No. 21 OF VOL. XII.] BALTIMORE, SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1817. Hac olin meminisse juvabit.—VIRGIL [WHOLE NO. 367. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT THE HEAD OF CHEAPSIFE, AT 85 PER ANNUM. A gentleman of great taste and accuracy, a merebant of this city, has furnished us with a highly interesting statement of arrivals in the several ports of the United States, for the year 1816. We are satisfied that it is as correct as, from the nature of things, it can easily be; affording a valuable item in the statistics of our country. See page 324. them. Political Economy-No. IV. PROPOSITION THE EIGHTH. THAT SHIPPING AND COMMENCE IS NECESSARY BOTH TO AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES, AND ESSENTIAL The shipping and commerce here mentioned is to be understood as appertaining to our intercourse with foreigners. But the internal and coasting trade immensely more valuable. Judge Livingston's opinion respecting the bank. rupt law, was intended for this paper. It shall appear in our next. The law cases inserted in the WEEKLY REGISTER are useful, not to gentlemen of is The tonnage of the United States, on the 31st of the bar only-but may improve and instruct the people at large in matters of great moment to December, 1815, the latest return that has been published, amounted to 1,368,127 tons-the great. It is delightful to see the words "national cha-est tonnage that belongs to any nation in the world, racter," "national feeling," and the like, coming into common use;-and it is, indeed, a luxury to the editor of this paper to believe, that he, as much as any man, has contributed to bring it about.A pride of country is a bulwark of safety. Let us cherish it-it is the cheapest, as well as the best, defence of the republic Internal Improvements. Great Britain excepted-and our seamen and half seamen may amount to nearly or about 100,000 men, The value of the vessels may be estimated at 60 millions of dollars, and the annual earnings of the seamen, including all the costs and profits belonging to the whole business, at $300 dollars for each, or 80 millions a year. Their employment creates a great home-market for provisions, timber, cordage, &c. &c.* North Carolina seems roused to a sense of her "Home market." I wish that the importange many natural advantages. The clearing of the ob of this was better understood, and appreciated as structions to the navigation of the Roanoke and it ought to be by the people of the United States. Cape Fear rivers, at present occupies the attention Every body may see it, yet most are insensible of of some of her statesmen, and with every prospect of its advantages. Lands are improved and property success in both undertakings. We have heretofore rises in value-and they think not of the why or noticed the former, and now have before us a re- wherefore. I well know a district of country in a port of the president and directors of the "Cape neighboring state in which, by the extension of one Fear Navigation Company" to the stockholders, manufactory and the establishment of one (or two) which warrants a hope that that noble river, for a new ones, the land, for several miles round, has treb great distance into the interior, may easily be made led its price within the short period of about eight navigable for the craft usually employed; in which years-and numerous fields that were considered they have made very considerable progress. "worn out," are now, through an invigorated agri The course of the river has been chiefly obstruct culture, covered with the most luxurious produced by immense numbers of logs and trees deposited tions. This effect is wholly, or at least chiefly, causin its bed, and forming sand banks and shoals, un-ed by the market established at the farmer's door til the original channel was nearly filled up. Vasta place whereat he can always raise a little moquantities of these have been removed, "some of ney if he has any thing to sell, without trouble. them almost as heavy as stone by their long submer- A neighboring miller's bill for Hour furnished the sion," by a very "simple method," that "requires people at one of these establishments, averages only the steady operation of labor," and it is found 2000 dollars a year--and every thing else is in prothat the channel is immediately deepened, the sand portion. then giving way to the current. The removal of the logs alone, it is believed, will effect all the desired improvement from Wilmington to Fayetteville. I do not recollect that I ever mentioned a conversation that I had at Annapolis eight or ten years ago, with a sage member of the legislature of the This state owes more to Archibald D. Murphy, state, before a room full of company-The legisla esq. than to any, perhaps, of her many enlightened tor was complaining of the multitude of business citizens. His name, through his reports to the