t'flv commiiTljnfrs of acconntj, ^c. rs-
ported and brought’In a bill for the por-
pofe intended, which was read the tirft
time.
A report from the fccretary at war,
on the petition of Col. John tly, was
read, and laid on the table.
A 'mcirage was received fiom the
Piefident, by Mr. Lear, tranlinitdng tlie
ratification of eljeveii'of the {welvelar*
tides of amendments, propolcd by Cnp-
jjrefs to the conftitution of the IJniied
iirates, by the hate of Delaw-are, the
conlideritionof the firll article being
poilponed.
The Speaker prefentcJ the-petition
of Gifford Dally, door-keeper of the
houfe, refpeifling I'ervices by him pef-
formed during the recefs of Congrefs,
which was read and referred to Mdfrs.
Livermore, Sylvcdcr, and l.ee.
Mr, "White, from the committee who
were indruded to bring in a bill for pre»
venting the erporlaiion of goods not le
gally infpetded, brought in one for that
purpo,'"e, which Was re.ad Ute firll time.
Mr. Ames prefented a petition of
Dav id Oliphant, late dirtiflor for the
hofplials of the fouthern department,
which was read and laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. Hartley, the re-
«v pert of the committee to whom was re
ferred the membr'.als rcfpeiling the abo
lition of flavery, was read a fecond time,
and after feme confiderable debate,
T.u.cfday the 16ili inltant was ap'poiuied
foi its difcuffion.
Mr. Livermore, from the committee
to whom was referred the pciiiion of
Gifford Dally, reported, that he be al
lowed two dollars per diem, for ^6 d.ays
fer.’iccs during the rcccfsof Congrefs.
• The houfe then went into a commit-
*tec, on the report of the fccrctary of rhe
treafury. the refolire for alfumiiig the
liate debtr being under confidcraiion.
. Mr. "Whitc^and Mr. Slone f;;okc fire-
nuoufly againft the adoption of ilie mea-
fure at ihe'prefent time, and Mr. Gerry,
iij favour thereof; but the ufual liour
of adjournment being arrived, on moti
on of Mr. Vining, the committee rtrfe.
Mr. Hartley moved, that the report
oi the committee on the memorials of
the people called Quakers, Ihould be
taken up for a fecond reading, which
motion being adopted, it was read.
Mr. Smith (S. C.) moved, that the
above be referred to a committee of the
w hole, to be taken up the firll Monday
in May next.
Mr. Dondlnotpropofed tlieflrftMon*
d.ay in April:
Mr. Jackfon oppofed the latteV pen*
od ; he urged'ttTveral reafons which ren-
ler.ed it extremely inconvenient to af-
fign fo early a day. A proper know-
ledge of the prefent Rate of the impor
tations and 'Other particulars refpedling
the llave trade, which cannot be known
fo early, call for a longer time—he ad
verted to the peculiar circumflances of
thefouthtrr flates,nnd urged the ne-
•eflity and jiillice of reijinring a more
perfcdl knowledge of the feniiments of
their condituents; to adopt it in its pre-
ient form, would produce infinite mif-
chiefs in the fomlicrn Hates—it would
excite tumults, fediiioiis, .and infunec-
tions.
Mr. Vining oppofed a pnflpnnctnent;
he conridered the report, if adojned, as
aa lionom-able declaration of the fenti-
ments of the IcgilThttire on this impor
tant bnfinefs ; he could not conceive
that there wa.s any ground for the
alaiming apprehenfioiis entertained by
feme geiulcmcii.
Mr. Boudinot anfwcred Mr. Jackfon.
n't- obferved, that if the report wascal-
ciilated to produce filch effccfls, the ar
gument is in favour of the fliorteft pe
riod ; that the r.iport m ly be fo amend
ed as topres-ent thofe ctfciffs. He mov
ed the firll Monday in April, hecanfehe
cxpcdled that Con'rrsfs wrnild rife in
May, and he thought it would not be
giving the biifiacfs that attention wliich
it deferved, to pollpoiie it to a pciiod
which may preclude all difcuffion what
ever.
