the House thought so He denied that militiamen would be proper to be placed in these fortifications, and asked gentlemen how they could answer to their constituents, if they went away without doing anything, and an attack should be made upon our coast? He thought nothing had taken place in Europe which placed us in a better situation; but that we, on the contrary, should be doubly vigilant. He trusted they should not be lulled to sleep by fair representations. He was for going into a Committee of the Whole.

Mr. VARNUM supposed the gentleman last up had received some new information, since he put his negative to the bill providing for the fortifying of our ports. What that information might be he could not tell. He had received none. The gentleman from South Carolina had, indeed, read some papers giving an account of a murder on the frontier by the Indians, and of a woman firing at them. But was this a sufficient reason for raising a fresh regiment of artillerists? He believed not. They sometimes heard of murders amongst civilized people, and there were modes of punishment without the aid of military force. He believed when the present regiment of artillerists was full, there would be men sufficient for every purpose. The measures of gentlemen, Mr. V. said, went to a destruction of national credit, by pushing every expensive object they could lay hold of. The United States had pledged themselves to make good engagements at certain periods; he thought those should be first satisfied, and then, if there were any surplus, gentlemen might, perhaps, be indulged in a favorite measure. If, indeed, there was any foundation for what had fallen from the gentleman from Connecticut, that we were on the eve of a war, then, instead of 900, it would be necessary to raise 150,000 men; or if we were to declare war upon France, in case she did certain things. He did not, however, believe that gentleman's doctrine.

It was time, Mr. V. said, that the sense of the people should be expressed to the President of the United States in favor of peace, that no irritable measures might be taken. He did not believe there was any danger of war, except from provocative measures on our part. Mr. V. concluded by saying, he hoped the bill would not be committed.

Mr. MCDOWELL was against going into a Committee of the Whole, because additional men were. unnecessary for the peace establishment; and if war was contemplated, they would be wholly inadequate. Militia, he said, were the proper defence of this country-he deprecated the idea of a standing army, which was the constant attendant upon despotic Governments.

Mr. HARPER said, if the bill were to be rejected, he thought it ought first to undergo a discussion in a Committee of the Whole. Did the gentleman from Pennsylvania shrink from all examination of the principles of this bill? Or was it because he was unwilling his negative should stand against it? If he were not, he thought he ought not to endeavor, by a side-wind, to throw it out. Why, said Mr. H., was the bill passed for fortifying the

[JUNE, 1797.

ports of the United States, if men were not to be put in them? They would be useless, and their conduct would appear ludicrous and absurd. He could account for this mode of acting in gentlemen who had determined to do nothing for the defence of the country, but for gentlemen who voted for fortifying, he could not discover their consistency in being opposed to this measure.

Gentlemen could not be serious in supposing that the liberty of this country would be endangered by 900 additional men. In expressing an opinion of this kind, they showed a low opinion of their constituents. Gentlemen had frequently argued as if we were to hold our liberties at the will of the French nation, but he could not have supposed they would have expressed a fear of this kind.

But if there were danger, gentlemen said, the measure would not be effected. It could not be supposed that these men were to protect the country against invasion; no, they were to protect our seaports against the attacks of privateers and pirates. Some gentlemen say appearances are flattering, and that there is no apprehension of danger. The gentleman from Massachusetts said we were threatened with war, and submission could only secure us in peace; so that we were to lay ourselves at the mercy of an offended foreigner, and say, "We have been very wrong, and beg that you will spare us." He attributed all this to a wish to prevent measures of defence from being taken; for, in one way or other, every defensive operation was opposed. On the contrary, he wished to show a spirit to repel the injuries we have received, by putting arms into our hands, and saying, "We mean to do justice, but to repel attack;" nor could he see any cause of offence in a conduct of this kind.

Mr. SHEPARD said, if these men were not raised, many of the fortifications would be useless, and denied that putting our ports and harbors in a state of defence could give just cause of offence to the French. He said the plan of fortifications was originally laid out upon too large a scale, and would not allow that militia could be used to advantage in fortifications.