le- that was presented to the assembly from Baltimore; gislature, &c. is familiar to our readers; but he has to which I replied that the fault was in that body, now many associates in his meritorious labors. Afor neglecting, or refusing, to grant powers to the the late celebration of the 4th of July, at Fayette- city suited to its progressive state of improvement, ville, by all parties, we notice with pleasure that a by which it ought to be enabled to regulate its local just tribute was paid to his worth, "as the success-affairs. He said that this might be so-but "any ful promoter of inland navigation," and with a wish how,-I wish it were sunk in the basin." This was that "the state might delight to esteem and honor not a political effervescence-he was only tired of him, as he had benefited and honored the people." making laws to lay out new streets, &c. in Baltimore. I hope that the growth of such men may be encou. I bowed, and thanked the gentleman in the name of raged-one of them is worth a thousand gabbling my fellow citizens for his goodness towards them. politicians; and I truly rejoice to see that they are coming into fashion, in many parts of the union. VOL XII. After a while, I suddenly turned, and asked the legislator if he had any land, and what he valued it Foreign trade is at present very dull. By the ta numerous at sea. In a few years more, if peace lasts bles inserted in subsequent pages it appears that we in Europe, we cannot expect any part in the carryare rivalled by foreigners in our own ports, and in ing trade, and, perhaps, this is as well; but our ships the transport of our own commodities. Experience should be protected so as to give to them a decided teaches-we ought no more to suffer foreigners to preference in carrying our own commodities and in underwork us in shipping than in manufactures, and supplying us with those that we want for our own for the same reasons. But the defence of our coun- uses from abroad. Independent of the profitable emtry is immediately connected with the prosperity of ployment thus afforded and the home market there. our shipping and fisheries-as these decline our by created, it is by this only that we can expect to means of supporting a navy fails. Ships, of them- keep up a naval force; and it is now generally agreed selves, are as inefficient to protect us as the trees of that we ought to have a respectable establishment, which they may be composed. Napoleon had three "sufficient to defend itself and us." If the present fine squadrons rotting in port, while our few frigates, power to support it is lost, years must elapse bemore closely watched by the same enemy, were fore it can be regained. Seamen cannot be made scouring every sea. If we had had those ships, the in a day-and their habits are such that they are late war would have borne a very different character; easily scattered and lost to their country, by the and the trident might have trembled in the hands want of employment under its flag. We might of the "mistress of the sea. I am not aware of here pay a tribute of praise to those of the United our capacity to man a naval force by voluntary en- States-but we cannot add any thing to their fame. listments, and we never can resort to any other Their renown has reached every part of the world. means, though impressment for the sea-service is, They are invaluable, and contribute more, perhaps, I believe, used by every other maritime nation: but to the national strength and prosperity, than any the capacity is great, seeing that 300 able seamen other class not more numerous; and we ought to are considered amply sufficient for a ship of the guard their interests as the apple of our eye. We shall conclude this article with a table shew. line, the rest of her crew being made up of ordinary seamen, landsmen and boys. This force has ing the tonnage of the United States for the several risen up from an extensive and long prosperous years from 1793 to 1815 inclusive, (except 1814) commerce; and, for the want of it, is now declining which will be very convenient for reference, and as rapidly as it rose. Powerful efforts should be some remarks or comparisons with that of Great made to prevent it from sinking below its natural Britain. level: we have had more foreign trade than was our just share; but it is now a matter of much interest to take care that we have not less than that share. The reduction of the British navy has cast many thousand seamen on the merchant's service, and their wages are very low. Holland, France, &c. &c. are reviving-and their ships are already 31 REGISTER'D ENROLLED LICENSED TOTAL under 20 t's. tons. 95th 889,804 86 623,067.54 714,868 23 764,573 60 835,177 19 854,819 54 915,837 73 942,413 35 993,100 90 850,003 42 896,277 51 990,066 75 tons. 95th tons. 95th tons. 95th Dec. 1793 367,734 23 114,853 10 7,217 53 1794 438,862 71 167,227 42 16,977 36 1795 529,470 63164,795 9119,601 59 at? He was surprised with the question and answered, hesitatingly, that he had, and named a price 1796 576,733 25195,423 6422,416 66 that he supposed it would fetch. I then enquired 1797 597,777 43214,077 523,325 66 what it was worth twenty years before-he turned 1798 603,376 37 227,343 79 24,099 43 and twisted the question as though he suspected 1799 669,197 19220,904 46 25,736 8 something, but at length stated a sum less than 1800 669,921 35 245,295 4 27,196 91 a third of the amount, first given. What was the 1801718,549 60 246,255 34 28,296 91 cause of this great rise of value?