Boston, June 3, 1790.
Extract from His Excdlettcy Gov.. Hancock's Spicch,
to both Houses of the Legijlature.
«XX TE have, by the blelfing of Divine Provi
\V dence, atchieved a situation truly envia
ble in the eyes of other nations : Our peri'ons
and pofleflions are governed by (landing and
known laws, and fecnred by a Conltiiution for
nied by ourselves. This Conltitution is a law to
the legiflaiive authority itfelf—andleaft the pride
of office, or the hand of lavvlefs power, should
rob the people of their constitutional security, a
proper ballance provided in the Judicial De
partment, occalionally arising from the body of
the people. The price of our freedom has been
great toil, and much expence, and we yet feel the
weight of it : But we teel as tree men, while the
people of some other countries are opprefled with
heavy burthens which have been accumulated, not
to secure, but to dellroy their freedom.
Though the national affairs of our country are
more immediately under the attention of the Ge
neral Government, yet we have very important
bulinefs which demands our attention.
Having formed our governments.and eftabliftied
our independency, we fit down quietly and peace- '
ably, to enquire into, and to perform thole du
ties, which may be reasonably expe(fled from us
in our tranquil situation. And lam very happy
to inform you, that the bulinefs of our meeting is
principally confined to the devising ways and
means for anfweringthe just demands of our pub
lic creditors—making such additional laws as may
be necelfary to mark out the paths of distributive
justice—to adopt such measures as may facilitate
the settlement of the uncultivated parts of the
State—and to devise ways for promoting ufeful
knowledge, and for inculcating those virtues
which are the only solid foundation of public and
private felicity.
Many of the citizens of this Commonwealth,
while the country was prefl'ed on every fide by
danger and distress, freely loaned their proper
ty to the public fafety : And had the most foleinn
aflurances for a re-payment with interest. Others
ventured their lives in the war for our defence,
and received the public faith pledged for 1 coin
penfation, when the war should be terminated.
The eyes of these creditors are now upon us for
justice : And the fufferings of the widow and or
phan demand our attention,
I am fenfiblethat some of the public fecuritles,
evidential of these loans and services, have been
thrown into the hands of persons who have given
but a small consideration for them ; but while we
are convinced that this has in some measure been
owing to the failure of governmental promises,
we onght not to increase the calamity, by unne
ceftary delavS in doing justice. Was it within
the power of the people to pay the debt they owe,
as a government, it would be for their honor and
advantage to do it immediately—but as this can
not be done, the making provision for the punc
tual payment of the interest annually, will be
nearly as well for the creditors. But then in
order to produce this effeift, the payment of this
interest irntft be afTured upon funds which may
be depended upon. In a republican govei nment,
the idea of relponfibility is generally divided a
mongst too many persons to insure that punctual
ity in the performance of promises, which some
other forms of government may afford : There
fore the security of pun<ftual payments is jiot fre
quently well eftablillied, without appropriated
funds—and yet the happiness of every govern
ment, in whatever form it may be, depends es
sentially upon the retftitnde and punctuality of
it. When 1 speak of the happiness of a govern
ment, 1 mean that situation of a civil community,
which has a tendency to make those who compose
it, happy, by affording them security against fo
reign invaders, at well as against internal com
motions—and in defending the individuals over
whom it is extended, against oppression and in
justice.
The debt we are involved in, and which I have
low under conlideration, was contracted for the
omnion defence of the United State*, and I flat.
ermyfelf that justice will finally prevail, so that
:he government lately established will consider
[he whole of the Un ion as responsible to each State
for debts of this nature. In the report of the Se
cretary of the Treasury ofthe United States there
is a proposal for Congress to allume the debts of
thefeveral States—but I am not convinced of the
propriety of the General Government's atl'uming
to pay the debts of this Commonwealth without
the requeftorconfent of this government —but as
it will be more congenial to any (yftem of Finance
which the Congress may adopt, for this class of the
.creditors of this State, to transfer the demands
■to the General Government, on the idea of the
'Jtandinp- credit of our Government, and to have
them involved in the funded debt of the United
states, than to have a claim open in favor of the
Commonwealth, I recommend it to your feriotis (de
liberation, whether inftrutftions may not be given
to our Senators and Beprefentatives on thispoint.'
