any transfer of fines from the common stock of the com-
monwealth carries with it a diminution of the constitu-
tional right of the council, in proper cases, to remit or
mitigate such punishments. Although under the for-
mer government, all fines went to the governor's private
purse, such a privilege in the late corporation of Phila-
delphia was much less exceptionable-and we think it
strange that the intended charter, if beneficial to the
people, should be confined to the old city bounds, and
not extended to the whole town, and all the vicinity that
may probably hereafter become such--that your petition-
ers would be distressed if the income and funds of the
old corporation should be given back again to an aristo-
cratic common council, who may expend it at their plea-
This estate is now vested in the wardens of the
city, who apply it strictly, to the amount of two thou-and industry in its production.
sand pounds per annum, in easement of our taxes for
the support of a nightly watch and pumps.

was much superior in elegance and finish to any we have
seen made here.

The Plated Ware of Messrs. Hendricks and Morrison, and the Edge Tools of Mr. Martin did great credit to their skill as mechanics.

And we would indulge the hope that the praise so justly bestowed on these gentlemen, will prove an incentive to others of our mechanics to exhibit specimens of their work.

sure.

For these and many other objections of importance, upon which we supplicate the honorable house to be heard, if necessary at the bar of the house by council, we pray that the said bill be totally rejected. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

Extract from the Report to the President and Directors of the Washington co. (Penn.) Society, for the promotion of Agriculture & Domestic Manufactures.

(Concluded from p. 301.)

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURED ARTICLES.

Before closing our observations on the varied productions of our county, exhibited on this occasion, we will notice the specimens of Currant and Grape Wine, particularly that offered by Mrs. Eckert. It was excellent of its kind, and a very pleasant and palatable beverage, and exhibits in a most favourable point of view her skill

Your committee have thus attempted to present some idea of the exhibition in a brief and condensed form. We are fully aware of the very imperfect manner in which we have discharged this duty, but we trust the board will at once see the impossibility of any one committee being able to do justice to every different department.

No doubt we have omitted much deserving special notice; but the materials furnished us were such that we can do no better.

We would suggest to the board the propriety of hereafter requiring from each examining committee a full and detailed report of the animals or articles coming under their notice. Let them give praise only where

praise is due.

Your committee cannot close this report without noticing (and with pride too) the perfectly good order that prevailed throughout the day.

Notwithstanding the immense multitude present, not one instance of disorder, and scarce one of intoxication was observed. All which is submitted, &c.

GEORGE BAIRD,
THOMAL M'GIFFIN,
S. WORKMAN,
JAMES REED,
JOSEPHI RITNER,
Committee.

The Cloths, Flannels, Baizes, Carpets, Linens, Bed Tickings, Coverlets, Hearth Rugs, Stockings, &c, with several beautiful specimens of needle work, were such as to call forth the admiration of every one who beheld them, and to furnish evidence, (were evidence wanting) of the industry and taste of the ladies of Washington county. Amongst the great variety of household manufactures (about 150 in number) nothing appeared to excite greater attention than the Sewing Silk; several pounds of which were exhibited, made by Mrs. Axtel, Riggs, Bombarger and Quail, and which we have no hesitation in pronouncing equal to any imported silk we have seen. Whilst on this subject we beg leave to state that we observed with much pleasure a young lady attending our show, from an adjoining county, dressed in most superb silk, of a beautiful mazarine blue color, produced from worms fed by her own fair hands during the last summer, Your committee would remark that the cultivation of the silk worm is very simple, and can be introduced among our agricultural pursuits with the A MESSAGE from the President, and the Supreme Exe

greatest facility. It is within the reach of almost every farmer. The mulberry grows spontaneously and abundantly, and it requires only the labour of children to manage the worms.

No science is necessary; the little girls in New England raise them in barns, and produce good silk, and in large quantities.

