apply with equal force in favor of Baltimore, when the Government shall be removed to Philadelphia. The law of the State of Pennsylvania, he said, is against Philadelphia being made the seat of Government. He contrasted the representation of New York and Philadelphia, and remarked on the inequality and the advantages which the latter enjoyed over the former. He dreaded, he said, the consequences of rejecting the proposition for continuing in New York two years, and urged the necessity of cultivating harmony between the two States; but, the subject having been fully discussed, I shall add no further observations. Mr. SHERMAN was in favor of the motion, and urged several reasons in support of it. Mr. JACKSON said, he should vote for the bill as it is, for if New York should be inserted only for six months, he believed the bill would be rejected by the Senate. He said there were two points which required some consideration; the one is respecting the objection on account of adjournment; he thought no difficulty could result from this, as he believed no President would ever give his assent to a repeal of the law: the other is respecting the exertions of the citizens of New York; on this point, Mr. J. observed, that every acknowledgment was due to the citizens; but the same difficulty would always occur, and perhaps greater, let Congress move when they will. Mr. LAWRENCE replied to Mr. JACKSON. He said, that if the bill was sent up to the Senate, with the amendment, and it should be rejected, the bill will be sent back, and then the House may say whether they will adhere or not. If they do not determine to adhere, the bill may then be passed, so that the objection on this account appears to be void of any foundation. GENERAL POST-OFFICE. [H. OF R. The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill to establish the Post-Office and Post-Roads within the United States. The first amendment was to strike out the first and second sections, which specified and established the several roads, and to insert a clause empowering the Postmaster-General, under the direction of the President of the United States, to establish them. A concurrence in this amendment was opposed by Messrs. BLOODWORTH, WHITE, STEELE, LIVERMORE, HARTLEY, and GERRY. It was said, that it was delegating the power of legislation to the Supreme Executive in one of the most important points that could be mentioned. The revenue also will centre in the hands of the Executive; and in process of time this revenue may be converted into an engine destructive to the liberties of the United States; for as it is a perpetual law, and as the time may, and probably will, come, when the Executive may be corrupt; as the revenue increases the officers of the Department will be increased, and we do not know to what extent the consequences may be carried. It is unconstitutional, as that expressly reserves the power of establishing Post-Offices and Post-Roads to the Legislature. It was further observed, it would be throwing a burden upon the President which he cannot execute with any convenience to hinself, and from his situation, with satisfaction to the people. The representatives of the people, who come from all parts of the United States, must be supposed to have a more competent knowledge of the proper places for establishing Post-Roads than the Postmaster-General. A concurrence was advocated by Mr. PARTRIDGE, and Mr. SEDGWICK. Mr. VINING observed, that much is said about ingratitude, but this seems to arise from It was said, that upon an accurate calculation the idea of going to Philadelphia; the other day it was found that the roads proposed by the bill when Baltimore was proposed, it was readily as it passed the House, are so numerous, that so agreed to, and nothing was said about ingrati- far from affording a revenue, they will prove a tude. What has Philadelphia done that the great burthen to the United States. The circharge of ingratitude must be reiterated against cumstances of the country are continually Congress whenever that city is mentioned. changing; the seats of Government in the seve With respect to the buildings remaining a moral States are removed from their ancient situnument of their ingratitude, he begged leave to say, that so far from this, it would remain a monument of the good sense, patriotism, and public spirit of the eity. The question being taken on Mr. BURKE'S amendment, it was negatived-32 to 28. Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, moved that these words, "at which place the ensuing session of Congress shall be held," should be erased. This occasioned further debate; the constitutionality of passing a law on the subject of adjournment was contested by those in opposition to the bill. The motion being negatived, and the bill being gone through with, the committee rose and reported the same without any amendment. It was ordered to lie on the table till to-morrow. ations to one hundred miles distance; to accommodate the people in such cases, old routes must be discontiuued and new roads opened, which will be a perpetual source of Legislation and unnecessary expense. This business was left to the Postmaster-General by the late Congress, and very few complaints were heard; the Postmaster-General, by his office, must be the most competent judge, as the business will be a principal object of his attention, and actual surveys of the roads will be made by his assistants in all parts of the United States; but if the responsibility of this officer is divided into sixtyfive parts, every one of which has its own particular convenience in view, it must appear evident that all responsibility is entirely dissipated. As to the unconstitutionality, it was said that the bill proposes no more in the present instance than is provided for in the other Exe-ton, Lawrence, Leonard, Livermore, Rensselaer, cutive Departments; the principles of conduct- Partridge, Schureman, Sedgwick, Seney, Sherman, ing the business are established by the House; Smith, of Maryland, Smith, of South Carolina, Sylthe mode of carrying those principles into exe-vester, Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, Wadsworth. cution is left with the Executive, and this of necessity is done in almost every case whatever. The House adjourned without coming to a vote. FRIDAY, July 9. INVALID PENSIONERS. The House agreed to the amendment of the Senate to the bill further to provide for the payment of the invalid pensioners of the United States. GOVERNMENT OF SEAMEN, &c. A message from the Senate informed the House that they had passed the bill for the government and regulation of seamen in the Merchants' service, with amendments; also the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes; and the bill to provide more effectually for the settlement of the accounts between the United States and the individual States; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. The House proceeded to consider the bill sent from the Senate, for the establishing the temporary and permanent seat of Government of the United States. --26. NAYS.-Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Brown, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Coles, Contee, Fitzsimons, Gilman, Gale, Griffin, Hartley, Heister, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Matthews, Moore, Muhlenberg, Page, Parker, Scott, Sevier, Sumter, Sinnickson, Steele, Stone, Tucker, Vining, White, Williamson, Wynkoop.-34. 66 Mr. GERRY moved to strike out the words purchase or." Yeas 26, nays 35. Mr. GERRY moved to insert a clause which should limit the commissioners, in the expense, to the sum to be appropriated by the bill. Yeas 26, nays 33. Mr. LAWRENCE moved to add these wordsprovided the buildings shall not exceed the sum of dollars." Yeas 26, nays 32. Mr. GERRY moved that the words "three commissioners, or any two of them," should be struck out. This was negatived. Mr. TUCKER moved that the whole of the 5th section should be struck out. YEAS. Messrs. Ames, Benson, Bloodworth, Boudinot, Burke, Floyd, Foster, Gerry, Grout, Hathorn, Huntington, Lawrence, Leonard, Livermore, Partridge, Rensselaer, Schureman, Sedgwick, Seney, Sherman, Sylvester, Smith, of Maryland, Smith, of South Carolina, Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, TuckWadsworth.-28. Mr. BOUDINOT, after expressing his disappro-er, bation of the bill generally, moved that the Potomac should be struck out and the Delaware inserted, and called for the yeas and nays; after some debate this motion was negatived, as fol lows: YEAS.-Messrs. Ames, Benson, Boudinot, Floyd, Foster, Gerry, Goodhue, Grout, Huntington, Hathorn, Leonard, Lawrence, Livermore, Partridge, Rensselaer, Trumbull, Schureman, Sherman, Sylvester, Sturges, Sedgwick, Wadsworth.-22. NAYS.-Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Brown, Burke, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Coles, Contee, Fitzsimons, Gilman, Heister, Hartley, Jackson, Gale, Griffin, P. Muhlenberg, Madison, Matthews, Moore, Page, Parker, Lee, Steele, Scott, Sinnickson, Stone, Sevier, Seney, Smith, of Maryland, Smith, of South Carolina, Sumter, Thatcher, Tucker, Vining, White, Williamson, Wynkoop.-39. Mr. AMES moved to strike out Potomac and insert Germantown, as the permanent residence. Yeas 22, nays 39. Variation-Mr. GILMAN, aye; Mr.TRUMBULL, nay. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, moved to strike out Potomac and insert between the Potomac and Susquehanna. Yeas 25, nays 36. Variation-Messrs. SMITH, of Md., SMITH, of S. C., TRUMBULL, and THATCHER, yea; Mr. SHERMAN, nay. Mr. LAWRENCE moved to strike out Potomac and insert Baltimore. NAYS. Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Brown, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Coles, Contee, Fitzsimons, Gale, Gilman, Goodhue, Griffin, Hartley, Heister, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Matthews, Moore, Muhlenberg, Page, Parker, Scott, Sevier, Sinnickson, Steele, Stone, Sumter, Vining, White, Williamson, Wynkoop.