We hear that them is a profpctt of a happy union of sentiment
>n the Lrgiflature of Mafljf hufctts upon all great national fubjefb,
twjth w;tb refpeft to i nfrlir credit a'd the tedcial government.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
PUBLISHED
'fMi/ry£i/Aon^y.
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
AT THC SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the Citv of New-Yoik, on Monday the fouith
of January, one tho*fand seven hundred and ninety.
AN ACT supplemental to the act for eftabliftinig
the Salaries of the Executive Officers of Govern
ment, with their Affiltants and Clerks.
BE it enaftfd hv tht Sen ate and House of Repref ntatives of the United
States of AmeucJ m Conorefs ajjemblefl, That the more etfe&ual-
Jy to do and perform the duties in tfto Department -of State, the
.Secretary of the said department be, arid is hereby authorized to
'appoint an additional clerk in his office, who shall be allowed an
equal salary, to be paid in the lame manner as is allowed by law
to the chief clerk.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG,
Speaker oj the House of Reprefentatnef.
JOHN ADAMS, Vice-Preji dent oj the United Stales
and President of the Senate.
Approved, June fourth, 1790.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States.
(True Copy)
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Seer tary of State.
AN ACT for finally adjuiting and fatisfying the
Claims of Frederick William De Steuben.
BE it enafled by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress ajjenbled, That in order 10 make
full and adequate compensation to Frederick. William De Steuben,
for the facrifices and eminent Services .made and rendered to the
United States during the late vrir, there be paid to the hid Frede
rick William De Steuben an annuity of two thouUnd five hundred
dollars during life, to commence on the full day of January Jail,
to be paid in. quarterly oavments?t the Treasury ol the United
State*; which said annuity shall be considered in lull dilchargc of
all claims and demand* whatever of the said Frederick William
De Steuben against the Umted States.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG
Speaker of the House of Representatives
JOHN ADAMS, of the United Staid
and President oj the Senate.
APPROVED JUNE fourth, 1790.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Pref dent »f the United States.
(True Cosy)
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Sect etary of State.
AN ACT for giving effetft to an art, intituled, "An
a<fb to eftahliih the Judicial Courts of the Uni
ted Stares," within the State of North-Carolina.
BE if e**tled by the Senate and House trf R eprrfcntutives cf the United
States of America in Congress That the act, intitutled,
14 An att to establish the judicial courts of the United States" ihali
have the like force and etfect within the ftateot North-Carolina, as
elsewhere within the Uuited States.
And be it further enafled, That the fa:d ft ite shall be one diftritt,
to be called North-Carolina diflii£t; and there shall be a diltritt
court therein, to conlift of one judge, who shall reside in the dilirtct,
and be called a diAnd judge, and shall hold annually lour felHons;
the fir ft to commence on the firft Monday :n July next, and the
other three si (lions progreflively on the like Monday ot every third
calendar month afterwards. The fUted diftrift court shall be held
at the town of Newbein.
And be it further enacted, That the said diftrift shall be, and the
fame is hereby annexed tothe fouthem circuit: And there shall be
held annually in the said diftri£t, twocucuit courts ; the ft 1 It fellun
of the circuit court shall commence on the eighteenth day ol June
next, the second Seflion on the eighth day of Noveinbei next, and
the subsequent fifliont on the like days of every June and Novem
ber afterwaids, except when any of the days mall happen on a
Sunday, and then the session shall commence the n< xt day follow
ing : And the feflions of the said circuit courts fhail be held at
Newbern :
And be it further entitled, That there (hall be allowed to th c
judge of the laid diftritt, the yearly compenfa/ion of fifteen hu t ).
cred dollar*, to commencefrom his appointment, and to be paid
at the treasury of the United States in quarterly payments.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG,
Sbeaker of the House oj Rrprefentatives.
