3:R;
3
i
if:
V.
ft
' r L, ., i:
Bhens,
V tbnfwmnwn libel. g jipft the gorcrn. I : V therefore naral mWary, preparations were,
prewi w ."' , - ..5s- '-.r-ij t(r.r. inro. rmi oF funds to defrat the ennfe-
S" r" . .t rrv .u I ..... r.. l In rnpnfihV : a review
of all the mesfufes that, h hcfti adopted Usee tie
eftabliflimeatilthe gdveripeilwilt prot
gteUhae noj bteo unmindtul ounc w-imcsoi
mencan people; to avoid sin accumulation of the pub
ITccbt ind tliefuccefs which toiattefirfed thefe mta
futei afforda eonclurtve'1 evidence bfthe fincenty of
their intentioiis. 1 But to pnrchafc fu5cient qu.iut; I
ties' of military:fffppHesr.toW'lh t ny amt pro
vide fori all thecdirtlnfcencief.oian armr, .wiinout rc-
couffe - to new" taxes and losns, was impraCti(;al5ie
both meafures were iu ft adoplcd.n H3WrnS
moJ of tination, the couTeaiettcc and cafe, of the lcaft
mrnt ml
the difcretion of t;he court,-whefeas the afit limits the
fine t9 two thoiifand dollars, and the inprif.Minnt.
to two jeara'j and it alio allows the party accuieu to
gtc ths W ia evidence for his jaftification, which by
the common httf wa : ekprefaly forbiddentv
' And laftly; it is:anfwered, that had the conftitu.
tion intended to prohibit Congrefs from legiflating at
all on the fubjedt bl the prefa, which ia Ue contlruc
tion whereon tRe objections to this' lawr are founded;
it would have "ufcJihs fameleaprelfions M in that part
of the claufe, which relates to religion, aBd religiows
tells - whereas the words are wholly different; Con
"gef," fays tnenittrtwrrf ttngiwfaiettfryl)jMhft
make nov rtfpeaing an edablifhment ofeligion, or
probilil'mlhc free, exercife hereof; or abridging the
freedom of fpeech, or the prefs." Here it is manifeft
.that the conftitution intended to prohibit congrefs
from legiflating at all on jhe fubja of retigiiut tlab
Kbnuntt,' and the'pTohibuion. is made' in the mod ex.
- prels terms. Had the fameinteotion prevailed refpec
ting the prefs,: the fame espreffions would have becrt
' ufed, and Congrefs would have been f prohibited from
; tiafTintf anv law refcdmr the prtfs' cTher are not,
L howcer,;u prolilbitci'f from legiflatingat U on the
.fubjeft, but merely vfrona flf'WW the liberty ojye
tirefs.- Itis cvideouhes: may Jeeiflate jefpeaingjhe
prcfamay pafs lawi f',or its regulation,-and to puniflt
'""ahofe who perverrtttniraf
' vided tKofe laws do not . abridge" its liberty." Its
e fiberiy, according; to the well known and univeifally
admitted definition., coiiMs in permiffion to publifh,
without ipxioaa.rclbaiatutpoolle prtfeJiUtJbjcct.
to pummmSWaftwwardsomprope
A law, therefore,' to impofe previous rellraint upon
the prefs, and not one to inflict punilhment on wick
- ed and malicious pubKcationstLwould be. a law to a.
Lbridge theiibcrty pfjtherefs, "and as fuch, uncouili-
tntinnil. . . .
---The foregoing reasoning is fubau'tted as vindicating
the validity olthe Uw in queltion.
Ahhbuffh the Committee, believe that each of the
meafures adopted by Congrefs during the lall fefiion
is ftifceptihle of o analytical jtillification, n the prin
ciples of the Cbaftitution, and national policy, yet
they prefer to reft their vindication on the true ground
of confidering them as parts of a general fy ftem of de
fence, adapted o:a enfis of extraordinary diraculty
It cannot he denied t.liat the powerto declare.war
in raifa and fuoDort armies t to providi arid maintain
a naw i to fuDDrefs iofurreftions, and repel in vaGons,
" nd alfo "thrpowtr tocfMytheeeffaty-xpeflfeby7
loans or takes; we vefted ia CongfefsrTtfrTfonOnaTc'.'
