The Georgia journal. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1809-1847, February 23, 1829, Image 2

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For contingent expenses of said office, tetrea hun dred end fifty dollar*. For compensation to (he Commieeinnen of the Ne- *y Board, two thousand six hundred and twenty-fire dollar* . _ For eoniponMUon to the Secretary to the Commit* •loners of the Navy Board five hundred dnllira. For compensation to tho clctke in the office of the Commiaeioneix of the Navy Board, per act of the twentieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, eight hundred and eighty eevnn dollaraand titty centt For compenaation to the clerke and draftsmen in eaidoffice, per act of twenty-sixth of May, one thou- aand eight bundled and twenty-four, one tbouaand dollar* For additional compensation to one clerk in snid office, per act of the second of March, one thou- eand eight hundred and twenty seven, fifty dollars For compensation to the messenger in eaid of fice, in full of all allowances, one hundred and seven ty-five dollars. For contingent expensei of said office, four hund red and fifty dollars • For allowance to the Superintendent and four watchmen, employed for the security of the War and Navy Buildings, and for the incidental and con tingent expenses, including nil, candles, fuel, taher, An., fire hundred and thirty-seven dollars and fifty train. For compensation to the Postmaster General, one thousand five hundred dollars. For compensation to the two Assistant Postmasters General, one thousand two hundrad and fifty dollars For compensation to the clerks in the oftiee of the Postmaster General, per act of the twentieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, five thou- find six hundred and seventy-five dollars. For compensation to the clerks in said office, per •ct of the twenty-sixth of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, une thousand four hundred dollars. For compensation to the clerks in said office, per •ct of the second of March, one thousand eight Itund red and twenty-aeven, one ibuusand six hundred dol lars. For compensation to the mossongers in eaid office, in full of all allowances, two hundred and sixty-two dollars and fifty cents. For compensation to one additional assistant mes senger, eighty seven dollars and fifty cents. For contingent expenses of ssid office, one thou sand two hundred and fifty dollars. For compensation to the Surveyor General, in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, five hundred dullars For compensation to the clerks in the office of said Surveyor, live hundred nnd twenty-five dollars. For compensstion to the Surveyor south of Ten nessee five hundred dollars. For compensation to tho clerks in the office of ■aidSurveyor, four hundred end twenty-five dollars. For compensation to the Surveyor in Illinois, Mis souri, nnd Aikansss, five hundred dollars. For compensation coihe clorka in the office of eaid Surveyor, five hundred dollars. For compensation to tho Surveyor in Alabama, five hundred dollars For compensation to tho clerks in the office ofsstd Surveyor, three hundred and seventy five dollars. For compensation to the Surveyor in Florida, five hundred dollars. For compensation to the clerks in the office ofseid Sort e> or, live hundred dollars. For compensation t>>the Commissioner of tho Pub lic 'iu,tilings in Washington,Cily, five hundred dol • ire. For compensation to the officers snd clerk ofthe Mint, two thousand four hundred dollars. For compensation to the perenns employed in tho different operations oftho Mint, two; thousand three hundred and eeventy-fiva dollars. For incidental and contingent expenaea, and repairs, Cost of machinery f for allowance of wastage in gold Snd silver coinage of the Mint, two thousand throo hundred and twenty-five dollars. For compensation to tho Govcrnot, Judges, and •nd Secretary of the Michigan Terriloty, onu thou sand nine hundred and fifty dollars. For the contingent expenres of the Michigan Ter ritory, eighty-seven dollars fifty rents For compensation and mileage to the members of the Legislative Council, and printing the lews and the contingent and incidental expenses of said Coun cil, ono thousand four hundred and filly dollars For compensation to the Governor, Judges, and Secretary of the Arkansas Territory, one thousand Six hundrad and fifty dollar*. For contingent eipensea of tho Atkanaae Territory, ■tghty-eeven dollars and fifty cents. For compensation to tho Governor, Judges, and secretary of the f’loniln Territory, two thotmand one hundred end twenty-five dollars. _ For contingent expenses of the Florida Territory, •tghtjr-nven dollars and fifty cents For compensation and mileage to tho members of the Legislative Council, and printing tho laws, and tbs onlingonl and incidental expenses of said Coun cil ,,ne thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars For compensation to the Chief Juetico, tho Associ ate Judges, and District Judges of the United Stales, including tho Chief Justice and Associate Judges of the District efColumbia, nineteen thousand six hund red dollar*. For compensation to tho Attorney Genoral ofthe United States, eight hundred and sevonty-fiva dollars For compensation to tile clerk in tho uffice of the Attorney General, two hundred dollar* For compensation to the Keportur ofthe dooisiuns ol the Supreme Court, two hundrad and fifty dollars. For compensation to sundry Distnet Attorneys and Blarshals, as giuntad by law, including those mthe several Territories, two thousand aeven hundred and twenty-five dollar!. For defraying thaTexpenses ofthe Supreme, Circuit, •nd District Courts of the United States, including the District of Coluinbis, and of jurors and witnesses, in aid of the funds srising from fines, penalities, and forfeitures, incurred in the first nuailor of the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, and precoding years; and likowiso, for defraying tho ex penses of prosecutions for ollences committed agaiiiet the United States, and for the safe-keeping of prison ers, thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars. For the payment of sundry pennons granted by the late end present Governments, five hundred and twelve dollais and fifty centa. For tho eupport of'light houses, floating lights, and other objects, for the protection of uav,gallon, forty two thousand dollars For surveying tho publio lands of the L’uited Sta tes, ten thousand