VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Congress, General Condition of the Country.

THE great and almost the only topic of discussion in congress and throughout the country, for the last three months, has been the removal of the deposites and the deranged condition of the currency. The deceptive nature of earthly expectations, especially in the commercial community, has not been so impressively exhibited for fifteen or twenty years. Many individuals have been suddenly thrown from a full tide of prosperous business to the depths of pecuniary distress. The extreme suddenness of the change, is one of the most afflicting circumstances. Merchants, manufacturers, and others, six months since made large investments in stock, and calculated upon a great increase of profitable employment. Heavy engagements are now to be met, when the greater part of the circulating medium is withdrawn from the market. The removal of the deposites, amounting to eight or nine millions, their distribution among a large number of state banks, the consequent necessity on the part of the bank of the United States to contract its discounts, and gradually to prepare for the expiration of its charter, which takes place in 1836-all have conspired to produce a state of things most disastrous in its effects on the great interests of the country. The prospect now is, of a general stagnation of business through the present year, as relief, should it fully and speedily come, would not repair the losses sustained in consequence of the interruption of business at that part of the year when plans are devised, and enterprises commenced. The cause of the evils, according to the opinion of some individuals, is overtrading, or such an eagerness to amass wealth, as would in ordinary circumstances have brought men to the brink of ruin. It is doubtless true, that many persons have extended their business entirely beyond the bounds of prudence, and such are now the first to feel the effects of the pressure. The time of both branches of congress for four months has been almost exclusively occupied with this subject. A great number of petitions, mostly adverse to the removal of the deposites, and from men of all professions and parties, as private individuals, and as legislative and public bodies, have been presented to the consideration of congress. Mr. Webster, chairman of the committee of finance in the senate, has given a report, in which the alleged reasons for the removal of the deposites, are calmly and logically overturned. In

the house of representatives, Mr. Polk, of Tennessee, chairman of the committee of ways and means, has presented a very long report in justification of the measures of the president. Mr. Webster has given notice that he shall bring forward a bill to extend the charter of the bank of the United States for a short time. What will be the issue of these extraordinary proceedings it is utterly impossible to predict. The singular spectacle is seen of the presiding officer of a country waging a war of extermination upon a great monied institution, created by the government, and whose term of existence is very brief. The Christian patriot may learn useful lessons from these events-both to guide his conduct in regard to his business-affairs, and the welfare of his country, and to teach him the importance of obtaining an enduring substance.

Temperance.

The past quarter has been fraught with events of great interest in relation to this subject. The signs of the times proclaim the near approach of a day of perfect triumph to the principles of temperance. A legislative temperance society has been formed in Kentucky, the constitution of which inhibits the use of wine. A large similar association has been formed in Kentucky, with the governor of the State at its head. Conventions of the friends of temperance have been held in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, both of great interest. In the Pennsylvania convention, the consideration of a resolution declaring the use of, and traffic in ardent spirits to be an immorality, was postponed till next year. In the New Jersey convention, the same resolution was opposed with great perseverance and skill, but was carried by a large majority. The congressional temperance society, at its annual meeting, were favored with the presence of chief justice Marshall, and many other distinguished men. The attorney general of the United States made a long and able speech. In the city of New York, a convention has been held of delegates from various cities, chief justice Hornblower, of New Jersey, in the chair. Mr. Chipman, of Rochester, stated that it had been ascertained by a personal examination of the jails, alms-houses, &c., of 50 counties, out of the 55 in the State of New York, that nine tenths of all the criminals, and six tenths of all the paupers in the State were made criminals and paupers by intemperance. Of 153 persons in Columbia county, committed to prison in one year, 124 were intemperate, and twelve were committed for whipping their wives! The convention unanimously recommended that if licenses are given at all for the sale of ardent spirits, that they cease to be reckoned a source of public revenue, and in all cases be granted gratuitously, that the

semblance of an apology for their multiplication because of the revenue which they yield, may be taken away. They also earnestly recommended that an effort be made in every city to obtain the passage of a law, making it a misdemeanor for any person holding a license for the sale of ardent spirits, either to sell, or expose for sale, any other article of merchandize, on the premises occupied under such license. This would effectually separate the business of vending ardent spirits from that of family groceries, and thus prevent the multiplied mischiefs which result from the sale of ardent spirits, and of the necessaries of life, in the same shops. In Boston, in about three months, 9,000 signatures have been obtained to the pledge of total abstinence-all the signers are over the age of twelve years. The number of temperance groceries is considerably increased. The friends of temperance in the legislature of Massachusetts, have attempted in vain to procure the passage of a law, giving to each town the final disposition of the granting or withholding of licenses, and making them in no case a source of revenue. The measure was defeated by a majority of about fifteen votes. A part of the opponents thought that the effects of the law might be injurious on the interests of temperance, but probably a considerable number are in some way connected with the traffic in ardent spirits. There are partnerships, connections, lands, and tenements, which in particular persons bias the mind and blunt the sensibilities.

Lotteries.