Mr. GILES did not believe that these men were raised with a view to any present danger, but that advantage had been taken of this season of alarm to increase our Military Establishment; he was, therefore, against it, because he believed the present establishment too large by one-half. Gentlemen, he said, had been charged with taking humiliating measures; but he thought it was more humiliating to take a measure of this kind, on the ground of danger, than to oppose it, from a conviction that it was meant to increase the peace establishment. The gentleman last up spoke like a hero; he trusted they should all act like heroes when danger was at hand; but at the distance he now thought it, he saw no use in the gentleman's vaunting.

If this bill passed, he said, there would be a necessity for going into a system of taxation. The $115,000 voted yesterday, he believed, might be got out of the present revenue; but if they went

any further, taxes must be laid to meet the expense.

[H. of R.

Carolina, (Mr. HARPER,) was conclusive with him for not wishing to go into this subject. He stated there was only a surplus of thirty or forty thousand dollars of revenue, (though he was of a different opinion,) and this object would require at least three hundred thousand dollars.

Granting, however, the danger to be possible, which he did, he would ask whether the present measure was calculated to repel the danger? He believed not; but, on the contrary, that it was cal

Mr. D. did not think the gentleman from Pennsylvania was warranted in his expectations, from the present situation of Europe. He thought the refusal to honor American passports was alarming.

Mr. KITTERA said, when they first met, it was pretty generally believed that it was necessary to put the country in a state of defence. This bill went to that end. He had two reason for wishing the measure to be discussed; one was because the Senate had thought the business sufficiently important to pass a bill upon it.

Mr. S. SMITH had not determined how he should vote upon this question. The present corps of artillery, he said, was raised when the country was threatened by Great Britain, when the Indians were at war with us, and when the Governor of Canada had given us reason to expect a war. It was then thought necessary to erect fortifications, and an additional regiment of artillery was raised, to what was already in being, which made a corps of nine hundred and ninety men. These were thought sufficient. Since that time, peace had been made with the Indians, and we have got possession of the posts from the British. These required a few artillerists. He wished the Secretary of War to show how many men were stationed at each of these posts. He believed the number which was said to be on the Atlantic frontier was sufficient to guard the forts, and artillery were always excused from labor. It had been said that militia could not be employed, because unskilled in the business, but he said the laborious part of artillery could be taught in a few days. For want of the information he had alluded to, he was a little at a loss in the business; but when the late President, (a military man,) had thought the present artillery sufficient for that season, he could not help believing they were for the present time.

With respect to American passports being annulled by France: there were vessels passing from different parts with counterfeit passports, which, by mistake, some of our Consuls might have countersigned. It did not relate to sea letters from this country.

An argument of the gentleman from South

hended was war; but he did not believe that those who feared war, expected an invasion; and if not, the present measure was not calculated to meet the danger. To defend the seacoast, the inhabitants must man their forts, and upon their own exertions their safety must depend. He supposed, if war was made upon us, it would be in that part in which we were vulnerable. The attacks of any foreign Powers would be upon our trade. The United States were impregnable to the attack of any foreign nation; they had, ten or fifteen years ago, resisted those of a more powerful nation, with respect to naval force, than the one about which we were now alarmed; when the population was much less, and much less compact, and when the Government was very imperfect. He therefore looked upon any fear of an invasion as groundless; and if it were attacks upon our commerce which were apprehended a new regiment of artillery could have no effect. The operation of such attacks would fall upon our merchants and upon our revenue. Every additional expense, therefore, not calculated to repel the danger, diminishes our means for repelling it in the proper way, which would be by means of frigates, galleys, and vessels of every description.

Mr. GALLATIN said, when he brought this motion before the House, it was not, as had been stated, to get rid of the subject by a side-wind. They had been three days upon a bill of small importance when compared with this, in proposing and rejecting amendments, and he thought it would save time to determine at once upon the principle of the bill. He justified the measure as parliamentary. If he could have conceived it would have occasioned so long a debate, he believed he should not have made it; and if there was any one man in the House who would say he had not made up his mind on the subject, he would withdraw his motion.

