JANUARY, 1823.] Pension to Sarah Perry. [H. OF R. submit the following statements of the commerce and navigation of the United States, during the year ending on the 30th September, 1822, viz: 1st. A general statement of the quantity and value of merchandise imported into the United States. 2d. A summary statement of the same. of domestic articles exported. 4th. A general statement of the quantity and value of foreign articles exported. 5th and 6th. Summary statements of the value of domestic and foreign articles exported. tory; and, in case of any rupture between us and the British Government, we know, from the experience of the past, on which side they will be engaged. If the Territory of Michigan were able to protect itself during the late war, what a saving it would have been to the nation in treasure and blood; the Kentucky militia would not have been massacred-which happened after they passed that swamp. It is an object of the greatest importance to the United States to encourage the population of Michigan, which has been hitherto kept down by the impracticability of going to it. By passing the 7th. A general statement of the amount of Ameribill, the United States will secure the most im-can and foreign tonnage employed in the foreign trade portant advantages. I know it to be a fact that of the United States. the merchants of the place where I reside, and generally of the district I represent, who have commercial relations with Detroit, have to go there and return, at some seasons of the year, through Upper Canada, in consequence of the obstacles opposed by the Black Swamp. The United States fleet has disappeared on Lake Erie; and it is of the utmost importance to strengthen the interior of the country, which has not resources itself to make this road. 8th. A general statistical view of the commerce and navigation of the United States; and 9th. A statement of the tonnage entered and cleared, in and from the several States. From these statements, it appears that the imports, during the year ending on the 30th of September, 1822, have amounted to $83,241,541, of which amount $76,984,331 were imported in American vessels and $6,257,210 in foreign vessels: That the exports have, during the same period, amounted to $72,160,281, of which $49,874,079 were domestic, and $22,286,202 were foreign articles: That of the domestic articles $39,931,913 were exported in American vessels, and $9,942,166 in foreign vessels; and, of the foreign articles exported, $20,783,655 were exported in American, and $1,502,547 in foreign vessels: That 787,961 tons of American shipping entered, and 813,748 cleared from ports of the United States; and that 100,541 tons of foreign shipping entered, and 97,490 cleared from the ports of the United States during the same period. I remain, with respect, &c. Mr. SIBLEY again rose. There was, he said, in reply to Mr. COCKE, no want of patriotism and liberality in the Territory of Michigan. He mentioned large appropriations of money which they had had to make for roads, of which the United States were deriving the benefit; and also that there was a road of considerable length which the Territory would have to make to meet the very road embraced in this bill. He appealed to the House whether Michigan, who had been doing her utmost to connect herself with the rest of the Union, ought to be expect-Hon. ed to make this road. The question was then taken on ordering the bill to be engrossed and read a third time, and decided-yeas 130, nays 21. MONDAY, January 20. JOHN SERGEANT, from Pennsylvania, appeared, and took his seat. Naval Peace Establishment. Mr. FULLER, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to which was referred the Message from the President, upon the subject of a Naval Peace Establishment, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill to fix and render permanent the Naval Peace Establishment of the United States; which bill was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on the state of the Union. Commerce and Navigation. The SPEAKER communicated the following letter from the Secretary of the Treasury: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 18, 1823. SIR: In conformity with the provisions of the act of 10th January, 1820, entitled "An act to provide for obtaining accurate statements of the foreign commerce of the United States," I have the honor to VOL. VII.