JOHN ADAMS, Vici-Prcfiaent ofthe United States,
and Prejident of the Senate.
Approved, June fourth, 1790.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prejident 0/ the United States,
(True copy.J
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESEN TAr IVES.
MONDAY JUNE 7.
A BILL for extending the judiciary system of
the United States to the Hate of Rhode-Island,
was read the second time, and ordered to be en
grofl'edfor a third reading.
The house proceeded to the consideration of
the report of the committee of the whole, 011 the
bill for fettling the accounts between the United
States and the individual ftaies, and agreed to
the fame. Several amendments were then pro
pored to the bill, some of which were agreed to ;
and on motion of Mr. Scott, aclaufe was added to
encreafe the falariesof the clerks of the coinmif
fioners from 400 dollars per annum, the present
allowance, to 500, the lalaries given in all the
other offices.
Mr. Madison then moved for another amend
ment, the conlideration of which was postponed
till to morrow.
Mr. Liverviore from the committee appointed
for the purpose, reported a bill for the regulati
on of the poll-offices and poll roads.
483
'ATES.
Mr. Sedgwick from the committed appointed for
the purpote, reported a biH for extending the e*
liumeration law of tlie United States, to theltate
of Rhode-lllaiid.
A meflage was received from the President of
the United Sta'es,u>forining"that he had approved
of, and signed the resolutions relpeifting the ar
rears at pay due to the troops of Virginia and
North-Carolina, lately ferviiig. in the army of
the United States.
TUESDAY, JUNE 8.
The bill for giving etfeft to the la w for t-ftaWl filing ihc Judici.il
Courts of the United Slates, in refpetl lolhe State ol Rhode lildnd,
having been engrossed, was read the third time : L'lic Xalary of
the Diftrift Judge was fixed at OncThoufand Dollars ; The blanks
being filled up, the bill was p3IT dto be rnalh d.
The bill for extending the law of the United Slates, providing
forthc enum ration of the inhabitant, to ctyeSutc.of Rhode-
Iflmd, was read the facond time, and re-committed, fpr the pur
pose of adding a c labile, empowering (he Deputies ot the Mariha.s
to require of the heads of families and others, an oath to thetruta
of the returns made by them of the numbers ot inhabitants.
On motion of Mr. Boudinot, a committee was appointed h»
enquire, and report to die Houfr, the buituefs necclfory to he
tranfa&ed previous to an adjournment.
The bill providing l<*r the settlement of the accounts between
the United Sutcsand individual Slates, -was taken into coniidcta
tion..
Several amendments were propofrd and debated. Some of them
weie agreed to, and others rejected.
The bill being finifhed, u was ordered to be for a
thud reading.
A mclTdge was received from the Senate, informing the House,
that they ha c taken into coniideration the Resolution passed the
House the 31ft May, refpe&ing Congress' meeting, and holding
their next kilion in Philadelphia—and have not concurred therein.
The rommitfee to whom was re-committed the bilHor the re
lief ot Nathaniel Twining, reported fcveral amendments to .the
bill. Laid on the table.
The M« tfage tronj the Senate was rend.
A motiou wa» then made to adjourn—which was negatived.
The House refoSved it felt into a committee ot the whole, on the
bill for repealing, after the last day of the duties here
tofore laid on d<(tilled Spirits of foreign manufacture, and laying
others in their stead. The bill being read, foine progress w;»*
made in the dilcuflion—the committee then Tofe, and the House
adjourned.
IN SENATE, TUESDAY, JUNE 8.
On motion, the Senate agreed to postpone tne btll for tftablin*-
ing the feat ot government of the Uuited States, and the repoit
of Committee thereon—and to take up the Resolution <yf the House
pasTed the 31ft of May.
This Resolution was non-concurred 13 to 11.
The opinion ot theSeuate was taken 44 Wnether it is expedient
at this time to determine the permanent feat of government of the
United Statts, and the question determined in the negative.
