The Gazette of the state of South-Carolina — Charles-town [S.C.], 1784-02-26 00:00:00, page 2

The SPEECH of Its Excellency
GEORE CLINTON, Esquire,
(do-eluded frem No. 2189. J
Among other national objects, which
the papers, 1 shall now deliver you will
point cut for your confederation, are the
arrears due to those of our fellow citizens,
whole arms have so effcntially contribut
ed to the independence and security we
enjoy; and it is with pleasure I embrace
this occasion to do the line of this Rate the
justice to observe, that, from the moment
of their being disbanded to this hour, not
one among them has, to my knowledge,
been acceded of mifeonduft or a violation
of the laws. Their wants have not forced
them into the commission of injuries, nor
have their arms rendered them forgetful
that they were citizens. Such citizens
have a double claim to your patronage and
protection.
With the matters of superior moment
which at this time call for your serious ex
amination is an attempt of the British
court, bv a proclamation of July last, to
monopolize to themselves, the trade of the
United States with the Weft-Indies, by
rehriding the importation of American
produce into those islands to British v. ffels
only and the exportation of Weft-India
produce into these dates to vessels of the
fame description. It is exceedingly diffic
ult to hold any intercourse with a nation
that will not fuffer her commerce with
other dates to be governed by principles
of equality and reciprocity ; but that lurii
a spirit of monopoly should prevail in the
feller for Britain as a commercial nation
abounding in manufactures, is principally
to be viewed in this light) and be arbitra
rily held out to the buyer, who has Id
choice of markets, is as inconfident 1
the intcreft of trade, as it mi^' , us
no reconciliation.—The royalists thought it their
duty to diftreis the anti royalists as much and as
often as they could.—They joined with the Indians,
our good allies, in this horrible war, to burn,
pillage, scalp, and def-troy.— They gave notice to
our commanders by sea and land, of the hiding
places of their countrymen, and embraced every
opportunity to distress them, as a common enemy.
—ln return to this conduct, the republicans seized
upon the effects of the royalists, forfeited their
estates, baniihed them their cities and provinces,
and exercised every ad of vengeance against them
which was in their reach.
No recommendation from Congrefe, to treat
these unhappy men with lenity, can be es any effe&:
a royalifl will in his heart retain his principles; he
will think King George has hill a right to rule
over America; and, upon every occation, give
vent to his honest feelings.—Tre wound is too deep
to be ever doled.—The republicans will always look
upon t e royalists as enemies, and treat themas such,
—A forced accommodation cannot last long, where
the heart and tongue muff be forever at variance.
The royalists, by flaying in America, will be
more unhappy than they can be in any part of the
globe; their numbers cannot p oteft them, we fee
plainly.—Suppose they can reckon amongfl then],
men women and children, to the amount of one
hundred thousand.—ls North America, as is said,
by fair computation, contains two millions and a
half, they are but the „th part of the community.
Great Britain is bound, by every tie of gratitude
and humanity, to relieve the distresses of the ho
ned part of the royalists, and procure them settle
ments in such parts of their dominions as they Ihall
choose to refine in. Ail that can be done for them
out of America fhauld be immediately put in prac
tice,—Nothing can be hoped for them in their own
country.
With refpe& to Great Britain and America,
it is our business, now, to forget and forgive ca
both tides; though we can be no longer fellow
fubje&s, let us be cordial friends, and promote
the mutual interests of both countries.—l rade and
commerce will renew that intercourse, and restore
those blediogs which animosity and war have tea
long deprived us of.
I am, Sir, your's
THE PEACE-MAKER.
and difguftful to those whom it is intend
ed to enfaare or deprels. Permit me to
observe, that one effect which the procla
mation alluded to, has a tend ncy to pro
duce, is that of throwing the trade, here
tofore mutually carried on between the in
habitants of America and those of the
Welt-indies into the hands of persons Ril
ing themf Ives, or anting among us, in the
ddguife of British fubje&s; to the great
difhonourof the American flag, the injury
of the fair trader and real citizen, and the
diminution and corruption of national cha
racter. There is considerable ground to
apprehend that the conduct of the British
court, in this indance, is founded on a pre
sumption that the confederated power of
the United States, is not adequate to pre
vent the innovation. It becomes there
fore our inhered and our duty to undeceive
them; and if the powers given by the con
federation are not competent for this pur
pole, to enlarge them ; for it is obvious
that any partial exertions of the dates, in
dividually, to correct this evil will prove
ineffectual
While I am on the fubjed of commerce,
permit me, Gentlemen, co call your atten
tion to the carried and mod effectual
means for reftorirg and improving that of
this state. Our ports, so long withheld
from us, arc at length open to all the
world. Let us give, to all, protection,
encouragement and security, by providing
that equal jultice be administered to the
dranger as well ^ the citizens, that the
recovery of debts be speedy and effectual,
th^L the fulfilment or contracts be enforced,
that our fbples be so informed as to pre
vent future imposition, and effectually
to revive their reputation io foreign ports,
where for want of sufficient care, it has been
greatly impaired. By these means, credit,
the parent of commerce, will multiply her
benefits, and iecuiity from impositions add
to the value of cur commodities; while
the drangei it invites, will reduce the price
cf those we got from abroad.