—I supposed he 1802 560,380 63 260,543 1629,079 58 had richly manured his fields, built a fine barn, and 1803 597,157 05 268,676 12 30,384 34 a new dwelling house, within the twenty years-1804 672,530 18 286,840 130,696 56 No, neither; the lands were poorer and the build-1805 749,341 22301,366 38 31,296 73 1,082,004 38 ings worse now, by their tear and wear, than they 1806 808,284 68309,977 530,562 54 1,148,824 32 were at the former period. But, said I, there is no 1807 848,306 85318,189 93 30,838 39 1,197,335 27 effect without a cause- -what is the cause of the 1808769,053 54 387,684 43 33,135 33 1,189,873 35 greater value of your land. Why-it was the rise 1809 910,059 23371,500 56 33,661 751,315,221 59 of property, said the law maker. This is an effect 1810 984,269 05 397,704 3242,809 851,424,783 27 -but I want you to tell me the cause. "Cause-1811768,852 21 420,673 77 42,976 361,232,502 39 477, 971 00 1,238,595 40 cause," said he, confusedly, and with a blank and 1812760,624 40 Judicous countenance, "I don't know any cause." 1813 674,853 44 I'll tell you it is a market for your products-a 1815854,294 74 462.807 22/51,025 771,368,127 78 place at which you can always get money for any thing and to any amount, greit or small, that you have to sell; it is that Baltimore which you wish sunk into the basin. The man looked wildly for a moment-the light of truth seemed too great for him; he faintly confessed that he believed it was so, and a peal of laughter completed his discomfiture. But, and notwithstanding the home market is of *Notwithstanding this aggregate, it appears that such mighty importance, and so many times great-no more than 1,579,715 tons of British vessels were er than the foreign, still the latter, to a very consi-entered inward in the same year from all parts of derable extent, fixes the value upon or determines the world, including their repeated voyages-which the prices, of most things that any of us have to takes in all from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, &c. In spare; extending even, perhaps, to establish the the same year there cleared, outwards, in like manprice of a day's labor Hence, it is essential to the ner, 1,507,353 tons. Either of these is rather Mterests of all ranks and descriptions of people. the average for 10 yearse The gross tonnage belonging to all the ports of the British empire (except Ireland) was, in 1803 1812 Ireland, in 1812, only 2,108,990 tons. 2,421,695* 57,103 er NEW VESSELS BUILT-TONS. YEARS. In the United States. In Great Britain. 1804 103,755 91 1805 128,507 3 1806 126,093 26 1807 99,783 92 1808 31,755 34 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 Average, 10 years, horses. 135,349 00 115,630 00 91,397 55 97,140 57 Trade in Negroes. 94,198 00 87,236 00 Susep-the Indian. Bangor, Me.) June 23-At the supreme jdicial court which was holden at Castine last week, Poal Susep, an Indian of the Penobscot tribe, was indicted and tried for the murder of William Knight, late of this town, The prisoner was brought to the bar on Thursday in the court-house, but so great was the crowd of spectators, the court adjourned to the meeting-house, and there, after most of the day had been spent in a patient investigation of all the circumstances of this unhappy event, the cause was ably argued by the learned counsel for 84,891 00 the prisoner, the hon Messrs. Mellen and Williams son, who had been appointed to this arduous task by the court, and by Mr. Solicitor-General Davis, on the part of the government. After which the court, as is usual in capital trials, asked the prisoner if he had any thing further to say in his defence, who replied that John Neptune would say something for him. This man, though not the present chief of the tribe, is distinguished for good If there is any thing that ought to be supremely sense and information, and came forward to the hated, it is the present infamous traffic that is car- forum with the ease and assurance of a CICERO. His ried on in several of the middle states, and especially speech was not brilliant, but impressive-he all-idin Maryland, in negroes, for the Georgia and Louied to several murders committed on the tribe by siana markets. I blush for the honor of the art of our people, which had escaped punishment, and printing when