subiect, I think nothing more need be said. The French rose in rebellion against their monarch: but they now return to their duty. The king has been proscribed by powerful factions; and royalty has been eclipsed. The French call back their king, and he returns I should think that every thing which the civil state of France, whether it relate to the clergy, or to the nobility, ought not to be mentioned.Trials by jury, in criminal cases, ought, I think, to be preserved. The laws both civil and criminal, might, provisionally, remain as they may be found; subject, however, to future revision.-Both the conscription and the requisition should be absolutely abolished, as manifest infringements of personal liberty; together with the odions right which revolutionary governments have assumed, of placing any part of the kingdom in a state of siege.All other objects appear to me superfluous, except the question relative to confiscated property, called, by way of excellence, national property: this, I think, merits particular examination -Under this general head are comprehended three different sorts of property: 1, that of the prince, and of the princes of the blood royal, which I rank in the same class, inasmuch as, in default of nearer heirs, it reverts to the prince: 2, that of the clergy, the title of which is of a particular nature, and, notwithstanding the cavillings of the constituent assembly, not less valid: 3, that of the laity, usurped by various decrees, by the means of lists of emigration, and arbitrary imprisonments, decapitations, shootings, and drownings.--According to different modes of thinking, some of these spoliations may, perhaps, appear more criminal than others; but all are culpable from the absolute disregard of right and justice, with which they have been made. They are contrary to the spirit of natural and christian morality, and to every principle of sound policy, and tend to destroy those general notions respecting property, which constitute the pivot of civil society. Had the French revolution no other stain than this, she would be for ever polluted. Conscience, always inflexible, is constantly revolting against the silence which has been attempted to impose. The endeavours which have been, so frequently made, by the different governments which have succeeded each other, to confirm the new possessors in the quiet enjoyment of their acquisitions, originate in the same motives as the proposition made to Louis XVIII. for the renunciation of the throne. I even suspect that those who govern, have, themselves, found the disgrace so great and so public, that, when they had effected the revolution, they were strongly tempted, in order to establish it, to make some composition with some of the principal sufferers; with the hope that this partial act of justice would palliate it. But two things have prevented this. They thought to make confirmed and steadfast creatures of the new possessors by guaranteeing them in their acquisitions: and they stood greatly in need of creatures. Besides, the treacherous baits, with which they allured those emigrants whom adversity had wearied and harassed, were so successful as to bring back the greatest part; and these it was more easy to op press and controul than to restore them what they were entitled to.--Every wise government is, generally, extremely cautious in confiscating property. When it is once begun it is difficult to act rightly. The great basis of society, once removed, is not easily re-established. It may happen, when a country is revolutionized, that the ruling party will seize the wealth of the other; but this is only a temporary possession, and, in such a case, the termination of the war would restore the status quo ante bellum. There are instances in which legitimate governments seize and confiscate the effects of certain disobedient or rebellious subjects, conformably to existing laws, and with the necessary formalities: but in such cases the crimes must be very great and incontestibly proved. Here, an illegitimate government, censured more than all others, by its successors, who were not less illegitimate, pretended to have the right of confiscating for ever the wealth of those who opposed the hand raised for the usurpation of the lawful government, and for the overthrow of the religion and laws of their country, for the confusion of society, for the perpetration of the most shocking crimes, and for the exercise of every species of oppression. Upon this iniquitous pretext they took and kept the property of all; and the clergy, who cannot have been accused of bearing arms, were more completely robbed of their property than the prince, or the laity themselves. All this is, assuredly, irreconcilable with reason, justice, humanity, religion, and even with policy; and, while it remains, thus will it ever continue. And, I defy the most cunning French advocate, ever to justify, excuse, or even palliate such extraordinary spoliations.I cannot, however, suppose that England, where the laws of property are so well known and so highly respected, will ever be brought to sanction, among her neighbours, so dreadful an example of abo minable violation. That appears to me to be conformable, neither to its morality nor its honour, neither to its interest nor its policy. I cannot even think that such conduct would be regarded as a proper means of facilitating the success of the re-establishment of the Monarchy. In supposing that such acquiescence would gain the support of the possessors of that national property, (a thing which is by no means proved) in opposition to their number and importance, which some affect to consider as great, the discontent of an infinitely more numerous crowd, of those who are oppressed, but who are