In relation to the principle of the bill, it had been observed that he said yesterday, that if the $115,000 were agreed to, this bill must also be agreed to. It was true he had read the letter of the Secretary of War on the subject, and predicted that if the sum was agreed to, it would be brought for an argument for agreeing to additional artillery; and the event showed that he was right.

With respect to our present situation from the late transactions in Europe, he should say nothing. It was mere matter of opinion, which operated differently on different minds, according to their habits of thinking, or perhaps their prejudices. Nothing could astonish him in this respect after what he had heard in this House.

He was

He believed, with the the gentleman from Virginia, that this was not a war measure, but merely an attempt to increase the army establishment, which had always been a favorite object with those gentlemen who seemed to claim an exclusive right of supporting Government; and yet he knew nothing which weakened it more. not afraid of troops impairing the liberty of the people of the United States; but he believed nothing tended more to weaken the hands of Government than the want of money, and nothing consumed so much of it as large military establishments. That the Secretary of War should wish to increase the establishment, he did not much wonder at; it was natural that he should do so; but his opinion ought not to guide them. Mr. G. concluded by saying, that if it were necessary to have this additional number of men for the purpose of having them trained in the artillery business, he had no objection, if the same number was lopped off the infantry.

Mr. ALLEN said, he should avail himself of the liberty the gentleman who had just sat down had offered; for he owned he was not ready to vote upon the question. He wished to have some information from the War Department, which he would move for, if the motion was withdrawn. Mr. GALLATIN withdrew his motion.

Mr. ALLEN proposed the following resolution, which was agreed to, after some few observations:

"Resolved, That the Secretary of the War Department be directed to lay before this House an account of the number of artillerists in actual service, and of the posts and places at which they are stationed."

SATURDAY, June 17.

A bill was reported forbidding citizens of the United States from entering into the service of any foreign Prince or State in a state of war, which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday.

STAMP DUTIES.

Mr. W. SMITH, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill for laying a stamp duty on vellum, parchment, and paper, viz:

For a license to practice as a counsellor, attorney, &c., five dollars.

For every grant, or letters patent, four dollars. For every exemplification or certified copy of letters. patent, two dollars.

For every receipt or discharge for any legacy of fifty dollars and not more than one hundred dollars, twentyfive cents; above one hundred and not more than five hundred dollars, fifty cents; and for every additional five hundred dollars, one dollar; but not to extend to legacies left to a wife, children, or grandchildren.

For every policy of insurance of vessels or goods from one district of the United States to another, twenty-five cents.

For every such policy of insurance to a foreign port, for a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, twentyfive cents; if it exceeds five hundred dollars, one

dollar.

For every exemplification, of what nature soever, fifty cents.

[JUNE, 1797.

For every bond, bill, or note, (except the note of the chartered banks which may be now or hereafter in existence,) not exceeding one hundred dollars, ten cents; above one hundred dollars, and not exceeding five hundred dollars, twenty-five cents; above five hundred dollars, and not exceeding one thousand dollars, fifty cents; above one thousand dollars, seventy-five cents. (If payable within sixty days, they will be chargeable with only two-fifths of these duties.)

For every protest of a note, twenty-five cents. For every letter of attorney, twenty-five cents. For every certificate or debenture, for drawing back any duty on the re-shipping of goods, one dollar. For every note or bill of lading, for goods from one district to another, within the United States, (not in the same State,) ten cents.

For ditto to a foreign port, twenty-five cents.

For every inventory or catalogue of furniture, goods, or effects, in any case required by law, (except in the case of distraining for rent, or an execution,) fifty cents. For every certificate of a share or shares in the Bank of the United States, or other bank, ten cents.

The bill was twice read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday.

DETACHMENT OF MILITIA.

Mr. MCDOWELL, from the committee appointed for the purpose, reported a bill directing a detachment of the militia of the United States in the following proportions:

Mr. BLOUNT wished the House to go into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, upon the resolution which he laid upon the table chase a certain quantity of arms. some days ago, authorizing the President to pur

Mr. W. SMITH suggested the propriety of referring the matter to a select committee, as there might be matter connected with the inquiry made, which might not be proper to be made public: an inquiry respecting the quantity of arms in the possession of the United States, and where lodged, was somewhat of a delicate nature. If it was referred to a select committee, they could determine upon the propriety of making the subject public.

