The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-08-06 00:00:00, page 2

If the debtor is unable to pay his debt in specie,
and his creditor will nevertheless distress him,
and refufe to take any other estate as a just equi
valent, all men pofleffed of the feelings of hu
manity, will call him cruel and opprellive ; but
pray let the creditor have some hand in the mu
tation, and fay for himfelf, whether sheep, neat
cattle, bar-iron, land oY (bate securities, will belt
ferre his purposes, and not put it wholly into the
power of the debtor, to discharge his debt, with
such estate as is most useless to him, and wants
to get rid of, and intirely useless and a burden
upon his creditor. A man who hath not a foot
ofland, would perhaps be perplexed to find pas
ture for a dozen head of lean cattle—This really
appears hard on the fide of the creditor^ The
honorable Aflfembly for ought 1 fee, have an equal
right to fay, the creditor fhatl accept of Conti
nental Bills in lieu of silver and gold as ftatefee u
rities. No bontf debtor 1 presume will ever take
benefit by this statute, left he forfeits that cha
racter among his friends and acquaintance ; and
I should not think it reputable for the honorable
assembly to ena& laws for the emolument of
men of a different character. True the law gives
the creditor interest for his debt, provided he
will stay execution ; but who stands security for
the debt ? How long must he wait ? Or what is
worse, how will any pay their taxes in specie, if
deprived of the usual mode of the recovery of
debts ? Have the legislature directed collectors
to discharge all taxes, for land, neat Cattle, bar
iron, orftate /ecurities, provided they are out and
draw interest ? If they have, I have no caule of
complaint, and can discharge my taxes ; if not,
I cannot fee by what means my taxes are to be
paid, if I cannot colled my debts in the usual
mode, and must pay them in specie ; this tender
ahi is more fatal in its consequences than the for
mer, as it obftruds the payment of taxes. It
indeed affeds all the States, it greatly affeds cre
ditors who live out of the state, either at Boston
or Philadelphia, &c. who may and often have
executions to levy in this state ; the debtor ten
ders neat cattle and sheep, I should be glad to
know whose proper business it is to drive them
to the creditor—whether the debtor, the officer
who levys the execution, or his attorney who
collects the debt ; either of them would make a
droll figure driving them lowing and bleating
through the States. A grazier who lives in this
Rate, would think himfelf illy used, who fora
drove of fat cattle fold in Boston, to be obliged
after a legal process, to have to cart his effects
from Boston in Bar-Iron, Cables and Anchors,
or any other article that state might think proper
to make a legal tender for debt. This law puts
a final period to all credit, unless where men can
rely on the honor of the party contrasting; and
it must be thought disreputable to rely more on
the honor of an individual, than any security af
forded by the laws of the state. I conceive it
would be better for the legislature to fay exprefly
there should be no law processes during our pre
sent distresses, than to effe& the fame thing by
this tender aft, which must d^band for the pre
sent a Hofi of Attornies, who will not chufe to
have their fees paid either in bar-iron or state
securities,
To conclude—ls twenty-five members of our
Lower House, are a number fufficient to ena&
laws of so great importance, it will save us much
expence to have the house reduced to that num
ber. If our constitution will admitthat number
to tranfa& business, while there is more than fix
times that number annually chosen, it is high
time to mend it or form a new one. But ifit is
contrary to our late charter, newly adopted as a
rule of government, it is best to abide by it, as it
certainly has a tendency to lessen the esteem and
dignity ofthat house, to tranfaft business, either
of a public or private nature, when there is not a
quorum present ; as it leaves room to suggest
many things which never ought in the remotest
manner to be even hinted, touching any proceed
ings of that honorable house, which forever
ought to support a character faperior to every
thing that has the lead appearance of party, in
trigue, design or private interest.
P RTERSBURG H, March 26.
