Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-06-07 00:00:00, page 2

They have authorifed procuring and e
quipping four small armed vessels for the
Service against Tripoli ; calculated for use
near the barbary coasts. This has been re
presented as evidence of the weakness and
inconsistency of the administration ; who
are charged with having fold a part of the
national whipping improvidently.
Two conclusive answers present them
selves : firß these vessels were fold by an
order of the Executive given in obedience
to a law palled before he came into office ;
secondly they were not calculated for a war
with the pirates of Africa, and would not
answer for the public service.
The only remaining fubje& of impor
tance which claimed the attention of Con
gress, was the violation of our rights by the
intendant at New Orleans, in depriving our
citizens of the right of deposit at that place,
and forbidding all intercourse between the
fubjeas of Louisiana and the citizens of
the United Spates. This flagrant breach of
treaty, received as it demanded, the mol
promt and vigilant attention of government.
Nor has the cession of that province by
Spain to France had a tendency to increase
the confidence of this nation in the views of
those powers; though government has re
ceived from both, the molt solemn assuranc
es that the rights of this nation (hall be ref
pefted.
On the I 2th day of May 1786 the United
states solemnly proclaimed their rights to the
free navigation of the Miffifippi and St.
Lawrence, and of the head waters of these
livers, and all the lakes, gulphs and other
streams which conneded them with the
main ocean.
The full enjoyment of all the rights made
known by that declaration will be main
tained, sacred and inviolate, so long as the
people of these states constitute a nation.
The President, with the consent of the
Senate, has appointed James Munroe min
ister extraordinary to the courts of France
and Spain, to regain the enjoyment of the
right of deposit, to remove, and in future
prevent the embarrafments under which the
weftern Rates labour ; to enlarge the rights
of the nation, and ensure those already ac
quired beyond the possibility of dispute or
gonteft.
Congress, in furtherance of those views,
have appropriated two millions of dollars,
authorifed the President to eftblifh arsenals
in the Weftern country, to build and equip
fifteen gun boats, and whenever he shall
judge necessary to detach eighty thousand
troops.
At the close of the session an attempt was
made by the oppositions to cast an odium up
on the commissioners of the finking fund.
• This terminated, as every other attempt to
injure the administration has, in their defeat
and mortification. So ably were the pro
ceedings on that board defended, and so
clearly were the wisdom and utility of their
measures proved, that of the opposition but
twelve members could be found hardy
enough to dissent from the vote of confidence
and approbation adopted by the House of
Representatives.
This was the laftaft of that Congress,
under whose authority, no monies were bor
rowed, no taxes created, no laws pafled re
straining the liberty of the citizen. Every
other Congress increased the burthens of the
people—by this they were removed.
When the paffi-m of the times shall have
been forgotten :* When the waring interests
of individuals and the petty bickerings of ri
val candidates shall have been assigned to
the tomb of oblivion, the future historian
ihall faithfully record these fads, as a rich
legacy to posterity.
Here 1 might triumphantly demand of the
restless enemy of liberty, to point out that
a&. which proves the existence of a with to
destroy the federal union ; which threatens
private property, or personal security and
refpeaability ; which can reasonably create
any fear or jealousy in the mind of the most
fufoicious politician ; which was not re
quired by the Rate of the country, and does
not merit the approbation of the people.
The most striking and efficatious mode of
contrasting the present with the last adminis
tration, is by an attention to their fifeal con
cerns. In the two firft years of the last
administration the Executive was authorifed
to borrow nine millions eight hundred thous
and dollars ; a part of which was actually
loaned at eight per centum interest ; for the
two lad vears, no loan has been made or
authorifed.
In the two firft years of the last adminis
tration an additional duty of eight cents per
would make provision, for years, for the
preservation of the fame number of frigates.
It is known from the experience of Hol
land and Venice that vessels, if kept dry and
covered from the fun, will continue as found
as any other works of wood. Dry docks
are erected by all the maritime Rates in Eu-
T °P e -
Congress have made provision to compen
sate petfons who received known wounds in
the ferrice of the United States, during the
revolutionary war, for whom no provision
had been made.
bushel on salt, the stamp duty and a land tax
of two millions of dollars were levied : Dur
ing the present no tax has been levied ; the
land tax is difeontinued ; and the damp tax,
with all the other internal taxes, has been
abolished. During the last administration,
in three years, the national debt was increas
ed three millions three hundred and ninety
four thousand three hundred and seventeen
dollars and forty-two cents : Since the
present, in two years, the national debt has
been reduced seven millions eight hundred
and forty-nine thousand four hundred and
thirtv-feven dollars and thirty-eight cents.
