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IfaoM thk National Intellicsncer.
A VINDICATION
OF THE
Me afar es cf the Preterit Ad mm ft ration*
BY ALGERON SIDNEY.
<€ Where Liberty is—there is my Country. 1 ’
No. 11.
( Concluded .)
The reformations which had long been concern
Vat**d, were then efteidrd, and nothing left for the’
late ffilinn, but the performance of the common rntine
of public hulinefs, and an aitention to such things
as might a rife in the progress of governmrnt. I o
derail rhe proceeding* of Congress would be rediou?
and uninteretling; though to the public it ruy be
flighty ufcful to (late the principal things which have
received their a*ten ion. With a fir.c’ re desire to
aid and improve commerce and navigation, the Presi
dent in his firft mefiage reprefmted the evils to which
th.y are exposed by the diferinfmting duties o‘
Cirear Britain; vvlii h, from the different modes of
coMealing imports adopted by the two nations operate
jirearly to the injury ol our carrying trade, by draw
ing from our citizens at leal! three dollars to escii
cue that we draw fron the fuhjefts ol that nation :
Wher .y Britifti I ihiefts are enabled to command
in a great measure, the freights of the fix foutherp
States to the exclusion of our own mcrchan’s, and ;
particularly, :o the injury of she Eaflern fU-tes.
* bo this fukject he invited the attention of Con-
w!jo at tlieir 1 all feflion, appointed a committee
>f eminent merchants and others, to confider and
Teport what, in their opinion, could he done in
furtherance of* trade and navigation, ibis ■commit
tec reported in favour of verting the executive: itb
p.iW"r to annul our difcriminaiicg duties Wiienever
t!v c.if.'tiininaiinc duties of Great-Britain should be
•sboiffjed
vt * p-rfms immediately interested in the car*
7 ; ;ngr rradc dTerent opinions were entertained
* thought the p;opof*d measure would be highlv
b • efic’.i o hers, pnflkSed of equal &ill, experience
aud ; r.eireU, believed it would have a tendency to
|>rr.a .v.e an injury. To furni h evidence to our iner*
■x ivjhs of a disposition on the part of government
2 > well to consult their i e'.ings, as to promote their
tntereils, the consideration of the report was defer
red, and probably will be until experience (hall shew
that, in time of race, the pcopofed measure is eScn
tial 10 the carr in,’ trade.
To avoid the warte of our national rcfources, the
preiiiSent recommended the eflablifitment ol a dry
dock, to preserve our vetfels. flickered from the wea
ther, snd to Jeccre them from the rapid decay una
voidable to timbers daily experiencing the vicissitudes
r>f heat and moisture. be unexpected and serious
afpea of things on the Midi Tip pi rendering ir potfibl
that both o ,r money and on- ships might be employ
ed in a more active manner, and for pnrpcfes more
jpreffi ig this ufsful propofnton was with great pro
priew, pofipontd for future consideration. Mu;h
pdin have been taken to renrefent this as a visionary
p-;)j,*ct of the executive to tquander of the public pro
p-rty, millions of dollars. To lave money—not to
sq under it awav was bis design : the expense inrtead
o. being millions, was not to exceed four thoulhnd
-dollars. Which fnm is annually necefTary to keep
Twelve frigates in repair, while lying in water ; the
(ingle expenditure of that sum upon a dry dock would
M ike pi ovilion for years, for the preservation of the
feme number of frigates.
It is known from the experience of Holland and
V-uice that veflcls, if kept drv and cover-d from the
fun, will continue as found as any other works of
w ood. Dry docks are eredled by all the maritime
Hates in Europe.
Congrcfs have made provision tocompenfate perform
■who received known wounds in the teivice of the \J.
&■*.. s during the revolutionary war, for whom no
provision has been made.