dollars. For stationary and hooka for the offices of Com* inissionors of Loans four hundred dollars. I For tho salaries of tho two keepers of the Public Archives in Florida Torritoiy, two hundred and fifty dollars For the salaries of Ministers oftho United States St London, Paris, Madrid, St. Petersburg Mexico and Columbia for the salaries of Charges das Affairs at Stockholm, tho Netherlands, Denmark, Lisbon, Gua temala. Brazil, Buenoa Ayres, Peru, and Chili ; foi the eeltriea of the Secretarial of Legation, and for the cungent expenaea of all the missions abroad, thir ty thousand a x hundred and twenty-five dollars For the Salaries of the Agents of Claims at London •od Peris, one thousand dollars For the relief and protection of distressed Araeri- «sn seamen in foreign countries, six thousand two tinndred and fifty dollara. Sec 2. .lad be it further ennrfrd, That the sever al sums hereby appropriated shall bo paid out of •ny money in tho Treasury not otherwise appropria ted. ANDREW STEVENSON, Spoakerof tho House of Representatives, JOHN C. CALHOUN. Vice President of the United States, and President ofthe Senate. Approved, Gtli January, 1829. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. AN ACT restricting the location of certain Lund Claims in tho Territory of Atksnaas; and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre sentatives of the United States of America in Con- g reet assembled, That no person entitled to a dona tion of land by iho eighth section of an act, outitled ‘‘An s*t to aid the State of Ohio in extending the Miami Canal from Drayton to Lake Erie, and to grant n <|U»nlity ot land to said Statu to aid in the construe • '.ion Ilf Canals authorized by law, and for making donations of land to certain peisona in Arkansas territory," shall bo permitted to enter the improve ment of any actual settler in tho Territory of Arkan sas, before the same shall liavo been offered for sale unless it be with tho consent of such actual settler • and all entries which may bo so made shall be consi- dated null and void. Sec.2 Beit further enacted, That no person resi ding south ofthe Arkansas river, and west ofthe pre sent Territorial line, shall be entitled to the donation of land given by the eighth section aforesaid, unless •aid persons shall more east of said line ; end, in that cats, they shall be entitled to the donations specified in said eighth section of ssid act, ondertho rcstri'.icon afbrcss'n) Appwtcd, Cth- Jstinv", AN ACT to preserve from injury snd waste the School Lsnde in the Territory of Arkenaee. Be it enacted by the Senate ana House of Repre- tentativee of the State of Georgia, is General As sembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority af the same, That the Governor and General Assem bly of the Territory of Arkansas be, end they are hereby, authorized to make, and carry into effect, •uch laws and needful regulations as they shall deem most expedient to protect from injury and waste, the sixteenth section in all townships of land in said ter ritory, where surveys have boen or may hereafter be made, which sections are reserved for the support of schools in each township, and to provide by law for leaving orienting the same, for any lorm not exceed ing five years, in such manner aa to render said school lands most valuable and productive, and shall apply the rents derived ihorefrom to tho aupport of common schools, in the respective townships, according to the design of the donation, and to no other purposo what ever Approved : Gth January, 1829. [N^d ] AN ACT extending the term within which Mer chandise may be exported with the benefit ofdiuw- btek. Be it enacted by the Senate and tlonso of Repres- entatives of the United Stales of America in Con gress assembled, That from and after the passage of thit ect, all goode, (wares, and merchandise which ■re now entitled to debenture, or which may be hero- tiler imported, may be exported with the benefit of drawback, and without any deduction from the amount of the duty on Iho aarne, at any time within three years from the date when the snine may have beeo, or shell be imported : Provided That ell ex isting laws regulating the exportation of goods, wares, ■nd merchandise, shall have been in all other respects complied with And provided further, That tlii* act shell not be so construed as to alter in any manner the terms of credit now allowed by law for tho duties on goods, wares, or mcrchsndise imported. Approved : 6th Janutry, 1629. [No~5] AN ACT to allows salary to the Marshal of the District of Connecticut. Be it enacted bu the Senate and House of Repres entative! ofthe United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum oftwo hundred dollars be, and the same hereby is, allowed annually, as a salary to the Marshal of the District of Connecticut. Approved: Cth January, 1829. CONGRESSIONAL NUMMARY. GEORGIA CLAIMS. House of Representatives, January 1(1, 1829. Toe House having gone into Committee ofthe Whole on the state of the Union. Mr. Com- nicT In the Chair, and resumed the considera tion of the motion of Mr. Thompson, to reverse the report of the Committee on Indian Adairs, on he subject of the Georgia Claims— Mr. Owen having resumed his sent— Mr. GILMEIl m-use and said, that after the ample discussion which the subject before the Committee had received, he should content him- s. If vjih stating one or two facts connected with it, nnd adding a few necessary comments. The first question, said Mr. G. which presented itself for determination was, to whom the unex pended balance of th 200.000 dollars belonged, after satisfying the Georgia claimants. He had o • douht hut that it belonged to the United States. When, however, he admitted lliis, he wished it to he understood, that,(according to hisjinlerprctution of the contract between the United Stales, Geor gia, and tile Creeks, all parties supposed, that, when that contract was faithfully executed, there would most probably be no balance whatever. Mr. G. said, that this matter would be better understood by a knowledge of the circumatances under which that contract tvas entered into. In 1821, Commissioners, on thstpart of the United States, proceeded to make a treaty with the Creek Indians, for the extinguishment of their title tothe lands in Georgia, in pursuance of an appropriation of money specially made by Con gress for that purpose : that, according to instruc tions given to those Commissioners by the War Department, (and here he wished the Chair man of the Committee on Indian Affairs to enr reel him if be were in error,) they were not to ex ceed 10 cents per ecre tn price, for what they should acquire of the Creeks. That, according ly, the Commissioners hRd contracted with that tribe, that it should cede to the United States, for the benefit of Georgia, four and a half millions uf acres, for which they were to receive^ 150,000. That, after these terms had been agreed upon, bnt before the treaty had been signed, Cmmis- sioners on the part of Georgia presented to the Creek Chiefs, claims of the citizens of that State aguioat their tribe, amounting to the sum of 5280, 000 ; and required that they should be adjusted. 