TH E courier which the Count Cobentxel, Ambassador
from Vienna here, has received within a short time
past, brought the last answers of the courts of England,
France and Spain, touching the mediation of the two Im
perial Courts, and the last propositions made in chis refpc&
in the month of November lift to the principle Courts, has
been this day sent to Vienna, with the result or drarminx
foa of this Coils on the above dispatches.,
March 18. Mr. Simolin, the Enprefs's Minister at the
Court of London, had been charged to make representation
there of some new insults received by our marine from feme
English privateers and other ships. Our Court has received
precise answers on the fubje& of these complaints ; but it
has been observed, that none of these anffrers (though in
other refpe&s fatisfa&ory) make any mention of the inde
pendence of the maritime powers, and of the indefinite li
berty of their navigation.
HAG U E, April 2T.
Extradfrom the register of their High Mightinesses the
States General of the United Provinces, dated Friday, the
I,th of April.
“ Having refused the deliberations upon the firff and
fecund address of Mr. Adams, the former presented to the
President of the Aflfembly of their High Mightinesses, on the
14th of May, 1781, and the latter on the ,th of January last,
requeuing them, in the name of the United States ofNorth-
America, no permit the said Mr. Adams to deliver his cre
dentials to their High Mightinesses ; and further, in his la*
address, requiring a categorical answer on that fubjc&.
" It is determined to admit the said Mr. Adams as Arn
bafftdor from the United States of North- America co their
High Mightinesses, and he is accordingly by these presents
admitted and acknowledged as such.
Signed W.BOREEL,
And underneath W. FAGEL L."\
Mr. Adams has had a vifc from the French Ambassador,
with whom he held* eonferrence of two hours.
April 25. We learn that the Regency of Amsterdam, hav
ing refblved to rejed the prepositions made by England for
a negociation ana suspension of arms, will give inftri aions
to their Deputies at the Aflfembly of the States of Holland
and Weit-Fi it Hand, for that purpose.
Mr. Adams, Envoy from the United States of North-
America, hath had a eonferrence with the principle mem
bers of government, and with the Prince Stakeholder. He
was this day in eonferrence with their High Mightineffs ; he
was received and accompanied by rhe Baron de Brantzen
bourg on the part of the province of Utrecht, and M. C.
Rigor on that of Friefland. The Duc de la Vawguyse, the
French Ambassador, gave the day before yesterday, a sump
tuous dinner to Mr. Adams, and all the foreign Ministers
refiling here. We are assured that a treaty of commerce
between our Republic and the United States of North-Ame
rica will immediately take place.
May 2.
The following is the letter of credence which Mr. Adams,
Minister Plenipotentiary of rhe United States of North-Ame
rica, has presented to the Assembly of the States General-
High and Mighty Lords,
TH E States of America in Congress afimbled, deeply
impressed with a sense of the wisdom and magnani
mity of your High Mightinesses, and of your unalterable
attachment to the rights of humarity, and desirous ofculti
vating the friendship of a nation, diftingujshed by its wis
dom and moderation, have appointed Mr. John Adams,
formerly a Delegate to Congress for the State of Maffachu-
Ctts, and Member ofth Council for the said State, to refine
with you, in quality of their Minister Plenipotentiary, in
order chat he may give you particular assurances of the high
esteem they have fi>ryour High Mightinesses. We entreat
your High Mightinesses to give fall credit to every thing
which our said Minister shall impart to you in our behalf,
especially when he shall afire you of our friendship and
refpe& W: pray God, High and Mighty Lords, to have
you under his holy protection.
Done at Philadelphia, the firft day of January, in the
year of our Lord 178 f, and in the fi th year of oar Inde
penderer, by the Congress of the United States, your
friends.
(Signed) S. HUNTINGTON, President.,
These letters of credence having been carried to the As
sembly of the States General, their High Mightinesses there
j upon took the following resolution.
Extract from the register of the refolutious of their High
Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces, on
Monday the 2%d of April, 1782.