W for the brefeftt eeneratioff of mankind, a contcft has
Trnxlfci and-rajrea.-witli -iionbated. ferocity ktetetr
defolated the tairett poi lions oi Jiurope, ana maaen
the fabric of fouety.through the civilized worlds prom
the nature and t ffecVefthis eorrteftj aseveloped in
the exnerience of nations? melaocholv inferences mufl
: be drawHT ihat il is j unfufcep
- which ha either aewgnaica;tne odjccis limitcu tne
d u ration, of mitigated the Jjorrots of national conten
' tionsJ In the intern4 hiftory of France,; and in the
- conduct of her forces and partizans in the countries
, ... ... . "v.'. - i . . ..n:. ...
which have taiien unocr ncr power, inc puunc tuun.
: cils of our codntrv were required o "difeern the daiK
' " gers which threatened the United States, and'to guard
"'. not only againlk the iifnal confequencesof war, but al
fo aeaiuft the effe s of an unprecedented combination
to eltabJilh oew principles otiociat auioir, on mc mo
verti'on of elifiion, morality, law ant government
- - Wi!lt beidi-that .the-raifinfl-oLa.fmalUrjy,,jad
an eventualprovifion'for drawing into the public ferv-
ice a confuferable proportion of the whole force of the
. country, Was in fuch a crifis unwifu, or improvident i
IFfuch Ihbula be the anertioti, let u De cancuaiy
coBcerni"
paft lad fcCorj of
titled, " An &
Congrefs." .
pfled the laft fefiion entitled, " an aclt in addition to'. - ,, ";
an at entitle 3 an act fTr?tTie paoHhinent ,oF cei taija i ,
crimes againft the. .United hatcs. ;. -1 S'-f i
Rtfokttl, Tbnt it is tnespediene to repeal anyof the? , - f
laws refpefting tl a
che revenue xf ihcUnitd States. ,-v . s X
I PIIILADELPI11 A-March : x-
- President's message.
. Gentlrme f the Senate,,
wealth? clafs of the people were confulted as mnch as
poffibie, and although the expenfes of aflcflmertt have
furniflied a topic of complairjt, it is found, that the al
lowances aie barely rufauentjo e'liureiiietnif ion
oftbelawieveii aided a8;they art by .the .i-t--''f!
and patViotic fcxenions ot:.tortBy..ce4llr'.';'r:,
trht to be rfcmetnbered that th elwienfea.of pgaft..,:
ing a tiew fyrtem, flmuld not on any jj-rinciple,' be re
garded as permanent WrJenoalifc puhjjet ZLJZ,
In authorizing a loan ot mone cor.grcis nave nor
bceainattentive-toprevent-yfeimaw
particular alfo the public opinion and inrvtell have been
coiirultcd; On confidering the'hW, as well an the
manner in which it is propoicd to.be carried j"to it:
ecotKn, the C ommittee are wen tatKnea n niwrng-
ny excefs in the- immediate charge upfln, the revenue,
is likely to be com pen fa ted by. ihe facility of redeinp..
Hon. wlucli is lecured to the jrwernment,
The Alfcn andSedirionicliuoca51e.drma part.
and in the- opinion of the Comruiitee, an efTential part
iu thefe pri cautionary aii'l piottffive reeifurcSradepB ,
ed for our ficunty', 4 , . 1 '; " ' 1 '
"rFrance appears to have., an jofganiscd fyftem tif con-
cuct towards foreign nations to oring mem wiioui iut
fpherepardTrnderrtne-domrmorr tt her.ttiniience and
controul. It has been unremittingly purfued under
all tire changes 'of her internal -polity.,;. , Her means air
iri wonderful coincidence with her ends Among
thefe,' and not lead fuccefhful, s the direction ami em
ployment of .the active and vcrfatile talents of her cit
izens abroad, as emiflaf tea and pies-With-;iiiime;.
