Of the former

there are in army

navy

the circulation of the air in the room, and render 161 it sooner liable to become impure-would obstruct 1 the view of the dome, and impair the beauty of the hall.

162

Experience proves that the members speak with Those now in the academy, are from the several more ease, and hear more readily, at the present states as follows: Massachusetts and Maine 23; New session, than they did during the last. The difHampshire 9; Vermont 10; Connecticut 11; Rhode ference, it is believed, is in a great measure to be Island 4; New York 34; New Jersey 10; Delaware ascribed to the drying of the walls, and there can 2; Pennsylvania 29; Maryland 12; District of Co-be but little doubt but that further improvement lumbia 9; Virginia 26; North Carolina 8; South Ca- may be expected from the same cause. rolina 10; Georgia 3; Alabama 2; Mississippi 2; Louisiana 2; Missouri 2; Tennessee 6; Kentucky 8; Ohio 6; Illinois 1; Indiana 2; Michigan 2.

The table also shews the rank of those educated at the academy, who are now in the army of the United States.

Hall of Representatives.

Report of the committee of public buildings, to the house of representatives.

The centre building of the capitol does not furnish a suitable hall for the members of the house of representatives. The only room that would admit them is the one destined for the library of congress, and that, in the opinion of the committce, is not calculated for their convenient accommodation, or the admission of spectators.

The committee are induced to believe, that, by carpeting the gallery, to prevent the noise which arises from moving from one place to another, and by strict ortier in the house, business may now be done with tolerable facility, and a few years' expe rience will ascertain the full effect of the drying of the walls.

Mr. Wood, from the committee on public buildings, in the house of representatives, to whom was referred the resolution of this house, of the The committee are, therefore, of opinion, that 19th December, 1820, instructing them "to inquire into the practicability of making such alterations provision should be made for carpeting the gallery; in the present structure of the hall of the house of and that any further alteration in the hall should representatives, as shall better adapt it to the pur-await the result of further experience. poses of a deliberative assembly; and, if no such alteration can be effected, to ascertain whether it be practicable to provide a suitable ball in the centre building of the capitol," delivered the following report: That, in obedience to the above recited resolution, they have examined the practicability of making any alterations in the hall of the house of representatives, that would render it more convenient for the transaction of public business, with all the attention in their power.

They have, also, submitted the different plans for this purpose, that have occurred in the course of their inquiries, or that have been suggested to them, to the examination of the architect of the public buildings, who has furnished them with his opinion of the alteration most likely to produce the desired effect in the hall of the house of representatives, accompanied with a drawing exhibiting the form and construction of such alteration, and an estimate of the expense of its construction. From the result of their own enquiries, as well as the examination of the public architect, the committee have reason to believe, that a level glass celing, at the foot of the dome, resting on the stone entablature over the columns, would, in a great measure, prevent the evils which are now experienced from the expansion of the voice and the reverberation of the sound; and is, on every account, the most eligible alteration for this purpose of which the room is susceptible, compatible with the preservation of the proportions of the hall and the use of the gallery, and least injurious to the beauty of its appearance.

But, although the committee have no doubt that the alteration suggested may be so constructed as to be perfectly secure, and might contribute to improve the facility of speaking and hearing, in the hall of the house of representatives, yet they think it questionable whether the alteration is abgolutely necessary, and whether the disadvantages incident to it would not counterbalance the bnefits to be derived from it.

Independently of the objection arising from the expense, in the present state of the treasury, it is objectionable on other accounts-it would lessen

They submit the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That a sum of money be added to the appropriations for the public buildings, for the present year, for the purpose of carpeting the gallery of the house of representatives. All which is submitted.

Bank of the United States.

Philadelphia, January 23, 1821.

At a meeting of the president and directors of the bank of the United States, held this day, the following report was adopted and ordered to be published, viz:

The committee on the state of the bank, to whom was referred the inquiry, whether, on the first day of January, 1821, the losses of the bank had been restored and the capital made whole, report

That they have diligently examined the documents in possession of the bank, with a view to ascertain the exact situation of the institution, and now present, as a part of this report, a statement of the losses which have occurred in the various departments of the institution, up to the first day of January, instant.