-33. Mr. BURKE moved to strike out the first Monday in December next, and to insert the first Monday in May, 1792. The yeas and nays as above, except Mr. GOODHUE, who was not present. Mr. SHERMAN moved that "December" be struck out before the word "next," and May inserted. The yeas and nays the same as on Mr. TuckER's motion for striking out the 5th section. Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, moved that the words "at which place the next session of Congress shall be held," should be struck out. He moved this amendment, he said, on account of the unconstitutionality of the clause. YEAS.-Messrs. Ames, Benson, Boudinot, Burke, Floyd, Foster, Gerry, Grout, Hathorn, Huntington, Lawrence, Leonard, Livermore, Partridge, Rensselaer, Sedgwick, Seney, Sylvester, Sherman, Smith, of Maryland, Smith, of South Carolina, Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, Tucker, Wadsworth.-26. Brown, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Coles, ConNAYS.-Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, ter, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Matthews, Moore, Muhtee, Fitzsimons, Gale, Gilman, Griffin, Hartley, Heislenberg, Page, Parker, Scott, Sevier, Sinnickson, Steele, Stone, Sumter, Vining, Williamson, White, YEAS. Messrs. Ames, Benson, Boudinot, Floyd, Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, moved an amendment by which the public officers should be removed to the Potomac previous to the year 1800, provided the buildings should be prepared for their reception before that time. Yeas 13, nays 48. It was moved that the bill be read the third time on Monday next; this was negatived. To-morrow was then proposed; this was negatived. A motion was made to adjourn; which was also negatived. The bill was then read the third time; and on the question shall the bill pass, the yeas and nays were as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Brown, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Coles, Contee, Fitzsimons, Gale, Griffin, Hartley, Heister, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Matthews, Moore, Muhlenberg, Page, Parker, Scott, Sevier, Sinnickson, Steele, Stone, Sumter, Vining, White, Williamson, Wynkoop.--32. NAYS.-Messrs. Ames, Benson, Boudinot, Burke, Floyd, Foster, Gerry, Goodhue, Gilman, Grout, Hathorn, Hantington, Lawrence, Leonard, Livermore, Partridge, Rensselaer, Schureman, Sedgwick, Seney, Sherman, Sylvester, Smith, of Md., Smith, of S. C., Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, Tucker, Wadsworth.-29. SATURDAY, July 10. GENERAL POST-OFFICE. [H. OF R. tween the Administration and the People in a Government like ours. They urged that the Postmaster General is authorized by this clause to put in practice a management calculated to circulate the papers and publications of one printer, with abatement of postage, and to discour. age others under such uniform regulations as he may think proper to establish. INDIAN TRIBES. An amendment of the Senate to the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, by which they propose that the fourth section should be struck out, was taken into consideration. This section appropriates 10,000 dollars, to be applied in purchasing necessaries and presents, under the directions of the President of the United States, for the Indians. This amendment was disagreed to. COLLECTION OF DUTIES. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, on the bill to regulate the collection of duties imposed on goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships and vessels, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. Sundry amendments were made in this bill; which were ordered to be reported to the House to-morrow. SLAVERY. A message from the Senate informed the House, that they recede from their amendment to the bill for the regulation and government of seamen in the merchants' service, to which the House had disagreed; and that they adhere to their amendment to the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes. They also insist on their amendments to the Postoffice bill, and request a conference on the sub The House took into consideration the amendments proposed by the Senate to the following bills, viz: The bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes; the bill to pro vide for the regulation and government of seamen in the merchants' service; and the bill to establish the Post-office and post-roads in the United States. To some of the amendments the House agreed, and disagreed to others, soject. that none of the bills were completed. The first amendment to the Post-office bill, by which the Senate proposed that the establishment of cross-roads should be left to the Postmaster General, under direction of the President of the United States, was rejected; the discussion of the other amendments took up the time till the adjournment. TUESDAY, July 13. UNIFORMITY OF CURRENCY. from the Secretary of State, of