Ihi-y have authorifed procuring and equipping four
fnu II armed vcfTeli for the service against Tripoli ;
conciliated for u!e near the Qarhary courts- This has
been represented as evidence of tne w-csknels and in—
confiifency of the adminirtratiim ; who are charged
with navi -ig fold a part of the national (hipping im
provident lv. A
Two co’clufive anf.vers present tbemfelves : firft,
these were fold by an order of t he executive!
given in obedience to a law, palled before he came
frn< office ; Tccondly, they were not ealceiated for a
war with the pirates of Africa, and would not an
swer for the public service.
The only remaining of importance which
claimed the attention of congress, was the violation
of our rights by the Intetulant at New„Or!eans, n
depriving oik citizens of the right of deposit at that
pDce, and forbidding all intercom fe between the
fubjedl* of Lmuiliana and the citizens of the United
Stats. This fi grant breach of treaty* received as it
demanded, the mud prompt and vigilant attention of
government.
Nor has the celfion of that province by Spain to
Trance had a tendency to increase the confidence of
this nat’on in the views of thol? powers ; though go
vern nrut has received from both, the mcif solemn
afl u ances that the rights of this nation fiiall be
refpecdfd.
On the twelfth day of Mav, T VB6 , the United
Sta.es solemnly proclaimed their rights to the free
navigation of the MifflfHppi and it. Lawrence, and of
the head waters of thete rivers, and all the lakes,
£ulphs and other streams which conne&ed them with
the main Ocean. - ,
The full enjoyment'of all the rights made known
by thi.: declaration will bt maintained, sacred and in
Iviolate, so long as the people of thele Pates conUitute
la lurton.
1 The President. with che consent of the senate, has
pnointed James Munroe miniiter extraordinary to
■he courts of France and Spain, to regain the ertjoy-
Ineut of the right of deposit, to remove, and in future.
Hrevent the embarfaflinenrs under which the weftei n
Hates labor ; to enlarge the rights of the nation, and
Hnfure those already acquired beyond the pofiiuiliry
dispute or contelt.
■ Conereis, in furtherance of the views, have ap
■ooriated two millions of dollars, authorifed the
Hefident to ertabliih arlena'.s in the weltern countiy,
■ build and equip fifteen gun- boats, and whenever he
judge nectfl'ary to detach eighty thorn fa ml troops,
the clofc of the session a.i attempt was made by
oppolition ro cad an odium noon the commifßoners
■he finking fund. This terminated, as every oth-r
to injure the adminitlration has, in their de
|B and mortification. So ably were the proceedings
board defended, and fj clearly were the wii
nnd mi lit v of their uieafurcs proved, that es the
b ir twelve members could be found hardy
HH A io hilrnt trom rlie vote of ccnfidf nee and ap_
adopted bv rhe lvufe of repreit ntatives.
■ v.\.e the ia.lt act of that congreis, under whefe
authority, no tnouTts vvere !;-.)rs\‘nved % no t *xes ere a
fed no laws parted rertricling the liberty ot the cili- |
zens. Every other mngrefs increased the burthens of
the pcovde — -by this rhev were removed.
When the partton of the times shall nave been for
orotfon--when the w. rring iiUeiefis of individuals and
the petty bickerings of rival candidates shall have
been assigned to the tomb o( oblivion, the future his
torian shall faithfully record tlicfe faft, as a rich le
gacy tr. porter try
Here 1 might triumphantly demand of the refliefs
enemy of liberty, to point out that aft, which proves
he exiltence cf a with to dcflroy the federal union ;
which threatens private proper‘v, or prrfonal security
-utid refpeftafeirty ; which Can reasonably create any
feir or jeaionfy in the-mind of the mt-ft Jufpicious
politician; which war* not required by the state oi the
’ country, and does not merit the approbation of the
people.