It was agreed to be referred to a committee, and a committee of five was accordingly appointed.

SITE FOR NAVY-YARD, &c.

MONDAY, June 19.

[H. OF R.

A communication from the Department of War, enclosing a report in pursuance of the resolution

The House went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill restricting the registering of vessels in cases where they have been taken and purchased in the United States, by others than the former owners. The committee reported the bill without amendment, and it was engrossed for a third reading. It afterwards received its third reading, and passed.

AGENTS FOR BRITISH DEBTS.

The House went into a Committee of the Whole

on the bill for appointing agents, under the direction of the Attorney General, for assisting to carry into effect the sixth article of the British Treaty, with respect to the British debts. A good deal of conversation took place as to the nature of these agents, the manner in which they should act, and what would be a proper compensation for them. At length it was agreed that the blank for a sum to enable the President to appoint such agents as he should see necessary, should be filled up with ten thousand dollars; that for a salary for the principal agents to reside at Philadelphia, two thousand dollars; and an additional salary of six hundred dollars to the Attorney General, on account of the extra business which this concern would lay upon him.

The committee rose, the House agreed to the amendments, and ordered the bill to be engrossed for a third reading on Monday.

DUTY ON SALT.

Mr. W. SMITH, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following resolution, viz: “Resolved, That there be laid on salt imported into the United States, an additional duty of thirteen cents per bushel."

The resolution was twice read; and upon the question for Committee of the Whole being put. it was carried-there being 49 votes in favor of it. On Monday being named for the day on which to make it the order, Mr. MACON moved to make it the order for the first Monday in November; which was negatived, and Monday next agreed

to.

ADJOURNMENT.

Mr. GALLATIN laid the following resolution upon the table:

“Resolved, That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, be authorized to close the present session, by adjourning their respective Houses on the 24th of this month."

of artillerists and engineers in the actual service of the United States, was read. It states the whole number of men to exceed eight hundred and seventy, but to fall short of nine hundred and ninetytwo, the full complement. They are said to be stationed as follows:

At Oswego, Niagara, Detroit, Michilimackinac, Presqu'Isle, on the Mississippi, and 438 in the S. W. Territory.

At a Fort in North Carolina At Charleston

Total

105

60

90

59

56

62

876

This report was committed to the Committee of the Whole, to whom was committed the bill providing for an additional regiment of artillerists. Mr. PARKER moved that the Committee of the Whole be discharged from the further consideration of the bill respecting the manning of the frigates, and the bill from the Senate for the protection of the trade of the United States, in order that they might be referred to a select committee, to incorporate the different subjects together.

Several objections were urged to this proposition, and the sense of the House being first taken upon discharging the Committee of the Whole from the bill from the Senate, which was negatived, only 27 votes being in favor of it, Mr. P. declined taking the sense of the House on discharging the others.

The bill directing the appointment of agents of the British Treaty, was read the third time for assisting in carrying into effect the 6th article and passed.

COLLECTION OF INTERNAL REVENUE.

Mr. W. SMITH, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill to provide more effectually for the collection of certain internal revenue, which was twice read; but, on the motion being made for committing it to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next,

Mr. GALLATIN moved that this bill be made the order of the day for the first Monday in November. He said it had been two years before the Committee of Ways and Means; and though the regulations might be good, yet they were mere petty details, (and he thought if there were time for it they might be made better,) without which they had done hitherto, and if they took this bill up, he knew of none which could be proposed, which they might not also enter upon with as much propriety. He wished to confine their attention to business immediately connected with the subject upon which they were called together.

Mr. W. SMITH wished the gentleman had de

H. OF R.]

ferred his motion till the bill had been printed. The gentleman himself had acknowledged that there were many valuable provisions in it, and the Secretary of the Treasury had informed him that many of them were necessary to secure a due collection of the revenue. Gentlemen must be convinced that an increase of revenue will be necessary; and if additional revenue could be raised by a modification of this kind, it would certainly be preferable to laying new duties. The gentleman from Pennsylvania, who was never very ready to lay a new tax, surely could not object to this.

