H. OF R.]

Appropriation Bill.

[JANUARY, 1794.

chants possessing large capitals and an old and established correspondence in the manufacturing countries. An apprentice of the best connexions, and most promising abilities, would find it impossible, at the expiration of his indentures, to begin business for himself upon such oppressive terms of competition. It would be requisite to send ready money to Europe at the time of commissioning the goods; that is, to pay for them six months before they were received. This operation would raise the price of them fifteen per cent., which would be a real tax. He was astonished to hear gentlemen speak with indifference as to the advantages of mercantile credit. The State of Georgia was rising into prosperity with a prodigious progress. And by what means was this effected? By credit, certainly; for it never could have been accomplished in any other way. He said that we should renounce all national animosities, and consider all mankind as one great family. Let us always go where we can sell best. Mr. S. closed a speech of uncommon animation, by saying that the resolutions reminded him of the story of the goose which laid golden eggs. Let us cut her up, said the boy, and we shall get them all at once. The ten per cent. of tonnage upon foreign vessels had been of great service; but the present The Committee now rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.

made yesterday upon him in that House. It had met him out of doors, and had gone into the world. After he had done speaking yesterday, a member had risen, and held forth as a fundamental observation, that " gentlemen possessing capitals of their own were in favor of the propositions; but that dealers upon credit were against them." When this remark was made, as he had but just sat down from delivering his negative to the resolutions, he could not help thinking himself aimed at as one of those dealers upon credit. [Here the member referred to rose, and solemnly declared that a personal allusion to Mr. SMITH had never entered his mind.] Mr. S. went on to observe, that the whole assertion was erroneous. The merchants of America are men of liberal sentiments-more so, he believed, than merchants of any other part of the world. They are not to be biassed by the petty motives of interest, in prejudice to the public interest of their country. The gentleman whom he referred to had spoke of an alarming British influence in some of the commercial cities of America. He had alleged that merchants, by their connexion with Britain, would be under its influence; but there was no such thing. In this country, merchants studied the Constitution, and were attached to it. In other countries, they minded only profit. As a reflec-plan was too abrupt. tion had been thrown on merchants who dealt upon credit, he should take leave to observe that credit was a very good thing. As to himself, he had, before the war began, acquired, by his industry, as much property as placed him beyond the necessity of credit. By the war, he was reduced to nothing. After the peace, he again began as he set out at first. By the same industry and the same talents, he had once more acquired independence. By the British buccaneers, he had lost as much, since the present war began, as the gentleman to whom he rose in reply, would think a tolerable fortune for dividing among his sons; yet he could still spare time from his business for the service of his country. He said, that at first hearing the resolutions, he had been rather prejudiced in their favor. One of them was indeed a very enticing resolution, and at first view pleased him very much. [The resolution to which Mr. S. referred is the seventh, and runs in these words:

FRIDAY, January 17.

A memorial of Andrew G. Fraunces, of the city of New York, was presented to the House and read, praying to be furnished with an official copy of the proceedings on the subject of his memorial, presented the 19th ultimo, and that the House will speedily determine on the legality of his claim for the payment of certain warrants issued by the late Board of Treasury.

Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table.

recommitted the bill for completing and better Mr. BEATTY, from the committee to whom was supporting the Military Establishment of the United States, reported an amendatory bill; which was read twice and committed.

APPROPRIATION BILL.

"Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, That provision ought to be made for liquidating and ascerThe House went into a Committee of the taining the losses sustained by citizens of the United Whole on the Appropriation Bill, (Mr. TRUMBULL States, from the operation of particular regulations of in the Chair.) The Committee proceeded in the any country, contravening the Law of Nations, and discussion, during which, Mr. BALDWIN rose rethat such losses be reimbursed in the first instance, out peatedly, for the purpose of inquiring into the exof the additional duties on the manufactures, produc- cess of various sums appropriated, for contingentions, and vessels of the nations establishing such un-cies and other purposes, above the sums heretofore lawful regulations."]

appropriated. His object was, that a committee He since opposed them, from a conviction that should be appointed to make particular inquiry they were injudicious. This gentleman and others into the reasons of these excesses, and to report. had spoken with complacency of destroying com- A motion was at length made and carried, for the mercial credit. He would again repeat his affirm-rising of the Committee. In the House, Mr. ation that credit was a good thing. To destroy it would establish an aristocracy in commerce, which was as bad as an aristocracy in Government. He explained this expression, by subjoining, that the dissolution of credit would confine trade to mer-five appointed.

BALDWIN made a motion for the appointment of a special committee, to inquire into the cause of, and report on the expediency of, these excesses. This motion was agreed to, and a committee of

JANUARY, 1794.] Quakers' Memorial-Algerine Affairs-Commerce with G. Britain.

PETITION OF DANIEL PARKER.

[H. OF R.

not, he should then move that it should be referred to a select committee. The petition was ordered to lie on the table.

ALGERINE AFFAIRS.

