The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-03-19 00:00:00, page 1

Mr. Harper, from the Committee Ap
pointed for that purpose, having obtained
leave, reported a bill to extend the privilege
of obtaining patents for ufeful discoveries
and inventions, to certain persons therein
mentioned, and to enlarge and define the
privileges of patents —which was read and
committed to a committee of the whole
House. _
The House went into a committee of the
whole on the bill to allow a drawback of
duties on goods exported to New Orleans,
and therein to amend the a& entituled An
a& to regulate the collodion of duties on
imposts and tonnage—when the bill was a
greed to without amendment and ordered to
be read a third time on Monday next.
MONDAY, FEB. 24.
An engrossed bill entitled “ an ad to al
low drawbacks of duty on goods exported
to New Orleans, and therein to amend the
ad for the colled ion of duties on imposts
and tonnage," was read and passed.
A message was received from the Senate,
informing the House that thev had palled
an a& for the relief of James Yard.
Mr. Bayard asked and obtained leave
absence for Mr, Morris from the service of
the House for 2o days.
HOUSE— Friday, feb. 21.
THE bill entitled " An aft to establish an
uniform system of Bankruptcy through
out the United States," was read a third
time, and the question being Shall this b^h
^afs / It wa§ carried in the affirmative.
Yeas 48 —Nays 48.
Mr._ Speaker declared himfelf in the Af
firmative, and the bill was PASSED.
Mr. Harper from the Committee of ways
and means, to whom was referred the peti
tion of David Wyley and others, who pray
ed for a remission of duties on stills, made
report, that it was not confident with the
{policy of this government; to teimburfe any
offes incurred under the revenue law —that
the prayers of the petitioners ought not to
be granted—-and that they have to withdraw
their petition, in which the house concurred.
Mr. H. from the fame committee, made
a report for the estimate of monies neceflary
fa;be faeces of the present year. The
following ma summary of the ffatement :
The amount of necessary supply for the prefect
year, agreeable to the estimate of the Secreta
ry of the Treasury, 15>393>°34"
From this is to be deducted one million, on ac
count of the suspension of further enlistments
in the army, 1,000,000 00
add to this a suspension of building of the fix 74
gun (hips for the present year, which the com
mittee conceived it expedient to do—the pre
fect year's estimate for that item was 600,000 00
1,600,000 eo
paves a sum to be provided for in the present
year, of 13,793^34 ™
To meet this expenditure, the receipts of the pre
sect year was estimated at,9,3 01 , 2 58 51
Deduct this revenue from the aforefaid expendi
ture, would leave a sum to be provided for,
above the revenue of the present year, of 4,491,775 60
There remained in the treasury of the left year's
appropriation#,<s9,377 so
But as part of this would be wanted for contract
yet remaining due, not more than one million
would-be left on hand towards this year's ex
penditure which deduced 1,000,000 00
tute toQßtee Co be procured, Ober Mid
above the revenue of 3^91,775 60
The committee reported that they had
turned their attention to the object of reve
nue, but had not yet decided as to their re
port, and therefore they thought proper to
fiibmit a resolution to the house to authorife
the President to procure by loan, for the ser
vices of the present year, the sum of 3,500,
doo dollars at such rates as he may find moll
for the interest of the United States.
.The report was ordered to be printed and
referred to the com. of the whole house.
The House took up the report of the
Committee of Commerce & Manufactures,
on the amendments of the Senate to the bill
providing for salvage in case of re-capture,
and concurred therein.,
A message was received from the Senate
by Mr Otis, their Secretary, informing the
House that the Senate had palled the bill in
tituled " An a& in addition to the aft inti
tuled an a& for regulating the grants of
lands f%.Military Services, and for the So
ciety. of tht United Brethren for propagat
ing the Gospel among the Heathens"—with
, sundry amendments.
The bill and amendments were read and
referred to the Selea committee who report
ed it.
CongreW of the United States.
NUMBER 30. —VOL. I.]