This statement is founded on returns received from the offices, made at the desire of this board, and under the inspection of the officers and com. mittees of the various boards, who were specially instructed to report on the character of the debts due to the offices over which they presided.

These reports are from all but the five western offices, and are dated in June and December, 1820, and contain a specification of all debts due at each office, under the title of 'good,' doubtful' or bad.'

The losses in the western offices of Pittsburg, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Lexington, and Louisville, are taken on the report of Mr. Wilson, cashier, made on the 25th of December last to this board, on his return from an inspection into the affairs of those offices, on the accuracy of which report your committee place great confidence,

On this documentary evidence, your committee | ed, and made whole on the first day of Januaryi report the losses of the bank, and its various de- 1821. partments, on the first day of January, 1821, to. be $3,522,476 13

And to make good that loss, the following items are to be relied on:

The balance of profit and loss, as stated by the last dividend committee and now to the credit of that account on the books of the bank,

$3,356,787 50

"Contingent interest due from certain banks' as credited in the bank statement,

'Damages on bills of exchange,' as credited in the bank statement

Amount of interest due on good but suspended debts due at the bank and the offices, according to the estimate made by the cashier and assistant cashier,

And this amount of the arrear of interest due on loans on stock of the bank, which may be considered as secured by the excess which the stock would bring above its par value, say on 42,050 shares at 4 dollars, amounting to

forming a total of

65,684 64

26,075 87

129,323 31

Resolved, That, in future, and until the further order of the board, the bank will loan, and that the offices be authorized to loan, at the discretion and convenience of the respective boards, on a pledge of the capital stock, to the amount of the par value thereof, but in no case, and under no pretence of additional security connected with such pledge, above that rate. L. CHEVES, President. Attest, THOMAS WILSON, Cashier.

168,200 00

-344,066 583

$3,746,071 32

and being an excess beyond the ascertained

loss, of

$223,595 19

To the preceding estimate of means to cover the losses of the bank, the committee have omitted to introduce the earnings of the offices for the month

The receipts for the year, for inte-
rests, dividends, licenses, &c. are
estimated at

84,070 79

174,508,19

139,692 17

of December, as well as a considerable arrear of The expenditures of the year 1821
interest on debts deemed doubtful, but which here.
after may yield a considerable sum.

These facts, therefore, in the opinion of the com. mittee, show that the past losses of the bank have been repaired, and that the capital was re-established and made whole on the first day of January inst, and the committee are of opinion that it is due to the public and the stockholders, on the part of the board, to declare this opinion, in order that the state of the institution may not remain a subject of painful doubt, among those who are now interested, or of deception and misrepresentation, as it regards those who may desire to become inte. rested. In order, however, to give full information and not to excite too sanguine expectations of the future profits of the institution, it is fit to remark, that these will necessarily be lessened for some time by the present stagnant state of commerce, which prevents the bank from employing its large capital advantageously, and by the fact, that the

interest on considerable sums which are due to the,

Balance

For the use of the fiscal year of 1822.

34,836 021

The state owes the Farmers' bank of Maryland 40,000 dollars. It has debts due by its citizens amounting to $368,863 66; of which only $97,697 76 are deemed valid.

The whole claim against the U. S. for
militia expenses during the late war

was

Of which has been paid

Leaving a balance of

$293,993 65 274,710 21

19,283 44

Of which 15,165 25 is deemed inadmissible. The balance, $4,118 19, it is supposed will be re ceived during the year.

The report concludes thus-"Your committee cannot close this report without expressing their sense of the great ability, activity and energy disbank, though deemed secure, is not currently paid, played by the executive of the state, in bringing to and therefore cannot be considered a profit on a close the last mentioned claim against the general which dividends may be declared. Under these government, and their full concurrence in the justimpressions and circumstances, the committee re-ess of the commendation that department has been commend the following resolves:pleased to express towards Mr. Ninian Pinckney,for Resolved, That, in the opinion of the board, the his able and indefatigable arrangement of the losses of the bank, previously sustained, were re-vouchers and documents inducing that adjustpaired, and that the capital stock was re-establish- Iment."