-27 PHILIP P. BARBOUR, WM. H. CRAWFORD. Speaker of the House of Representatives. The letter was read, and, with the documents, ordered to be printed. TUESDAY, January 21. Pension to Sarah Perry. Mr. FULLER, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was committed the petition of Captain in the Navy of the United States, Sarah Perry, mother of Oliver H. Perry, late a made the following report; which was read Whole. twice, and committed to a Committee of the By the decease of the son of the petitioner, Captain Oliver H. Perry, and, subsequently, by the decease of another son, a lieutenant in the Navy, she has been deprived of the support which those sons had successively bestowed; and is, as sufficiently appears to the committee, advanced in years, and incapable of profirst mentioned having called forth the bounty of the viding for herself. The eminent services of her son Government in providing for his widow and children, by an act for their relief, passed on the 3d of March, 1821, the committee believe that his mother, the present petitioner, is entitled to consideration, in at least an equal degree, and for similar reasons. They therefore report a bill in her favor. H. OF R.] Death of William Lowndes. [JANUARY, 1823 To the honorable the Speaker of the House of Represent- | capable of bearing it. She knows not that she has atives of the United States, the Memorial of Sarah Perry, of the State of Rhode Island, respectfully showeth : That your petitioner has at length determined to intrude her sorrows and distresses on your notice, confident of obtaining your sympathy and commiseration, should she even fail in adducing any claims to your justice and liberality. any other claims on the liberality of her country, than to say that she has reared five sons for its service, and that she is the mother of that hero who earned for his country a brilliant victory, and triumphed invincible force of your arms. over your enemies, as well in magnanimity as by the honorable body will take her situation into consideraYour petitioner therefore humbly hopes that your tion, and that you will be pleased to place her on the pension list for five years, or grant her such other permanent support or relief as to you shall seem meet and proper. And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. SARAH PERRY. Your petitioner, after the death of her husband, (who had the honor of bearing a commission in the naval service of his country,) subsisted on the bounty of her deceased son, Oliver Hazard Perry, whose filial devotion and affection were such as to leave none of her wants, and few of her desires, in this world, unsatisfied. During his life, he invariably set aside a liberal proportion of his pay and emoluments for Mr. HAMILTON, of South Carolina, rose and the support of your petitioner, notwithstanding the many claims of his immediate family on his compara-nounced in the gazettes of yesterday, of the said, the melancholy intelligence which was antively slender income. The lamentable death of this son, on board of the John Adams, at Port Trinidad, in August, 1819, deprived your petitioner of this succor, and the burden of the support of herself and an unmarried daughter devolved on the younger branches of her family, more especially on her son, the late Lieutenant James Alexander Perry, whose recent loss your petitioner has also to deplore. It must be within the knowledge of your honorable body, that, after the death of your petitioner's son, Oliver H. Perry, a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives, and finally passed both branches of Congress, making a provision for his immediate family. In this bill, as originally reported by the committee to whom it was referred, there was a clause affording a competent support for your petitioner. In its progress, however, through the House, some of its best friends, fearful that the whole bill might be lost if too much was asked, consented that the clause in your petitioner's behalf should be stricken out, which was accordingly done; and, in this shape, the bill ultimately passed, with an unanimity on the part of Congress that conferred an inestimable value on the gifts of their patriotic benevolence. Your petitioner did not repine that the consideration of her claims, whatever they might have been, should have been thus postponed; it was enough that such a sacrifice was deemed essential in procuring a support for the wife and children of such a son. About this period, the son of your petitioner, James Alexander Perry, who had recently been promoted to a lieutenantcy in the Navy returned from the Mediterranean, and forthwith contributed a large proportion of his pay and emoluments to the support of your petitioner. Had his precious life been spared, your petitioner would not have been constrained to make this application. The calamity by which this last resource has been cut off from your petitioner is known to you; and, although she cannot boast that this son has fallen in the battles of his country, she has the consolation of reflecting that, at the early age of thirteen, he fought by his brother's side in the memorable engagement on Lake Erie; and that the life which he had devoted to his country was sacrificed, ultimately, in a generous and noble effort for the preservation of another. tion. To