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W* principle, h«*e ifprlsrrd, hy Uw, that it role*
we jiaxl in the transaction* of <Uu Government,
it must be under su* h ciioumsisnees as to enable
the hohler to convert them into specie without tie*
prceislton ox delay.
Os my own duties under the existing Uwt.
wire n tho h*nk* vt-pended specie payin'-its, I
could not ' >uin Direction* were ttmnc.hm.-ly
given to pre-vent the Tetep.ion into the Treasury
ol .....y ihr.g hut gold and xilv.-r or itsequirah-n*;
•O'!>:vj:_ «,tic»Mo s. rsngement wit* made I*-
pr*:»««« tt>o fmuiir tilth, by similar oi equivalent
in? to I - public credit.>is. The revenue
from land* had been for some lime substantially
80 collected, under the order issued by (he diree.
lions ol my predecessor. The effects of tlnil or
<lcr had been eo salutary, and (Is forecast in re
gard lo tho increasing insecurity of Bank paper
had become *u apparent, bat, even before the
catastrophe., I had resolved not to interfere with
ita operation. Congress is now to decide whe
ther the revenue shall continue to be so collected
or not.
The receipts into the Treasury, of hank notes,
not redeemed in specie on demand, will not, I
presume, be sanctioned. It would destroy, with
without the excuse of war or public distress, that
equality of imports, and identity of commercial
regulation,which He si tins foundation of our
Confederacy, and would offer to each State a di
rect temptation to increase ita foreign trade, l>y
depreciating the currency received for duties in
it* ports. Such a proceeding would alao, in a
great degree, frustrate the policy, so highly rher-
Ished, of infusing into our circulation a larger
proportion of tho precious metals; a policy, the
wiwlom of which none ran doubt, though there
may he different opinions as to Iho extent to
which it should ho cartiud. Its remits have
been already 100 auspicious, and its success i>
too closely interwoven with the future prosperity
ol the country, to permit ns for a moment lo con
template its abandonment. VVc have eenn, un
der ita influence, our ajiecie augmented beyond
eighty millions; our coinage increased so a* make
that of gold amount, between August, 1804, and
December, ISOfi, to ten mil-ion* ofdollar-; excee
ding the whole coinage at Iho mint dining the
thirty-one previous years. The prospect nl fur
ther improvement continued without abatement
until the moment of the suspension of specie
-paymen's. Thin policy has now indeed been
suddenly cheeked, hut i* siill far from being
overthrown. Amidst all conflicting theories, one
poiilion is undeniable; the precious metals will
invariably disappear when there censes lo he a
necessity for their use, a* a circul iting medium.
It was in strict accordance with ibis truth, that
whilst, in the month of M.iy last, they were every
whore seen, anJ were cuireul for all ordinary
jiurpO'ies, * they disappcarel from circulation the
in uncut Ih* payment of specie was refuseil by
the hanks, and the community tacitly agreed to
dispense with its employment. Their 1 1 u-.o was
supplied by a currency exclusively of paper, nml
in many case.-, of the worst dese.iipti n. Alrea
dy are tho bank notes now in circulation greatly
dcpn-euleil, and they fluctuate in value between
•me place and anolhei; thus diminishing and mil
king uncertain tho wmih ul pMpeiiy mid thu
price of labor, and foiling lo aulisi rvc, oxee| t at
a heavy loss, the purposes of business, Willi
each succeeding Hay the meialir currency decrea
ses; by sume it is boarded in (lie natural (ear,
that once parted with, it cannot be replaced;
while by others iliulinnled from its more legiti
mate usea, for the sake of gain. Should Con
giess sanction ibis condition of tilings, by ma
king iirodcemable paper mony receivable in pay
ment of public diie.r, a lempoary check to n wj-.o
and salutary policy wilt, in all probability, be
enlivened into its abi- « ,le destruction.
Il is .rim that bank notes ne-iinily etutverlil lo
into specie may be red iVe.l in p >y nit-iil of the re
venue, without being liable to all die e objections,
and that such a course may, to some extent, pro
mote individual convenience', an object always lo
lie eonsidi red where it docs not conflict with the
principles of our Government or the general wel
fare of the country. If Kto-h notes only vvete re
ceived, and always under nreOflisl nines allowing
their early presentation for paymertt', and if, at
short and fixed periods, they were converted Into
specie, lo be kept by the olVuers of the Treasury,
some of tint most serious obstacles to their recep
tion would perhaps be removed. To tclnm the
notes in the Treasury would be to renew, under
another form, the loan* of the public money lo
t e binks and the evils consequent tbeieon.
Il is, however, a mistaken impre-sion, that any
l*r;e amount of specie is required for public pay
ments Os the seventy or eighty million* now
estimated to be in dm cßUtnry, ten millions
would ho abundantly sitlli dent for that purpose,
provided an aeennnda ion of u large amount of
teecnoe, be■; nid the ■ ecesa.try vv.ill's ot llie tin
vent merit, I- h •reulh-r pievenled. Il lo these,
consideration;. be added die fiedlii*** winch will
al4ae froat emdi ing die I teu-ury to sa c-ly the
public credit.ns, by it* drafts or nou-t received in
payment of the public dues, il m y be safely as
surer 1 1 dint n > motive ol convert encc lo iho tin.
zetia re prill * dm recepli-'u of bank paper.
To say lint the refit ai of paper money by the
(iovernun nl. inuoduei an unjust dlseriniitutfinn
ta-uveen the currency r ived by it, and tlial us
ml by Individuals in ihv uidinary nil his. is, in
■ H»y judgement, n. view il in a very erroneous
light. Tno Constitution pr.diihi'a the Stales
from making anv tiling hut g ild and silver a ten
vler in the payment ot debt.-, and thus secures to
every citizen a rigid lo demand payment in Ihe
legal currency. To provide by law that iho Gov
eminent will only receive its does in gold and
silver, is not to cooler on il any pecnli rr privilege;
but merely to place it on a t equality with the cit
izen, by reserving to it a right secured to him ba
the Constitution. It is doubtless for this reason
that the principle ha i been sanctioned by succes
sive taws, from the time ol the fust Congress un
der (he Constitution down to the last. Such pre
cedents, never objected to and proceeding Irom
such source- 4 , atVurd a decisive answer to tite im
putation ol inequality ot injustice.
Hut, in fart, the measure is one of resltieiion,
not offavor. To forbid the public agent to receive
i | payment any other than a certain kind of mon
ey, is lo refuse hint a discretion possessed by eve
ry citizen. It may lie left to those who have tho
management of their own transactions, lo make
their own terms ; but no such discretion should
Ire given lo him who nets merely as on agent ol
rim people, who is lo collect what Ihe law repines
and to pay the appropriations il makes. When
bank notes are redefined <m demand, there is then
no discrimination in reality, lor the individual
who receive* them may. at his option, substitute
the specie for them ; be t akes them from conven
ience or choice. When they are no*, so redeem
ed, it will scarcely lie contended that their receipt
and payment, by a public officer, should be per
mitted. though none deny that right loan individ
ual ; it it were, the effect" would la- nuv-t injurious
to lire public, since their officer could make none
of those arrangements lo meet or guaid against
the depreciation, which an individual is at liberty
lo Jo- Nor can inconvenience to the commune
ly he alleged as an objection lo such a regulation
Ita object and motive arc their convenience ami
welfare.
