The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1791-12-03 00:00:00, page 2

" The motives which then direfled
me, no longer exist at this moment,
ever since, the inconveniences and the
evils I complained of, have made on
you the fame impression they did on
me. You have manifested your in
clination to order ; you have given
year attention, to the subordination
of the array ; and you have felt the
necessity of repressing the liberty of the
Press. The revision of your labours has
placed among the number of regulating
several Articles, which were at firft
presented to me as Constitutional Laws.
You have eftablifled legal forms for the
revision of those Articles, which you
have placed among the Constitutional
ones. In short, the voice of the people
is to me no longer dubious ; I percei
ed it to Shew itfelf at once, both by its
adheffon to your proceedings, and by
its attachment tothe support of Monar
chical Government.
"Accepting therefore,theConftitutiOn,
' •' I undertake the engagement to main
lain it quitbin ;to defend it from every
attack from without ; and to have it exe
cuted by ever, means it bar put in my
fewer,. .
" I declare, that now informed of the
attachment which the great majority
of the people has for it, I renounce
the joint concurrence I had claimed in
that work ; and being only responsible
to the nation alone, no one else, when
I renounce it, has right to complain.
[Th ball here refunded with a„laufe]
«' I should nevertheless be wanting
to truth, did I fay that ! had discover
ed in the means of executing and ad
ministrating the Constitution, that
energy which is necessary to empress
the motion and to preserve unity in all
the parts of to vast an Empire : but
since opinions are at this day so divided
in regard to these objects, I consent
, that experience alone Shall become the
Sole arbiter.
menfe expencet attendant on an honor
able war, sustained wirhoat the increase
of imposts, bad occasioned a coufidera.
ble difpropornon between the Revenue
and the Expenditure of the State.
'' Struck with the magnitude of the
evil, I not only fought for the means of
adniiniftering a remedy, but I alio per
ceived the necessity of preventing its re
turn. I accordingly conceived the pro,
je& of placing the happiness of the Peo
ple on a constitutional and a liable bails,
and of fubjeaing to invariable rules,
that authority of which I Was the De
positary. 1 accordingly called the na
tion around me to execute this plan.
During the course of all the events pro
duced by the Revolution, my intenti
ons have never, varied. After having
reformed the ancient inftitutions,' you
began to replace them by the firft es
says of your political labours. I wait
ed only for the completion of the Con
Ititution to give nry entire assent to it ;
I even favored the compbnadt parts,
before- I could view them as one great
whole ; and if the difordoes which have
accompanied almost all the epochs.bf
the Revolution, have often affii&ed my
heart, I still hoped-that the Law would
regain its proper impulse, when consi
dered to new powers, and that as the
term of your labours approached, every
day would add to that refpeclfor it,
without which the people can neither
enjoy liberty nor happiness. . .
"I perched for a long time in that
hope, and my resolution never changed
till the moment that it abandoned me.
Whoever recoiled th period when I
left Paris, rauft know, although the
Constitution was nearly atchieved, that
yet the authority of the Laws was be
coming every day more feeble. The
most exaggerated opinions, alone ob
tained a hearing ; the licencioufnefs of
the Press Was at its height ; —no
power whatever Was refpeaed. I
could no longer recognize the character
of the general will in those Laws which
I beheld without force and without
Execution. I then began to think, that
if you presented the Constitution to me
I ihould not be able to believe that the
interest ofthe people (the constant and
only rule of my conduct) would permit
me to accept it, I had but on fenti
merit; I formed^ut one project, I re
solved to withdraw myfelf from all par
ties, and jo make myfelf ocquainted
with the real Wilh of the Nation.
CONGRESS.^
HOOSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THURSDAY, NOV. 3.
READ a third time and passed, a
Bill allowing a further time for,
making returns of the Cemfue of South.
Carolina.
Committees were raised, to report On
part of The President's speech, made in
January last, which relates to bounty
lands granted to the Virginia /rtys.—To
report a Bill directing the mode in which
the evidences of the publick debt,which
have been loft, may be renewed.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
The fchedulc of the Enumeration of
Four o'clock in the Afternoon.
The King this day went to the Nati
onal Assembly at izo'clook, and pub
lickly avowed his acceptance of the
Constitution, in preferice of an immense
multitude of fpe&ators ; the ceremony
which was grand and awful, was accom
panied by a general discharge of the ar
tillery belonging to the National Guards.
His Majesty did not appear in the
Cordon Big,, notwithstanding the De
cree of the Assembly : and very graci
ously observed, that " he wished not to
be distinguished by any external mark
of dignity,from the rest of the citizens."
As soon as the expressions of joy and
content which broke out at the conclu
sion of the reading the King's letter
were subsided, M. de la Fayette fpeke
as follows :—Gentlemen,! Should wrong
the sentiments of the National Assembly
if I did not confine myfclf to a Simple
motion upon the wish which the King
has just now expressed with regard to'
oblivion of injuries.