Mr. GILES supposed the decision upon this question would determine whether they should go home soon, or sit there the whole Summer. As it was in no wise connected with the call of the present session, he trusted it would be postponed.

Mr. KITTERA did not know but it might be proper to postpone the business, but he hoped the bill would be printed.

Mr. BROOKS was against the postponement. He thought if it would be the means of raising revenue, it was closely connected with the business of the present session.

The question for a postponement was put and negatived, there being 41 votes for it, and 48 against it.

The bill was then committed for Wednesday

next.

ADDITIONAL ARTILLERY.

Mr. GILES wished to go into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for raising an additional regiment of artillery; for though the report received this morning from the Secretary of War was not printed, being short, he thought that that could not form an objection; and he wished to see as soon as possible what the House meant to do.

Mr. W. SMITH opposed the motion. He trusted the subject would be deferred till to-morrow, that the report received this morning have time to be printed.

Mr. GILES withdrew his motion, and called up the report of the Committee of Ways and Means, proposing to lay an additional duty of 13 cents per bushel on salt imported.

DUTY ON SALT.

The House accordingly went into a Committee of the Whole on that subject, and the resolution having been read

Mr. GALLATIN moved that the committee might rise.

Mr. LYON said he should be sorry if the committee were to rise without any objection being made to a proposition so unreasonable and unjust. A tax of this kind would bear particularly hard upon the country from whence he came; and that for every quarter dollar of duty which was paid, they should have three quarters of a dollar to pay when the salt reached them. He trusted it would not be carried.

Mr. WILLIAMS wished the gentleman had moved to make the proposed advance less than 13 cents. As there was no probability that a land tax would be laid, he should give his consent to

[JUNE, 1797.

this; if a land tax had been agreed to, he should have opposed a salt tax. He thought, however, 13 cents a bushel too much. It was calculated to raise 300,000 dollars. Every one allowed it was a safe tax. As far as salt was consumed by families, it was a poll tax; but as to what was consumed by cattle, it was a tax upon agriculture. What cost half a dollar at New York, cost where he lived, two and a half dollars. A common farmer, with about 100 acres of land, did not use less than 10 or 12 bushels of salt. He, therefore, paid five dollars tax upon a single article. Yet they were sometimes told farmers paid no taxes. He wished a part of this tax to be laid upon some other article. He moved, therefore, to strike out "thirteen cents," and insert "seven."

This motion not meeting with a second, the question was taken upon the resolution, and negatived-48 to 42.

The committee then rose, and the House took up the resolution and confirmed the negative46 to 44.

DETACHMENT OF MILITIA.

The House then went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill directing a detachment from the militia of the United States.

Some observations were made as to the proportioning of men to each State, which it seems was made according to the number of white inhabitants and three-fifths of the blacks. This was objected to, and it was agreed to be left blank until the third reading of the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS wished to make the calling out of this detachment discretionary with the President. He therefore moved to add, where the bill speaks of organizing 80,000 men, "if any subsequent measures shall, in his opinion, make it necessary during the recess of Congress."

The motion was put and negatived.

Mr. BLOUNT moved, instead of the words": as soon as may be," (which related to the calling out of the men,) "at such time as the President may think necessary."

Mr. SKINNER hoped this amendment would be agreed to. The expense of calling out this detachment in Massachusetts would not be less than $200,000; and he could not see any objection to leaving it to the President to judge of the propriety of putting the measure into execution.

The question was put and carried-41 to 30. Mr. SEWALL said, though there might, in the opinion of the President, be a necessity for calling out a part of these men, there might not be occasion for calling out the whole. He, therefore, moved the following amendment, viz: “or of any less number, which, in his opinion, the service may require."

Mr. BLOUNT did not know the meaning of this motion, except it were an intention to save expense, which it would not effect, as, if the detachment must be made, 8,000 men would cost as much organizing as 80,000. He thought we ought at all times to have this portion of our militia ready for any call that could be made.

Mr. SEWALL said his intention was to save ex