I see advertisements published in particularly named the case of Livermore who was the newspapers, openly avowing the trade, and so- convicted and sentenced to death for the murder iciting business, with the indifference of dealers in of an Indian, but is now in the state prison under a commutation of punishment by the executive; and But, not content with violating every tie deemed said he and his brethern were willing Livermore sacred in society-of separating husband from wife should be released from his imprisonment, in case and the mother from her children, and transporting Susep should be acquitted-He also expatiated these miserable beings to a strange land, manacled largely on the importance of living in peace and like felons, and in every way treated as if they had amity with our neighbors—said it was the sincere no more feeling than stocks or stones, wretches are wish of his tribe, as well as the Quoddy and St. not wanting to seize on free persons and carry John's Indians, to be on good terms with the Amerithem off and sell them for slaves-and, unhappily, cans, since we were all brethern of the same great there are planters base enough to purchase men family; and reminded the audience that this life at without an enquiry as to the manner in which they best was short and transitory The jury after were obtained. We recently noticed the punish- retiring a short time returned a verdict of "NOT ment of two monsters in the state of Delaware, for GUILTY of murder, but guilty of MAN SLAUGH kidnapping. If that of death was ever meritoriously TER." The sentence was one year's imprisonment inflicted, these men ought to have suffered it-for it in the county gaol. was their practice to break into the houses of free The facts constituting the offence in this case blacks at night and carry them off, with every ag- were, that Susep in a state of intoxication and in a gravation that cruelty could add to the grand of violent passion, had with none or a very slight fence against the law. The like, perhaps, daily oc- provocation, stabbed Knight to the heart with a curs in Maryland, and it has happened even in New-hunting knife. He was arrested on the spot, and York, where certain persons guilty of it have also committed to gaol nearly a year ago. been caught and imprisoned for trial. But in the tates south of Delaware, such is the general nature of the laws, tending to secure a property in the blacks rather than their rights, that it is extremely BROWNSVILLE, Pa. June 25-Curious Robbery.-difficult, if not dangerous, to do much in their be- Some time since, a horse thief stole a horse near half, and they are left pretty much to the mercy of Steubenville, Ohio, in the following manner-Darthe dealers in men. The trade has greatly increasing the night, he went to the field adjoining the ed within the last two or three years; during which mansion house, in which were two horses-one a it is thought that twenty thousand have been intro- young horse, difficult to catch, and the other an duced into Georgia alone. We are surprized that old one, easily caught-While he was attempting the legislature of that state has not done something to catch the young horse the owner awoke, and lisefficient to prevent; a measure so pregnant with evil; tening, heard a man say to himself, "since I can't one would have thought that policy, of itself, would catch you, I'll take the old one." The owner knowhave pointed out the impropriety of thus mixing the ing that with the young horse he could overtake slaves; and have forbidden a hazard of the safe- the thief, permitted him to proceed. As soon as ty of the whole to gratify the cupidity of a few. In-he was gone, the owner caught the young horse, deed, something ought to be done to break up this and went directly, properly armed,in pursuit of the trade-humanity is not alone interested in it; safety thief. On observing that he was pursued, he left 'is also involved. Who could blame the kidnapped the horse and ran into a deserted cabin by the rod negro for seeking his liberty at any cost, and at side. The owner tied his nag, and followed the every sacrifice? Let us take the case ourselves. thief into the cabin, who had by this time climbed to We cannot now easily get rid of the slaves-but it is no less our duty than our interest to take care that the evils attending them be not increased About thirty of the tribe, among whom was Susep's wife and relations, attended the trial and behaved with the utmost decorum. the top of the chimney; jumping down, he ran t the young horse, untied and mounted him, and was clear off before the owner returned from the cabin Comparative statement of the arrivals of foreign vessels session of that country, and deny any sale having and American vessels, from foreign ports, at the five been made; and the United States claim the prechief ports of the United States, in 1816. 