11 was then agreed, between the several parties, that the Creeks should recieve of the United States $200,000 in money, for their land, and the •■maining 5250,000, which they were to have r-ceivcd, sh old be paid by the United States to ili>-State of Georgia, for the benefit of her citi- z ns, who had received injuries from the Creeks ; subject, however, to the investigation and doter- miimtinn of the President of the United States. In pursuance cf which agreement, Mr. G. obser ved, that the Commissioners of Georgia gave to the Creek tribe a receipt in full of claims, debts, damages, and property, which the citizens of that State had against that tribe, prior to 1802.— And the U. States agreed to pay to the citizens of Georgia, those riaims, debts, damages, and property, provided the same did not exceed 5250,000. Mr. G. observed, that each of the parties to this contract seemed to have had equal reason to be satisfied. The Indians had sold r heir land fiufa larger consideration than usual, and with 5250,000 of the price had paid an ac count which the Georgians had against them of thirty years standing, most of which they had frequently acknowledged to be just, and amoun ting to the sum of 5280,000- The Georgians were very much pleased, because, by the con struction which the United States had put upon the Constitution, their own State Government had not the powcrjofcorapelling the Creeks to re store their property, or otherwise to do them jus tice ; by which, previously, it had seemed as if they were to have been deprived PtnuCly of re dress for their injuries. And the Commissioners of the United States were gratified, because they had been enabled not only to perform the pur pose for which they had been originally appoin ted. by procuring a valuable tract of country for the Slate of Georgia, but also to render an essen tial service to a large class of injured citizens.— There was also a possibility, that, by assuming tho payment ofthe claims of the citizensof Geor gia, with the power given to the President to ad judicate those claims, that the United States might have a less sum tn advance than that which it would otherwise have been obliged to have aid the Indians. It was tn be remarked, too, Ir G. said, that the United Slates’ Commission ers had taken care that this Government should not, in any event, pay more than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and with a further beneficial proviso, that whatever sum should he found due, might be paid in five annual instalments, and without interest. Mr. G. observed, that if the view he had taken of thecontract between all the parties was correct, he thought there could he no difficulty as to the disposition of what should remain of the. two hundred and fifty Ihousaud dullars, after sitisfy- ing all the Georgia claimants. Mr. G said, that lie would proceed to show that the United States’Government had not done justice to the citizens of Ueorgia in its adjudica tion of theirdemands against the Creek Indians. ’They had been told that they should lie satisfied, because th A adjudication was made by an arbi ter chosen by themselves. The proper answer to which Mr. G. said, was, that that circumstance aggravated the ft-elings excited by the injus tice done them, especially as that arbiter had gained in proportion to their loss. Sir, said Mr. G., this Government never can compensated the citizens of Georgia for the inju ries tb> y received from their savage neighbors.— Those injuries could not be estimated in money. Mr. G. said, that the most rigid rules had been imposed by the Govtynmcnt upon itae.'f, ia allow ing the claims of the citizens of Georgia- He did not intend to say that the Government inten ded thereby to do injustice to those citizens.— He thought that the peruliar circumstances under which those claims had originated had never been considered by the Government. Had that been done, he believed it would have been convinced that the 5280,000 was a very inadequate ntisfac tion of those claims. Mr. G. then proceeded tn say, that, during the Revolutionary War, the inhabitants of Georgia were, at one lime,almost entirely driven beyond its limits, by the Creek Indians and their allies. At its conclusion, feelings of hostility had not reused to exist. Repeated injuries weie inflicted upon the frontier inhabitants, which the weakness of the State Government rendered it unable to pun ish. Attempts were frequently made to concili ate the Creeks. Treaty after treaty was made, from 1783 to 1790. They were, however, bro ken as often as made, without the Uovernm nt ha- ingthc power to enforce them. The frontiers were very extensive, and the population ?n scat tered, that the Indians had easy access into the country every where, for the purpose of plunder. The people were compelled to protect themselves by fortifications of thi ir own m iking. Block houses were erected by them, and manned by voluntary service, in order to intercept and pun ish the predatory parties of the Indians. This service was extremely burthensnme tn inhabit ants just arrived from di.