Newspaper Page Text
i'rom THt National Intelligence.
. . , A VINDACATIQN
CF THE
Measures of the Present Adminifiration,
BY ALGKRON SIDNEY.
<c Where Liberty is—there is my Country.”
No. I.
( Concluded.)
\Ve are now told that no credit is due the govern
iTi-pt because the monies have been derived from the
imports which were eltablilhed by former administra
tions. What ? i* there no credit due to a govern
ment that the finances of a nation with
economy, frugality and found diferetion ? because 1
have furntlhed my, agent with a capital necetfary
for life, is he not entitled to my c uvfidence for the
integrity, prudence and judgement he has *.i (played
in the management of my affair* ? Does riot ah© man
justly challenge a higher claim to that confidence,
•who faithfully appli-s the monies 1 have entrusted to
him, than the ore who deviles the heft methods oi
drawing my mon?y from my picket ? Or ij he ex
clufivelv entitled to jt who has devifecT the means of
takng from me the fruits of my own indnlfry ?
h •* rrue that thole alone are fit to be eniTufled
v ith the povernme nt, who unite to prudence at and dii
xreiion in expenditut *J that knowledge oi the coun
try and i*.s intercity, which may enable them, if
itecellity requires to augment her revenues by ?d<li
t onal taxes leait injurious to the people, and molt
Congenial with their genius, condition and feelings.—
Jt equally true that the prefcnr government has
noc created any taxes. But it is not true that the
opposition define any more credit for the creation oi
the revenue system than belongs to the petfons .in
office. That fyllem was contemplated by the old
Longrefs under the confederal ion ; they -repeatedly
folicitcd the (fates to veil them with to levy
mny import. Ihe refufal of these (fates principally
interested in importations, in a great mealure produ
ced the necessity for a convention. The convention
ealculated upon the impoils to lupport the govern
ment they rocommended to the people. The rights
*>f generul taxation were given that the powets of
the government might he equal to every exigency.—
When the federal government went into operation
the present fyllem of import was adopted by genera!
conlent; many of the officers ol government and
friends of the* adminitli ation, were eminently ufeful
in its eftablilhmeiit.
Indeed one principal obje&ion against the late order
of things was, that the late athniinitiation would not
rely upon import alone for revenue, but infilled upon
ellabhihing the (lamp tax, and a general fyllem of
Internrl taxation) oppicffive to the interior, eatperifive
in the extreme, and prodmftive of daily embatrafl
m>nts. Os thole who poffefles a knowledge of public
affairs, who is there that can deny these ladts ? From
what source then does the opposition derive its
pretentions ?
Among various other obje&ions which have been
offered againlt reduction of taxes, it has been (aid
the people were naturally averse Id taxation and with
difficulty brought to submit to mew contributions.—
That these fyfteins were n operation, the people had
become accultomed to them, rnd it was molt wife
and prudent to retain them ; because they might be
wanted at fotne future day. This obje&ion amounts
to this: * You mull tax the people when you do not
■want their money, to be able to tax them when you
do want it.’
In countries where the iron hand of despotism rules
where the intejells of the sovereign are dillvntft from,
and .opposed to, the intererts of the fiibjeft, where
fear binds him to his mailer, it is undoubtedly necefi
firv to keep fart the chains by which he is bound.—
How dissimilar is our case ? If the revenues are
wifely and jifdkioufly expended, the exigencies of
the date are the exigencies ofthe people themselves.
The government is theirs—its obje&s. their hap
pirnfs—they mould and fafhion it to their liking, and
there is no one to lay, 4 why do ye fo.* Can it be
poifibl; that a reople f> circt niftanced will refule
thole contributions, which their own security and
h ippinels demand.
Here again ier us test this objeft by experience. In
the war of 1775, the people of these Hates contri
buted with liberality to its support. T bey have Urug
glfcd through and supported an arduous wav of eight
year*. itti an unanimity unparalclled in the hiltory
of nations.
They have submitted quietly to the exifling taxes,
and to all those which have been repealed, with the
solitary excep>ion of 5 the difeontents which have been
maniferted by three or four counties in Prn vfvlvanii.
A pu t of these difeontents, pi obably wcyjld have been
eaiily ajlaied, bad not the then secretary of the
treasury believed them calculated to further his views.
