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SATURDAY, fitly 4,1789. J
THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE
AND
GAZETTE of the STATE.
FREEDOM of the PRESS, and TRIAL by JURY, to remain inviolate forever. C onjtuuuon 0/ Georgia.
AUGUSTA: Printed by JOHN E, SMITH, Printer to the State; Ejfays , Articles of
Intelligence, Advertijementr, &c. will be gratefully received, and every kina of Priming perfumea.
PROCEEDINGS of CONGRESS.
rnmmmmm ■ I ,
In the HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES of
the UNITED STATES.
(Continued from our laji.)
Saturday, Afrit 25, 1789.
THE bill for regulating the mode of tak
ing the oath prefcribfcd by the 6th ar
ticle of the Constitution, was taken into con
fideration —when the Clerk read sundry
amendments, proposed by the committee.
Mr. Hbite then introduced a bill as a fur
ther amendment, and to fupercede all pre
vious amendments. This bill was tead —after
which it was voted to take it up by paragraphs.
This produced a difeuffion of the fevetai arti
cles, which terminated in its adoption, with
amendments.
Mr. Boudinot introduced another amend
ment, providing the time and mode for the
officers of the State Governments* taking the
oath requited by the 6th art.
Mr. 7bather doubted the propriety of the
interference of Congress in this business—-he
considered the individual dates as poftefting a
collateral or concurrent power with Congress,
to preferrbe and enjoin the oath, and there
fore suggested the expediency of leaving the
matter to be determined by the several go
vernments
Mr. Boudinot observed, that he did not
think there was a concurrent power in the
dates : the Constitution was full and uncon
ditional upon the fubjeft, but had left the
form to be preferibed by Congress. Unifor
mity in a matter of this consequence, was
certainly neceftary, to prevent mistakes and
difficulties. The mode must be determined
by some legiftative body, for as the matter
was proposed to be left, no penalty for de
linquency in not taking the oath was incurred,
Congress must therefore interfere ; it is a na
tional concern, and no oither power is com
petent to it.
Mr. Syl<vefter % (New-York) very much
doubted the expediency of exercising the
power at the prwfeut: He was in favor of a
suspension.
Mr. Maddifon was in fentirrent with Mr.
Syl<vtfiei —He observed, that he the
power ftiould no be brought into view. Gen
tlemen had it not in contemplation to punifti
delinquents: he thought the amendment un
neceflary, and if the objetf was anfweted by
the state legislatures, as it undoubtedly would,
it was, in his opinion, bed to leave it to
them.
Mr. Seney, concurred in opinion with gen
tlemen who were oj posed to the amendment:
he observed, that the constitution was “ the
lupreme Law of the Land,’* the date legifla
tutes were hound by it; the oath wasexprefs
ly enjoined by it, and therefore the interfe
rence of Congress was unnecelDry.
Mr. pointed out the nereffity'f
mutual confidence her ween Congress and the
flares, that the prefem amendment might pof
flbly excite a fpim of jealousy, which was ex
tremely dangerous, and therefore to be guard
ed sgainfl. Tl e eonflitutlon it had been ob
served, was “the fupienie I.awot the Land,*
ibat guaranteed a republican tor in of govern
ment to every date ill the nnion —This waa •
mutual rompart \ ibe fiatf» #*'• ,u coi>fi» er
the Court notion it the fup'eme l*w, and waif
hound u> io
GEORGIA.
longer under obligations to defend the date
forms of government, than whiJc they com
plied with the imputations agreed to by them,
in their ratifications of the Coi.dilution. The
6th art. Mr. Jackson added, was explicit, and
he thought therefore that the amendment was
unnccefl'ary.
Mr. Roudinot' s amendment was not re
ceived. Voted, that the bill as amended by
Mr. White, and now difcuileo by paragraphs,
*and again ametn ed, be engioiled tor a thud
reading. And Monday next was aftrgned.
The report of the commmte of the whule
houie, was next taken up. Upon he motion
to ftnke out 15 cents annexed to the aititle
of distilled ipirits, Jamaica proot, the vote
being taken, it palled in the negative and 15
cents is the duty, as in the report.
A motion was then made, that French
brandy should be an article in the teport, and
a duty annexed of 6 cents per gallon, ibis
was conlidered as making an impolitic d •
ftinftion, between diifereut species of Jpinrs,
and a difciiminauon between foreign powers,
that would he diiadvan ageous to us.
Mr. Lucwrtuce opposed it, upon the ground
of its contributing to the consumption of an
article, which it had been comended, was
pernicious to the health, aud moials of the
people —that it gave a preference to thole, to
whom in a commercial li..e, we weie under
no obligations that it would conduce to a
diminution of the revenue, by excluding an
article, upon which we might rationally ex
pert to raise a conliderable l'um, aud intro
ducing one, on which it was ptopoled to lay
a very trifling duty. Mr Lawrence further
obierved, that he conceived the policy of
the union, confided in ptiihmg its interclt in
eveiy pofiible line of commerce —that excel
five leftriitions upon Bntiih commodities, he
conlidered as hoftite to our inteieft —that we
were in no situation to wage a commercial
war with that nation —that it was for our ad
vantage to cultivate harmony, and a good uu
derftanmng with them—that our navigation
was admitted into their ports, upon the root
ing of other nations, and in many refits,
upon as good, as their own fubjefts—-that our
potaih, and many other articles, were received
upon themoft advantageous terms. Mr. Law
rence concluded, by faying, he was t tally
opposed to the diferimination.
