said, when first informed of the fact; but he had no additiona! military academies; one in the vicinity of doubt the reasons for the measure would prove Fort Dearborn, in the state of South Carolina; one satisfactory to all. He would go with any gentle-in the vicinity of Newport, in the state of Kentticman, at any time, into an enquiry into the conduct of the executive; but he thought the gentlemen were going too fast now, to call specifically for information which it was probable might reach the house before this second call could reach the president. He, therefore, hoped it would be laid on the table. The question to lay the resolution on the table was then taken: ky, one in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, in the state of Virginia: one third of the cadets to be sons of officers and soldiers of the late army, who died in the service of the United States during the late war. 4. That it is expedient to organize by law a corps of invalids, to be composed of one thousand men. 5. That it is expedient to make provision by law for the repeal of so much of the act of July 6, 1812, as authorizes additional pay and emolument to brevet rank in the army of the United States. Mr. Rhea having accepted Mr. Forsyth's propos-United States shall consist hereafter of eight thou. * ed amendment, as part of his own motion The main question was taken on the resolution, and decided in the affirmative, without a division; and a committee ordered to be appointed to wait on the president therewith. The bill for the admission of the state of Mississippi into the union (the constitution having been read through) was agreed to in committee of the whole, and read the third time and passed. Tuesday, Dec. 9. The usual number of petitions were presented and referred; among which was one by Mr. M Coy, of Virginia, from an honest couple in his district, who represent that they have been united in wedlock's happy bonds for seven and twenty years, in which time they have added to our population twenty children, nineteen of whom are living, and whom they have maintained by the product of their manual labor. Conceiving themselves entitled to the favor of congress on that score, they pray for a donation of land to make their declining years, more easy to them. The petition was referred to the committee of public lands. A petition was also presented from C. Hammond contesting the election of Mr. Herrick, of Ohio, a member of this house, on the ground of his having, at the time of his election, and until a few days be. fore he took his seat here, held the office of attorney of the United States for the district of Ohio. This petition was read and referred to the committee of elections. Mr Lowndes, from the committee of ways and and means, reported a bill to abolish the internal duties. The repeal to take place from and after the 31st day of the present month.] The bill was twice read and committed. Mr. Seybert, from a select committee, reported a bill supplementary to the act concerning the mint. [The object of the biil is to continue the mint at Philadelphia.] The bill was twice read. Military Establishments. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, with a view to ascertain the sense of the House on certain points, that the labors of the military committee should not be unnecessarily troublesome to the House, and laborious to themselves, submitted the following resolutions to the consideration of the House. 1. Resolved, That it is expedient to provide by law for the widows and orphans of the soldiers of the regular army who were killed in battle, or died in service during the late war with Great Britain. 2. That it is expedient to provide by law for the disbanded and deranged officers of the army of the United States, who served in the late war with Great Britain, donations in land, viz. to each major general 1.280 acres; to each brigadier general 1,120; to each colonel or lieutenant colonel 960 acres; to each major 800 acres, to each captain 640 acres; to each subaltern 480 acres. 3. That it is expedient to establish by law three! 6. That the military peace establishment of the sand men, including the corps of invalids. Provided that the corps of engineers, the general staff and ordnance department shall be retained as at present established: Provided also, that no part of the army shall be disbanded in consequence of said reductions, but the same shall be effected by permitting vacancies, as they occur, to remain. 7. That it is expedient to provide by law for an additional national armory, to be located on thẻ western waters. 8. That it is expedient to provide for an additional ration to each commissioned officer in the army of the United States. 