V- likli are fpunded the reciprocal happiaefs of the
Prince and of his people.
" You, heads of those numerous clafies, which
by their labours, industry and activity, are the main
props of empires ; His ivlajelty exptcts tliat youi
meditations and reflections on this important fub
jeet will be constantly directed tcwards the publick
good.
" Yes, gentlemen, in whatever rank of society
you may be placed, the mod intimate connections
bind you to every conltituent part of the State.—
Publick felicity calls you here, and here closely
■unites you ; this noble, this great and pervading
sentiment, which is that of the nation, will preside
over all your dii'quilitions and debates.
" You will follow this salutary object through
out all its meanders, with the utmost precifenefs
and accuracy ; you will spare no pains to remove
those obstacles from the mode in which the States
General a'e to be convened, and to prevent those
frivolotis debates which formerly, and particularly
in 1614, took up and walled lo many moments
which might have been more ufefully employed.
" Gentlemen, you never will loose fight of the
jimple and affecting idea, that the inhabitants oi
this kingdom one great fair#', that
therefore we can have but one and the fame inter
ell to meliorate and purine, but one and the fame
honour to preserve and to keep; that if the august
chief who now presides here, owes himfelf etten
tially and entirely to the happiness of all, if he is
the natural cr nciliator of all f artier, and protestor of
*»hose pi ivileges and immunities which have been
placed under his care, he has therefore the 1110 ft
undoubted right to your love and refpecft.
" Thu3 called together, thus admitted into his
most intimate councils, by the confidence he re
poses in yon, he has every reason to expert that
your enlightened zeal, your bell information, like
the just tribute of filial piety, will be offered up as
a generous and grateful return for the tenderness
O > t>
and altccftion of a father."
N E W Y O 11 K.
TROCEEDINCS cf CONGRESS.
hi ths HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES, of the
UNITED STATES.
Wednesday, Arr.it 15, 1789.
TvT^' "^* UCKER presented a petition from Doctor
-L R» msa v,of Cha-lefton, S>. C'.reqneftingCon
grefs to fecu'-e to him his property in the Hi/fo-y
of the Revolution of South-Carolina. A committee
was appointed to take up the subject at large, and
report a bill upon general principles.
A memorial of John Churchman was introdu
ced by Mr. SfncßMAN—it refpectcd Mr. Church
man's new difcoverics in the magnetick •• n
riation which have been announced to the publick
—this was referred tn the Committee, appointed
011 Dr. Rainfay's petition.
Mr. Tucker presented a memorial also from
Doctor Ramsay— Subject, the ineligibility of
the Hon. Wi 1.1.1 .-\m Smith to a feat in that House,
as he wrj not qualified in point of residence, net
having been seven years a citizen of the United
States previous to his clecftion—a requisite of the
Cop.ftitui ion.
Mr. Tucker introduced the memorial with a
g--eat degree of delicacy. He obfervc 1, that he
wilhed to be considered as acting entirely officially
in the hufinef*, and that it might be treated with
the utmost attention, as the gentlemen were both
highly refpedable in their characters—Dr. Ram
say was a gentleman of extensive reputation, and
ranked high in the State to which he belonged,—
T fr. Sm it h also was a gentleman who fuftsincd the
faireft character, and had often received respecta
ble marks of distinction from his fellow citizens.
His election was cor.teftocl merely upon constitu
tional principles."—His appearance in that house
fiifßcieiitly indicated that he had never forfeited
the esteem of his fellow citizens.
This memorial was referred to the COMMIT
TEE OY ELECTIONS.
Mr. iiouDiKOT, of the committee to prepare
rules for conducting Conferences, reported—the
confederation of whit h w as postponed.
BttfsoN of the committe appointed to confer
with a committee of the Senate, upon the fubjevt
of arrangements for the reception of the PRESI
DENT, and-VICE-PRESIDENT, made the follow
ing report, to v\it.
That Mr. Osgood, the proprietor of the house
lately occupied by the President of Congress, be
re-piefted to put the fame, and the furniture there
in, in proper condition for the relidence and use
of'. he President of the United States, and other
wise, 't the e-:,ience of the United States, to pro
vide for Lis temporary accommodation.
That it will be most eligible in the fir ft instance,
that a committee of three Members from the Senate,
and iivp from the House of Representatives, to be
appointed by the Houses refpecftively, attend tare
ceive the President, at fu'ch place as he (hall em
bark at from New-Jcrfey for this city,and conduct
him without form, to the house lately occupied by
the President of Congress, and t.hht at such time
thereafter, as the President /hail fignify, it fiiall
be most convenient for him, he be formerly received
by both houses.
That a Committee of two members from the Sc
nate, and three members from the House ot Re
prelentatives, to be appointed by the Houfcs rei
peOiively, wait on the Vice-President of the Lni
tecl States, as soon as he shall come to this city,
and in the name of the Congress of the United
states, congratulate him on his arrival.
