Rhode Island Republican

IMPORTANT.

LETTER From Col. Thomas, Representative in Congress, from Washington, March 29, 1802.

YOU must be aware that numerous falsehoods are propagated, in every part of the Union, for the purpose of bringing the Federal Administration into disgrace. In the county of Washington, I am informed, that certain persons are endeavoring to deceive the people by misrepresenting the proceedings of the Executive, the two Houses of Congress, &c. I therefore, impelled by a sense of duty to my immediate constituents, take the liberty to offer the following hasty sketch, as an antidote to the calumnies above alluded to.

That the federal party never had a wish to diminish the public debt, or any of the public burdens, is evident from their past as well as their present conduct. While they were in power, Ministers were sent to almost every court in Europe, where in too many instances they had nothing to do but live in idle pageantry, at the expense of their laboring countrymen at home --and the better to support that system of extravagance, pretexts were formed for raising armies, navies, and for many other measures calculated to heap lucrative places and contracts upon individual friends; of these, I will instance one or two: Henry Lee, who made so much noise in favor of appropriating 200,000 dols. for erecting a mausoleum to the memory of Gen. Washington, received from the Administration 24,000 dols. for a bed of Ore which was not worth 4,000, if the title had been good; but which had been previously mortgaged-So that as he has since become a bankrupt, the United States in all probability will not be benefited a cent by it; they gave to the same person 800 dols. for a portrait of Gen. Washington, which possibly might have been worth 100 dollars.-- To Judge Cooper, of our State, 1,000 dols. were given, under the pretext of exploring the land near Lake Superior for Copper Mines, without a cent benefit to the government.

I will cite a few instances of their disregard of Economy, from the Revenue Department- The Collector of Customs for the port of Boston receives for his compensation, including clerk-hire, &c. 15,280 dol. a year : the Collector for the port of Philadelphia 22,240 dols. the Collector for the port of Baltimore, 13,780 dols. the Collector for the port of Charleston, 19,434 dol. the Collector for the port of New-York, 15,438 dols. and the Navy Officers for that port 10,162 dols.- The necessary documents are now before Congress to enable them to correct this prodigious profusion of public money ; the subject has been taken up and referred to a select committee.

One circumstance, places in a striking point of view, the inconsistency of the present Opposition. When the French Treaty was before the Senate of the United States for ratification, a large majority of that body was federal.- They struck out the 2d article, by which the French government engaged to negotiate at a future period, respecting the captured property of Americans which had been condemned by their Tribunals : and the Treaty was ratified by that Senate, and President Adams, without that article. The merchants or underwriters now come forward with petitions to Congress. to be compensated for their losses, and Mr. Griswold brought forward a resolution a few days ago to indemnify their people for their losses, which probably amount to 50 or 60 Millions. This resolution was supported by every federal member in our House, and opposed by every Republican--because we considered, that it would be a flagrant act of injustice to tax our constituents with this sum to make good the losses of those underwriters, who at the time they insured the property had a premium equal to the risk: and when it is evident, that notwithstanding those losses, this class of citizens have grown immensely rich by such means.--And further, because we consider that those American citizens who had their houses burnt and their property destroyed by the enemy, during the revolutionary war, were much more entitled to indemnification, than the merchants in this case.

That the present administration rejects the doctrine, that a public debt is a public blessing must be evident to every candid observer, when he reflects, that under their Predecessor our debt had increased very considerably, notwithstanding all our sources of revenue; that according to the printed account of the Secretary of the Treasury on the 1st of January, 1801, the unredeemed principal of the debt, was 83,161,205 dollars 60 cents : That in the short space of nine months that debt was diminished to 77,581,500 dols. 9 cents, as appears by the Secretary's report, made on the 1st of Jan. 1802. --This reduction was effected by carefully applying the money which came into the Treasury towards the discharge of this debt, instead of the various useless purposes, which absorbed it under the former administration.

It cannot be doubted, that the partisans of the Old School feel sorely disappointed at losing the object which they had in view-which they so labored indefatigably to obtain, and which they once fancied was nearly accomplished; that they will redouble their exertions to regain their old ground, resorting to every artifice and stratagem of which the human mind is capable, may be fairly calculated upon by the friends of the present happy order of things.--I am informed that one of their stratagems which they have resorted to in the county of Washington, is to inculcate an opinion, that the change is only a change of men, and not of measures. I have therefore thought it my duty to state briefly the retrenchments that have been made in our annual expenditure, since the 4th of March, 1801.

By refusing all appropriations for useless purposes, such as the purchasing of Ore Beds, hunting Copper Mines, purchasing Dock Yards at double their value, making unnecessary Contracts, &c. which tended only to draw Money from the Treasury to enrich particular friends. The savings in our annual expenditures, made by the Executive previous to the meeting of Congress, amounted to 161,635 dols. 91 cents ; those made since the meeting of Congress are, in the Military Establishment, about 500,000 dols. as stated by the Secretary at War ; in the Navy, notwithstanding the war carrying on against the Barbary powers, 200,000 dollars; in the Judiciary at least 45,000 dols. amounting in all to NINE HUNDRED SIX THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED & NINETY-FIVE Dollars, 91 Cents. Several other subjects are before Congress, on which considerable savings will be made during the present session-among which are, the Marine corps, the Civil List, &c. the amount will probably be 50 or 100,000 dollars.

With respect to the views of the Federal party, in establishing the Judiciary System of last session, as well as the propriety and necessity of repealing that System, I refer you to the reasons given by Mr. Giles, in his speech on that question, which I think must be conclusive in the mind of every candid man.

Notwithstanding the multiplicity of business which has necessarily occupied the attention of this Congress, in consequence of the improper measures of former ones, we have passed a resolution to adjourn on the 3d of April.- I doubt, however, whether we shall be able to adjourn on that day, but we shall undoubtedly by the 20th; and here it may be proper to remark, that no former Congress, since the adoption of the Constitution, has closed their first session till some time in the month of May ; some of them have continued till July or August-and yet the minority of our House have upbraided the majority already, with spinning out the session to an unusual length, without a blush!

The savings which will be made in the expenses of this session, when compared with former ones, will amount at least to THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

The Bill to repeal the Internal Taxes, has passed our House.---This was taken up first, because under that system between 4 and 500 officers are supported at an expense of about one 5th part of the whole of these Taxes-- The subject of Lampost Duties being an entire separate system, it was necessary to take it up by itself-It has been taken up, and is now before a select committee of our House.--The ridiculous attempts of the minority to blend them together, were evidently intended to embarrass and procrastinate the repeal of the former, as they have done every other measure of reform since the commencement of the session.

I am, with great respect,

Your obedient humble servant.

DAVID THOMAS

The Hon. Edward Savage, Senator, and John M'Lean, Micajah Pettit, Isaac Sergeant, Alexander Corvar, Russell Bishop, and Jason Kellogg, Esquires, Members of Assembly, Albany.