Single counties, not half so large as ours, arc now selling Sewing Silk to the amount of several thousand dollars annually. Your committee were also highly gratified in viewing a number of beautiful Leghorn and Gimp Bonnets-particularly those made by Miss Ewart and Miss M'Clelland, the former of whom made upwards of eighty dollars, and the latter fifty dollars worth of these articles during the last year. Such facts as these speak volumes in favour of our protecting system, and prove incontestably that if the unnatural advantage which foreign competition derives from the political depression of the labouring classes in Europe, is counterbalanced by an adequate importing duty, our home industry and skill will be able to manufacture from the products of our own soil, a sufficient supply of cloths, cottons, silks and bonnets, without impoverishing our country to pay trans-atlantic artisans.

In the class of manufactured articles, we think it but just to the reputation of Mr. Joseph Huston, as a workman, to mention that the Cabinet Ware shown by him

[Am. Farmer.

EXPULSION OF CONGRESS FROM PHILADEL-
PHIA.

Continued from p. 278.

cutive Council, to the General Assembly.

GENTLEMEN,—

We think it our duty, to lay before you an account of the late disturbances among the soldiery in this state.

On the 19th day of June, we received the enclosed letters from Col. Richard Butler, and William Henry, Esq. of Lancaster, and immediately transmitted them by our Delegates to Congress.

In the conference with the committee appointed on these letters, some of them proposed the stopping the soldiery from Lancaster by a detachment from the militia, to be instantly called out. We informed the committee that Lieutenant Butler, who brought the late dispatches, had represented to us, that the soldiers had behaved very regularly upon their march-that they said they were coming to have their accounts settled-that they must then be near the town-and that it was very improbable a sufficient force could be collected in time to intercept them.

The case appeared so delicate and difficult, that the committee themselves seemed to doubt the propriety of opposing the soldiers by force, and compelling them to return; and one of them said, that "in all cases, in which he could not determine precisely what to do, it was a maxim with him, that the better way was to do nothing."

On the same day orders were issued from the War Office, that these soldiers should be received into the barracks, and supplied with rations.

On Saturday, the 21st of June, a party of thirty armed soldiers marched from their quarters in the barracks, and parading before the State-House, where we were then met in Council, sent up to us by the Secretary, the following Message in writing:

"May it please your Excellency,

"WE, the non-commissioned officers and soldiers now in this city, demand of you, and the honorable Council, authority to appoint commissioned officers to command us, and redress our grievances, which officers to have full power to adopt such measures as they may judge most likely to procure us justice. You will immediately issue such authority, and deliver it to us, or otherwise we shall instantly let in those injured soldiers upon you, and abide by the consequence. You have only twenty minutes to deliberate upon this important matter. The officers in general have forsaken us, and refuse to take any further command. This we presume you all know. We are, in behalf of ourselves and the men, Yours, &c. &c."

The immediate object of this message, the terms in which it was expressed, and the further design of the insurgents to procure sanction for their future proceedings, by an authority to be derived from us, determined us unanimously to resolve, that "the demands contained in it should be rejected."

In the mean time a larger number of soldiers in arms advanced, had soon joined their companions, making in the whole a body of about 300 men of the Pennsylvania line, under the direction of serjeants. They paraded also before the State House, a party of 15 or 20 men took post in the yard, opposite the south windows of the Council Chamber, and centinels were fixed at the doors of the State House, but people still kept continually going out and coming in without being stopped by them.

We remained in the Council Chamber for more than an hour after the receipt of the message before mentioned, and then sent the Secretary to enquire, if that message to the Council was approved by the soldiers in neral. He reported to us, that he was answered insolently by some of the leaders, "it was approved by them, and that we should soon hear more from them.'

ge

While these things passed, most of the members of Congress assembled, but not in sufficient number to form a Congress. That honourable body stood adjourned from Friday till the following Monday, Saturday being a day of usual recess; but upon the alarm, the members were specially summoned by their President to meet, and at the place to which the soldiers were moving.For what purpose they were so summoned, we have not been informed.