On motion to till up the blank in the bill for fixing \he per
manent refidt nee with the words— 44 The cafterly banks of the
Potowmack." It pafT< d <n the negative.
Baltimore and W.lmingtou were then p<opofcd and were also
negatived.
[iL uAZLiOt iiit CiMlLi) bl
Mr. Fen.no,
NO! HING evinces more forcibly the high value of a federal
government, founded on the great democratic priticiple of
representation, than the conduct of the House of Reprcfentativts
ot the United States. Irs members extend their patemd earc
equally over every past of this gtfeat empire—nothirtg escapes (heir
minute releaiche« to wenefit every part of t+*c Union—While mapy
regulations in the collection laws shew how attentive they have
been to avoid opjpreflion ; they have unifoimly manifelted au
ardent desire to accomodate all their eonftituerits, by aflxgning nu
merous ports and diftrifts for the convenience of commerce—nay*
in foine inlbnces, this dilpofttion seems to have I d them almost
to Sacrifice that fccurity, which the due colle&ion of the revenue
requires. These obfervationsarccorroborated by a late tranfattion.
The committee recently appointed for the purpo/e of bringing
in a bill for extending the revenue laws of the United States, to the
State of Rhode-1 reported that foreign (hips, and all vessels
coming trom China or the Ealt Indies, should be lirrtitted to the
port of Newport—the size ol that State would lead one to suppose
that one port was fully Sufficient for all its purposes of foreign
commerce ; but lurh was the desire of that body to extend the ad
vantages of commerce to all ports that were in a capacity of enjoy
ing and benefiting by them,that they added the port of Providence,
on the motion of Mr. Sedgwick, who afligned this reason, in favor
of it, that he h?d been informed by a worthy and intelligent gen
tleman trom that State, that it was the wish of foine of its inha
bitants.—What could juflify the foregoing remarks more fully ?
Americans ! while you employ such men as agents, regard not
the nialcvolence of the fnarlingand inGduous—creatures who live
in faction, and ertift upon the vapors of a foul imagination—-who
may be traced like the friail upon the rock, by the slime of defa
mation they leave behind them ? J,,
NEW-YORK, JUNE 9, 1790.
APPOINTMENTS. BY AUTHORITY.
Made the 7th and Bih instants.
Richard Harrison, of Virginia, Consul for the port of
Cadiz, <scc.
John Marsden Putard, of New-York, for the Island at
Madeira, &c.
James Maury, of Virginia, for the port of Liverpool, &c,
William Knox, of New-York, for thc port of Dublin, &c.
James Fen wick, ot Maryland, tor the port ot Bourdeaux.
Burrell Car nes, of Mailacliufetts, for the port of Nantz.
Nathan 1 £ l Ba« r t it, of MaflTachufetts, for the port of Rouen.
Sy l v anus Bou r n e, of M<iffachufctts,for the port of Hifpaniola.
Fuli var Skipwith, of Virg nta, for the port of Martinique,
Dijlrifl of North Carotin*.
William R. Davie, Judge.
John Sitcreaves, Attorney.
John Skinner, Marshall.
Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio.
William Blount, Governor.
David Campbell arid John McNairy, Judges.
Daniel Smith, Secretary.
or " T/iomas Secupes," in the appointments in our lafl, read
Thomson Seayres.
The Ship Margaret, Blaine, from New-York,
is arrived at Londonderry, in 24 dayspaflage.
The Aftrea, Magee, is arrived atßofton, after
a paflage of 125 days from Canton in China.
ARRIVALS SINCE OUR LAST. HEIV-YORK*
Packet Duke of Cumberland, Falmouth 49 days.
Brig Betsey Motley Charleston 9 days.
Schooner Queen, Potter, Shelburne. 6 dayi.
Return, Olwood, St. John's 16 days.
Brotheri, Peters, Demarara, 24 day*«,
-■■ Betsey, Brocks, Philadelphia, x