The sum of three million of dollars, authoriseti that result, by friendly counsels with other powers, including Spain herself, has been the uniform policy to be raised by loan, by an act of the last session of congress, has been obtained upon terms advantaof this government. In looking to the internal cor.cerns of our coun-geous to the government, indicating not only an intry, you will, I am persuaded, derive much satisfac-creased confidence in the faith of the nation, but the tion from a view of the several objects to which, existence of a large amount of capital seeking that in the discharge of your official duties, your atten-mode of investment, at a rate of interest not extion will be drawn. Among these, none hold a ceeding five per centum per annum. It is proper to add, that there is now due to the more important place than the public revenue, from the direct operation of the power, by which treasury, for the sale of public lands, twenty two it is raised, on the people, and by its influence in millions nine hundred and ninety six thousand five giving effect to every other power of the govern-hundred and forty five dollars. In bringing this ment. The revenue depends on the resources of subject to view, I consider it my duty to submit to the country, and the facility by which the amount congress, whether it may not be advisable to exrequired is raised, is a strong proof of the extent tend to the purchasers of these lands, in consideraof the resources, and of the efficiency of the go-tion of the unfavorable change which has occurred vernment. A few prominent facts will place this since the sales, a reasonable indulgence. It is great interest in a just light before you. On the known that the purchases were made when the 30th Sept. 1815 the funded and floating debt of the price of every article had risen to its greatest height, United States was estimated at one hundred and and that the instalments are becoming due at a perinineteen millions six hundred and thirty five thou-od of great depression. It is presumed that some sand five hundred and fifty eight dollars. If to this plan may be devised, by the wisdom of congress, sum be added the amount of five per cent. stock compatible with the public interest, which would subscribed to the bank of the United States, the afford great relief to these purchasers. Considerable progress has been made, during amount of Mississippi stock, and of the stock which was issued subsequently to that date, the balances the present season, in examining the coast and its ascertained to be due to certain states, for military various bays, and other inlets-in the collection of services, and to individuals, for supplies furnished, materials, and in the construction of fortifications and services rendered during the late war, the pub. for the defence of the union, at several of the polic debt may be estimated as amounting, at that sitions at which it has been decided to erect such date, and as afterward liquidated, to one hundred works At Mobile Point and Dauphin Island, and and fifty eight millions seven hundred and thir- at the Rigolets, leading to lake Ponchartrain, mateteen thousand forty nine dollars. On the 30th of rials, to a considerable amount, have been collectSept. 1820, it amounted to ninety one millions nine ed, and all the necessary preparations made for hundred and ninety three thousand eight hundred the commencement of the works. At Old Point and eighty three dollars having been reduced in Comfort, at the mouth of James river, and at the that interval, by payments, sixty-six million eight Rip-rap, on the opposite shore, in the Chesapeake hundred and seventy nine thousand one hundred bay, materials, to a vast amount, have been collectand sixty five dollars. During this term, the ex-ed-and at the Old Point some progress had been penses of the government of the United States were made in the construction of the fortification, which likewise defrayed, in every branch of the civil, mi- is on a very extensive scale. The work at Fort litary, and naval establishments-the public edifi- Washington, on this river, will be compeleted early ces in this city have been rebuilt, with considerable in the next spring-and that on the Pea-patch, in additions-extensive fortifications have been com-the Delaware, in the course of the next season. menced, and are in a train of execution-perma- Fort Diamond, at the Narrows, in the harbor of nent arsenals and magazines have been erected in New-York, will be finished this year. The works various parts of the union-our navy has been con-at Boston, New-York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charlessiderably augmented, and the ordnance, munitions ton, and Niagara, have been in part repaired-and of war, and stores, of the army and navy, which were much exhausted during the war, have been