manner is, in some cases, rather rough, and a great latitude of expression is assumed--yet it contains a large portion of wholesome truth, and may be regarded as that which we have called it --a "political curiosity." the officers of the same denomination $51,500and $1800 were given to an inferior clerk. It is not merely on account of the number of mendicants begging alms in the streets, that I call Washington our "beggarly capital." They are much easier got rid of than the beggars to be met with in higher life. MR. NILES-A quotation, from a Washington city paper, exulting in the continued carnival and the constant routine of dissipation kept up in that Mo While I sojourned in that city, I was almost daily dern Venice, has roused the dormant pen of a man assailed by a host of clerks complaining of the of old times, and led him to request a place in your parsimony of congress, the scanty pittance allowed Register, for his lucubrations on the much agitated them, and the expense of living. I have often been subject, the next presidential election. Nothing tired with hearing one or other of them compare could more accord with the feelings and opinions his salary and his duties with those of more favored of those I converse with, than your determined op.clerks, always insisting that his duties were more position to a congressional caucus on this subject. important and more difficult than the other whose No place so improper for president making as Washington, in which the most eminent sycophants of the nation are gathered together. What habits of dissipation and extravagance have the rulers of this republican nation descended to since the declaration of our independence! In those days, we recollected with consolation and pleasure, what was said to their master by the Spa. nish envoys sent to treat with the revolted Nether landers, whose negociators furnished their frugal meals from their own wallets-"such men," said the haughty Spaniards, "cannot be conquered, their frugality will save them." In former times, we prided ourselves in the simplicity of our habits and the unostentatiousness of our rulers. salary was higher. I recollect one of the clerks lamenting, that he had to give two dollars that morning for about a quart of green peas and a dollar for a pair of small chickens. This was so early in the season that I had not imagined that the peas were in bloom, and when, I thought, chickens of of that year could not be fit to eat. I observed to him that flour was selling at six dollars a barrel, and bacon at eight cents a pound-and that the price of a few quarts of such peas would purchase a cow, which could get her living in the common while she gave milk for his children. As for his part, he replied, that he could not eat bacon, and did not like milk, and his children were not used to them. The next class of beggars were the officers and Luxury, dissipation, extravagance and effemi- their assistants in waiting about congress hall.nacy, their concomitants, have been the destruc- Those, by their civilities, their attentions, their ges. tion of many ancient nations besides proud Rome; tures and their intimations, were constantly remind. which, from being mistress of the world, has dwind. ing the members of their wants and their wishes. led to the mere patrimony of a pontiff. Every per- Whenever I fell in company with a number of son conversant with the history of the French re-the officers of the army, I was sure of being remindvolution, knows that the dissipation, the luxury, the ed of the parsimony of congress, and of being debauchery, effeminacy and the rapacity of the told how poorly they were paid. court, brought on the bloody scenes and the heart. rending miseries which that giddy nation has suffered. The judges of the district of Columbia, (a district which ought to pay its own judges), were, one or other of them, ever complaining of the parsimony of congress, and begging for a larger salary. Holland; cheese from the Netherlands, from Eng land and from Connecticut; wines from Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Madeira, and the Cape of Good Hope; and porter from London. We have before us the warning fate of the British nation, where the avails of the hard earnings The most important beggars of all were the and the life-labor of thousands and tens of thousands higher officers. With those I have occasionally are screwed from them to glut the rapacity of an in- dined, and where the greatest profusion prevailed. dividual, who regards them less than he does his There might be seen fresh beef, pork and butter dogs. Time was, when the people of the British from Maryland; mutton from Pennsylvania; hams Isles would not have borne with this; but, with the from Burlington; turkeys and chickens from Virgi. people's money, the devouring government buys nia; pickled beef and codfish from Massachusetts; men and arms to enable it to wrest the means of potatoes from Carolina and from Maine; wild fowl defence from the oppressed, build prisons to incar-and fresh fish from the Potomac; salmon from Canacerate, and gallowsee to hang those on who dare to da; oysters from New York; olives and spices from murmur or complain. However distant from us both the Indies; raisins and figs from