Newspaper Page Text
' gnu r : ~
v-'
■ ' - ^
—
March-next, was curried by the casting vote
of the Speaker, the house being divided. x
Mr. Bering laid.- osrthe table a resolution
that the Legislature will adjourn sine die on
Saturday the 14th of December.
... Mr. Wood of Hall, reported an act to au
thorize the: Sheriff of Hall to advertise his
sales in any paper in the’State. ^
Miv Rutherford from the committee, re
ported a bill providing for the creation, alter
ations or reftioval of election precincts in the
counties.of.' Upson, Thomas, Crawford, De-
Kalb, Morgan, Decatur, Newton, Gwinnett,
Telfair, HaJ!,. Wilkes, Talbot, Stewart, Camp,
bell, Jasper, and Randolph.
’, Mr. Pace reported a bill to define, the du
ties of Clerks and Sheriffs of this State in is
suing and levying executions. ,
Mr^florris'of Warren, reported a bill to
amcn^ the patrol laws of this State.
The House dispensed with the order of the
. day, and took up the amendment of the
Senate to the resolution of the house for the
appointment of a joint committee,, to examine
the state of the Merchants* and Planters’
Bank. ' Tfm. Senate’s amendment, was the
substitution of three commissioners to be ap
pointed by the Governor, for the joint com
mittee proposed by the house. After some
remarks by Mr. Meriwether ip opposition to
•the .Senate’s amendment, the House 1 refused
to concur. A committee of conference was
appointed, consisting of Messrs. Meriwether,
Bates and Rhodes. ,v
The House then took up.the bill to provide
for the payment of the agents employed by
the-State to assert and protect the rights of
the CtiCrokee Indians, and made it the order
of the day for Saturday next..
■ Thursday, Nov. 28,
. After some formal and local business, the
liouse took up. the orders of the day, being Mark A. Cooper,
the. resolutions offered by Mr. Cooper. j TuUy Vinson,
Mr. Bates moved to lay them on the table Julius C. Alford,
for the rest of the session. I A. ^ W. Redding,
On this motion an animated debate ensued, I Asoury Cowles,
Messm. Bates, Stcelnian, King of McIntosh, IN. C. Sayre,
Bums, Harris of Walton, and Glascock, sup- j Samuel Torrance,
porting the motion, and Messrs. Cooper, Al
ford, Welbom, and Clayton opposing it.
After a long debate the resolutions were
laid on the table for the residue of the session
Yeas 94, Nays 64. Many friends of the J J. T. Sharpe,
resolution, no doubt voted in the affirmative- 5 -1 C. H. McCall,
several of them stated as their reason for so J J. R. Walker,
doing, a persuasion that to discuss them at that
time and place would be unprofitable and a
waste of time. I A. P. Robertson,
Mr. Stanford reported as dulyenrolled the John Boring,
bill to dispose of the fractions by lottery. . J Robert Hubbard,
The Governor transmitted by message a I B. F. Hardeman,
report by Mr. Win. Nichols, the Engineer, J J. H. Gresham,
of a survey of the Chattahoochee river, be-1 W<rJ. Russell,
tween Columbus and West Point, with maps, | M.Jf. Dye,
plans, &c. which were referred to a select
appealed from the decision of the Chair to J would justify and we therefore ^determined
the House, on which appeal the majority of as early aapracticable to proceed,to such bu-
the .House did overrule said decision, and siness as we believe tte proper subjectsof log-
thereby denied, not only to the member from' islation. .
Putnam, but to every other, the privilege of Thos. W. Harris
debate on the question they were required to Stephen Mayes *
lay_on the .table., ,,, ., .. SamJ . R^Ssoi, v
Now, yre (he undersigned, do enter this our I Richd. Warthen, '
solemn protest against the said decision of j Henry Solomon,'
the majority, and assign the following roa-j John Dobbs - - '-
sons, to wit: '- \Geo. D. Anderson,
First. We do believe the matter proposed j jy. p m Easly,
for discussion docs involve .subjects of lasting,
momentous, vital and immediate interest to
all the States, to the Southern States at pres-
Timothy Pitman,
Shepherd Williams,
Hendley ydmer,
John Thomas, ■
.Bant.H* Stewart,
VWh. H^Dismukes,
JdmesWood,
G- W-iWacakser, '
N. Harrison,
W: H. Adair,
Larkin Landrum,
Albon Chlue and A. XI* Nitbet, Editor*.
aa# aoasj
ent, to our constituents, and to the people of I R, A, r. Smith,
Win. Cone of Camdeji,Richard Pentecost,
| A. G. Peddy,
Win. Harris,
Wm. A. Dunham,
Thos. . King,
| Jno. McBride,
\ D. W. Shine,
A. Rhodes,
Georgia particularly.