confess our poverty is a humiliating declaraYour petitioner is destitute, and her support, small as it is, is thrown on hands but inadequately Death of William Lowndes. death of my distinguished predecessor, the pri vate advices which I have received from South Carolina have but too fully confirmed. When, sir, (said he,) it is recollected that Mr. LoWNDES was constructively a member of this House at the period of his death, for I believe that his resignation at that time had not then reached his home; but, above all, sir, when we consider the station which he occupied on this floor, with such remarkable honor to himself, and advantage to his country; when we are sensible that he was here as it were but yesterday, occupying that place which I now so feebly and inefficiently fill; that the impression left by his delightful character and commanding intellect, is yet almost animated by the vigor of life, I am sure you will not regard the few observations I shall offer on this mournful occa sion, as an unseasonable trespass. I know too well how you cherish the recollection of his vir tues, not to be certain of your kindest and most respectful sympathy. It might, sir, be seemingly presumptuous in sembly, where they were so conspicuously exer me to descant on his public virtues in this ascised for a period of ten years, in which the richest and most various knowledge was suc cessfully blended with the purity and ardor of an ingenuous spirit, and the intelligence of s lofty intellect. But, of his private virtues, I may be permitted to speak. At home, "where we knew him best and loved him most;" where our opportunities were most abundant for observ ing the delightful sway which the simplicity and modesty of his character exercised over the higher faculties of his nature, it will be allowed us to indulge in an affection for the individual which is quite equal to the admiration which accom human life, in the relations of husband, parent, panied him abroad. In the softer charities of friend, and master, he was amiably and conspicuously loved and distinguished. There was a belief in which public opinion is supposed to have indulged, in regard to Mr. that LoWNDES, which was radically unsound; he was deficient in decision of character. The mistake naturally grew out of the extreme facility of his disposition, in relation to all objects that were personally advantageous to himself; out of an habitual acquiescence in the postponement of his own interests and distinction, to make room for the aspirations of the more sanguine and confident. But, in any of those delicate junctures which arise in morals and patriotism, where it might be expedient to be wrong, but honest to be right, he had, and would uniformly have evinced the triumphant resolves of an undismayed and inflexible spirit. He had emphatically less self-love and more self-denial than any man who ever came within the sphere of my experience. These virtues were exemplified in a remarkable degree in the manner in which he received, and invariably treated, the nomination which was made, in his behalf, by his native State to the first office in the gift of this people. Whatever opinion he might have entertained, as to the propriety of this measure, he could not but be sensible of the favorable estimation of those who had a right to know him most intimately, but his generous sensibilities were principally aroused by the ill omens which might possibly be gathered from flinging another competitor into the perilous and troubled arena. Whilst he was conscious that "the office of President of the United States was one neither to be solicited nor declined,” he would have regarded it as the greatest misfortune of his life, if he could have won it by inflicting upon his country the example of successful intrigue and ambition-if he could have obtained it even by one harsh collision, which could have shaken the foundation of this Union. In this review of an interesting era of his life, I am doing little more than giving utterance to those sentiments that fell from his own lips. Alas, sir, when I contemplate the void his death has produced at home, that in a State not absolutely sterile in the production of able men, it will be long, if ever, that we can hope for the proud distinction of furnishing such a contingent of genius, worth, and knowledge, so large in its amount, so estimable in its qualities, for the service of our common country, I cannot but sink under an invincible dismay. Good men do not die, however, without bequeathing something to posterity. I have somewhere seen a remark, which appears to me to be as philosophically just as it is consoling to humanity. However feebly, I will attempt its illustration. Vice in its immediate operation is undoubtedly pernicious. The bad man poisons the atmosphere in which he lives, contaminates, "frets