teers, certain rifles, promised them by major general Macomb, for | few dozen of their leaders suspended by the halter, their gallantry and patriotic services during the siege of Platts burg in September, 1814.

On motion of Mr. Williamson, it was Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instruct ed to inquire into the expediency of erecting a battery or other fortification on the west side of Penobscot river, in the town of Prospect, and state of Maine, near the head of Orphan Island, and opposite the Narrows, so called, in said river.

On motion of Mr. Cook, of Illinois, it was Resolved, That so much of the several acts of congress passed for the admission of Indiana, Iillinois, and Missouri, into the union, as sets apart a portion of the money arising from the sale of the public lands in those states, for the purpose of constructing roads and canals leading to those states, respectively, be referred to a

select committee.

Mr. Cannon submitted the following resolutions for consideration:

Resolved, That it is expedient to provide for the national de fence by improving the militia of the U. States.

from the yard-arms of some of our puclic ships. Deeming it expedient that congress should, at an early period, adopt some decisive measures on this subject, I submit the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on naval affairs be instructed to inquire, and report as early as may be, what further measures are necessary, not only for the more efficient protection of our con merce in the West India seas from piracy, but for the entire extirpation of those freebooters, and the punishment of those who may be found to aid and abet them.

[Laid on the table, to give place to the president's message, (see proceedings in the senate), on the same subject.]

On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, it was Resolved, That the committee on naval affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing to the widowed mother of lieut. W. H. Allen, of the United States' navy, a half pay pension for five years.

Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed The speaker laid before the house a message to inquire whether it is most expedient to improve the militia throughout the United States, by means of the military academy, from the president of the United States, transmit or that of the encampment of the officers, by brigades or otherting a plan for the peace establishment of the na wise, under proper regulations. Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed vy of the United States, and also of the marine to inquire into the expediency of continuing the preference giv en to the cadets educated at the public expense, in the military corps, which has been prepared in obedience to a academy at West Point. in entering the public service, over others resolution of the house of representatives, of the of equal qualifications and merit, who are, or may be, educated at 7th May last. [Referred to the naval committee.] their own expense, or that of their parents or friends, at the school under the superintendance of capt. Partridge, in the state of Ver mont, or at any other place in the U. States.

Resolved. That the committee on military affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of employing the regular army, or a part thereof, in the erection of fortifications during a state of peace, instead of having them built by contract in the way hereLofore pursued. Resolved, That the secretary of the navy be directed to make 2 statement to this house containing the names and grade of the Alicers belonging to the naval establishment of the United States, and the duties each officer is performing, also, the num ber of officers of each different grade necessary to command in active service the vessels of war, at this time belonging to the

The engrossed bill, supplementary to the act 'relating to the ransom of American captives in the late war,' was read the third time, passed, and sent to the senate for concurrence.

[Of this act the National Intelligencer observes --The first bill which has passed either house of Congress at this session, is an act of justice too long withheld. We speak of the bill which yesterday passed the house of representatives, for in. demnifying our citizens who, when Michigan was held by the British during the late war, advanced Mr. C. said he did not mean to press these reso- their all to ransom the captives brought in by the lutions to an immediate decision. Being of much Indians in the British service. It would be a reimportance in his view, he wished them to lie on he table and be printed, with the expression of Proach to the nation, had the delay been deliberate and intentional, that indemnity for an expen. a determination on his part to call them up on anditure of his sort should have been so long delay. carly day.

navy.

The resolutions were ordered to lie upon the ta ble accordingly.

ed.]