Second. We believe the assertion of the
principles of the-esolutions imperiously de-
mauded bv the circumstances under which
they have been denounced as aforesaid, as an
act of justice to them who believe and advo
cate them; that the good people- of this and
the other States, particularly, may righteously I John Ellis,
dpcide on the propriety of such denunciations. I Ewd. Engram,
Third. Because by the decision of the ma- Robt. W. Harkness,
jority, all discussion was put down, and the Sol. V. Wilson,
privdege of expressing our opinions in behalf I Tho. Ragan,
of ourselves and those we represent was de-1 Jno. Sellers,
uied, which we believe .can only be rightfully Francis Bacon,
done in cases where by the express rules of j Jag, jj. King,
this house, such privilege tnay have been res. Jno. jj. Burks,
tricted. Wm. Ash, i
Fourth. Because there is no express rule, I J 0 na. Walker,
refusing tho right of discussion in this case, John R. Stanford,
nor do we know of the like having been done John Bates,
by the rules of any deliberative assembly, Richard Moore,
heretofore. In this case we think it was un-
reasonable, unjust, and, under existing cir
cumstances, highly oppressive.
Signed by the following members:
Benj. Hudson,
Wm. Hammond,
James Grubbs,'
Y. P. King,
Elisha Wynn,
Thomas R. Lamar,
John Bass,
John. Harris,
Thos. M. Burnett,
Wm. H. Steelman,
Hugh Lawson,
Thos. Hilliard,
Thos. S. Wayne,
George Stuck,
Wm. G, Little,
Joel Rivers,
D.P. Pepper, >
Jas. H. Stark,
Jas. A. Perdue,
jas. B. Waller,
Jona* Baker,
D. M. Burns,
Sparkman Bowen,
Green H. Jordan,
Jas.H. Rodgers,
Henry Blair
Wiley Kent,
Ged. -W. Murray,
Jas. Li ^Burks,
Reuben Mitchell,
Lewis Harris, >.
Wm. Kelly,
Congress.—The first session of the 23d Congffess,
I met in the Capitol at Washington City, on Monday
the 2d inst. In the abefenob of Mr. Van Boren, the
Vice President of the U. S., Mr. White of Tennes-
[ see, took the Chair in the Semite.
Mr. Stevenson of Virginia, was elected Speaker to
the House of Representatives by a majority of nearly
two to one over aU competitors. Mr. Walter S.
I Franklin of Pennsylvania; was elected Clerk to the
House, and Mr. Thomas B. Randolph Sergeant at
I Anns.
The President’s Message was delivered at 1 o’clock
j on the 3d, and read by the Clerk; In laying this
interesting document before our readers, we have but
one request to make of them: lay aside all prejudice
1 and give it a calm and thorough perusal. It is mild
and dignified in manner, and an able and satisfactory
expose of- our foreign and domestic relations, re-
sources, &c. ‘ " •
breakfast, to dinner, and after dinner to sun
set, especially when that love is a little'“ stir
red up,” if l way be permitte'd to use the ex
pression, by four dollars per day. Many of
our .poor, but honest people of the up-country,
will work Bard, “ from the rising of the sun
to the going down of jhe same,” and be glad
to get for it ‘one dollar per day, whilst their
representatives, so soon, as they get « out of
their sight,” forget all their tender profes-
sions, whilst at home, of love and affection,
and cannot be prevailed upon to work for
them,- for either love or money. But this is
a matter of but little moment, in'comparison
with another which I shall mention, and I
wish every honest man in Georgia could only
feel and see it as I do,, and I have no v doubt
our State would soon be -in a moreprosperous
Wm. G. Ray,
Kinchen Strickland•
G. W. Smith, of Henry,Absalom Holcomb,
Jona. C. Hawthorn, Mark Wilcox,
Thos. Young of Irwin,Benj. Chastain,
Jno. M. McAfee,* Geo. R. McEhy,
Ezek. Pierce, Lewis Rivers.