-tant parts of lire United Slates, and with scanty means of support. Mr G. continued to say that the loss nfsl ives, horses, and cattle, could not then he repaired by the peo ple, as they'could nt the present lime. The value of such property was far greater then than a' pres ent. The country was to he cleared of ib forest? to fit it for cultivation. Labor was not to hr ho ed. There was no supplyingthe place of a list horse or stolen entile, became the people, in mo ving from Virginia and North Carolina, found il difficult to carry with them a sufficient supply for their own use. The loss of caul", Mr. G said, was particularly felt, because thereby tin- people were deprived of their most usual and cheapest means of subsistence. One of the prin cipat inducements to the settlement of the enun try had been the advantages which its extensive range presented, abounding, as it did, with grass and cane. The exuberance of the natural vegetation of the country, instead of proving an advantage to the settlers, had been frequently the occasion of their greatest losses, by exposing their horses a- rl stock to the thieving habits nf the Indians. But the injuries, Mr. G. said, which the frnn tier inhabitants suffered, by having their proper ty plundered and destroyed, were accompanied by evilB, the extent of which could h<- only known to those who had felt them He s iid it was hi? fortune to hnve been a native of the county which bordered both on the Creek and Cherokee hunting grounds. He could yet recollect the horrid views of the Indian scalping knife, which were presented tn him in the dreams of hit child hood. From the commencement ofthe R. idu tionnry war not'd 1791 and ’5, the Crei k I dinn- conlinned tn commit occasional acts of tin great eat barbarity upon the frontier I’erplc. The Government had been either unable, or -eglerted tn furnish the necessary protection to its citizens. After a military force was finally authorized bv this Government, anil troops had been enlisted from among the People of Georgia, it wa« a mat ter of history, familiar to every member of the Committee, that those troops hail scarcely yet been paid. For more Ilian thirty years, year after year, they had pcti'ioned in vain. Mr. G. said that he had attempted to describe the kind anil peculiar value of the property of which tho Georgia claimants had been plundered by the Creek Indians, their continued apprehen sion of Indian attacks, anil the want of protection on the part of the Government, in order to show, more clearly, the injustice which had been done them, by the manner in which their claims had been heretofore adjudicated, and as the best com mentary upon the reasoning of the Secretary of War and the Attorney General. Mr. G. then proceeded briefly to consider the different clnssesof claims which he supposed had been improperly rejected: First, that for pri perty destroyed previous to the treaty of New York ; secondly, that for interest upon claim" which had been allowed ; and, thirdly, that fur the value ofthe increase nf those female slaves who had been taken by the Creeks, and not restored according to the conditions of the treaties. As to the class of claims for property destroy ed, which had born rejoeted, because the treaty of New York did not provide fur thpm Mr. G said, that the treaty at the Indians Springs gm- cially contracted fur the payment of p:-operty destroyed prior tn 1802. This stipulation nf that treaty had been pressed upon the House with its full weight, by his colleagues and other gen tlemen. It was not his intention to say ary thing more upon that subject. He was desirous of showing to the Committer, that the provis ions ofthe treaty of New York ought not to af fect injuriously the claims nf the citizens of Geor gia. That treaty, he snid, was, perhaps, the first act of the United States’ G nernment, which usurped power which properly helong -il to the States. It was so considered a* the lime. Tie- first voice heard in the Congress of Ilv United States ngainst the encroaching spirt of Federal Dominion, was from a representative of Georgia, in relation to the treaty of New Y rk Bv the' treaty, the Government of the United States guaranteed to the Creek tribe of Indians, lands which that tribe hail previously conveyed tn Georgia. By it, the United States obtained from the Creeks a stipulation that they would hold no treaty with Georgia. And by the same treaty, the U. States agreed that, if any citiz -ns of Genr gia should attempt to settle on lands claimed hy the Creeks, such citizens should he placed with out the protection of the U States, and punished ns the Indians thought proper. Mr. G. asked the members ofthe Committee to pxamine that treaty, and judge for themslves, whether the citizens of Georgia ough‘ to lose the right to have their injuries redressed, heeause compensation was not provided by it. What right had the United Slates’ Government to place heyond its protection, its citizens, who, by virtue of grants of land made to them by the State o Georgia, within its own limi's, and in paym* nt to those citzens for revolutionary services, s-it'ei! on lands which the United States thought prop er to consider Indian property ? By Putt treaty, a citizen of the United States might have h--en burnt at the Indian slake, without the right ol rescue by his Government. It was made, too, by one McGilvray, the son of a Tory, and an In dian, who left, hy inheritance, luC deepest mal ignity and most unrelenting revenge to arils tin- people of Georgia. What means had Ihe p-Th of that State of mak eg known to the United fit.ie.. Government, at the treaty of New York, their | claims for properly destroyed ? Anil yet, lie- cause of their omission to do so, n considerable portion of the injuries received hy the People of Georgia of the Greek Indians, previous to the making of that treaty, were tn reman unrt-dressed. Was it right for tile United Stales lo take advan tage of its owr. wrong ? The second class of claims which had been re jected by the Government, consisted of those, the principal of ivbiclt had been allowed, and upon which interest had been refused. Mr. G. said, that he had already endeavored i i show lhal the most liberal allowance ought to be made in favor nf all the claims before the Committee, He did not consider the claimants as demanding interest of the Government, but as insisting upon the equi table lien they had upon the funds in its hands, for a full and just compensation for the injuries they had sustained. He did not consider that interest upon the value of their losses from the lime when their property was taken or destroyed, would really be ample satisfaction to the claim ants for Ihe kind of depredations committed up on them, but as furnishing the only Axed rulp by which an uniform estimate could he made The claim of interest was upon the fund appropriated for the payment of the riaims, and not upon the public Treasury. The question really was wheth er the claimants, whose demands hud remained mtati.ficd for thirty or forty year?, bad not» more equitable lien upon the unexpended balance of tne 5 250,000, for compensation to tnetn for the time they had