American and French Commerce.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

adviseable to deliberate on any of the matters. indicated in my speech. And I was confirmed in this impression, so far as it respects this subject, when I adverted to the resolution of the senate then before you, proposing to adjourn on the next day-and to a resolution of your house, passed on 20th. Under these circumstances, I thought prothe 18th day of November, for adjourning on the

Register's office, January 18, 1820. SIR-I have the honor to transmit "a statement showing the tonnage of vessels of the United States which entered from, and cleared for ports in France; together with the tonnage of French ves sels which entered the ports of the United States from the same, during the years 1816, 1817, 1818 per to delay this communication until the present

session.

And when I make this ooservation, I

and 1819." We have the accounts from the several collectors for only the three first quarters of must be permitted to state, that whenever I am 1820, and as the documents in relation to the fourth called on for information, by any branch of the quarter will not come forward timeously to be fur-legislature, in a proper manner and in a proper nished, during the present session of congress, the case, I shall always attend to the request with statement is submitted, exclusive of 1820, as meet-pleasure; but I shall reserve to myself sufficient ing, so far as the treasury records furnish, the reso; universal understanding, in parliamentary practime to prepare a satisfactory answer. lution of the house of representatives of the United tice, has been, that if the information requested is States, of the 3d January, 1821. afforded in time for full legislative deliberation and decision, no exception ought to be taken.

I am, sir, with great respect, your most obedient

humble servant,

Hon. WM. H. CRAWFORD,

Secretary of the treasury.

JOSEPH NOURSE.

A statement, showing the tonnage of vessels of the United States, which entered from, and cleared for, ports in France, together with the tonnage of French vessels which entered the ports of the United States from the same, during the years 1816, 1817, 1818, and 1819.

1816. 1817. 1818. 1819.

Am. vessels entered, 44,809 42,214 38,701 28,501
Do. cleared, 30,317 32,926 43,069 20,540
Fr. vessels entered, 6,506 11,757 16,731 20,428
NOTE. The returns from New Orleans do not
show the destination of American vessels outward
bound, nor do any of the ports give that of foreign
vessels. This defect will hereafter be remedied by
the operation of the act, entitled "An act to pro-
vide for obtaining accurate statements of the fo-
reign commerce of the United States."
Treasury Department,

Register's office, Jan. 18, 1821.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

Legislature of New-York.

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

To the honorable the assembly:

GENTLEMEN-The resolution of your honorable house, of the 16th of November, relative to an intimation in my speech, at the opening of the session, has been respectfully considered, and duly appreciated-and I shall now communicate to you, agreeably to your request, the evidence in my possession, relative to the improper interference of the officers of the general government in the local concerns of this state.

And the

In animadverting on the obtrusion of extraneous influence in the politics of this state, I was desirous of arresting the progress of a great evil, by attracting the public attention to its predominance. And I was not without hopes, that the national legisla exercise of its high authorities. In the enquiry, ture would consider it a nt case for the salutary which has been recently instituted into the conduct of one of the departments of the national administration, some of the abuses which will be developed in this message may be deemed a fit subJect for cognizance; and I am persuaded, that the have a beneficial tendency, even if it be not followed general investigation which has been made, will by any measures of punishment.