9. That the committee on military affairs be instructed to report bills embracing those objects. Mr. Johnson accompanied the introduction of these resolutions with a number of remarks appropriate to them individually, and as a whole-{which we cannot find room for in the present number of the REGISTER.] The several resolutions were received, and refer red to a committee of the whole house for consideration. On motion of Mr. Tucker, of Virginia, Resolved, That the president of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the house of representatives information of what roads have been made, or are in progress, under the executives authority of the United States; the states and territories through which they pass or are intended to pass; the periods when they were ordered to be made, and how far they have been executed. Mr. Spencer, of New York, offered a resolution which had for its object to ascertain the number of warrants issued for military bounty lands to soldiers in the late war, and the probable quantity of land that will be necessary to satisfy claims for bounty lands under the several laws of congress. Mr. Walker, of North Carolina, submitted a resolution to entitle minors who served in the late war to bounty lands, or a commutation therefor. Mr. Whitman, of Massachusetts, offered for consideration the following resolution: Resalved, That the committee of commerce and manufactures be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law for the apprehending and securing foreign seamen deserting from foreign vessels while in the ports of the United States, contrary to their engagements to serve on board such vessels. On motion of Mr. Mc Coy of Virginia, Resolved, That the committee of ways and means be instructed to enquire into the expediency of repealing the law laying a duty on imported salt, granting a bounty on pickled fish exported, and allowing a bounty to vessels employed in the fisheries. Mr. Claiborne of Tennessee, moved the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on the judiciary be instructed to enquire whether any, and, if any estimate of a revenue under the present laws, of what alterations and amendments are necessary to $24,525,000 as made by the secretary of the treabe made in the judiciary. Mr. C. stated some of his reasons for offering this resolution, which was agreed to. Wednesday, Dec. 10.—Mr. Newton, of Virginia, from the committee of commerce and manufactures, reported a bill to remit the duties on a painting presented to the Pennsylvania hospital; which was twice read. sury, may be safely relied on for many succeeding years. No doubt can be entertained, under the circumstances of the United States, as to the pro priety of reducing a revenue so far exceeding their ordinary expenses, and the committee recommend a general repeal of the internal duties. This will leave, according to the estimates of the secretary, a revenue of about twenty-two millions, exceeding the ordinary expenditure by something more than half a million. Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, offered for consideration the following resolution, to obtain a decision on a question raised by a memorial yesterday pre- Some difficulties will always be found in deter sented, contesting the election of a member from mining the period at which the collection of a tax Ohio, and which Mr. F. considered of great import shall cease. The consideration, however, of the large proportion of the internal duties which will become payable in January, induces the committee to recommend that all internal duties should termi. ance: Resolved, That the committee of elections be instructed to inquire and report what persons, elect ed to serve in the house of representatives, have acnate with the year 1817. cepted or held offices under the government of the United States since the 4th day of March, 1817, and how far their right to a seat in this house is affected by it. The entire amount which will have accrued to the government on account of the internal duties, exclusive of the direct tax, from the first of Janua ry, 1814, to the thirty-first December, 1817, may be estimated at more than seventeen millions, and the receipts for the same time, at upwards of fifteen The adoption of this resolution was warmly op. posed by Mr. Taylor, of New York, and Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky; and was also opposed by Mr. Sey-millions. bert, of Pennsylvania, Mr. Livermore, of New-Hampshire, and Mr. W. P. Maclay, of Penn. and was supported by Mr. Forsyth. The question on the resolution was taken, when there appeared In favor of the resolution 85 85 The house being equally divided, the Speaker, assigning as his reason his desire to have the constitutional question fully nvestigated, voted in favor of the motion; which was therefore adopted. The speaker laid before the house a letter from Richard Bland Lee, esq. commissioner of claims, &c. transmitting a statement of facts, as directed by the act of last session, in several cases of claims for indemnity of losses of property during the war, from the state of Maryland; which were referred to the committee of claims. Repeal of the internal duties. The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill to abolish the internal duties, Mr. Desha being called to the chair. The report of the committee of ways and means, which accompanied the bill, is in the following words: The following statement will show the receipts of each of the three first years, with an estimate of those of the fourth year. Accruing duties. Duties received. 