If, at a moment of simultaneous nml mtexpec
ted suspension by the hanks, il avlds soni'-thiug tv
the many embarrassment* of that proceeding, yei
these are far overbalanced by its d reel tendency
yo produce a wider circulation of gold and silver
to incre .t - the safety of bank paper, lo iotprovr
the general currency, and thus to prevent alto
gether aueh occurrences, and tho other and lai
greater evils that attend them.
It may, indeed, he questioned, whether it is nol
for the interest ol the banka themselves that the
Government should not receive theii paper. They
should he conducted with more caution, and on
sounder principles, By using specie only in ita
lisnHtctinns, the Government would create a da
man* for il. which would, lo a great extent, pre
vent its exportation, and by keeping it in c.i-u-
I alien, maintain s hinder mid soter bxsU lor t he
pap-r currency. That the hanks would thus U.
rendered more sound, and the community more
sate, cannot admit of a doubt.
- The tangoing view*, it seems me. do but
fairly ettty out the provisions of the Federal fell
KtHiiUon in relation lo the currency, «* far as re
to the public tsvcuue. At live lime that in
stramnt was framed, there were hut three or fotti
>n h«»ksS ih tho United Stale*; snd had the ot tension
ofthe banking system, and the svii* growing out
of it, been foreseen, they would probably have
oen'apwith' guarded against. The suite poliry
. wh'n h Ksi to the prohihiiion of hill* of credit by .
, i tho ts.stes. vrmiM, iloufitlr**, in that event, have .
i 1 also imerdicifed their u«oe a* a currency in any !
. ntlkrt form Tlio liuovtiiuo .n, bu vover, contains
Ino such prohihiiion; snd, aim* the Wlstts have I
, jrxcrCHCa (ornearly ball * ceniury tho power to 1
[ legulsts the b.iaincsa of banking, it is nut to be
r I exp. -<-d that .1 will Is! abandoned. The whole j
, liter is now under discussion before the proper \
; 1 tribunal- -lb" people of the States. Never before I
has the public mind hern so (hr.uioghly swakoii
i tillo a propei sense ofils iinportame; never has '
■ 1 the subject, to all its bearings, hern submitted to j
so searching an inquiry. It wool.l In- di.mt-ln « j
. the intelligence ami virtue uflhe people to doubt |
the speedy and effn lent adoption of such mca- !
. aurc* of reform as the public good demands. Alii
r that can rightfully he done by the Federal Go- :
■ vernment, to promote the accomplishment of that
i important object, will, without doubt, he perfur.n
. ed.
] In the mean limc.it is our duty to provide all
the remedies against a JiqirceitPeil paper eurron
, ry which the Constifuti in enables us to afford, j
I ThoTiea-vsry department, on several former oc- I
i casions, Ira* suggested the proprir'y and iinpur
t lance of a uniform law concerning bankruptcies
I of corporations, and other hankers. Through
r the instrumentality of such a law, a salutary
. check may doubtless be imposed mi the issues of
i paper money, and an effectual remedy given to
i the citizen in away at once equal m all part* of
* the Union, so l fully aulhotizcd by the GousUtu
. lion.
r The indulgence granted by Executive autho
-0 thorily in tho payment ol bonds for duties, has
i. been already imnniuncd. Seeing that the inline
) diaie enforcement of these obligations would
• subject a It'gn and highly respectable portion of
, our citizens lo great sacrifices, und believing that
■ a lempoi ary postponement could ho mode wi h
. out delilntent lo other interests, and wi h incrcas
. ed ceiiuinty of ultimate payment, I did net hes -
tate lo comply with the request that was made
ofnie. The terms ollowcd are, to the full extent,
as liheial as any that are to bo found in the prac
licoof the Executive Department. Il remains
for Congress to decide whether a further postpone
ment may not with propriety be allowed, and, i f
so, their legislation upon iho subject is respectful
ly invited.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will exhibit the condition of these deh'.o ; the ex
tent und effect of I he present indulgence, the pre
bable result of its further extension on the state
nl the Treasury, and every oilier fad necessary
loa full consideration of the subject. Similar in
formation is communicated in regard lo such de
positories of the public moneys as are indebted to
the Government, in order that Congress may also
adopt the proper measures in regard to them.
Tho receipts and expenditures for the first half
of the year, and an estimate of those fur the resi
due,will bo laid before you hy the Secretary of the
Treasury. In his report of December last, it was
estimated ih,it the current receipts would lull short
of tho expenditures hy about three millions ol
dollars. It will ho seen that the difference will he
imieli greater. This is to he attributed not only
to the otcurreiico of greater pecuniary embarrass
ments in the business of the roitniry limn those
which were then predicted, und, consequently, n
greater diminution in the revenue, but also lo the
fact that the npprobiiulioirs exceeded, by nearly
six millions, the amount which w, s asked for in
the estimates ihen submitted. The sum necessa
ry fur the service of the ji-ut beyond the proba
ble receipts, and the amount which it was inten
ded should he reserved in the Treasury nl the
commencement of iho year, will bo about six mil
lion*. If the whole of the reserved balance he
nut at once applied lo tho current expenditures,
hut four millions be still kcj t in the Treasury, as
seems must expedient, fur Hie uses of the mint,
and lo meet contingencies, the Bum needed will
bo ten millions.
In making ibis estimate' the receipts aro calcu
lated on the supposition of some limber extension
of tho indulgence grunted in the payment of bonds
fur duties, which will uff-et the amount of the
revenue tor the present year 10 tho extent of two
und a half millions.
, It is nol proposed lo procure the required a
mount hy loans or increased luxuU in. Tit mo
nro now In tho Trcasuiy nine millions three hun
, died and sixty-seven Ihmisuml two linn I red nml
r louilet'll dolfos; directed by tile act of the SUd
, of June, 18,10, to he deposited with the Stales in
October next. This sum, if so deposited, will he
subject, unde the law, to be recalled, if needed,
to defray existing appropriations ; and ns it is
How evident that the whole, or the principal part
of il, will be wanted for that purpose, il appears
must proper that tho depusilu should be be tvitli
- held, I'mil iris- amount ran be collected from
the banks, Treasury miles may be temporarily is
sued to be gradually redeemed as il is received.
1 inn nivtne that thiscolnso miiy ho productive
nf Inconvenience lo trinity of the Stales, Belying
open the s tans Congro.-ai which held out to them
the strong probability, if not tho certainly, of re
ceiving this instalment, limy have in aomo instan
adopted measures with which its retention may
M'liottsly interfere. That such a condition of things
should have oectmod is nnfch to be regretted. It is
not the le si among the unfortunate results of the
disasters of the times; and it is fur Congress
lo devise a fit remedy, if there be oil.!. Theme
nev being indispensable lotho wants of the Trea
sury il is difficult to conceive upon wbai princi
ple of justice or expediency its application lo that
object can be avoided. To recall any portions of
the sums already deposited with the Stales, would
be more inconvenient and loss efficient. To bur
den the country with increased taxation, when
there is in fact a largo surplus revenue, would bo
unjUst and unwise; to raise moneys by loans un
det such circumstances, and tints to commence a
new national debt, would scarcely bo santioned
by the Amorienn people.