The said report being considered, was accepted.
A letter from the Chief Justice of the Urate of
New-york, addrelled to the Speaker, was read, in
forming that John Becklf.y, Esq. Clerk ot the
House of Reprelentatives, had appeared bef are him,
and taken the oath required by the Constitution.
In committee of the whole house, the Order of
the day was resumed, by proceeding to fill the
blanks in the Resolve, as follow,
On Cocoa, I cent pr. lb.
On Beer, Ale and Porter,
imported in calks, 8 cents pr. gal.
On do. in bottles, 24 cents pr. doz.
On fallow Candles, 2 cents pr. lb.
On Wax do. 6 do. do.
On Cheese, 4 do. do.
On Soap, 2 do. do.
On Boots, 50 cents pr. pair.
On Shoes, Slippers, and Galloflioes, 10 do. do.
011 unwrought Steel, 56 cents pr. 112ll>.
011 the fubjecft of Steel, a debate ensued. Mr.
Lei: moved, that the article be ft ruck out of the
enumeration.
Mr'. Tucker v.'as in opinion with Mr. Lee.
Mr. Clymer, and Mr. Fitzsimons, were for
the duty.
On the one hand it was contended, that this duty
would create a inonoply in favour of a few manu
faifturers, no ways conducive to the general advan
tage —that it would bear hard upon the agricul
tural interest, as it was an indifpenfible article in
the fabrication of implements of husbandry, &c.
On the other it was alledged, that three hundred
tons had been manufactured the yearpaftin Penn
fvlvania alone—That further encouragementwould
produce fuflicient quantities for the confumptlon
of the Union—and although it might operate a
)i tie unequally at firft, the fame objection lay a
gainst encrealing every branch—but that this was
an evil that carried its own remedy with it—for
every productive bufir.efs was soon overdone, and
the article then diminished in value—That it was
;'ie duty of the House to go upon general princi
pics, and net to bebiafledhv partial interefts,when
a measure appeared to be evidently calculated to
promote naiional objecfts—that when the whole
system should be brought into operation, there
would probably be a balance of mutual advantages
derived to individual States.
The question being taken 011 Mr. Let's motion,
it was loft.
On f'ahlps and tarred Cordage,adutyof 50cents
pr. hund. wt. was voie«t_:
On untarred do. 60 cents pr. hund. wt.
On Twine and pack Thread, one dollar pr.
hund. wt.
All Inipoft on Hemp was mentioned, and urged
by fomc observations from Mr. Scot—but gentle
men were not fufUciontly prepared toafcertain the
amount that might be expedient—it was according
ly deferred.
Adjourned.
Thursday, April 16.
House met agreeably to adjournment.
The Bill, providing the mode oftaking the oath,
or afUrmation, required by the Constitution, was
read the second time, and on motion ofM:. White,
was referred to the Committee of the whole house,
and made the order of the day for Monday next.
A committee of five was then balloted for,who are
to join a committee of the Senate, to receive the Pre
lident on the Jersey shore, and attend him to this
city, Mr. Boudisot, Mr.Bland, Mr.Benson,Mr.
Lawrence, and Mr. Tucker, wei J e elected. Mr.
Oilman, Mr. Am f s, and Mr. Gerry, were appoint
ed a committee to wait 011 the Vice President, on his
arrival, and congratulate him in the name of the
two Houses.
In committee of the whole,on theftate of the uni
on, the committee proceeded to fill up the blanks
in the resolve.
HEMP—Mr. Gilmax proposed, that this article
be out of the enumeration.
Mr. Hartley—l am opposed Sir, to an excefllve
duty upon this article: Hemp is a raw material,
which we Jhould find ourfelvcs very much diftrefled
for, should we lay a heavy, or prohibitory tax upon
it; the production of this article in the country,
bears no proportion to its coiifumption ; nor can
gentlemen determine with any degree of precision,
when that will be the cafe. Sir, already
laid a duty upon Cordage, which will operate as a
protection to our manufacture of that article, and
ifwe nowtax Hemp exorbitantly, we shall in araeq
fure defeat our own purposes. Besides Sir, this will
be a most improvident measure, as it respects (hip
building—and surely we do not mean to leflon the
navigation of our country. Upon the general prin -
ciple, Mr. Hartley concluded in favour of a small
duty, not more than 5 pr. cent, as on the general
mass of articles.
Mr. Moo re was in favour of a high duty—his ob
servations were considerably lengthy, but were not
diftindlly heard by the e.litor.
Mr. lit ist £R otfeived, that from the Western
country, large quantities of this article were to be
expected: He proposed therefore a finall dutylhould
be laid for the interim between the present time,
and the next harvcft, after \\ liich the lmpoit fiiould
be enhanced, so as to afford encouragement to the
railing this important article.