Sometime was spent on the bill to provide for clothing the militia of the United States, when in actual service. It was ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

Mr. Condict, of New Jersey, rose to make a mo. tion. In the message of the president to both houses of congress, at the opening of the session, he said, The house was resolved into a committee of the a very brief allusion was made to piracies, commit-whole, on the bill to grant pre-emption rights to certed in the West Indies. All that was said on that tain parcels of land, at or near the centre of the counabject, is comprised in a short paragraph, which ties to be laid off, &c. in Alabama and Arkansas, for Mr. C. read. Intelligence has been recently re-the accommodation of seats of justice. Much diver. ceived, and probably since that part of the message sity of opinion was expressed-if granted as prowas penned, of transactions, so flagrant and outra posed, it would be claimed by other and older geous in their character, as to call, imperiously, for states, &c. But finally, the bill, being amended to the early and efficient interposition of this house. give it a general effect, was agreed to by the com The premature death of the gallant and lamented inittee, who reported it to the house, &c. The Allen has excited a spirit of indignation throughout question of passing it to a third reading was debat our country, unequalled since the late war. It calls ed, and the bill lost--for it 61, against 64. loudly for retributive justice, from those lawless After which the house adjourned. barbarians, and I hope to see, with as little delay as Wednesday, Dec. 11. Mr. John Carter, elected practicable, a competent force, at the disposal of in the place of Mr. Blair, of South Carolina, rethe executive, under some one of our most experi-signed, appeared, was qualified, and took his enced naval officers, with ample powers and in-seat.

Mr. Lathrop, from Massachusetts, whose arrival we omitted noticing on Monday last, on that day took his seat.

structions to ferret them out of their lurking holes, Mr. Spencer, of New York, Mr. Ball, of Virgiand drag them to a condign and speedy punish. nia, Mr. Reid, of Georgia, and Mr. Cuthbert, of ment. A speedy punishment, because I have no idea the same state, also appeared. of incurring the delay, or the hazard, of transporting them here, or of extending to them a trial by jury, with all the delays incident to our courts of justice. They have placed themselves beyond the protection of the laws of civilized society; they have set at open defiance the laws of God and man; their hand is against every man, and every man's hand should combine against them. And the most effectual restraint which you can impose upon their barbarities, is to furnish to them the spectacle of a

The resolution yesterday laid upon the table by Mr. Woodcock, calling for information from the president of the United States, respecting advan ces of money to public agents, was considered, modified, and adopted by the house.

[In support of this motion, Mr. W. made some observations, which our reporter had not the op

the offence.

portunity of hearing. The purport of them w sions on the subject as may be deemed proper for the security of that, in the statements received from the several our citizens, the safety of our commerce, and the punishment of departments, of the accounts of public officers, Mr. Pleasants, from the committee on naval af. no account was given of moneys advanced to sub-fairs, reported the following bill, which was twice agents and sub-contractors, &c. without security, read by general consent:

&c. so that this class of defaulters often escape Be it enacted, r. That, for the purpose of enabling the preńwithout observation. His object was, if practica-dent of the United States to afford more efficient protection to the ble, to supply this deficiency.]

M. Colden, of New York, submitted for consideration the following resolution, which lies on the table one day of course:

commerce of the United States, from the depredations of pirates in the Gulf of Mexico and the West India seas, the sum of dollars is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; which sum shall be used by the president in providing such an additional force as in his judg ment shall be best calculated to answer the end aforesaid.

Resolved, That the president of the United States be requested to lay before this house, such information as he may possess, whith regard to any hostile expedition, which may have been prepared in the United States, and sailed from thence, within the present year, against the territory or dependency of any power in amity with the United States, and to inform this house, whe ther any measures have been taken to bring to condign punishment persons who may have been concerned in such expedition, contrary to the laws of the United States. Mr. Condict, of New Jersey, offered the follow-the concurring opinion of the navy board in its fa ing resolutions:

[Accompanying this bill, Mr. Pleasants laid before the senate a communication from the seeretary of the navy to the chairman of the naval com. mittee, furnishing estimates of the additional force deemed necessary for the suppression of piracy, and the expense thereof. The secretary, having

Resolved, By the senate and house of representatives of the United States in congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the secretary and clerk of the respective houses, to lay before congress, at the commencement of every session, a detailed state ment of the expenditure of the contingent fund of each house during the preceding session, stating the items, quantity, prices, and to whom payment is made.

