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and the business brought to a speedy determi
nation. *>
Mr. Boudiseot fecoaded the motion of Mr.
Bland.
Mr. Maddifon objected to its introduction,
as not being in order.
Col. Bland observed, that the present ob
jeft of thb committee, a permanent system,
Would in all probability fubjeft the dates to a
lots of two or three hundred thousand pounds.
The Chairman observing that he considered
the motion as not in order, it &a6 withdrawn
by Mr. Blaud.
Mr. Laivrenc ?, upon the fubjeCt of filling
lip the blank*, proposed i* cem* to silt that
annexed t* distilled spirits, Jamaica proof:
He observed, that low duties would be more
Certainly collected, as experience had verified,
that high duties held out powerful temptations
to rendered a more vigorous
mode of collection neceflarr, which again
was proportionally expensive, and eventually
dinritiilThed the produce of the revenue, below
the amount of moderate duties.
Mr. Fitxfimons was m favor of 15 cents.
Mr Maddi/on proposed 10 cents.
Mr. Bouditiot 15, which" was finally voted,
and 12 cents per gallon on all other spirits.
Upon the article of molaflea, M. Lawrence
proposed 2 cents per gallon.
Mr. Maddifon 8 cents per gallon,
Mr. Parker made fume observations which
we could not diftiiiCtly hear.
Mr. Lawrence observed, that 2 cents were
in his opinion quite high enough, in propor
tion to the prime cost, the pre-conceived ideas
of the duty on that article, and its being a
raw material, the basis of an extensive manu
facture.
Mr. Maddifon continued, however, in fa
vor of eight cents, and made lome atlufiona
to the pernicious effeCts resulting from the
jfe of spirituous liquors: He reprobated the
dea of a draw-hack, as opening a door to
various fpecics of fraud.
Mr. Fitxfimons was also in favor of 8 cenfs,
upon similar principles.
Mr. Goodhue was totally opposed to so high
a duty, which amounted to nearly 50 per
cent. He observed, that the importation of
molalTes was an important branch of com
meite, and principally to the Eastern dates;
that independent of its being a great article
of manufacture, it was used by many persons
as a nccclfary of life, being a fubftiiute for
fugaf, and mixed with water, for beer:
That so high a dity would operate injuriously
towards a very numerous clafsof people ;
besides being attended with the mod' perni
cious consequences to the navigation and fi«
fheries of the Eastern states.
Mr. Maddifon observed, that if the duty
off mobiles was to be complained o£ where
that was yfed in lieu of sugar, the duty on
sugar would be a counterbalance to it.
Mr. Clymer , in support of an high duty,
introduced the policy of difcouragitig the use
of spirituous and encouraging that of malt
liquors.
Mr. Ames combated the laying so high a
duty, as it was beyond the ratio that gentle
men could poflibly think eligible as a general
idea, as it operated as a tax upon a raw ma
terial, which proved to some of the states a
very important branch of manufactures; as
it would strike a mortal blow to this manu
facture, prove highly injurious to the eastern
filheries and to their navigation, which was
very extensively employed by this business:
Mobiles was a mete refufe article in the
islands, though valuable to us ; the lefufe ®f
our fi 111 and lumber were the great remit
tances for it; when impoited and manfactur
ed, from the cheapness at which it could be
afforded, it forced a sale even in the Britifli
islands. It was the ostensible design of gen
tlemen toraife a revenue—this exceflive duty
would annihilate an extensive source of re
venue : It would prove suddenly deftruCtive
to great property appropriated to that business,
and edetlually deftrov a very important ma
nufacture ; for these reasons (and for many
others which Mr. Ames offered, but which
time will not permit us to tranferibe) he was
decidedly opposed to so high a duty,
Mr. Mad ifon proposed to amend his mo
tion, by making the duty seven cents.
Mr. Partridge, Mr. Botidinot and Mr.
I* 1 ufimons, feveully spoke upon the fubjeCt,
when the vote being called for, the duty on
inoUft’c* was bid at fix cents per gallon.
On Madeira wine tbitty.three and one third
cent* per gallon.
On all other wines twenty cents per gallon.
On biown fogar at one cent per lb.
On loaf lunar tfiree cents per lb.\
On all other sugars one and half cent per lb.
On coffee two and half certs per lb.
The Committee then rofe —the Speaker re
sumed the Chair—and the Houfc adjourned.
iVedntday y April 15, 1759.
Mr, Tucker presented a petition from Doc
tor Ramfay,of Chatleftori, Sotfth Carolina, re
queuing Congress to secure to him his proper
ty in the Hifiory of * the Revolution of South-
Carolina A committee was apjfomted to
take up the ftibjed at larg£, and report a bill
upon general principles.
A memorial of John Churchman was in
troduced by Mr. Sherman: It refpeded Mr.
Churchman's new discoveries in the magnetic
variation which have been announced to the
public This was referred to the committee
appointed'oa Dodur Rimfay’s petition.
Mr. Tucker presented a memorial also
from Dodor RamfayT—Subjed* the ineligi
bility of the Hon. William Smith to a feat in
that House, as he was not qualified in point
of residence, not having been seven years a
citizen of the United States previous to his
eledton, a requisite of the Conltituiion.
Mr. Tucker introduced the memorial with’
a great degree of delicacy He observed, that
he wished to be considered as ading entirely
officially in the business, and that it might be
treated with the utm >ft attention, as the gen
tlemen were both highly refpedable in their
charaders : Dodor Ramsay was a gentlemin
of extensive reputation, and ranked high in
the state to which he belonged } Mr. Suni’h
also was a gentleman who fufta.ned the faireft
charader, and had often received refpedable
marks of diftindion from his fellow-citizens.
