Jenks' Portland Gazette

FROM CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NOV. 4

Mr. Randolph invited the attention of the house to a subject of some importance to the revenue.
Under an existing law a drawback of duties on goods exported to New Orleans was allowed.
Should this act remain in force, goods sufficient to supply the Mississippi territory and the other western country for several years, might be stored in the warehouses of New Orleans, which on possession being taken by the United States, may be carried into the United States, thereby evading the payment of duties. He therefore moved a resolution for the repeal of that act.
Resolution agreed to, and referred to the committee of ways and means.

A message was received from the President as follows:

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.

"By the copy now communicated, of a letter from captain Bainbridge of the Philadelphia frigate to our Consul at Gibraltar, you will learn that an act of hostility has been committed on a merchant vessel of the United States, by an armed ship of the emperor of Morocco. This conduct, on the part of that power, is without cause and without explanation.
It is fortunate that Captain Bainbridge fell in with, and took the capturing vessel and her prize: and have the satisfaction to inform you, that about the date of this transaction, such a force would be moving in the neighborhood of Gibraltar, both from the east and from the west, as leaves less to be feared from the suddenness of the Algerine line."

"On the 4th inst. the Constitution frigate, captain Preble, with Mr. Lear on board, was within two days sail of Gibraltar, where the Philadelphia would then be arrived with her prize: and such explanations would probably be instituted as the state of things require, and as might perhaps arrest the progress of hostilities."

"In the mean while, it is for Congress to consider the provisions with authority, which may be necessary to restrain the depredation of this power, should they be continued."

TH: JEFFERSON.

Referred to Mess. Eustis, J. Clay, Sands, M'Creery, and Dana.

Mr. Newton said he held in his hand a resolution which it was not his wish should be immediately acted upon, but at a future day. It would be recollected that during the last session of Congress, the propriety of repealing the bankrupt law had come under the consideration of the House: but owing to the lateness of the day, its consideration had been postponed. As he was desirous that the subject should be investigated this session, he made the following motion.

Resolved, That the act entitled an act to establish an uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States, ought to be repealed.

Mr. Elliot offered a resolution for the appointment of a committee, to enquire whether any, or if any, what provision was necessary to be made, to promote a more general circulation of copper coin through the U. S.

Perhaps there has rarely been a higher encomium passed upon the Washington and Adams administrations than by Mr. Jefferson, in his late message to Congress.
He tells that body that, for the year ending the 30th of September last, the amount of which had been paid into the treasury, was 'between eleven and twelve millions of dollars.' and the receipts even then were not completed. This great revenue is raised almost exclusively by an impost on foreign articles: and every cent of it by a system brought into full operation while the two former executives administered the government. It is repeated, that no part of this immense annual income has been produced by any measure of the present administration: but that the whole was effected by the judicious management and persevering efforts of their truly patriotic predecessors. Let those who seek for a concise and pertinent character of our late rulers, whether democrat or federalist, turn to president Jefferson's message of 1803, and there read,

"it is already ascertained that the amount paid into the treasury for that year, (of monies raised from a system of finance framed by Federalists, solely,) has been between eleven and twelve millions of dollars."