National gazette. [volume], October 31, 1791, Image 1

About National gazette. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1791-1793

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Vol. I.
TO THE PUBLIC.
THE Editor ps the Rational Gazette
hiving found his proposals for es
tablishing a paper of that kind attended
with all the fcrccefs he could reasonably
expect, considering the ftiort time that
has elapsed since his first acquainting
the public with his design, takes this
opportunity in his frjjt number, briefly
to remind his subscribers, and others,
of the, plan upon which he originally
intended, and still proposes to proceed.
The National Gazette (ball be pub
lished on the, Monday and Thursday
mornings of every week., in the city of
Philadelphia, and sent to the more dis
tant subscribers by the mod ready and
tegular modes of conveyance. Such
persons, resident in the city of Phila
delphia, as incline to become subscri
bers, {hall be supplied early on the
mornings of publication, at their own
houses. The price will be thru
dollars a year ; the first half yearly
payment to be made in three months
from the time of subscribing, and fu
ture payments every lix months.
The paper (hall contain, among other
interesting particulars, the most im
portant foreign intelligence, collected
not only from the French, and
Dutch newspapers _ (a constant and
puntual supply of which has been
engaged) but also from original com
munications, letters, and other papers
to which the Editor may have an op
portunity of recurring for the molt au
thentic information relative to the af
department for domestic new*
will be rendered «ftompletc and {*-
tisfactory as bf inserting a
judicious detail of such occurrences as
shall appear worthy the notice of the
public. *""* ~
The most respectful attention {hall
be paid to all decent productions of
entertainment in prose or verse that
may be feat for insertion, as well as to
such political essays as have a tendency
to promote the general interests of the
Union. There will also be inserted
during the sessions of Congress, a brief
History of the Debates and Proceedings
of the Supreme Legislature of the Uni
ted States, executed, it is hoped, in
such a manner as to answer the expec
tations and gratify the curiosity of eve
ry reader.
Persons at a distance who may sub
scribe for fifteen papers, and will be
come responsible for the subscription
money, (hall receive with the packet
a fifteenth, gratis.
Subscriptions are received at the Office,
No. High-street ; also at the respective
Bookstores of Mr. Francis Bailey,
and Mr. Thomas Dobson.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE UNITED STATES.
MONDAY, October 24th, 1791.
THIS day, being the day appointed by law
for the meeting of the Second Congress,
under the Constitution of Government of the
United States, the following members of tht
House of Representatives, appeared, produce*
their credentials, and took their feats, vi*.
From New-Hampshire—Nicolas Gilman,
Samuel Livermore, and Jeremiah Smith.
Massachusetts —Fisher Ames, Sheerjashub
Bourse, Elbridge Gerry, Benjamin Goodhue,
George Thatcher, and Artenias Ward.
Rhode-Island —Benjamin Bourne.
Coñecticut- James Hillhouse, J on athan
Siurpe*, Jonathan Trumbull, Jeremiah Wadl
worth, and'Amafa Larned.
New-York —James Gordon, John Lawrance
Peter Silvester, and Thomas Tredwell.
New-Jersey —Elias Boudinot.
P ennsylv ania —Thomas Fitzsimons, Daniel
Heiftct, and Frederick A. Muhlenberg.
Dtlawart — John Vining.
'Fan-land —Jolhui Seney, Samuel Sl "™"
j£L>-]obn Hi own, William Giles
S..muel Griffin. >m« Andre*
M„Cf*, and A! vaodw * !me.
By PHILIP FRENEAU.
MONDAY, October 31, 1791.
North-Catoima—Jbhti Steele, and Hugl
Wyliamfon. ,
South-Carolina— Daniel Huger, Will: a*
Smiib, and Thomas Tuder Tucker.
Georgia—Francis Willis.
And a quorum, conlifling of • majority ol
the whole qumber being prefetit,
Xhe House proceeded by ballot to thechoict
of a Speaker, and upon cxaminia.' (he ballots
> majority of the votes of the whole Houl<
was found In, favour of Mr. Jonathan 1 rum
bull, who was conduced to the chair, fron
whence hi addressed the House, as follows :
1 HND my'fclf unable to express to you tht
Tull sense I have of the diftinguilhrd honoi
have done me in the choicc of youi
Speaker ,
Tin diffidence I feel in my abilities to dif
charge, with propriety, the duties of the chair
is almotl insuperable in my ownmind. But en*
coifraged by the known candor of thishooorablt
body, and depenuing, as I tlunk 1 may confi
dently do, on the kind afEflance of each indi
vidual in it, I fliall enter on its duties, with full
airurances to you, Gentlemen, that I (hall en
deavor to condufl myfelf withthat impartial
it , integrity and afliduity, which become th<
conspicuous (latron in which you have been
pleated to place me.
