f
THE
NORTH
CAtiQLINA MINERVA,
AND
FAY E T TVE VIL LE A DYEKTJSER,
Vol; in.
S A TURD AY, January 26,1 799.
.Numb. 149
.A
CONGRESS,
HOUSE 01- REPPstiiENTATIVES,
Monday, December 3 iY
Mr. Otis fa.ij he wa directed by the Committee of
Defence 'to propofc a refolution to the Houfe., on a
fubjedt highly interclling to the United States. He
luppofed that it was known to every gentleman prc
fent, that a report had prevailed for many d;iys paft,
flHf44tampl:e.itpevt nf 3 number of American
feiim.cn from a veffcj oT"war of the Ignited Suites, into
an armed hip of Great Britain. The committe are
for.)' to confefs, that after making fome ' enquiry in-:
to the fubject, there is too much reafon to beiieve the
report to be founded, though they have no official in
formation on the fubject. It is- conceived by ths.
committee,. therefore, that nn act of this forrcalls
for the attention of every branch of Government;
and though they hcjve full confidence that the Execu
tive will inilitute an immediate, enquiry into the bufi
nef6, and take meafurcs to prcyent fimilar abufes tak
ing place in future, they think it neceffary that the
.Legifl iture of the Union Zhou Id fliew to Great Bri
tain, and to the world, that ihifLinces of abufcof this
kind excite a lively fenfibility, and that they arc .de
termined to protect their flA-agairi3aiiyaiiTitry
Nvhlttevec. ' Trts-ttot-' ltnprotK&ky-iaid Mri;,.;h!&
'" tTiis'ctfcamtla
"fiari, and that it Th ayr"ne'crfftit(riewttid;.4
mend the act for th relief and protection or American
feamen ; for, unlcfs thefe injuries can be removed and
prevented, little fuccefd can be expected to attend our
infant Navy, which has been con-iidcred. both in and
out of this Houfe, of the greatell confequence to this
- country. From thefe contlderations, he was induced
to offer the following refolution for the adoption of the
Houfe": 7" "' ". -..
" Refolved, that the Prefidcnt.of the U. States
be requefled to by !cfure this Houfe, fuch informa
tion as he maypeffefs relative to the imprefTment of
feamen belonging to the United States (loop of war
Baltimore, into any (hip or veffel belonging to the
King of Great Britain."- :
On the motion of Mr. Harper that this refolution.
might lie till to-morrow it 'was ordeted to lie upon
the table. 'V
TuffJay, January f... . 1 '..
Mr. 0;h called for the refolution. which he vefter
day laid upon, the table, relative to the imprefTment
of American feamen by a Britiih vcflefof y?ar. r
Mr. Dent thought, as fo little attention had bfen
paid to the fubject which tad juft been difpofed of, it
might be . prcforned as little would Ik paid to any
other, and this 'being the fir ft day of the year,' he
wcmld move that the houfe adjourn. ".. Adjouned.
, IVednefdnv, fji'iuary 2... ";
Mr. Otis called up the resolution wbirh he laid. c'n
The bfmcfo, laid lie, comes properly .within the
jnrifdictiofi of the executive, and I am fo fully im
prefTed with a conviction that every nccefTary ftcp will
be1 taken,' without ' our interfere ricei that T wifh
leave the mattef to that department of the government.
iven had he any di'ttui't that proper ineafures would
not be taken, he would wait to fee whether they were
taken or not, belore he would recommend any f.lep to
be taken by the Icgifbture. ' He knew the ge-tie-
man t mm J-ldiierhuU-tts is as tar f i"oJ.'.V "TtTmanurf;
any; doubt on this fubject, as he hirhfelf. Then why
point out. tue mode which it will be proper for the
executive to purfue ? He faw no reafon lor it ; and
bclieviog no legifiatiyc ftep iieeeiTary, he'would vote
agaiiiiLiliert Lint ton. '
Mr. J. Williantis tiiotighftKc riT6lrilipirdii ;not-go
far enough ; that it outfit not to be confined to a fin
gle veifel. i 1 ' believed it proper that the houfe.ought
to exprefs thiir ifi'eiUment at .m act of this fort,' let
it be committed by wh'a t" nation foeverr ' Too -mariy
infults of this kind had been fuffered,. and it is' tim,
faid he, for this country to fet their force pgciinfl their
commiifion. National h-MUmr rrav be infringed by
one nat ion ''as well ajanother, and if the ?sz had rk-
.SjLplace,as JiaiLbecijjirelt-iucd, this was a moll
to be v'ihTciTvenqurred
violent outrage, and ought
He fhonld vote for- the reloliHion, Cut would'
1UI(V,
4iave,beenwglad.tJ3.ulivig
Mr- Otis wilhed the gentleman from Kew-Hamp-"
fhire to recollect that this is no uncommon prccecd-
. : ' . '; .'