supported by the weight of morality and justice, and by the opinion of all mankind. The possessors will always have to contend for the preservation of that which was ill obtained; and no one will doubt the cause of their pretended patriotism, and of their former opposition to their Sovereign. Besides, it cannot be dissembled that the government which protects them now, for its own support, will, at least, preserve the privilege of bearing hardest upon them, and even of despoiling them when it may be more firmly established, or when it may be deprived of other resources; thus confirming to its own advantage the truth of the ancient maxim, that the property of the state is unalienable in its nature. They also know, that in such a case, general opinion would be decidedly against them.I do not, however, pretend to decide, from thence, that again changing much of their property would be difficult and complicated. Fortunately, I do not think it would be necessary. On this subject, the best thing which can be done, is, in my opinion, to preserve the most perfect silence, a silence which cannot be broken without sanctioning iniquity, or producing an inextricable chaos; and to leave to the justice and wisdom of the Monarch the painful but necessary task of deciding and adjusting the causes of so many dissensions. I do not doubt that the prince, who must often have reflected upon this subject, will find out the true means of conciliating universal approbation without violating justice. This I think, may be done, and more cannot be necessary. Shall I add, that besides the possessors of national property, there is still another numerous class of persons interested in the duration of the revolution, because they profit from it? The present government, it is said, sometimes pays with great liberality; but those who love its money, are not, therefore, its friends, and the rising sun will always have their homage.—I am, Sir, &c. &c. &c. * These letters were actually transmitted to me from Hamburgh, and in the French language.-Editor. Report relative to the fiscal Affairs of the United States of America, laid before the House of Representatives, on the 25th of Oc tober, 1803, by the Secretary of the Trea sury. REPORTS AND ESTIMATES. The annual nett proceeds of the duties on merchandize and tonnage had in former reports, been estimated at nine millions five hundred thousand dollars. That estimated revenue, predicated on the importations of the years immediately preceding the late European war, and on the ascertained ratio of increase of the population of the U. S. appears from the experience of the two last years, to have been under-rated. The nett revenue arising from that source, which accrued during the year 1802, exceeds ten millions one hundred thousand dollars. The revenue which has accrued during the two first quarters of the present year, appears from the best estimate that can now be formed, to have been only fifty thousand dollars less than that of the two corresponding quarters of the year 1802; and the receipts in the Treasury, on account of the same duties, during the year ending on the 30th of September last, have exceeded ten millions, six hundred thousand dollars.Those facts afford satisfactory evidence that the wealth of the United States increases in a still greater ratio than their population, and induce a belief that this branch of the public revenue may now be safely calculated at ten millions of dollars. -From the statement [A] it will appear that the same revenue for the two last years of the late European war (1800 and iSo1) calculated at the present rate of duties, averaged 11,600,000 dollars a year; but although it might with some degree of probability be supposed that the renewal of hostilities will again produce a similar increase, no inference from that period is drawn in this report in relation to the revenue of the ensuing years.-The statement [B] shews the several species of mer chandize on which the duties on importations were collected during the year 1802; the portion of that revenue which was derived from drawbacks, and that which arose from the extra-duty on merchandize imported in foreign vessels.--Although the sales of the public lands during the year ending on the 30th day of September last, were affected by the situation of the wes tern country; two hundred thousand acres have been sold during that period; and, as from the statement [C] that, inappears it dependent of future sales, the sums already paid to the receivers, together with those which, exclusively of interest, fall due during the three ensuing years, amount to 1,250,000 dollars, the annual revenue arising from the proceeds of those sales, cannot be estimated at less than four hundred thousand dollars.--The extension of post-roads, and the acceleration of the mail, whilst diffusing and increasing the benefits of the constitution, have, as an object of revenue, rendered it less productive. The receipts from that source have amounted, during last year, to 27,000 dollars; but as neither these, nor those arising from some other smaller incidental branches, are of sufficient importance to affect any general result, the whole existing revenue of the United States will be computed at only ten millions four hundred thousand dollars. of The permanent annual expenses government, which, under existing laws, must be defrayed out of that revenue, amount to nine millions eight hundred thousand dollars; to wit: 1. The annual appropriation of 7.300.000 dollars, for the payment of the principal and interest of the debt; of which about three millions and an half are at present applicable to the discharge of the principal, and the residue to the payment of interest, Dollars, 7,300,000 2. The current expenses of government which, according to the estimates for the year 1804, consists of the following items, viz. For the civil department and all domestic expenses of a civil nature,... For expenses attending the intercourse with foreign nations, including the permanent appropriation for Algiers, and all other exrelative to the Bar penses 791,000 Constituting an aggregate of ......... 