Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-12-13 00:00:00, page 2

4~ ^ AV77/NG.
(f >.s,yuur piper circular in the Diftria of
Paine, you are requeued to repubhth the follow
ing fruunne Boston Papers, that the inhabitants
of that part of NLHlachufeits may. be apprised of
f the fibject, and if any meafores mould be taken
at rhe ensuing or any future session, they may
avail chemfehes of the opportunity of do ng forri
-1 ebbing, of the fare kind for the benefit of Wrine.
Hour's joßas HANWAY
Among all the Banks bitber/f eflablifled all
the public purposes which have been answered
and individuals, and elaffes accommodated,
Whether there is not fill a chJs oJ People the
mofl neglefled who have the ftrongefl claim to
the attention and the Foftertng cf the GOV
ERNMENT r In this Class (or Caffes) may
be numbered the Orphan, the Widow, the
unmatled P7oman the Minor the Cripple
the Infanc the Ideot and to comprehend in one
word a great number and a variety- -the
Ffiendlefs, By thofelaft mentioned (Inc ki
ding Strangers or Aliens)'", is meant to In
clude any cr all defcriptinns of perform
which may not be properly clawed with
either of those beforementioned as they may
fieaking generally have some relation or
friend who are fappofed to have force de
gree of concern for their welfare but notin
all cases willing or perhaps capablepf taking
car^of^i' interests- -but rhe ftuer is
nr'fiimed to be dettitute of such I riends.
' Let nF P av ^ momentary attention to some
o fihefe diferiptions of persons. So great is
the imp^fea' o4 °' a " i^^uu arrangement
Finding ourfeives in such agreeable cir
cumstances, wehave leisure to look about
us for Objects who need our assistance, &
as we have the Means, and a corresponding
Difpofrion, to afford them Relief, nothing
seems wanting but a Plan, or System, to
diffufe these blessings among a greater pro
portion of bur fellow.creatures, and in fu
ture agree to make it our bufinef^ " to
make the crooked strait, and the rough
places smooth," and help each other to
travel the remainder of our Journey thro"
life, with as much comfort and pleasure as
the lot of Humanity will admit./ ,
I am not an advocate for or an opposer of
Banks or any of the other numerous Lucra
tive Institutions because I need much infor
mation before I can from a conclusive opin
ion on a fObjeE l so complicated & which has
exercised the Genius of the ablest heads in
Europe—lt is therefore no part cf my de
sign to go into jny examination of their
principles—how far they are benefitial cr
injurious in fheir operation to these engaged
in Trade—^or of their moral or political
tendencies er effects as I feel altogether
Unqualified for such investigations.—They
however now encreafe so fall that they man
Lave some influence immediacy or remote
ly on the manners and well being of Society
and may produce much good or much evil
--Which of these will predominate I must
wait longer and learn from thegreat Teach
er Experience to decide for of against their
general Utility. But leaving these things
and taking up the fubjea as we find it in the
aauil state of Society among u% my ^onfy
view is to lay before (he public as a fnb
je& of free enquiry and candid difeuffion
me following propofiiion.
Vv'hat have beehthe procuring caufesof
all this overflowing Wealth, of which
these companies seem to be the tign, I (lull
not attempt to explain, in general or par
ticulars. It is fufficien tfor my present
purpose, to cbferve only that we have beheld
out Country for many years, in a Rate of
Peace and prosperity, for which, perhaps
pillory can furnifh no equal example.
This is, no doubt, in a great measure, ow
ing to the excellent Constitutions, and the
mild System of Laws and Government un
der which we live, so that it is cur own
fault, if we do not live happily. For th^e
favours of a bountiful Providence, onr
Hearts, in the language of Gratitude, should
dispose us to acknowledge tothe Almighty
Giver—" The lines have fallen to us in
pleafent places that we have a goodly hern
ige.m— Thou haft prepared a Table before
us, in the presence of our Enemies, • Thou
anointeft our heads with oil, Our cup runneth
over."