The mod finking and efficacious mode of contrasting
the present ‘with la ft adminiilration, is by an at-
I -ention to their fjfcal concerns In the two firfi years
of tbi lafi adminiilration the executive was aurtiorifed
to borrow nine millions eight hundred then fa nd doL
lars ; a of which vyos aclcallv loaned at eight
per centum interell—For .he two laid years, no loan
has bf*en made or authorifed
In the tvvo firit years ot theiart adraimftration an
addditioiial duty.cf eight cents per bushel on fair, the
fiamp dn*y, and a land tax of two millions of dolitiis
*vtr I** iei—during the present no tax has been levied
—ti e land ux is difeontinued, and the Uamp tax with
all tlie other ’otern' i .l taxes, has been abolifficd. Du
ring the lafiad.ninftrarion, in three years, the nation
*1 debt was increafetl three millions three hcndi td
ntd n neti-for.r thousand three “hundred and fevenreen
dollars and forty two cents —Since the preterit, in
two ve?rs the national debt has been rcduc and frven
mi!lions, right fund ed and forty nine t> oulnc, tour
• hundred ana thirty (even dollars and thirty -eignj
cent*.
During the Ufi adrniniflraiion no payments were
made o.Ahe deferred debt —On ft* e Er(l ot April
jßo j, inie -est firft fell di-e on that debt and the pre
h.-nt adminirtration have annually paid thereon, twelve
hundred thous n i dollars—Once mtirc, wlien the la(t
adtniniftratioti retired, there were one million leven
hundred ana ninety four thousand and forty lour col
lars in the trealury—Now in the fame trea(dry there
are five millions and twenty thousand two hundred
and thirty dollars sixty two cents,
The aftrual finings of the two lart y'ears may bs jurt
Iy eflimated as follows :
Two years payment of intercreili on
the deferred debt at twelve hundred dolls,
thousand dollars a year, equal, 2.4©0 000
Iteduftion of the public debt, 7,849437 38
Increase ot fpecle hi lie trealury, 3.236,187 38
Dollars, 76
From which fumr- drduft the proceeds
of the bank (hares lately (old by order
ofthe commilhontrsoi the linking fond, 1,287.600
Dollars, 13,188,0.22 76
A sum more than fix times as large as the land tax
levied in 18Q0 by the lafi administration Os which
fnm n ne millions seven hundred and eighty eight
thoufand and twenty two debars and (eventy fix cents
have aftually been, ar.d are in a train to be, applied
to the reduction of the national debt.
With fiich bright profpefts of a speedy rxtlnftior
o( the national tlebt, without additional burthens
how careful (hould government be to avoid ever*
thing tending to increase our expenditure ? when
that debt fliall have been extirgniffied, the present
revenues of government will be cqaal to its mainte
nance and to the support of any r.ecefiary wars in which
this nation can be engaged.
When I refioft open the fitrrender by government to
the people cf t million of dollars annually, in abobfii*
ingtlie excite ; upon tne rapid reduftion o( the pub
lic debt, and upon the fpccic in the treafurv, and call
to mind the avowed and known determination of ;hr
late adminiili iuon. not only to continue, but to dou
ble the land rax. lam loft in amazement. I ernnot
difeover the exiHence of that recertify which demanded
such repeated and oppveffive contribution?. Yet I
boldly declare that to continue as wdi as the
land rax as the other internal taxes, was the design
of that adminirtration I his declaration is made both
from a knowledge of the views of the persons then
in power and (rum the provifibns of the aft direfting
the valuation of lands and dwelling hordes; which
clearlv proves that a permanent direst tax was con
templated. That aft creates the imveyor of each
valuation difrrift a permanent officer snd afeevtains
the compensation he fitpll receive each official aft. it
direst s him to keep a record oi the valuation of each
lot and house ; j-snd whenever a transfer fliali take
place to change live purchase, credit the feller, and en
ter it of record. It provides that when anew house
shall be erefted it (ball be valued and added to the
valuations made under the aft ; that all lands exempt
ed from taxation, whenever the exemption (hall ceaf ,
fnall be afkTed; and that whenever and so often
as a dwelling house (hall be destroyed tlie valuation
rhereof shall be cancelled. Neither of these provisions
has anv relation to the tax levied,they all clearly re
fer to future taxes.
Indeed the expense incurred in arteffing the lands
and houlcs in the different Fates, and in collecting the
tax forms coaclufive evidence that it was determined
to cdabliffi an annual land tax The sums by rhar
adminirtration appropriated for the expense of afitfs
ments amounted to four hundred and five thousand
dollars.