John G. Pitman,
Great opposition was shown, and many ob
jections made to entering this rejoinder upon
ET ,Tho author of “ A friend to equal rights,” in
the Augusta Constitutionalist of the 6th inst. may
bo assured that the day has gone by when either the
religious or political prejudices of the people con be
wrought upon by designing men to affect injuriously
the popularity and prosperity of Franklin College.—
The good people of Georgia, have long since deter
mined, that so far as this institution is concernod,
they will be all Methodists, all Baptists, all Fresby.
tenons, all Unionists, all Nullifiers. When they
choose to change this their resolve, and convert it in-
to an arena for religious and political gladiators, no
doubt professorships will be established to suit the.
genius and qualifications of” a friend to equal rights,”
.or some of his particular friends. Till then and not
priation had been made by the French Chamber
It is not known to me that up to that period,"*"
appropriation had been required of the Chan^
and, although a communication was subsemw!!;
made to the Chambers, by direction of the Kin**;
ommending that the necessary provision shoajjL
made for carrying too convention into effect, it *'
at an advanced period of the session, and the
was finally postponed until the next meeting of?
_ Notwithstanding, it has boon supposed by.
French Ministry, that the. financial stipulation,
the treaty cannot be carried into effect withoc,
appropriation by the Chambers, it appears to i*.
be not only consistent with the charter of
situation than it has been for the last ten Minister Plenipotentiary .at Washington,"and Z
ntmiitlv thrnmrh thfi lYliniQtn* rv
G. R. Clayton,
T. G. Sanford,
J. N. Williamson,
Stewart Floyd,
the journals; those wha offered it, claimed * U V* 6 "’ w “ l ** rightiyappreciated
. . its being placed upon the iotimals as a matter y tho board of TrU8tee3 ‘., «
T1 tSakCr jT IVhitf’ right ’ a ” ght CqUal ^ I th ®* pf ^V others to ET The Constitutionalist of the 6th inst. says.
1 nomas a. White, | |j ave ^ protest entered without opposition. “ We have been informed, that at a meeting held
years.- I allude to the fact, which strikes
every intelligent individual who visits Mill-
edgeville during the session of the Legisla
ture, that a legislation is goiqg on, not so
much fdr the people of Georgia, but for a
particular party. There seems to be a dis
position upon the part of many members of
the Legislature to introduce before them, sub
jects of great importance, not for the pur
pose of advancing the prosperity of the peo
pie, but for the purpose of advancing the in
terest of a party. Under this remark might
be classed the .«♦ Law to lottery off the Frac
tious,” which has passed both houses add been,
signed by the Governor. This law was de
signed not for the public good, but for politic
al effect. Also, the projects now before the
Legislature of laying off the State into Con
gressional districts'and giving the election of
Judges-to - the People, These projects were
brought before the Legislature, not because it
was thought that the situation of the, country
imperiously demanded it, but because it Was
supposed they could be used for party purpos
es. It is to be hoped that the honest people
of this State,: (who are not entirely carried
away, by party considerations,) will, (at some
time, not very distant,) open their eyes upon
such legislation, and put it down;”
Henry Pope,
S. M. Barr,
Churchill Gibson,
Benj. H. Rttlheiford,
The Speaker decided that if there was oppo- yesterday, of a large number of the stockholders of
sition, the paper could not be spread upon the the Bank of Augusta, to take into consideration the
FT. Cone of Greene, Joseph Culpepper,
W. A. L. Collins, Martin P. Sparks,
Ichabod Davis,
Wm. A. Beck,
H. M. Thornton,
Daniel McIntyre,
Wm. Stroud,
Thomas Bivins.
•
| journal except by the consent of the House.
A formal objection was then made by Mr.
Cooper, and oq the question being put, the
House decided that the rejoinder should be
| spread upon the table—ayes 115,'noes 27.
No other business of importance was trans
acted. t.
; Tuesday, Dec. 3.
| expediency of incresing tho capital stock of that
Bank* it was decided in favor of increasing the stock
| $600,000. The capital is now $600,000.”
O' Doctor Cooper is no longer President of the
South Carolina College. His resignation was ten-
. MESSAGE
OPthe President of the United States to both
Houses of Congress.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate , -
% and House of Representatives:
On yoar assembling to perform the high trusts
which the people of tho United States have confided
to you, of legislating for their common welfure, it
( gives me pleasure to congratulate you upon the happy
condition of our beloved country- By the favor
late Commencement of that Institution. He will be
retained in it, however, as Lecturer on Chemistry,
After some business of minor interest, the I divested of all his power as one of the College au.
house resumed the unfinished business of thorities. It is further stated that he will open a
The Act amending the penal code wad I y es t e rday, being the act to incorporate the I School in Columbia on the first of January next.