-BA?<KS, INSURANCE COMPA
NIES, and various other C^ftrati^s, fur
ltert!y lucrative purpofer>, have of late
multiplied with so buch facility, that as a
branch of Political economy, they have ex=
cited much attenion, and, perhaps a prop
ortionate anxiety 'to understand the firbjea,
or, however, to partake of the profits.
These lucrative Institutions are na/» Infre
quent, as to become a diftinft department of
Legifla ion, and the Leginatui^ccordingly
as a matter of coorfe, anntrfy appoint Stan
ding Committees, extlufively on the fubjea
of Saaks, Turr^ikes, &c.They-are indeed, a
fort of Science, 0; rather a branch or copar
tnerfhip of Trade,.by which nearly every
denomination of citizens, (who are able to
look out for fonfe/vds) are accomodat
ed.
" Let not each man's affections be solely confined
" to hi: private Bereft but fady to promote
" the welfare and intertf of others."
Harwood's Pur^phrafe, PhiHippians ii. 4
The laborious Mechanic now approaching
s o or arrived at years beyond the feafun of
-labour perhaps fufftrißg under the loss of
tight or hearing or the racking pains of the
Rheumatism or general debility cr fotie
rther of the numerous ills which our "Na
ture is heir to" and it mAy be a large family
to protoide for & children to educate, whose
prudence has saved, a few hundred dollars for
ficknefa, or "a rainy dey," aright here draw his fefoi-annual,
or quarterly Dividend, that would footbe his Raig, and
procure for him ' Wine that maketb glad the heart of Men
and OiL to give bim a 'cheerful countenance, and BREAD which
frergtbeneib Man's heart"
The Sea-beaten Mariner, or "the kEar-neorO Soldier,’' 01
his heirs, who have had the economy to save out "of kis
penury," a pzrt of the pittance which his Country, or bis
employers, allowed him for his feevices, could here put in
his, or bis WIDOW het "two Mitt?," towards the fuff
port or education of her children. —Let it river be said of
Veterans in the fertile 61 cur Country, what the fubli#
Young, so pathetically describes to be their ungrctgd
condition in others :
"Broken Under arm,
In Battle kept away, with half their kirah,
dig hitter Bread, thro lands their valour fad'd
And there is, beside, the Mariner, the Soldier, the otrdn
ger &c. a class which has so many anomalies, that it woulc
be difficult to arrange them, under generic or fpeciSc name!
—we mull, therefore, for the present, call them Non De
fcript. These may be as Numerous, and as much entitled
to the benefits of a Bank as the other£& may emphatically be
said to have “NO HELPER" Put it is unnecessary to
swell the lift by flaring the number of probable, or possible
cases that may happen, of perfops who have the bell claims
to Hmanity, and to the care ahd patronage of the Government
©vet their property, Every onß's own otfervafion ^llen
able him to felc6l io the circle of his acquaintance, tpe un
fortunate and diftrcffed,whofe affiuftions in the coArf^ of Na
ture, from the feeblencfs of Conftiturion, from the d/'fpen
fations of Providence, or some peculiar circumstances, enti
tle them to all we can do to alleviate rteir fufferjnp, and
secure the wreck of their property, and thus to '%ear one
another^ Burthens, and so fulfil the Lazy of Chest." Who i,
he that dare, in his prosperity so fay, "my muuntaiifraptb
foJirdng, Lfall never be moved." What security have yen,
that ferae of the lo&s, or afflictions above-mentioned, may
not come into your own-family ?—You may inform againii
fofs frem fafr Ship, er ybur House, ^gainft Fire —but, rid
you wfure for Tourfelf, agaiuft the premature decay of the
Faculties, cr chronic difc>fes, or the Yellow Fewer, or a
broken, or palsied Limb, or mental derangement, or some
other bitter ityredi&ty which may "fc the portion of your
If the Commerce and Wealth of our Country has nauah
ly encreafed, as these numerous lucrative Institutions wcfald
seem to indicate, and if there really is so great promts ac
cruing to. Bank Stockholders r -as we daily hear — Why
fbould net the Orphan, the Widow, the Minor, the unmar
ried Woman, the Mechanic, the Mariner, tbe'&ldier, the
Stranger, the Lkot, the Cripple, the Insane, the Infirm, the-
Dijireffed, of whatever age, fez, or condition.— Why (hould
tot they participate m these advantages, rather than trust
