00:00, page 1

A T a time, when the honors and emoluments
, of the office of federal representative render
X ^ it worth holding, it is by no means strange
that there (hould arise a competition for it ; nor
would the circumstance be unfavorable to the pub
lic were fiich competitions conduced with libera
lity and candor. In this case, gentlemen, who
peffefied the necessary accomplishments in the moil
eminent degree, would commonly have the.majori
ty of fuffrages. But it too often happens that a
greater number of men propose themselves as can
didates for important offices .th^n Here :< gre :,.:
Lae oath. footing ^f, superior tuerit. Cunfeious
uiThe r inferior preventions they endeavor to bring
down their competitors to their own level, in the
view of the public, by those artifices, which men
of true worth,whether seeking promotion for them
felvcs or their friends, detest and despise indefinite
ly more than they dread defeat. When such dis
honorable engines as gross misrepresentations and
arrant fallhoods are brought into play against gen
tlemen, who have served the public with abilities
and integrity in the various office;, wherein the
fuffrages of their fellow-citizens have placed them,
their friends would be inexcusable were they to
stand idle fpe&ators of the injurious procedure, ft
is more peculiarly their duty to stand up in their
defence, when their enemies,like base and coward
ly assassins stabbing a man in the back, attack the
public charader of their rivals when by reason of
absence they are incapable of defending them
selves. Besides, he who attacks one (fays the pro
verb) threatens a thoufand'—and levies war against
the public: For a man, therefore, to step forth
& shield the charaders thus abused from the unpro
voked malice of their foes is little more than an a&
of felf-defence. In fa&, to defend the reputations of
absent servants of the public, and to guard men's
minds against prejudices, which would operate to
their own disadvantage, is a duty which every man
owes not only to his friends but to the community.
These confederations will juftify me in the view
of a candid public in an attempt to expose the
falfhoods and misrepresentations so industriously
circulated in different parts of the flare, against
the honorable Nicholas Gilman, one of our represen
tatives in Congress; It is the misfortune of this
gentleman to have spent so small a part of his time
in the date, since he came upon the stage, that he
is personally but little known to his fellow-citi
zens. They are consequently liable to be entirely
milled by the bold affections of some of his compe
titors and their patrons. Were Mr. Gilman as
Well known to the good people of Newhampfhirc
as some of his brothers he might treat their utmost
efforts to place him in an unfavourable light, with
a degree of contempt equal to the indignation,
with which they are receiv'd by the few, who en
joy the pleasure of his acquaintance ; nor would his
friends have any occasion to vindicate his charader
from representations so absolutely falfe and fictiti
ous as those refeir'd to. To remove the impression
these may have made on the minds of many to the
prejudice of Mr. Gilmans interest, and as his
friends believe, equally to the prejudice of the pub
lic, in order that he may have a fair chance in the
competition, it is necessary to give the out-lines of
his character.— There are few men who possess
better natural abilities, or who, at his age and
without any profeffional education, have laid in a
greater ftotk of knowledge. He is very attentive
to bufinef^-^induftrious in acquiring information
on important questions in debate, and judicious in
his decisions. In consequence of t'oefe accomplish
ments, he- has his full share of influence and is a
ufeful and refpedable member of Congress. These
assertions are not made at random, like thole of
his enemie/"; but founded on personal knowledge
and authentic information drawn from the most
pure and unfufpicious sources. The refpedful men
tion made of him by one of the most diflinguifhed
xharaCters in the United States may supply the
place of a volume of inferiour teftimoniais, and
must strike dumb the whole tribe of his maligners.
The honorable Mr. Jay,Chief Judge of the supreme
judicial court of the United States, is perfectly ac-.
quainted with Ms. Gilman's Congressional cliarac-;
ter and cah have no interest in giving it a falfe'
colouring. In (peaking of him, when in the ftatel
last May, he obferv'd among other things in his
favor tba,be was clofel) attach'd fa the, notbern inter
ests— and that by being particularly intimate with the
Jortbern gentlemen, to whom the politenejs of bis man- 4
nerfr recommended him, be bad a large Jbare of infuence;
THE NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Friday, aucvst'zo, 17,0.]