• Mr. .Smiili (,S. C.) and Mr. Stone
lirgi J the pofiponenirnt ; the latter gen-
tlctiian nbffrveiijtli.il hehad not appiov-
fd of ihe interference nt Cn -grefs in the
Iiufiaei's He thought that perfons who
jr e not interefied, ought not to inter-
I'ere ; fu;!i interfcr-.r.ces favored ■''cry
ilroiigly of an intolcreat fpit k ; aud he
could not uipppfe tl at .any one of the
Hates had a right to iutcileve iu the in
ternal regulations of anotlicr ': th'e llatcs
are not accouauble to each f>ilier for
their moral couduiff. He willied that
thcinterelling ciicumftanccs of the dates
which woulu be lo maleiiaily allccted,
might he taken into confideration, and
the .uojcit poilponed to the firll Moitday
ill May.
Mr. Vining replied to Mr. Stone, and
obfcrved. ihat'ii was very txtiioruinairy
that a humane, libernlfpirit, a willi to
diffufe univcrial liberty. Ihould he called
an iiiiolertiu fpirit ; and dillntcrelled
perfons, he had Ulw.ays fuppofed the
moll likely to form a jull judgment; he
•could not but approve of the re]iort of
the committee ; it was couched in terms
of humanity and prudence, and did
■ great honour to the gentlemen who
framed it.
Mr. Boudinot ohforved, that as there
"were fome exprelTions in the report,
which, if altered, might give fati.sfadli-
on to all parties, he would move that
the houfe fhould now go into a commit
tee of the whole, in order to make thole
alterations.
Mr. Jackfon faid, for the purpofe of
akering the idirafeology, he Ihould have
an ohjeiflion to going into a committee.
•Mr. Burke was for poflponing tlie
bufinefs altogether; he dilated on the
pernicious conlcquences which may be
cxpedled to flow from an interference in
the bulinefs.
Mr. Smith (S. C.) moved that the
report Ihould be recommittal. He ex
patiated on theconAruMion which might
be put on the feveral paru of the re
port, and fliewcd their pernicious ten
dency ; he was poiiucdly fevere in
animadverting on the cr-miuiff of the
mcmoiialills ui meddling with the buli-
nefs.
Mr. Sherman oppofed this motion ;
hs faid that tliis report w.as agreeable to
his idea ; it was prudent, humane, and
judicious.
I'hc motion for recommitment was
neg.'Uit ed. It was then voted, tha^ it
fltould he referred to a committee of the
whole houfe. The lime wlien it fhould
be taken up, occalioned fome further de
bate ; it was urged thal, as fo much time
had been fpent in the difculHon, and
many ideas were thrown out of alarming
inlurreftions, it was become necelFary
to make an early decillon on the bufi-
nefs j Mr. Boudinot, therefore, with
drew his motion for April, and moved,
that the houfe Ihould at this time go in
to a committee of the whole on the re
port.
^ Mr. Jackfon svas oppofed to the mo
tion ; he animadvcited with great fe-
verity on tlie mcmoi ialills, and intro
duced an account of tlic mifehiefs wliich
had refiilted from the interference of a
feiff called Anabapiills, in the Hate of
Georgia.
Mr. Gerry jullified tlie Qu.ikers—he
VMS aftonilhed, he laid, that ihefe per
fons Ihould be treated witji fo mue'li le-
verity, when it was well known that they
had exerted themlelves in the lame taufc
■ in Great Britain and otlier parts of ihe
world—that tliey h.id formed focieties
to elTtff their humane piirpofcs, and for
their exertions h:ul hitherto met with
univcrf.il appl.iiife.
It wa.s finally voted to take up die re
port to morrow week.
TuCjQuy, M'drch 5.
The order of the ihiy was catlcd for
on the report of the fecrelary of the
treafury, refpeiSting the alfumpiion of the
Hate debts.
Mr. Bcnfoii in die chair.
Mr. Sherman Ipoke in favour of the
afl'iimpiion, and thought it would be
r.gi ecahle to die people to have the pub
lic debt all under one common lloek ;
ii w ould be for ihcintereft of the parti-
nilai flates as well as the piililic go(,d.
He iheieiore tlioiiglit it would be bell
to agree to tin; pi opolliion.