We assented to the proposal. About three o'clock, the members of Congress left the State House. We have heard that their President was stopped for a few moments in Chesnut street by some soldiers; but, that one of the leading serjeants coming up, apologized for what had happened, reproved the soldiers, and took them away.

We continued in Council till four o'clock, when the soldiers were on their return to the barracks.

That evening Colonel Hamilton and Mr. Elsworth, of a committee of congress, called upon the President, and read to him a resolution which had been just passed by that honorable body. The President then told them, he would summon a council to take it into consideration, and to confer with the committee the next morning at nine o'clock. We met accordingly at the President's house, on Sunday, June the 22d, and the following resolution was read to us by the committee.

By the United States in Congress assembled, June 21st,

1783.

Resolved, That the President and Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania be informed, that the authority of the United States having this day been grossly insulted, by the disorderly and menacing appearance of a body of armed soldiers about the place in which Congress were assembled, and the peace of this city being endangered by the mutinous disposition of the said troops now in the barracks, it is in the opinion of congress necessary that effectual measures be immediately taken for supporting the public authority.

Butler, be directed to confer without loss of time with Resolved, That the committee on a letter from colonel the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, on the practicability of carrying the preceding resolution

into effect.

The committee then gave us this explanation, as they termed it, of the foregoing resolution-"By effectual measures, Congress mean that the militia of the state be immediately called forth, in sufficient force to reduce the soldiers to obedience, disarm, and put them in the power of Congress."

We observed that this was indeed a matter of great moment, and to obtain the desired effect, without producing unhappy consequences, must be conducted with much prudence-that to call the militia into service, without an assurance of a sufficient force being immediately collected, would be an act of irritation that might provoke the soldiery to excesses, which they otherwise might decline-that we would take immediate steps, by consulting the colonels of the regiments of militia, for discovering the disposition of the militia, and the state of preparation in which they were; in order to ascertain the practicability of adopting the “effectual measures" To these gentlemen the President of this Board went, recommended by congress, in such a manner as would and communicated the message of the soldiery, and the give a reasonable expectation of success-that the state resolution of Council. He then returned to the Coun- magazine was in the hands of the soldiers, and the comcil Chamber. No farther measure was decided upon missary of military stores had but a very inconsiderable till Major General St. Clair came up, and expressed his quantity of fixed ammunition in his possession-that difhopes that the soldiers might be prevailed upon to re- ficulties might arise from the militia law itself,-that in turn peaceably to their quarters, if Council would con- the present situation of affairs, delay was of the greatsent to a conference with a committee of either commis-est advantage to us, as the soldiers were ready to actsioned or deranged officers, to be appointed by them, on the state of their affairs. The President of this Board again went to the Congress room, and asked the President of Congress, in the presence of several other members, if it was agreeable to them that Council should hold the conference proposed through General St. Clair. He was answered by the President, that they most cheerfully agreed to Council's holding such conference; for that he, and the members of congress, had empow-cient part of them, could be relied on, it appeared to us ered Gen. St. Clair to settle the matter with the soldiers, in such manner as he should judge most proper."

Several members of Congress say, that Gen. St. Clair was called into the Congress room, and, as well as

that they had put themselves in a train of negotiation, which, if properly improved by us, might afford us opportunity to prepare every thing for reducing them, and to avail ourselves of every circumstance that might occur for making proper impressions upon their mindsthat this was not so much to be considered as an insurrection of citizens of Pennsylvania, as a mutiny of continental troops-that if the rest of the army, or a suffi

the members can recollect, addressed by the President in these words-“Sir, you are empowered by the members of congress here present, to go among the soldiers, and take such measures as you shall judge most proper."

advisable, that intelligence of this disturbance should be immediately dispatched to the commander-in-chief, and a body of men put in motion towards this city-that this measure might in a few days have a very favourable effect upon the soldiers, or, if they should take any resoIntion from despair, on receiving notice of it, we should then be in a better condition to resist their outrages and that we would immediately make every effort in our power to answer the wishes of congress.

The next morning, Monday, June 23d, we met in the council chamber, and the President laid before council the following letter: Philadelphia, June 23, 1783.