his busy hour on the stage," dies and is forgotten. But the virtuous man, such a being as our deceased friend, not only is a blessing to the age in which he lives, but his virtues visit the remotest posterity in a thousand impressive shapes, giving "ardor to virtue and confidence to truth." From his grave there arises a halo of unfading brightness! I would now tender to you a resolution which would seem naturally to follow the few observa [H. OF R. tions in which I have indulged; but I give way to the gentleman from Virginia, whose fortune it was to have and deserve the unbounded confidence, friendship, and esteem of my distinguished predecessor, while it comports best with my own feelings, that any testimonials of respect you may accord to the memory of my deceased friend should not come from the State I have the honor to represent. Mr. ARCHER, of Virginia, rose to follow, with the resolution which had been intimated by his friend from South Carolina, the feeling annunciation which had been just addressed to the House. That gentleman might well feel and speak more strongly than any other member of the House could do, on the subject of this melancholy event, from his more intimate association, both by residence and friendship, with the eminent man whose loss we deplored; and the peculiarity of whose character and fortune it was to be esteemed and beloved in the exact proportion in which he was known. It was, indeed, a character, Mr. A. said, in which the qualities which won esteem, were blended in the happiest unison with those which commanded it. He had no intention of entering into any minute delineation of his character, for many reasons. The most important was, that he felt he was unequal to the office. Nor was it necessary, after the picture which had been presented to us to-day, to which if he attempted to add any coloring, he should only contribute to deface, perhaps that which did not require to be improved. Panegyric, on this occasion, was indeed rendered unnecessary by the settled feeling and opinion of this country in relation to Mr. Lowndes. He had been, for a considerable time conspicuously before the public, a part of that time comprehending a very trying period of our history, and the judgment of the public had been awarded in relation to him. He was already ranked with the eminent names which had passed by and been consecrated to national respect. He was already ranked as a man superior in worth as he was in mind-as one of the purest, and ablest, and most faithful of the statesmen who might claim from our country the meed of honor-as combining a large share of the highest titles to human deference and estimation, talent, and public service, and virtue. Mr. A. said that the House would be deficient in the discharge of its appropriate office, it would not reflect the sentiments and the wishes of the people whom it represented, if it omitted the testimony of respectful regret which was due to this afflicting occasion. The face of this country was clothed in mourning, and this countenance ought to be reflected in its proper mirror, the proceedings and language of this House. The House would be wanting in a due respect to itself, if it omitted this last tribute to a man who had filled so large a space in its service, and brought to it so great an accession of reputation. The House had, he knew, no disposition to withhold the tribute. Their feeling, on the subject, was in a true accord with the feeling of the country. H. OF R.] Testimonials of Respect. [JANUARY, 1823. criminating mind. His industry in discharging His arguments were made, not to enjoy the triumph of victory, but to convince the judgment of his hearers; and when the success of his efforts was most signal, his humility was most conspicuous! Some gentlemen might suppose, however, that | world-the Chief Magistracy of this free people, the case was not comprehended by the rule of would have been illustrated by his virtues and usage of the House, in this respect. If it were talents. During nine years service in this not so embraced, Mr. A. had no hesitation for House, it was my happiness to be associated with himself in saying this was a case in which he him on many of its most important committees. would make a rule for the occasion. He ac- He never failed to shed new light upon all subknowledged himself the obligations of prece-jects to which he applied his vigorous and disdent in no other place than a court of justice; conceiving, in all other places, a higher obedience to be due to the sources of precedent, the justice and reason from which it was presumed to spring. But the case did fall within the principle and intendment of the usage. We had been told, by his friend from South Carolina, that Mr. Lowndes was constructively a member of this House at the period of his lamented demise. But for the near approach