The Republican Ledger.
" WHEN YOU SHALL THESE DEEDS RELATE, SPEAK OF THEM AS THEY ABT ; NOTHING EXTENUATE NOR SET DOWN OUGHT IN MALICE."
PORTSMOUTH, (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GEORGE ^RRY OSBORNE, jun. MULBERRY LANE, NEXT DOOR TO ROUSSELETs MUSEUM.
Mr. Sewall thought there was a necessity
of giving this time to the law in order to re
move the discouragements under which fifh
ermen had laboured, and which alone could
encourage the trade to be cartied on to bn
extent, because this law was meant to oper
ate as a bounty, but he did not think the a
mount now paid as a bounty was equal to
the single duty on salt. Several gentlemen
spoke on this fubje&, at length the amend
ment was carried 40 to 26, and the bill was
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
Adjourned.
TUESDAY, FEB; 25.
The bill intitled " An ad to continue in
force an ad concerning certain Fisheries of
the United States, and for the regulation
and government of the Fishermen employed
Herein, and for other purposes as therein
mentioned," was read a third time, and upon
the question, Shall this bill pass ?
Mr. Macon opposed it, on the ground
thaf no peculiar favor should be grarfted on
the exportation of one article of provision
more than another—and
Mr. Smith advocated it as forming a nurs
ery for our Seamen—and replied generally
to the observations of Mr. M.—when the
question on pafling the bill was taken and
carried—ayes 51.
Mr. Harrison, from the fele& committee
to whom were referred the~ amendments of
the Senate to the bill " in addition to the a&
intituled an aft for regulating the grants of
lands appropriated, for Military Services,
and for the Society of the United Brethren
for propagating the Gospel among the Hea
then," reported, that it would be proper to
disagree to the firft amendment of the Sen
ate, and to agree to the other amendments ;
.in which 'the House concurred.
Mr. Livingston then called for the order
of the day on the message of the President
relative to the requisition for, and delivery
up of Thomas Nath, alias Jonathan Rob
bins ; and the House haying resolved itfelf
into a com. of the whole on that fubjeft—
Mr. Edmund in the chair—
.Two resolutions having been heretofore
referred to the committee (Mr. Bayard's
and Mr. Livingston's) a debate afofe upon
the point of order which should be firft tak
en up—when
Mr. Sedgwick (Speaker) moved that the
resolutions of the hon. gentlemen from N.
York, be firft taken intoconfideration, which
was carried ; ayes 48, noes 32. - * ,
Mr. Livingston's resolutions having been
read,
Mr. L. rose and after expressing awith
Mr. Dana reported a bill to provide for
ihe execution of the 27th article of theirea
ty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation
made with Great-Britain which was twice
read and referred to a committee of the
whole House for to-morrow.
Mr. Smith, from the committee of Com
merce made a report on a petition from the
merchants of Bristol, Warren and Barring
ton, the report was that it is inexpedient at
this time to grant the prayer of the petition,
and that they have leave to withdraw the
fame.
The House took up and concurred in the
report.
Mr. Harper, chairman of the committee
of ways and means, to whom were referred
the amendments proposed by the Senate to
the bill " providing for the enumeration of
the inhabitants of the United States," report
ed their concurrence with the amendment
proposed.
The House took up the amendments and
agreed to all but one. The title was agreed
to be altered to be " An act providing for
the 2d census, or the enumeration of the
inhabitants of the United States."
The House resolved itfelf into a commit
tee on the bill to continue in force an a&
concerning certain fifheries of the United
States, and for the regulation and govern
ment of the fifhermen employed therein,
and for other purposes therein mentioned.
In the committee of the whole it was a
greed to fill the blank of years which this
a& continues the former in force, with ten.
The remittee rose and reported the a
mendment.
Mr. Gallatin thought it would be proper
for Congress to examine into this fubje& be
fore they proceeded too far to know whether
it was an obje& worthy of notice or not,
and farther to bring it into some proportion,
to the tax on fait, the additional duty on
which was prescribed to about two years
from this time.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1800.