replenished. the coast of North Carolina, extending south to Cape Fear, has been examined, as have likewise other parts of the coast eastward of Boston. Grea By the discharge of so large a proportion of the exertions have been made to push forward these public debt, and the execution of such extensive works with the utmost despatch possible; but, when and important operations, in so short a time, a just their extent is considered, with the important purestimate may be formed of the great extent of our poses for which they are intended, the defence of national resources. The demonstration is the the whole coast, and, in consequence, of the whole more complete and gratifying, when it is recollect-interior, and that they are to last for ages, it will be ed that the direct tax and excise were repealed soon after the termination of the late war, and that the revenue applied to these purposes has been de rived almost wholly from other sources. manifest that a well digested plan, founded on mili. tary principles, connecting the whole together, combining security with economy, could not be prepared without repeated examinations of the most The receipts into the treasury from every source, exposed and difficult parts, and that it would also to the thirtieth of September last, have amounted take considerable time to collect the materials at to sixteen millions seven hundred and ninety four the several points where they would be required. thousand one hundred and seven dollars and sixty From all the light that has been shed on this subject, six cents; whilst the public expenditures to the I am satisfied that every favorable anticipation same period, amounted to sixteen millions eight which has been formed of this great undertaking hundred and seventy one thousand five hundred will be verified, and that, when completed, it will and thirty four dollars and seventy two cents; leav-afford very great, if not complete, protection to ing in the treasury, on that day, a sum estimated at our Atlantic frontier, in the event of another war; one million nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars. a protection sufficient to counterbalance, in a sinFor the probable receipts of the following year, Igle campaign, with an enemy powerful at sea, the refer you to the statement which will be transmit- expense of all these works, without taking into the estimate the saving of the lives of so many of our ted from the treasury. war. row. On motion of Mr. Crowell, it was citizens, the protection of our towns and other pro-titions shall be considered as again presented and perty, or the tendency of such works to prevent referred to the same committees respectively, without special order to that effect. And it shall be the Our military positions have been maintained at duty of the said committees respectively, upon apBelle Point, on the Arkansas; at Council Bluff, on[plication in behalf of any petitioner, whose peti. the Missouri; at St. Peter's, on the Mississippi; and tionw as presented and referred, as aforesaid,to conat Green Bay, on the Upper Lakes. Commodious sider and report thereon, in the same manner as if barracks have already been erected at most of these it were referred to such committee by special order posts, with such works as were necessary for their of the house. defence. Progress has also been made in opening And, on motion of Mr. Williams, of North Carolicommunications between them, and in raising sup-na, it was ordered to lie on the table until to-mor plies at each for the support of the troops, by their own labor-particularly those most remote. With the Indians peace has been preserved, and Resolved, That the committee on public lands be a progress made in carrying into effect the act of instructed to enquire into the expediency of procongress, making an appropriation for their civili- |viding by law some relief to the purchasers of pub. zation, with the prospect of favorable results. As lic lands in the United States, previous to the 1st connected equally with both these objects, our July, 1820. trade with those tribes is thought to merit the at- After which the house proceeded to elect a chaptention of congress. In their original state, game lain. The candidates offered were the rev. Messrs. is their sustenance, and war their occupation; and,| Allison, Campbell, Sparks, and Post: on the 3d if they find no employment from civilized powers, ballot Mr. Campbell receiveda majority of the whole they destroy each other: left to themselves, their number of votes, and was declared duly elected. extirpation is inevitable. By a judicious regula. tion of our trade with them, we supply their wants, administer to their comforts, and gradually, as the game retires, draw them to us. By maintaining posts far in the interior, we acquire a more thorough and direct control over them; without which