Dollars.
The real expense may be
eflimated at 4° 0,000
The com millions to the
various officers for colledli
ons and the contingent ex
penles, as flatk-narv, print
mo, advertising, &c. will
amount at lead to 2801000
The toffies derived from
various causes exceed 125^00
Making the whole loss
and expenditure amount to
dolls. 705,000
Which sum being dednftei from two millions of dol
lars, the amoflnt of the tax, leaves only tlie sum of
one million, two hundied and nicety five thoui’aud
dollars, for the.public ufi.
Apporiion to the feverai dates thrs seven hundred
and five thousand dollars, in the fame ratio as they !
paid that tax, and it will appear, that by levying it, j
there has been expended and loft to the people of!
Maryland fitrv three thousand, seven hundred and;
ninety one dollars, and to the people of Connefticut
forry : five thousand, Rven hundred and forty two
dollars ; which sums are equal to the yearly expenses
of these (tates. On the fame principles th loss to
Nonh Carolina was sixty eight thousand two hundred
and feven*v eight dollars-.nearly eqml to tVe ex**
penles of that (late for two years. These were the
real Trfll-s to the people of the dates mentioned, to the
people of the other Mates, thev-were in he fame pro
portion. and exceed s loss of thirty five dollars on
every hundred dollars collcfted. .
Can anv person -ho inveftrgstes this fobi ft be
lieve these expenses were incurred with a view to
firing the tax of a single year into the treafurv ? !
think not: It mufi have been the design to make pro
vision fora dursble land tax- No other cause can he
afiigned for this wafie of property, but a wtfii to in
ereaf* the ex-cutive power, by the appointment ot a
I undred commissioners. a thousand furveyers of aHels
mentdifiiifts with eft-bliffied fees of office, rWKe
• hat numb-r of art 1 (Tors and collectors amonglt
whom fhouU be divided the five hundred and eighty
‘houfand dcilars expended.
FR ANKFORT. Ap*il 14.,
nTbeFafterp rspersteem with oW“fvations,rumours,
ronjeftu-es and fabrications relating to ‘he people o*
Kentucky, and “he ft ate of political opinion amongst
us. vVhen we hear the whole coift ot the A lantic fe -
founding without name, it tnight rlat er ©tir vanity,
and oive u* a wonderful idea of our importance
and high cor>f!de , 'afton in the federal scale ; were there
not Tome reason to fear, that we ar? (ometimes played
off as poooets in the hands of ihc po ivi al (how men
of the different ‘parties. There are two points con
concerning Whfch the clznior is rahed,—the one is >he
fiory of fCentucky being in arms—the o.her is
inflammatory piece ouhlifhcd in the GuardDn c.
Freedom, under the signature of the W eftern Ame
rican. As to the firft, it appears from a ftaterrtnt in
the New-York Evening Poft,that the ft orv originat.
cd ivrtb a young man bv the name of Ckcmiceil: bureiy
theie is feme magic in names ! An eftarn editor
ohferves concerning the nair.es of flournoy, that there
is fome'hiitg Prenckfeld in it; —Hut this name cf Cro;n
well (z name, however, which we never heard in
Kentucky) is not merely frencbVied or anglicised but ii
fcerr.s aimoft /antamourV r? rebllion & ufurpa/ion \t~ ’
fell ! And moil ea*nei;D would we recommend it fo’
he confider a Fon of the fame legal penetration which
difeovered in a newspaper effaiy an offence againfi
Dr. Logan's aft, whether this modern Cromwell,
hkewife has net, agreeably to the fame refined rules
of comtruftion, been guilty of holding correspondence
ir.dereftly with the French and Spanish governments,
by uttering and pnblifhing certain fcands’ous and fe
ditic.us lies, in a certain vehicle calledand knowm by the
name of a stage coach ? Should this b? the case, we
(hall have no reason to regret the sedition aft, as this
truly cotnprehenfiv-e foreign law, wilf
anfvver all its valuable purposes in the federal court.’