Committee of Messrs. Alford, Thornton, 1 read a second time, and the house adjourned. I Union Rail Road Company. It was agreed
Wellborn, Cranberry and Peddy. Monday, Dec. 2. that the company oe exempted from all taxa
The House then took up the bill to amend This morning the iollowing rejoinder to the hon for seven years from the time the said
the penal code, which was read the first time. Protest entered on the journal on Saturday, by I roads or t ‘ iem s ' ia ‘* be completed, and
This is in fact a new penal code; forming a I Mr. Cooper and his friqpds, was presented
printed pamphlet of 72 octavo pages. j to the House by Mr. Harris, of Wolton:
Friday, Nov. 29. “ We, the undersigned, n portion of the
Mr. Cooper moved to reconsider a vote ; of j majority who are attempted to be censured by
the House of yesterday, on a question of or- I the protest entered by M. A. Cooper, a mem
der. 'Lost, yeas 77, nays 79.
no tax after that to exceed 2 1-2 per cent, on
the nett profits. The rest of the bill was then
gone through by sections, and on its final
passage was carried—-yeas 131, nays 12.
The House then took up the penal code,
U* Col. A. P. Butler, of Edgefield, has been elect-
; ed by the Legislature of South Carolina, Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas of that State, to fill the
vacancy occasioned by tho death of Judge Martin.
The Rail Road Bill,—We are sorry to find in this
bill, as it has passed the House of Representatives, a
feature which we are sure will prove a serious obsta-
cle, if it does not entirely defeat tho whole project:
her from the county of Putnam, and others, for ] and P r °g resse<1 *»*h but few amendments as I we alludo to that which reserves to tho Legislature
. 11 4 •* aa ♦/% lltA dimm/vn nn/1 fnnn n niAilan nn I • La a_ a. al "2 A " L ' ■
Mr. Cooper.then moved to * reconsider the and on account of the course pursued by the 1 far 88 to the 5th division, and then adjourned, the right to tax the company after seven years,
)te of yesterday,laying his resolutions on the I House of Representatives in relation to a cer- Wednesday, Dec. A. [ high aa 2 1-2 per cent, on the nett proceeds. Unc
• - r- J .. . • r. - i li i i.... * . L. i l... I .. «... I ordinarv circumstances, wo would nav. errant no <
vote
table for the rest of the session. On this J tain preamble and resolutions, introduced by j The House suspended the order of the day
‘ motion Mr. Cooper entered upon the whole I the said member from Putnam; in replying to I to take up the penal code, which remained
Hubject, and doctrines embraced in his reso
lutions. When the House adjourned he had
not concluded his remarks, intending as toe
understand to resume them next day,
Nothing toas done in either house but the
discussion of these resolutions, of Mr. Chap
pell in one and of Mr. Cooper in the
other.,.
Saturday, Nov. 30.
Penal
said protest, feel it a duty we owe ourselves, j under discussion till the recess,
as well as those we represent, thus to express I EVENING ’SITTING,
some of the reasons which influence us in Re SUn , e d the consideration of the
sustaining the course which has been pursued. I
1- lst ‘. 1 ? e SU ^ e ? ® oa ? ht - 1 ? b0 bl ? ught The order was suspended to pass a resolu-
before this, branch of the Legislature, by a jj on t(J p] ace | n the lottery wheel certain lots
part of said resolutions, however disguised, that have been drawn by.mistake, and others
was to establish the principle, that “ each 1 -
Under
ordinary circumstance^, we would say, grant no ex-
elusive privileges to capitalists without taxation; but
tho present undertaking is one of such magnitude-
one involving so much risk and uncertainty, %nd if
successful, will prove of each incalculable benefit to
the people that we think, the Legislature should not
hesitate a moment to grant the company, a charter
entirely free of taxation. If it succeeds the people
will reap more advantages from it than the stockhold-
ere—if it fails they lose nothing. Under such dr-
I ^ otber d * awtos |
•" The house resumed the unfinished business SOVEREIGN, and that, os such, has a right | - The House nro«rro<wpd with thn Ponil Code I pl ° 1,0 wiUing to extcndto ^ com P“y every en-
of yesterday, beitog Mr. Cooper’s motion to to determine for itself,what Jaws passed by the Ln adjournment, having hrOceedpd as far „„ I en'iragcment within their power? We think so—
reconsider the vote of Thursday, laying his Congress of the . United States shall operate tll0 ig t h Section of the^'O^Division And we hope, when the question comes up before tho
resolutions on the table for the residue of the within her limits, and what shall not f” thereby £, , * J Senate for consideration, that that respectable and
session. Whereupon Mr. Cooper procce- recognizing the odious heresy of Nullification i'mtrsday, uec. o. I liberal body will strike from the bill the only feature
ded and addressed the house at length. The aq a rightful remedy, which having prevailed , Except occasional suspensions of the order retained in it calculated to dampen the ardor of those
house refused to reconsider. J in a neighboring State, has operated greatly I ^ or tbe Emission of motions, petitions, and who a?e willing to risk their funds in the enterprise,
Mr. Cooper laid on the table the following to the injury of the minority and disgrace ^®P° rts > tbo house was engaged^he whole Or if they must tax the company, lot it be reduced
Trotest, which was read and ordered to be of the majority. ‘ , day on the Penal Code. Various amend- to ono percent, which would be as great or greater
entered on the Journals, to wit: I “2dly. Because the very subject has mePtb we ^ e mat ^ e ; but as the aet has yet to | than that paid on land and negroes.