Mr. Bland laid the ali'umption of the
Hate di'bls w as ihe only means to hind
the Gordian-knot01 jiillice and equity
in the I Tni-ed St.ues, and if it was not
immediately adopted, the evil which
had been cr-midained of refpeffing fpe-
cnlators. would he mnkiplied tenfold.—
Some Hate-, would exert thcmlelves—
others would not—and iu iJiis lituaiion
the fpeculators would know when to
take the advantage.
The fecret-ary ot the treafury has re
ported ways and me.ans for paying the
Hate debts ; and it cannot be dilputed
but that one of thefe two alternatives
will eventually he adopteil—either the
Hates individually mull levy taxes to
ivay their debts, or Congrefs mull doit,
in order to keep up the peace and cre
dit of the country.
Mr. Bland then faid he was highly
pleafed witli the amendments propofed
by his worthy culleague, wliicli provid
ed for a door to be kept open for the li
quidation of the Hate debts. Had the
fourth refolntion been adopted without
tlris amendment, the llatefccuritiesmighc
liive fuffered a fall, ttich as would have
reduced tliem to one lliillmg in the
pnjnd, or lefs perhaps; but wifh the
amendment they would probably Hand
nearer to their value. Congrefs, faid
Mt. Bltiiid, muAfooner or hater have
taken up this bufinefs. He 'then con-
eluded by profclling that he fpoke from
the heart, and could not think of voting
any other way than for the propofition.
Mr. Scott then rofe an^ faid, that he
was well aware that adopting the propo-
Htion would operate in favour r.f fome
Hates, to the certain prejudice of others,
and it would be well if a diiy of retri
bution could bo fixed, that might equal-
ir.e the bufinefs ; but he could not look
forward to that day—he feared it would
never arrive. He was well difpofed to
confent that the aftual debts yet unpnil
Hiniild be taken into the common mat's,
and a ratio Hruck, notwiiMlanding he
had been ngainll a funding fyHem. Yel
under the imprcifion that it was a'great
national effort, and that the Hate debts
were incurred in the common caufe of
the union, he would vote -for the pro-
pcf.tion.
Mr. Lee faid, when he confidcrcd the
great refpcdl which was due to the com
mittee, and the charadler of the officer
■who reported, he thought it his duty to
declare his reafons for the part he Ihould
take in the bufinefs before them. He
acknowledged thatthealfumption would
bejuA, if it could be effedled on right
principles ; but the exertions of the indi
vidual Hates would be found unequal,
and it would require two or three years
to bring about a fyllem of taxation. He
was willing to aflume the debts now, if
they were to be provided lor by the
United States as fooh as a liquidation
can be made : and he iherefoie moved
for a refolution to that cffcdl.
If it will take two ye.ars, faid Mr.
Lee, to collcft the voice of unanimity
and equity, why precipitate the bulinefs
at prefent ? Every gentleman who con-
liders well of this, will agree that more
fatisfaflion would he given to the public
mind by more deliberate procedures,
and it would be more -agreeable to the
conllitution.
Mr. Page was apprehdnfive, that, un-
lefs a fair fetilcmciit could be had, in-
flead of confolidating the interell of the
flates, iliis mcal'urc would tent! to cre
ate more jcaloufics, and renovate the old
difpiiles, which h.iJ nearly ftihlided be
tween the parties, in many Hates. He
was w illing that Mall'achufetls fliould
be paid for their extraordinary exertions,
and thePcnohl'cnt c.xpcdiiion.andSoiith-
Ctirolinafor theirs in building a fiigate,
&c. Hut helhouglu it would he better
policy to leave the fetllement of tlie
Ifete arcoiints'to themfclvcs.
Mr. Page ufed feveral other argu
ments, an.) tjioiight that a more pro-
per time might be found for giung into
this hufinels ; he therefore wilhed for a
poHponement.
Mr. Jackfiin faid, tliat mofl of the ar-
gnments which he had hc.ird, in favour
of the refolntion, had already been anf-
wered. Let us examine, f.iid he, tlie
ta'xes propofed by the fecreiaiy of the
tre.ifury. 'I'he c-xcil'c is a tax that has
.always btrn odious lo tlie people of moll
of the H.ttes ; the abolition of the ten
percent, allowance on tonnage to do-
niellic owners of velfcls, anil the ten
per cent, addiiional duty on foreign
bottoms, will affciH the fouthern Hates
inoH, tlie principal imports living arti
cles for the life of the halbandman ; fo
tliat in this inllancc it operate, like tli-
reff tax.iliim on .igiiciiltiire, equal lo a
tux on houfes OI lauds, tiuli uliio was
an article on which a tax would bfc
thought odious.