The plan proposed will headoqunle lo all our
(ii-i-al operations, during the remainder of the year.
{Should il be adopted, ihe Treasury, aided by iltn
ample resources of the country, will bo able lo dis
clangs panelually, every pecuniary obligation.—-
, For the future, all I licit is needed will be dial can- I
■ lion and forbearance in appropriations which the |
diminution of the revenue requires, and which the j
complete ai-euinplishm.inl or great forwardness ot j
mam- expensive national undertakings renders j
1 equally consistent with prudence and pu.riotie Ith- I
' i-ndily.
I The preceding sugc-stums and recommendations !
f ore submitted, -n Iho belief that their adoption hy
J Congress will enable the Executive Department to
( conduct our fiscal concerns with success, so far as
their mamigomont has burn committed lu il Whilst
. the objects and the means proposed to attain them
are within its constitutional powers and appropriate
1 duties, they will nl Iho sums lime, il is hoped, by
- tlu-ir necessary operation, afford essential aid m
. the truisiielioa of individual concerns, and thus
(1 vield relief in the people at huge in a loiaii adapted
to the nature of our Government. Those who
, look to the notion of this Government lor specific
aid In the t ilizen to relieve embarrassments arising
s from losses by revulsions in commerce and credit,
V lose sigin of tlio ends for which it was created, and
rl the powers with which it is clothed. It was cstalr
y ladled to give security to ns all, in our lawful and
j honorable pursuits, under the lasting sal'-gniml ol
republican insulations: It was rr.it intended to eon
'■ ler s|veeial favork on individuals, or an any classes
d of tln m; to oreiiie systems of ngdcurtnrc, manufac
tures, or trade ; or lo engage in them, either separ
-. utelv or m eoimeeltnn wOi individual eiiizeus *ir
0 orgn-.rr.id n.-soeimions. If il* cqiertiiions were lo
bo directed for the iM-nefilofany one el -ss, eqmva
-1 len’. 1 ivore must, injustice, Is- cx.c ul rd to the rest,
y and the ancmpi to bestow such laVdts with an
r. equal iiaml, or evan lo select those who .should
e most dosrlie them, would never he aoeee.-slnl. Alt
a- | *-011111111(111 it s an apt to look lo Government lor too
i( | mtieh. Even in our own eounstv, where its pow
i ersand duties srq so strictly limited, we are prone
i lo do so, especially at )«mo*l*i ol sudden embarmss
mein and *bslres*. Itm lies ought n-t to be. Tho
e framer* *d mir excellent Guii-tmmon, and the pen
\ phi who approved il w ith oolat ami sagacious de
i, lihe.ation, « i<-*l at ih - time on a sounder principle.
, s j They wi'ctv jo-lg.-l tli.il the less Guver.unonl in-
I terleres w ith private pursuits,the better ha- llie go
'■ | i,era! prti*p*-rny ft s ran it- legitimate object tu
’■ nuke ihein rn-ii, <-r to repair, by dirett grants of
I- | money or legist moil m iavor ol partieular pursuits,
e 1 losses not incurred in lire public sorvreo. Thu
ic ! would Ik- substamialiy to use the property of some
p f.r the ben. lit of others. Hitt its real .hny-llms
j July, the |ierfotw»nee of w hich makes n good ho
| vermueni the most precious of human b.ossiags— *t
I ; to enact and enforce a sy sient ol general law's com
l* ) itMbsurate w.lb, but nol exceeding, the ohjta-is ol lt--
?- . li uhlhhmcitl, snj lo leave every cilir.cn and every
iiiich-st to reap, under it* benign pr.iteetion, the re
lf 1 wards ol virtue, industry and prudence.
j 1 eon*l-*t doubt that on this, at on ail similar oc-
II i r .ision*, the Federal Government wilt find ns agent
'* ! ry most conducive to the isv umy and happme,* of
e | [(,„ prop!*, xx t«*h hraixM n, the exerc.se ol it* » on
y red d i-.0v.0r. In never wrenmmg, even lor a wall
inoont übjei t, se.rh (w«Mv o* wvre not H s’--P'd "
Il» eonferred *qs»n it, we shaft in reality do iiaisl l-n j
i Ihe general w - lints To avoid ■ vei) uxutecesshry
j inleilerenee with il*e pnniuiu ofthe c-ilshi, wdl
; result ,n more benefit lUori to soup* m* -sure s xv In* ii
mill*! only assUl Iminod mlemsts,anil or- <«gerlv,
1 hut |«-rh«p* naturally, sought lor, under ihe ; r.-sture-,
;of r* ni| 1,1 ary ( irenir.s anees 11, therefore, li* b.cli
I from snggt-aing lu (iongr*-** any sj-m ific pan (or
jre golotiog Ihe siebmiges of 111* country; relieving
! mere -a. the * ,nbarrsxsments : *,r ml lie- mg with Ihe ,
| onlinary operanons of foreign or du. ce. e eom- 1
j inerre ; if n, fru.u a * onvielion tier! such meornres ,
are not wiilnn the eomlnutinm I | re,vinca ol lire
’ (»*-tiefnl Government, nndthuf iheir iijopinei woo'd ,
I nut promote the real and prnnnn-'M xmllare ol
those they might be derjgned to aid.
TboililTieultien and rhure n of the times, iliengh
j unquestionably great, nrc hncie) in th -ir exient,
j kikl cannot be regarded ns «ll> cring ih*- [srniiam ni
' proepemy of the nation. A-rsiiig, in it great degree,
, from the irsnsm-iiuos of f-in-ign and (Imnioiic < >io
i innree, it is upon them Ibal they have chiefly fallen,
j The great agricultural imprest has, in many part* of
J the country, suffered compiennxch* hide; and, a- I
il I’rav deuce intended to display die munificence
[ of its goodo- *-s at the moment <d our greatest need,
j <n*l in direct contrast to the cxi. 1 * occasion*. 1 l*y
I Iho waywardness of nrnr, xve have been blessed
hmughout oor cxn-ndoil territory with a reason of
general he-ltli and uncommon fruitlulness. 'J ha
proceed* of our great staples will s-ioo furnish the
means of liquidating debts at home and abroad, at. I
contribute equally (■> ihe revival of commercial ue
in iiy, and the ruadoruiion of cmnmiTcinl credit
l ie banks, celahlisbed avowedly for its support,
deriving ilteir profits Irom il, and resting under ob
ligations io il which cannot lie overlooked, will fed
at once the necessity nod Justice of URdittg their I
energies xviih llroso of tha raorcanif.c interest. The
simja-iision of spucto risysnents, at such -t lima and
under such circumstances os xve hove lately witness
ed, could nol bo other than a tempura y measure;
anjxvu can scarcely err in believing Hint tho period
must tonr. arrive when ad that aro solvent will re
deem their issues in gold silver. Dealings abroad
naiurally dot-end on resources and prospority at
homo. If the debt of our merchants ha* accumula
ted, or I heir credit is impaired, these are flue! nations
always incident to cxlcnsivoor extravagant mercan
tile transactions. Ifni tho ultimate security of such
obligations (loos not admit of question. They are
guarantied by the resources ol a country, the fruits
of xv I lose industry afford abundant moans of ample
liquidation, mid by ihe evident interest of every
merchant to sustain a credit, hitherto high, hy
promptly applying these moans lor iis preservation.