1,910,995 01 1814 The charges of collection upon this revenue have certainly been higher than those upon the impost. These have, however, been very different at different times. Mr. Gallatin estimated them, in 1800, at something less than 6 per cent. on monies collected from the people. Mr. Dallas, in one of his reports, supposes them, including fees, to be about 5 per cent. and they have been still lower in the three Report of the committee of ways and means, accompu.last years. This difference in the expense of col. nying a bill to abolish the internal duties. The committee of ways and means, to whom has been referred so much of the president's message as respects revenue, report lecting internal and foreign duties, will not appear extraordinary, when we remember how few are the domestic products, which are subject to duty, and of foreign, which are exempt from it; how long and regularly the impost has been acquiring maturity, and improvement, and how frequent have been the changes, and how short the duration of our system of internal revenue. That they have supposed that they should best comply with the intentions of the house, by directing their first attention to the repeal of the internal duties, which occupied its deliberations during the latter part of its last session, and has been since In abandoning that portion of our taxes which is recommended by the president. From the report considered as the most inconvenient, neither con of the secretary of the treasury, it appears that the gress nor the nation will form so exaggerated a noclear revenue which will have accrued during the tion of these inconveniences, as to deter them from year 1817, will be about twenty-four millions and again applying to the same resource, when the a half of dollars, while the ordinary annual expen-necessities of the state shall require it. It is one diture, (including the provisions for the extinguish of the duties of congress to provide, when it can of the public debt) is estimated at less than twenty do so, that the revenue shall be collected from one millions and a half. While the committee do not consider the importations of the three last years as furnishing a certain criterion for those of future years, they believe, that, without a diminucon of our exports, which is not to be anticipate, r a very considerable reduction in their value, the sources which may comport with public convenience; but it is a higher duty to provide, from whatever sources the constitution may have opened to its operation, such a revenue as shall not permit the fate of a war, and the most important interests of the nation, to depend on precarious and often ex question on the passage of the bill was then determined by Yeas and Nays, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Abbot, Adams, Allen, Mass. Al travagant loans. The government can have no reasonable fear but that the circumstances which make internal taxes necessary, will find in the people a disposition promptly to pay them. The committee len, Vt. Anderson, Pen. Anderson, Ken. Austin, believe that in any future emergency, which shall require a resort to these taxes, the house of representatives will, unhesitatingly, perform their peculiar duty, by instituting them on a scale suited to the occasion. The bill having been read through Bail, Barbour, Va. Barber, Ohio, Bassett, Bateman, Bayley, Beecher, Bellinger, Bennett, Bloomfield, Blount, Boden, Boss, Burwell, Butler, Campbell, Clagett, Claiborne, Cobb, Colston, Comstock, Cook, Crafts, Crawford, Cruger, Culbreth, Cush. man, Darlington, Desha, Drake, Earle, Edwards, Mr. Lowndes, the chairman of the committee of Ellicott, Floyd, Folger, Forney, Forsyth, Gage, ways and means, made a few remarks of the same Garnett, Goodwyn, Hale, Hall, N. C. Harrison, bearing as the reasoning of the above report. He took Hasbrouck, Hendricks, Herbert, Herkimer, Her. occasion also to say, that it was due to candor and rick, Heister, Hitchcock, Hogg, Holmes, Mass. to himself to add, that he should have individually Holmes, Con. Hubbard, Hunter, Huntingdon, Ing. thought it better, instead of a total repeal, to have ham, Irving, N. Y. Johnson, Virg. Johnson, Ken. made a modification of the duties, so as to reduce Jones, Kinsey, Kirtland, Lawyer, Lewis, Linn, Littheir amount and lighten their burthen, but still to tle, Livermore, Lowndes, M'Lane, W. Maclay, W. leave part of the system in operation. Believing, P. Maclay, Marchand, M'Coy, Marr, Mason, Mas. however, that the expectation of the total repeal Mercer, Merrill, Miller, Moore, Morton, Mosely, was such as to render vain any attempt to discri- Mumford, Murray, H. Nelson, T. M. Nelson, Nesminate, or to modify, he had concurred on the bitt, New, Newton, Orr, Owen, Palmer, Parris, course adopted by the committee of recommending Parrott, Patterson, Pawling, Peter, Pindall, Pita