lost the use of their property, than any right tci it oo the part of the Govern ment. That compensation to the claimants, bad, however, been resisted through the opinion of the Attorney General The claimant* would have been better satisfied to have had the justice nf of their demands decided upon by the tense of equity of the Chief Magistrate of their country, by whom, according to compact, they were to have been adjudicated, than by the technical lulet ofthe Government’s law officer. That high of ficer had determined that interest did not follow a claim for unliquidated damages. Nominally he was right; but, substantially, wrong. The claims were not for unliquidated damages, but for specific property in the possession of the Creek Indians, which belonged to citizens of Georgia, and which the Creek tribe, by various treaties, had promised tn restore to its owners. If the Indians could have been sued in the courts uf law, the remedy for the Georgia claim ants would have been an action of trover, in which they would have been entitled to recover their property, or its full value, in lieu thereof, to gether with damages equal to the value of the use uf the property from the time at which it had been demanded, until the termination of Ihe suit. That wus the law of the State w ithin which both parties resided. It was a rule of equity, that Ihe conipunsalion for injuries should be fully equal to the loss sustained. Was there any reas on why the Georgia claimants should not have that justice done them hy their Government, which one citizen could compel of another hy the strict rules of law ? Surely, it was not be cause the Government had neglected to compel the Creeks to perform the stipulations of their treaties. H id the Government done its duty, the Georgi i claimants would have had their prop erty restored 'o them more than thirty years ago. It could not he said, that the State of Georgia hail neglected the use of any means in its power •o obtain redress for its citizens. Mr. GlLMER Hi oread resolutions of Ihe Legislature of that Stn'e, directing the manner in which the claims f i's citizens should be proven, and demand made of the Creek Indians. The Attorney Gen- i ral had given, as a reason why interest should not he allotvt d upon the Georgiarlaims, that the property for which they had been paid, had been eslimatc-d at double its value. In this, he speaks without tinthoriiy, and most disrespectfully of the character ofthe United States’ Commission ers, ant! Ilio witnesses hy whose oaths that val uation was made. There were many other most .hvioii- objections to Ihe opinions of the Attor ney General. He had determined, forreasons peculiar to himself, not to urge that subject any further. His colleague [Mr. Wilde] bad per- f irmnd that duty in tin* most satisfactory manner. Tile third class of claims rejected. Mr. G. said was that for the increase of those female slaves, who h id been taken by the Creek Indians from the citizens of Georgia, and nut restored accor ding to the rondilions nf their treaties with that Stale, and those with the United States. These claims were founded in that principle of law, by which the issue of female property followed the state of its mother. The right of the Georgia claimants to recover the id-ntical slaves they had lost, was acknow ledged hy all the treaties having referrence to that kind of property Tho stipulations of all the treaties wus, that the negroes taken from the citi zens of Georgia should be restored, and not that they should be paid for in money. If the Indians who were in the possession of Ihe issue ofthe female slaves could have been sued in the Courts of Geoigia, hy the original owners of such fe male slaves, the Georgia claimants would, no douht, have recovered. The claimants contend for no right hut what was sanctioned by the law. The difficulty had proceeded from the impossibility of compelling that branch of the Government which alone had the power of redress in its hands to enforce that right. It was well known to all the Southern gentlemen, that female slave property which was owned thirty years ago, had yielded a much lar ger profit than any other equal amount of cap ital whatever. And hence it was, Mr. G. said that the Georgia claimants, who had lost such property hy the acts of the Creek indians, were entitled to Ihe redress sought for them. In conclusion, Mr. G. repeated, that, by the Treaty nt the Indian Springs, the Creek Chiefs had contracted to relinquish a certain quantity of land to the United States, on condition that it would pay to them 52* ( ' 000 in money, and sat isfy the cairns of Georgia against their tribes, estimated hy the parties at 5280,000. That the value of tho lands relinquished by the Indians, was considered by them as wortli -150,000 dollars, then by making the condderation received by ttie United States for its contract to pay tile citi zens of Georgia equal to the sum uf 250,000 dol lars. That Ihe United States having the power to adjudicate the claims of those citizens, bad circumscribed them within such narrow bounds, •hat the larger portion of the fund appropriated hy the Indians for their payment, had, instead of being applied to that purpose, gone into the Treasury ofthe United States. That it was incon sistent with her character as an arbiter, and still more with Iter national character for justice, to deprive her own citizens of a fund which had h en appropriated for the payment of losses sus tained hy them, under circumstances of peculiar hardship, and occasioned partly, too, by the neg led or want of power in the Government to pro tect them. lie. therefore confidently trusted that the Committee would support the motion of his colleague, and determine that it was ex pedient to have further legislation in favor ofthe claims ofthe citizens nf Georgia. SUNDAY MAILS. [/filer from the Postmaster General to the Post Office Committee of the House of Representatives. Post OrrtcE Department, 10/A January, 1829. Sin : My attention has been directed to your eimrmonii4tion of the Cth instant, and all the in- estig ition made, which the pressing nature ol my daily duties would admit. In answer to the first inquiry,” whether, in my opinion, a prohi bition of the transportation nf tho mails on the S ililra.l), or fust day ofthe week, would tend to impair the revenue of the Department) and, if so to what probable amount?” I have the honor to state, that daily mails are established on all the principal