the Mediterrathis state of things may seem to be, dissipation,nean; nuts from Germany, Italy and the Mississippi: extravagance and luxury is the sure road that leads brandy from Nantz; rum from Jamaica; Gin from to it. Our civil list expenditure has increased with. in about 30 years, faster than ever did that of Great Britain: while our population has been increasing at the rate of from 4 to 10, the expenditure for support of our national government has more than While the cloth was removing and the glassespre. ten folded; for the year 1790, $141,492 73 cents placing, some sycophant, (perhaps a member of was the appropriation; of late years, more than congress), was sure to commence a dissertation a million and a half has been appropriated for on the parsimony of our government, and the inathe support of the civil list. About two thirds of dequate compensation given to our officers. The this sum, besides a considerable share of many more frequently the glasses were emptied the more other appropriations, is spent in our beggarly capi-attention was paid to the orator, until his doctrine tal, too much of which is applied to purposes of was echoed from side to side. Too often have the corruption and political prostitution--In 1790, guests carried the infatuation away with them, and when the necessaries of life were about the same I have had occasion to intreat them to resume their price that they are now, $16,750 paid the salaries of the secretaries, the comptroller, the auditor, the treasurer and the register, and $800 each was appropriated for the salary of the first clerks. In 1821, there was appropriated for the salaries of reason and their common sense-referring them to what there eyes had seen and their lips had tasted, to convince them that, instead of being parsimoni ous the government gave too much to their officers, when they enabled them to feast their guests in a stile so far above the medium of good-living. I re minded them that man was much the creature of fashion and imitation, and begged them to look around and consider what a number there was plunging themselves into ruin and misery, by their endeavors to furnish a table like that we had lately sat at; always insisting that it was impolitic, as well as immoral, to appropriate the hard earnings of the people for the encouragement and support of such voluptuousness. I have been led to those recollections and reflec tions by the perussl of the before mentioned extract from a Washington city paper, which says, "This place can never be tedious. The pleasures of the day are succeeded by the pleasures of the night; for the president and his four secretaries, by means of drawing rooms and parties, have appropriated the nights to pleasure as well as the day. One would be led to believe that members of congress and strangers of distinction, would be surfeited by this continued succession of delights, and, like the bee, die on the rose in aromatic pain.' But no such thing their appetites are rather sharpened than blunted by perpetual indulgence, and the poor secretaries, who are all looking up to the presidency, are obliged to feed and plaister them on all occasions." in the states who are as capable of administering the government for four or eight years, as any of the most celebrated candidates hitherto spoken of, while the number of exceptionable characters, who aspire to the station, is comparatively small. Hoping and believing that the legislatures of the states will generally fall into the practice of nomination, I have amused myself with contemplating the extended field of choice which will be present. ed to the electors. I hope the presidential chair will never be filled by a man under sixty years of age, until there shall be a constitutional bar against electing the same person oftener than once or twice. A president of the United States possesses such vast powers and prerogatives, and such immense patronage-has so many offices and favors to bestow, and so much public money to disburse, that it is next to impossible to oust one who shall act with a common share of prudence and foresight. Had gen. Washington chosen to accept a third election, although not without objection, he would have obtained it by seven-eighths of the electoral votes. So with Mr. Jefferson-he had early to announce his solemn determination not to accept a third election, in order to avoid solicitation-and to him we owe the rule which forbids any person to look for a third election to the presidency. It is but a rule however. I have never been better pleased with the political course of a president than that of Mr. Monroe-yet I have trembled for fear that he would be induced, by the sycophancy which surrounds him, to agree to accept a third election. [The writer then proceeds to mention several persons who, he supposed, might be nominated by the several states, and gives his remarks freely on their claims and competency, &c. all which we think it best to omit. He concludes with these words, "such are the opinions of a man of old times, written on the Mississippi, in April, 1822.” Grecian Emancipation. Is it for this that the people of the nation send representatives to Washington, and pay each of them 856 a week? Is it to spend their nights in revely