Here Mr. Jackfon referred to the de
bates of ihclaH I'fllion, when fome gen
tlemen who, perhaps, had now fpoken
differently, had then complained and re
probated the idea of taxing articles of
this kind. If we do not alTume the
Hate deht.s, we will not want their ex-
cifes. He denied the poliiion which
fome members had argued for “ that
Congrefs could colleifl taxes in the Hates
better than the flates thenifelvcs Ipr
Congrefs cannot go beyond certain li-
m'ts in taxation, even if a cafe of ncccf-
fity required it, hut the Hales thcmlelves
could go beyond ihofe bounds ; it was
therefore more in their power to fund
their own debts, than in the power of
Congrefs.
Has there been a Angle anfwcr offered
by the gentlemen on the other fide of this
quellion to the charge of injuflice, which
would be incurred by taxing the origi
nal creditors a fecond time. He thought
there was no profpeft of retribution, no
jtiHice in the propn/ition, not even with
regard to its expediency ; It will not
prevent fpeculations, for Ipeculaiions
have already taken place ; the Hate
certificates are now in the hands of a
third perfon—the >lcbt will be enhanced,
cc.
Mr. Jackfon concluded by confefling,
that il he could be convinced, even of
its utility, it Ihould have his fanflion j
but as no arguments had been offered,
wliich were I'ufficient to make Iiias
change liis opinion, he therefore would
beagatnil the ptopolition, and he only
chimed the right cf general juflice.
Mr. Bland rofe to reply to fome gen*
tlemen, whom, he faid, had appeared f*
fque mifli w ith i cuard to funding lawf
aud taxation. When the conAitutioa
was framing, it was well known that it
would go to an abforption of all the of.
ficial revenues of the United States; it
was now loo late to he I'queamilh 0%
thofe fubjeiHs. He thought the milita
ry debts were the debts of the Union f
lor thefe reafons he adhered to hit fiift
principles.
Mr. Tage tlionght the powers of Con
grefs fliould not be fo greatly extended,
blit in cafes of urgent neceffity.
Mr. Vining then rofc, and apologized
for his long abfenee from the houfe^
which he laid had been unavoidable ;
but although he had been abfent, he had
been ernployed in collefling the hell in
formation poflible upon the fubjeA.
'When he viewed it as tefpeflinga
(late, it ajipeared iniquitous, unjull, and
inequitable ; bu' when taken in alargef
extent, as tefpedling the United States,
he confcITcd lie was pu7.-/.led how to de
termine, and he fc.ircely kneww’here to
apply for infcrniation. Sacrifices were
to he made upon the altar of accommo
dation, and the tate ol America, per-
liaps, depended upon the decifion of
this quellion. Some Hates have, pei-
liaps, illued fecuiitics tor their own par
ticular advani.igp, which would be iin-
jiill to clia'-ge to the United States,
whilll Ollier llatcs weie in a contrary
predicament, aud will liave to pay into
the common Hock.
_ Here Mr. Vining expatiated upon the
different lights in wliich the fubjedt ap
peared to iiim, under vaiious circum-
llances ; but he inferred,-at length, that
conliilion muH er.fue, if tlie debts wer*
notall'umed. Again, when he confi-
dered tliat diredl taxation was to be the
confeqiience, lie was p>i'/,zled ; yet thi*
alternative liad not the dreadful appear
ances to his mind, which lud been de-
pidled by iome gentlemen ; for the
great influx of money wliich would fol
low the adoption of the mcafure, would
render even diredt taxation eafy it
would not be felt in the degree which
liail lieen iiippofcd,
Ihe Hate of Delaware, he knew,
would lut.tr by the ali'umption ; for they
had tunded their debt, and provided
for the intereH. Another circumltance
he would mention from information,
that Iome Hates have made advances for
their own particular advantage without
legard to the Union. How’ever,enough
has been faid by the gentlemen who
have lo ably debated this fiibjetfl ; it
was therefore iinnecelfary for him to add
any thing. He only wilhed to confiJer
•I III a large mid geacral Icalc, aad ob-