it is confidently believed that a complete change in their manners can never be accomplished. By such posts, aided by a proper regalation of our trade with them, and a judicial civil administration over them, to be provided for by law, we shall, it is presumed, be enabled not only to protect our own settlements from their savage incursions, and preserve peace among the several tribes, but accomplish also the great purpose of their civilization. CHRONICLE. Died, on Saturday last, at Washington City, com. Hugh G. Campbell, of the navy of the United States. He was fifth in rank in the establishment. An or der has issued from the department requiring the officers of the navy to wear crape on the left arm for the period of 30 days, as a tribute of respect to his memory. at New-Orleans, of the prevailing fever, which recently deprived him of his wife, maj. gen. Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, late of the army of the U. States. He entered the army at the commence. ment of the late war as a lieut. colonel, and "hew. Considerable progress has also been made in the ed" his way to the rank of major-general. He was construction of ships of war, some of which have an accomplished gentleman and scholar, as well as been launched in the course of the present year. a gallant soldier. He had resigned his commission Our peace with the powers on the coast of Bar-a short time previous to his decease. bary has been preserved, but we owe it altogether to the presence of our squadron in the Mediterranean. It had been found equally necessary to employ some of our vessels for the protection of our commerce in the Indian sea, the Pacific, and along the Atlantic coast. The interests which we have depending in those quarters, which have been much improved of late, are of great extent, and of high importance to the nation, as well as to the parties concerned, and would undoubtedly suffer, if such protection was not extended to them. In execution of the law of last session, for the suppression of the slave trade, some of our public ships have also been employed on the coast of Africa, where several captures have already been made of vessels engaged in that disgraceful traffic. JAMES MONROE. Washington, November 14, 1820. Thursday, November 16. Mr. Scott, delegate from Missouri, presented the constitution formed by the people of that territory, for their government as a state; and, on his motion, the same was ordered to be referred to a select committee. The message of the president being dissected, its several parts were referred to the standing or to special committees, as usual. Mr. Bloomfleld offered for consideration the following resolution: at Harrisburg, Pa. in the 66th year of his age, Mr. Burney Meckle, who was interred with Masonic honors. He was a gunner on board the Hyder Ali, capt. Barney, when she captured the General Monk, in which engagement he received four wounds the effects of which were visible until his death. at Charleston, S. C. on the 23d ult. William P. Young, esq. a soldier of the revolution, and a worthy man. on the 15th ult. at St. Louis, the rev. Felix de Andries, vicar-general of Lousiana, a native of Italy and since 1816 a resident of the United States. He appears to have been much beloved by those who knew him best. The Central Bank of Georgetown (which is wind. ing up its affairs), cautions the public against the receipt of any of its bills of the denomination of $100, on account of the numerous counterfeits which have been put into circulation; and requests that all persons holding such bills will present them for payment. Honorable. It being discovered that counterfeit 5 notes of the Phonix bank, of Hartford, Con. are in circulation, and so well done as to deceive the people-the bank has honorably resolved not to issue or re-issue any of that description of notes. Presidential election. Except in Philadelphia, Resolved, That, in all cases where petitions were the ticket opposed to the re-election of Mr. Mon. presented at the last session to this house, and re-roe, has hardly received one vote out of fifty in ferred to committees, but not finally acted upon, Pennsylvania. In Maryland and Virginia the elec both by the committees and the house, the said pe- tion of electors excited so little interest, because there was no thought of opposition, that very few votes were given in-only 17 at Richmond! of native silver have accumulated (if possible) since the commencement of the company's operations." Naval. A fine schooner, called the Alligator, of It appears that what is called "driving" is now to 190 tons and to mount 12 guns, was recently launch-be commenced, by which we understand horizontal ed at the navy yard, Boston; being one of the ves-shafts. The report is signed "Levi Barber, Nahum sels directed to be built for the protection of the Ward, Francis