the security of an individual, and reap, if not the GOLDEN
harvests, of some, kt them at leaf! be permitted so be
Gleaners of the SILVER field, and leave part of their Glean
ings to their needy heirs or frichds. The main object of
this enquiry then, is to extend this Guardian cere, and the
Benefits,pf Banking to all the descriptions of persons above
mentionert, and to all others, whom it may be expedient to
affoeiace with them
Let then, at least, m Bank, be efiablifhed, which (ball
embrace arid noufifh in its Lap, all such performs, of the a
baye descriptions, las (hall appear to desire it, and de,ofit
their Mites, with as many others of the Non-Dfoipi elaf
fes, which require relief, and are the proper objects of if,
as may be confident with the nature of such a Batik. To
bring my ideas more to a paint, and to give them some
shape, let as, for example, call this the Asylum Bank, the
Benevolent^ the Humane, the Philanthropic, or the Guardian
land such the case of Orphans and Manors &c.
that a Qteftion here arises, whether theii
property would not generally be in a better
date of Security and a greater probability of
accumulating in a Bank than in the hands
of individuals r The.refponGble troublesome
& fomrimes expenfiVe Troll tis Executors,
Guardians, &c. would in thiTway be perfor
med.cheerfully as far as rcLies-to property
free of expence by men who .would have a
common concern with ihe^idtew theO/phan
^c. In the Tecurity & increase if their pro
perty. Ihe general Ycpcrintendeoce of a
guardian in the Education and other con
cerns of his Ward we may reasonably fop
pofe tobe fidheieutiy bimhenrome without
she trouble and rifaue-of the fecmity of his
property. The latter therefore is a part of
the charge which is foirly prefumeable most
Guardians would be glad to be free from.
I he Orphan and the Minor would thus have
the belt fecur% for hrs property and 03 co
min-g of age find it accumulated so as to
answer not only every demand for his sup
port and education' during his Minority ;
b§ also to make him a Stockholder to a
cbnhderable amount and enable him to begin
business on his own Capital.'
1 he Widow, or the single Woman ad
vanced in ykars perhaps entertains "no
thoughts of changing her condition.". Her
uthrort wish, as fat as the good things of
this life are concerned, is the secure. Deposit .
of her little Alt in the fafeft hand atg in a
manner the must productive to enabietier to
liveon the Interest as far as that mty go
without breaking upon her humble Capital
A few hundred Dollars (possibly so g:eat a
lum as a fboufand) the frugal Livings or
money earned by hard labour or her por
tion in the dividends an edate or a Legacy
by a relation orfriend forms prehaps much
the gfcateft part of her property. Th^s in
the care of a Bank and partaking of hr pro
fits with hbr habitual induifry and economy
might place her above dependance and
charity, if not yield ^ more comfortable liv
ing.
ifa "Stranger or Sojourner" falls sick add
dies among us and leaves more or less pro
perty where could there be a fafer Deposit
until his legal heirs appear to claim it: it
none appear the Judge of probate or the
Attorney General know what to direct jh
the disposal of it;
Ban's, or by any other n^me, which ffial! befe exprefe its ap
propriate purpose, and Efficiently diftinguilh it from com
mor, Banks
Xtafrr it would be oIR, that the Bank, now pro,ofcd,
(hot/d be conftruded on the ftme principles, as other
^ Bants, or partially, or entirely different, and calculated up
on principles, adapted to its own peculiar purpofea.—
Wither the Subscribers to this Bank, may receive /%-
oats nf any other description, so as to include a propor
, tiotaf the wealthy —or, whether they should be corner
ed frith any other Bark, already eftablifhed,— or, with a
'Tran-Ban}," or ary other about to be formed, by incot
, posting their Stocks into one Fund, on common Nanking
and commercial principles, and what proportion this Stock
(baud bear to the whole--- Whether ir would better, that
ampb provision mould be made, for those herein pleaded
for n any of the (lifting Banks, b, admitting their Stock
to 5, added, from time to titre, to the original Capital,
, upir the fame terms as the original subscribers, without
an, advance or loss upon the furn actually fubferibed.