" Now that the Constitution is defi
nitively fettled Frenchmen living un
der the fame Laws, ought to knew nd
other enemies than those who infringe
upon them ; difcofd and anarchy, these
are our worst foes. I shall combat thecl
with all my power; it is necessary that
you and your successors should Second me
with energy, and that without tyranni
fing over the mind, the Law should pro
tea; all those who submit their actions to
its direction.
, I' It is necessary that all those who,
from the dread of troubles and of per
fections, have absented themselves
from their Country, should be certain
of finding fifety and tranquility on rt^
turning to its bosom..
" And for, the extinction of the ani
mosities, and jeffening the evils that?
great revolution always produces ; and
o, purpose that the Law from this day
may date its execution, let us consent to
forget what is pall, [7% left band fide
of the House, and Galleries, testified their
fatisfaaion at this paragraph.] Let the
accusations and the prosecutions com
menced in consequence of the Revoluti
on, now drop, and be buried in a gene
ral reconciliation.
"I speak not of those who have been
determined by their attachment to me ;
can you yourselves think them guilty.
'' As for those who, by excesses, or by
personal injuries, may have wounded the
Laws in regard to me, I shall prove to
them,by my clemency, that lam King
OF ALL THE FRENCH.
(Signed) LOUIS.”
[Loud plaudits for federal minutes.]-
P.S. I think,Gentlemen, that it is in
the place where the Constitution has
been formed, that I ought to pronounce
my solemn acceptation of it ; !fhall, in
consequence, repair to-morrow to the
National Assembly."
crofted to me, no reproach can poffibiy
be urged against me : and the Nation,
whole interest alone ought to serve as
of all the means which have been en-
[Reiterated plaudits.]
" But, Gentlemen, for the support
ofLiberty, for the liability of the cog
ftitution, for the individual happiness
of all the French ; there are certain
interests which commmand us to re
unite all our efforts. These interests
are a retyped for the laws, the re-eftab
lilhment of order, and the re-union of
all the Citizens.
a rule, will explain itfetf, by those
means which the Constitution has re
fervfd for its prefervatien.—
" When 1 have made a faithful use
[Mr, Ames observed, thatyofe,b Torry,
having entered into the service of the
United States, the United States had
Itipulated with him, that, if he served
until the end of the war, he Should re
ceive a certain recompence ; and the
only question now to be decided was,
when the war ended ? He used fevcral
arguments to prove, that the war was at an
end, when hostilities ceased, on the sign
ing of the provisional treaty, in Nov.
1782 ; that the compensation, was of
coorfe justly due to the deceased; that it
was of high importance to the legisla
tive body, to aft with good faith, and
not attempt to explain away the obliga
tions, under which the government had
laid itfelf at the time of making the
promise to those who took up arms in
defence of their country.
[Jofeph Torry, an officer in the fernico
of the United States, died in September,
1785, without leaving a widow or Chil
dren ; & JohnTorry,as his adminifirator,
lays claim to the compenjation of half pay .
The Secrerary of the War department re
ports, as his opinion, that be is not entitled
to it.]
ft was moved, that the report be agreed
to. ~
Dfr. Bourne, presented the South Cc
rolir. • Cen/us Bills enrolled ; which was
signed by the Speaker ; and sent to the
Prefdent —who soon after informed that
he had approved, and Signed the fame.
On the petition of John lorry, and
the report of the Secretary at War there
on, the House went into Committee.—
Mr. Muhlenburg in the Chair.
rep rt of the Attorney-General, on the
Juoc ary Syflem, were referred to 1
Com tee of rhe whole, and 100 copies
of e;h deled to be printed.
The Committee on the petition of
Messrs. Choates reported against grant
ing the prayer thereof. Accepted.
Monday, nov. /, # ,
Mr. Secretary Hamilton's report,
was read ; and a Committee appointed
to report a Bill making the necessary
Appropriations.
The Senate informed the House, that
they had puffed the South-Carolina
Census Bill.
Messrs, S. Bourn,, of Mafoebufetts,
and Mr.'Sriith, of Vermont,were appoin
ted, on the part of the House, of the
Committee on Enrolled Bills. [Hon^ Mr.
Rutherford is chefen on the pari of the Se
nate.]
, The report of the Secretary at War,
on the petition of John Torry, was
called up by Mr. Ames ; and after a
ffiort,,debate was made an order of the
day for to-morrow.
A report was received from the Vice
Prefaent,oa the purchase of the pub
lick flock; .