Fowler." Gulf, &c. The lakes. A Buffalo paper says-It appears that Maine clothing. Major Miller, commanding the lakes Erie and Ontario have fallen considerably marine corps, has advertised for 938 coats and a during the past summer. Some persons suppose proportionate quantity of other articles of clothing the Great Lakes have a periodical rise and fall, for for the marines-He says "from experience a de-a certain number of successive years; whether this cided preference will be given to American manu- is a fact or not, lake Erie was several feet higher factured cloths, where they can be furnished at or in 1815 than at present. near the price of the imported." This is well. The most rascally trade. Joseph Findley Smith, late of Baltimore, and Adolph Lacoste, late of New York, one late master of the Plattsburg and the other of the Science, (slaving-vessels captured by the United States ship Cyane) have been tried at Boston for this most heinous offence, and found guilty under the act of April 1818. The vessels have been condemned at New York. The way that this infernal trade is managed was developed in the case of Lacoste, by certain papers found on board the Science, which we shall give to infamous remembrance by inserting them in the REGISTER, at a season of more leisure than the present. Sentence has not yet been passed on the criminals. Col. Boone. It is with pleasure we hear that a portrait of this remarkable man was taken a short time before his death, by an eminent artist; from which an engraving is about to be published. From Galvezton. A vessel has arrived at New Orleans from Galvezton, by which information is received that general Long remained on the island of St. Louis, in that bay; with about thirty followers! The Carrion-crow Indians, in number about 100, were also on the island at the time: they are hostile to Long's party, and, it is said, devour all their prisoners. The Spaniards had about 100 troops at St. Antonio, and about 30 at Labadie. There were some small parties of Americans between the Trinity and the Sabine. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is supposed to contain 40,000 inhabitants, and a paper printed at the seat of its court, &c. says, "there is not at this time, a a single person confined in the jail of this county, either as debtor or criminal!” Baltimore. The pews in the Roman Catholic cathedral church in this city-(one of the most substantial and beautiful edifices in the United States) The British queen. A meeting of the "natives were offered at auction on Monday last. Not one of Great Britain and Ireland" was lately held at half of the whole number was disposed of, yet they Philadelphia to consider on the propriety of ad-produced upwards of forty thousand dollars!-The dressing the queen—at which it was rightfully re-wealthy members taking this additional opportuselved, that such persons as were or intended to be-nity of contributing to the funds of the church. come citizens of the United States, ought not to have any thing to do with the matter. Nuns. Two ladies recently took the black veil at the nunnery lately established in Boston. The Delaware Indians are emigrating from White Water, in Illinois, to some point on the Arkansas, to be appropriated for them by government. This tribe is said to be about 600 strong. The Masonic Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, which was destroyed by fire about eighteen months since, having been rebuilt in a superior style of elegance, was dedicated on Wednesday, the 1st inst. The papers state that the display of the craft, about 1000 in number, excelled in splendor and order any former exhibition of the kind; and the concourse of spectators surpassed any ever assembled on a public occasion in that city. 2 Stone Ochre. It is stated that a large vein of this material has been discovered in Salem county, N. Jersey-said to be superior to any other ochre except the French. Alexandria, Nov. 11. A lump of virgin silver, weighing sixty ounces, was lately found between three and four miles from this place, by a person employed as a ditcher. It was discovered about two feet below the sur. face--but the finder refuses to give any other in[formation, hoping, no doubt, to meet with further success. It was at first supposed to have been plate that had been melted and buried for concealment, by some thief or robber of distant days. A close examination, however, satisfies us that it is pure virgin sil ver. It has been generally believed that where masses have been found in such a state, they indicate the vicinity of silver ore in mine: however of this there is not the least appearance where this lump was found. We leave it to natural philosophers to attempt to explain this singular circumstance in the economy of nature. “Muskingum mining company." We have heard Richmond. Population