The House then proceeded to the appoint-
Snt of a Clerk, and upon examining the
lots, an unanimous vote was found in favor
as John Beckley.
The oath to Import the Conftituuon ot me
United States, asfiefcribed by law, was then
•dminiftered by Mr. Livermore to the Speaker,
mdtheu by the Speaker to all Membra
jiefent. The fame oath, together with the
3a:h of office were alio adminiflered by tM
Speaker to the Clerk. t
On motion, Ordered, That the Speaker
point committees, until the House Iball one*
wife determine. , J
A mtfage was received from the Senate, i, '
forming the House that a quorum of the S.
iiate. was affemblcd. . . '
Mr. Smith (S. C.),Mr Lawrance, and Mr
White were appointed a committee, to torn I
MJirrnK'T of the Senate, to wail on the Picu
ient of the United States, to inform Tnmlhil
i quorum of both HoufcS was alTcmbled, and
ready to receive any communications be may
!>e pleased t6 make.
A committee was appointed of five to pre
pare and report rules and orders of proceeding.
loi'cph Wheaton was appointed frrjeant at
irms ; Gilford Dallcy, doo.keeper; and Tho
mas Claxton, assistant dooikeeper.
Mr Smith, (S. C ) from the committee ap
pointed for the purpose, reported, that th<
Kefident was pleased to fay that he woulc
make a communication to both Houlcs o
Congress, to-morrow, at twelve o'clock, in ib<
senate-chamber.
TUESDAY, OBoter «5-
Mr. Clark, Mr. Dayton, and Mr. Kitchcl
rom New-Jcrfey ; and Mr. Jacobs f.otr
Pennsylvania, took their fc»s in the Houtc.
The Rev. Mr. Blair was appointed chap-
A roeffage was received from the Senate,
nforming that they were ready to attend th<
House in reeeivin* the communication Iron:
he President. Whereupon, ■
The Speaker with the members oftheHoute,
preceded by the ferjeant at arms, proceeded tc
he senate-chamber, where the Prelident ad
drcfled both Houfcs ?s follows:
FeUow-citizens of the Senate, and of (hi
House of Reprefcntatives.
I MEET you, upon the preterit oc
ofton, with the feelings, which arc na
turally inspired by a strong tmpreflior
Df the prolperous lituation of our com
mon country, and by a persuasion equal
ly strong, that the labours of the fcftion.
which has just commenced, will, under
the guidance of a spirit, no less pru
dent than patriotic, ifTue in mcalures
conducive to the stability and increase
of national prolperity.
Numerous as arc the providentia
bleflings which demand our gratefu,
acknowledgments; the abundance wit>
which another year has again rcwardec
the industry of the husbandman, is toe
■mportant to escape recolleaion.
Your own observations, in your re
fpeftive situations. will have fatishcc
vou oftheprogrefltve state of agncul
ture, manufactures, commerce and na
vieation : In tracing their cause., yor
will have remarked, with particulai
pleasure, the happy effects of that re
vtv al ol confidence, public as well a:
privtte, to which the constitution ant
laws of the United States have so emi
nently contributed: And you will have
observed, with no lets interest, new anc
deci&ve proofs of the encrealing rc JP u '
tatior and credit of the nation. But
you,neverthelefs, cannot fail to derive
["atisfaftion from the confirmation ol
theft circumstances, which will b« dis
closed in the several official communi
cations that will be made to you in th(
course of your ,
T«ie rapid fubferiptions to the Bank
of the United Stawa, which completed
the I'um allowed to be fubftnbed in a
single day, is imosi the striking and
pleasing evidences which preftnt them
lelves, not only of confidence in the
government, but of reiource in the com
nuj
% interval of your recess, due
ittention has been paid to the execu
tionof the different obje£U which were
Tpeyally provided for by the laws and
refalutions of the last feilion. .
Among the mod important of these
is the defence and security of the Well
:m frontiers. Tp accpmpliih it on
:hemoft humane principles, was apri
nam wish. ■ ,
Accordingly at the fame tune, that
treaties have been provisionally con
cluded, and other proper means used
o attach the wavering, and to confirm
n their friendfhip, the well disposed
ribes of Indians—effectual measures
iav« been adopted to make these of a
noftiie defejiption sensible, that a paci
fication was desired upon terms of mo
de tat ion and justice.
<Th«fe mealures having proved ut»-
fuccefsful, it became necessary to con
v |>ce the refraaory of the power of
thl United States to puhifll their de
pmdatioiis ; offenfive operations have
dStfor*; bccadirc&jd » to be conduc
ed, however, as confidently as poillDltf
with the dictates of humanity. Some
of theft have been crowned with full
success, and others are yet depending.