The House proceeded to consider tie
report of the Secretary at War, on the
petition of ,ofeph Tucker, Thomas Hollis
Condi, Robert. Williams, and Samuel
Armfrong, (Agents appointed by the
State of Mrffachufetts to the several Re
giments to which they belonged) made
to the firft Congress ; whereupon, after
a ffiort debate the following resolution
passed—" That so much of the said re
port as is contained in the words fol
lowing be agreed to: "That the case
is so circumllanced that the petitioner,
cannot obtain any further allowances
unlcfs the Legislature of Maffachujetts
should think proper to grant the fame."
FRIDAY, NOV. j
The petition of Charles Corvin, forae
tiffin prisoner in Algiers, was read and
referred to the Secretary of State.
Mr. Fitzsimons laid the following
motion on the table—That a committee
be appointed to bring in a bill or bills,
to regulate pilots, and to provide for the
appointment of fuperintendants of light
houses, beacons and public piers, thro'-
Outthe United Stases. ~
On motion of Mr. Lawrance the
order of the day,on the census of the in
habitants of the United States, was post
poned until Thursday next, at which
time it was expelled there would be a
fuller representation on the floor of the
Hdufe. —
the inhabitants of the United Stam, was
taken into consideration, and progress
made therein.
On motion, sundry propositions, as
amendments to the Constitution, and the
ORDER OF THE DAY.
TUESDAY, NOV. 8.
A committee was also appointed to
report a Bill for the regulation of pilots
and the fuperintendance of beacons,&c.
in the river Delaware, Chesapeake-Bay
and rivers emptying therein.
The report of the Secretary at War,
on the petition of John Younglove, and
the Counter Petition of fundrv inhabi
tants of the state of New-York, was!
called up ; and a refoluvion puffed,
of which the following is the substance.
That the prayer of the counter-pcti^
(loners cannot be granted.
[John Younglove, having been,button
then a&uall, in the forvice of the U.S.was
disabled in bis own boufe, in re,elling ax
attack of the enemy, during the late war.
He obtained from the late Congress a ,en^
fan ; and the contra-petitioners endeavoured
Mr. Eoudinot replid, that as there
were certain eflablifhed rules,which had
been observed in fettling with every
other officer in Similar cirtum fiances, the
House ought not to break through them
—unless they were contrary to the rules
of justice. If they were consonant to
the rules of justice, he mainlined that
the Secretary's report was right, and
ought to be adopted. The term of the
contrast, between the officers and the
United States, depended (he said) on the
decision of the Sovereign power,that was
alone enticed to determine, when the
war fhculd cease. That power was vest
ed in the then existing Congress, whoj
although they entered into provisional
articles, in Nov. i 78/, did not,however
think proper immediately to disband
their armies, or put an end to the war,as
it was yet uncertain, whether those pro
visional articles, would be ratified by
Great-Britain, or a treaty of peace con
cluded between Great- Britain & France
—a circumstance which was necessary,
before those articles could be definitive
ly binding# It was only.when the de
finitive treaty was made, that Congress
determined the period of the war. The:
array, when finally disbanded, and paid
up to that day, acknowledged, by ac-_
cepting thoir pay, that jt was then only
the war ended.; and as far as was in
their power, , assented to the principle,
which he maintained, that the provifi^
onal articles had not before put an end
to the war. .Suppose (continued he}
that on the arrival ofthe definitive treaty
Congress had not agreed to the terms,
would the war then have been confider-,
ed as at an end ? Would not Congress
have been in the fame situation, as be
fore the figring of the proyifional arti
cles ?—lt was neceffary.that Congress
should, by a definitive ad, determine
when the war ceased :—Congrefs haj
passed such an aft, and the House at
present carnot with propriety enter in
to a resolution to alter she period. The
argument of inconvenience, ought alfo> -
he observed, to have some weight with
the House ; for if any alterations were
now to be made on the law, it muff
have a retrofpea to all the widows and
children of deceased officers, who havq
received half pay for years past Befidet
many officers, who have pot hitherto
cohfidered themselves as entitled to half f
pay, would, in consequence cf such an
alteration, hav^ a right td'Apply for it, ::
Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Wil
liamson spoke in favof of the Secre
tary's report. Mr. Ames rose again in
opposition to it., Messrs. Dayton,
Hillhouse, Wadsworth, Wayne
aadCLARKE severally spoke on the fob
je& : after which,
The question was taken On agreeing
to the Secretary's report, and passed in
the affirmative. .
The Report of the Vice-PreJident, in
the purchases made of the publick debts
was ordered to be printed.
Mr. Sedgwick reported a Bill for
the renewal of loft or destroyed Certifi
cates. Read a firft time.
The committee of the whole House
was difeharged from the consideration
of the proposed Amendments to the Confli- >
tution —which were referred to a Com
mittee of seven. ? '
The Attorney-General was directed to
report to the House such information as
he might possess relative to the operati
on of the Judicial System.
BANKRUPT BILL.
A committee was appointed to pre
pare a Bill or Bills to establish an uni
form system of bankruptcy throughout
the United States.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9.