During the last administration no pay
ments were made on the deferred debt : On
the firft of April, 1801, interest firft fell due
on that debt, and the present administration
have annually paid thereon 1200,000
dollars. Once more, when the latt admin
istration retired, there were one million seven
hundred and ninety-four thousand and forty
four dollars in the treasury. Now in the
fame treasury there are five millions and
twenty thousand two hundred and thirty dol
lars and sixty-two cents.
The actual savings of the two last years
may be justly estimated as follows : T r
Two years payment of in
tereft on the deferred debt at Dollars,
twelve hundred thousand dol
lars a year, equal, 2,400,000
Reductions of the public
debt, & 7>849,137 38
Increase of specie in the
treasury, 3,226,185 38
Dollars, 13,475,622 76
From which firns deduct
the proceeds of the bank fharcs
lately fold by order of the com
miflioners of thefinking fund, 1,287,600
Dollars, 12,188,022 76
A sum more than fix times as large as the
land tax levied in 1800 by the last adminis
tration. Os which sum nine millions seven
hundred and eighty-eight thousand & twenty
two dollars *nd seventy-six cents have actu
ally been, aid are in a train to be, applied to
the reduction of the national debt.
With such bright profpeas of a speedy
extinaiou of the national debt, without ad
ditional burthens, how careful should gov
ernment be to avoid every thing tending to
increase our expenditure ? When that debt
shall have been extinguished, the present
revenues of government will be equal to its
maintenance and the support of any necefla
ry wars in which this nation can be engaged.
When I reflea upon the surrender by
government to the people of a million of
dollars annually, in abolishing the excise ;
upon the rapid reduaion of the public debt,
"and upon the specie in the treasury, and cad
to mind the avowed and known determina
tion of the late administration, not only to
continue, but to double the land tax, I am
loft in amazement. I cannot difeover the
exigence of that necessity which demanded
such repeated and oppressive contributions.
Yet I boldly declare that to continue as well
the land tax as the other internal taxes, was
the design of that administration. This de
claration is made both from a knowledge of
the views of the perlons then in power and
from the provisions ot the act directing the
valuation of lands and dwelling houses ;
which clearly proves that a permanent direct
tax was contemplated. That a& creates
the surveyor of each valuation diftridt a per
manent officer, and afeertains the compen
sation he shall receive for each official act.
It directs him to keep a record of the valu
ation of each lot and house ; and whenever
a transfer shall take place to charge the pur
chaser, credit the feller and enter it of re
cord. It provides, that when a new house
shall be erected it shall be valued and added
to the valuations made under the adt ; that
all lands exempted from taxation, whenever
the exemption (hall cease, shall be afleffed ;
and that whenever and so often as a dwelling
house shall be dettroyed and the valuation
thereof (hall be cancelled. Neither of these
provisions has any relation to the fax levied ;
they all clearly refer tofuture taxes.
Indeed the expense incurred in affeding
the lands and hotifes in the different states,
aqd in colleaing the tax forms conclusive
evidence that it was determined to establish
an annual land tax. The sums by that ad
minißration appropriated for the expense
of affeftments amounted to four hundred and
five thousand dollars.
Dalls.
The real expense may be«
estimated at 4.00,000
The commissions to the va
rious officers for collections
and contingent expenses, as
stationary, printing, advertis
ing, &c. will amount at lead
to 180,000
The losses derived from
various causes exceed 125,000
Making the whole loss and
expenditure amount
to dolls. 705,000
which sum being deducted from two mil
lion of dollars, the amount of the tax, leaves
only the sum of one million, two hundred
and ninety five thousand dollars, for the pub
lic use.
Apportion to the several Rates this seven
hundred and five thousand dollars, iq the
fame ratio as they paid that tax, and it will
appear that by levying it, there has been ex
pended and loft to the people of Maryland,
fifty three thbufand seven hundred and nine
ty-one dollars, and to the people of Con
neaicut forty five thousand, seven hundred
and forty two dollars ; which sums are e
qual to the yearly expenses of these Rates.