Whereas a Representative from the conn- j been, extensively discussed in primary assem- P 833 “ en ^ e> we sba ^ not now particular-
ty of Putnam did offer for the consideration blies, in the newspapers throughout the State, them * There was considerable discus-^ M MBW B iAJUUOU
of this Legislature the following Preamble and during the present session of this Lcgis- sl ° n , on . the . c,8Use ^‘ncting tjie practice of 0ctober> ^ j li ,i lrpoal . to the 24th, v
and Resolutions, to v/it: , lature, there have been two political meetings ol physic without a license. Parties run al- Thointelligonco is of an i
[Herefollow Mr. Cooper's resolutions, which I one in favor and the other in opposition to *P 0St 113 mme dicine asm polities; and
we have heretofore published.1 said doctrine, the resolutions passed at which t8e advocates of the Thomsonian school, stren-
Which were made the order of the day for have both been published to the world; and U8US ’y contended against any provision that
Thursday the 29th day of November. Inas- that therefore the discussion here could have might circumscribe their free agency, and as
much as we conceive them to be respectful no beneficial effect. the^ doubtless conceived their usefulness.—
in themselves, and introduced to express un-1 \ “ 3dly. It is stated in the protest that,« by The clause was however retained. The
qualified disapprobation of the principles and the decision of the majority, all discussion was Principal discussion however, on this point, ^ ^ ^ Tinnn ,.., w
views contained in the President's late proc- put down.” Now if it is intended by that yesterday. To-day, the policy of pro- ^ iatfepidnavigator . a discoveries and sufferings
tarnation, to oppose the bill commonly called expression, to convey the meaning that al) h ‘. u ‘ n ? */ ,aw thc mtroduc&ni of Slaves into dilrin ^ thrce ^ a hal f yeare 80 j 0Urn amid th 0
the Force Bill, and to present what we be-1 discussion was suppressed, it is evidently not tms State, presented itself in the enactments icQuid gnowa of the rcgion8>
lieve to bathe rights of the sovereign people sustained by the facts and consequently can- °. . 13tb 8,vl sion of the .code. The pro- j—,—
of the States respectively, and the powers of not be true ; the member from Hal), who hibitory clause was struck out at tho close of The following is the commencement of the Utter.
the Federal branch of this government. made the motion ‘to‘ lay them on the table,’ J | be ®vemng sitting,.with the general expecta- jytoa, our Milledgeville correspondent, the concluding
And whereas, also,the principles contained I admitted that on a motion, to reconsider the * U "' * L * * r
in the Resolutions are those which we believe merits of th6 resolutions might be discussed ;
best calculated when duly administered to se- and furthermore, a member from the - county
curt 'liberty, and our own constitutional Un- of Troup, on the original motion made by the
ion '; that their exhibition and support at this j member from the county of Hall, by permis-
time, we*re called for by the following circum
stances, to wit:
as to tho rights of our citizens, to treat the cot*
ti°n made and ratified & proper fomi, as pledging
good faith oi .the French Government for its e*.
tion, and as imposing upon each Department u,
ligation to fulfil it s-and v I have received assent
through our Charge d’Afiaires at Paris and the FrZ
Minifllnr PlnnSnntAntinra at ....
of
dered to the Board of Trustees and accepted, at the Divine Providence, health is again restored to us
peace reigns within our borders: abundance crowus
the labors of our fields: commerce and domestic in-
dustry flourish and increase : and individual happi
ness rewards the private virtue and enterprise of our
Foreign Nevos^—By the arrival of the packet ship
Roscoo at New York, London papers to the 23d
were received in
city. The intelligence is of an interesting char,
acter, but wo are compelled, from the length of the
President’s Message, to omit giving the. particulars
this week.