a plan for estaThe SPEAKER laid before the House a report and measures, of the United States, pursuant blishing uniformity in the currency, weights, to an order of the House of the 15th of January last; which was ordered to lie on the table. DEBTS OF THE STATES. One of the amendments to the Post-office bill proposed that the transmission of newspapers, through the medium of the Post-office, should be under such regulations as the Post- Mr. FITZSIMONS, from the Committee apmaster General shall establish; and with such pointed for the purpose, presented a bill makabatement of postage as may be necessary for ing further provision for the payment of the the easy conveyance of information to the citi-debts of the United States, which was twice zens of the United States. Disagreed to. read and committed. This amendment was opposed by Mr. GERRY and Mr. BURKE, on this ground-that it carried with it the plainest outlines of a system to establish a Court Press and Court Gazette. To give this paper a currency and circulation through all parts of the Union, in total discouragement and exclusion, through the post-office, of every other paper, if the Administration though t proper to do so, in case of any of those contests and jarrings which often happen be A committee consisting of Messrs. GERRY, STEELE, HARTLEY, VINING, and BURKE, was appointed, to confer with the Committee of the Senate on the disagreement of the two Houses in respect to the Post-office bill. The Senate having insisted on their amendment to the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes," it was moved that the House should recede from their disagreement. H. OF R.] Public Debt. [JULY 16, 1790. This motion, after some debate, was nega-tinental establishment to obtain titles to certain tived-27 to 24. lands lying northwest of the river Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota; which was twice read and committed. A Committee, consisting of Messrs. MADISON, SEDGWICK, and MOORE, was appointed to confer with the Senate on the subject of disagreement. FEES OF CONSULS. The House took into consideration the amend-for the purpose, presented an amendatory bill Mr. GERRY, from the Committee appointed ments to the new collection bill; which, being for establishing the fees and perquisites to be accepted, and other amendments agreed to, the received by consuls and vice-consuls of the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third United States in foreign ports, and for other reading on Tuesday next. purposes therein mentioned; which was twice read and committed. The amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill providing for the settlement of accounts between the United States and individual States were next taken up. The first amendment was to strike out the two additional commissioners proposed by the bill. Mr. FOSTER proposed that the House should concur with the Senate. This motion occasioned a debate, and was finally rejected. WEDNESDAY, July 14. The House took up the amendment of the Senate to the bill for settling the accounts between the United States and individual States. They disagreed to the amendments, and appointed a Committee, consisting of Messrs. SEDGWICK, WADSWORTH, BOUDINOT, FITZSIMONS, and WILLIAMSON, to confer with the Senate. Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, introduced a bill making further provision for the support of light-houses in those States which have not yet ceded them to Congress. The bill was twice read, and ordered to be engrossed. The memorial of Lewis Pierre Lambert de Neuville was taken up for consideration, and the petitioner had leave to withdraw his petition. THURSDAY, July 15. The engrossed bill to amend the act for the establishment and support of light-houses, beacons, buoys, and public piers, was read the third time and passed. ADJOURNMENT. DEBTS OF THE UNITED STATES. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole on the bill making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States, Mr. BOUDINOT in the chair. The bill being read, a motion was made that the committee should rise, in order to bring in a new impost bill, that the new duties proposed by the bill, in addition to the old, might be united, and made specific in one bill. This motion was supported by Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, and Mr. SEDGWICK; it was opposed by Messrs. JACKSON, MADISON, PAGE, and HART LEY. The House resumed the consideration of the bill making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States. Mr. FITZSIMONS proposed several additions, some of which were agreed to; among others, A drawback on spirits distilled from molasses, exported out of the United States, of three cents per gallon; and The House proceeded to consider the report A clause to remit the duties which accrued of the Joint Committee of the two Houses, ap-in the time that elapsed between the impost pointed to consider, and report their opinion, law taking place, and the