total repeal, in preference to retaining the whole. kin, Pleasants, Quarles, Reed, Rhea, Rich, Rich Mr. Williams, of North Carolina was in favor of ards, Ringgold, Robertson, Ken. Robertson, Lou. the entire repeal. Mr. Tallmadge, of New York, Ruggles, Sampson, Savage, Sawyer, Scudder, Sermoved to amend the bill so as to except sales at geant, Settle, Seybert, Shaw, Sherwood, Slocumb, auction, and signed his reasons to support it. Mr. S. Smith, Bal. Smith, Alex. Smyth, J. S. Smith, Storrs, of N. York, also supported, and Messrs Southard, Spangler, Speed, Spencer, Strong, StroLowndes, Whitman, Smith, of Md. and Clay [speak.ther, Stuart, Tallmadge, Tarr, Taylor, Terrill, er] opposed it; and it was negatived by a large Terry, Tompkins, Townsend, Trimble, Tucker, Va. Tucker, S. C. Tyler, Upham, Walker, N. C. majority. Walker, Ken. Wallace, Wendover, Westerlo, Whiteside, Whitman, Williams, Con. Williams, N. C. Wilkin, Wilson, Pa.-161. Mr. Little, of Md. proposed a resolution to relieve distillers who had received licenses, that were prevented by the events of the late war from working their distilleries, and stated a case of hardship. It was thought that the proper course in such cases would be by an application to congress, and Mr. L's motion was negatived. The question being put on reporting the bill to the house, some debate arose on a proposition for more time to consider it—but the committee seemed satisfied that the resources of government were amply sufficient without any of the internal taxes, and rose and reported it to the house without amendment, by which it was ordered to a third reading to morrow. Thursday, Dec. 11. On motion of Mr. Parris, of Massachusetts. Resolved, that the committee on naval affairs be instructed to enquire into the expediency of altering the rank and emoluments of surgeons in the navy of the United States. On motion of Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts. Resolved, That the committee on roads and canals, enquire into the expediency of providing by law for constructing a navigable canal to unite the waters of Lake Michigan with the waters of those of the Mississippi. NAYS-Messrs. Baldwin, Hopkinson, Middleton, Jer. Nelson, Stoors-5. So the bill was passed, and sent to the senate for The respect which has been necessary for us to pay to a very industrious congress, and other need. ful attentions to home matters, has prevented a notice of foreign affairs. However, nothing of importance has reached us from abroad. By a recent decision of the legislature of Teanessee, the seat of government of that state is to be removed from Knoxville to Murfreesborough, Charles Bullfinch, of Massachusetts, has been appointed architect of the capitol of the United States vice Mr. Latrobe, resigned. West point.-The cadets absent from this acadeThat they also enquire into the expediency of my are ordered to report for duty, and join before providing for constructing a navigable canal to 1st of March-else they will be dismissed the ser unite the waters of the Tennessee with those of the vice. Tombigbee. Seminole Indians. Gen, Gaines has made' a furThat they also enquire into the expediency of ther requisition of 500 men from Georgia, to be held providing for improving the navigation of the Ten-in readiness to act against the Seminole Indians. The whole detachment is to be commanded by After several resolutions being offered which brig. gen. Glascock. In a letter to the governor of shall be noticed in their course, and which we have not time at present to detail, the engrossed bill for the repeal of the internal duties was read the third time, and on the question "shall the bill pass?" a considerable debate arose, or rather, many remarks were made by several members. Howeyer-the nessee. Georgia, gen Gaines states that his hopes of termi nating the disputes with these indians without a resort to force, have been disappointed. They report their strength at 2700 warriors; the number is thought to be much over rated; but they seem determined to make a stand. The chief seats of this people are in Florida, NEW SERIES. NO 17-Vo).I] BALTIMORE, DECEM. 20, 1817. [No. 17-VOL. XIII. WHOLE No. 32 THE PAST-THE PRESENT FOR THE FUTURE. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. A supplement of eight pages accompanies the commendation of a reduction of the taxes, present number of the REGISTER, and together pre and the national credit is so high as to intersents a great variety and no small quantity of matter rupt the operations of the commissioners of -in part suited to almost every taste: yet, may the sinking fund in paying off the public debt; things that we would have inserted are still ly ing over-among these are EXEMPLARY TABLES, party, too, has lost its fervor-never since the shewing the names of the banks, in the state of political divisions of the people first began Maryland, the date of their institution, amount of were there so few points to elicit passion as at capital and capital actually paid in, the places of the present