roas body of Prrnch citizens and other foreigners, and
admoniihed by the palfing Ccenes in other counliies,
as well as by afpefts in our own. ' Knowing they had
the power, and beh'eving it to be their duty, Congref
paffed the law refptftine aliens, directing the danger
nut and fufpttledi to be removed; aud leaving to the in
bjfthfivt and peaceaik faft afylum.
i'he-principlcsxif iheleitiiiunJaw, fo calledtare a
Tfionir the molt aiictnt principle of ou goveriiments.
They have been ingrafted into ftatutes, or.praftifcd
ITTpdTrTrnxTfnTBfhepmmoT oc
calion required, ibey were, ot ten anil jttltly appiieo
in the revolationary-war.,; I it not ftrange, that now
they ftouldhA beAouncedsoppreinve, when they
have long been recognized in the jurifprudence of
.thefe ftatef ! . . . : : . .
f The Wellity that diftated tliefe ats in the opini
ou of the Committee dill exifls. . . ';
a-So eccentMc are'the movements of the French go
vernment, we can form no ppiuion-of theitfutUfe de
figns to waids out country. They may recede from
the tone of menace, and iufoleTrce, to employ the arts
"..feduaion, before theyallonilh us with their ulti
mate dcfignB. Our fafety CoqfifVs in the wifdom of
the public councils, a co-operation on the part of the
people with the government, by fuppoi ting the mea
fures provided for repelling aggrelTious, and an obc
.dience, to thy, fors?al Jawa.; . .. k .. .
' After a particular.and general review of .the whole
fubjel iefeircd to their conliderajtion, the Committee
fee no ground for refcinding thefe arts of the legifla.
ture
j I tranfmit yoa 'a documeaLwhich KCms to Je ih :
tended To" be a 'CO'Tipifarrce'WTttr the teondttiifu niemi-
Onedat the corrclaiioir of my melTage to Congrefa,
of the 2 i it June la fti -y''',,,::. , --i A'V., ' 4
'yl Always' diipofed and .reai'r to embrace ''evefjr plauf-v
nfile appearance of rprbb'ability, , of preferring -andre-;
11 irmjt 'triiBdutlityt' "t nominatezWrrii Vans Murray,
i--- . ... n . ' '"'1 , '. 1 . ' . ' I
or iViiiniter, reudent at the n;ige, to oc winiucr
Plenipotentiary to the French Republic. ' .. Vvt'"'
If the Senate mail ad vife and confent to hts appoinU ; '
TmCTtttecttiaraunMljei tafcen to nt intttuqiogs, .
that he fhall not eu to France, without direct and on.
equivocal aH'iirantes ; from the' Fretch government, lig
nrlicd by their manlier' of exterior relations, thar he ;
Ihall be lectivoliu charade- ih all enjoy the privileges
attaclioL ia luscharaiter-by iUe law ol - aations I and.
that a nviriifteV orequarraiik, .: title,ahd. powcr'sy'lHaTTT
be appointed to treat with him, to dift-ufs and conclude
all controverfies bet ween the two. republics, by a new
treaty. - " . JOHN ApAMi.
-t3pw'Hd-5rafeSf-FcHi-4-8T- ' . .. .t . .