I deeply regret I hat events have occurred which
require ms lonslt yunrcnnisdorniion of such serious
topics. I timid have wished that, in making my
first communication to tho assembled repm-mtu
lives of my country, 1 bad nothing to dwell upon
but the history of her unalloyed prosperity. Since it
is oiberxviso wo can only (Vcl morodoi-ply the- res
ponsibility of tho respective Irutls (bat have hoen
confided to us, and, under the pressure ot diflienl
•i<> s, unite in invoking tho guidance and aid ol ihe
-'iiprcinii Jluli-r of nations, and in Jaljoring with
/- uioiia resolnlion lo overeoiuo the difficulties by
which we are environed.
It in, under sorb circumstances, a high gratifica
tion to know, hy long experience,that xve can act
tore pcopli lo xvlinm iha truth, however unprom
ising, i u-x always bo spokes with solely; fur tlio
trial of whoso patriotism no emergency is 100 se
vere, and who are sure never jo desert a public func
tionary honestly laboring fur llie public good. Il
seems just that they should receive, without delay,
any aid in their embarrassments which your delibe
rations can afford. Coming directly front the midst
of them, anil knowing Iho course of events in every
section of our country, from you may host he learn
ed f-swcll lire extent und nature of these embar
rassments, as the most desirable measures of relief.
1 am aw tire, however, that it is not (.roller to de
tain yon, at pi event, longer limn may bo demanded
by lliospoetal object* fur which yen are convened.
To them, then lore, 1 have coiifiie d ray communi
cation ; and, bclievi g it will not bo yoorown wish
lo extend your deliberations beyond litem, I reserve
till tiie usual period ofyonr minimi meeting that gene
ra! information on the slum oflho Union which the
Constitution requires mu to give.
M. VAN BUIIE.IV.
W.xsniM.-rox, ilh Sijilaubi’r, 1837.
s-utitrtlny livening, Sept 0, in:!7.
Aa the "Message” is llie subject matter of con
versation in every circle, we give up our Editori
al columns lo flay, to our correspondents, X- Y.
7,. and “Madison,” whose comntunicalions wilj
no doubt be read with much more interest than
any thing xve could write.
(j*j*Boo rubun MMiteai.a.nh bunGic-Ai. Jouu
n a i..—The first number ofthe Second volume has
been issued, and is ready for delivery to city sub
scribers.
[von ruk eauuMet.B ash brnyinm-.J
Mil. Junks:— lt lias been a fieqnenl piuctiec
of bile, to write burlesque messages, for the Presi
dent of the United States. I shall not follow the
I example. The lute message of Mr. Van Uuien,
so far us mysulicalion, and verbosity,and beating
about the bush,goes, sols all burlesque at defiance.
I have, however, taken the opposite course, and
send you a Iraun/uliuii ofthe whole message into
brief and literal English—except the iluliciueil
sentences, which arc quoted from the document
itself. 1 venture to my that, without paraphrase,
and -wholly i wilhaut miarljireaenhition, 1 have
thus given the entire message in u portable form,
so that the policy of the administration can ho
come at, hy u reader wh i baa not time to wade
through eight long column*, in search of eight
ileus. Yours, &c. X. V.Z.
MESSAGE.
/-W-'ow Citizens nf the Senate
nml llsuse of Uepeeaentatives:
I have culled you together lo regulate the dc
posite and safekeeping ofthe public money. —
When this is done, you can adjourn, and leave
all other matters till your regular session.
There is great embarrassment in the business
ofthe country, and great derangement in the cur
rency, owing entirely to the rage for speculation
and overtrading. The acts of the government
have had no effect in producing or aggravating,
tiro evil.
1 have always been opposed to n National
I Bank, und shall never consent to establish one.
1 The Sta.e Bunks hove been proved, by three tri-
I nls, to he very little better, and neither should be
1 employed in any way by the government.
The government should never interfere with
| domestic exchange, which is lo bo left lo the man
i ligament of those interested in il; but “through
Ihe medium of bills ilrtnt-n by itself, or fitti'chii
ted from others," il may * facilitate and assist
exchanges of iniUviduals, founded on leal
j Iransacliinis." For details, I refer to lire report
, ■ oi Mr. Woodbury.
I The order of my predecessor, commonly called
‘ i ihe “specie circular,” Iras had lhe mos* salutary
1 | effect. Thcspo:io being obtained from Banks a 0
; u loan, and returned to them as a deposits to be
j loaned again, the rapidity of land speculations
j was materially checked,though the mode of doing
tho business continued the sume.
The only sale mode of collecting, keeping and
i | disbursing public money, is through tite agents ol
the Treasury, A few offices, established at im
i i pottaul points, (probably ten or less,) will he suf
| J ficient for the purposes of deposits, and the mo
, m y will he safer in them than in hanks. I would
I gladly avoid the very small increase of patronage
: produced hy this arrangement,hut f shall “shrink
> from no responsibility cast upon me by the du
lies of my office,”
Nothing but gold and silver should be rccc ved
- or paid by the government. Ten millions of coin
, will answer for tin* pnrp so. and the auspicious
f policy, heretofore pursued, has brought eighty
4 million* into (be country. By refusing bank
, Motes altogether, you will tender the banks mor
1 prudent aud mote sound, ptevent the exportation
of *[ieet»-. by cresting a demand fur it, and bring it
into general circulation.
The indulgence granted on custom home
• I bond*, wi* unavoidable. You will decide xx brib
er it shall be continued.
The law distributing the surplus revenue a
! • inoreg tho Stales, cannot lie carried into larthcr
1 | rtfwt, at present, snd ought to be roj-eiled.
M
t am opposed to taxes or leans. Treasury
notes will be necessary, to carry on tha govtin
meat, 1:11 the suit treasury ['lan can be unJcf
». «y.
The regulating exchanges, (a» already mcn "
tinned,) relieving mercantile embarrassments, or
■ iiicriuiiug with trade, in any way, i* none of my
business, nor yonra wither. They can take care
' of ih<*maalvnt: m itt c.-pcci»lly as tin; “great nr,
ricnharul Imereti" Las “tufered comparative•
ly Utile," and the “permanent piosperily of the
nation" is not mater tally affected.
I am sorry to br.irg such serious mailers before
; you; but we “act for a people, to whom the
| truth, however unpromising, can always be spo
\ hen with safety" M. VAN BUUON.