Whether the Commonwealth {withdrawing ts Stret ii
tb\ Union Bank, or not) IhAI be concerned as Partners in this
Bak, in preference and exc ^ffion of all others---whether
ore such Bank would be fufheient for Massachusetts,
.aid another for Maine-.-or, whether, according to the
a/ility of Population and Property, there fhruld be one %
cicb County, or in each of the mod considerable Sea
forts ---What fem ought to form the Capital Stock, if it
- hould be thought proper to limit the Sum, as in either
)auks---what funs should make a Sta-e in this'Bank---
whether any kind of Bf^te, real or personal, (hould be
receivable for Shares in the Stock, other than Coin,or
Public Securities---shat number, and vbo, (hall form
tAe Body of Directors, —or, aby other arrangements
and pro> 4i”n% it may be thought necciTar, tn make,
are questions, which muff be ^fo^ by others, view
are more competent to the subj-d
1 If such a ^ank, as is here proofed, mbuld be tho?
advifcable, whatever principles, er modifications of them,
nuy be adopted ib its conftruaion,--- considering its pe
culiar Dtfgn and Objeas, should it not be under the
inore especial rare and protesting Wing cf the covfrn-
MEMT-.-Wby may not the Governor and Council,
(for the time being) be Directors, or otherwise havt
feme salutary controhl in its affairs, at teaft for the
'fame purpose, as the Stale Treasurer, in behalf of the
Commonwealth, is (ex officio) a Direa& in the Union
Bank.---And as from the nature of the case Judges 0,
Probate, must have mu'ch left in their diferetioo, and
from -their official fituatiori, have the most intimate know
ledge of the property and circumfUnces of those, whom
the Laws have committed to tbeir exciufive jurifdiaion,
would there not be a propriety in appointing the fudges of
Probate Directors {ex officio) in tach County or Town,
where fnth a Bank may be established. May net the At
torney- General, and the Solicitor General, in their official cha
ra&ers, have feme ufeful agency id the concerns of such a
Bank. But thtre would be probably, no want of suitable
chara^rs for Directors Men of the highest fortunes and
reputation, would esteem R an honorable employment, to
take the care of the property of the various forts of h^lplefs
people, who art the objects of this Bank, and, perhaps for
this redfon, a certain proportion of Gehtinmen of fortune,
may, with advantage to the poorer elaffes, be associated
with them, and by thus embarking their several fortunes,
in one bottom, provide the greater fccurity for the whole.
Thus will "the Rich and the Poor meet together, the Lord is
the Maker of theta ALL. Perhaps, no men in Society, in the
common affairs of life, give so much time and service, for
nopecuniary reward, as Physicians and Overseers of the
P,or of the Town, had Ministers add Deacons, for the
Foor of the Church Why then fbould it not be accounted
,s honorable for Gentlemen of fortune and leifurc, to be
Overseers and Deacons, in the case under consideration, as
in the others.-—But the fubjea carries its own uridines,
and requires nb argumentation for Its flipport
A Bank, thus nurtured and protc^ed by the P^''^
care of the government, tend its Security and prolific
Powers, provided for and guarded, by all the means which
ebb ingenuity of man has deviled, and which motives
prompted by Pamadity and PnSere,, both conspire to cteitc
---Why may not such a Bank, become as it were---"rf
Father to the F&tberlefs^ a husband to the Widow, and
a GUIDE to the Youth" that fhail be "eyes to tbl Blind,
and FEET to the Lame"---that (hall"yberg^en the WEAK
bands, a-d corfrm the FEEBLt knee's"-— that shall ba
"a comfort to the MOURNERS''---that shall "break the facts
of the WICKED, and pluck the SPOIL out of his Teeth''—that
"will bring the BLIND into a STREET that they know net, and
lead them into a foot path tbae they are ignorant in. That
"J^," make darkness LIGHT before them, add the thing that is
crooked to be STRAIT." That shall "deliver the poor front
him that is too franc for tim ; yea the poor and bids that is in
misery from bim ibat fpoiletb him." That "shall keep , the
Simple Folk in their Right, defend thk Children of the
Poor, and punijb the wrong boER.-.-That shall be as "4
Father to the Poor, and the Cause which they know not, have
feasebed out. That shall "fay to them of a Fearful heart, BE
strong, Pear not.'