Mt. Jofiah Parkir moved to amend the fefolutlo"n
by afldi "g ::ftcr the word " Baltimore,"' or . any other
pnhnc avrtifi vij?l ff the Untied States . Mr.. P. was de
f irons that the people of the United States fhould be-infot-med-of
this t imp faction ; for, ..as it l'.d been Hat
ed to h i in'"ifa7rd he Inid his information' from an au
thentic iVurce) the -oWftsge was the mod flagrant and
violent rhat could have'been offered to the American'
'flag. He had no doubt that the Prefulent of ihe U.
States would feel this indignity as fevcrtly nSiiny one :
birthe ncvertiielefj tho't .it proper to pafs this refolu
tion. "The Baltimore, .he undei flood, Was convoy
ing a number of our . veC'els to the Havannah, when
'three () the fqundron vOe.cut off by Bi!tiflvforc.
Captain Phillips, the commarder of the Baltimore,
enquireci the rta.fon " For thb ? Captain ' Laring, the 4
Lritilli Lonunander,. lent an officer on board our. ill t p,
who fjid,." that Capt.. L would take out every man
from liis ihip, who was a Britffh j ftrf;;cft, and coulJ
not 'produce his protectimi ?" capt P. very proper
ir anfweral, that- the American flag was a fufiicient
protedVion."" This, however, was nut., deemed fuf
iicient, and this dnier- took fiftyfive merr from the
Bait iii "ofer a n tl detain ed -1 h c rn tm-b oa rd the Britifli
(h'xn for fome time. Snntiofinrf. however, fit is nre-
the table on Monday, relative to the imreffment f j ,nicc3 th.it he had done wronr. Captain Loring
. r , 1 . 1 tl . r . ' . .. ... ... . '. . .
..Atnrncan teamen oy tne nntjin. . ... . - J informed C?pt. i'lulinn, Tterlie might conic on
- lt..wa tatai : up accoi-dingly ; when V -- j bord his fliip; and take back fuch of Us men as were
V- Mr. Gordon faid not having been
.this motion was laid-tpon the table, he was njacv:., ,js j)0svcr and he might " do with them what he
qnninted with the reafons which lnd induced the cor;- j. :ca'fe(' Captain I, afterwards fet two of the veL
nuttec-crL: detence to lay it before, tne nouie. -
wiflie!. the gentleman who moved it, would H'atc the
-bb''e'il of the refolution, without this "informat;c.n,
he was not prepared to giv; his.yo.te .for. it.. . r
, Mr. Otis repHedj'.rhatrthongh.'it vyas. not luifautt
- that the .gentleman - from Nc.v liamp'friire was not
preferk". when the. moticJa was propofed .; though "hfe
explicitly -1latcd,at.lh3t;tim?.the -reafons which iuduc-
t44tywittiai fiibjcd'oeOre the h"."fc. ;
- and though thefe reafons havebeenpublillied with to
Arable acciircyn'n
ficattoji of his friend, he'would ;rept?aU them. Mr.