FOR THE NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
TO THE CANDID PUBLIC.
THURSDAY, JULY 29.
THE bill for the temporary establishment of
the Poft-Oflice, and the bill to compensate
the services of Thomas Barclay,were read the third
time and passed.
Mr. Steele of the committee appointed to ex
amine into the proceedings of the several States
on the fubjeCl of the "Amendments proposed by
Congress to the Constitution of the U. States,
reported, in substance as follow—
New-Hampshire and New-York accepted all the
articles but the second.
Pennsylvania passed over in silence the firft and
second articles—and accepted the reft.^
Delaware postponed the firft article.
Maryland, South and North-Carolina & Rhode-
Island, ratified the whole.—So it appears, the firft
article has been agreed to by fix States—the second
by five—and all the others by eight.
A petition of Joseph Miller, of Philadelphia was
read, fitting that he had established a Manufadory
of Gunpowder in the state of Pennfylvania,in which,
by proper encouragement, a Sufficient quantity of
that article may be manufactured for the use of
the United States—and praying the patronage of
Congress;
Mr. Vining moved that the motion ofMr.Blood
worth for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the §th
feflion of the Refidenoe Law, (hould be taken into
confederation. -
Mr. Bloodworth wished the motion might be fuf
pendedi He said that he did not mean to call it
up to day—and therefore had not prepared himfelf
to slate hi^ reasons fully for introducing it.
Mr. Vining observed, that the motion was in
possession of the Houfe,and any member had a right
to,"call it up.
Mr. Lawrence contended that it was very extra
ordinary that a motion brought forward by one
gentleman should be called up by another, con
trary to the wish of the member who made it.—
He thougt it was contrary to the rules of the House,
• Some further alteration ensued, in which Mr.
Fining, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Bloodworth, and Mr. Lee
fp°k e '
Mr. Bloodworth finally withdrew his motion for
the present.
On motion of Mr. Lawrence, the amendments
" But Mr. Gilman (fay some) is no speaker."
If he has his full (hare us influence without, so
much the better. We have too many (peakers in
Congress for the dispatch of public business ; and
we ought^by no meats, to wish to increase the
number. It is a vulgar error that a man's impor
tance and ufefulnefs in Congress depend on the
frequency and length oh^ ipe a che,.' The bare
note of some men has '"e ^ n:cre influence than
the most labor'd bar f'others. I^ouid
Jcreforu, jheuuj Co euaea-ors cY the
public ought not to be directed towards reducing
rather than multiplying the number of speakers.
Had the seal of silence been fix'd on the lipsof one
half our Congressional harrangutts the business
would have been equally well done in half the time
and nearly 100,000 dollars fav'd to the public.
As to Mr. Gilman's general conduct in Con
gress, let the candid and unprejudiced ^xaminf the
journals of the lower house, publifh'd in most of
our papers, and judge for themselves. If this ex
•amination shall difeover that he has always closely
adhered to the interests of the northern lates—that
he has supported every measure for rendering the
United States a prosperous, a refpe&abl/, and pow
erful and a happy nation —that he has uniformly
opposed every extravagant grant of money made
by Congress, whether to themselves, the public
officers, or private individuals ; particularly the
enormous pension to the Baron de Stuben In a
word, if it shall appear that, in all important con
stitutional questions and national matter's, he has
aCted according to the dilates of an enlightened
and liberal policy, all which things his friends can
assert without fear of contradiction from any of
that class of citizens to which this paper is address
ed, Mr. Gilman's character must appear with a
degree of luftre, which cannot fail of throwing that
of some of his enemies into the deepest (hades.
Publilhed by H. Ranlet, in the Main Street, Exeter.
FAIR PLAY.
i,,®^,^,^^^',A^^^^O^ G>Cte ^T
with them, nebieb be always exerted in favour of the
northern interest —-Can a more honorable testimony
than this be produced in favour of a y member in
Congress ? This, in fact, is precisely the cha
racter we want.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONGRESS.