An act has been passed by the legislature of Virginia for the abolition of lotteries in that State. By the provisions of the act, no new lotteries are to be granted, and the sale of lottery tickets is to be wholly dispensed with, after January 1st, 1840. The States of Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and we believe Maine, New Hampshire, and Maryland, have adopted incipient, if not final measures, for the total abolition of the system.

Colored Population.

A society was formed in Kentucky, in December last, for the purpose of ridding the State of slavery. According to the original proposal, the society was to be organized whenever fifty slave-holders should signify their desire to become members of it. That number was obtained more than a year ago. Every member pledges himself to emancipate all slaves born his property, on their reaching the age of twenty-five years, and if females, their offspring with them. This is the only pledge. It is connected with no religious denomination, nor political party. A strong and nearly successful effort has been

made in the legislature of Kentucky to pass a law, calling a convention of the people for the purpose of amending the constitution of the State, so that a definite time may be fixed, after which slavery shall cease. Slavery is found to impede improvement in civilization and science. In Louisiana, $380,000 have been expended in the promotion of primary education, but according to governor Romain, only 380 indigent youth have been educated. Ohio is now, nearly twice as large as Kentucky in free population; and in Kentucky the ratio of the white increase is diminishing, owing to the emigration of the white population to the free States. In Tennessee, preparatory measures have been adopted on the same subject.

. Some interesting disclosures have lately been made in regard to the American Colonization Society. Owing to various causes-such as the large influx of emigrants into the colony for two or three years' past, the failure of the rice crops last year at the colony, and the high price of provisions occasioned thereby, and also the scarcity at the Cape de Verds, the sickness of some of the emigrants, the pressure of duties on governor Mechlin, and particularly a wrong and irresponsible organization of the Board at Washington, have produced great embarrassment in the financial matters of the society, causing a debt of $40,000 or $50,000. Very full and satisfactory discussions have taken place, both in meetings of the society and of the managers. The managers have just published an exposition of the principles by which they intend to be governed. It is now their deliberate decision to send no emigrants to the colony until such of them as are of suitable age are formed into temperance societies. A careful inquiry will be instituted into the moral character and industrious habits of each adult emigrant. All measures for the promotion of a complete system of education in the colony will claim from the board their constant and unremitting attention. They are also adopting vigorous measures for the promotion of agriculture. In short, it will be their untiring effort to render Liberia a desirable and happy home for the emigrant. So soon, as it becomes so, the free colored man, it is supposed, will, in most cases, go there of his own accord. To liquidate the debts of the institution, the Board propose the creation of a stock of $ 50,000, bearing an interest of 6 per cent annually. For the payment of the interest annually, and the gradual payment of the principal, it is proposed to establish a sinking fund of $ 6,000 per annum. Should the stock be taken up, the funds of the board would at once be relieved, and the payment of the whole stock, with its interest, would in less than twelve years, be redeemed by the annual payment of $6,000. A new governor, professor Kinsley of West Point, cminently qualified for his station, has been appointed.

The accountability of the board to the public has been secured, by giving their election to the delegates from the auxiliary societies, and the life members of the society, and requiring a full statement to the annual meeting of all their operations and proceedings. The number of members of the board of managers has been reduced, and its efficiency increased by the election of several new and wellqualified members.

Miscellaneous.

The trigonometrical survey of the State of Massachusetts, by colonel Stevens, will be completed during the present year, also the astronomical portion of it by R. T. Painc.-Some interesting conclusions may be drawn concerning the state of morals in New England from the following facts, furnished in the report of the attorney general of Massachusetts. No person in that State, during the last year, was capitally punished. Only one was sentenced to the state prison for life. The larger number of criminals have been subjected to confinement in the county jails or houses of correction. It is probably a just conclusion, that, with the increase of population, there has been an actual but not a proportional increase of criminal prosecutions. The number of persons apprehended by the police of the city of London, in 1832, was 72,824. Supposing the population of London to be twenty times that of Boston, the same proportion would give for Boston 3,641, instead of the actual number 1,904. The lottery and license laws have furnished occasion for an unusual number of prosecutions, because a more enlightened public sentiment has shown an increasing determination to enforce the penalties. Of the 119 persons committed to the Massachusetts' state prison last year, 34 were foreigners; 16 of them Irishmen. Of the crimes for which they were committed, larceny comprises 83, and assault under various forms but 12.-A bill has passed the legislature of Pennsylvania, providing for the establishment of a general system of education by common schools. It appropriates $25,000 for 1834; $50,000 for 1835; and $75,000 for 1836. Each school district is obliged to raise by tax double the sum, before it can draw its proportion from the State. If it refuses to raise such sum, then its proportion of the public money is to be divided among those districts which do comply with the law. A law for a similar purpose is in progress through the legislature of Massachusetts, establishing a school fund in that State, and requiring returns from all the towns concerning the condition of the schools, before the system actually goes into operation.-A law has been passed in North Carolina, which virtually extends the authority of the State over that portion of the Cherokee lands, which were included within the chartered limits of North Carolina.