Severe reprehension certainly is due to this pretended
Kentuckian, who to asrufe himfelf by playing upon
the curiosity and political speculation-s cf his Ep.fiern
fellow travellers, fabricated (lories in vvhch he knew
there was not one fyllahJe r,f truth, fii d’fhnnorabl? to
the loyalty arjd republic?nifm of his Weftem fellow
citizens.
The other point to w hich the attention of our
brethren in the Atlantic fhetes has been so much
direfted, is the publication of Mr. Flournoy tinder the
signature cf a American. The federal
editors ‘erm it a demotratical publication ; —the re
publics:?! -editors rra ntain that it wa publiQied in 2
federal paper, but art admit that he Governor of
Kentucky has inftstuted a prosecution against the
author. As the politics of the author or editor,
hey will be regarded as veryimmateriahvhen it is con.
ftdered hat he has not met with one solitary advocate
for his opinions. The publication is received with
univerfaldifapprcbotion by the citizens of Kentucky.
As to the p3rry to which the author may belong ; we
know nothing but what may be gathered from a jeu
e.Jprit of the lame writer, inserted in a former number
of the Guardian, which as strongly exp-eilive of an
attachment to the nrinciplesand measures of the Adams
administration. As to the politics of the print in
which the address of the Western American appeared ;
our fellow citizens on fhc ether file on the Alleghany,
have yet to (earn it seems, /here is not one paper in
Kentuckey which is net decidedly republican and,
perhapj they have ye? to lean from rhofe whom they
have been 2Cctiftomed to present as just emerging from
the savage stare that genuine repuhlicanifm opens its
ear ?o both sides of po'itical questions beholds no
thing in unrestrained difeuftion hut a prelude to
tnumph ar.d eftabliftimenf of truth, and regards rts
cause as founded on a rock against which, in a fair
combat, neither the-powers of prelencd dfederalifm.nor
of anarchy will be able to prevai /.
With rcp;r\vd to the fa ft that the'Governor of Ken-’
tb:y, at the falicitation ofa number of refpeftahle rir
izeos, direfted a prosecution to be cornir.enced aga'nft
the author of the piece in question : we know nothin'’
of it. Os theutter disapprobation which Mr. GarrarJi
mufi feci of the principles and objeft of thD wild
inflammatory publktarion, no one who is acquainted
wi h him can entertain any doubt; hut we have never
nnderitood i'Hat be direfted “or advised the srraihre of
confering, by a (late prosecution, notoriety and weight;
on a produftiena which, if left to Mvlf, would Tilently
returc to tlie duil from whence it came.
(From a CorrcTpond^nt.)
F Gfw TH E Fv EPU R LICA N.
( ; No. VIU.
Having seen who w**re entitled to vote,
and who were the fubjc&s of taxation in Con
necticut, the various objects of the fociery,
deserve attention.
I • Building a Meeting-House. A majority
of the votes can decide on the propriety of
•f.ifing such a building, and lay a tax for its
accompiiinmenr. But, however unanimous
they may h e, they cannot decide on the sue
of the building, without rhe concurrence of
the county court, to whom a re-pert of the
voted buiiding mult be made. After having
their hand to the plough, they have not the
privilege of looking back, though every cne
!of them should faint with their labour. A
I clerk mult be appointed, whose duty it is to
i superintend the building, and, under a penalty
to report the progress from time to time at the
meetings cf the county court. If the rapidi
ty of the building is not equal to what the
court judges ir ought to be, they mufi: take
it out of the hands of thole for whom it is
erecting 5 appoint their own fuperimendanc
and proceed to its completion, ;nc6-"B
wantini’, they levy a tax fro Tt time to 11 v
according to the abiiires of tne people3 t::,
the objeft: is accompli (Vied. H
A house of worth ip ; s now erected.
focicty is not at liberty robe without 2 J”
lar preacher for fix ivontns together: ii t I|||
are, the county court are to proceed ro K"l|
rax, according to their circumstances, r.'SB
it cut in preaching for the deficient
agreeable to their own diferetiont The law
made fecuri'y for hearers by providing n n H
of one dollar on each perfbn who has no rJB|
Enable excuse, such as sickness, cr other
ability, for non-attendance.