" Then the Pyes of the Blind Jhal! be opened, and the Fars
of the Deaf J,all fe unflvp,ed,---tbeh fcall the Lame, leap as
ah Hartland the tongue of the DtiMßjballfog"
"When the-Ear bears, it will bless you, and when the Eye
fees, it will gi^ Witneft to fois--bc':aufe you kaVe delivered the
\ Pdr that cried, and the Fotberiefs^ and HIM THAT HAD
NONF TO HELP RlM— The bltfing of HIM that wa, ready
to perift will c-me upon TOO, and fug will cause the Widow's
heart to fng for foY.
“The Heart which feels for others's woes,
Shall find each fei+fh sorrow ^fa
The man who happiness befl%s,
Reflexed happinets shall bless"
New-Hampihire Legislature.
CONCORD, NOV. 30.|
On Wednefda, lad, the Honorable General 1
Court gawened at this place,agreably to adjourn-1
merit in June last.
On Thursday, his excellency the Governor
sent the following communicatioh.to the House of
' Keprefenratives, by Mr. Pearson the Secretary 3
“ Staid of Ne<w-Ha?tybire Nerds 24, 1803.
Sir,
The ffate of ms health preventing toe from
waiting upon the Legislature,, as I have usually
done at the commencement of a session, you will
please tolay the indofed communication before
the Honorable the Houle of Representatives.
Your humble servant,
.JOHNT.GILMAX
The Hon the Speaker of the 1
House of Reprefentauves. J
Me-—,„-.—,
Mr. President and Gentleman of the Sen
ate, Mr^ Speaker, a^ Gentlemen of the
House of Reprefenfitives,
- IN meeting yon at this time, to which
the Leg&tnre was adjourned agreeably to
your requeff, for tha-purpofe of completeing
fom particular business enjoined by the con
stitution to be done within the present year,
apd for attending to such other things As
may be found nectary for promoting aud
Messrs. Ellis, Hale, and Alexander, were ap
pointed a Committee by the House, to draft zn ana
Iwer to the Governor's Communication, who rea
ported the following on Monday lass, Which wak
accepted.
Ilia) it plafe y&r E^feilrnc,,
THE h^ufe of Reprefentativesteteive tintlt pe
culiar pieafure yourExcellehcy's congratulations cd
she general prrfprrity enjoyed by the citizens of
this State: We trust this will be admitted as no
"^b' evidence that the duties of the Citizen and
the Magistrate 6a«e in general tan difeharged with
fidelity. The diftin&ion between these federal du
ties pointed out by your Excellency, is felt and ac
knowledged : Those of the former are indeed sa
cred ; but the latter have no other alternative than
perjury, or a faithful performance of the reposed
trufi. A general performance of both these dtt;es
is doubtless necessary to the prosperity of every
Govern merit : but we trufl, tiTt a free Govern
ment constituted like our own, is best calculated tot
fccure it.
Tire new proportion to be eflablifhed for the fu
ture affoTment of taxes, which alone tendered th^
adjourned feffibn ncccffary, shall meet our earfitft
attention.