Mr. Boreel, who presided in the Aflfembly the last week,
has made report to their High Mightinesses and noticed to
them, that Mr. John Adams, Envoy from the United States
of America, had been with him on Sara day last, and deli
vered to him a letter from the Aftembly of Congress, writ
ten at Philadelphia, the fitft of January, 1781, and contain
ing a credence for the said Mr, Adams, to the end that he
might reside with their High Mightinesses in quality of Mi
nister Plenipotentiary ; Whereupon, after deliberation, it
has teen thought good arid determined by these prefects,
shatthe said Mr. Adams is acceptable to their High Mighti
nesses as Minister Plenipotentiary, that he shall be reccg
nized in that quality, and that an audience shall be given
or Commiflioners assigned to him, whenever he shall ask it.
And the above shall be communicated to the said Mr. Adams
by the Agent Van dcr Burch de Spierinshock.
(Signed) W. VAN CETTERS.
(Underneath) conformable to the aforefaid register.
(Signed) H. FACELL.
This favourable refutation has given Mr Adams an op
portunity of prefentixg to their High Mightinesses the fol
lowing memorial.
"THE undersigned, Minister plenipotentiary from the
United States of America, has the honor to inform vour
High Mightinesses, chat he is charged, by inftrp&ions from
his Sovereign, to propose to the States General of the United
Low Countries, a treaty of amity and ofcommerce between
the two Republics, founded on principles of equal and reci
procal advantage, and compatible with engagements al
ready formed with their allies; as also with such ether
treaties as they have it in their intention to form with other
powers. In confequen/e the undersigned has the honor to
propose to four High Mightinesses that some person or per
sons, with full powers, may be nominated to confer and
treat with him on this important fubjed."
(Signed) J. ADAMS.
April 2;. We are a fired, that conformably co the request
of Mr. Adaras, Committees have been already appointed
to confer with him on the object cfhis memorial. On the
other hand, we learn that tneir High Mightinesses have
answered in brief to die proportions for an accommodation
with England, made by the Ru&aa mediators, f That
they excused theh sfelves fropi entering into a negocratioa
for that purpose ; their engagements with France for com
bining their maritime operations, during this campaign,
being too farWvapced co admit of it." It was detei mined
at the fame time to communicate amicably this resolution
to the Empress of Russia.
April 2,. Mr. Adams, Minister Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America, had, on Tuesday last, a confer
rence with the Deputies of the Affen.bly of their High
Mightinesses, and he has on this occasion pro pc fed a plan of
a treaty to be formed between their High Mightinefles and
the said States, which has been accepted by the Deputies of
the Provinces, in order to be laid before the Lords the States
their confticuents ; an*moreover it has been referred co the
Deputies of the College of the Admiralty.
We learn also that on Friday last, conformably to the re
solution of the Lords the States of Holland and W<ft-
Friefland, their High Mightinesses have in like manner
taken a resolution to reject the last proposition made Iy the
Court of London, for opening a negociation on the foot of
the treaty of 1674 ; 2nd to make known the fame to the
Empress of all the Ruffias. ^
LONDO N, April 6.
On Twefday last the Statesof Guelderland gave their an
swer at the Hague ; and the American i; dependency is now
unanimously acknowledged by the Seven United Provinces.
By yesterday's French mail an account was received, that
the troops at Brest began to embark on board tranfpotts, on
the Bth ; and that La Motte Piquet was expe&td t, fail with
seven or eight ships of the line in a few days after.
Extrafl of a letter -from Paris, April 20.
" Two English gentlemen arrived here the i§th, and ri
lighted at the Hotel de Mufeovie. The day following they
went to Dr. Franklin's hotel at P.ffy. From the frequent
conferences they have since held with the American Pleni
potentiary, and with the Minister for foreign affairs, it is
imagined that they arc charged with a commiflion to fettle
the preliminaries for a general pacification."