and prospect of this event, his seat would never have been vacated; and because he refused to hold an office of which he was unable to discharge the duties, and had given, in his last public act, a new and further proof of his just claims to our esteem, was the testimony of our respect to be withheld from him which would otherwise have been accorded? This could not, Mr. A. knew, be the sentiment of the House. It was among the first duties of patriotism, especially in a free State, to accord a due testimony of public sensibility to eminent public service. It was the most unquestionable dictate of policy, in such a State, to hold out the incitements, at once so cheap and so splendid, to public virtue, which were afforded by the prospect of posthumous honor and reputation. A case could scarcely occur, calling more loudly for action, in reference to this duty and this policy, than that which was now presented. Mr. ARCHER had no doubt that the House duly appreciated its obligation; and that there would be an unanimous accord in rendering the last office of respect which he was about to propose, to a man whom it would long be a subject of our pride to remember, and of our regret to have lost; and that, too, at a period of life at which he might have been expected to render still further services to his country, and to establish a still larger, though not more undoubted title to its esteem. He should, therefore, move that this House do Resolve, That the members of this House will testify their respect for the memory of WM. LOWNDES, late a member of this House, from the State of South Carolina, by wearing crape on the left arm for one month. You, Mr. Speaker, well remember his zeal in sustaining the cause of our country in the darkest days of the late war. You cannot have forgotten-who that heard him can ever forget the impression of his eloquence in announcing the resolution of thanks to the gallant Perry, for the victory of Lake Erie? Alas! alas! the statesman has joined the hero-never, never again shall his voice be heard in this Hall. We shall hear him no more, until the voice of the Archangel shall summon the grave to surrender its dead. When Mr. TAYLOR sat down Mr. ARCHER rose again, and said that there was one topic of especial recommendation to the regard of this House possessed by Mr. LOWNDES, which, through inadvertence, he had omitted, and which he would now, in reference to his own feelings, and not for any purpose of aid to the resolution, ask permission to supply. It was that, although the highest allurements had been held out to him to do so, as Mr. A. had good reason to believe, he could never be induced to change for any sphere of public service generally regarded as more honorary the service of this House. There was nothing, Mr. A. said, which could have separated him from us but the grave. The question was then taken on agreeing to Mr. ARCHER'S motion; and it was determined in the affirmative nem. con. On motion of Mr. REID, of Georgia, the House then immediately adjourned. WEDNESDAY, January 22. Mr. TAYLOR, of New York, addressing the Speaker, said, I rise to second the motion of the gentleman from Virginia, and to tender to him sincere thanks for having made it. To omit this homage of national respect, could in no wise impair the exalted and well-earned fame of our lamented friend, but it would indicate a want of sensibility to the greatest bereavement, in Mr. WRIGHT rose, and remarked, that yester the loss of a citizen, which has befallen the day we had paid a just tribute of respect to the Union since I have held a seat in its councils. memory of the Hon. WILLIAM LOWNDES, late The highest and best hopes of this country a member of this House; and he felt great looked to WILLIAM LOWNDES for their fulfil-pleasure, as it was a new case, that it was unaniment. The most honorable office in the civilized mously adopted. It has established a precedent which he presumed the House would consider itself bound to observe. He therefore moved the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That this House will testify its respect for the memory of THOMAS VAN SWEARINGEN of Virginia, LUDWIG WORMAN of Pennsylvania, and JAMES OVERSTREET of South Carolina, members of this House, by wearing crape on the left arm for one month. SATURDAY, January 25. A Message received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES some days since, was read, and is as follows: To the House of Representatives of the United States: The Convention concluded and signed at St. Petersburg, on the 21st of July last, under the mediation of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, having been ratified by the three powers, parties thereto, and the ratifications of the same having been duly exchanged, copies of it are now communicated to Congress, to the end that the measures for