The Committee of Ways and Means, appointed pursuant to the resolutions of the House on the communications from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES relative to Algiers, brought in a report, which was twice read, and referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union.

Ordered, That it be printed for the use of the members.

The House took into consideration the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the memorial of Daniel Parker. The substance of the Report is, that it may be for the interest of the United States to compound the debt due from the memorialist, and suggests the expediency of vesting a power somewhere to make the composition. It was moved that a committee should be appointed to prepare and report a bill pursuant to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury. Some debate ensued on this motion. It was opposed on the score of precedent, and that it might be better for the United States to lose the debt than to establish a precedent which might open a door to every The report states that the Naval force for the delinquent debtor of the United States. If the protection of the trade of the United States, shall memorialist is an honest man, and has any pro- consist of four ships of forty-four guns each, 18 perty, he will throw himself on the justice and and 9 pounders, and two of 20 guns each. The humanity of his country. The conduct of the aggregate sum wanted for this purpose is estimatpetitioner, in withdrawing from his country, and ed at six hundred thousand dollars; to raise which, his consequent deportment, were reprobated. In one per cent. additional duty is proposed to be laid support of the motion, it was said that the only on imported goods now paying seven and one-half question was, whether the United States would per cent.; five per cent. additional on stone, marinsist on receiving the whole of their demand, and ble, &c.; and on all stone and earthen ware, three get nothing, or compromise their demand, and re- cents additional; on salt, per bushel, six cents adceive something. This, it was said, was not esta-ditional, per ton, on all vessels of the United States blishing a precedent; it was simply following the custom established in all similar cases by individuals. It was true that public bodies adopt generally a more rigid line of conduct, and perhaps with propriety in most cases; but, in the present instance, the memorialist is out of the country, out of the reach of the laws; he is able to pay something, but is not willing to be divested of all his property, and be still bound to discharge a balance he never can pay.

employed in foreign trade; and twenty-five cents additional, per ton, on all other vessels.

On motion of Mr. FITZSIMONS, an addition was made to the Committee of Ways and Means; so that it now consists of a member from every State, who are to make another report respecting the fortifying the ports and harbors of the United

States.

Ordered, That Mr. GILMAN, Mr. WATTS, Mr. ORR, Mr. PATTON, Mr. BALDWIN, and Mr. ISRAEL Mr. NICHOLAS proposed the following motion, SMITH, be added to the committee appointed to as a substitute for the first motion, that a commit-report to this House the Naval force adequate to tee be appointed to inquire whether D. Parker & Co. have any equitable or other claims to a reduction of the balances which appear against them on the books of the Treasury of the United States, and report specially thereon to the House. This motion, after some further debate, was agreed to, and a committee of three appointed.

MONDAY. January 20.

QUAKERS' MEMORIAL.

the protection of the commerce of the United States against the Algerine corsairs, together with an estimate of the expense, and the ways and means for defraying the same. CORRESPONDENCE WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

Mr. W. SMITH remarked, that in the discussion of the resolutions respecting commercial affairs, much stress had been laid an the suggestion, that Great Britain had not discovered any disposition to enter into a commercial treaty with the United States, informed the House that in the corresA memorial was read from the people called pondence between the Executive of the United Quakers. The substance of this memorial is, States and the Minister of Great Britain, as printto request that Congress would pass a law to pro-ed by order of the House, it appears, that there is hibit the citizens of the United States from transporting slaves from the coast of Africa to the West India Islands. The petition was read by

the SPEAKER.

Mr. GILES wished that it might be referred to a select committee.

Mr. BOURNE wished that it should lie on the table for a day or two. He did not, by this, mean to oppose the principle of the memorial; but he understood that another, of the same tenor, was to be presented to the Senate. He therefore wished that it might be deferred till the House could see whether the Senate should take it up. If they did

a chasm occasioned by the omission of a letter from the Secretary of State to that Minister, which letter is referred to in a subsequent letter.

Mr. GILES said, that it was very possible the letter to which Mr. SMITH referred, never had existed. It was said to have been written on the 5th of December, 1791. It was likely enough that Mr. Hammond might have mistaken a date.

Mr. DEXTER said, that there was an evident chasm. A letter must have been suppressed.

Mr. MADISON thought that there was a chasm, which should be filled up, but it might do as well to defer the matter for a day or two, till inquiry

should be made of the Secretary of State, why it had been withheld? Upon informing the PRESIDENT, he would either give it up, or mention the reasons why he should not.

Mr. BOURNE said, that a motion concerning papers to be obtained from the Secretary of State, had been lying on the table since the beginning of last week. He wished it to be read.

Mr. GILES and Mr. NICHOLAS thought there could be no use for this letter, but they would not oppose an inquiry for its production.

The House then agreed to a resolution proposed by Mr. W. SMITH, the purport of which is, that the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES be applied to for information on the subject, and requested to lay before the House the omitted letter, or such parts as he may think proper. It was then moved and seconded, that the PRESIDENT be made acquainted with the resolution now adopted, which was agreed to. It was then proposed, that a committee of three members should be appointed to wait on him for that purpose. The motion was negatived. It was then moved and agreed, that the committee should consist of two members.

A Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, on the subject of the recal of the Minister of the French Republic. This Message states, that the conduct of the Minister had met with decided disapprobation, and the Government of France promises, that his recal shall be expedited without delay.

Mr. BALDWIN, from the committee appointed to examine the articles in which the present estimate exceeds the appropriations and actual settlements of preceding years, and report the causes, with their opinion of the expediency of such excess, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying the copy of a Letter to him from the Commíssioner of the Revenue, stating the causes which have delayed the report on the revenue arising from spirits distilled within the United States, and from stills, required by the order of this House of the second of March last; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.

It was then moved, that the House go into a Committee on the bill for completing and better supporting the Military Establishment of the United States.

The bill was discussed by paragraphs. The second section proposes, in substance, that those who continue in service to the expiration of their enlistment, shall receive thirty dollars in addition to their pay, to be paid to them personally, in proportion to the time they had been in service. This section, after some debate, was struck out.

[JANUARY, 1794.

A section was then proposed which provides for a donation of two hundred acres of land to every non-commissioned officer, musician, and private of the army, at the end of the service, provided they settle on the same. This motion, after several amendments, was agreed to.

[In discussing the clauses of the bill on the Military Establishment, Mr. WADSWORTH said, that the American army was dwindling to nothing, for the want of proper officers. There was no suitable encouragement in the service, to compensate for the toils and dangers of a military life. Many officers would resign their commissions, if they could only get Government to accept of them. It would be necessary to make an augmentation of their pay, or do something else to encourage them. There was no incitement in this war, upon the principles of honor, because we had been told that the war itself was infamous. Some provision ought to be made for the widows and children of officers. Many of the widows of officers had been reduced to work with their own hands for bread, while their children had been sent to school by a subscription among their neighbors.

Mr. CLARK, in reply, said, that there were many soldiers who would gladly resign. If an officer had twenty-seven dollars per month, and a soldier but three or four, is it not proper that the Government should provide as well for the widows and children of soldiers, as of officers? He was confident that the army could find plenty of officers.

Mr. CLAIBORNE was of opinion that the widows and children of soldiers were as much flesh and blood as those of officers; and that the State was as much obliged to the soldiers as to the officers. The latter were better paid than the former, and so were more likely to leave something behind them for the support of their families. He said that we lived under a Republican Government, where all ranks of men were equally entitled to the protection of the State.

Mr. SMILIE considered it as highly unjust that there should be so great a difference between the pay of an officer and that of a soldier. It was proper to support rank, but the principle was carried too far. He would only ask what sort of men officers were, and what soldiers were? He knew of no distinction. Why, then, should we provide for the widows and the children of the officers, and not for those of the soldiers, when the latter had but four dollars per month?

The fact is, said Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, that your best officers have either left the army, or are daily leaving it. The General finds it necessary to force them to stay. The gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. CLAIBORNE,] had seen service, and was, Mr. S. believed, as a good a Republican as any in that House. He surely must know that the services of men of education could not, in any part of the world, be obtained at the same rate as those of the inferior classes. Gentlemen might sec-speak of equality, but in practice the thing was impossible. As to women it was well enough known what sort of ladies commonly followed the camp. It would be absurd to place them on a level with the widows of officers, or to suppose that they de

A motion was made to strike out the last tion which provides that the widows and orphans of officers who die, or are killed in the service, shall be entitled to three years' half pay. This motion, after considerable debate, was carried.

Commerce of the United States.

Mr. DAYTON said, that if he had before been disposed to enter into the extensive field of argument which was opened to their view, by a resolution vague and extensive as the one immediately under consideration of the Committee, he should be deterred from it by the example of gentlemen who had gone before him. They seemed to him to have wandered without any sure guide, or distinct object; and, like persons who travel in a circle, to have sat down after having bewildered or NAYS.-Theodorus Bailey, Abraham Baldwin, John fatigued themselves in the attempt, without arrivBeatty, Thomas Blount, Thomas P. Carnes, Gabrieling at the end of their pursuit. This, Mr. D. conChristie, Thomas Claiborne, Abraham Clark, Peleg ceived was almost unavoidable, from the loose and Coffin, Dwight Foster, Andrew Gregg, Daniel Heister, general wording of the proposition. He was not, James Hillhouse, Samuel Holten, Mathew Locke, Na- he said, so fortunate as to be present when the thaniel Macon, Joseph McDowell, Alexander Mebane, mover of those resolutions had favored the ComAndrew Moore, Nathaniel Niles, Alexander D. Orr, Jo-mittee with his arguments in support of them; he siah Parker, John Smilie, Israel Smith, Thomas Tredwell, Philip Van Cortlandt, Abraham Venable, Peleg Wadsworth, Francis Walker, Artemas Ward, Benjamin Williams, and Paine Wingate.