in 1800-5,737; 1810— much of a “silver mine in Ohio," and now have, in [9,735; 1817-14,352;* 1820-12,046. By the census the Zanesville papers,an exhibit of the proceedings just taken it appears that there are 6,407 free of the company. It appears that nearly 8000 dol- whites, 4,393 slaves, and 1,246 free persons of color. lars have been expended in building or purchasing the needful houses and shops, horses, oxen and *This census was taken by the city authority. tools, &c. and in procuring a forcing pump, inclu.The decrease of population, in the most of our sive of the amount paid for labor in sinking a shaft, chief towns and cities, has, perhaps, been as con9 feet by 12, and now 140 feet deep, a great part siderable as that which is proportionably apparent of which is through rock. To guard against anat Richmond. Soon after the conclusion of the war, overflow of water, this shaft was sunk about 50 feet the people were mad with trading, and the cities from the salt-well in which the metallic vein was received great and very injurious accessions of inoriginally discovered. The committee state, that habitants, most of whom have since been starved although ore has not been found in the perpedicu. out. I have believed that Baltimore now has 10,000 lar shaft, as some anticipated, they feel a confidence persons less within her boundaries, than in the latin stating "that evidences of extensive depositions ter part of the year 1816. ED. REG. Charleston. Exports of cotton and rice to foreign | the settlement of the late governor's accountsports, from Charleston, for the year ending 1st Oct. long a great subject of controversy. Likewise that Bales up. Bales S. I. Barrels of provision will be made for calling a convention to revise and amend the constitution of the state. cotton. cotton. rice. Amount. 3,021,052 New-Jersey. Samuel L. Southard, esq. has been elected a senator of the U. States, from this state, vice James J. Wilson, esq. whose period of service expires on the 4th of March next. The votes were, for Mr. S. 30-for Mr. W. 24. 1st 3 months, 30,372 2,675 6,852 $1,728,885 2d 3 months, 41,772 7,371 17,757 34 3 months, 41,318 8,701 19,455 4th 3 months 4,695 1,467 4,338 Total, 118,357 20,214 48,402 $8,342,280 There was no opposition to the electoral ticket Savannah. It is with great pleasure that we learn favorable to the re-election of Messrs. Monroe and of the discontinuance of the terrible pestilence Tompkins. Messrs. Bateman, Holcombe, Swan, which lately ravaged this city, and of the return of Cassedy, Matlack and Linn, have been elected metn our fellow citizens to their homes. From the ac-bers of congress. without a regular opposition. counts which we have heard, it is probable that the yellow fever never more awfully afflicted a people than in the late season at Savannah. The exports of cotton, rice and tobacco, from Savannah, for the late year, ending Oct. 1st, 1820, were as follows: 11,895 bales sea island cotton; 134,798 do. upland do.; 14,918 tierces rice; 982 hhds. tobacco: giving an increase, as compared with last year, of 4,406 bales of sea island, and 38,810 do. of upland cotton, 1890 tierces of rice, and 348 hhds. of tobacco. Massachusetts. Benjamin Gorham, esq. has been elected to the present congress from Boston, &c. to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Mason, and also a member of the 17th con South Carolina. The following gentlemen are elected representatives in the seventeenth congress: Messrs. Poinsett, Richardson, Gist, McDuffie, Overstreet, Mitchell, Tucker, Wilson, and Lowndes. Those in Italics new members. Georgia. Messrs. Abbott, Cuthbert, Tatnall, Reid, Gilmor and Thompson. Those in Italics not of the sixteenth congress. Mr. Cobb was left out by a small majority. Kentucky. There is a project before the legislature of this state for establishing a new bank!--the capital is to belong to the state, and all monies received into the treasury are to be paid over to the bank for the redemption of its notes. It is to have a number of branches. gress, by a majority of about 600 votes, being opbell, Levi Barber, John C. Wright, Joseph Vance Ohio. Messrs. Thomas R. Ross, John W. Campposed by Samuel A. Wells, esq. Connecticut. Electors favorable to the re-elec. tion of Messrs. Monroe and Tompkins have been chosen in this state, without any regular opposi tion. Rhode Island. James D'Wolf, esq. has been elected a senator of the United States, for the state of Rhode Island, atter the 4th of March next, vice Mr. Hunter, whose period of service expires. The representatives in congress are Messrs. Samuel Eddy and Job Derfree. and Jas. Sloane, have been elected members of the 17th congress, Governors of the several states-November, 1829. Maine, William King; New-Hampshire, Samuel Bell; Vermont, Richard Skinner; Rhode Island, Nehemiah Knight; Massachusetts, John