The risipg of the Cariists in Spain and the return
to England of the celebrated Capt. Ross, constitute
the most important items. We will in our next lay
before our reodors the very interesting account of
tion wo believe that a reconsideration of the j ^ 0 y was published in our last':
vote would be moved in a fuller house on I - 4C According to promise I give you below
Friday. . - . I some intelligence of tho proceedings of the
V Friday, Dec. 6. |L e gj s i a tureofGcorgia, ofinteresttothe peo-
On a mojion of Mr. Starke to reconsider Lie of the up-country. '
sion of the House, went into a discussion of J the, vote of yesterday which refused to strike jn the first place I would promise, that the
tho merits ; and on the motion made the next out the clause xif-the Penal Code which pun- I people are very much deceived in their Rep-
First. They have been controverted and I morning to reconsider, 4>y ‘be member from I ished profane swearing, the tendency of such I resentatives. Being not much accustomed to
denounced as dangerous and traitorous in I Putnam, who introduced the resolutions, the I laws and the policy of interferin^ by positive I matters of this sort, and having heard at home,
character, lind tending to disunion , and civil said member commenced a speech in support legislation for the interests of morality, were overhand often, of professions made by the
war; first by the President of the United I of said resolutions and continued the same un-1 considered in a/discussion between Messrs. Representatives to the- People, of their ^con-
States, and then by the Executive of this State til tho House adjourned, and on the following Starke, King of McIntosh, King of Greene, slant fidelity and untiring affection, \ had sup
in his'anriual message of this year,-and also I morning, he resumed his argument and con- Clayton, Bradford and Williamson. ,' J posed, that when they came to Milledgeville,
in his inaugural address. tinned as long as he thought proper, and after Op motion of Mr..Hull, tjie IIou:
Secondly. They were discarded and trod, the motion- to reconsider had been rejected ed tfie consideration of, thg jftyihl Code, and | prosperity and happiness. In this I begin to
n under foot by the last Congress in the 1 by a vote-of the House, the protest was hail- continued on it till adjournment:-'The princi-' tpink I was mistaken,'andexpecting that iiko-
enaetment of the odious Bill of Force. ' I ded to the Clerk fobefread at the table, which pal discussions ar6se on th'fe policy of prohib- ly some honest people at home, may be qn-
And whoreas on the day-assigned for their was accordingly done. And iting, by law, the lntrodficiiohof. slaves.— J der the. same delusion- with myself,. I - will
consideration, an, honourable member from | “Lastly. Because there were many im- Messrs. Hull, Young of Oglethorpe, Harris of state some of the few reasons, which have
citizens.
Our condition abroad is no less honorable than it
is prosperous at home. Seeking nothing that is not
right, and determined to submit to nothing that is
wrong, but desiring honest friendships and liberal in.
tercourse with all nations, t!«i United States have
gained throughout the world the confidence anil-re
spect which are due -to a policy so just and so con:
genial to the character of tho Amorican people and to
the spirit of their institutions. <_
In bringing to your notice the particular state of
our Foreign Affairs, it affords me high gratification
to inform yon, that they are in a condition which
promises the continuance of. friendship with,, all- sta
tions. ,
With Qrcat Britain the interesting question of our
Northeastern Boundary remains still undecided. A
negotiation, however, upon -that subject, has been
renewed since the close of the last Congress; and a
proposition has been submitted to the British Govern,
ment, with the view of establishing, in conformity
with the. resolution of the Senate, the line designated
by the Treaty .of 1783. Though no definitive an.
swer has been received, it may be daily looked- for,
and I entertain a hope that the overture may ultim
ately lead to a satisfactory adjustment'of this impor-
tant matter. /
I have the satisfaction to inform you that a nego
tiation, which, by desire of the Houso of Bepresenta.
three, was oponed some years ago with the British
Government, for the erection of light-houses on. the
Bahamas, has been successful. Those works when
completed, together with those which the United
States have conslructqd on the western side of'the
Golf of Florida, will contribute essentially to the
safety of navigation in that sea. This joint partici-
pation in establishments interesting to humanity and
beneficial to commerce, is worthy of two enlightened
nations, and indicates feelings which .cannot fail to
have a happy influence upon their political relations.