[The following is the tirlt Speech delivered in
Congress by Mr. Randolph, a new member from
Virginia, 27 years of age, a nephew to the late
secretary of Rate. It was spoken upon Mr. Ni
cholas's motion for reducing the military eftab
lifhment.]-
Mr. RANDOLPHS MAIDEN SPEECH
Notwithflanding this question had occupi
ed so much time in the difcuflion, he felt dis
posed to give the little aid in his power, to
a measure of whose wisdom he was firmly
convinced, and in the success of which he
knew his constituents to be deeply interest
ed—he did not flatter hlmfelf with the hope
of throwing much new light upon the fub
je&, but he felt it to be his duty to deliver
their fentitnents upon it, and from that duty
he trusted he should not shrink. Unaccustom
ed to public debate, the committee would not
be surprised at his inability to putfue the ar
guments of gentlemen through the intricate
labyrinths in which they had been involved ;
yet in such flatements as he might make of
them, he should endeavor to give thema fair
interpretation, and not to twist them to a
meaning which it was not intended they
should bear. .
The gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Mar
shal) who firft rose in opposition to the reso
lution, has left this fubje& in a state in
which I did not expea to find it, when com
ing out of his hands. Sir, I entertain a ref
ped as high as that of any member upon
this floor for the talents of that gentleman.
I have witnessed their exertion on a variety
of occasions with Angular delight ; —his in
genious refearepes and logical deductions
have often commanded my admiration. —
Yet he will permit me to fay, that he has,
on this occasion, advanced nothing which
disproves the propriety of adopting the mea
sure before you, and as he has been unable
to produce any arguments of weight upon
the fubje&, l shall take it for granted that
none can be adduced. He has alledged no
thing fpecific his observations carry no con
viaion with them—they tend only to excite
alarm and doubt.
This is afituation in which that gen
tleman is not accustomed to leave the minds
of his audience. He has affirmed that the
adoption of the resolution of my colleague
that a candid and impartial inquiry and de
cision Should take place, upon so serious a
question, which involved merit or censure,
upon the condu& of a public officer, pro
ceeded to the examination of evidence.—
Having begun to read a printed deposition
of Jonathan Robbins, from a newlpaper,
wherein he swears he is an American, was
born in Danbury, state of Connecticut, was
impressed from on board an American vessel
by the British frigate Hermoine, &c.
Mr. Bayard rose and objected to the read
ing of the paper, upon the ground that it
could not be received as evidence by the
Committee—this obje&ion caused a long
debate as to the point of order, in which Mr.
Livingston said he did not with to introduce
it as evidence—he did not believe a word
contained in it, and thought it only a defence
set up by Robbins to avert that trial and
puniihment which awaited him Mr. L.
said, his only obje& was, to prove that Rob
bins had said he was an American citizen—
was impressed, &c.
l+r^t^man at length decided, that the
gentleman could not be permitted to read the
paper.
Mr. Gallatin appealed to the Committee,
and upon the question, Will the Committee
adhere to the decision of their Chairman, it
passed in the negative, ayes 39, noes 48.
The committee then rose, reported pro
gress, and obtained ,leave to fit again.
A message was received from the Senate,
by Mr. Otis, their secretary, informing the
house, that the Senate had receded from their
amendment disagreed to by this House to
the bill providing for a second census, or
enumeration of the inhabitants of the Unit
ed States—and also informing the House,
that the Senate adhered to their amendment
disagreed to by this House to the firft sec
tion of the bill in addition to the aft regulat
ing grants of land for military services, &c.
and requested a conference with this House
on said disagreement and adherence, and had
appointed a committee for that purpose on
Thetoufe took up ffie message, agreed to
a conference, arid appointed three managers
On their part.
Important Debate.