1 boldly challenge the enemies of the government to
produce front the artna-ls of'the workl a people who
have mote uniformly yeielded a ready obedience to
law, or more cheerfully contributed to the necelfi,
ties of the Hate. Yet in every inltance when the
government no longer w anted The taxes, the people
were relieved from them. For my own part i ac'‘
knowledge 1 feel indignant when I refl-d ypon. the
objedion 1 have combated. I pledge tn yfe ft volun
tarily to contribute my proportion of whatever .the 1
necessities ol government may require, and 1 enter
my lolemn proteif agiinll being taxed -cunccefiarUy
for the purport; of Tilling me.
A firmer secretary of the Treasury, and many trf his
adherents, have advocated a principle, which if cor
red, certainly proves the internal tax ought not to
have been repealed. If is this : 4 that the people ought
t- 1 he taxed as far as th'Y can pay,’ I diflent from ibis
principle, it would produce a despotism. To tha r
of it is elleatinlly 1 ecei
fa'ry ; tor an independent yeomanry will never be
Haves. While the foil is pWned and cultivated, bv
the lame persons, liberty js lase. But once oppress
the people with a fyllem of taxation which fficll bring
theclais ofr.ipderate p’anters and farmers in arrear,
although the deficit may be fm&ll, Hill eventually, it
Wll produce the etFed. A confumptio a will prey
upon the vitals ol the republic. The nation will be-„
come a body of landlords and tennbm* ; one clafsrich
tlie other poor and dependent . or tr. other words
one will become marten, and the other fiaves.
To give heal li to the natural body, the Wood mull
-flow w th regularity, and indue proportion toallits
parts ; so. to give vigor and vital energy to the bo
dv poll lie, the attention of government mu(l be -Jireft
ed to all. The intererts of all murt be consulted.
While iherich are protected, the itwerefts of the
common cH’zens (ho;jH he carelully guarded, and’
tenderly watched over That inequality which thr
nature of things is conrtantly producing ffiould be
checked in its career, not foftered or accelerated in
its progrels ; of consequence government Ihould le
vv as few taxes as possible.; because in whatever
mod? thev are levied- the body of the people murt
pay a greater jHoporiiou of them, and they are not
wealthy. The coaflanr prefTbre of Taxes vvil’ j*pvefs
them. Look to the nation* who h a>e gone before us.
I have read the papers of -Engl nd anvounikig to
one-leven’h of her numbers, and supported by an an
nual tex of nearly fourteen millions of dollars, a sum
far exceeding the whole revenue of the United States;
of (be property of the people of Scotland and Ireland,
of their wretched support, their thatched roofs and
cottages. I have read of the tf Russia and
Poland ; of the beggars ofFortugal and her degrad
ed pealantry, kneeling ro the contemptible Fid a
iioe, and of the Lazaroni of Naples who dwell in
he cuverns of the earth. I have read cf the peo
ple of France driven to madnefis by the prdFure ol
public burthens, and presenting an awful lesion to:
rulers, of husbands proliituiing t eir wives, and fa
thers their daughters, to procure the necrfiaries of
life. And, as 1 read, the tear of pity rtvlr from my ;
eye. 1 bdve frequently read of and (Tentions, rebelli
ons anti civil wars which originated in
and the mileries of the people. May heaven preserve
us from fuen calamities ! But 1 have never read of a
nation, who were ruined by enjoying the fruits ol
’heir induftrv. I have never heard of a peopfe who
rebelled because they were rot taxed. To the oppo
sition is due the credit of difeoverirg, that the go
vernment had julllv torieited its claims to the confi
dence of the people, by permi’ting them to -epplj ihrir
own monies to their own ute.
No, 11.
Lartlv, we were told tire me a Cures adopted by the’
tirO fifiion of the I aft Corgrefs, were bur part o k a
i\ Hern oi' general deftutetlon, and tfiat a federal fa
bric would be undermined piece by piece until it tum
bled into ruins. To reftre this calumny it is oniv
necertary britfly tc (tate the proceedings of the lali
ftftion.
