The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1791-12-10 00:00:00, page 2

8 Conte Red cledion, but an animated
one. The candidates were not men,
but principles. Societies were formed
in Paris, and committees of correfpon
dance and communication established
throughout the nation, for the purpose
of enlightening the people and explain
ing to them the prinicples of civil go
verament ; and so orderly was the e
lesion conducted, that it did riot give
rife even to the rumour of tumult.
The States General were to meet at
Versailles in April, 1789, but did not
assemble till May. They tituated them
fclves in three Separate chambers,or ra
ther ihe clergy and iheariftocracy with
drew each into a Separate chamber. —
This majority of the aristocracy claimed
what they called the privilege of vo
ting as a leparate body, and of giving
their content or their negative in that
manner ; and mariy of the bishops and
the high beneficed clergy claimed the
fame privilege on the part of their or
der.
After various altercations on this head,
the Tiers Ecat or Commons (as they
were then called) declared themselves
(on a motion made for that purpose by
the Abbe Sieyes) " the represen
tatives of the nation ; and that
th two Orders could be considered but as
deputies of corporations, and could onl,
have a deliberative voice but when they
assembled id a national character ratih the
national reprefotatives." This procee
ding extinguished the stile of Etats Ge
neraux or States General, and ere&ed
it ioto the stile it now bears, that of
L’Affembly Notionale or National As
sembly, e
This motion was not made in a pre
cipitate manner. It was the refill of
cool deliberation,and coheerted between
the national reprefentatvies and the
patriotic members of the two chambers,
who saw into the folly,mifehief, and iri-
berty a, telling him bs is very unacquaint
eJwiib French affairs)f peaking upon this
fub(ea, fays, " The firft thing that flruck
me in the calling the States General, was
a great departure from the ancient courje ;"
and be soon afte r jays, " From the mo
ment 1 read the lift, I Jaw diftinaly, and
very nearly as it has happened, all that
vias to follow." Mr. Burke certainly did
riot fee all that was to follow. 1 have en
deavoured to impress him,as well before as
after the States General met that there
would be a revolution; but was not
able to, make him fee it, neither would
he bplies it. How then be could diflina
1, fa all the parts, when the whole was
jut •' fight, is beyond m) comprehension;
find with rejpea to the " departure from
the ancient courje," besides the natural
weakness of the remark, it Jbews &t he
it unacquainted with circumflances. The
departure was neeefl ary, from the in,tri
race bad upon it, that th, ancient coUrje
was a bad one. The States General df
1614 were called at the commencement of
the civil war in the minority ofLouisJUll
but by the clajb 0, arranging them by
orders, they increased the confufa the,
tyre called to compose. The author if
Z'lnuigoe du Cabinet (Intrigue of ra
Cabinet) who wrote before an, revolution
was thought of in France, speaking of the
States General of 1614, fays, '• The, bold
the publick in fuj pence five months ; and
by 'tbe quefions agitated therein, and the
bedt with which the, &re put, it appears
that the great (les grands) thought more
to fatis/v their particular passions, than to
procure the good of the nation ; and the
whole time sassed away its altercations,
ceremonies, and parade." L'lntrigue du
Cabins Vol. l.p 329.
justice of artificial privileged diltindi
ons. ft was become evident, that no
constitution, worthy of being called by
that name, could be eftibliihed on any
thing less than a national ground. The
The Tier: Era (as they were then
called) disowned any knowledge of ar
tificial orders and artificial privileges ;
and they were not only resolute on this
point, but somewhat difdainful. They
began to coafider aristocracy as ^ kind
of fungus growing out of the corruption
of society that could riot be admitted
even as a branch of it ; and from the
difpofaion the aristocracy had (hewn b)
beholding Lettres de Cachet; and id
sundry other instances, it was manifeft
that no constitution could be formed by
admitting men in any other character
than as National then..'
The election that followed, was not
Mr. Baldwin presented the petition
of Genera! James Jackson.,,
[This petition fits forth, That at the late
flexion for members to represent the fate of
Georgia, in the Hon. Houle for the pre, ent
Congress, General Anthony Wayne,
and the petitioner were candidates, for the
lower or eafter7ldi/lria of the (aid state.—
That a? iimproper and undue return has
been made po the House of the said eleaion;
for that.the county flexion of Effingham,
in favour pfthe laid A. Wayne, was
illegal ; there being nine votes more than
voters at, th fame, and two of the three
ftrfons,„tfding thereat, not quaffed ma.
titrates ; for Qat gbe return of the count,
of Glynn in favour cf the petitioner, was
Juftreffetl ; for that a falje return was
made to the executive of the fate, far the
count, of Camden, exceeding the members
of the legal poll, which amounted (0. twen
ty-five votes, by she number of fix,-four
votes, all of which were in favour of the
said A.Wayne, and added together with
the legal poll, ver, far exceeds the whole
number of male inhabitants, entitled to vote
therein ; and for that an illegal or pretend
ed poll was held after the legal poll was
elojed, and on which illegal poll the afore
faid false return was founded, and the le
gal return, after being; duly certified b, the
proper officer was either fopprefrd or de
frayed. He therefore prays the Honorable
House to postpone an, determination on the
return of the said A. Wayne for such
reasonable period, as will enable the petite
oner to bring forward, fueb proofs reform
ing the premfes, as the nature of bis ca e
maypequire.}
Mr. Baldwin moved that this pe
tition be referred, to the committee of
elections ; but after some debate the mo
tion was withdrawn, and the petition
laid on the table.