and their days in slumber, that they have been sent there? Is it to enable the higher officers of the government "to feed and plaister," to corrupt and prostitute their representatives, that they have suffered the late great increase of their salaries to pass almost unnoticed? If this apathy is continued, they will only merit the political degra dation and perdition which infallibly awaits them. I, by no means, consider it amiss for the president to invite members of congress and strangers of distinction to call upon him and dine with him, or for a drawing room entertainment, once in a while, to be given at his house. At those convivial meetings, the president has an opportunity to become personThe following resolutions were passed at a very ally acquainted with his guests, and they with him numerous meeting of the citizens of Albany, conand with one another. Their sentiments and opi. nions are frequently interchanged. This practice vened, by public notice, at the capital in Albany, prevailed in the early stages of the government, on Tuesday evening last. John Savage, esqr. comp and, for its support, a superb mansion, ready fur troller of the state, presided as chairman, and col. James McKown, as secretary. The object of the nished, is provided, and $25,000 salary for the president is appropriated. But, at the rate things seem meeting was explained by Isaac Hamilton, esqr. in to be going on, the poor secretaries are not to leave a very interesting address. S. S. Lush, esqr. fol. off feeding and plaistering, nor congress giving, lowed Mr. Hamilton in a speech of much feeling in until each of them have $25,000 a year to support mosthenes, of Plato, Pericles, Alcibiades and Leobehalf of the suffering Greeks, the land of Dethis magnificent "succession of delights;" those "pleasures by day" and "pleasures by night," so nidas, where "now the shouts of Allah are resoundboastingly spoken of by the Washington editor-ing from christian temples, formerly dedicated to who tells us the secretaries are all looking up to the presidency: and it seems, by the run of the tale, that one or other of them is expected to be foisted into the presidential chair by this banqueting and revelry. [N. Y. Daily Adv the living God, and the turbaned Turk tramples upon the cross of the Saviour." These gentlemen were followed by John Van Ness Yates, and D. L. Vander Heyden, esqrs. in strains of patriotic eloquence. The speeches were received with reiteIt has been too much the practice of the candi-rated bursts of applause. The resolutions were dates for the electorship to pledge themselves to all carried unanimously. vote for this or that particular candidate. This prac. tice, as well as the congressional caucus, ought to be discarded; and, by the legislature of every state naming the persons they wish to be the next president and vice-president, that the electors will be able to select men who will give satisfaction to the nation. Satisfaction to the nation is the main point-as the elements and principles of our government are so plain and simple, that there are more than one thousand honest, well informed men Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is consistent with the peace, neutrality, and bonor of our government, for the people to assemble together and express their sentiments upon the subject of the emancipation of Greece-that such an expression not only comports with the magnanimity and feelings of a christian people, but is more par. ticularly honorable to the character of a nation, who were the first to declare and establish the prin ciples of freedom. Resolved, That the interesting appeal by the patriots of Greece, to the American people, is worthy the cause in which they are engaged, and demands our most respectful attention- that when we consider that Greece has been alike distinguished as the seat of science and the arts-that to her, sculpture is indebted for its best models, poetry its greatest master, and our seminaries of learning for much of their classic lore-that she has given birth to the most illustrious philosophers, statesmen, and heroes, we cannot be indifferent to the relentless tyranny now exercised over them by their savage and ferocious masters. almost any thing else—supposing that the esti mates are to be relied on-the product being only about three and a half per cent. The following extract from a circular from the house of Cropper, Benson and Co. under date of the 27th September, contains some views and esti mates in relation to the culture and sale of cotton, [Savannah puper. which may be very interesting to the planter and merchant Annexed, we give two estimates, drawn up by two different planters, neither knowing any thing of each other's statement, nor we of their's, and though there is some trifling difference in the mode of estimate, yet it will be seen that they exhibit al most exactly the same result. Resolved, That we view, with extreme mortifica. tion and regret, the policy of the potentates of This is the present mode of management, with Europe, especially those claiming to belong to the "holy alliance," in remaining passive spectators of which the planters must be content, if they can do the great scene now acting before them in Turkey, no better. But sugar