Mr.W Hiri opposed fti iking out the article—
Hemp,he observed, was a plant that might be raised
in any quantities, especially in the Western coun
try, the foil of which was peculiarly adapted to its
growth. Agriculture was an object of immenfeim
portance ; "Government would undoubtedly patron
ize it—He therefore proposed 75 cents pr. hund. as
a moderate duty on this article.
Mr. Partridge spake in favour of a moderate
duty, for conlidering the article as a material, ne
ceflary to the existence of an important manufacture
—the high price it bore in foreign markets, iliould
induce a reason for a very low lmpoit—he therefore
proposed 40 ccnts pr. hund.
Mr. Lawrenci—l am, Sir, eppefed to a great
ImpoP"upon Hemp : It is certain that the produc
tion of that article in the States, bears no propor
tion to the demand. This State, Sir, manufactur
ed three hundred ton r the year pail—and not more
than forty tons were raised among ourselves. We
cannot be supplied from our own produce with
fuflicient quantities at present. The duty on Cor
dage is fuiticien-t, and will operate tothe encourage
ment wilhed for in the railing of Kemp. If his in
formation was jult, the gentleman observed, that
Cordage could be imported as cheap as Hemp, or
nearly lo ; a duty therefore o:i the latter, would
induce the importation of the former, to the total
dilcouragement of the manufacture. He conclu
ded therefore by moving, that the duty Ihould be
40 cents pr. hund.
Mr. Goodhue was in favour of 40 cents ; there
was a material difference between Hemp and Cor
dage, as gentlemen had observed, and the differ
ence bet%\ een the duties ought to bear foine pro
ticn.
Mr. Boudinot faid,thatas every article ofim
portation would doubtless bear r.n lmpoft of at lealt
5 pr. cent, and the proposed duty amounted, ac
cording to the present price of Hemp, exatftly to
that sum, he Ihould be in favour of 40 ccnts, fort'nat
reason ; but as it was already a fpecified article, to
oive it diftincftion as such, without materially en
hancing the duty from 5 pr. cent. f.ikl that Com
merce and Manufacture might mutually aim!each
other, he would propose 50 cents.
Mr. Hartley suggested, that in lieu of a duty
on foreign Hemp, to encourage the growth of it at
home, it might be eligible to offer a bounty on the
latter : He was decidedly of opinion, that the last
expedient would be preferable to tlie inipolinga
tax on Hemp imported.
Mr. Moore again advocated an enhanced duty.
Mr. White also, to the fame point, adverted to
the Western territory—suggested the policy of con
ciliating the affection of our brethren in that coun
try, and of making favourable impreflions rei'pect
ing the administration of the New Constitution.
Mr. Scot—Sir, Commerce and Agriculture are
so closely allied, that whatever is injurious to one,
equally affects the other ; they must be united.—
111 vain doesthe Farmer till the foil, and bring his
produce to market, unless the Merchant is readyto
rake his articles, at a reasonable rate.—ln vain
docs the Merchant plan his voyages to difrant
climes, unless the labour of the Husbandman fur
niflies him with the necefiary remittances.
Agriculture is the natural resort of the great
body of our countrymen. The eftablilhment ot
Manufactures may be .neccflkry to America, in a
time of war, but their prosecution, upon a gener
ally extensive scale, is not to be expected, while the
boundless tracts of uncultivated lands that extend
thousands of miles westward, offer on easy support
to the poorer claflesofpeople—and for a longtime
to come, we cannot expect to vie with the European
manufacturers—Agriculture,therefore, is the great
object that ihould arrest our attention. Hemp is
an article, the growth ofwliicli, if encouraged by
the general government of the United States, quan
tities may be raised in the Western country to an
unlimited amount—lts trjinfportatinii is easy, and
the price it bears, will warrant its being brought
from a great distance. Should but a hope be held
out, that the inhabitants of tliofe regions may hope,
that Congress will take this article under their pa
tronage, it will not te long, before the moutli of
the Millifippi will be delivering iinmenfe quanti
ties, which from the interior country, shall come
floating upon its waters—Mr. Scot was therefore
in favour of 7$ ccnts pr. hund.
Mr. Maddison here made some observations,
which we could not distinctly hear : He was op
posed, however, to a high duty, and proposed 4>
cents.
Mr. Smith, Maryland, wasiu favour of 40 cents,
as a temporary duty, and proposed, that after tw
years, the lmpoft Ihould be one dollar, or 100 cents
pr. hund. wt.
Upon taking the vote it palled in favour of P
cents pr. hund.
The articJeMalt was dutied at to cents pr. bulhel-
Mr. Amfs proposed the articles of Barley and
Lime fiiould be added to the general enumeration
—which being voted in the allirrilative, B irleyp