It commenced on the 6'th day of December J S'o2-
A cpicram of the benate did not aj pear until tbe 14th
and on the isth the Prtlidcnt s mefiage was tranl
mitied io the two heufes. He infot med Gorigrels
of the conditional repeal of the countervailing duties
bv the Bririffi Parliament, ol the amicable fi ttlemem
be: wen the United States and Georgia, refpe&ing
the Yr-zoo lands of the extenhon of our territory in
the Indian country by a cession of more than thr- e
millions three hundred thousand acres of land, and
an improvement.in our relations with the natives, of
the cession of Louiftana to France, which he remark
ed, might ‘ make a change in the alpeert o r our lorcjgii
relations,’of the prolpetous ccndiiion of our finances
and the payment of more th?n eight millions ordoi
l.trs of the national debt. He called their attention
to the neceffiry ot procuring Ibme (mail vcficls for the
public service in the war wtth Tripoli; to the yt o
priety of rftablifiring a Dry Dock at the feat of go.
vernmenr. and to the neccflity of making provision by
law lor the return of our I'eanren Irom o'her coun *
tries. He recommended itto them to praftife every
ufeful economy, and not to impose uniieceflarv bur
thens to cultivate peace, maintain commerce, fefter
the filheries, proteif the manufacture', preserve the
public faith, to keep within the pale of the conilitu
tion and cherifli the federal union
What part of this meflage exhibits of a
disposition to engage in the labours of a general tle„
llruflion ? What part of it is hostile to the federal na
tion, to property, peace, quiet, or tiationai happi
nefs ?
Congress, so far from proving the exirtence of a
wifli to render the public ellabliffiments insecure or
precarious, or to hazard the property, peace, or pros
perity, eiiher of individuals, or of the nation, is elfo
infilled to high confidence. ‘
It has often been remarked by men of learning-,
judgement and experience, that a nation has always
more to f ear .from governing too much, than too lit
tie, A valt difference exills between reformations
which are called lor by the conditions afftd feelings of
the people, and comport with tbe (late of tbe nation
and the subversion of thofi? inrtiru’ions, which furnilh
personal security, and tend to increase our prolperity.:
For the lirrt we look with confidence to a wife iegis
lature . The latter is only to be dreaded, where the
legislative powers Thai! be (if everj intruded to fools
or madmen.
When the change took place in administration, it
wasefftYled by the people, because they felt them
fT.es aggtieved by the meafur.es of government.*
Men were changed to produce a change in measures.
Congress in the Winter 1801—2 repealed the offen.
live laws ; and the a inir.ilfration of government was
fliaped to tbe wiffies of the people.
(7o be continued.)
■ 1 1 mm f■■ !■ mi—ll,Ml,r
AUCTION.
On Tuesday next the rjth instant, will le sold
before my And ion Store, Market square,
, hogftjeads rum, *
.Pipes Port write, \
- • Bales cotton hasigft'g, v
Bids. Philadelphia beer in good order,
Boxes soap, J
Ditto candles, -
Ditto Anchovies cud Capers,
Ditto coarse Hats,
Barrels flour Windsor chairs,
AquantityvfrH oufehold FURNITURE.
Conditions— Cash..
, * , ALSO,
A -complete Field Slave, est a Credit of
Rxty days—a hole with approved inaorfer .
Sale to commence at £ o o'clock ,
LEVY ABRAHAMS, AucV.
“ May 16. -• • “ .
- NOTICE.
•*
THE .SUBSCRIBER,
HA ViNG ensagfd. with the Commissioners of the
Ft)NBURY ACADEMY, to take eliarge oi
the Boarding part of that iuflitufion, and to pro-,
vide for the Tetchers, and such of the scholars as
mat be boarded in the’ Academy, to cotrst.erce or
the second Monday in July, at which time be will hr
ready to receive them, is induced to give this public
notice to foch as may wiffi to place cbiJdtPn there
for education ; that to make the firuation of the fcho
Ur s condor talkie and refpeCtable, will be a favorite
)hjest wiri him, Bnd_-to give general latisfedion to
their parents 2nd guardians .• Which he canbat flat
ter himfelfihe will be able to accomplish, and he will
he thankful for all favors, the terms for boarding
will be mad- known oy applying to either of the
Commiifioners, or WILLIAM MELL. r
May I*6. 6s —Paviv
GEORGIA REPUBLICAN.
i -1
$ A V ANNA H,
MOKDAY MORNING, May 16, 180?.
The trncles of foreign intelligence, given this
day, leave us Hill reason to fear that w*r is again to
visit with its deftru<3ive horrors, the shores of Europe.
One thing is certain, that the critical slate of Eu
ropean politics, murt operate favorably for American
interest , and render the million ot Mr. Munroe, at
this juncture, peculiarly acceptable.