on the banks of the Mississip instead of affording the suffering Greeks that coun- pi is paying a much greater profit, and though the tenance and aid, which all christendom had a right land fit for its growth is more limited than that fit to expect-more particularly we cannot but express for cotton, yet it is estimated that there is enough the painful disappointment of all our hopes in the within the proper latidude, to produce more, by at policy pursued by the emperor Alexander, from least 150,000 hogsheads, than is yet grown there. whose large armies, and vast preparations, the most The estimates which we have seen from thence, prompt and decisive measures were fondly antici- make the cost of 1lb. of cotton very nearly the same as that of 4lb. of sugar; and yet, if our present pated by the American people. prices of cotton remain, it will yield only 7 cents, whilst sugar, by the last advices froin New Orleans, is quoted 9 to 11 cents, or 8 cents, on the planta tion. Estimating the profit of the one culture with the other, upon this scale of prices, whilst the Estimates are not one only pays 24 per cent. the other would pay about 23 per cent. per annum. always to be depended upon, but we have some We know thing more than estimate in this case. that in Barbadoes the culture of cotton is nearly given up, and in Demerara, though sugar has very much increased, yet there has been a decrease in Now, whilst these changes are taking cotton. place, it is a fact which any one, knowing the prices of the two articles, can ascertain for himself, that cotton has sold on the average at three or four times, at least, the prices of sugar; and yet sugar, under these circumstances, has been preferred. Will not the change be very rapid where sugar Resolved, That the cause of religion and the rights of humanity are intimately connected with the result of the conflict between the Greeks and the Turks-and should that conflict prove unsuccessful to the Greeks, (which Heaven forbid), that then it is our duty, as christians, and as men, to offer them an asylum from oppression in this hap py country. Resolved, That J. V. N. Yates. S. A. Tallcott, J. Hamilton, S. S. Lush, and P. Gansevoort, be a committee to correspond with such other committees as may be appointed throughout the union, for affording relief to the suffering Greeks, and that they have power to call any future meetings of the citizens, and to co-operate with other commitees, by raising subscriptions or otherwise, in aid of the Greeks, as in their judgment shall be deemed most advisable. Next as to manufacturing: the planters are giving Resolved, That D. L. Vander Heyden, John Still well, Wm. Maywell, John Koon, and James Mc-is even higher than cotton? Kown, be a committee to prepare and publish an address, in the name of this meeting, to the citi.in some cases, 40 cents per yard for cotton bagging. zens of the United States, upon the subject of the foregoing resolutions. Cultivation of Cotton. The following, though a mercantile "circular," con- This they might make themselves from cotton, as is done in the Brazils, with great advantage. They might also make their own clothing, especially that of the negroes. If they changed their system in this respect, and grew and made every thing they wanted, they might certanly sell their surplus cot ton at any price; but it must be borne in mind, that they would have much less to sell. They have the spinning jenny, in some parts of North Carolina, amongst the farmers; weaving is carried on in almost every part of the world; and a little considera. tion will show what great advantages they would have in manufacturing. The bale of cotton which the planter can only sell for 47. 10s. cannot be delivered to the British manufacturer for less than 97.; and when to this the expense of manufacturing is added, the whole cannot be conveyed back to the planter without an addition of fully 50 per cent. in duty and profit.Then we may fairly say, that, in exporting cotton and importing manufactured goods, the planter pays 100 per cent. on the wages paid in England, and he would gain an advantage to this extent if he manufactured them at home. Perhaps it will be said that wages are higher; let us examine this. The average produce of a slave's labor is 19 h of cotton, or 61, 158 being about 5d per working day. Now we think we do not over rate the earnings of a whole family in our cotton manufacturing districts, if we take them at 5s. per week, reckoning the whole population, whether able to work or not. Five shillings per week is 10d. per day; yet the planter now gives 100 per cent, which makes 20d. of holding no stocks is to continue to prevail, we may be quite run out of all these important articles before any one is aware. CROPPER, BENSON, & Co. ESTIMATES. South Carolina contains 502,741 inhabitants, of inhabitants, of which 148,482 are slaves. Alabama which 258,475 are slaves. Georgia contains 340,989 contains 127,901 inhabitants, of which 41,000 are which 32,814 are slaves. Louisiana contains 153,407 Leaving a population of fice persone of 1,623,099 629,271. 003,828 20,828 That low prices will make the planters turn to something else is not mere conjecture; we can re fer to the years of the embargo and the war.