Brooks; Connecticut, Oliver Wolcott; New-York, Dewitt Clinton; NewJersey, Isaac Williamson; Pennsylvania, William Findlay;* Maryland, Samuel Sprigg; Virginia Thomas Mann Randolph; North Carolina, John Branch; Vermont. A woman whose husband had been South Carolina, John Geddes; Georgia, John Clark; sentenced to thirteen years confinement in the Kentucky, John Adair; Tennessee, Thomas M'Minn; penitentiary for murdering her father, has petition- Ohio, Ethan A. Brown; Louisiana, Thomas B. Roed the legislature for a divorce, which the commit-bertson; Mississippi, George Poindexter; Indiana, tee reported was reasonable and ought to be grant-Jonathan Jennings; Illinois, Shadrach Bond; Alabama, Thomas Bibb, (acting); Missouri, Alexander McNair. ed. New York. Walter Browne, of the southern, John T. Moore, of the middle, Roger Skinner, of the castern, and David E. Evans, of the western district, have been elected the council of appointment for the ensuing year. They are anti-Clintonians." Electors, favorable to the re-election of Messrs. Monroe and Tompkins, as president and vice president of the United States, have been chosen; in the assembly, 72 to 54-in the senate, 19 to 11. This ticket is headed with the name of William Floyd, one of the four surviving signers of the declaration of independence. MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia Nov. 1820. The public are informed that the coinage of copper will be discontinued, for some time, at the mint of the United States. A large supply of cents, however, is now ready for distribution; and, on application, will be furnished, to any reasonable amount, in exchange for an equal amount in specie, or paper (notes or drafts) receivable in any of the banks in Philadelphia; or on evidence of credit being entered in favor of the treasury of the United States, in the bank of the United States, or any of its branches. Certain resolutions have been introduced into the house of assembly, by Mr. John C. Spencer, in Shipments will be made agreeable to order; înopposition to the admission of Missouri into the surance effected and paid, and an adequate allowunion, unless a prohibition of slavery is engrafted ance made for freight to any port in the United in the constitution of the new state. These reso-States, to which vessels are cleared out from PhilaJutions were laid on the table and ordered to be printed. It is probable that an act will pass at the present sitting of the legislature, "declaring that slavery cannot exist by the constitution and laws of the state," and that all persons of fuli age, held as slaves, shall be declared free, from the passage thereof. It is also believed that an act will pass for delphia, mint. Application to be made to the treasurer of the *Joseph Hiester is the governor elect, but the term of service of governor Findlay does not expire until the third Tuesday in December next. PRINTED BY WILLIAM OGDEN NILES, AT THE FRANKLIN PRESS, WATER-STREET, EAST OF SOUTH-STREET, NEW SERIES. NO. 13-VOL. VII.] BALTIMORE, NOV. 25, 1820. [No. 13-VOL. XIX. WHOLE No. 481 THE PAST-THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE. EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY H. MILES, at 45 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE. During the last session it is presumed no one will do in ordinary cases. of congress, several members of that body vacated The appointments referred to were ordinary, in their seats, in consequence of executive appoint- the revenue or land offices. The appointed were ments to office. In respect to them, as individuals, worthy-but there was no apparent necessity to it is believed that they were judiciously selected, take members from their seats in congress to and no idea has been entertained, we believe, that fill up these appointments. We repeat it, be-, the president, in regard to these appointments, had cause, (whether we approve or condemn,) we wish any improper personal or political views-yet the to be clearly understood-that we do not find fault proceeding was disapproved of by many old-fashion- with what has happened, except on account of the ed republicans, on account of its dangerous ten-general principle which it involves. dency--and for the reason that the practice might Several fruitless attempts have been made in conbe used to produce the same effect as has been ofgress to restore the scope and meaning of the artentimes brought about in Great Britain, by the ticle originally inserted in the proposed constitucreation of what is called a "batch of peers." tion of the United States, and we trust that some At present, though the principles of the consti- new attempt may yet be successful. The constitation have been widely departed from in many in-tution should not be altered for light or trivial stances, in congress and out of congress, by the