Washington, Sept. 4:h> 1837.
[roa Tits euaosicLF, ash si.sristi..]
THE MESSAGE.
The President's Mcsiagchtiay be briefly sum
med up thus;
The Country is in deep distress. This distress
bus arisen from o»enrading-“aml overtrading,
has sprang from over ■banking. —The Govorn
meut cannot mod the current expenses with
out retaining one dividend, allotted to the States
! under the Distribution Law.—The embarrass
ments of the Government spring from the refusal
of the pet bank; to pay specie, the unparalleled
reduction of the revenue, and the unexpected in
crease of the public expenses. To remedy all
j these grievances, and to prevent the recurrence ol
| them, the Banks are to be pul down, and a Sub-
Treasury System is to be pul up.
That the Country is in dorp distress, no one
will dilute; but that this distress, with all its
alarming features, is to be ascribed to any thing
else, than the vile tinkering of the Government,
with the aurrency of the country, no man but one
who is interested in concealing the cause, will
darq lo assert. Mr. Van Uurcn traces it to over
trading, and ho po'nls to the distress of Europe
generally, in proof of his views. Now it so hap
pens, that the commercial embarrassments of Eu
rope are in a direct ratio to her connexions with
this country; &, where she has no connection with
tliis country, she suffers no d.stress at all. Mo
bile, Orleans, and Now York, were literally bank
rup!, before Groat Britain felt the lirst shock of
the general paralysis; and lo this day, her sullbr
ing compared with ours, is hardly as one to a
thousand. All that she has suffered, may be
traced by plain, direct, immediate, and necessary
conveyance, to the troubles of our abused, insult
ed, and almost ruined country. While she sup
posed that the delays of onr merchants in making
payments, were only from common causes, she
suffered, bet little, and her BanVs, or rather her
mammoth Bank, promptly and fearlessly extend
’ cd relief to her merchants. Butin a little time
• she learned that general ruin had overswepl our
\ country, and that hardly any payments could he
> made by our merchants; then of course she be
gan to feci a pressure. Our people were heavily
in debt lo hors, and could not pay; the conse
quence was that her people felt the want of iho mo
ney that wc owed them. As ourcommerco with
. her was grea’er than it was with all Europe be
. side, she suffered more than any Kingdom in Eu
rope besides.
I Franco slued next to her in freedom ofinter
i course with us, and Franco stands next lo her in
afflictions, and for the very same reason, and to
- the very same relative extent. These countries
s not being able to command their usual resources,
i. could not give the usual prices for our commodi
ties—Colton fell, and Egypt, a Colton growing
Country, suffered by the fall. And bore ends the
, calol’gtit; of suffering Kingdoms. It is true, that
. the two former being the greatest Commercial
, Kingdoms in the world, their pangs must be felt
to some extent all over the world; but they have
been so very slight, every whore else, as hardly to
attract, & not to deserve notice. Here is the plain
I history oflhe distress of the times. What has over!
( trading to do with it ! What Iras a redundancy
I of Banks to do with it! Are Franco and Err
, gland overburdened with Banks! We know
they arc not; and yet they suffer. If they are,
, wiry are not their troubles as much greater than
ours, as their population and varied industry ex
, coed ours ! Why is it not at least equal lo
. ours! Above all, why is it trot greater itt Franco
than iit England ; or ut least equal in those King
doms ! Because Banks are not the primary
cause of the trouble.
‘•Overtrading.’" This slang is perpetually
rung in our cars by tbe authors of our misfor
tunes. Nttw what does it mean! It means 6»y
rnj-mare ifran one has a reasonable prospect, of
paying for, dr it moans nothing. Have our peo
ple done this! In spite of all that has been said
to the ecntiary, I fearlessly maintain that they
* have not. Compare the imports of 1836 with
those of 1833, and will the difference, sustain tire
belief for a moment, that our troubles spring from
extravagant purchases! Could we pay for tbe
" j imports of the one year, and come joyously and
IJ richly from the trade; and has tire increase in the
i next, rained the whole country! O.- was it the
increase iir 1835, that is now oppressing the coun
try! it was not by six millions as great as the
increase iit 1831, artd yet the country suffered
I nothing in that year.
But there is a striking and peculiar feature irt
the failures of this year—lt is that almost every
merchant has failed full-handed. There is hardly
, an instance of failure, in which the bankrupt has
,i not had assets largely upwards of his responsi-
Inlilies —assets 100, that at any other time would
be perfectly good. Have these men overtraded !
. Does the tuau overtrade who buys no more than
ho can sell at a profit! Then the sin surely lies
not at their door; and yet these arc the very men
who have been ruircJ, and who are now cursed
ami insulted as the authors of the general distress
S
n “But they must have sold to men who cannot
" pay.” True, and who did they sell to! The
j planters of the country, who Mr. Van Buren says
are out of the distress, and who General Jackson
says should array themselves against the mcr
chants as a tribe of rogues. Why do not the
planters sudor! (I mean as sorely as the rner
,l chants—for they do sutler to no small extent
e and soon wilt sutler more.) Simply because
/. | punctuality is not as important to them as i
i is to rhe merchants. But is the inability of thr
planter lo pay, the result of his foolhardness it
d trade as Mr. Van Duron would have us believe !
ir By no moans. He bought, with an eye to hr;
s coming crop artd the crop on hand which he sup
v pitted would command the usual prices: and it
k will not command tba half of it: and hence his in
i’ ability to pay. Has he overtraded! Has he m-
II prudently traded! Artd this brings us to the
11 great question—Why cannot he pay! This ad
mil* of aa easy answer. General Jackson, most
c suddenly, lawlessly,and unexpectedly seized upon
i- the funis of the U. Stales Bank, hv raerus ol
which, it was sustaining and equalising exchan
i- ges from one extreme ot the country to the other,
r Here the trouble began. The whole order ol
j commerce was disturbed. It w&; like killing tier
post boy, to the mail-or removing the debtors
enJor-er by death. Tue public funds were dis
p r-ej among stale institutions, and the ruet
chaill's slier a struggle, accommodated themselves
lo tlris new order of things. What next! Jack- j
son's, or rather Benton’s specie notions became
the order of the day. The public lands must lie
sold for specie, tire revenues must be paid in spe
cie, duties must be paid in specie, and the whole
currency of the country must be instantaneously
transformed to a metaiie currency, when the metal
of the world would hardly support the commerce
oflhe United States. What must lie the inevila- |
hie conscience of this Slate of things! The rner- !
chants goods arc laid in, and on the way. He I
must laud them and sell them or he is ruined; and ,
this ho cannot do without specie. It is ruin to ;
him then, or the banks.—He breaks upon the ,
hanks lor specie, and the banks to meet him.come '
down upon their debtors—accommodations are
stopt, and a war is forced upon these institutions
arid the merchants—hitherto the props and sup
porters of each other, It is needless (q fgllgw the
details further—any one can trace them—V, hilo
tilings are working thus at one end of the chain
ufcommerce, Iho abominable system, is producing
equal disasters at the other. Rich lauds are
thrown into the market, and every farmer who |
can got specie is sure of a bargain for them.—
The planters 100 begin torako up specie from
all quarters in which it is lo be had. They
agack the Banks in the roar while tho Govern
ment and the importers charge them in front.—
They in turn press still harder their debtors,
and the debtors, for want of time, (and nothing
more) cannot pay—the Banks have now no
all-rnative but to pay and die,or to refuse to pay
and live. They take tho latter alternative,and now
there is no paying at all, to government or indivi
duals, and general distress is the necessary result.