Considering the immense patronage which must be necessarily entrusted to the executive government of the union, the constitution of the United States has wisely declared that no senator or re. presentative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no person holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in cffice;" and "that no senator or representative or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector of president and vice-president." The object of these provisions is to preserve the independence of the national legislature and of the electoral colleges and to maintain the purity of republican government. The same salutary provisions for analogous beneficial objects have been extended to the state legislatures, and all the state constitutions formed since the proposal of the national conThat many of the officers of the United States stitution in 1787, declare in substance, that no memhave, for a number of years, acted very improperly, ber of congress, or offcer of the United States shall by interfering in the elections of this state, must be have a seat in the state legislature. There are in known to every man in the community who has some constitutions, variations in the provision, but had opportunity for information, and whose mind they all embrace in a greater or less degree the is not steeled by prejudice against the admission spirit of the excluding principle. In those states of truth: At the last election this influence was which had adopted constitutions before the estabmanifested in such a variety of shapes, and in such lishment of a national government, there is of a very exceptionable manner, that I considered course, no constitutional prohibition-but it is it my duty to refer to it: And in performing this understood that in such cases statutes have been duty as a magistrate, and in availing myself of a passed to the same effect, Virginia, whose conright possessed by every citizen, to express his stitution was formed in 1776, has a very comprehenopinion of the conduct of public men, I did not sive law on the subject. Pennsylvania, in addition consider it necessary that I should be provided to a constitutional restriction, has a statute which with documentary testimony, nor did I suppose prohibits officers of the United States from acting that at an extraordinary session of the legislature, as judges, inspectors or clerks of state elections. held for a special purpose, it would be deemed! The constitution of this state was formed in 1777,

and although no statute has been passed on this officers of the United States, who have behaved so subject, yet by a concurrent resolution of March reprehensibly, ought to have conducted themselves 1790, it was resolved as the sense of the legisla-with the greatest delicacy; when a legislature was ture, that it is incompatible (according to the con- to be chosen that was to appoint the electors of stitution of this state and of the United States,) president; and when the second officer of the Unitthat a member of congress or other person holding any office whatsoever under the United States, should be a member of the senate or assembly of this state during his continuance in congress, or in such office; and that whenever a member of the legislature shall be elected or appointed a member of congress, or to any office whatever under the United States, and shall accept of such office or appointment, it is hereby further resolved, that his seat in the legislature ought to be vacated. Even in the government of Great Britain, officers of the excise and customs, and clerks or deputies in the treasury, navy, victualing and admiralty offices, and a long list of other dependents on the crown, are interdicted from being elected or sitting as members of the house of commons.

of suffrage they have, I believe, generally abstained from bringing any official influence in any shape to bear upon the controversy.

ed States was a candidate for the office of governor, all the influence of their offices was put in requisition and brought into activity. Although deprived of the right of being chosen, yet if in the exercise of the right of choosing, they are permitted by the power of office to influence elections, what security have the people for a pure legislature, for an independent congress, or for an incorrupt college of electors. On this occasion I take a pleasure in stating, that notwithstanding the practices complained of were marked with signal impropriety in the general operations of the navy yard, in King's county, yet I do not know of a single instance wherein a naval officer who distinguished himself during the late war, has conducted himself improperly. The officers of the army stationed in this state have Every officer of the United States is in a state of furnished, generally speaking, no ground of com. partial disfranchisement. He cannot set in con-plaint. And the custom-house officers, on the gress in the state legislatures or in the electoral Lakes, so far as I can learn have behaved in an colleges-In the view of the constitution, he is an unacceptionable manner. In exercising the rights object of jealousy; he can however at any time be restored to all the franchises of a citizen by abdicating his office. Our government is founded on the representative system; it protects the purity and The navy yard is situate in Brooklyn, King's counindependence of the representative; it erects a ty, and contains about 40 acres. Large sums of barrier against the inroads of executive patronage, money have been expended there in building and and it intends that the constituent body should be repairing ships of war, and an extensive establishfree from the operation of the same influence.-ment is maintained in that place. The documents In reserving to the national officer his elective herewith transmitted will show that under the prin franchise, it was undoubtedly contemplated that it cipal direction of Mr. Decatur, the naval storeshould be exercised in the genuine spirit of re-keeper, the blacksmiths, caulkers, carpenters, lapublicanism; that the suffrages of the citizen should not be biassed by the emoluments and honors of the officer, and that he should not carry into the elections, any of the influence derived from his official station; and I trust that it will be universally admitted, that the national government ought not to confer or withhold offices with a view of creating influence in state polities. It is well known that in this state, the national administration has for some years, selected in almost every case of any importance, its officers in opposition to the state administration, and this undoubtedly operates as an encouragement to organized and disciplined hostility. It is a virtual instruction to its officers The patronage of the custom-house in New-York to oppose, and it is an invitation to all who are is immense. There are no printed documents which desirous of the patronage of the general govern-disclose the number and compensation of the offiment, to embark in the opposition. The interfer-cers employed in that establishment, as the resolu ence of the officers of the general government in tion of congress of 27th April, 1816, directing & state politics in 1798, was at that period a subject compilation and printing of a register once in every of general and well founded complaint: in the interval between my first election and entrance into office, I took the liberty of apprising Mr. Monroe, the president of the United States, of the obstrusive intermeddling of the officers of the general government in our state politics, and of my earnest hope that under his administration, this system so justly and so generally reprobated, would be no longer tolerated. In discharging this duty to the republic, I entertained every wish to promote the most amicable relations between the general and state administration, and I can truly declare, that no act of hostility has been in any shape manifested or encouraged on the part of the authorities of this