61 81 146 368 119 6 11 70 120 823 931216 FRENCH 2 10 32 Danish and Swedish 10 4 11 7 15 47 Russian 1 1 1 4 122624 34. 167 403 159 97 4 16 1 176 1002 Nashville, June 10.-We are gratified in being 10 able to state that the division of this territory made 3 by the last congress is very generally approved of 12 by the people. The election for the convention to 6frame a state constitution took place in the western 47 part last week, where in most cases gentlemen of 16 respectable talents were expected to be elected. 2 It is anticipated it will not be very long before the 4 people of the eastern section will also be permitted to elect a convention. It will settle faster than any new country ever did. Gen. Coffee is now surveying one hundred townships adjoining Madison county, lying on both sides of the Muscle Shoals, which is believed to be the flower of the Alabama territory, and has recently been laid off into three counties. All west of Madison county, north of Tennessee river, and south of the state of Tennessee is made one county, and is called Elk county, the The information contained in the following letter seat of justice for which is at fort Hampton. All from Micah Brooks, esq, member of congress from south of Tennessee river, east of the Chickasaw Ontario county, to a gentleman in Batavia, Gene-boundary line, north of the highlands that divide see county, will gratify all who may feel an in- the waters of the Tennessee from the waters of terest in "Carver's Purchase" Arrival of American the Mobile, and west of the Cherokee boundary Washington, January 7, 1817. line, is made another county, called Blount county, DEAR SIR-I received your letter of the 26th De. the seat of justice of which is at Milton's Bluff. All cember last, requesting information concerning the south of Blount county, to the east of Tombigbee title of capt. Carver, to a large tract of land about river, to the north of Clark county, and west of the the falls of St Anthony on the Mississippi river. It highlands that divide the waters of the Alabama appears that Carver, or his heirs, claim by virtue from the waters of the Tombigbee, is made another of a purchase made by him from the Indians and county, called Sevier county, the seat of justice of afterwards recognised by the king of Great Bri.which is at the falls of the Black Warrior. These tain; and that of course, by compact, this govern-counties are settling very fast, and by the time the ment are bound to recognize his right to the pur-land can be sold, will contain a dense population. It is expected the sale of those lands will come on at Huntsville, in Nov. next, and they will sell higher per acre than any public land ever offered by the United States. It is supposed the hundred townships now surveying will produce nine millions of dollars, when sold; but from the short time allowed by law, to keep the office open, it is apprehended that only a small part can be exposed to sale this fall. The consequence of which will be that many who are now vesting their funds in scrip, expecting to purchase lands, will be disappointed in their calculations; as they will probably have to wait until another law is passed to continue the sales. The principle is correct, that all grants made by the British government to individuals, previous to a certain date, are to be recognized by our government; and if the facts stated in favor of Carver's claim was true, his claim is good. But, if his purchase was never recognized by the king, and was made in defiance of the king's ordinance, surely such a claim cannot be recognized by this govern ment. The facts in this case I will give you, which I take from documents in possession of this government. On the 7th of October, 1763, a proclamation was issued by the king of Great Britain, prohibiting a purchase from any Indian or Indian tribe, except purchases made for and in behalf of the government only; and to be made at a public meeting of the In- Important Law Case to Merchants. dians, convened on the ground; which meeting shall be ordered and conducted by the government of the colony. It appears that Carver spent the win, ter of 1776-7 at or about the falls of St. Anthony on the Mississippi-that he was the only white man at the time in the country, and that if any purchase was made by him, instead of its being allowed or recognized by the king of Great Britain, it was in direct violation of an ordinance of that is only 70 miles from Huntsville, of course we may government, as will appear by comparing the dates soon expect to see a large thriving town at this of this transaction. The Indians are now in pos-place. FROM THE FEDERAL GAZETTE. James Owings vs. Peter A. Kurthaus. This case came before the court of appeals for the western shore of Maryland, on an appeal from the court of chancery. *This is the highest point of navigation of the waters of Mobile, is surrounded by good land, and [Clarion. |