calm and happy period. There their location, and the names of their presidents seems to be only one subject that can reasonand cashiers-and a table containing a list of the ably be expected to furnish grounds for an newspapers published in the said state, with the, names of the editors, the places where located, size ardent difference of opinion, or difference of of the sheet on which they are printed, political principle. We mean in regard to the revocharacter, and when published. The object of lutionists of "Spanish America" and of these, those tables, it will be recollected, is to obtain a also, the president speaks in a manner that is complete list of all the banks and of all the news-applauded by many, though it is censured by a papers in the United States-in which the editor few. expects the assistance of his brother editors in the other states. North Carolina appears to have many able and enlightened citizens. We have a report, from Mr. Yancey (o st congress) to the legislature of diciary-and another on educa case. The message commences by noticing our "profitable and extensive commerce"-It has been found fault with for this-as stating that It is very cerfact. upon which is not built bat state, G rphey, making a pamphlet of tain that our commerce is not flourishing; a tion, by Mr. A 22 pages-in w ose important subjects are ex very considerable part of our legitimate trade tensively and very oly investigated and examined. is in the hands of foreigners; many of our ships We shall take much pleasure in laying those arti- are laid up; many are but partially employed, and the business of ship-building has almost cles before our readers the first opportunity. "Old things become new."-An article is just now ceased in many of our ports. But the presiextensively circulating in the newspapers respect-dent had regard to this commerce "as augmenting the cultivation of sugar in Georgia. That arti cle was originally published in the WEEKLY REGISTER ing our revenue," and in that respect itinay be on the 10th of February 1816, from facts commu-called extensive and prosperous. Even in this, nicated to the editor by a member of congress-however, we are of the opinion, and we have and the remarks thereon, from the St. Christopher's reasons for it, that our commerce has not been Guzette, where also inserted in this paper on the nearly as "p ofitable" as it ought to have been; 31st Aug. of the same year. See WEEKLY REGISTER and we did hope that the president would have vol IX. p. 405-and vol. XI. p. 7. We notice these things fest any might think us neglectful of a mat recommended a close revision of all the laws ter of so much importance; the credit for the ori affecting goods paying ad valorem duties. Mr. ginal not being given as it should have been, in any Sanford's motion, in senate, on the 8th inst may supply this omission--but it is a matter of great importance; many times more so than that which relates to the internal taxes. We are extensively swindled through British agents and goods shipped "to order," and Every one of the quill-driving family of must enlarge the number of articles paving editors seems to feel it his right and duty to specific duties, or adopt a system by which offer some remarks on the annual messages of those paying according to value shall be inthe president of the United States to congress, spected and valued for the purpose of assessing on opening the session; and, as a man may the taxes that they ought to pay. Though I "as well be out of the world as out of the have not the best opinion in the world of fashion," we, also, shall briefly notice the late "counting-house morality," still it would be as very plain and very interesting communication uncharitable as it would be unjust to insinuate, that the body of our regular merchants and of Mr. Monroe. This message has received almost unquali-t aders have any part or participatie in the Nay, they are fied approbation, and its frankness and pre-smugglings complained of. cision are highly commended, by, men of all deeply interested in detecting and punishing parties. There never was a better time, how the authors of them, and will cheerfully submit ever, for a good president to make an agreea-to any reasonable regulations adopted to deble message. We have peace and plenty fend the honest trader, and enable him to come an overflowing treasury has prompted a re-into the market with his goods upon a fair oor? President's Message. VOL. III.17. petition with others--by which, also, the go-the president for those proceedings; though, vernment might collect several additional mil-indeed, they appear to bear against the patrilions of dollars per annum, and the manufac-ots, in the success of whose efforts we are turer truly receive the defence and protection most truly and sincerely interested. We are which the new ta iff held up to encourage him, not familiar with the proceedings that have In opposition to the baneful effects that flow taken place at Galveztown, but those at the and increase upon us from these