O. then;repeated what he-before dated were the.rea-
' 'fo'ris of-. theTomm.it tee for propoitng this refolt:fio!,
adding that t'lio corr-iuittce had no doubt of, the fact,
as thyjbad tlie information from .our confal at the
Ilavannahv ;t ' ' - "
-. "iltTor.iori a'ffiircd the gentlenan from MafTadhu
s. and the houfe.uh.it ht: h'.id not feen any thing
-s relative to .tuts motion, p.nr nao he utiu
fr" of veflerd'av. He faid he otild
in
the p
at liberty which . lie had cut oit, laying; " ;i
k.fxp the other bccimfc the Captain has been infofent,"
'.and returned fifty of the frcn keeping five. Mr. P.
liLaiight.Gaptain Philips iHght-not tohave.fufTered a
.treatment, fo: flarnnf,' witliout firing upon tlie Bri
tiiK fliip,, and tiothing, except, perhaps, bis-inferior
rty of force, co'.ud plead his apology for not having
donej'ji. 'it is ufelefs,- faid iylr. P
the injiiry and .i.nfult.of one : nation.
every amendroent that was offered," the bill would not
be gone through in lix years. He did not himfeif
perfedtly undtrftand he amendment, bait he. under
fhtod enough of it 10 vote againll jt. Thejirovifion',
as it (lands, is copied from the Englifh law ; the "corn--mittee
(amongll whom was the mover of the amcud
rrenr'i was )..t;s!ied with it and he hoped it would be
1 et .'.''".eJ. '. . t -.- -.- - i- .- , .
Ir. . Smitli h.oped the gentleman's anxiety to
,fT-H lr- Irii wiinhV nut, inrpf .geptlernen to vote upoa
propd'ii'.'ot;-, which they do not underLfand. rl lie
ge;ulu.v..n himfeif confeifes he docs not underlland'
tfie- ame'n'd riiettr ; a nd yet his fondnefs for the bill as
reported, will lead' him to vote egaimt it. If he
chHfc-. to act thus, Mr. S. hoped other gentlemen
mifd'ic4e-ptuiitted ,to attjriore delib:ri;teTy.
" The quell iim foe riling was put and carried 44. to
21, 8i leave vns given to the committee to fit again.
Mr. J. Parker faid, he was dc fired, by the c;m
mittc appornted Ji "tK;e tttbje'ft of the Navy, t afk -leivc
nt t ne it )gfe . tojfr printed for their "ofef a "
report fom the Sec'retirfr' the Navy. Agreed. , ,
Or. mo.tiwaf Mr. .Qbjsjf the Houfe went icto a
commit'.cfi)!" tevhole on the bill, to alter the (lamp
duties impWWpori foreign. bills' of exchange and
billrof -ladingrran-acV entitled .! .A n.aft laying
diities--Rn-ft.ini prd vtjWn-paixlment , 2u'd.-V2$iZL,
-aodiar.tlier.to amcndjhe fame. . . .
Tfi is iif prr p w?es t KFw" a ft e aziccx taia t m.C -iJb.
duties paid upon foreign bill of exchange and lulls of
lading fliall ceafe, and that all foreign bills of ex
change," whether for a fmall or large furi, hall then
pay a duty of 20 cents; on"anf 'n'ofi?!J?,0'a'nS
for goods to be exported from cutediftrictfo another
in the United Stittte, not being in the fame-State, 4
cents ; if to any foreign port, 10 cents ; any policy
of infuran-cc, 01 inittument 'in nature thfcre(f.. other
than thofe fpecified in the former act, notifejdme
500 dollarr, 29 cents; aonvc that turn, oitf.tyltyPf
and the faid c'uties.flibll be chargeable upon, ch and
"e.very bill of exchange and bill of lading, without ref
pect to the niimber contained in a fet. 'And every
draft, or orderVfor the payment of money within the
United SttttesT.fiaU be cb Kgeable with tlie fame rates
of dntietj ashy the former act arc chargcablellpon
inland bills of exchange, cxcepf'ng only orders for
the-paymntd.m6.n(ey.pndniandt drawn upon the
Prciident and Direaors, or CafhTeFof 'any Bank."
A debate tookpUce ou fcveral p'opofitions whicli
we're made t amtnA various provifions of this bill,
which continued till i o'clock, when "a" motion wa
made to adjourn,- cndthe Houfe adjourned accord
ingly
' From the AURORA. ... . ....
, Tc the Citizens cfhe United Stales.
WHILST ifnuations' Wtrious to' my character,
were confined to a few ptVbric prints, 'which difgracc
our cour.try by the too general abufe of Republican,
citizens, and virt-.vous fiu-angi'n ; I confidered them
as unworthy of notice ; 'cor,fi!ert that none but minds
totally devoid of every principle of honour and truth
would credit or propagate themV Bnt as perfons high
in office, have becomethe ajrenrs of private flandcr,
it becomes mv duty to vindicate my ft If, by a fliort
ftatement of facts,-leaving to myflajiderers the full
benefit of- invent ionfarmi ;2faKehood.