"SIB,

"We have the honor to inclose for your Excellency and the Council, a copy of the resolutions communicated in our conference yesterday. Having then fully entered into all the explanations which were necessary on the subject, we shall not trouble your Excellency with a recapitulation. But as the subject is of a delicate and important nature, we think it our duty to request the determination of the council in writing. We have the honor to be, with perfect respect,

Your Excellency's most obedient servants,
A. HAMILTON."

The committee replied, that there was great weight in those observations-that prudence required that means should be used for ascertaining the temper of the citizens, and what degree of assurance might be placed in their exertions-that this should be done with profound secrecy, to prevent the soldiery from discovering what was in agitation-that if, upon making all the enquiry which might be consistent with the secrecy with which this business should be conducted, council should After considering this letter, and agreeing to a resonot think it practicable to draw forth an adequate force lution upon it, the committee came in. We began the immediately, it would be more advisable, and entirely conference by saying, that we had used all the industry the sense of congress, that none should be drawn forth; we could the preceding day and that morning, to inform for congress were determined to proceed by coercion, ourselves as to the practicability of collecting a sufficient and expected soon to have a force that could be depend- force immediately to carry the resolutions of Congress ed on-that the army might be relied on, and that prop-into execution in the best manner; and that all the comer representations had been made to the commander in manding officers of regiments, except one, had been chief-that as to the want of ammunition, we might be consulted by us on the subject-that the result of our assured, that we could be supplied with any quantity of inquiries on the subject was, that the citizens were immusket and cannon cartridge in fifteen minutes, one of pressed with an opinion of the pacific disposition of the the committee having pointed his enquiries to that sub- soldiery in the barracks, and that they would be satisject, and his information being derived from a person fied with what was just and reasonable-that the officers whose business it was to know. We then desired that also declared that it would be very imprudent to call the ammunition mentioned by the committee might be them into immediate action, under these impressions, secured, lest it might be discovered and seized by the and in such a situation. soldiers. The committee agreed to confer with us again next morning, and then withdrew.*

After the committee had withdrawn, we Resolved, That every member of council should use the utmost diligence to inform himself, as to the practicability of collecting a sufficient force immediately to carry the resolution of congress into execution, and that the commanding officers of regiments, and captain Morris, of the light horse, should be consulted on the subject.

We desired the committee would be pleased to consider the difficulties under which we laboured, in collecting and employing a sufficient body of men upon such an occasion, and that time might be allowed for communicating the proper information, and urging the proper motives, to bring the minds of our fellow citizens into a correspondence with the views of Congress, and for preparing them to act-that to make an attempt too hastily, for the purpose of executing their resolution, or to give assurances that it would be executed, without a *The committee of congress, in their report, have reasonable persuasion that we should not be mistaken, fallen into several mistakes by confounding facts and would, instead of evidencing our respect for Congress, sentiments, and representing them as happening or ex-be to betray them-that therefore we should confide in pressed at times when they had not happened, or were not expressed. These mistakes were owing no doubt to the quick succession of circumstances, and the ideas that, without noticing dates, in consequence took pos

session of the mind.

The obvious construction of the first report is, that the committee informed council of the letter to congress from the board of serjeants, though not a single member of council, nor the secretary, has any remembrance of its being mentioned by them, nor does any member of council now know what that message was. gument annexed to it in the report is no more recollect

ed.

The ar

The committee say, that council informed them "the exertions of the militia were not to be expected from a repetition of the insults which had happened." Though the council only said, they could not be sure that such another insult would produce those exertions.