carrying it, on the part of the United States, into execution, may obtain the co-operation of the Legislature, necessary for the accomplishment of some of its provisions. A translation is subjoined of the three explanatory documents in the French language, referred to in the fourth article of the Convention, and annexed to it. The agreement executed at the exchange of the ratifications, is likewise communicated. WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 1823. JAMES MONROE. The said Message and documents were referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. MONDAY, January 27. Symmes's Theory. Among the petitions presented to-day was the following, presented by Mr. J. T. JOHNSON, of Kentucky: [H. OF R. rial; and thereby at once subserve the cause of philosophy and the earnest wishes of your constituents. Mr. JOHNSON moved to refer it to the Committee of Foreign Relations. Mr. FARRELLY, of Pennsylvania, moved to lay it on the table. Mr. JOHNSON hoped it would not be laid on the table. The memorial had many respectable signatures, and perhaps, on further examination, it might turn out that something useful might grow out of the investigation of it. The motion to lay the memorial on the table was negatived. The question recurring on referring it to the Committee on Foreign Relations Mr. ARCHER suggested the propriety of referring it, in preference, to the Committee on Commerce, the object of the memorialists being probably to establish a commerce with the interior inhabitants. The question to refer the memorial to the Committee on Foreign Relations was decided in the negative-56 to 46. On motion of Mr. LITTLE, the memorial was then ordered to lie on the table. Mouth of the Columbia. Mr. FLOYD moved that the House proceed to the consideration of the bill, now lying on the table, to provide for the occupation of the mouth of the Columbia. Mr. CHAMBERS, of Ohio, required the yeas and nays to be taken on this question, in order to determine, by that test, whether the House were really determined to act upon the subject at the present session. The question on taking up the bill was accordingly decided, by yeas and nays, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Allen of Massachusetts, Archer, Barber of Connecticut, Baylies, Bayly, Burrows, Carter, Colden, Conkling, Cuthbert, Durfee, Eddy, Eustis, Findlay, Floyd, Forward, Hamilton, Herrick, To the honorable the Senate and House of Representa-Hill, Holcombe, Hubbard, F. Johnson, J. T. Johntives in Congress assembled: son, Jones of Virginia, Jones of Tennessee, Keyes, The petition of the subscribing citizens respectfully Little, McKim, McLane, Mallary, Metcalfe, Moore of showeth, that, in our opinion, both the national honor Virginia, Moore of Alabama, Morgan, Nelson of Masand public interest may be promoted by the equip-sachusetts, Newton, Pitcher, Reed of Massachusetts, ment of an exploring party, for the purpose of penetrating the Polar regions, beyond the limits at present known; with a view, not only of making new discoveries in geography, natural history, geology, and astronomy, but of opening new sources of trade and commerce. Reid of Georgia, Rochester, Ross, Ruggles, Russell, Saunders, Scott, Arthur Smith, Alexander Smyth, A. Stevenson, Tattnall, Thompson, Trimble, Vance, Van Wyck, Walker, Walworth, Whipple, White, Williamson, Woodcock, Woodson, and Wright-61. NAYS.-Messrs. Abbot, Alexander, Allen of TenAnd it is our further opinion, that Captain Johnnessee, Ball, Barber of Ohio, Barstow, Bassett, BateCleves Symmes, late of the United States Army, who professes to have originated a new theory of the earth, which may be verified by a voyage to the North, will be a suitable person (assisted by men of science and experience) to be intrusted with the conduct of such an expedition. Independently of the truth or error of Symmes's theory, there appear to be many extraordinary circumstances, or phenomena, pervading the Arctic and Antarctic regions, which strongly indicate something beyond the Polar circles worthy of our attention and research. We, therefore, pray Congress to pass a law granting an exploring outfit, in conformity to our memo man, Blackledge, Breckenridge, Brown, Buchanan, Butler, Cambreleng, Campbell of New York, Campbell of Ohio, Cannon, Cassedy, Chambers, Cocke, Condict, Conner, Cook, Crafts, Cushman, Dane, Darlington, Denison, Dickinson, Dwight, Edwards of Connecticut, Edwards of North Carolina, Farrelly, Forrest, Garnett, Gilmer, Gist, Gross, Hall, Hardin, Harris, Harvey, Hawks, Hemphill, Hobart, Hooks, Ingham, Jennings, J. S. Johnston, Kent, Lathrop, Leftwich, Lincoln, Litchfield, McCarty, McCoy, McNeill, McSherry, Matson, Mattocks, Mercer, Mitchell of Pennsylvania, Montgomery, Murray, Neale, Nelson of Maryland, New, Patterson of New York, Patterson of Pennsylvania, Phillips, Pierson, Plumer |