Mr. Lawrance presented the peri
tion of fandry inhabitants of the flare of
Nm-Yoik, holders of the continental
money called new emission, or 40 for 1
money.
A message was received from The
President, communicating a copy of
, refolutian of the legislature of Virginia,
ratifying the xft amendment proposed
by Congress to the constitution of the
United States ; also a paper receding
purchases of land on the Great Miami.
Mr. Seney presented a memorial
from the distillers of Baltimore, praying
a modification and reduction of duties
on Spirits from domeftick manufadcres.
Referred to life Secretary of the Trea-
The cd'ifthifam for the settlement
of accounts between the U. States and
individual slates, reported, that , they,
had made couffiderable progress In the
business committed to their charge/fta
ted the particulars of that progrefs,with
an account of what till remained unfin
iffied, and concluded by expressing an
opinion that they may complete the bu
fiaefa by the ift of July, 1793.
ORDER OF 7*H B HAY,.
In committee of the whole Mr.Mv Z
LENBVRG in the chair. Schedule of
the Census.— On the motion to strike
out 30, from' the refolutibn before the
committee.,
Mr. Heisteß wiffied to know ^o#
imany dates hid ratified the ift amend
ment proposed by Congress to the coh-
; ftitution.
The clerk informed that the following
states had ratified it, viz, New-Hamp
faireJNm.Torkfiinf,lamia, Maryland,
aristocracy had hitherto opposed che
despotism of the Court, and aftded the
language of pacriotifm ; but it opposed
it as its rival, (as the English Barons
opposed King John) ; and it now oppo
sed the nation hoji the fame motives.
FRIDAY,.NOV 11. ,
IT was suggested, that as all the most
important business was in the hands
or Committees, the House could not ex
pedite it by fitting from day to day. A
motion was therefore made for adjourn
ment ; and the House adjourned until
Monday next.
MONDAY, NOV. 14.
The Speaker preferred to the House
the memorial of General Hazens
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;
CONGRESS.
[To be Continue / ]
TUESDAY, NOV. Ifr
Mr. Sedgwick from the committee
appointed for that purpose, presented
according to order, a bill refpeding
fugitives from the service of their masc
<rs ; which was received and read the
firft time, and on motion and by special
order, said bill was read a second time
arid referred to a committee of the whole
House; and one hundred copies ordered
to be printed. „
Agreeably to the order of the day the
House again resolved itfelf into a com
mittee of the whole, : Mr. Muhlen
burgh in the chair, to take into con
sideration the Schedule of the enumera.
tion of the inhabitant the U. S.:'
Mr. Page thought the question under
consideration was of a delicate nature ;
and such as the house ought to be cau
tious in deciding upon ; and which was
fitter to be decided by a general conven
tion. He would be sorry they ftiould
verify the predictions of the enemies of;
the government, who had said that Con
gress would never consent to any amend
ments in the constitution, which might
tend to diminish their own cor.fequence.
Even if they were fitting in convention,
be questioned the propriety of reducing
the number of representatives,; as he
locked upon a numerous representation
as the greatest Security of a republican
government. It would be time enough;
lor the house to decide, when direded
by the people. He concluded, by ex
pressing a hope, that the amendment
would be rejedeß.
irMr. Steele observed, that liability
in councils, an object of the highest im
portance to every government, is not al
ways to be found in numerous reprefen
tacive bodies ; that the equality or ine
quality of.reprefentation, does not de
pend so, much on the ratio, as on the
privileges of die" electors ; —that whilst
the fame purity prevails in the fyflem
of reprefentatid'n as now exists, there
will be little danger of corruption in the
horse ;'that this state legislatures ought
not to be a rule for Congress ; but, that
on the contrary, in propor ion as the
numbers are greater in the state legisla
tures, it is the less necessary to have a
numerous r'eprfferi\ation in the federal
l giflature— that solid merit alone can
recommend a man to the notice of every
numerous body if electors ; .hat the se
curity of he people is encreafed,in pro
portion n the number of those who
watch over the conduct of each reprefen
native. A proof of thia was to be found
in the British parliament, where corrup
tion ever prevails more with the repre
sentatives of petty boroughs, than with
those of greater cities.