The expeditions which have been com
pleted, were carried on under the au
thority, and at the expence of the Unit
ed States, by the militia of Kentucky ;
whole enterprise, intrepidjty, and good
conduct, are entitled to peculiar com
mendation. ,
Overtures of pcace are lull cont tnuca
:o the deluded tribes, and considerable
lumbers of ihdividuals belonging to
:liem have lately renounced all further
jppofition, removed from their former
Titrations, and placed themselves under
he immediate p rot eft ion of the United
It is sincerely to be desired, that all
ieed of coertion, in future, may ctafc ;
ind that an intimate intercourse may
Tucceed ; calculated to advance the
liappincfs of the Indians, and to attach
:hem firmly to the United States.
In order to this, it feeir.j necefTiiiy,
That they (hould experience the bene
fits of an impartial dispensation of
Tllat the mode of alienating their knds,
the main source of discontent and
war, (hould be so defined, and regu
lated, as to obviate imposition, and,
as far as may be pra&icable, contro
versy concerning the reality and ex
tent of the alienations which are
made. _ , ,
That commerce with them (hould be
promoted under regulations tending
to secure an equitable deportment
towards them, and that such rational
experiments (hould be made, for im
parting to them the blellings of civil
ization, as may, from time to time,
suit their condition.
That the Executive of the United State:
(hould be enabled to employ th<
means to which the Indians have
been long accustomed, for uniting
their immediate intercfts with th<
preservation of peace;
And—that efficacious provision (houlc
be made for infli&ing adequate pe
nalties upon all those, who, by vio-
Numb. i.
lating their rights, shall infringe the
treaties, and endanger the peace of
the Union. i _
A system corresponding with the
mild principles of religion and philan
thropy towards an unenlightened race
of men, whose happiness materially
depends on the conduct of the United
States, would be as honorable to the
National character, as conformable to
the dictates of found policy. , ,
. . The powers specially vested in mm
by the act, laying certain duties on •
tilled spirits, which respects the £ab
divisions of the districts into surveys,
the Appointment of officers, and the
assignment of compensations, have liko
wilc been carried into effect. In a
natter, in which both material* and
Experience were wanting to guide the
calculation, it will be readily conceiv
ed that there must have been difficulty
in such an adjustment of the rates of
compensation as would conciliate a rem
fonable competency, with a proper re
gard to the limits prescribed by th*
law. It is hoped that the circumspec
tion which has been used will be found
in the result to have secured the last of
the two objects; but it is probable, that
with a view to the fir ft, in fomeisftan
:es a revision of the provision will be
Found adviseable.
The impressions with, which this law
has been received by the community,
have been, upon the whole, fuels as
were to be expected among enlightened
tad well-disposed citizens, from the
propriety ana necessity of the measure.
she novelty, however, of the tax, in
a considerable part of the United States,
and a misconception of some of its pro
visions, have given occasion in parti
cular places to some degree of
tent. But it is satisfactory to knew,
i,m Am Mfmtown yirlrii >Mi {■jirill
Sanations and more just apprehensions
>f the true nature of the law. And I
entertain a full confidence, that it will*
n all, give way to motives which arise
jut of a just sense of duty, and a virtu
jus regard to the public welfare,
If there are any circumstances, in
he law, which consistently with it»
main design, may be so varied as to w
move any well-intentioned objections
hat may happen to exist, it will con
sift with a wife moderation to make the
proper variations. It is desirable, on
ill occasions, to unite with a steady
and firm adherence to constitutional
and necessary acts of government, the
fullest evidence of a disposition, as far
as may be practicable, to consult the
wishes of every part of the community,
md to lay the foundations of the pub
ic administration in the affections of
he people,
Pursuant to the authority contained
in the several acts on that subject—a
disrict of ten miles square, for the per
manent feat of the government Of the
United States, has been fixed, and an
nounced by proclamation ; which dis
trict will comprehend lands en both
ides of the river Potowmac, and the
owns of Alexandria and George
town. A city has also been laid out
agreeably to a plan which will be plac
id before Congress: And as there is a
prospect favored by the rate of sales
which have already taken place, of am
ple funds for carrying on the necessary
public buildings, there is every expec
ation of their due progress.
The completion of the census of the
inhabitants, for which provision was
made by law, has been duly notified
excepting in one instance, in which
the return has been informal; and an
other, in which it has been omitted or
miscarried) and the returns of the offi
cers who were charged with this duty,
which will be laid before you, will give
you the pleasing assurance, that the pre
sent population of the United States
borders on four millions of persons.
It is proper also to inform you, that
a further loan of two millions and ax