It is gratifying to the friends of both to perceive that
the intercourse between the two people is becoming
daily more extensive, and that sentiments of mutual
goodwill have grown up, befitting their common ori.
gin and justifying the hope, that by wise counsels on
each side, not only unsettled qncstions iriay be Batis.
factorily terminated, but new causes of misunder
standing prevented.
Notwithstanding that I continue to receive the
moat amicable assurances froVh the Goverr-ment of
Fiance, and that -in all other respects the moit friend
ly relations exist between tho United States and that
Government, it is to be regretted that the stipula
tions of the Convention concluded on the 4-th July,
1831, remain, in some important parts, unfbtfilled.
By the second article of that Convention it was
stipulated that the earn payable to the U. Status should
be paid al Paris in six annual instalments into the
hands' of siich person or parsons, as should be author-
ired by the Government of the United States to re
ceive it; and by the same article, the first instalment
was payable on the secopd day- of February, 1833—
By the act of Congress pf the 13th of! Jnly, 1832, <it
made tho duty of the Secretary- of the
Treasury to cause the several instalments, with
tho interest thereon, to be received from the
French Government, and transferred to the United
States in such manner Rb he may deem bdst; and by
tho same act of Congress, the stipulations on the
part of the'United States, .in the Convention were,
in all respects fulfilled. Not doubting that a treaty
thus mado and ratifiod by the two Governnents, and
faithfully executed by tho United States, would bo
promptly complied with by tho other party, and cle.
siriiig to avoid tho risk and expense of intermediate
agencies, the Secretary of the Treasury deonaed it ad
visable to rocoivo and transfer the first instalment by
means of a draft upon tho Fronch Minister of Fi-
motion of Mr. .Huiyj^pffouso rcsuin. j they had nothing at hoort but the pioplo’s
Hall cb'unty moved to lay them on the table
for th&~Mancerrof-tbc session;.on which
portant bills on the clerk’s table that reqnir- Walton, Pace, and Cooper, advocated the made me fear, that upon that subject
ed legislative 'action, and 'which necessarily I prohibition, on various cround9. Mr. Solo-1 in error. \ In the first place, it is wit
I was
with great
recently through the Minuter of the United Sb!
at Paris, that the deloy has not proceeded front?
indisposition on the part of the King and his
tors to. fulfil the treaty, and that measures wifli
presented at the next meetiug of the Chambers,,
with a reasonable hope of success, to obtain the t
cessary appropriation.
It is necessary to state, however, that the
jhents, except certain lists of vessels captured, %
denined or burnt at sea, proper to facilitate the em
ination and liquidation of the reclamations cornv,
ed in the stipulation of. the Convention, and
by the 6th Article, France engaged to conunu&t*
to tho United States by the intermediary of thel* jj
tion though repeatedly applied for by the Ame^
Charge d’Affairs, under instructions from this G,
eminent, have not yet been comnmmr.atcd; iodb
delay, it is apprehended, will necessarily prevent)
completion of the duties assigned to the Conn
sioners within the time at present prescribed byh
The reasons for delaying to communicate ti,
documents have not been explicitly stated, aadi
is the more to be regretted, as it is not undent
that the interposition of the Chambers is in any ^
ner required for the delivery of those papers.
Under these circumstances, in a case so imp***
to the interests qf our citizens and to the chant
of our country, and under disappointments so at
peeled, 1 deemed if my duty,- however I might rajs
the general ts .untncos to which I have adverted,}
longer to delay the appointment of a Minister Ph
potentiary to Paris, but to despatch him in season
communicate the result of his application to 4
French Government at an early period of your seta
I accordingly appointed a distinguished citizen It
this purpose, who proceeded on his mission ie it
ustlast, apd was presented to the Ring, early iei
month of October, since which time no despairs
have been received from him. He is particularlji
structcd as to all matters connected with the pros
posture of afiitirs, and I indulge the hope; that if]
the representations ho is instructed to make, andfo
the dispositions manifested by the King and him
istore, in their reeent assurances to our Minister!
Paris, the subject will bo early considered and au
factorily disposed of at the next meeting of a
Chambers.
As this subject involves important interests a
has attracted a considerable share of the public ats
tion, I have deemed it proper to make this eipfa
statement of its actual condition: and should li
disappointed in tho hope now entertained, the *
ject will he again brought to the notice of Coopt
in such manner OS the occasion may require.