This resolution was read, and by the rules lies en the table one day.

On motion of Mr. Condict, of New Jersy it was
Resolved, That the committee of accounts be instructed to in-

quire and report whether any, and what, part of the contingent
expenses of this house can be curtailed, without detriment to the
public service: And, that said committee revise the system pur-
saed by the officers of this house in disbursing the contingent
fand, and report whether any further restrictions, responsibilities
or checks, are necessary for its disbursement.

vor, recommends an additional force of

First, 1 steam boat of 90 to 120 tons, to carry two 18-pounders, and two 12 pounders, upon travelling carriages, so as to fire from aug part of the vessel.

Second, 10 fast sailing schooners, of 45 to 60 tons burthen, to draw not more than 5 to 7 feet water; each to be armed with one long 12 or 18 pounder, mounted on a circle, with two 12-pound carronades; with the necessary number of small arms, to row from 20 to 24 sweeps: and,

Third, 5 light double bank cutters, each to row 20 oars, and adapted to carry 40 men, well armed with muskets, pistols, boarding pikes, cutlasses, &c.

The whole cost of procuring these additional vessels and of equipping and fitting them for service, is estimated at 44,000 dollars.]

House of Representatives. This was a busy day in the house, in the preparation of business, &c. Some time was spent on a call made tor inqui. The bill of the last session, providing for the oc cupation of the mouth of the Columbia river, bey into the "Porto Rico expedition," and the call ing next in order

was made for information, if any there was, in
the proceedings more at length in our next.
the possession of the executive. We shall notice

CHRONICLE.

Mr. Floyd said he was not, at the moment, ready to present the information on the subject, which he was prepared, at any time during the last session, to have laid before the house; but, not wishing the consideration of the subject to be long de. Don Jose Manuel Zozaya was presented on Thursferred on his account, he moved to go into com day last, by the secretary of state, to the presi mittee with a view to retaining for the bill its predent of the United States, as envoy extraordinasent place in the orders of the day.

The house accordingly went in and out of com. mittee upon it, leave was given to sit again, and the bill was ordered to be re printed.

A similar course being proposed on another

bill

Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, said he had no idea of sitting here, to receive motions to go in and out of committee, and to re-print bills; and suggested the propriety of some step to put an end to this, (as it appeared to him), wasteful consumption of time. No specific proposition, however, being made by Mr. Campbell, the speaker proceeded in calling over the bills.

A bill respecting registers of wills in the district of Columbia was passed through a committee of the whole, &c. as was also a bill fixing the compensation of receivers of the public moneys; a bill for the relief of registers and receivers in the land offi. ces, and a bill to enable the proprietors of lands, held by titles derived from the United States, to obtain copies of their papers.

Adjourned.

THURSDAY'S PROCEEDINGS-PEC. 12.

ry and minister plenipotentiary from Mexico. He was accompanied by colonel Don Jose Anastasio Torrens, secretary of the legation, who was also presented to the president by the secretary of state.

The United States schooner Alligator, late under the command of lieut. com. Allen, but, since his de. cease, under charge of lieut. Dale, was wrecked on Craysford Reef, about thirty miles to the southward of Cape Florida, on the night of the 9th ult. Every attempt to get her off having proved unavailing, she was fired and blown up. All of the officers and crew were saved, and arrived safely at Charleston.

New York. At the late election, the first under the new constitution, Joseph C. Yates, esq. receiv. ed 128,393 votes for governor; and Solomon Southwick, esq. 2,913. Erastus Root, esq. received for lieut. governor 82,450; and Henry Huntingdon, esq. 50,052.

Maryland. Samuel Stevens, esq. of Talbot county, has been elected governor of Maryland, for the ensuing year; and Thos. Emory, Joshua Prideaux, Israel D. Maulsby, Philemon Chew and Nicholas Brewer, esqs. appointed his council. Gen. Samuel Smith, has been elected a senator of the United

In the senate. Mr. Rodney laid the following re- States, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the solution on the table for consideration:

Resolved, That the committee on the judiciary be directed to in quire into the expediency of continuing in force the act, entitled an net to protect the commerce of the United States, and to punish the crime of piracy," and also of making such further provi

decease of Mr. Pinkney.