W 7 e underrtand thar in the course of the ensuing
year a litre of llages will be established from Rich
niond to Vranklort in Kentucky, by which the mail
will be carried. N* York paper.
,r —1
LEGISLATURE ok GEORGIA.
FEATURES OF THE LAND BILL.
The ceded Territory k to be divided into)
three counties, to be called Wavne, Wilkinlon 1
and Baldwin. The county of Wavne is to be
divided into three diftri&s, and the counties
of Wylkinfon and Baldwin, into five diftrifls
each- A surveyor to be appoinced to each
diftrift, and the quality of the lots is to be
Wayne county is to be divided 1
into tr; ds or lots of 490 acres each, and the
others into tratfs of 2027 acres each. Small
jflinds are referyed to the slate.
The land thus surveyed, is to be dilpofed
of on the -following principles :
f( Sec. 8 And be it further enabled by the
cuthcrity aforejaid* That the said land ihall
be appropriated by lot in the manner follow
ing to wit rafter thefurveying is completed
nd the returns made to the Surveyor General,
•his Excellency the Governor, fliali cause tickets
to be made out whereby all .the numbers of
in the different diff ri&s,fliali he re-
which rickets Ihall be put into a
box to cpnftitute prizej, with others to be *
denominated blanks, of which blanks the
number or amount fliali be determined, by
fubtrailing .the number of prizes from the
whole number of draws, to which the said
lottery ihall be fubjedl upon the following
principles ; that is to fay—Every free male
white peribn Twenty one years of age and up
wards, being a citizen of the United States,
and an inhabitant of this flatr, twelve months
immediately preceding of thepaffage of this
Adi, or paid a tax towards the support of go
vernment (including such as may be abfenton
lawful business fbailbe entitled to one draw :
Every free white male person of like deferip
tioh having a wife,legitimate child or children
under twenty one years of age ihall be entitl
ed to two and widows and orphans
unoer the age ol twenty-one years, who have ;
refi led twelve months in this date mmediately
preceding the passage of this Adi, (hall receive
among them the proportion to which they
and their ancelior or husband would have
been entitled to had he remained in life/*
The following fedlion which dates the
price of the land to the fortunate drawers, as
palled the houfe.of Representatives, is as fol
lows 1
“ Sec. ii. And be it further ena<Sed by
the authority aforefaid, Hhat all persons
againjl whefe names, lands may be drawn in pur
juance cf this aft, lhall be entitled to receive
grants , which Jhall be i (fued under the hand of
his Excellency the Governor , and the Great Seal
cf tbe State , on application of the fortunate
drawers > e[peftively\ who shall have complied
with the requations, of ibis aft, and being ap
plicable to them, their refpeflive heirs or dewjeesi
inveflmgin them,feefimple titles, to the particular
jurveys of lands, drawn agai Jt their names ref
peblively x fcr which grants, persons obtaining
ike fame [fa all pay four dollars . per hundred *
lores for river land , of the firft quality—two
dollars per hundyed acres for river land.of the
second quality —two dollar per hundred acres for
upland, of tbe firft quality—one dollar per hun
dred Mr es for upland, of the second equality—
fifty cents per bundled acres for upland, of third
duality, and iwt nty-five cents per hundred acres
for pine land, out of which Jhall firft be paid the
‘fees to which the Survey or-General, Secretary
of St ate, .and other officers are entitled by this ad,
and the fur plus shall be deposited in the treasury ,
to reimburse she fate for the money which frail
have been expended in making tbe surveys, and
dividing ibe counties .and diJZnds. %9 \
, ‘ The part included in brackets was amend
ed by the Senate in fubflance as follows:
•Shall immediately pay eight dollars per
hundred acres for river land of the firft quali
ty, and for ether lands in proportion to their
prices hereinafter stated, that is today, for ri
ver land of the firft quality., one doilar per
acre ; rivtr land of the second quality, fifty
cents per acre ; opland of the firft quality,
fifty cents per acre ; upland of the second
quality, twenty five cents per acre; upland
cf the 3d quality, twelve and a half cents per
acre 4 and ali pine land, fitx and a- quarter
cents per acre }to be.paid inlhree inftalment?,
one third at tbe end of three years, one third
at the end of four years, and the remaining
third at the end of five y< ai<. ! ! Fo
ments are not made, the land to rcvrrr ro 1 .c
state, but at any time wirhin the five
the whole may be paid at a time, anu a war
rant obtained.