To defend r.nd fupport the lights, of pur coat) toy -as
an indeuendcht commonvvcalth is certairly the
. to guard againiV J fii.lt duty of ifvery good "citiren. Bit a ftate of war
n, if we arrVo re-j'is inevitably attended with fo marjAalawiities, that
ct i v ? them witli 1 m punity" firrSnMlrcT ffc'SikdWinaitjkW-em?tU jiatmn-.. riU ..feek... evety .oononrable
douhtrhwwe'S'liatt
CtfTity of flrongly remouft rating with the Britifli go
Vtrnmcct 2gain.fl this conduct," and of demanding re
p.trition"frr the i: jury fu'.laj'ned ; .nor" ought, iH-u9
opinion, a fmall reparation to be accepted., '-
rtht -eiolnt toti .wa put and carried without a di
;vifTn ; "arid. MeCVsi Otis and jofiah Parker ere ap
pointed a conitnit'tee to wait upoH the Prcfidcnt theic-
with
The Hon le.tli cn , accord ingto t'iebruer of the day,'
means to avoid it. Witli iiance, tne tituation 01
the United States -appears to me" peculiarly delicate,
having received from that nation the niofl -efiential
feryices during outrduou& ftrugglc againfl the wan.
ton injuries and opprefiions cf the BritiiTi .govern
ment. . v ';. i , : .. ..',
Under thefe Impreaions, Iemjarked for Europe ;
oa my.; arrival at Hamburg, 1-met' with that diflin
gnifhed frie.id to our country. General La" Fayette. .
He procured me the mems of purfuin my jotjrnev to
t 1 1! L tlhai- v f n 1 n
not fee'tlJe piopli)icty of pafitpg this rtjoTutioprTroriii gt;n?r ftH-- ,ini'fol7rT fyfrgrr yie'wa wit n particular
wtiat hrKl nf)allch from the mover .of .it,-.as he (av tnrpjTRro-'t n-c United Sttftes ; when, after agreeing, t anxietv, "the exiting difTiCulties between the twef
ox:6jine'aion'. iietuisit " ft ndany IcgiOative actof f0-rac- aT,entirtScits,-'onc of cohfiderablejength and Repumics and has written to Gen. AYahington-oa
Congrefhefhould -therefore wtaSai Jttiwnrta;)Cc propolcd bv Mr. -Sewall, providing, that i thirvlmportant: fuMea, ' - - ;- '-;.' - :
ttrtivui lucre was no iratuu'v n'i :'"''"' t :..n.-.i r.,t,i .('nmrnii mnm noin
I
kind, to fhew to the people of the United States that
a '.ran fact ion", like the one referred td. meets vlth lhe
TU;iitment of every branch of government - Every
oneTn hcKring an ad of this kind will feelTor the
digTiity ard honour of his country ; and there can be
.ncf dotfbt that the";Eiteeutive -of. the Unhed States;
will t;:ke every lUp nectfLry to vindicate to at hcttpur
nVf dimity -' "M :.'':'""'. ' .' ' .
g power
fuch order as they fiiali deem expedient with the bo
dy of a bankrupt, . .a more lenient ptovifion.
'. At. X. .SmiattL nioyed the committee to rife, tiat
tyn tright be fTordtd tp , have the amendment print
ed and confidered. '--- ., : . . ' ; j .
.-Mr. Harper' faw nonecenityfbr. this, if the reentry laid
.oihjv.i'ttte were :tq rife) fur the ptp'ofe of printing an that tr.n!
received the firft certain intelligence, that our comrr'f..
fionihadkfLthaX th
ed the oblVit pf thir rnifiton ; and that all nrvociati-
trt-lvas a! nn-enc. . Ine Coniul uer.erai or the Unit
ed States,, informed me, th.t a- embargo had been
recQivtly laid tn nviriipping-in. thLpprti of France'
trtiny ot eur ltamen veTe conhrjea apnlup.crj