Any man who can put too ideas together, can see
the truth of all that has been slated.* And now
what did tho government want with specie! What
was it lo it, what kind of currency our people
chose to deal in! And what an insult is it tea
distressed people, to be told by their Chief Magis
trate, a complo'.ler with their plunderers, that
their troubles spring from merchants and banks,
arid that the planters should rise up and crush
them all!
More of the Message,when we have more time.
MADISON.
*Uur calamities were foreseen and foretold, at the
very first step of tho Government in tho path that
led to them, but Air. Van Huron's moa pronounced
their prophecies, all empty visions, conjured up
to alarm the timid-
EXTKA SESSION OK TUB TWENTY"
1 HPT it CONGUKSB,
IN SENATE
Tuesday, September 5.
Mr. Wright, from the Committee on the part
of the Serrate, appointed lo wait on the President
us tho United Stales, reported that the Committee
had performed that duly, and received for answer
that the President would send a Message lo the
Senate to-day at 12 o’clock.
The Message was then delivered to the Senate
' by the bands of his private Secretary, and was
■ read by the Secretary of tiro Senate, occupying
i nearly an hour and a half.
Mr. Wright moved that lire message and doc
uments be printed, 5000 ol tiro former and 1500
of lire latter.
Mr. Clay seconded lire motion, and said ho
would have no objection to double and treble the
number. He expressed bis deep regret that Ihe
President, entertaining such views, should have
thought it necessary to call us hero at this incon
venient season from our farms and employments.
Mr. Buchanan moved lo amend by making
the number 10,000.
Mr. Wright accepted the amendment as a rao
-1 dificalion of his motion, and the motion was a
-3 greed to.
t On nro'ion of Mr. Grundy,
I Tiro Senate adjourned.
1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
3 Tuesday, September 5.
> After the reading of the Journal of yestorday,
, The delegate from the territory of Wisconsin,
, Mr Juries, and the delegate from Florida,Mr.
* Downing, appeared arid wore qualified.
Messrs. Richardson, us S. C., Glascock,Dawson
and Cleveland, of Georgia, ami Rice Garland, of
.- Louisiana, appeared arid were qualified.
Mr. James Garland, born the Committee ap
’ pointed on Ihe part of the House to wait on the
1 President ol the United Slates and inform him
- that the two Houses were organized and ready to
i proceed lo business, reported that the Committee
3 had discharged that duty and received for answer
from the President, that he would make a com
munication, in writing to both Houses,at 13 o’-
' clock Ibis day.
A message was then received from the Presi'
dent of the U. 8. by tho hands of bis private Sec
retary, Abraham Van Buren, Esq. and was read
by tho Clerk.
Mr- Hamar moved that tho message be laid on
i i\,t i.. Mi-. ,ii.a iUai vo.ooo ——i »c— - ——*•
. be printed.
Mr. Owens moved 20,000, which Mr. Hamer
accepted.
Mr. E. Whittlesey, of Ohio,moved 10,000 cop
-1 ics, and expressed tire hope that, hwing assem
; Died in consequence of the general ernbarrass
) merits of the revenue and business of lire country,
wc should avoid all extravagant and unnecessary
expenditure of tbe public money.
I Tbe question being first on 20,00,
3 Mr. Owens asked lire yeas and nays,which were
B ordered and were—Yeas 115; Nays 100.
So ihe motion was agreed to.
The Speaker presented the Annual report of
! the Secretary of the Treasury on the stale oflhe
I Finances.
Mr. Connor moved that tho Report be laid on
the table, and 20,000 extra copies be printed.
Lost.
f Ten thousand copies were then o.dered to be
v printed.
s ELECTION OF PRINTER.
.. On motion of Mr. Patton, of Virginia, the
, House proceeded lo tbe choice of a printer for
tho House, during the Twenty-fifty Congress.
* Mr. Lewis Williams nominated Messrs. Gales
n & Seaton.
s Mr. Hamer nominated Messrs. Blair & Rives.
, Mr. Clark, of New York, nominated Mr. Tho
rnas Allen,
* The ballots being prepared, Messrs. Williams,
s Hamer, and Clark were appointed Tellers, arid
it they announced Iho following as the result of thr
„ first ballot;
Whole number of votes, 230
8 Necessary to a choice, 110
» For Gales & Seaton, 100
r- For Blair & Rives, 103
For Thomas Allen, 22
For Dull’Green, 1
r ' For blank, 4
•. There being no choice on the first ballot, ase
;e conJ, third, fourth and fifth ballots took place, bu
I with the same result.
( On motion of Mr. Owens,
I Tho House adjourned at 4 o’clock.
n In the house of Representatives on Monday
! when the motion to go into tbe election of Clerl
ls was agreed to —Mr. Sergeant nominated Samue
Shoch, of Pennsylvania,
’’ Mr. Cushman nominated Walter S. Franklin
II The Tellers reported the result of the ballot a
i- follows.
Whole number of soles 20!
Necessary to a choice 101
e Os which Waller S. Franklin received 111
Samuel Shoch -ll
it Matthew St. Chur Clarke
n Blanks I
3 I Whereupon Walter S. Franklin of Pcnnsyl
vania, was declared July elected, and took thr
** oath ut office.
r - The Committee appointed to wait on the Pres
>f idem, in conjunction wi.h that from the Senate
„ was composed of Mr. Gar rand, Mr. Rcei.ttnd Mr
Howard,
v -
from iht .Y. Cum. Adv. 6 epf. 6 j (
LATEKFROM ENGLAND.
The Arkansas, Cap*. Wood, arrived this mom- !
iim from Livcnwol, from whcncesho sailed on the i
(ilh August. We are iltbehled to Messrs. Silas j
| Holmes & Co. for Liverpool papers uud prices |
current to ‘he 5 h, inclusive.
! The packet ship England was oIT point Lynaa
! on the 4th August. Wire sailed from this port on
the ITth July.
The commercial intelligence Is favorable.
Colton it will bo seen, advanced a farthing per
1 pound during the k.
The paper is lillcd, almost cxcu-ively, with
: election returns, and speeches, and of
\ it e riotous proceedings at various places, during
I the poiling. It is slated that at W akolicld, .dur
i the Humiliation of the candidates, no less than
fifty thousand people were engaged in battle, at
1 one lime, with brick bats and bludgeons. A cor
respondent of the Journal contrasts very forcibly,
the quiet and orderly manner in which elections
are managed in this country, with the shocking
scenes of outrage and disorder exhibited during
tlio recent canvass at Livcrpooll and elsewhere.