demoralizing lia are known to every body. Whatever may practices, there would be some little satisfac- have been the original design of creur tion in reflecting that the profit of perjury, and those who first dispossessed the Spaniards direct or actual, remained to our citizens!! of the island, it is very certain that it now is but even that is denied us-it goes to .ngland, only a depot for privateers of the worst deto support her manufacturers at the cost of our scription, and for smuggling of the most obown, to the depression of our revenue, and the noxious character. I know a man who has disorganization and disadvantage of the con- boasted that he had $25,000 in one of the cerns of our inerchants. southern banks, the product of certain slaves These frauds on the revenue are committed captured and sent to Amelia, and there dispos in nrany ways--sontetimes by direct perjury, ed of to citizens of the United States, who and at others, by "whipping the devil round the introduced them at their own risk into our Stump," as old judge Bassett was fond of say- country. Many have been thus brought in ing in like cases. One fellow swears through already, and it Amelia had remained in the thick and thin---what's a "custom-house oath" possession of those who latterly commanded but another, more conscientious, swears to there, many prize cargoes of slaves would a lie in the wo ds of truth. A friend of mine have been made off the harbor in a few months,who purchased his goods immediately of the just as some little boats, with two or three manufacturer in England, was spontaneously men and unarmed, captured some large vésFurnished with two invoices one, as the En- sels ladened with British goods, off the eastern glishman said, to pass through the custom- coast, in the late war. As a war measure house with the other as the real one; and this against Spain, we should heartily rejoice to he added, was his common practice, shewing see every one of her ships captured by the him, at the saine time, a memorandum book to patriots-nay, I do not know that I would prove the truth of his assertion, Others refuse the latter with their prizes (except of manage in this way--to the actual cost of the slaves) the perfect freedom of our ports. I raw material they add the actual monies paid am almost willing to make an immediate acto the workmen, and call the amount the ori- knowledgment of some of the provinces as git cost of the manufactured article. So it free and independent states-yet cannot bring thay be but it is not so in the spirit and mean- myself to respect the motives or approve of ing of the law. However, a little volume the conduct of the strange mixture of men would hardly narrate the different manners in that recently ruled at Amelia: But we shall, which the desired effect may be produced; and probably, soon see the reasons in extenso on frauds of this sort, we know, are winked at which the president acted, and then we can and suffered to pass through the British cus- judge more clearly on this subject. tom-houses. It is the morality of that trading The public lands are more and more becomnation that forgery, perjury and fraud are ing an interesting item in the nation's wealth lawful, provided only, they are intended to and revenue. A most able and most amiable affect a foreign nation. Witness, the forge-man, Mr. Meigs, as commissioner, is especialries by the government of American continenly charged with their management and care; tal money and French assignats, and in the open and we feel satisfied that that vast fund will countenance inore lately given to the manufac- not be squandered by any act of his. But in ture and use of American shipping papers, at some cases there is reason to fear that conLondon, &c. The fact is, that the honest gress has been extensively imposed upon and trader, as well as the manufacturer, cannot be that benefits designed for the use of many, and defended, nor the public revenue be made to for national purposes, have been monopolized produce what it ought to do. by, perhaps, 20 or 25 cent. unless we do as other nations do:---that is, cause packages of goods to be frequently and very strictly examined, by intelligent and respectable persons, well paid for such ser vices. to create princely fortunes for a few crafty individuals. And as to those lands, congress would do well to recollect the constant saying of the old German who accumulated a large estate by purchasing and holding vacant lots in Baltimorethat Got Almighty was always To proceed with the message. We pass making new people's; but did not make any -over it with entire satisfaction and much pro-new lands." In the wealth of individuals, it fit, until we arrive at that part which relates is true, is the resources of nations, and the to the suppression of the establishments at lands should be freely and liberally disposed of Galveztown and Amelia island; and here we in all cases in which actual settlements are expause for the purpose of offering our thanks to 'pected; but monopolies should be guarded ! |