The gazette., 1799-04-22

a LETTER, written by the Honorable
ROBERT G. HARPER.
[Csriad.i fJo7s tje ~ Coastal

L~~'~---
'HE act for Gufpending all commercial ntercourie
= with France and her dominions has been contnu-
Cd IN force Tor yeas longer bur the Predent is au
thorIled TO retors commercial intercoure mmcdi-
ae y with III ca particular parts Of thofe domnions
he may judge ProFcr. This authority was given on
account OF dilpOGon, manifegcd By the perIons in
authority IN lome o the French IN .nds, to dln from
Prvsteerlng on vedes provided the trade of the
Un5sd StStcs, Of which they mon preiing need
hnce they depend On for their iuppcs Of proyihons
ihoud DC reitored y them. AT the ulpenfon of COM
mercial ntercourle relorted TO by Congrels as
mean q bringing tleEe people leuic Of propr ETY.
ana protecting our tade from their deprCdatons there
could be no reAion 70 continue it after thief: objeGss
ihould &c obtained An arrangement for ther- pur-
Potes, II s iuppOled, will be made with fome Of the
French Ifands, efpccRIly ST. Domingo.
The French government having lately pahed an edo
by which all neutral ors found on board of i'm,
lh'Ps OF var or merchantmen though carries srs BY yoy
are rendered liable 20 execution y1f. Cougrels ut-
y coniderng the mcclure eveled chiefly at US fnce
is laIlors who account Of hmilarity of Ian.
guage and other circumstances, mon requcntyfound
IN Brit III lPs, padst law auhotifn1 tHe Pretidcns
IN cafe the edid lhJud be executed, on any of our
iNoTs previouly imPeIed on board Of Butih chips "
war; TO aliate on aly French priloners who may We
in our power Tbs Bntilh had before declared tha,
they would rctaialc the cdCt ihouId be executed ID
any cafe whaever This threat fad 10 have produ-
ccd its luipenion, thtughnot s repeal Tor the fake
OF humanity ne hcR: that the French viii refrain from
its execution.
While Congrcis WIS employed on thelc meafures re.
laing erterna Affairs did not III gcct the Ill
terna regulations wfch the public good required An
altwl5 patrdtor coE0.idatng into one act aud amend.
ing all ne various "ch relpechng the collection of dunc.
on import, and toange. Tbs wss work of much IA.
bour, and much utilry. Comfortable progrels wa,
made Gmii4r digct Of the laws reipeQrg duties "a
! 0ills and donstc dii}iied fDirits which IS nl1ch
wanted and viii probably Be hnnhed ne1t iclion The
acts repectng tam dutscs revived ana ameuded
A general revllon ald amendment Of the pail-olEce
iyiem took place The ar for the valuation of land,
and dwelling houles revled ana that part or /,
which required A retIrn OF the number and dinenioD,
Of windows, rcpe4leIi as being more troubleiome and
duagreca5ie 70 ndIv tua, than uletIi for prouotrz
the Objects Of the att The regulations lor the prefer
vaton ct health, ans he prevention Of cona seous G
cafes, were extended ma enforced Acts we're pa1cd
for the government OF he navy and the better organi
Z ton OF the army md general bankrupt at val
di rtcd, ccnhdered, ant maturcd which, tho reie
b, lnall majority, D9ow n iuch 1ate as TO be
brought forward Al ne1Ilelion with good prolpels Of
! lucccS.
An attempt made repeal the alien and reditior
acts founded chic y on heir fuPPolcd unconRitution
altv, and PPoTted oy putiOns from var parts u
the country. But, CtPrsls, after the atLreil er
animation, found no realot to doubt abou, heir conni
tutona power 70 Pals tDe ats, and the particular
crcum'tancss which induced them exercile that pow
er have by no means ce4iet, il thought ineKDed
content 10 the repeal and the motion was reject
ed. he re2ons whereof this rejection was founded
arc detailed and enior ed report of lcle1 commit
tee, y hich publ thcd 1d Of which forward lon-
| copies to the dtriG 1hy4cts if not renewed, wi
expire of themieves, in ono year rom th time Tbe
renewal will depend The ttc Of things AZ next en
at9r l,f 4 heIts - yr.lL
eis cIrcumfances ia"ud greatly alter for there ought
I always, IN times Of danger % e1t power Of appre
hendng michevous Or iuip6fel aliens and Of fendnt
them out Of the country Especially when we hav,
to deal with enemy, which ike the French govern
| ment works more by intryues than hv open force
But The iedon act IS leb neceGary; for there is nc
doubt that every thing which il makes penal NAV 81
puulihed, with much lcvery ~ TIE common Law
o the land and rs only ulc was declare that law I,
render more generally known, md 10 rrnri6 Il X
! rome particulars where was tbouht ID % too far
By tn commOR law, the cod fne aud in1Drfon
10 any for libel; and pcrbus ind cted for (ucI
Offences, could plead the trutl of The matter Il
tier defence. By the act, the truth Of the matter ma
be pleaded, and the power Of fine and impr (onnlcn
reitriGted 10 two years and two thouhpd dollas Iii
fhould be found neceary, therefore - reore the com
mon law IN tins repect, 70 It's Ancet raour the ac
muh be lufercd to expire.
An increaGe made in tbs faares Of certain ofTi
GERS employed in the executive departments and by hci
duties Obliged to Tehde connanty in this ciry Thof
iasrcs were, for the moR part, fxt nine wears age
when every article of life nearly ,nc-baf cheapcr
in the great towns than prelrnt. Consequently the
had become inadequate, aPPea-ed from the mon un
doubted information, 20 thc luPport cf heir offices an
their families who obliged live hron their owl
property, while employed VIII lily the public lcrg;
and iinot men Of fortune, were reduced to great diff
trte'. Hence great dhcouragerhentt to good publ
their con:ronl vaA lums Of public money, and grea
flcuIty IN finding men properly qualiiel in recec
Of talents and character, for filing up any vacancic
which from time 70 time occur. Congrefl. ther.
judged it true economy pct Ihee uleul and uecear
officers more at their eale by adding fome hing to the
laaries and, in my opinion il Judged reht But ,
the public has, lretnt, great oeetGon fcr money. II
increale fns, and confined foley 20 ho(e Office,