His elediou was contested merely upon con
ffituiionai principles : His appearance in that
House fufficiently indicated that he had never
forfeited the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
This memorial was referred to the Com
mittee of Eledions.
Mr Boud i not % of the committee to prepare
rules for condudingr conferences, reported,
the consideration of which was poffponed.
Mr Benfion, of the committee appointed
to confer with a committee of the Senate,
upon the fubjed of arrangements for the re
ception of the President and Vice-President,
made the following report, viz.
That Mr. Osgood, the proprietor of the
house lately occupied by the President of Con
gress be requeued to put the fame, and the
furniture therein, in proper condition for the
residence and use of the President of the
United States, and otherwise, at the expence
of the United States, to provide for his tem
porary accommodation.
That it will be most eligible in the firft in
ffance, that a coir*nittee of three members
from the Senate, and five from the House of
Representatives, to be appointed by the
Houses refpedively, attend to receive the
President, at such place as he (hall embark at
from New-Jersey for this quy, and condud
him without form, to tbe‘ house lately occu
pied by the President of Congress and that
at such time thereafter, as the President ihall
fignify, it Ihall be most convenient for him,
he be formally received by both Houses.
That a committee of two members from
the Senate, and three members from the
House of Representatives, to be appointed by
the Houses- refpedively, wait on the Vice-
Preftdent of the United States, as soon as he
Ihall come to this city, and in the name of the
Congress of the United''States, congratulate
him on his arrival.
The said report being considered, was ac
cepted.
A letter from the Chief Justice of the state
of New-York, addressed to the Speaker, was
read, informing that John Beckley, Esq. Clerk
of the House of Representatives, had appear
ed before him, and taken the oath required
by the Constitution.
[To be continued.]
t
NEW-YORK, May 1.
Yefteiday at two o’clock was folcmnly in
augurated into office our illustrious Ptefidenr.
The ceremony was begun by the following
ptoceffion, from the federal state-house to the
Preiident’g house, viz,
Troop of horle—afliftanti—committee of Re
prclcmauves—committee of Senate—Gentle
men to be admitted in the Senate Chamber—.
Gentlemen in coaches—Citizens on foot. On
their arrival the President joined the proces
sion in his carriage and four, and the whole
moved through the princ.pd streets to the
state-house, in the following order—
Troop of horfe—infantry —fheriff on horfe*
back—committee of Representatives—com
mittee of Senate -afliftants— Prefident and
President’s fuite—afliftants—Gentlemen to be
admitted in the Senate Chamber—Gentlemen
111 coaches—Citizens on foot.
When the Van had reached the state-house,
the troops opening their ranks formed an
avenue, through which, after alighting, the
President advanced to the door, was conduc
ed to the Senate Chamber, where he was re
ceived by both branches of Congress, and
by them accompanied to the balcony or outer
gallery in front of the state-house, which was
decorated with a canopy and curtains of red,
incerftreaked with white for the solemn occa
sion. In this public manner the oath of office
required by the Constitution, was administer
ed by the Chancellor of this state, and the il
lustrious Washington thereupon declared by
the said Chancellor President of the United
States amid ft the repeated huHas and accla
mations of a numerous and crouded audience.
After the inauguration,- the President re
turning to the Senate-Chamber, delivered ta
both Houses of Congress, the following speech:
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate , and of the
House of Representatives,
AMONG the viciflitudes incident to life
no event could have filled me with greater
anxieties than that of which the notification
was, transmitted by your order, and receiv
ed on the 14th day of the present month
On the one hand,' I was summoned by my
country, whose voice I can never hear but
with veneration and love, from a retreat
which I had chosen with the fondeft predelic
tion, and in my flattering hopes, with an im
mutable decision, as the asylum of my declin
ing years—a retreat which was rendered
every day more neceflary, as well as more
dear to me, by the addition of habit to inclin
ation, and of frequent interruptions ‘of health,
: to the gradual waste of time. On the other'
hand, the magnitude and difficulty of the-' trust
to which the voice of my country called me,
being fofficiem to awaken the wisest and most
experienced of our citizens, a diftruftful feru
la) into his qualifications, could not but over
whelm with difpondence, one, who, inherit
ing inferior endowments from nature, and
unpradifed in the duties of civil administra
tion, ought to be peculiarly cohfcious of hit'
own deficiencies. In this conflict of emotions,
all I date aver, is, that it has been my faith
ful study to collect my duty from a just
appreciation of every eircumftance, by
which it might be effected.-— All I
dare hope, is, that, :f in executing this
talk, I have been too much swayed by a grate
ful remembrance of former instances, or by
an affectionate sensibility of this tranfeendent
proof of the confidence of my fellow-citizens ;
and have thence t >0 little confuted my inca
pacity as well as ditinclination for the weigh
ty and untried cares before me: my error
will be paliated by the motives which mislead
me, and its consequences be judged by my
country, with fame share of the partiality in
which they originated.
Such being the impreflions under which l
havej in obedience to the public summons,
repaired to the present station ; it would be
peculiarly improper to omit in this firft official
aft, my fervent supplications to that Almigh
ty Being who rules over the Universe— who
precedes in tbe councils of nations, and whofe'
providencial aids can fopply every human de
fed, that his benediftion may consecrate to
the liberties and happiness of the people of the
United States, a government instituted by
themselves for these efiential purposes : and
may enable every instrument employed in its
« ( ration to execute with success the
fundions allotted to his charge —ln tender
ing this homage to the great Author of every
public and private good, I aflure myfelf that
it exprefles your sentiments not less than my
own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large,
less than either. No people can be bound to
acknowledge and adore the invisible hand,
which eondufti the affairs of men, more than
the people of the United States.*--Every rtep,
by Which they have advanced to the charac
* **' independent nation, seems to have
beeWMlftlnikflfhed by fome : tb*f>of provldeii-