-slaves. Mississippi contains 75,448 inhabitants, of Before tho commencement of that period, viz. in 1807, the export of cotton, from America to this country, was 171,000 bags; there was no year from that to 1816, when the imports were the whole of one crop, and then our imports were 166,000, and in 1817, 197,000. The crop of 1807 was a great one, and, therefore, it would not be fair to take that singly; putting the crop of 1806 to it, which was 124,000, it will make an average of 148,000 bags: whilst 1816 and 1817, put together, will make 182,000 bags, an increase of only 20 per cent. whilst the population had increased about 30 per cent. This, too, comprises three years, when the inducement to plant extensively would be great; so that there is a strong probability that, for a part of the time of the embargo and war, the cultivation of cotton must rather have receded than gone for ward; and yet at that time they knew little of the growth of sugar. They could, during these periods, sell cotton, if they chose, and they would naturally Do look forward to a better market for their produce at the termination of their disputes with this coun try. Leaving a population of white persons of 973,000 Do Total on rice do A part of the extension of the cultivation of cot-Total slave population Effective and non effective hands employ. It is quite evident then, if it were possible that our present prices should continue, we should have such a decrease in the growth, and such an increase in the consumption, as would, at a very early period, leave us without a bag of cotton on hand. The apathy which has allowed the prices of cotton to fall to their present rates, pervades other branches of commerce; for though it is reasonably estimated, that, at the present rate of consumption, all the sugar in the country will be exhausted before the new will arrive, yet the holders are selling at the lowest price ever known, and look on these facts, with which they are perfectly acquainted, as though it could never rise again. crop of corn is generally estimated not to have sup Last year's plied the country more than 11 months; and though the prsent crop was less than the preceding and the consumption going on at a greater rate than ever known, still the price is lower than ever re. membered. If the present un-mercantile feeling 97,300 40,000 40,000 20,000 197,300 629,271 197,300 431,971 Food, 13 bushels of corn, or 1 peck per 6 yards plains, at 75 cts. 4 50; doctor and $9 10 7 00 5.50 1 50 1.00 1.50 Leaves net profit of 100 negroes, or 60 working hands, at 11 cents 2,324 Then it appears, that a capital of 45,500 dollars in land and negroes, yields, if the cotton sell at 11 cents per lb, 2,324 dollars, or 5 1-10 per cent. Second estimate of cost of cotton plantations. Food, 13 bushels of corn, or 1 peck per $9 10 So that on a capital of regroes and land, amount December 2, 1822. At 12 o'clock the president of the senate pro tempore, Mr. GAILLARD, took the chair of the senate, and the following members ap. peared in their seats, viz: From New Hampshire. Mr. Morril and Mr. Par rott. From Massachusetts. Mr. James Lloyd, (in the place of Mr. Otis, resigned). From Rhode Island. Mr. Knight. From Connecticut. Mr. Boardman and Mr. Lan man. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Seymour. From Pennsylvania. Mr Findlay and Mr. Lowrie. 1 pair of shoes $1 28; 1 blanket in 3 years, at 3 dollars, is 1 dollar 2 25 6 yards of plains, at 75 cents, 4 50; doctor and physic, 1 dollar 5 50 Smith. 1 suit osnaburgs for summer 1 50 Tools, vehicles, and horses 1 50 1.00 20 85 Mr. Gaillard and Mr. From Kentucky. Mr Johnson and Mr. Talbot. From Maine. Mr. Chandler and Mr. Holmes. A quorum of the members being present, A message was, on motion of Mr Barbour, sent fact, and the readiness of the senate to proceed to to the house of representatives, announcing that business. On motion of Mr. Barbour, a committee was ap. pointed to join the committee of the house of representatives to wait on the president of the United States, and inform him that the two houses were ready to receive any communication from him; and Mr. King, of New York, and Mr. Macon were ap The senate then adjourned. December 3. The vice president took his seat this day as president of the senate. Amount of capital in negroes and land Average gangs of negroes would, not long ago, have commanded $425 each, so that the above is a The president's message was received, (as given in the proceedings of the house), read and ordered to be printed, &c. A letter was received from the secretary of war, transmitting, in pursuance of an order passed at the last session, a report of the number of persons placed upon the pension list, up to the 4th Sept. 1822, by virtue of the acts of the 18th March, 1818, and 1st of May, 1820. [The total number of offi cers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, placed on the revolutionary pension list, up to the 4th cotton, and which, at 10 cents per lb. is 4,500 00 Sept. 1822, appears to be 12,331). Deduct expense of keeping 100 December 2, 1822. At 12 o'clock precisely, the speaker, (Mr. P. P BARBOUR, of Virginia), took the $1,877 50 chair, and Mr. Samuel Burch, principal clerk in the Nett profit of 100 average or 50 working |