Mr. FiixJjmmons observed, that the pre
ference given to our allies in the article of
tonnage, was a fufficient indication of our
good disposition to them—the trade to the
islands was of great consequence to us, not
only rum and other articles were obtained
from thence, but specie for outproduce.
He was of opinion that this diferimination
would lefien the revenue.—He also observed,
that the French would have an advantage in
wines, a* the most valuable of theirs, would
pay no higher duties than the most ordinary
of other countries.
Mr. Page was in favor of the diferimina
tion, as he would lather encourage the use of
brandy, in preference to rum, the former
being Ufa injuiious.
Mr Maddyon observed, that a diferimina*
l{oo between our allies, and thofc who had
Ihewn every disposition to cramp and clog our
commerce, wa» confotuut to reason, aud to
the willies, and expectations of the people,
through tl»« flues, The prelent article he
thoujt'i xtavuuWe vne tv tfMkf M Wmiim
[Tot. TTI. No. cr IV.]
in. He would not oppufe a gieat difference,
howe'ei—a very lniatl one, tiom particular
principles, would prodtue gieai effects We
had it in our power to do gieut things. pio
vided we m«ue a judic ous application of o r
advantages He differed much fiom the Hon.
Gentleman of Mew Yoik. The e had been
abundant evidenti g.verv by the dates, tint
theii ientimciita weti. in favor of a dUcumi
naaoo, beeween thole nations wh had met
us upon terms of ami ihat which
had dilcoveicd a dilpofition t«* annihilate our
com me ice—their leutinunts had been ni-111-
fefied in the individual 'ttempts of fume of
the fta.es, calculated upon the peiutnptiou,
that hmitaratis vmuM be p.ffed by the other
governments, to make the ontiuefs etheien.—
in tf»e opinion aflome vciy w.ie men, hid 2
union in this mcalu.e been brou. ht a unt, the
most faiiitaty conlequcnces would have fol
lowed—but it is well known how this pLa
was defeated, by the backwat duel's and op
poution of Some of the date*, and the abliihne
refufal of others to concur m any degree
The pi client situation and prolpect of th ny#
wore a diffetenr alpect, and he w .s the.cforc
toi availing ouue.ves of the opportunity of
convincing our rivals, who h.d difcovcte l so
unffiendly a disposition, that we had it m our
power as a nauon, to diftingu Ih thole who
were our allies by particular advam.es,
which they Ihouhl feel the want of, uli .hey
were disposed to trade with u» upon equal
teims.
Mr. Sherman was opposed to a diferimim;-
tion of the duty upon this an kle, as u would
operate to encrealing its consumption, am he
thought eveiy d.fcouragement to that onglv to
be thrown in its way.
Mr. Lawrtnct — l think, Sir, that I enter
tain as high a sense of the obligations, that we
are under to our aliie- as the Hon. Gentleman
from Virginia ; but. Sir, I think we arc in
no situation to pav them a compliment at so
great an expence. —We are not iu circum
stances to make fjenfices of any advantages,
we enjoy from our trade witn Gteat-Bitai i,
or any othei nation—from them, Sir, we de
rive many effcntial privileges— why ihouhl
we, by novel rexnlations place ourfeives in a
situation, in which we may be sure of meet
ing counter regulations, on their , art. which
in all probability would defeat our dehgns ?
I am opposed to this diferim nation, r»ir, as
it will issue in a ter utfion of the revenue.—
We are not in a condition to commence a
commercial war with our rival*—oui policy
was to make every advantage of our fitujtioti,
till the period ftiould arrive, when we could
meer them upon equal terms—at ptefent we
could not.
Mr. Maddi'on. It is not, Sir. merely to
favor our a lies, (although they a e entitled to
a tribute fiotn us) that I am |o much m favor
of this diferimination, but it is to tea'll those
who are uttfiicwdly tc us, a lesson. This dif
crint'nat ou I conceive will not have a nnte
riai effect on the revenue fin 111 rum; attach
ments a e not to be suddenly deft toyed: Ic
would require a century perhaps to effect a
1 ran fir nin fiom the use of lanuica fjpirie*, to
a gene al use of bi.nnlv 1 I do not queflion the
refpeit of the gentleman of New-Voik for
our aliin 1 Rut the gentleman fays we derive
advantages trom our trade with Great* Briuci
—ls we do in my degiee, thee 11 fitch *•
redound iv iisi own .uieutt—her tegt Uuoist