Page images
PDF
EPUB

whether, at a late meeting of his friends, he meant the select few on one of those occasions which served the noble lord as a drill, previous to his exercises in that house-the noble lord had not fairly told them, that if they did not take care to vote with government, the government could not support itself, and that they must fall with it? (hear, hear.) And yet he would undertake to say, suo periculo, that until the house should force him to resign, the noble lord would remain on the treasury bench to the end of time. The noble lord had asserted that his mode of proceeding was the most constitutional: he (Mr. T.) would not enter into any discussion with him as to what was and what was not constitutional, for upon that subject, as upon most others, the ideas of the noble lord were not a little confused. (Laughter.) Mr. Pitt proceeded in an open and a manly manner, and did not resort to petty private meetings to frighten ministerial members into a belief of imaginary dangers. (Continued cheers from all sides.) His Majesty's ministers, notwithstanding all the confidence expressed by their leader, might shortly find it necessary to employ a little of their spare strength, and to re-import what for a time they had exported. (Continued cheers.) The administration, which now set all advice at scorn, and would rely on nothing but its popularity, and the confidence of a rich and happy nation, might in a few weeks deem it prudent to bring back into this country a right honourable gentlemen, whom but a short time ago they sent out of it; and that gentleman, partly out of gratitude, and partly out of compassion to his VOL. II.

friends in adversity, would no doubt persuade one or two of his connexions to lend also their aid to the servants of the crown. (Continued laughter and cheers.) On behalf of the people of England, he claimed that much more should be done than ministers had suggested: if the noble lord thought that the country did not understand him, he was miserably mistaken; at least as far as respected economy, the people of England were not to be deceived in the intentions of the noble lord and his colleagues. "What," said the noble lord, "will they desert us now, after we have won for them so many glorious battles, and after we have conquered for them such a happy peace?" (Laughter.) To this he (Mr. T.) could only reply, that one distinguishing characteristic of Englishmen was their great good sense, which opposed itself to all sorts of imposition. It might be truly said, that no man in our history had ever gained for a time an unmerited reputation, that had not soon been exposed by the national penetration, and degraded to the low level from which accident had raised him. (Hear, hear.) The natives of Great Britain could easily distinguish between such people as the noble lord opposite and such men as the Duke of Wellington. (Long-continued cheering.)The cloud which had hitherto surrounded the noble lord, and the intervention of which, like a mist, had "made him but greater seem, not greater grow, was now fast dispelling, and leaving him exposed as he really was. The presence of a right honourable gentleman, who was on his way to reinforce the ranks of 3 K

39

the treasury, would again throw back his lordship to the place he had originally occupied. It could not be said of the noble lord, that "he was great ere fortune made him so;" his lordship had been very successful, and he (Mr. T.) recommended that he should retire with submission, and thank

God for his good luck. (Hear, and laughter.) He (Lord C.) would find that he could no longer ride the people of England; and that, if he proceeded with the system he had declared himself determined to pursue, he would raise a storm of resentment which he would find it impossible to allay.

ABSTRACT

OF THE

PRINCIPAL PUBLIC LAWS,

OF THE

FOURTEENTH CONGRESS.

CHAP. 22. An act concerning the Convention to regulate the commerce between the territories of the United States and his Britannic majesty. (The act of the British parliament of April 1816, in relation to the same convention, is entitled-An act to carry into effect the Convention, &c.)

By this act it is enacted, that all such persons as had been citizens of the United States anterior to the late war, and were at its commencement inhabitants of the province of Canada, and who, during the said war joined the armies of the United States, as volunteers, and were slain, died in service, or continued therein, till honourably discharged, shall be entitled to the following quantities of land res

acres; each major to 800 acres; captain 640 acres; subaltern officer 480 acres; non-commissioned officer, musician and private, 320 acres to extend to medical and other staff, to rank according to their pay.

Be it enacted and declared by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled,pectively, viz.-Each colonel 960 That so much of any act as imposes a higher duty of tonnage, or of impost on vessels, and articles imported in vessels, of Great Britain, than on vessels, and articles imported in vessels of the United States, contrary to the provisions of the convention between the United States and his Britannic majesty, the ratifications whereof were mutually exchanged the twenty-second day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, be, from and after the date of the ratification of the said convention, and during the continuance thereof, deemed, and taken to be of no force or effect. [Approved March 1, 1816.]

Chap. 25. An act granting bounties in land and extra pay to certain Canadian volunteers.

They shall likewise be entitled to receive from the treasurer of the United States, three months additional pay. [Approved March 5, 1816.]

Chap. 40. An act to authorize the payment for property lost, captured or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes.

This act remunerates the owners, whether volunteers or drafted militia, for the loss of horses killed or lost whilst in the military

service of the United States-also the owners of any horse, mule, ox, wagon, cart, boat, sleigh or harness, lost in the military service of the United States, if without any fault or negligence in the owner, unless the risk was agreed to be run by the owner.