On the fame principles, the loss to North-
Carolina was sixty eight thousand two hun
dred and seventy tight dollars—nearly equal
to the expenses of that State for two years.
These were the real losses to the people of
the States mentioned, to the people of the
other Rates, they were in the fame propor
tion, and exceed a loss of thirty five dollars
on every hundred dollars collected.
Can any person who investigates this Sub
ject believe these expenses were incurred
with a view to bring the tax of a tingle year
; nto the treasury ? 1 think not :It must have
been the design to make provision for a dur
able land tax.' No other cause, can be as-
Ggned tor this waste of property, but a with
to incieafe the executive power, by the ap
pointment of an hundred commissioners, a
thousand surveyors of assessment diftrias with
established fees of office, and twice that
number of assessors and colledors amongst
whom Ihould be divided the five hundred and
eighty thousand dollars expended.
(To be continued.)
Mtfachufetts Legislature.
TUESDAY, MAY gr.
Agreeably to notice given, at 12 o'clock,
his Excellency the Governor met the two
branches of the legislature, convened in the
Representatives Chamber, and delivered the
following SPEECH:—
Gentlemen of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the Houje of Representatives,
We are now entering upon the duties
which base been aligned to us refpeaively
by our fellow citizens. Permit me on this
occasion, to return them my Sincere thanks
for the repeated proofs of their esteem and
confidence ; and to allure you, gentlemen,
that I shall cheerfully concur with you in
every prudent and faluta'ry measure, for the
preservation of their rights , the advance
ment of their interests and the improvement
of their minds in wisdom and virtue.
To you, gentlemen, the legislative au
thority of the commonwealth is committed.
In difeharging this important trust your de
liberate reflections will be employed, to es
tablish such laws for the welfare of the State
as you may think necessary to Support and de
fend i<s Government ; to protest property ;
to cause personal liberty to be refpeaed ; to
improve our system of jurisprudence, and
provide for the impartial interpretation and
faithful execution of the laws.
An equal administration of justice is in
difpeidibly requisite to preserve the peace of
the State, and the rights of the citizens.
Imprefled with the importance of this ob
ject, the framers of the constitution were
particularly solicitous to ensure the indepen
dence of the justices of the Supreme Judicial
Court : so that in their legal decisions they
might be in no danger of partiality from
motives of private interest. It is therefore
provided by that instrument, not only that
they shall hold their offices during good be
havior but that permanent and honorable sal
aries shall be established by law for their
support. A law was indeed passed for this
purpose, but the compensation being found
inadequate, the Legislature, for a series of
years, have made an annual grant to the
Judges to make good the deficiency. If their
Rated salaries shall flill appear to be in
fufficient for their honorable support, will
it not be more conformable to the Conßitu
tion to increase the allowance by an A&
without a terminate limitation, then by re
solves which operate but for a single year,
and which render the highest Judicial Court
dependent annually, for a part of their sub
sistence, upon the good will of each branch
of the Legislature ?
Since the lad session of the General Court,
I have received a letter from the President of
the United States, which will be laid before
you by the Secretary, and which enclosed a
copy of the Report of a Committee of the
House of Representatives of the National
Government ; in which the President is re
quested to write to the Executive of each
State, urging the importance and indifpenfi
ble neceflny of vigorous exertions on the part
of the Sat. Governments, to carry into effea
the Militia Svftem, adopted by the National
Legislature, agreeably to the powers reserved
to the Sates refpeaivelv by the Conßitution
of the United States. Perhaps the Militia of
this commonwealth was never in a more re
fpe&able condition than at present. But if
any measures can be taken to carry the system
into more complete effea, I have no doubt
of your disposition to adopt them. Indeed
it will always be necessary for us to cultivate
the military art, not to enable us to commit
outrages with impunity, but to defend our
felvas against ths attempts of unprincipled
It affords us therefore great fatisfaftion to learn,
that the executive of the United States, is endea
vouring to rouse a national spirit of defence, and
we cannot doubt, but that the general government
will provide and organife every mean for the fecn
rity and protection of our property and of our
honor, at home and abroad.