The house of Representatives refilled their
aflentto the amendment, and a committee o
conference was appointed. Tbcrtiuk is nos
known. TT r t
Should the principle fixed by the House of
Representatives prevail, we fear the conse
quences to this state would be evil indeed.
The river land of the firft quality is represent
ed to be worth eight or ten dollars in acre
on an average, ll it is thus rnadea faenfue,
even in the mode of a Lottery, (in which ft is
computed there will be near nine blanks to a
prize) the property will be undervalued, ad-’
vantage taken ofthe ignorance or circ urn fian
ces of the drawers, and the doors of specula
tion thrown wide open. When such tempt
ing acquisitions arc presented, it is difficult to
retain the walk which ftri£t integrity dictates*
! While there appeareda geri€rxwft?,ifwc rr&f
trust declarations, to close every avenue to
monopoly and speculation, we conceive thar
the measures taken, forgoing the claim cf
atftual settlement, and leaving the lortunate
drawers to conjetfture the value ol lands
which coil them nothing, are as effectual for
promoting speculation as any mode which
couid have been devised.
It was observed in debate, that the .himd
being drawn in different parts of the state >
and infmall portions, the objed of the spe
culator would be cut fhorc. But let it be re
membered, that there is not one tench of the ‘
fortunate drawers, who are acquainted with
the value of the land, and that the (peculator
would take care to be informed on this sub- ’
jed, as well as its situation. Two hundred
acre trads are < s capable of bearing the ope
ration of the fpeculacor, as thole of two
thousand.
It is incompatible with good policy to cif
pofe of the lands in this manner. The funds
of the state are not ample, her debts are un
redeemed to considerable amount, and to
throw property away, is, in that situation, arv
error. It would be difficult ro reconcile it
with the feelings of the nine tenths who draw
blanks,but that they shall pay the taxes which
might have been saved, had only a partial
price been obtained for the land, These
confiderat ; ons appear to have operated on the
senate when they chose to affix a price to the
lands which would inrich the treasury of the
state and leave the prize a desirable acquifi*
tion. To evidence this, we submit the fol
lowing estimate, founded on the moft accu
rate information we could obtain.
50,000 acres, best river land at io dolls.
is 500,000
50,000 do. ad do. 7 dolls, 50 cts. 375,000
250,000 do. best upland 7 50 cts. 1875,000
250,000 do. 2d do. 4 1000,000
250,000 do. 3d do. 2 500, opo
400,000 do. pine land, 1 400,000
- -•- , 1
dolls. 4,650,000
This estimate may be thought to be above
its real value, but it cannot be exccffive if
representatives are correct. It is not suppos
ed that the state should calculate on receiv
ing this amount, but the value is estimated
to the a&ual owner. Let us suppose ir too
high by one third, dating the total value at
3,000,000, we shall then fee what avast ad
vantage will be thrown into the hands of
those. who obtain prizes. Dolls.
Estimated value of ail the land, 3,000,00^
.50,©00 acres best river land,
at I dollar is 50,000
•50,000 do. 2d. do. 50 cts. q 5 000
250,000 do. best upland at 50 cts. 125,000
2.50,000 do. ?d do 2s 62.500
250,000 do do 12 I*2 51,a50
400,000 do pise land, 614 25,0^0
318,750—31^750
Gain to tbe holders of prizes dolls. 2.581,250
Two millions, fix hundred 81 thoufand*
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars,.
When this fubjedl is considered, will it bjr
accounted much Ihort of madness that the
state shall derive no advantage fromfier pro
perty ? It is computed that it will cost th*
state about 2,50 cents a survey, in addi
tion to what the house were willing to pari:
with the lands for. We should have fup~
}>ofed the wickoednefs of the Yazoo
and the execration in which it was held*
would operate as a caution to future legis
latu*- to throw away stare
We do notaccufe any man of wanting in
tegrity, btYt beside the willingness to conceal
the value of the lands, we cannot think the*-
bill displays an abundance of wisdom. in pro
moting the good of the state. We think it
would have been fully as wife and just to--
have railed the means of paying for those ex
penses incurred by individuals on. the public
account. We wish not to fee the aecuia
tions of the friends of the Yazoo sale, juftifi
ed ; we wish not to fee the faith of th£ ftatp:
facrificed, and we fnall ever think it as pro
per to pay honed debts as to givq prq*-
perty wbii? the creditor ‘is. fuffering^