Repairs of the public buildings are ofß
course (übjedt to the fame votes as tiC u **
tion, and belong to the fame head.
2. Appointment cf Parijh officers . This®
head requires no illuflration. B
q. Calling the mt, lifter. Candidates for the I
ministry are engaged to preach in the fociery B
from a fmgle Sabbath :c a year, as it may he B
found agreeable. Though a niajority is ca- 1
pable of binding the Dciety, it must be ac- 1
knowlcdged that unanimity is generally 1
(ought; but frequently, when a choice is fix- I
ed on, the word is fdectcd.
After a trial of feverai candidates, tlie foci*-
ety meet and propose the one they prefer, or
to whofc expectations they think their ability
a match, and agreeing on the sum they can
consent ro give, direst their commerce to
make the proposal, and if it is accepted, a
convocation of the presbytery is called and he
. ordained their minifVer. A “ settlement,” or
. sum to enable the building of a house is nfu
ally made, to the amount of 4 or 500 dollars,
after which he receives a dated (alary. The
agreements *re usually made for life, and
though there is a kind of canon law which
can authorize the difiolution of the contra®,
until the focierv v;rs convulsed to the centre,
I have seldom known it done, except at the
desire nf the clergyman, who had a call [the
noise of more dollars] elfewhore.
The salaries, it mult be confelTed, arc mo
-1 derare, usually from tlvee to five hundred
dollars a year $ but it enables the clergymen
to live in a decent fiile, with the addition of
the perquifiles arising from marriages and
the education of youth, in which they all em
ploy fome portion of their time, and whence
a confiderabie influence is immediately ob
tained, and the foundation laid for a greater
in futurity.
Small as the falarjes are, they prove the
position that mankind never ace willing to be
driven into the support of opinions, even
those for which their voluntary contributions
would be cheerfully rendered. No tax is
paid with more grudging than the clerical
one ; and its continuance is avowedly for the
purpofc of fhifting from the shoulders of the
pious , part of the burden of fupporeing their
own opinions. They have even the broad
face toTav that religion would fall, without
legal ‘fupport.
In canonical affairs., the full communicants
have alone jurifdiftion. This ia undoubted
ly correft. When a member commits a pal
pable and notorious error, he is called before
the church ; if he is ready to make the con
feffion which they will diftatc, he is forgiv
en, even for seventy times seven. If he refu--
fes any part of it, as against his Own convic
tions; ihey expel him; and they claim to
themselves the authority given ro the apoftlea
to bind on earth for future bondage in hea
ven. Bur though they thus scratch the name
of the finner from the lift of faivation, they
are cartful ro keep hold of his purse firings.
Who will presume to fay, after viewing
this faithful pifture, stfter knowing that but
one persuasion has received this care from the
civel power after beholding theie tranfae
tions of the govern often t of that state, and ’
learning that the corporation of Yale Col
ledge, confiding of twelve clergymen irvjf
eight officers of date, mu(t by law be of that
persuasion. who wfil presume to fay that Con
necticut is without a union of church ami
state and an cftablifiied religion *
I (hall don? my reflection this fubjVf
with a Angle remark : this policy bte
so much hypocrisy in that: tfee ‘whftfe
world cannot produce i‘.s mad ftp (a $ ftp
dvwfihnSi
A YANKEE,.
Fok the Republican*
Mejfrs. Lyon Mcrse v
1 would beg lea* c to call the attention eA
our Mayor and Atderrr.cn to the clwniimfs,
m and about the city—it is well known that
)>.aion ca.led the moil fickiy is now
approaching; and that from the present drv
weather, we have reason to expert there wili
very shortly, be fame heavy falls of rain ia
which case, if followed by a hot fun fbine
there mutt be great exhalations wherever the
water may for a time lodge } and that it mas
lodge near this city. ‘1 he large heaps A* 1
i.able litter thrown in piles on the Couth com-,
mon near the town, amongst which, ntav frr
quently be found the badiuof dead Do s