FRIDAY, JULY JO;
Sundry petitions and memorials were read and
referred to the heads of departments.
The report on the petition of Catharine Greene,
widow of the late General Greene, was read the
second time ; this report was in favour of the prayer
of the petition, so far as to indemnify the heirs of
General Greene, from demands arising from en
gagements and contrasts made by him on account:
of the Uni ed States. .'
A motion was made to refer the papers which
accompanied the petition to the Secretary of the
Treasury—some converfetion ensued on this moti
on; Mr. Stone said he thought it more proper
to refer them to the Auditor- General ; Mr. Ger 1
ry called for the reading the papers—which was
done.
The motion for referring to the Secretary of the
Treasury was adopted.
A message was received from the Senate inform.
Ayes 33 Noes 27.
Similar amendments followed of course in refpe&
to the assumed part of the debt—which wereagreed
to — Previous to which, Mr. Parker moved that
the further consideration of the amendments to the
Funding Bill, should be deferred to the next sessi
on.—This motion was determined not to be in or
der.
Several other motions were made to non-concur
with the Senate, but they were all negatived, as
was likewise a motion of Mr. Jackson, for post
poning the 16th feaion refpe&ing the assumption
of the State debt, until the next session of Con
gress. _.
The result of this day's business therefore is that
the date of the time of funding | is protraded un
til the year 1800 ; and the rate of indents, are to be
reduced to 3 per cent, per annum. It is, how
ever, by persons of the best information, that in
receiving the 3 per cent, the holders will not be
obliged to give up their right to the remainder so
soon, as the country shall be in ability to pay it,
beeaufe the original contrad i§ dill good.
Mr. Lawrence argued that it was unjust, in the
extreme, to deduce the value of the debt, and was
desirous of a committee us conference being ap
pointed: Ret tnis was ov^ ruk! and the c^bat^
cofyaued wita fpiiit on both tides.
Mr. Anies delivered a very animated speech
upon the occasion, in which he anticipated the ris
ing prosperity of this country, and therefore drew
a conclusion against the necessity of out committing
so flagrant an a& of injustice and impolicy, as this
would be called : .It is a deduction of 18 per cent,
of the principal of the debt.
Mr. Sedwick differed, from his colleague in this
instance, as did Mr. Sherman. They with several
other members, were so anxious for putting an end
to the business, that they were willing to concur
with the Senate, & they offered their^reafons which
were certainly very accommodating.
Mr. Seney delivered a very manly speech against
this public violation of public faith, and accounted
for the reduction of interest proposed by the Senate
upon indents. He said, the House had made a
very good provision for the public debt, buthe
Senate had added 21 millions thereto, and finding
themselves pinched in maknig an honourable pro
vision, they had reduced the interest on indentsone
half, in order to provide for the additional 21 mil
lions. Mr. Seney alluded to the assumption clauses
introduced by the Senate in the Funding Bill.
Mr. Ames appealed to his colleagues for the
uniformity of his conduct upon the fubjefl of pub
lic credit ; but he need not have appealed to them,
the world will juftify (he confiffency of his actions
;n the present session of Congress.
Mr. Lawrence /aid every thing that prudence
and lasting policy could suggest against the amend
ments of the Senate; but, on taking the question,
it was decided in the affirmative to concur with
the Senate; Ayes 33.— Noes 27.
The, next article of disagreement was the interest
on Indents.—The House proposed four per cent.
The Senate adhered to their proposition for three.
The motion for receding was determined by
Me/Trs. Laurence, Ames, Ger,;, Seney, Jackson,
and some other members, were for the house in
sisting on their amend.nent, and net agreeing with
the Senate : But Messrs. Sedgwick, Fitxfimons,Stone,
Sberman, Williamfon,wa^ others, were for accommo
dating matters.
It was moved, that the House recede from their
amendment to the 4th section, inferring the year
1800 which the House amended by inferring 1797,
&c.
of the Senate to the Funding Bill were taken up.
[Vol. V.—Numb. 21J