In short, to show the extreme inaccuracy with which these reports, to be entered upon the minutes of congress, and preserved among the archives of the empire, have been composed, it is necessary only to attend to that part where the committee say, they represented to council "that congress would probably continue to pursue the object of having the soldiers in their power, unless it should be superceded by unequivocal demonstrations of submission on the part of the mutineers-that they had hitherto given no satisfactory evidence of this disposition, having lately presented the officers they had chosen to represent their grievances with a formal commission in writing, enjoining them if necessary to use

the candour of the committee, and in the magnanimity of Congress, to put a just construction upon our conduct --that the soldiers had behaved very peaceably since Saturday, had appointed their committee to confer with had been induced to commence, with the concurrence of us, and seemed to rely upon the negotiation which they the President and the members of Congress themselves, who had sent General St. Clair to treat with them, and which we had agreed to proceed in with the approbation

compulsory means for redress, and menacing them with death in case of their failing to execute their views."

The conference, in which the committee say they made this representation, was held according to their own report on the twenty third of June. It began at 10 o'clock in the morning. The commission from the mutineers to the officers bears date, and was presented to the officers on that day, about 8 o'clock in the morning. It is highly improbable that the committee should have discovered its contents, in the two hours that intervened between its being presented, and their meeting the council; and the improbability is increased by this circumstance, that not a member who was in council knew any thing of the commission, nor remembers to have heard a single syllable respecting it mentioned by the committee during the whole conference The first knowledge council had of the commission was on the twenty-fourth, when they received the letter from captain Chrystie, and that same day they sent a copy of it to congress by their secretary.

and advice of the President of Congress, and the members
who had been spoken to on the occasion-that in this state
of affairs, any movement to collect the militia might be
regarded by the soldiery as an act of treachery, and un-
less it should be rapid and efficient, would at once ex-
puse Congress, Council, and our fellow citizens--and en-
danger the city.

sembly Room, Colonels Shee, Eyre, Knox, Marsh, Reed, Will, Dean, Henry, Coates-Majors Rees, Brown, Casdrop, M'Cullough, Boyd, and Panqueke, and Captain Morris-only one field officer being absent.

That as to the letter of the committee "requesting the determination of the Council in writing," it appeared to us an ususual mode of proceeding in conferences between committees of Congress and the Council of this state; that this mode did not seem to be intended by Congress; that if they had made the request, we should cheerfully have complied with it; if they should now make it, we should not hesitate a moment to comply; but we had received a verbal and most important explanation of the resolution delivered by them, fully confiding in the honour of those by whom it was given-and-that as to the want of ammunition that had been menthat if the committee were apprehensive of any mistake, they might reduce our answer to writing immediately, and we would repeat the several parts of it, to prevent any error.

The committee said, they were sensible of the difficulties that occurred-that they did not mean that the conference intended between Council and the committee of the soldiery should be prevented-that collecting adequate force in readiness to act would not be inconsistent with this procedure-that as to the conse. quence of such an attempt being made, and not immediately succeeding, it was suggested, that even small bodies of militia might seize certain points, where resistance could be made until the rest of the citizens should come to their aid-that as to our answer, they acknowledged we had through this whole business acted with great candour towards them, but they conceived themselves clearly justifiable in requesting our determination in writing, and instanced the case of inferior and accountable officers, who often ask and seldom are denied such an answer-and that the reason was much stronger that it should be given to a committee of Congress. We, having before expressed our sentiments on the other points, only observed as to the last, that in our opinion, the case mentioned did not apply-that it might be very proper for responsible officers to ask for answers in writing, to justify themselves to their superiors, and a generous condescension in the persons from whom they were solicited would induce them to comply-but, the committee were a part of the body representing the sovereignty of the United States, and we had the honor of representing the sovereignty of this state-that conferences especially, between persons vested with such authorities, were intended to obtain a free and full communication of sentiments, without the intervention of writing-and that no inconvenience could be apprehended from proceeding in this usual method, as each party could rely upon the integrity of the other. The committee withdrew, and the Council rose.

In this unhappy affair we found ourselves extremely distressed. On one side, we were urged by the Representatives of the United States, to draw forth and employ the citizens in immediate hostilities against the soldiers; while, on the other hand, the citizens considered them as objects of compassion, rather than of terror or resentment. They could not bear to avenge the dignity of Congress, accidentally and undesignedly offended, by shedding the blood of men whom they considered as having fought and suffered for the American cause; and perhaps the world may be disposed to balance the charge of impolicy in this conduct, by giving credit for the humanity of such behaviour.

