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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