state.

The documents which I have now the honor to transmit to you, do not extend beyond the last general election and the agitations preceding and accompanying it. At the very period when the

borers, and other persons in the public employ at the navy yard, were brought up to vote-that he was assisted in his operations, by other officers of that establishment-and that improper attempts were made in a variety of shapes to operate on the electors. The whole presents a scene of undue influence and extraneous intrusion revolting to every friend of republican government. The papers marked from A. to L. inclusive, establish the charge beyond the possibility of refutation, and the certificate marked M. from the first judge of the county of Kings, places the credibility of the witnesses beyond doubt.

two years, of the officers of the United States has not been complied with, in respect to the subordinate officers of the customs of New-York. I can therefore only state as a matter of estimate, that the patronage of that establishment approximates to 200,000 dollars annually: The surveyor of the port, Mr. Joseph G. Swift, has the immediate direction of the inspectors and other subordinate offi cers of the customs; and although he has not the power of displacement, yet they are in such a state of dependence, that their personal comfort must directly and their official existence indirectly, depend on his volition. In order that there might be no doubt of his determination to interfere, in the state election, he reported, as a member of a committee to a public meeting in King's county, the resolution marked N. When the situation, connexion, and political principles of this officer of the United States are considered, there can be

no doubt, but that he had previously ascertained dollars annually. During the able and impartiał the sense of his political superior, and that he was instructed to act accordingly. In pursuance of this example the two inspectors of the customs at Staten Island, interfered in the most improper manner in the election-the papers marked O. P. Q. R. S. T. will establish this charge, and the certificate marked U. given by the first judge of Richmond county, goes to prove the unquestionable good character of the witnesses. The papers marked V. and W. will also shew the conduct of some of the inspectors in the city of New-York. In such an immense popula-fed AA, are an expose of the removal of Alpheus tion it is difficult to trace the course of individuals particularly, but it is believed that the few friendly officers of the customs were intimidated into entire neutrality, and that the mass of the influence of that institution was made to exhibit a hostile attitude to the state administration. The law regulating the compensation of the inspectors of the customs authorises the allowance of three dollars a day, for the days that they are actually employed. These documents prove that seven of those officers were employed in electioneering; and I presume it will not be denied that each individual received three dollars a day from the public treasury when so engaged.