The mayor of Liverpool has commenced an ac
tion against the publishers of the Mail—notorious
far its abase of this country —for the gross and
scandal .as attacks made on him by (hat paper,
during the election.
I A great number of public-house keepers and
j others, were in attendance at the police court, a
day or two after the election, to claim cotnpcnsa
-1 lion for damages in the destruction of their wiii
| down, furniture, &c.
j It is staled that a British minister will be accre
dited at the Court of Hanover, that being now to
all intents and purposes a foreign kingdom.
An article is copied from the Smyrna Gazette,
staling that a serious difference had biokcn out
between the Pacha of Egypt and the British con
sul at Alexandria, growing out ot the Pacha’s re
fusal to admit the landing of a cargo of wheal from
1 Sicily, except on payment of an extra duty. The
consul had told him lhat the demand, if persisted
in, would he considered a violation of the treaty
—and there the matter rested a! the date of tho
advices.
The Liverpool journal gives the following sum
total of the eleclion returns, sa far as known.
Whigs 847, conservatives 811.
At the close of the first day’s poll in Middlesex
tho conservative candidates vvcie nearly 100 a
head of the Whigs. Mr. Hume was lowest on
the lisl.
A tcniblc disaster occurred in the collieries at
1 Workington, near Whitehaven, on the night of
July 88th, where the pits extended a long way
under sea. The roof of the mines gave way & the
water,rushed in,filling the pits so as to render them
forever useless, and destroying the lives of 37 per
sons, two of whom were boys, and 35 men, who
were overtaken bynhe flood before they had time
to escape. There were 5? persons in the mines at
the lime, hut 30 of them succeed in flying. Twen
ty-eight valuable horses perished. More than 300
persons are thrown out of work by tho destuc
lion of these pits.
Rochdale Plan nf.l Maukut, July 31. —The
demand to-day has chiefly been for the fine A mid
dling qualities of flannels, and somewhat higher
prices have been asked on account of the advance
in the price ol wool. In the wool market there has
not been much doing, but the last week’s prices
have been maintained.
Livkhpool and Manchkstuu Railway.—
, The traffic upon this lailway is increasing at a
very rapid progressive rate. The increase of pas
sengers during the half year ending the 30th of
, June last, over the corresponding half of 1836
was no less than 16,500.
Sioux Indians.—Wo see by our Western slips
that twenty-six Indians, a Delegation from the
i Nedawakanton, Siseoton, Wahpceton and Wah
paakoota, tribes of Sioux, are on their way to
Washington, accompanied by Mnj. Taliaferro, U.
S. Agent there.
The following are the names of the principal
Chief-; Big Thunder, Iron Cloud, the Wind that
Sinks, Black Eagle, The Cane, The Standing
Cloud,The Floater, The Grey Iron.
From the N. V. Daily Express, Sept . 5.
MONEY MARKET—CITY NEWS.
The ship Arkansas slipped in last evening past
all the news hots, and anchored at the Quarantine
at BP. M, Her news did not reach the city un
til this morning. She sailed on the 6th of Aug
ust, and brings three days later intelligence from
Liverpool, and one day later from London. The
cotton market had improved, and things looked a
little better. The packet ship England had just
, arrived with half a million of dollars. Specie
■. was pouring into England from all quarters, but
particularly from the United Slates. The feeling
r towards America was turning quite in our favor,
f The Arkansas has a full cargo of dry goods, a
quantity far exceeding that brought by three of
. the last packet ships. Trade was excessively
. dull in the manufacturing districts, hut tho Amer
i icon debt was so rapidly diminishing, and cotton
j having, it was believed, touched its lowest point,
3 that the manufacturers had began to have confi
r dance, and to purchase pretty freely.
It will bo seen that a large portion of the goods
- coming out arc to order, —this arises from the
fact that confidence is impaired mid the breaking
up of mercantile houses. Formerly these goods
have been bought and paid for by the American
I agent, by bills drawn in Manchester and other
manufacturing districts on the American Hankers
i j in London, of whom they had open on limited
. I ,v,v,r.J; M'lv" n -.»v.i*+»WJlgTjCl3llt>yCd, lIIWI
of these good are coining out consigned and on
■ English account.
The last n»ws from London states . that tho
. Post Notes of tho U. S. Bank have, been done at
the improved quotation of 98. Exchequer Bills
. were at 58 to 51 prom.
THE GAMBLER’S FATE.
Another glass of Uuracoa—and then for St.
James,’ said Russell to his friend, ‘lists your
lengthened residence on the continent embu’
ed you with much taste for ecarlc or 1011101161
C ‘No, replied Molvil, ‘ever opposed, both by
3 inclination and education, to the vice of gam
bling, 1 have studiously avoided entering the
, mnjic circle in which the fide goddess enthrals
her votaries. Surely you do not play?’
‘Very little,’ responded Russell, carelessly,
0 ‘and merely for amusement; to night, however,
I have, as I told you before, an appointment
which must be kept. You will accompany me
e I Impel Remember, yon need not flay.’
, r ‘To part from each other so soon, and after
so long a separation, with so much to talk a
,s bout, and so many friends to inquire after, re
quires more philosophy than 1 can boastof
s. possessing; so as yoiir appointment must bo
>- kept, and 1 have no tear of my resolution fail
ing in one night, 1 will accompany you.—
s, Were 1 superstitious, though, I should "not do
1 so; for a Scotch professor of second-sight,
w oaco told me, that 1 should bitterly rue the ac
tion, did I ever cross the threshold of a gaining
house.’
Russel smiled sarcastically. ‘Possibly your
Scotch seer spoke from experience. Who
knows but what some cunning uhicl had wen
a groat from him at a fair, and he thought the
like might hap to you'! Nevertheless, 1 should
like to understand this second.sight, as you
’’ phrase it, very well, seeing that it would prove
an able auxiliary ut hazard.’
The Curacoa was drunk, the cab was or
dered, and the scene was changed. One
„ hour afterwards, he was deeply engaged in
r k tho niyterics of play, and Melvil occasionally
e l looking on, and anon chatting with sonic
young lordlings to whom his friend had intro,
n. duced him, patiently awaited tho termination
is o! an amusement far which ho entertained no
small dtgree of distaste. Russel won largely,
19 Seated at the same table with him was one ol
)5 those professed players, who nightly haunt
16 the gaining table. Ho was a man of middle
16 j age, of gentlemanly manners, and seemed well
1 1 known to those by whom he was surrounded.
8 ‘What, losing again to-night, Hawkes?’
‘ I 33 til one of the .bystanders, addressing him
lc i we have described—vhat is bad; you have
1 last night’s losses to repair already.’
*‘S ‘True,’replied the person addressed; and
e ’ Melvil well "ersed in human nature, noticed a
r ’ t peculiar intonation in the voice of the speak-
I ar, which betrayed fierce internal agitation of
mind, although to a common observer it might
I have been imperceptible. ‘True,’ I must; »nd
i you will see, 1 shall win presently.’