Houses occupied as military deposits, and in consequence thereof destroyed by the enemy, to be paid for. The amount of loss and value of property, shall be ascertained by the best evidence the nature of the case will admit of, in the power of the party to produce.

But no claim shall be allowed, unless it shall be exhibited within two years from the passage hereof. Approved April 9, 1816.]

Chap. 43. An act in addition to an act to regulate the Post-office establishment.

By this act the rate of postage on letters, &c. is reduced to the same amount, as before the act of February 27, 1815. And by sect. 3, all letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, to and from any member of congress or, delegate, the secretary of the senate, and clerk of house of representatives, shall be conveyed free of postage for thirty days previous to each session of congress, and for thirty days after the termination thereof. [Approved April 9, 1816.]

Chap. 44. An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States.

By this act it is enacted, that a Bank of the United States of America shall be established, with a capital of $5,000,000 dollars, to be divided into 350,000 shares of 100 dollars each share-70,000 shares, or 7.000,000 dollars part thereof, shall be subscribed and paid for by the United States-the remaining

21,000,000 dollars by individuals, &c.

The payments of the subscriptions to be made by instalmentsone fourth in gold or silver cointhe remainder in like coin, or funded debt of the United States.

It shall be lawful for the United States to redeem the funded debt subscribed-and for the Bank to sell the same for gold and silver. Provided, that it shall not sell more than 2,000,000 dollars thereof in any one year; nor any part without giving notice to the secretary of the treasury: and offering it to the United States at the current price.

The management of the affairs of the Bank committed to twentyfive directors-five of whom being stockholders, shall be appointed annually by the president of the United States and the senate-not more than three of whom to be residents of any one state, and twenty of whom shall be annually elected by the qualified stockholders.

The corporation is restricted from contracting debts exceeding the sum of 35,000,000 dollars, unless authorized by law of the United States.

Not to make any loan to the U. S. exceeding 500,000 dollars, nor to any particular state exceeding 50,000 dollars, nor to any foreign state, unless authorized by law of the United States.

The dividends shall be half yearly. A statement of the affairs of the Bank shall be laid before the stockholders every three years.

The secretary is authorized to call upon the Bank for a statement, not exceeding a weekly one, of its

concerns.

No stockholder unless he be a citizen of the United States, shall vote in the choice of directors.

The corporation is restricted from suspending payments in spe

[ocr errors]

cie, by being made chargeable with the payment of interest at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum.

Congress are to establish no other Banks except in the District of Columbia.

Chap. 55. An act making further provision for military services during the late war, and for other purposes.

This act provides for the representatives of officers and soldiers of the militia, killed in the service of the U. S. or who shall have died in consequence of wounds received therein. It enacts that the widow, or if no widow, the child or children (being under 16 years of age) of such officer or soldier shall be entitled to receive half the monthly pay to which the deceased was entitled at the time of his death, for 5 years. The guardians of the child or children (under 16 years of age) of any officer or soldier of the regular army, who shall have been so killed or died, may take the half pay for 5 years in lieu of the bounty land of such officer, &c.

All soldiers enlisted for 5 years, or during the war, who have faithfully served during the war, and have been honourably discharged, shall be entitled to bounty land, notwithstanding they were above. the age of 45, or under the age of 18, at the time of their enlist

ment.

No transfer of the land granted to non-commissioned officers, &c. valid, until the patents shall be issued. Approved April 16, 1817.]

Chap. 57. An act to enable the people of Indiana Territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the union on an equal footing with the original

states.

The said state shall consist of all the territory included within the following boundaries, to wit: bounded on the east by the meridi an line which forms the western boundary of the state of Ohio. On the south by the river Ohio, from the mouth of the Great Miami river to the mouth of the river Wabash. On the west by a line drawn along the middle of the Wabash, from its mouth to a due north line drawn from the town of Vincennes, would last touch the northwestern shore of said river-and thence by a due north line, until the same shall intersect an east and west line drawn through a point ten miles north of the southern extreme of lake Michigan: on the north by the said cast and west line, until the same shall intersect the first mentioned meridian line which forms the western boundary of the state of Ohio. The state to have concurrent jurisdiction on the Wabash, with the state to be formed west thereof, so far as the said river shall form a common boundary to both.

The state when formed, shall be entitled to one representative in the house of representatives U. S. until the next general census. Approved April 19, 1816.]

Chap. 58. An act to abolish the existing duties on spirits distilled within the United States, and to lay other duties, in lieu of those at present imposed, on licenses to distillers of spirituous liquors.

By this act the tax is imposed on the capacity of the still, instead of the quantity of liquor distilled according to the act of 21st Dec.

1814.

And authority is hereby given to the collectors and their deputies, to enter at any time any distillery or place, where any still, boiler or other vessel, used in dis

« PreviousContinue »