lines nf communication on the Atlantic coast from Maine to Georgia, connecting, in this entire range, places of commercial importance. From New York City, by the way of Albany, Utica, and Rochester, to Buffalo, daily mails are conveyed, nnd also on several lines connecting with the principal rout. Daily mails an-also transported from Pltila- ! dcli.lli.i, Baltimore, and Washington, to the Wes tern count;'• including Pittsburg, Wheeling, and other t iwub situated on the difi'erent routes, tc Cincinnati a;.d Lruis'and sjg weekly trip; lo N.t-hviile. On lliesu various mutes, there is received an nually, fur postage, the sum of five hundred and sixty lour thousand four hundred and forty three dollars and seventy-one cents, and there is paid, for the transportation uf the mail on them, the sum nf two hundred and thirty-four thousand l ight hundred nnd eighty dullars and sixty-two cents. A discontinuance of the seventh mail, it is be lieved, would not materially lessen the expense nf transportation On many of the above routes the mail is increasing in size, and now, often amounts to from fifteen to twenty five hundred pounds. When a failure occurs, and throws two mails together, they are now so large or some routes a? to exclude all passengers from Ihe mail coach. To run six trips weekly, requires as many teams as are necessary fora daily ntpil, and, in many instances, the contractors prefer running their stages daily, lo six trips weekly, at the same price. If all travel in private carriages and stRge lines oo the Sabbath could be suspended, and private expresses prevented, the revenue of the Depart ment would not lie much impaired by the dis continuance of the Sal^iath mails. But if lines of stages for (be. conveyance of passengers con tinue to run on th«principal roqtes, and private expresses are used, the revenue, would probably be lessened between fifty and ■ hundred thousand dollars annually. You inquire, secondly, “ Whether such pro hibitioo would have the effect to impede the pro- S ress and expedition of the mails on the other six ays of the week ; and, if so, to what probable extent ?” The discontinuance of the Sabbath mail, be sides reducing the number of wepkly mails to six, will produce, in receiving intelligence from tin? city, a delay of one day in every sixth mail t" Philadelphia ; two mails out of six to New York, will each be delayed a day ; three of the six to Boston, will each be delayed a day; four at Port land, and five at Augusta, Maine. These delays will appear at once, by supposing the mail to be taken from Wasington City for Philadelphia on Saturday, Sunday will intervene before it? deliv ery at Philadelphia. The mail taken on Friday for New York, will be delayed on the Sabkath, before it can be delivered at that city, as well as the Saturday mail, which will make, as above stated, a delay oftwo mails, each a day, out <*f six, between Washington and New York. The Boston mail, which is taken from Washington oo Thursday, will be delayed as above, making a delay of three rasils, each one day, cut of the six. Between Washington ar.d Portland, the mail take on Wednesday, from either place, must rest - n the Sabbath, making a delay of one day each, to four mails in the six. A similar delay of five mails out of six, will take place between Augusta and Washington. From Washington City South, oneruail in -ix will be delayed a day, in being conveyed to Rich mond and Petersburg, Virginia ; three to Fayette ville, North Carolina; five to Charleston. Sooth Carolina ; and every mail received at Savannah, from Washington, will he delayed one day. From New York City to Albany, one mail In six will he delayed a day ; to Buffalo, four mail- in Summer, and five in Winter, out of six will each be delayed a day. Between Wheeling and this city, there will lu a delay of one day each, to two mails out nf fix ; to Zanesville three ; and fnur to Cincinnati ami and Louisville. From Pittsburgh tn Philadel phia, two mails out of six will each he delayed one day. The mails from this city to New Orleans will be delayed two mails out of three, each three days, and the third mail two days. it may be difficult at first to comprehend th'- above delays; but they have been nscertainetl, by arranging a schedule nf six weekly mails. The Sabbath, it must be recollected, will occur at dif ferent points on each route, and constantly vtuy. in the progress of mails, the places of detention. In your third inquiry, you ask “ Whether it discontinuance of the present practice of distribu ting letters, See. from the several post-offices on the Subbath, or first day of Ihe week, would tend to impair the revenue of tlv* Department: and, if so, to what probable amount ?” It is he lieved that the revenue of the Departments would not be lessened to any considerable amount, if no letters or newspapers &ie. were delivered at different post-offices on the Sabbath. By the fourth inquiry, I am requested to state “Whether a change of the present mode of daily conveyance and distribution of mails would affect the commercial interests of the country : and, il so, in what manner?” It has been considered of great importance tn the commercial and agricultural interests of the country, to convey through the mails, into every part of the Union, speedy intelligence of the state ofthe market at home and in foreiegn countries To accomplish this desirable object, and afford the utmost facilities to all commercial transac tions, great increase of expedition has been given to the mails, within a few years, on all the ini portant lines of communication. Some years since, on a sudden rise in the price of cotton, private expresses were despatched to the South, from New York, and other places, in advance of the mail, and immense speculations were made, in the purchase of that article. At that time, mail contractors were not prohibi ted from forwarding such expresses; and having relays of horses on every route, they wure fre quently employed in this service at a high rate of compensation. Since that time, the contracls have been changed, so as to subject any contrac tor to a forfeiture of his contract, if he engage, either directly or indirectly, in the transmission of commercial informatioo, with a view to specu tion,[more rapidly than the mail. This provision, with the increased expedition which has been given, has rendered it extremely difficult, is not impracticable, for expresses, on more important routes to travel more rapidly