North Carolina. Gabriel Holmes bas been reelected governor of this state, without opposition.

PRINTED BY WILLIAM OGDEN NILES, AT THE FRANKLIN PRESS, WATER-STERET, BAST OF SOUTH-STHUT.

*W SERIES. No.16-Vos. XI.] BALTIMORE, DEC. 21, 1822. [No.16—Voɛ. XXIII, WROLE NO. 588

THE PAST THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE.

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY H NILES, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

"A Subscriber" will see that, in the reply of of the stockholders have, for the last two years, hardMerchant' to our correspondent T,' his wishes ly yielded three per cent: too much is given to e partly complied with. The article referred to presidents, cashiers and clerks. all be examined, and, most probably, have an rly insertion.

PUNISHMENT. It very often seems as if the law was chiefly administered for the punishment of lit. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE was copied into the tle knaves-the great ones generally break through Register" from the National Intelligencer'; which its meshes. Many poor wretches have been sent s corrected a clerical error in one of the para- from three to ten years to our penitentiaries, tor caphs that throws confusion into the sense of it. thefts or frauds of a less amount than one hundred is in that which speaks of the state of the finances, dollars-but Hollingshead and Scull, (who were which the sum of 1,18,592 is printed instead of lately convicted of a conspiracy to defraud the unSee page 20. derwriters of the sloop Norfolk, about which s In our brief notice of the message we observed much was said some time ago), have been sentenc at meufactures were indefinitely encouraged ined to only one year's imprisonment at hard labor, The Richmond "Er quirer," in passing through and to pay a fine of 100 dollars each, by judge s various topics, saysTilghman, at Philadelphia.

"Manufactures where the president is far from eing precise; though he cautiously recommends 1 augmentation of duties on certain foreign arties, leaving these certain articles in a state of the lost profound uncertainty.”

THE CORRESPONDENCE between Messrs. Jefferson nd Adams, inserted in the present sheet, will proute singular sensations of combined pleasure and egret in many who read it. But it is delightful to ee these old political veterans so calmly preparing ɔ retire to the tomb, at perfect peace with one nother, and possessed of the gratitude and respect f millions of freemen-willing to forget any error hat either may have committed, in the great public ervices that both have rendered to their country.

PIRACY. It will be seen in the proceedings of congress, that a law has already passed both houses, ppropriating money to fit out an expedition for he suppression of piracy-com. Porter is appointed to command it.

SINECURE OFFICES. The design of every govern. ment, in affording liberal salaries to its officers, is to secure the application of personal talent to a discharge of the duties that belong to them. In the old and corrupted governments, however, it is well known that persons are appointed to office without even the expectation that they will personally discharge the duties thereof-these being performed by deputy. Thus, the pious duke of York is bishop of Osnaburg—and one of his brothers is, or was, governor of Gibraltar-and so on from the highest to the lowest, if the latter is worth making a sinecure of. This practice begins to prevail pretty extensively in our country--we have many officers that we may expect to find any where but in their offices-who eat, drink and riot upon the profits derived from journeymen; persons, of real merit, pernaps, but irresponsible and unknown to the government: hired at 5 or 600 dollars a year to do all the business for which the principal receives 2 or 3000. Assistants are doubtless indispensable

The U. S. schooner Shark, just arrived at Nor-in many of the offices-perhaps in every important olk, convoyed two British ships from Jamaica antil she saw them clear of Cape Antonio, and out of the range of the pirates.