1 he eftaolilhment of productive funds
for tne cnicharge or the interest, and for
finking, as soon as may be practicable the
principal of the public debts, is an object
of so much moment, and i/hich so eftn
tially involves the prosperity of our citi
zens and the honor of government, that
it cannot fail of claiming the most atten
tive confederation. Among the means
that present themselves for making this
provision, beyond direct taxing, are the
dilution of public lands, internal duties
and excises, marine passes and a duty an
files at vendue. The land office will, [
flatter myfelf, be so regulated as while it
is rendered an object of revenue, it will at
the feme time afford the utmost encourage
ment to the speedy settlement of the
country. Ihe cultivation of our lands
ought to be one of our find cares, since
the riches of & state is to be found in the
number of its people. In this view, per
haps it may not be improper to invite Gran
gers to partake of the political Lleffwgs
which we so happily enjoy, by facilitating
the means of naturalization, and of ob
taining and inheriting a'pfrtion ofCT
unappropriated lands.
It is my duty to recommend to your
early confederation such a provdion for the
Support of tfotficers of government, as
is confident with its dignity, ancTw^ fend
to procure, or continue' in 'public office,
men of integrity and abilities, now that
a field is open for the display of tale, ts
and industry, and they have a prospect of
advancing thcmlclvcs and their families in
Gentlemen,
Without detaining you any longer, I
mall now leave with you my correfcond
ence with Sr Guy Carleton, the procd.
ings of the Council constituted for the
t^Ty government of the Southern
Dianct, and other papers nec.flay tor
your information ; and in the com fe of the
feflion I shall lay before you the accounts
0 my receipts and expenditures, a^j
from time to time, communicate y meffl
age such other matters as may require
your attention. From the wiidom^i
magnanimity which the kegityehath
uniformly manifefted in every ftagr of the
'" 10''°°" c ° r '"^, 1 hive the highrit
C °„f'°' e "™ y° ur pr^nt dehberati ns
will be conducted with harmony, be ir flj.
enced by a Ready attention to the pu me
good and_De productive of most ex e.i
rve and chenLai advantages to our coun
try.
CEO. CLINTON.
, A retifon of ocr awe, passed during the war
in croer t< conform them to our present titration'
the organization of the-mditia and such provUion
for n frme s and military fo es , ^ are ^fo
as for our ^ defence and iecuriry
comply with the terms of our con Lmgm and
^ f^"^" 0 ^ ^ h 1 trail also ^ & courf cf
thegthoa engage your attention.
The fett!;ment of the accounts between ri, :- e
nd its citizens, and the United States has d^
mod unfortunately protracted. The reasons which
have exposed us to this great public inconvenience
are explained by my correspondence with the De-
I^Superintendent of Finance on this
fibje^ which is presented for your information.—.
A gentleman has at length undertaken the office of
Comrafimner of Accounts for this state and w : l|
proceed, to the execu ti JD of his trust without delay.
You w:h from the communications which
relate to the fuDjed, that I have not been inattentive
, effaces of the western polls within this
Ihey ^re undoubtedly of g reat importance
for tne prote&on cf our trade and our frontier fet
teroem ; and it %s with concern I learnt that the
ptopoptions nude by the state for ga r risoning those
p,, ±re not acceded to by Congrefi. It afford,
ed me, however some fofadion to find that the
€ "f^f' was in the Parfait of meafuret*
in Y expeditions proved frmt-
Ine British commander in that department,
, € ,^ the P ro ,ienal articles as a fulpenfion of
only, declined to withdraw his garnions,
and reread even to permit us to v isit those polls.
It is r^ce&ry for me to ^d, tfot it will now be
impra&ca^e to ta^e possession of them until spring.
and that I have no r e ason to believe that Conofefs
have or are like to make any provision for the cx
pence, which will necefirily incur; it therefore
remains for you to take this interesting fubjeft
into your farther consideration. \ J
private life. It is an undeniable truth that
in republics, where the force of govern
ment depends on a reaped for the inguf
tracy, ignorant or virions magid^es
must loon bring the laws into contem rt
and involve the ruin of the ftate.'
Neglect of the education of youth is
among the evi s consequent on war. Per
haps tner is icarce any thing more worthy
your atten ion than the revival an^ ien
couragement of seminaries of learning,
and nothing by which we can more fat;fr
fadorily exprels our gratitude to tne su
preme Being for his pa st favours ; fines
piety eno virtue are generally the offspun.,
of an enlightened understanding. °
r Permit me, Gentlemen, to mention the neceffit,
or Eroceedmg to the imme liate ekAioa of mem
bers teefoe a Council of Appointment; as
wart or ^s board great inconveniences have al
ifacy anfenm this diffrid of the state; w fcb.
from its peculiar fituat^n, is destitute of the necef
lary officers of government 1 wood also remind
you, that we have been so ? feme rime unrepresent
ed in Congress with a vhw that eady meafur^
a' ^'ir'" ' d Phintmeac of Del gates.
~ , , n °' o^-rve that there are few objects <
w^n hft end fifty of the United
and eech ^rc^f fate, ts more nte efted than in
the chara&er or the members of the g at national
council. °