tonfi JtVed 'Whether fome'of our fertile andiJiTiuifting j tioners-inay
ftate did riot, fix montns lince, prelent as alluring ob-
iccls for the gratification of ambition of cupidity as
the inaoitntaoie climate pi gyp1- na..uicii ap-
-pearetdMtbe'fflparaljvtifficulttea betwce'a'inva
ding America, and fubverting the Brihflr power", 'm
' " " the Eaft-lndies ?' : If this was a profe fled, not ; real ob-
- Jecl, ofhe ehterprize,'
" ' of the buoman ' Emp;ie was notreally the friend of
"France, 'at the time when his iinfufpcfting depende n
' IJL' ties were invaded and whcther;! the United States
. wCre not at the fame time loaded; with infuits "and af
7nSnewlt1i''iTorinrtyTnin ItTeaTlertodpthar
thi fyltertf of France; is hoftile ; only todtfpoticy-or
monarchical government'', and that our fccurity arifes"
' from the form of our Conftitutiori, let Switzeiland,
fir ft divided and difarmed by perfidious' fediiftions,
ow agonized by. relentlels power, tlluttrate the confe
q'lencespf fimilar crcduliiy, IsitneceiTary at this
- - ttaic to vindicate the naval armament t rather may not
- the enq'iiry be boldly made, whether the guardians of
the public iveal would not have; defjrved.and receive J
' the reproaches pf every ';pariptV.!nercanft ;if con-
temfibltiT9orSlhd : beeo longerperoiittej to
' Intercept our neceiTary'fiippliesrdeftroy our principal
' ,'fonrce of Keveiiue,' and feize, at the entrance of our
' harbours and rivers.'theprpduftsbf our induftry def
'tined to our foreigrt markets ? If fuch.inju.riej were, at
.11 to be repelled, is not the reitrittiori which; coniined
pturejbjLour lhips folcly to armed "vcfll-ls ot France,
a fufficjeat proofour moJcratrda I" ,J ??r
ground for relcindmg thele av'ts ot tne legilia.
The cotn plaints .preferred by fomc of the pcti
unay be faUlyattilbuted lo M dWerfity oFrfen-
timent naturallv-to be capetltd among a people of ya
ploqs habitsiSd edircalion
exteniive country tne innocent muconccptions or inc
American people will, however, yield to reflexion and
lirgtimehtr.aiid from hemTno-daiigr Is to be appre
hended - - - '.
In luch of the petitions,as arc conceived in a ftyle
of vehement and acrimonious remonftrance, the Com
mittee .perfceive too plain indications of the principles
of that 'exoticTyllem which convulfes the civiffzed
world. With this fyftem, however organized, the
p YibiiC" cottnctls -eannot -fa fely.aileyor Jem porize,
whether it alTumes tht guife of patriotifm to mlflead
the affediions of .the people whether it be employed
iu forming projects of local and eccentric ambition; of
dull appear in the more generous fof mbf bpTrThofti."
lity, it ought to be regarded as the bane of public as
well af 'privtc' traqnility aod order. -"'
-Thpfe 16 whonij the.maqagemeni of public affairs
is noV confided , canhdt be. juftified-Jn yielding any
tftablithcd principlcsiof law ot government to the fug
gellioiudf modern tlreoify their tutyrcquirea them
to refpeft the : lefforis of e'xperierice and tranfmit to
pofterity the ( ci vil and religious privilegeii which are
the birthright .of Our country,-.aiid which it was the
great, 'object' "of piir happy, poolitutiorid'fecure;ahd
perpetuate. ,'i ;,$:' i:: 'r- :r-Jt, '''
Imp;re(f;V with thefe fentiments, the Committee"
beV leave to reoort the .fbllowmg refolutiona : i V
rjfefiJwdrVto tf"is-4ftKpsdtcn t. to rcpeaiaaaA-cal
;- COPYO : .
. LIBERTV.- Ct- r "-.tQALITTf,
Exterior Relations yt Diwm -J:'''. -":?-y''pxhT.', , y.
-.' i; Paris, "tb Venture,: of the jtb jea'r rv,.
F rench Rrpubtte; tne andindivifible, . :
The MinPler" of Exterior .Relations,; to CitizenFiV .