Our citizens well know, by the experience of
the operations of our excellent Confhtution, how
to appreciate true liappinefs. Ages have passed,
of which hiftory has had cognizance, and time will
continue to enroll i^ deftinics, ftdject to the future
observation of man ; but it may be fairly question
ed, whether any people have existed, or will pro
bably exist, in a Bate of society more perfectly in
possession of the protection of personal liberty,
and tire honed acquifirion and enjoyment of pro
perty, than the citizens of this commonwealth,
it will therefore, be the duty of the members of
government to take every @eafure, in their pow
er, and by their example to encourage a love of
order, and refpeft for the laws, and to remove all
grounds of misunderstanding among their fellow
citizens, so that their present happy condition be
continued unimpaired, and progressing in im
provement.
Any further communications from your excel
lency will be received with the attention due :•
so refpe&ble a source.
end ambitious men, whocortfiuer aii moms
as lawful that promote their ends ; and who
make their glory, consist in Spreading roifery
through the world
In pursuance of the Resolve of the 23d of
last June, for felling the Powder Magazine
in Boftor, and ereding two others out of
town, a piece of land in Roxbury, being the
principal part of the island called the Pine
lfland, has been purchased for the use of the
Commanwealth, and a Magazine erected
thereon. It is proposed to cred the other
with the materials of which the Magazine in
Boston was confiruaed; as soon as 3 Suitable
plat of ground can be obtained for the pur.
pose. This course is thoughtto be most ad
vantageous for the State,and will be pursued
if it is not disagreeable to the Legislature.
The Treasurer will prepare for your in
fpedion a statement, containing a general
view of the debts of the Commonwealth, and
the Sources of supply to theTreafury. I hope
upon comparing the funds and revenues of
the State with the necessary expences, you
will find that provision may be made for the
payment of part of the remaining debt in the
course of the present year, without expofin*
the 1 reafury to cnibarrafFment.
Other circumstances of which it may be pro
per that you should be informed, or to which
your attention should be invited, will prob,
ably be the fubjeds of particular messages.
The Constitution of the State forms a com
mon interest among the people, and it is de^
signed to unite them in those friendly senti
ments that makes society tranquil and happy.
It secures to ever, man in the commonwealth
an equal claim to social advantages ; ever,
man, therefore, however limited his sphere
of action, should contribute all in bis power
to the public good. The Members of the
Government will on their part think them
selves obliged to encourage by their example,
a love of order and refped for the laws ; to
endeavor to remove the grounds of difeord
and mifunderflanding among their fellow
citizens, and cement friendship between
them ; and to exhibit such patterns of purity
in manners, and reaitude of condud, as shall
tend to promote the praaiceof religious,mor
al, and facial duties among all classes of tho
people. CALEB STRONG.
>--44^^,^4.^4, 4.
The Committee on the Governor's Speech
reported the following anfwer,which was ac
cepted, and the fame committee appointed
to present it :—
ANSWER OF THE HOUSE.
May it fleafe your Excellency,
Ehe House of Representatives receive your
Speech, with all the deference and attach
ment due to your character. Your re-elec
tion as our Chief Magistrate, evinces the
difeernment of our fellow-citizens, and is a
just tribute to your talents and virtues. We
possess entire con fidence,that you will cheer
fully concur in ciery prudent and falutar,
mcafure for the advancement of their inter
ests, and the improvement of their minds in
wisdom and virtue.
We are deeply and folemnfy impreffeJ with'the
importance of rendering the judicial department,
as independent, as the let ot humanity and the
date ot foctety, will admit. The evils which arise
from temporary grants,and which are encreafing,
from them repetition, will, unless (peedily reme
died, break down that efleutial branch ot our gov
ernment, which is a barrier againll unlimited dis
order.
With these sentiments, the Houle of Representa
tives will occupy themselves on this fubjed, and
they will endeavor to place the impartial adminis
tration of justice, on the independent basis, efhb
lifhed in the language and by the fpitit of our
Confutation.
1 he vie as and habits of our citizens, for a long
period, have induced thole laws and regulation#,
which have conteired on cur militia its present
elevated reputation. But if, upon a revihon, it
fhomd be found that further measures are necessa
ry to render the system more perfect we will
promptly adopt them. The preservation of all
that is valuable to man in a slate of society, indis
pensably requires, that our government should
poflefs such arrangements and force, is Ihould be
adequate to meet and controul those convoifive
events to which all communities are liable.
It is the ardent love of Country, inherent in na
tive breads, cherished by valour, and braced by
military art and Icience, that buoys a nation above
all apprehensions of consequences of asserting its
rights, or braving the attempts or assumption of
internal or external enemies.