Mr. Clark hoped, that when gen
tlemen called in the liberties of the peo
ple,as art argument in favour of the ra
tio or one to thirty thoufand,they would
not look upon him as an aristocrat for
opposing that ratio. If he was infeded
with the spirit of aristocracy, he had
caught it since he came to that house—
Jf an increased representation would
bring more wisdom and honefly into the
house, it would also introduce more folly
and difhoneftv a candidate, he ob
served, can much more easily purchase
the votes of a small diftria, than of a
larger one Improper elections can
alone destroy the liberties of the people:
and If Congress take care that the elec
tions be properly conduced, there will
never be any danger of corruption in
the house.— As to the readability of
Congress, it will depend more upon
their a&, than upon their number.—
Alfter several arguments againtt an over
numerous representation, he concluded
ih favour of a larger ratio, one to thirty
thousand.*
Mt, HillhoDsb observed, that if in
confeqoence of the ratio that might be
now fixed, the house Should be found
not efficiently numerous, it would be
very easy to remedy the defeft,it an af
ter day. As to the prevalence of cor
ruption in the space of ten years from
the present period,he treated ^ idea as
South-Carolina, North-Carolina, Rhode-
Ifand, New-ferfa and Virginia. #
A debate arose cn the question to
flrike out 30,000 ; and to insert 40,000.
And after Several gentlemen had given
their opinions on the fubjeft, (but faint
/ketches of which have been published)
the committee rose, reported progress,
and requefteß leave to lit again to-mor
row.
Mt. Lawrence called up the petition
of sundry citizens of Nmjork who were
holders of certain bills of credit emitted
by Congress in the year 1780, and on
motion; the fame was referred to the
Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr Baldwin moved that the peti
tion of General James Jackson be re
fered to a special committee to report
proceedings thereon, which was nega
tived; it was then moved that it be re
,ferred to the committee appointed to re
port a regular and uniform mode of pro
ceeding in cases of contefied elections
of members of this boule ; wjich was
agreed to, ~
Mr. Findley and Mr.Gsrry spoke
in defence of the feniiments they had
before, delivered in favour of a numerous
representation. ~
1 After some time spent in debate, the
question was called...for., that the words
thirty thousand be struck out, which was
carried in the negative ; it was then mo
ved that thirty ihonfand be agreed. to,
which was carried in the affirmative.
: The committee then rose,& the chair
man reported that the committee had
had under their consideration, the sche
dule of the enumeration of the irhabi
tants of the tJ.. States, & bad agreed to
the following resolution, "that until the
next enumeration, the ratio of represen
tation shall be one representative for
every thirty thousand inhabitants.
And on.the question will the Hoc^
adopt the ;efolu:ion as reported by the
Committee,the yeas and nays being cal
led for, ic was carried in the affirmative,
yeas gs, nays 23;
YEAS.—Messrs. Baldwin, Benson,
Brown, Findley, Fitzsimons, Gerry,Giles,
Gordon, Gregg, Griffin, Hetjitr, Huger,
Jacobs,Kitcbell,Kittera, Lawrence,Learn
ed, Lee, Madi/on, Moore.Muhlenberg,Mur
ray,Page, Parker,Seney, Sberedine, Sump
ter, Sj.vefler^Tredwell, Tucker, Venable,
WagfwQrtb, Wayne, White, Willis-
NAYS.—Messrs. Jmes, AJhe, Barne
well, Boudinot, B. Bourne, S. Bourne,
Clarke, G:lman,Goodbue,Groves, Hillhouje^
Livermore, Macon,Niles, Sedgwick,Smith,
(M) Smith, (V.) Smith, (S C.) Steele,
Sturges, Tbateber, Pining, Ward, ,
On motion, ordered,that a committee
be . appointed to bring in a bill agreeable
to the said resolution.
the freemen of the diftria of Kentucky,
Rating sundry grievances they labour un
der from the operation of the Excise
Law, by their being excluded from the
free use of the navigation of the fiver
Mffffippi, and praying a temporary sus
pension thereof until they can have the
free use of the navigation of said river;
which was read and on motion ordered,
that such part of the petition as relates
to the operation of the excise law,be re
ferred to the Secretary of the Treasury
for information.
The petition of sundry creditors who
Joined money,betweenSeptember,i777,
and March, 1778, was called up, and a
r , WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16.
, Mr. Goodhue presented a petition
from the merchants and distillers of the
town ofSa lem,praying an alteration in
the excise law, which was read and re
ferred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
a motion was made for referring it to
the Secretary of the Treasury, which was
negatived ; and the petition Was ordered
to lie on the table.
Mr. Sedgwick proposed to retain the
words "thirty thousand" for the purpose
cf inserting "three," or "four" between
them. I - < .
chimerical, nor did he at all think a
(mailer number of representatives,eleaed
by the free choice of the people, more
exposed to corruption, than a larger bo
dy. The executive, he observed, has
not the power of applying public money
Efficient to bribe even a Single mem
ber : and even if there did exiß a pow
er to apply money Efficient to bribe one
hundred members, the fame power would
extend co the corruption cf two hun
dred : But there can be no danger, so,
long as the right of election remains in
the people. He asked whether a repre
sentation of 80 or 100 members, is not
fuflicient for all the purposes of govern
ment, and whether the liberties 0 the
country are not fafe in their hands ? and
concluded with declaring his opinion,
that a larger representation would tacher
embarrass the government than other
wise.
Mr. Brown presented a memorial of