•Indeed!’ exclaimed the other,—‘well, well;
I we shall see that.’
In effect,the prophecy of the player appear,
ed magical; for anon the luck changed—Run
sell’s high pile of gold dwindled rapidly away;
each successive throw of the dice contributed
materially to decrease it, while that of Hawk
csspccdily became the largest on the hoard.
‘Russel,’ whispered Melvil, heave this dan
gerous pastime—the luck, you see, has chang- #
ed.’
‘And will change again,’ replied Russell;
•I kno.v my adversary well—good fortune
rarely abides with lorn.’
‘1 am glad to ho tr that you know him,’ said
Melvil gravely, ‘for really I had suspected
some foul play. Pray, vvhn is he?’
“He is a man of good fa mi y, undone of
large properly, all ol which he has dissipated
at play. lie married Blanch Vane, —she, with
whom it was said by village gossips, you once
had an affaire de cwur in early life.’
‘I don’t recollect her,’ said Melvil.
‘Not recollect her!’ exclaimed Russell, ea
gerly,‘nut recollect her? Why, Melvil, I
could almost feel tempted to say the lock of
memory was intentional, —not remember
Blanch Vane ; she whom we used to cull
‘Beautiful Blanche ?’
Melvil colored slightly. A crowd of recol
lections pressed to his heart, but they passed
away with the moment in which they were
engendered ; there was a little romance in
his bosom. ‘I do remember that cognomen, ’
ho answered coldly, as he turned an y fr ua
the table.
Half an hour elapsed ere Melvil agai i a;T.
pronched. The gamhh r’s face was flushed
with success; that of Russell was pale and
disturbed, lie had lost very considerably.
‘One more throw for double stakes,’ cried
he, ‘and 1 have done.’
‘Agreed,’ replied Hawkes’.
Meivil with some difficulty made his wav to
the opposite end of the tabic, and watclied
with eagle eye his every motion. They threw,
and Russell lost. The scarlet blood mounted
on Melvil’s brow, he suddenly bent forward,
and violently seized the wrist of Hawkes.
‘Contemptible scoundrel ! yon have dice in
your sleeve.’
Universal confusion followed, and groups
f persons flocked to the table, while Hawkes
proudly shook off the grasp of Alelvil, and ha- v
red his arm, calmly saying,
•Prove your charge, sir.’
This was impossible ; and although perfec
tly satisfied himself as to the truth of his alle
gation. Melvil was obliged to acknowledge
he had no means of’suhstantiating it. Hawkes
demanded his card—it was given.
•You are wrong,’ whispered Russell, ‘you
had better apologize ; he is a capital siuat,.’
‘1 was not wrong, and will not apologize,’
answered Melvil, quietly.
Ere the la’ter left the room, a meeting had
been arranged fur the following morning, by
Russell and some friend of Hawkes.
Five persons met early on a damp, misty,
gloomy looking morning, in Butter-sea-fields
—they were the daellisls, iheir seconds, and a
surgeon, jl/elvil was cool and collected.
‘Russell, if 1 fall, promise me to give up for
ever your fearful pursuit.’
•May heaven avert such calamity as your
be ng wounded even.’
‘Will you promise me what I have asked ?’
‘I will do more—l will swear!’ answered
Russell:
The ground was soon measured—the com
batants took their places—the signal was giv
en—and, as previously arranged, both fired 1
together, Melvil remained unhuit—the gamb
ler fell,
‘God !’ ejaculated Melvil, ‘I have destroyed
him.’
They rushed to the fallen man, and while
his second raised and supported his head up
on his knee, the sergeon examined tho wound..
It wasin the left side.
‘Speak—speak !’ exclaimed Melvil, ‘am I.
a murderer ?’
‘Fly, fly with your best speed, gentleman,
said the surgeon, ‘the wound is mortal—he
cannot live many minutes.
As tho poisoned arrow of the Indian warri- <*
or festers in the wound of his enemy, so did
this sentence enter into the very heart of Mel
vil, and there fester and cancer his hopes of
future happiness. The dying heard the re
ply with assumed forlitudo.
‘lt is well,’ he said faintly, ‘nay, it is just.—
You,’addressing, Melvil, ‘you were right—l
did use false dice last night; but hear my jus
tification, such as it is. I have a wife—chil
dren—l shall or behold them more! I love
them holier an uyselt. A run ot ill luck
bad left mo penniles, and them starving.—
Desperation filled my bosom, and 1 determin
ed should fortune last night desert me, that I
would ensure her favors by employing means
which had I previously notso much as a dream
of. His voice failed.
‘He is dying,’ said the surgeon, ‘fly for your
He who supported the head ot Hawkes,,
lowered it gently to th egrass, and disappear
ed; neither of the others moved. The motion
of his appeared to rouse the fast-fading recol
lections of the unfurl unate duellist, but h •
mind wandered—‘Blanche, my wife—my
sweetheart—another chance for thy sake !
Throw —throw—now give me the box —down
go the dice—ah—deuce—ace the game is up! ’
A convulsive contraction of the limbs followed
—then a slight shudder—and, then the gam
bler ‘slept the sleep which knows no waking.’
Russel and Melvil made the tour of Switz
erland together, both were melancholy—the
former tui a season, the latter forever.
From the Boston Herald.
’’ITS NOT,—WHAT IS IT I
, TO L
Tis not thy mild love beaming rye,
So pure, so chaste, so bright,
> That glows like summei’s calmest sky,
Lhiclouded from the light;
• i Or like the lakelet, hushed and still,
When Luna vigil keeps,
. And naught is heard save gurgling rill,
i And wearied nature sleeps;
j ’Tis not that eye drove the dart,
That pierced and rankles in my heart.
- ’Tis not thy voice, as like the choir
) Os angels hosts on high;
, That sweeter is than tuneful lyre,
And speaks rich melody ;
r ’Tis nut the ruby of ihy lip,
Though richer far than (lower,
r That grows wore good bird loves to sip
5 in fairy grove and bovver;
, That voice, that sip, I know them well;
is >J ul they spoke not the enchanting spell.
d ’Tis not the beauty of thy mould;
U And yet the bounding deer,
e That trips it o’er the mountain bold,
Would find a rival here;—
■- ’Tis not thy bright and glittering hair,
e Locked with the simple band;
n ‘Tis not that gilded chain’ so fair,
y Wrought by thy tap’ring hand;
e Nor form nos hand, nor chain has bound
, Me fast as magic circles round.
n Wby is it? Why burns this having flame?
0 W hy lists my anxous car.
'. I hat s heard so oft the precious name,
)1 And yet again would hear?
It Why throbs th s heart with beating strife,
e As thou sill’s! up my thought?
II Why sti;s so fresh the tide of life,
j. As back thine imago’s brought!
I’ FhytclJ. thysELv! (bat speaks the power,
n That holds me like the rock-bound tower. F. W.
e The following toast was given at a late
Rail Rond celebration in Carlisle, Fa.
d Woman.— The MorningStarofouryouth—
-3 the Day Star of our manhood—the Evening
■ Star ol onr ago. God bless our Stars.