causes; but it is clearly seen that the operation of people and their public servants, still there is a the clause, as it now stands, may convert a majority general understanding as to things which are right-into a minority. Let us suppose a case-it is ascerful in policy and expedient in practice; and it is tained that some favorite measure of a future execuproper that this understanding should be brought |tive, may be rejected by three or four votes, or more. to bear upon acts detrimental to the purity of ori. But congress has about 200 members, and the greatginal republican principles: and, while we urge est effort of charity carmot believe, that among so what we believe to be the impropriety of the prac-many persons there are not some who have entertice spoken of, it is pleasing to feel an assurance ed upon public life to promote their private views. that the public received no injury from the pecu- In this case, the executive would look out for such liar cases alluded to. persons among those opposed to its measures- and, In looking over a trunk of old papers some time by promising certain offices to some, might, perhaps, ago, we found a revised copy of the constitution of obtain a different vote from them; or, by an actual the United States, printed for the use of the con- appointment, screen them from positive censure vention which adopted it, and observed the follow-for changing their ground: all this might be accoming as one of its sections: plished "under the rose," and the people never be enabled to see how the thing happened. "The members of each house [of congress] shall be ineligible to, and incapable of holding any office Jefferson has told us, "that angels in the form of under the authority of the United States, during the men have not descended to govern us," and the time for which they shall be respectively elected, and great first-principles of his administration was to members of the senate shall be ineligible and inca-elevate the people and secure the responsibility of pable of holding any such office for one year after-their agents. Dickinson, also, elegantly said, "that wards." an armed people and an unarmed magistracy was The clause as it now stands, reads thus- the best security for freedom," and such was the "No senator or representative shall, during the general doctrine of the sages of the revolution. time for which he is elected, be appointed to any Some have said that "the people are their own civil office, under the authority of the United States, worst enemies;”– we do not believe in this asserwhich shall have been created, or the emoluments tion, unless they are reduced to a state of indiffer of which shall have been increased, during such ence and give up the trouble of thinking. If they time; and no person holding any office under the think, they will act;-and, though their act may not United States, shall be a member of either house always be right, the power cannot be safely confidduring his continuance in office." Art. 1, § 4. ed to any, except in a majority of those who bear This modification, which, while it retains a large the burthens of the state and render up their lives part of the spirit of the original, essentially varies and fortunes to maintain it. These have an undoubtthe manner of its application,-was, no doubt, ed right to prescribe all the rules and regulations designed to grant to the executive a power of se- by which their servants shall conduct themselves; lection in peculiar cases; because it might easily and they should always recollect, that the wisest happen that an old member of congress, who had prayer ever offered up to heaven was-lead us not made some branch of the public business his espe- into temptation." cial care, should be better enabled to act on that business than others: instance, some of the chairmen PUBLIC LANDS. The following summary of an inor members of different committees, &c. But still, teresting document transmitted to the senate by the spirit of the prohibition remained, as originally the secretary of the treasury, on the 17th inst. is proposed, and it seems to have been perfectly un- copied from the National Intelligencer. It is proderstood that the power of extended selection bable that we shall give the report at full length would be used only in extraordinary cases. This when it is received. is to be fairly inferred from the general caution "The sums which have been paid, and remain to used to guard the purity of the representatives of be paid, under treaties made with the Indian tribes, the people, in both houses of congress-and, in pub to indemnify them for cessions of lands to the Unitlic and private life, there are thousands of things ed States, is 2,542,916 dollars. The expense of that a person may do, and do rightfully, which surveying the public lands, from 4th March, 1789, VOL. XIX.-13. |