than the mail is conveyed. An attempt was recently made to send an ex press between New York and Philadelphia, in advance of the mail, but the enterprising ron-rec tor of that route, delivered it at the latter place be fore the express arrived. Oo this line, the mail is transported twelve miles an hour, when neces sary to prevent failure, or any other exigency requires it. A suspension of the mail on the Sahlmth would subject it to the delays before stated, and enable persons ill our large cities, or elsewhere, on the re- ceipt nf intelligence of a change in the price of our great staples, to send expresses without much effort, and speculate on the holders of such pro perty. In some of our large cities a failure ofthe mail, orthndelayofafe.nl hours in its delivery, lias been of serious consequence to pprsnns exten sively engaged in commercial operations. If. as before suggested, private expresses anti all stages for conveyance of passengers were sus pended on the Sabbath, the discontinuance of the mail on that day would affect, less seriously, the commercial and other interests of the coun try. Adailymail has been in operation on some routes, almost ever since the organization of this Depart ment, under the Federal Government. Frequent ineffectual applications have been made to Con gress to discontinue this mail. It has been viewed by many persons, of great intelligence and piety, as an evil, hut no provision for relief has been adopted. The result of Ihese applications has given a sanction to the policy of the Department, which I have considered as controlling any discretion the Postmaster General might be inclined to ex errise on the subject. He cannot act on the mur al principle, unless he apply it to every daily mail in the Union. This would involve a responsibili ty which no individual can exercise with impuni ty, and would be in opposition to the implied sanctinn ofthe national Legislature. It has been, however, the practice of the De pnrtmcnt, on each route, where a daily mail is not established, so to regulate the conveyor,ct where practicable, as to make the SabMIl’o d ty of rest. By the t Hit section of the Post Office law, evi - ry Postmaster is required, “ at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver on de mand, any letter, paper, or packet, to the person entitled, or authorized to receive the same.” Before this law was enacted, nn general instruc tions were given by the Department to deliver letters nn the Sabbath, nnd if Congress, in pursu ance of the strong expression made on this sub ject, shall think proper to reppnl this section, I shall oonsider it to be my doty to rescind the in struction which has been given under it. At resent, a Postraaste.r is only required to keep is office open one hour on the Sabbath, for the delivery of letters and newspapers. It is believed I hat the delivery of letters has been considered as more likely to interupt reli gious worship on the Sabbath, than the convey ance nf the mail. The passage of the mail stage through a village or town on Sunday, if Pnstmas tera were not required to disrriluite letters and newspapers, would excite as little attention as that of any other vehicle. With great respect, I am your obedient servant JOHN McLEAN. Hon. Samuel McKean. Cham’n of the Com. on the P. Office and P. Reads, February 3 —In the Senate, yeeterday, a committee consisting Messers Tazewell, SAaroaD, amt Wei- STEn, was appointed, to ascertain and report * tnod* for declaring who is elected President end Vice Pres ident of the United State*, end to notify the individu als elected of such election. At t quarter before one, the Senate proceeded to the conaideration of Ezecu- live buaineea, in which they were occupied till throe o’clock The preaenting ofpetitiona in the House of Roprc- •nntativea yeaterdny occupied nearly nn hour. Ono or two bills were then reported from varioua Commit tees ; one of which was a Bill for the relief ofthe heira of Robert Fulton Tho House then roitimed, in Committee of the Whole on the state ofthe Union, the Bill foi the preservation and repair of the Cumber land Road, when Mr A Stevesson (the Speaker) ■poke at some length against tile constitutional pow er of Congress to erect toll gates, or assume any juris diction over the rontl. Mr % Mercer then obtained the floor in reply, bat as it was near the usual hour of adjournment, and Mr Mercer, was in n week state from indisposition, the bill was passed over. The Committee then, on motion of Mr. Sprague, took up the Bill to repeal the duties on tonnage, which wan al- so read and pnssotl over. Tile Committee then took up the Bill to euthorizo the purchase and distribution of 500 copies of Gordon’s Digest of tho Laws. Thera was an amendment made, on motion of Mr. Marvin, on this Bill, giving a copy tn each incorporated col lege in the Union. The Committee then rose and re ported progress on the Cumberland Road bill The Bill to repeal the duties nn tonnage was postponed till to-morrow Tho House adjourned before tho p qiieslion was taken on a motion made to emend tho Bill relative to tho purchase and distribution of Gor don's Digest, which motion wits to reduce the num ber from 500 to 250, and to prevent their distribution among the members nf the two Houses of Congress. February 4.—In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. Ren- ton gave notice that he would, to-morrow, introduco a bill for the gradual increase of the Engineer Corps, and for other purposes At half past twelve, the Sen ate proceeded lo the consideration of Executive bufi- ness. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr .Vc hean, from the Committee on the Rost Office and l’nst Roads, reported a Bill amendatory ofthe Rost Office Law, which repeals so much ofthe existing law hs imposes upon Rnsttniistcrs tho nliligntion of distributing the mails on Sunday. Accompanying this bill, was a report on the subject oftho transpoita- tion ofthe mails on Sunday, which in its tone & decis ion is adverse, tn the prayer of dinse who desire lo in terrupt il on that day. There was somevers conversa tion, not amounting to n discussion, upon a motion of Mr McKean to print 6(100 extra copies ofthe repot), but tho motion wus finally Isitnhle. Tho llnuse then took up tho hill from tho Benato lo author ize the purchase and distribution of 500 copies of Gordon's Digest of tho Laws, which was oppo sed, on the question of its third reading, but w as -r finally passed hy a vote of 9G In 69. The Houso then resumed, in Committee ofthe Union, the dis cussion ofthe hill foi the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road Mr. Mercer commen ced his reply to the arguments ngainst the bill, and after speaking about an hour and a half, gave way fur a motion that the Cominittee riso. Ilo will of course continue his reply to day. About half nn hour elapsed after the hour of meet ing, before a quorum uf tho House was ascertained to bn present A Resolution wnB laid on the table, by Mr. Barringer, to be acted on to day, appointing tn morrow for tho election of n printer to the House for llio next Con gress : and another resolution was oft’eied hy Mr. IVihie, which also lies on tho table until to-day, providing that no person who has boon engaged, or interested in, a public newapaper within the last’d years, shall be eligible to tho office of public printer. Fibroary 6.