The importance of a well regulated' Militia,s§
too obvious to be questioned by any. It furnifofs
the means of forminga regular army with? promp
titude we trull equal to the exigency of any po^
bl, inyafinn. That our Militia possesses those qual
ities which diftinguiffi and adorn the foldier/n a de
greeeqtol nt leift to that ofauv country,requires nd
other evidence than that to which your Excellence
has drawn oar attention. He who can rook back
on our revolutionary war, and furvty the val r uf
and virtue displayed in the atchievment of our In
dependence, with one remaining doubt of the fp l ^
of his fellow citizens, rcuft found it only-on those
prejudices which Arnold have been left ^h I”&
birth-place beyond the Atlantic.— Imprefcd thus ,
highly with the importance of cur Militia, and the
justness of its claims to our attention, we dare not
pledge nurfelfes to provide a remedy for every de
fe& in the prefect system of its laws; p°ft eipt^
riepce forbids the hope that thiscan be bro't to ma
turity wimonttheaid of time, and the moll carful
attention,: Butourevertioni shall be uniform f° r
the pror^otion bffo deferable an end.
We participate in theLregtet with whit,
Exceiierrty beholds the scourge of war again
on fomeof the nations of Europe • But white the
calaites which the contending parties are i^f"'!' _ -
ing one^b other, a waken onr fympathyfthT ~
fcarcey folio a*Aken our feats; of lhe diffi eulfie§
In to-opteratin, with ycu Gentlemen, for thf
puipofe-of promoting the general welfare, I aniiciar
pate great faiisfaaion.
JOHN TAYLOR dILMANa
Nov. ^4, 1803.
While we ardently defir^ to avoid the
recertify of a Landing army, the state of ens
Militia has flrong claims to Legislative at
tention; they are rr-fpeaable for number and
possess a large portion of flat spirit which
Was heretofore exhibited in the j< fl defence
of our rights and which gave our, Country
independi nee and rank among nations ; but
they are net so Well furuiffied witharmsand
other means of deleave as would be denia
ble : In addition to this many valuable
Officers who have but fmail estates findin the
expeufes /which ctfiom seems in fume
degree to have authorized) too burdenfrr.e
are induced to frefign ; this with other caches
making refigrations very frequent.
Seme of the European nations, with whom oct
Country have important commercial connexions,
and other friendly relations, are again involved id
War ; and while we view with regret the calamities
to which the, are exposed, it is prelumed the neu
tral position formerly taken ly our Government,
and the advantages which have revolted therefrom,
Sufficiently point out the propriety of avoiding aU
measures which may have a tendency to entangle
us in their cohtefts. And while we exhibit a paci
fic dilpofition towards other nations, love % )our
own Country (hould incite to measures calculated
for preserving peace and good order amon> Outa
selves, maintaining the independence and dignity
of Government, and preparation for repelling by
force (if nedeffary) all aggressions from foreign pow#
ers.
prefervmg the petite, Liberty a,id lately cf
our fellow citizens pren.it me again to con
gratulate you on the general tranquility and
prosperity which is apparent throughout the
State. *.
In free Governments canftituted as cut
own all ihccKtz ns have parts so perform ui
which each fhculd confider his e&s not
only as relating to himfelf but to other's
equally privileged and to pcdlerUy. If this
idea ih correct how much more incumbent
is tifGjy on orfe who are placed to offices
of poblic truC r They mnH not be cement
with merely doing the duty of private ciri
zvr&but oi^ht to be 'ex samples to others in
all !rra;iewcrthy and virtuous cordue ;
mid those who have the powet rbtrofed is
them are under strong obligations to provide
the means for and to countenance and cn:
courage the diffeminu'ion ui ufeful I::rov,l=
edge virtue nnd morality as indifoenfib'2
requifitN; fob the fopfort of a free Govern
ment.
The robfea of eftablilhing a new pro=
portion of taxes among the several town^
throughout the State wil claim four attend
tion. 6 As it will necessarily require a
confulerable time to complete this bufinefi
permit me kvaft that it may be taken into
cofideration as early in the session as may be
convenient ; more especially as ft will be
necessary to pass another off for HiOriaing
the State for the Senators which will bl
founded on this.