The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

PHILADELPHIA, January 1.

The lapse of time, the succession of years, suggest many useful reflections to the contemplative mind.- How replete with events has been the year just closed!--All of them propitious to our country!--How bright our future prospects!-- United, tranquil, and happy at home-- honored and respected abroad:-- The labours of our patriots have been crowned with unexampled success--while heaven has poured the riches of its bounty in profusion upon us.-

May the year we now commence prove equally propitious; for no events in the annals of America, reflect a fairer lustre on our character than those of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety.

That part of the Militia-Bill, by which men, conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, were to have been exempted from militia-duty, was on Friday last negatived in the House of Representatives. It was not, however, the sense of the House, that Such men should be forced to bear arms: but it was generally agreed, that the terms of their exemption shall be left to the discretion of the several state Legislatures.

Congress is now deeply immersed in public business --the report of the secretary of the treasury, and those which are expected from the other heads of departments, will probably open a very extensive field of discussion" -but that patriotism which was preponderated in the councils of the Union will, we doubt not, unite the legislature in giving all possible dispatch to the important, objects of their deliberation.

The fluctuation of our councils previous to the adoption of the New-Constitution, unhinged the public mind. weakened all confidence in the government, almost annihilated the credit of the UNITED STATES. A solemn lesson to the present government, that measures adopted after due deliberation, shall be inflexibly supported; On this firmness and Stability our respectability and credit, our all depend.

Amongst the benefits derived, and to be derived, from the Federal Government, must be included the liberality of the House of Representatives in a particular, which at once evinces their candour and patriotism. Their doors are not only open, every reasonable liberty is allowed to short-hand writers. Thus the speech of the orator again charms and again instructs, after passing through the medium of an IMPARTIAL PRESS : and freedom exults in an addition of security from this enlightened proceeding of those revered Legislators.