The British under capt. Godfrey of the ship Tyne with the Speedwell schooner, have made a splen did dash at these fellows, near St. Juan de los Reme. lias They took four vessels and 17 prisoners, it believed that about forty more had been killed or wounded. The governor of St. Juan went on board to congratulate them on their success, and in formed them that he had arrested 22 others on shore. Two more pirate vessels were captured a few days aftewards, and some of their crews killed -the rest escaped on land. A Spanish brig of war has also seized more of their vessels, and it is thought that the coast is nearly cleared of them for he present.

COST OF BANKS. It is stated that the annual cost of the Farmers bank of Virginia and its branches, amounts to $48,486-of which 40,290 are paid for salaries. Those the bank of Virginia are nearly the same.

office save that of a judge; but when a principal leaves every thing to an assistant, it is high time that he should be discharged-nay "kicked out" of his office, as a fraudulent and unfaithful person.

We thank Mr. Cocke for his notice of the case of a register of wills in the district of Columbia. A bill was under consideration, last week, to raise the fees of those officers-but Mr. Cocke said that no register had resigned on account of the lowness of the fees; and he had been told that the late Dr. Blake had leased out the office for five hundred dollars per annum, and had not the least trouble with it. I suppose this is what some call "radicalism”—but, if to keep people to the honest discharge of their duties and prevent such speculations is to be "radical," one would suspect that all men would deserve to be called so, the official leeches excepted-of whom there are too many just now.

It is due to the case to say that an anonymous communication in the National Intelligencer, represents it as though Dr. Blake had not leased out the office, or derived other than a very small profit therefrom.

The capital of the Farmer's bank is $2,000,000The cost of keeping it a-going being 48,486, is equal HARTFORD CONVENTION. Several of the Eastern to nearly two and a half per cent on the whole capi- papers, according to usage, have noticed the annital. No wonder that the dividends for the benefit [versary of the meeting of this convention, the 19th VOL, XXIII, -16.

Dec. 1814, and given a list of the names of the mem-tary on the fluctuation of affairs do such compari. Ders- -surmounted with a crown and suitable inscriptions.

DIFFERENT VIEWS. We have been much inteNow, though the latter article was derived rested by the following statistical notices of "the from the former, the general idea conveyed is resources of Madison county," in the state of Ala exactly opposed to that which the other most pointbama, in a Huntsville paper-and not a little amusedly and properly presents. The Huntsville paper ed at the turn given to the facts by our friends, the editors of the "National Intelligencer."

How forcibly do these facts shew the necessity But, if all the people of the United States could of economy and retrenchment! What a commen-produce cotton to an amount beyond the consump

tion equal to those of Madison county, what would | ported and exported for nine months, ending 30th they do with it-where find a market for it? It June last, as taken from the custom-house returns would not sell for more than one or two cents per-by which it appears that the export of specie, pound. The "four hundred millions" that the In. during that period, has exceeded the import sometelligencer speaks of, is a greater amount of value thing over eight millions of dollars. This statement perhaps, than that of ALL the raw agricultural pro- is followed by a communication, with the signature ducts of ALL the nations in the world, exported or “T,” in which the writer appears to consider this transported to or from one another! The calcula. fact as conclusive evidence that the trade of the tion, therefore, as applied to the United States, country, and the country with it, are on the road must be regarded as a very moderate one, indeed! to ruin-and in which he triumphantly calls on the The product of "100 dollars for each working merchants to answer the following questions: hand," is not extraordinary, seeing that they are so "When a country exports more specie than it much assisted by labor-saving machinery in pick-imports, is this no evidence of a favorable or unfaing and cleaning the cotton, for the gins do about vorable commerce?" one half of the whole work that belongs to the crop: and this product of value could not be exchanged with the spinners of the cotton. It is estimated that 240,000 persons in Great Britain, three fourths at least of whom are children, assisted by machinery, perform a quantity of labor that would employ twenty-eight millions of persons without the aid of machinery-so that one child stands as one hundred and ten persons, and must be supposed the agent of creating as great a value as they could unitedly create; and, admitting their labor to be worth only ten cents per day, the child would have eleven dol. lars worth of products per day to oppose to the products of the 110 persons-a rate of exchange and condition of things that cannot exist.