6,660,000 More than six millions, six hundred thousand dollars, which, after reserving the sum which it is necessary to keep in the Treasury, will be sufficient to discharge the demands due on account of the convention with Great-Britain, and amounting to .... dollars 2,064,000 Sundry extraordinary expenses in The loan obtained from the state of 100,000 200,000 2,000,000 4,964,000 of dollars on account of the purchase of Louisiana; being the same sum which was reserved for the purposes contemplated by the law of the last session, appropriating that amount for the extraordinary expenses attending the intercourse with foreign nations.-- it appears by the esti mate [D] that during the year ending on the 30th September last, the payments from the Treasury on account of the public debt, have amounted to ..dollars 3,096,700 Which, together with the increase of specie in the Treasury during the same period, amounting to...... 1,320,000 4,416,700 bary powers..... 131,000 For the military and In dian departments..... 875,000 For the naval establishment, calculated on the supposition that two frigates and four smaller vessels shall be kept in commission....... 650,000 2.500,000 in favour of the United States, for that period of two years and an half, a sum of twelve millions seven hundred thousand dollars. From that view of the present situation of the financial concerns of the United States, it seems that the only question which requires consideration is, whether any additional revenues are wanted in order to provide for the new debt, which, if Congress shall pass the laws necessary to carry the treaty with France into effect, will result from the purchase of Louisiana.—The sum which the United States may have to pay, by virtue of that treaty, amounts to fifteen millions of dollars, and consists of two items-1st, 11,250,000 dollars, payable to the government of France, or to its assignees, in a stock bearing an interest of 6 per cent. payable in Europe, and the principal of which will be discharged at the Treasury of the United States, in four instalments, the 1st of which shall commence in the year 1818-2dly, a sum which cannot exceed, but may fall short of 3,750,000 dollars, payable in specie, at the Treasury of the United States, during the course of the ensuing year, to American citizens having claim of certain description on the government of France. It has already been stated that two millions of dollars may be paid from the specie now in the Treasury, on account of the last item; and the whole amount of the new debt which may be eventually created, cannot, therefore, exceed thirteen millions of dollars, the annual interest of which is equal to 780,000 dollars; but on account of commissions, and variation of exchange, will be estimated at eight hundred thousand dollars.The existing surplus revenue of the United States will, as has been stated, be sufficient to discharge six hundred thousand dollars of that sun, and it is expected that the nett revenue collected at New Orleans will be equal to the remaining two hundred thousand dollars.-That opinion rests on the supposition that Congress shall place that port on the same footing as those of the United States; so that the same duties shall be collected there, on the importation of foreign merchandize as are now by law levied in the United States; and that no duties shall be collected either on the exportations of produce or merchandize from New Orleans to any other place; nor on any articles imported into the United States from the ceded territones, or into those ter ritories from the United States.-The statements (F, G, H) exhibit the annual exports and imports of the United States to and from Florida and Louisiana, for the years 1799 to 1802; and the statement (G) particularly shows that the exportation from the Atlantic states to those colonies, of articles not of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, amounted for the years 1799, 1800, and 1801, to 6,622,189 dollars; making an average of more than two millions two hundred thousand dollars of foreign articles, liable to pay duty, annually imported into Florida and Louisiana from the United States alone. It is ascertained that the exportations from the United States to Florida are so trifling that that statement may be considered as applying solely to New Orleans; and it is also known that almost the whole of those importations were consumed within that colony, and that during the war the supplies from the United States constituted by far the greater part of its imports.-- From thence it results that the annual importations into the ceded territory, of articles destined for the consumption of its own inhabitants, and which will, under the revenue laws of the United States, be liable to pay duty, may safely be estimated at two millions five hundred thousand dollars: an amount which, at the present rate of duties, will yield a revenue of about 350,000 dollars. From that revenue must be deducted 150,000 dollars, for the following items, viz.