officers of the Unitwhen it will be convenient and proper that an ed States entering on their office, and to refund adjournment of the present session of Congress those duties which were paid on account of the should take place; whereupon, United States, under such circumstances. On motion of Mr. LAWRENCE, a clause was added, laying a duty of cents on foreign cables, cordage, yarns, &c. On motion on Mr. BROWN, a duty of one cent per pound was laid on bar and all other lead imported. Resolved, That in the opinion of this House, the business now depending before the two Houses may be finished by Tuesday, the twenty-seventh instant; and that it will be convenient and proper that an adjournment of the present session of Congress should take place on that day. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE REVO- Mr. BROWN, from the Committee appointed for the purpose, presented a bill to enable the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line of con On motion of Mr. WADSWORTH, an additional duty of five per cent. was laid on all colored cotton goods of foreign manufacture. On motion of Mr. FITZSIMONS, a clause was added, to repeal the section of the impost law JULY 21, 1790.] United States and Individual States. which limits its duration to the year 1796, and to continue that and the new impost till the sums for which the respective duties are laid, shall be discharged; also, to empower the Legisla. ture of the United States to establish other funds of equal value, in case the present should be found inconvenient or unproductive. It was ordered that the bill be engrossed for a third reading on Monday next. SATURDAY, July 17. COLLECTION OF DUTIES. [H. OF R. of the whole on the bill for the relief of disabled The House then went into a committee on the bill to enable the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on Continental establishment, to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west The engrossed bill to regulate the collection of the river Ohio, Mr. SENEY in the chair. of duties imposed by law on goods, wares, and The committee reported the bill without amendmerchandise imported into the United States,ment, and it was ordered to be engrossed for a and on the tonnage of ships or vessels, was read third reading. the third time and passed. Mr. WILLIAMSON presented a bill for the relief of disabled soldiers and seamen, and of certain other persons, lately in the service of the United States, and was twice read and committed. The blanks being filled up, the question was, shall this bill pass? On this, Mr. SEDGWICK called for the yeas and nays, which are as follows: YEAS.--Messrs. Ashe, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Brown, Burke, Cadwalader, Carroll, Clymer, Coles, Contee, Fitzsimons, Floyd, Gilman, Hartley, Heister, Huntington, Jackson, Livermore, Lawrence, Madison, Matthews, Moore, P. Muhlenberg, Page, Parker, Rensselaer, Scott, Seney, Sevier, Sherman, Sylvester, Sinnickson, Steele, Sturges, Sumter, Vining, White, Williamson, Wynkoop.--40. NAYS.--Messrs. Ames, Benson, Foster, Gale, Gerry, Goodhue, Grout, Sedgwick, Smith, of Maryland, Smith, of South Carolina, Thatcher, Trumbull, Wadsworth.-15. FEES OF CONSULS. The House then went into a committee on the bill for establishing the fees and perquisites of Consuls and Vice Consuls, Mr. SENEY in the chair. After some discussion of this bill, the committee rose and obtained leave to sit again. A message from the Senate informed the House that they have passed the bill for establishing light-houses, beacons, and public piers. TUESDAY, July 20. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS VIRGINIA LINE. The engrossed bill to enable the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, on Continental establishment, to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the river Ohio, was read the third time and passed. FEES OF CONSULS. The House again went into a committee on of Consuls and Vice Consuls, Mr. BoUDINOT the bill for establishing the fees and perquisites in the chair. WEDNESDAY, July 21. FEES OF CONSULS. Mr. MADISON, from the Committee of Conference on the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, from which the Senate had agreed to strike out the fourth sec- The engrossed bill for establishing the fees tion, and which amendment the House had dis- and perquisites to be received by Consuls and agreed to, reported on behalf of the committee Vice Consuls of the United States in foreign that the House should recede from their disa-parts, and for other purposes therein mentiongreement; it was moved that the House should ed, was read the third time and passed. accept this report, and recede; the question being put, it passed in the affirmative. DISABLED SEAMEN AND SOLDIERS. The House resolved itself into a Committee U. STATES AND INDIVIDUAL STATES. Mr. SEDGWICK, from the Managers appointed on the part of this House to attend the conference with the Senate, on the subject matter of the |