"Is a rate of exchange, 13 per cent. above par, advantageous, or otherwise, to the operations of commerce?"

"Do these causes, combined, or either of them, separately, promote or retard the prosperity of the country?"

His appeal is so urgent, and seems the result of a belief in his own views so sincere, that I cannot, in charity, refuse him-and, in accepting his "invi tation," shall not desire so much to be "pithy," as to the purpose.

To the first question, then, I answer, that the fact of an exportation of specie greater than the impor tation, is not, in itself, a decisive criterion by which to determine whether the trade of a country is pros. perous or otherwise, as it may take place during either: but I have no hesitation in saying, that, as it respects this country, it is presumptive evidence of a prosperous commerce-that is to say, though a bad trade checks exportation, a prosperous trade promotes it.

It is computed, that the labor saving machinery of Great Britain, applied to the manufacture of goods, is equal to the labor of four hundred millions of hands. These may give direct employment or agency to about one million of persons--then, one person in Great Britain, assisted by machinery, stands opposed to 400 laboring persons in another country which has not such machinery. No ex. By the official treasury report of exports for the change of labor can take place between them, un-year ending 30th September, 1821, it appears that less sustained by the utmost degree of human

misery

"One hundred dollars per working hand," if re. ference is had to the mechanic arts and manufactures, is a very moderate production. The most common country blacksmith, if he has a family, must produce more than this by the mere labor of his hands, or his family will starve; and there are 'few agriculturalists that do not create more though they may not furnish that amount for ex. portation: but the grain-grower does not import bags to hold his grain, to the amount of a ninth part of the value of his whole product of grain.

10,477,000 dollars, in specie, were exported during the year-of which 7,900,000, (upwards of threefourths), were to ports beyond the Cape of Good Hope. Now, as it is perfectly notorious that no credit is given in any part of that trade, this whole export must have been made on new adventures, for the purchase of commodities-a part for our own consumption, but the greater part to be sold in Europe. The whole motive to these adventures was profit-the returns come into the trade of the present year. The greater part of these voyages it is the course of trade; but, as I said before, it is have been profitable, a part have been otherwisestrong presumptive evidence of the general success of this trade-at any rate, it is absolute evidence that the present prospect is considered good, that so much has gone into it the present year; for it will be found that the greater part of this eight millions is on the same track. I have taken the example of this trade as placing the subject in a strong light. But I contend that the same reasoning will apply to the exportation of specie generally.

The fact is, that Madison county, producing an article for export-that is cotton, to the value estimated in the present year, and importing every thing save food and some coarse raiment, must be doing a bad business, if we take into the account the value of capital invested. From the credit sum, $482,133, is to be deducted the interest on all the capital in LANDS and SLAVES, nearly 9000 of the latter, at 300 dollars each, are worth an annual interest of 162,000, as laboring machines-the bagging and A certain quantity of specie is necessary to supropes, to fit the cotton for transport, cost 60,000; the ply the circulating medium-or, rather, to support ginning a large sum; and, what balance can there the credit and serve as the standard of value of our really be left to pay for the articles of food and rai-bank notes: all beyond that is useless surplussage. ment imported for the supply of 17,481 souls? The It will be found, on examination, that the accumufact is easily supposed that the entire product does lation of specie in this country, has always followed not yield five per cent. on the capital actually ex- a stagnation of trade; and that the revival of trade pended-out of which the people are to be supplied has always been the signal to set this accumulation with the tens of thousands of imported articles that afloat, in search of profitable employment. As evithey want, and will obtain, if they can get them. dence of this, I give the following statements from the official returns of the banks in Boston, made up on the first of January of the respective years, and exhibiting the aggregate amount of specie in their vaults at that time in each year, viz.

FROM A BOSTON CORRESPONDENT.

Mr. Niles-I notice in your Register, of the 23d ultimo, a statement of the quantity of specie im