- 1st. The amount of duties on a quantity of sugar and indigo equal to that which shall be imported from New Orleans into the United States; as those articles being imported free from duty, will diminish by so much the revenue now collected in the sea-ports of the United States. The whole amount of sugar exported from New Orleans is less than 4.000,000 of pounds, and that of indigo is stated at about 30,000 pounds. Supposing (which on account of that exemption, is not improbable). that the whole of those articles should hereafter be exported to the United States, the loss to the revenue will be about 100,000 dollars2d. No increase of expense in the military establishment of the United States is contemplated on account of the acquisition of territory; but the expenses of the civil administration of the province and those incident to the intercourse with the Indians, are estimated at 50,000 dollars; leaving for the nett revenue derived from the province, and applicable to payment of the interest of the new debt, 200 000 dollars, as above stated.--The only provisions which, if that view of the subject be correct, ap pear necessary, and are respectfully submitted, are,-1. In relation to the stock of 11,250,000 dollars to be created in favour of the government of France or of its assig nees. That that debt be made a charge on the sinking fund, directing the commissioners of the fund to apply so much of its proceeds as may be necessary for the payment of interest and reimbursement or redemption of the principal, in the same manner as by the existing laws they are directed to do in relation to the payment of interest and discharge of the principal of the debt now charged on that fund.--That so much of the duties on merchandize and tonnage as will be equal to seven hundred thousand dollars, being the sum wanted to pay the interest of that new stock, be added to the annual permanent appropriation for the sinking fund; making together with the existing appropriation, eight millions of dollars, annually applicable to the payment of the interest and principal of the public debt. --And that the said annual sum of eight millions of dollars remain thus pledged, and be vested in the commissioners of the sinking fund in trust for the said payments, until the whole of the existing debt of the United States and of the, new stock shall have been reimbursed or redeemed. As a sum equal to the interest accruing on the new stock will thus be added to the sinking fund, the operation of that fund, as it relates to the extinguishment of the existing debt, will remain precisely on the same footing as has been heretofore provided by Congress. The new debt will neither impede nor retard the payment of the principal of the old debt, and the fund will be sufficient, besides paying the interest on both, to discharge the principal of the old debt before the year 1818, and that of the new within one year and an half after that year.II. In relation to the American claims, the payment of which is assumed by the convention with France:That a sum not exceeding 3,750,000 dollars inclusive of the two millions appropriated by a law of the last session of Congress for defraying the extraordinary expenses incident to the intercourse with foreign nations, be appropriated for the payment of those claims, to be paid out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. -That for the purpose of effecting the whole of that payment, the President of the United States be authorised to borrow a sum not exceeding 1,750,000 dollars, at an interest not exceeding six per cent. a year.-—And that so much of the proceeds of the duties on merchandize and tonnage as may be neces sary, be appropriated for the payment of the interest and for the reimbursement of the principal of the loan which may eventually be cffected by virtue of the preceding provision. It is not proposed to charge that loan on the sinking fund, because its amount, in case it shall be effected, cannot at present be ascertained; and because it may, perhaps, under the then existing circumstances of the Treasury, be found more expedient not to borrow the money, and, in lieu of it, to pay out of the sinking fund the whole or part of the two last instalments payable by virtue of the Convention with Great Britain, as authorised by the act ma king provision for the payment of the whole of the public debt.It is evident that the possibility of thus providing for the pay. ment of the interest of a new debt of thirteen millions of dollars, without either recurring to new taxes or interfering with the provisions heretofore made for the payment of the existing debt depends on the correctness of the estimate of the public revenue which has been submitted. Although it is not without diffidence that the hope of such favourable result is entertained, some reliance is placed on the solidity of the basis on which the estimate is grounded. It rests principally on the expectation that the revenue of the ensuing years shall not be less than that which accrued in the year 1802. No part of it depends on the probable in crease which may result from the neutrality of the United States during the continuance of the war in Europe; nor even on the progressive augmentation, which, from past experience may naturally be expected to arise from the gradual increase of population and wealth. Nor has that effect been taken into consideration which the uninterrupted free navigation of the Mississippi, and the acquisition of New Orleans may have either on the sales of the public lands, or on the general resources of the inhabitants of the western states. All which is respectively submitted, ALBERT GALLATIN, Sec. of the Treasury. VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES. The Committee of the corps of the United Parishes of St. Giles in the Fields and St. George, Bloomsbury, furnishes a tolerable good specimen of that confusion of ranks, against which so much just complaint has been made; as well as of the origin and powers of the committees of Volunteer Corps in general. For this reason I insert the very first resolves that this committee |