—In tho Senate, yesterday, Mr. Hayne's resolution requesting the President of the United Slates tn cause to he laid before the Senate a state ment oftho expenses incurred in fitting out and pre paring an expedition for exploring tho South Seas ; of tho additional amount which such expedition may. require ; oftho amounts transferred from the differ ent heads of appropriation for the naval service to this object, nnd tho authority by which such trans fers hnve been made, was explained by tho mover, and adopted. Three hours were spent in Ihe consi deration nf Executive business, after which the Senate adjourned to Monday. In tlie House of Representatives, the resolution offered on the preceding day by Mr Ramsay, far tho printing of 6 000 copies of the Report of the Senate Committee on the subject of the Sunday Mail, was laid on the table, on motion of Mr. IVeems. The re solution laid on the table by Mr. Fan Renselaer on the subject of such a change in llm Rules ns will allow the bills acted on last session to liavo priority on the docket, over the hills which have originated althat ses sion, was also laid on the table. Tho IlouBe then took up the bill to repeal the tonnage duties nn ships & vessels ofthe United States St on certain|foreign ves sels un its third rending. Some discussion took place, various propositions being iniido to recommit the bill with instructions to report n provision to re peal the duly on Salt, Molasses, Teo Coffee, Ac. when a motion was made by Mr P. P Barbour to lay the bill on the table, and the question being ta ken hy ayes nnd noes, there appeared ayes 92, noes 92, and by the rusting vote of the Speaker the bill was then laid on the table The House then resulvod itselfinto a Committee ofthe Whole on the State of tho Union, nnd resumed the consideration nf the bill for the preset vation und repair of tho Cumberland Road, having previously postponed the special orders ofthe day. Mr Meretr then took the floor, and in a speech of upwards of two hours, concluded the re marks which ha had eointneneed on Tuesday. Mr. Barnaid then obtained the floor, and, on his motion the Commiltee toso and reported progress. Tho House then sdjourned February 7 —The Senate did not sit yesterday. In the House nf Representatives, Mr. Smyth's propo sition to nmetid the Constitution ofthe United Stales was taken up, modified by himself. Motions wore then marie to lay llm resolutions outlie tubfo.nndin postpone the consideration ofthetn, ns Mr Smyth was not in the Hnuse. The question to postpone wan shoot to lie taken hy ayes and tines, when Mr. Smyth appeared, and took his aont The motion wus then withdiawn. llis modification nf hta propositions hav ing been rend, Mr Stairs moved to recommit the resolutions to tho Committee of the whole on the slats ofthe Union Mr /tieigArthen moved to postpone the resolutions till the 3d of Match, and tilts question bo i ing taken hy ayes and noes, was decided in the nega tive, the aves being 70, and the tines 107. Mr. IVeems then moved to amend the resolution rendering the President ineligible to re-nlocti'in, by postponing its operation for eight years from the 3d of March next. Ilo desired the ayes and noes on this question, but tho call was not sustained, Htiil the motion was negatived. The hour having then expired, and lbs House refu sing to suspend the rule, the discussion was arrested The bill tn ohrdish (he system of Lotteries in the Dis trict ofColurnbia was read a third lime mid pnssoed; The House then resumed, in Committee of the whole the unfinished business of Friday last, being a bill ta release the right of the United Stntcs to lends in East Florida to the devisees nf William Drayton, which was final y rejected and a bill for the relief of Fran cis Preston, on which no derision look place the House having adjourned for want of a quorum. ^ February 9—The Senate dd net sit on tiirday. In th- House of R. presen lit lives, various hills were reported, after it hit'll the iiottse resumed rite consideration 0 f the resolutions nf Mr. A. oMim. smcotiatory “f the constitution. Mr, Ft’-SL.'.rrT nn.tie some observation* in opposi tion tn I lie resolutions, tvhun the further debate was arrested hy the expiration nf the hour. The resolution niTered liy Mr. Barringer relative to 'he election of printer, was then taken tip, and so modified as to fix to morrow fur the election. The House took up private hills, several of which were acted on in Committee ofthe whole, and ordered to he engrossed fora thiid reading to-day. Mr. P P. Barhiiur made a report in part from t e select Committee, appointed to examine the votes for President nnd Vice President. The re port consists tif a resolution, appointing Wednes day next for the opening of the votes hy tellers in the presence of Iho two Houses. Mr. Hamilton, from the Commi'tee on Re-, trenrhmvnt, reported on Saturday a Bill to abol ish the office of Second Comptroller, and that of one ofthe Auditors of the War Department. The Houseof Representatives have fixed on to morrow at 12 o’clock for going into the election of Printer. February 10.— In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. Tazewei j„ from the select Committee appoint ed to ascertain anti report a proper mode fur ex amining the votes given for President and Vico President of tile United Slates, &.r. reported u resolution in reference to that subject, which was adopted Mr Tazewell was elected, hy ballot, teller of (lie votes, on the part of the Senate. Mr. Dickerson’s resignation ofthe office of Senator, and his credentials as Senator for the remainder