We met again in the evening at the President's house; and in order to make particular communications, we directed the lieutenants of the city and neighbourhood, and Captain Morris of the light horse to be convened to meet us at the State House next morning at ten o'clock.

Accordingly, on Tuesday the 24th, we met in the As-
VOL. II.

42

We laid before these gentlemen the message we had received on Saturday from the soldiery, and our own resolution thereon, with the resolution of Congress passed on that day. We informed them that the committee of Congress had in a conference explained the said resolution by saying, that by the "effectual measures therein mentioned, Congress meant a call of the militia into actual service, and their exertions in consequence of such a call-that there was reason to believe Congress would remove from this state, unless they should receive assurances from us, that they might rely upon the effectual measures intended by the said resolution being immediately taken for supporting the public authority" tioned, the objection was happily removed, we having been assured by one of the committee of Congress, that we could be supplied with any quantity of musket and cannon cartridge in fifteen minutes. We therefore desired the officers present to give us their sentiments on the practicability of assembling the militia in such a manner as might effect the purposes of the resolution before mentioned, and also in what manner a guard of 500 men could be most quickly collected for immediate defence, to be relieved by the militia, in consequence of a call for the service proposed. In the course of this conference, it was asked, whether some kind of negotiation had not taken place? We mentioned what had passed on that head. After some time we retired to the Council Chamber.

Soon after we came into the Chamber, one of the committee of Congress entered, and informed the President that he thought himself bound to give him notice of a great mistake that had been committed by the person, from whom he had received his intelligence concerning the ammunition, that person having, in a late conversation, told him there were not more than 200 musket cartridges to be found. The President took this opportu nity of again desiring that Council might not be precipitated into measures not adapted to the present circumstances-that the soldiers had now been quiet for three days, and we expected every hour to hear from the committee. The gentleman said, that no report in writing had yet been made to Congress, and that for his part he should be for taking some time to make it, for the reasons that had been mentioned.

In about an hour after we had left the officers, we returned into the Assembly Room to them, and Col. Shee speaking for the company, declared it to be their opinion-"That it would be imprudent to make any call of militia at present, as they were convinced it would be ineffectual-that if the negotiation for settling the disturbance should not succeed, and the soldiers should insist on unjust and unreasonable things, or should commit any outrage, they would be willing to make all the exertions in their power for preserving the peace and supporting public authority, and would use their utmost influence for disposing the minds of all under their com| mands, and of their other fellow citizens, to join in such

measures.

We then directed, that the officers should have their respective commands, as well prepared as could be for action, on the shortest notice, which they promised to do; and we are persuaded that if the occasion for commencing hostilities had appeared as pressing to the militia as it did to some, they would have acted with the same spirit that has always distinguished them, whenever in their judgment the object claimed their exer tions.

Before the council adjourned we received the following letter and inclosure from the committee appointed by the soldiers:

Philadelphia, June 24, 1783. Sir--Yesterday morning we were waited on seve

They assured us this should be immediately done, but that the soldiers did not think they offended Congress, Philadelphia Barracks, June 23, 1783. as their intention on Saturday was only to apply to "Sir-You are hereby appointed by the non-commis-bly would be the temper of the troops upon receiving Council. They then proceeded to what was and proba sioned officers and soldiers in this city, from authority this answer of Council, and entreated us to take all the which they have from the President of the State and General St. Clair, as a member to represent them in that of the city, as every thing licentious was to be ap measures that we possibly could for our own safety, and member that every effort in your power must be exerted prehended. On this intelligence, Council ordered the to bring about the most speedy and ample justice, and guard to be increased to 500 privates. even to use compulsive measures, should they be found necessary, which we declare in the presence of Almighty God we will support you in, to the very utmost of our power. Should you show a disposition not to do all in yours, death is inevitably your fate.