administration of the predecessor of the present post-master general, these offices were conferred without any reference to state politics. Attempts have been made, at different times, to cause the removal of post-masters friendly to the state administration, and I am sorry to say that, in several instances they have succeeded. The papers marked Z. will exhibit the case of Mr. Hezekiah L. Granger, who, in the spring of 1819, was removed from the office of post-master at Manlius. The papers markDoty from the post-office at Sandy Hill. This removal, it appears, was effected through the instrumentality of Mr. Roger Skinner, who resided in the same village. Mr. Doty, who has since died, had incurred the resentment of Mr. Skinner for his support of the state administration, and he was accordingly marked out for a victim, and in December, 1818, his removal was solicited by Mr. Skinner in the city of Washington. To effect this purpose, it would appear, that the good offices of Mr. Henry Meigs, were employed to operate on his uncle, the post-master general. It appears that the post-master general had determined to make the removal on Mr. Skinner's representation alone. The petiThe resolution marked W. V. of the citizens of tion was signed by violent partizans, and the reaBuffalo, complains of the undue interference of the sons assigned in it were only ostensible. And there officers of the general government in that quarter. is this singular circumstance attending this transacThe chairman of that meeting, Mr. John E. Mar-tion-the papers directing the displacement, were shall, informs me, "That this resolution was intend-enclosed to Mr. Skinner; and it was not, it appears, ed to be a censure upon the general political con- in his estimation, a sufficient punishment to effect duct of those persons residing in Niagara county, the removal of a good citizen and faithful officer, who are attached to the commission for establish- under false pretences; but his humiliation must be ing the boundary line between the United States witnessed by his political adversaries, who were and Canada. It is very notorious that those men, apprised of the event, and were called in to exult and all their dependents, have for two years, been over his fall. The papers marked BB, will shew actively and zealously engaged in opposition to the removal of the post-master at Caldwell. This the state administration.-At the last spring elec-was also principally accomplished through the tion they were peculiarly industrious, some of them agency of Mr. Skinner, and upon the same grounds frequently declaring that they were determined to of party excitement. His letter to the post-master revolutionize the county and state." The direct general, on this subject, could not be found. The compensation of these officers amounts to nearly paper marked CC, refers to the removal of Mr. 12,000 dollars a year, and their expenses are believ-Brown, the post-master at Hartford, in Washinged to be very considerable.

The conduct of the judge of the United States of the northern district of this state, is daily before the eyes of the legislature. The marshalls have acted in co-incidence with the general current or extraneous influence, and in their selections of deputies to take the census, they have, as far as I can learn, studiously excluded all those applicants that were friendly to the state administration. The conduct of Mr. Robert Tillotson, one of the district attornies, and nephew of the president of the United States, is glanced at in the paper marked X-and that of Mr. Jacob Sutherland, the other district attorney, and nephew of the secretary of the navy, is mentioned in the paper marked Y. It will give me pleasure to find that there is error in some of these imputations; but of their officious and improper interference, generally speaking, there can be no doubt. There are three newspapers employed by the government for publishing the laws of the union, in this state, and these consisted of the Argus, National Advocate, and Ontario Messenger, until within a few weeks, when the businesss was taken from the last paper, and committed to the Times, in Batavia, a Gazette of recent date, of comparatively limited circulation, and hostile to the state administration.

There are, I believe, 674 post-masters in this state, and I should estimate the aggregate patronage of the department in the state at large, at 100,000

ton county, which was also the result of the same spirit. In March, 1819, Mr. Jacob Van Ness was removed from the office of clerk of the county of Dutchess; and Mr. Peter R. Livingston, a senator from the southern district, publicly declared, as I am credibly informed, that the then post-master at Poughkeepsie should be removed from office, and Mr. Van Ness appointed in his place. This event actually took place, and indicates an understanding and co-operation between a department, at least, at Washington, and a political party in this state.

Although these measures were unequivocal in demonstration, and reprehensible in character, yet they were not deemed sufficiently energetic for the crisis. And, accordingly, on the 4th of April, 1820, twenty-one days before the general election, Mr. Martin Van Buren, chairman of the meeting which nominated Mr. Tompkins for governor, addressed the following letter to Mr. Henry Meigs, the nephew, before alluded to, of the post-master general.-"My dear sir-Our sufferings, owing to the rascality of deputy post-masters is intolerable, and cries aloud for relief. We find it absolutely impossible to penetrate the interior with our papers, and unless we can attain them by two or three prompt removals, there is no limiting the injurious consequences that may result from it; let me there. fore entreat the post-master general to do an act of justice, and render us a partial service, by the