Tho friendly relations which have always he I
maintained between the United States and Rest I
have been further extended and strengthened byb!
treaty of navigation and commerce concluded on ti
6th of December last, and sanctioned by tho Sedfet
beforo the close of its last session. The rX 1
cations having been since exchanged, thslibusf
visions of the Treaty are now in fall force; and,*
der the encouragement which they havo secured, t
flourishing and increasing commerce, yielding iis be
efits to the enterprise of both nations, affords to ead
the just recompense of wise measures, and adds w
motives for that mutual friendship- which the tv
countrios have hitherto cherished towardsaach otht
It affords me peculiar satisfaction to state that th
Government of Spain has at length yielded to tb
justice of the claims which fiavo been so longurgs
in behalf of onr citizens, and has expressed a irillin;
ness to provide an indemnification, as soon astk -
proper amount can he agreed upon. Upon this latte
point, it is probable an understanding iiad take
place between the Minister of the United States ui
the Spanish Government, before tbe docease of tb
late^King of Spain, and, unless that event may dm
delayed its completion, there is reason to hope that)
may bo in my power to announce to you, early in yen
ptesent session, the conclusion of a convention upa
terms not less favorable than those entered into ft
similar objects with other natiqns. That act of j»
tice would well accord with tho character of Spaa
and is due to tho United States from their ones*
friend.. It could not fail to strengthen the ate
ments of timity and good will between the two*
tions which it is so much the wish of the Unite
States to cherish, and so truly the interest of both a
maintain.
By the first section of an act of Congress pass)
on the 13th July, 1832, the tonnage duly on Span&
ships arriving from the ports of Spain, was iimitte
to tho duty payabjo on American vessels in the port
of Spain previous to the 20th October, 1817, bcin{
five cents per ton. That act was' intended to gi*
effect, on our side, to an arrangement made with to
Spanish Government, by which discriminating dntiei
of tonnage were to be abolished in the ports of the
United States, and Spain on the vessels of the twi
nations. . Pursuant to that arrangement, which wv
carried into effect on the part of Spain on the 20tW
May,1832,by a Royal order,dated the 29th April,1m2,
American vessels in the ports of Spain hare P*»
fiye cento per ton, which rate of duty is also paid b
those ports by Spanish ships: but, as American vesw
pay no tonnage duty in the ports of the U. State
the duty of five cents payable in our ports by Span
ish vessels under the act abovementioned, is really *
discriminating duty operating to the disadvantage &
Spain. Though no complaint has yet been ma “ e ®
the part of Spain, we are not the,less bound by the
obligations of good faith to remove the discrirau 3-
tion; and I recommend that the act be amended ac
cordingly. As the Royal order above alluded to®
chutes the Ports of the Balearic and Canary Mana
ts well as those of Spain, it would seem that the pi*
Visions of the act of Congress should be equally «
tensive; and that for the repayment of such dutte*
may have been improperly received,an addition shot*
be made to tho sum appropriated at the last sesad
of-Congress for refunding discriminating duU “‘
As the arrangement referred to, however, did ,
ombrace tho Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico,
criminating duties, to the prejudice ofAmeruov
8hipp> n S» continue to to ‘‘SJriS
extent of tho commerce earned on botw
ted States and those Islands,
this discrimination causcs sono^gymy
those great natiomdl interest w£ * cherish,'
sidered an essential part or v n nr
and has given risetocomplainUion the^art of m
Under instructions given to our
out of tho first instalment, and.tho intereit payable
with it. . This bill.was not drawn at Washington un
tU’five days after the instalment waspayabln at Paris
and was accompanied by a special authority from the
President authorizing the Cashier or his assigns to
receive the amount. The mode thus adopted of re
ceivingtho instalment was officially made known to
the French Government, by tho American Charge
d’Affairs at Paris, pursuant to instruction! from the
Department of State. The bill, howovir, though
not presented for payment Until the twentf-thirdday
of March, was not paid, and for the reason assigned
by the French Minister of Finance, that r.o appro
Ml., . Lrt . JOt , merchants. V“ a “ r *-‘“ wpre8en tetions hate been
States, for the amount accruing to thpUwjed States istor at Madritl.eiirnesi i' Government updnlhie
SSli iaentortainod Uvmd. tb»
» J thrta beneficial change will be produced.
T^I&B'dvantago, however, to which bur shipping
rho* i operation of these discriminating
... ’ during your present session, powrt,
in U-e P re .id..tt->
modify o, discontinao them totho di.trim.n.tinjrdo-
tiesdn American vessels or their cargoes may be rood
[fied or discontinued at those Islands. Jn 8 '""
hare been given to the Spanish Government,