[I DOL. 50 CTS. PER ANNUM.
would have a deadly influence upon our
pending negociation with France. If, in
deed, fir, I can be convinced that such will
be its effea I will give it a decided opposi
tion. 1 would even go farther. If gen
tlemen will convince me that any addition
to our military force would eventually se
cure an honorable issue to that negociation,
so highly do l value the restoration of that
harmony which heretofore subsisted between
the republics ; so completely, in my opin
ion, are the best interests of my country in-'
volved in a fuccefsful termination of the
mission to that country ; that I will even as
sent, reluctant as 1 am to such measures, to
double the present establishment. But I
must have some more substantial grounds of
a&ion than mere conjeaure.
Sir, I oppose the establishment of a Hand
ing army in this country, not only as a ufe
lets and enormous expence, but upon the
ground of the constitution. The spirit of
that instrument and the genius of a free peo
ple are equally hostile to this dangerous in
stitution, which ought to be resorted to (if at
all) only in extreme cases of difficulty and
danger. Yet let it be remembered, that us
age, that immemorial custom is paramount
to every written obligation, and let us be
ware of engrafting this abuse upon our con
stitution. A people who mean to continue
free must be prepared to meet danger in
person—not to rely upon the fallacious pro
teaion of mercenary armies. The gentle
man from Virginia spoke of a middle way
to be adopted, which should reconcile all
parties ; but he has not fpecified any thing.
—May I be permitted to name a measure
which will completely prote£ tus from eve
ry fear of danger, however remote ? Meet
the wishes of the people—bellow a part of
the annual millions which are levied upon
them to the purpose of arming and organiz
ing the militia. If ever a hostile nation
should be rash enough to attempt an invasion
of these states, it is upon the militia that we
must rely for the defence of their rights and
every thing that is dear to man. The word
'may be grating to the ears of some gentle
men, but in that event we must rely upon
reqnifition. No country unpoffeffed of the
pecuniary resources of Britain can afford
[nor can she do it confidently with her pub
lic°happinefs] to keep up a mercenary army
adequate to her defence. France, superior
in resources to every country in the world
but England and second to her only in a pe
cuniary nature, has been obliged to abandon
that system, and resort to requisitions of the
militia. Sucha stress is, however, laid up
on these 12 regiments, by some—nay, even
our independence, it seems, hangs upon their
existence. • When gentlemen spoke of such
primary importance to our security from
foreign invasion, I did expert that they
would have proved their competency on the
proposed obje& ; that they would have fat
isfied us of the pradicabilty of defending our
extensive coast with a handful of men, not
exceeding 4000, scattered over the interior
country, or at lead that they would have
(hewn that an invasion of this country by
France was among probable events.
J shall not attempt to answer arguments
drawn from a fiippofed analogy between our
country and Holland, Switzerland, &c.
when no such analogy exills ; nor do I think
that the administration of our government
have any reason to be obliged to the mem
ber from Delaware for fuggeding that these
troops may be necessary to oVerawe a hostile
fadion, who (like the oppressed fubjeds of
the Batavian and Swifa arittoc'racies, anxious
for any change, as befog well assured that
none would be more intolerable than their
ancient servitude) might be disposed to join
the standard of an invading foe. Iniinua
tions that these troops are to be used, on
whatever pretext, against our own people,
will not reconcile me to the measure.
Gentlemen have called to mind our situa
tion in 1775, and compared it with the pre
sent day. Where, fir, is the similitude?
We were then weak, divided, destitute of
resources, and of the power of calling into
atlioh such as we poffefled ; the enemy was
in our bosom, his troops in pofleffion of our
strong holds. The minds of men in a great
er degree unprepared for a bold affertioti of
reason and right, against the pretenlipns of
law and power ; our manly refinance brand
ed with the epithets of sedition & rebellion.
Will gentlemen undertake to fay that such
is our present state of preparation, or that
similar results are to be expe&ed ? I did
bope, fir, that our great dittance from Q great
diltorbera, of human repute w@t4 haw permitted