" chen, Secretary of Log at Ton, of the French Rc
. public, netr the . BatviaiiRepublIci"-i5:r'.;,.i:. :,,..,;.,,
I have rectived fucceffively;-Citizen, your letter ,
of the' ail an l 27th Fiudidor ; they aiford me more
and more reafonlio be p1eafe(fwI0i Z thr rriaruietyoM,, ;r
have adopted, to detail to me your converfations with
Mr I'jrray, r I hefe converfations at - firll, merely:;,
friendly," hav required confidency, by thc fanftion I
have given to them by my letter, of the. tth Ftuc"
tidor.::. I da not regret that you have trutteq to Mr,
Murray's honour,, a copy , of my letter. ' 1 1. was in!;l
ten Jed for you otvly, and contained nothing but what
is jcqiiformable to t he intentions of govern nient. I -.
am, thorpiijrltly convincrd, that fliould ejtplanationa
.take place with confidence, bet weert the twef admini--ft
rat rrjuspirrrrat ions woutd ceafe, a croud of rrjifre- '
prefentsti-Mnf wojittl difappcar, and thetiVsof friendil:: ,
(hip would be more ftrongly imTted,' as each party
would -dffcover the haiid -t bat foright '.to drlanite them.V,"
But I will not conceal fromyoui that your letters :
of the and J-J Vendemaitei jufl tee'eivedv furpTife
me much. Wiiat Mr. Murraj is ftill dubious of, has
beeir ex plititly declaredeveif before the Prefident'4
meflage to. Cpiigtefs, of the 3d Meffidor lall, was "
known in France. I had written it 'to -Mr. Gerry,?.
namely, on thi 2Ath Mtfliiior. .and Ath Thermidor. .
I did not repeat it to him before he fet. out. ' ,A whole:
paragraph of my letter, to you, of 4he 1 1 th Fnifti
dor, of which Mr. Mtiriay has a copy", is devoted to-"
deve'ope llill more the fixed 'determination of ':tfl
French government, .according to. thefe bafes. You
were rigut t' a:Tert , that whatever plenipotentiary the
government of the United Slates mjj!jtlendtb France, .
to put an end lo exiiting difeienceg between. the tw
coii'it.iies, would be undoubtedly received, with' the
refpeft; due to the reprefeutative'of a free, powerful
an.il icJrpcndi;iitj4tin.-"---'"-,? -,-
I catiiuit ctizen, conceive that the; American go, -. .
vernment needs any further declarations from usto t'n
jtluctoerirjflQrdi dopt fuch meafures would, be fuggelte'd to them by
their dciire to brnj the diffciences to a peact able end. "
- If mfunder!landirigs-ort hothrfidea have 'pfefenletf T
former' expkndt ions from reaching that end, it is prc-;
ftttnablc thU thofe mifortderltandings being done away, 1
nothing, hcnccf'oith will bring ohltatles to the reJu -
procal difpofitfons. . The frefident's infh'ufirons to
his. Envoys at Paris, which I have only .known-by the .
copy given you by Mr. Murray, ano receivcu by me ,
on the J l !l Meffidor, annouueisg (if they Jconta! ".
"tlie w BoTeoTn reA. mtTicarr govemme n t ' iiruatotrs) ,
difpofitionji which could only have leen added to thole
wnicn toe directory lias always vnurrainca ; ana not-
mtSftaddtng'the' irritating and allnotl hollilc meafuies 'i
they have adopted,. The Directory has ..tnai'ufefled it .
perfeverajice in; thefentiments which are depofited "
both irV my correfpondencc; with Mi, Gerry, and in
my letter to you tif the t Ith Frutidor, and which 1
have therein: repeated "the moft ' ekpticit'iHanner "
Carry, therefore. Citizen, to Mr. Murray, thofe po
fitive exprelfi-ins, m order to .convince him rtf our iin.?.
cerity, and prevail iipoa him to tranfmit them to hi '.
government." r '' "..', :'';. ..';'''. J 1 .
I prefnme Citizen i that this letter will find. you at- .
the Hague : if . uot, i afit that it may tc fent back to
you at )rttiaVv.-v,'-'.X.-.:. ': .
"r vs. Salute and Fraternity,'":. 'i-"-'' ,-. ;
V , : CH. MAU. TALLEYRAND, k r
... ..il-fr-"