May 16. It is happy for us that the mails of Holland
ceme to hand very irregularly ; for as often as they arrive
they put us eut of hunter : It cannot in <ffe&, but render
us acfperate, to remark, that since the pacific proportions
which we have made to the Dutch, they assume a higher
tone, give themlelves up with less reserve to their refine
ments ; and not content with repudiating us as natural al
lies, openly beflow upon us the title of natural enemies^
Can any thing, for example, be so infuiting to us as the dif
ceurfe of Baron de Chappelle de Merfch, which they affeft
so much and so generally to admire.
This difeonrfc pronounced or. the 27th April last, among
athoufand other improper, not to fay insulting rcft<aiort„
contains the following :
Noble aid Powerful Lords 1
“ The time then is come for us to render homage to the
liberty, the privileges and the dignity of the Batavian nati
on, by opening our cars to her voice, which has demanded
with to much energy, and which Kill demands, that this Re
public acknowledge the independence of our brethren, the
Americans, who have made themselves free by the point 06
the sword, and that we concert with them measures expedi
ent for our mutual prosperity, and for ensuring a. permanent
liberty or both lides, by a courage and intrepidity which
may frighten all tyrants who trample under foot the most
sacral rights of nations.
It is our duty, Noble and Powerful Lords, it is our duty co
render another homage to thevoice of the people ; they cry
unto us, No Separate peace ! No suspension of arms) N#
revival of ancient treaties with an enemy who has never?
refpe&d them, and who has always attacked and violated
them in the most arbitrary manner. Such is the language of
our belt citizens. The props fiion lately made to this state
by the Ministers of her Imperial Majesty of Russia, conform
ably to the declaration of the present Miniltiy of England,
to engage us in a particular reconciliation with our enemy,
or to induce us to a ceffarion of hostilities with them, is in
adraiffable: Both ought to be rejeded in a manner becom
ing the dignity es the Republic. The new cabinet of the
King cfEngland is too eulightned to have imagined, that
this nation was so foolish as to be caught in this snare ; I
am ratherinclined to think that it has made these advances
as preparatory to a general peace.
It is nevertheless an intolerable thing that our enemy in
the midst of their distresses, should have dared to present us
with peace by offering us the enjoyment of a free navigation;
asif iedepended on them to give or take away, an advantage,
the poffi ffion ofwhjch belongs to us as well as to all the peo
ple of the world. The Republic is in a condition to letthis
infra&er of treaties fee that she can maintain her rights b,
the force of her arms; nor will it be the firft time that Bri
tain has trembled before the flag of this state. The intereffs
of our country, of all Europe require, then, that we endea
vour to avenge ourfelvcs.
Besides these motives there are othersftill which oblige us
to rejeft the English proportions, to make no separate peace
with Great-Britain. Your Noble Mightinesses feel already
that I mean to (peak of these striking marks of kindnefa
which this Republic has in the most noble manner experi
enced from his most Christian Majesty.
Now that we have refolded to league ourfelvcs with the
enemies es our enemy, in order to humble him still further,
how can we corfent to any peace but in conjun&ion with
our natural ally, and after it shall have appeared that he if
no longer in condition to renew his arbitrary condu& to
wards us and other nations. That we have been favedfron
the brink of the precipice to which the artifice employed
both within and without, by this odious enemy, had led u%
is next to God to be aferibed rot to ourselves, but to the King
of France. Let then the principles of gratitude euide the
condvd of this Rate. Great are ' the obligations of this Re
public towards this Monarch, the friend of humanity ? What
would have become of our ethnics ? What would have be
come of this state without the fuccours of the French? lew#
Noble and Mighty Lords, the fame powerful neighbour,
who, atthe time when our fathers were fighting to shake
offthe Spanish yoke, co-operated in ourdeliverance, vbp in
the present time has refeued our necks from that of the Bri
tons, which at firft we did not fee tn to dread. Thus pene
trated withfenriments of the most lively gratitude, ourceuh
trymen expeft that this Republic will immediately conn est
itfclf by the flofe^ tits with a generous station, whp tak^