Newspaper Page Text
®rlr
CONGRESS.
SENATE/
Thursday, Jan. 29.
Tho Finn. Charles £, Uthllnj, elected n
Senator from tlie Slap*. of Ncw-Yoik,
ply tho vacancy occasioned by tho resignation
ol the lion. Martin Van Bartn, appeared,
was qualified, find took Ins seat. Various pe
titions'worn presented, aiming which was one
by Mr. IVebitcr, (turn a number of citizens
of Boston, muons; ratine against the Tariff law
<if the last session Or Congress. Tho' bill
releasing the lien nf'the United States on a
certain jraet ofl.iirf in Anne Arundel County,
M rrvl.ni'K Which was conveyed to tho Trustees
of, .fir >i u 11 Zion Merlin-.’ House in said State;
the''hill to allow further time to complete the
issuing and locating of miitirv land warrants;
flic hill authorisng the paymeut to the State of
Louisiana, of five per centum of tho nett pro
ceeds of the salt's of tho public lands in that
State; and the bill authorising a subscription on
the part of the Uni'cd States, to the stock of
the Louisville and Portland Canal Company,
were savorallv-rnad tin. third time and passed.
A considetahle discussion grew out of the pro-
posi'intl of Mr. Branch, to incorporate in the
hill authorizing the relinquishment of the 1G:h
section of land granted to the State of Mssissip-
pi for the use of schools, and the location of
other lands in lien thereof, a provision makaig
propriety of furthet legislation on tho subject.
Mr. Gilmer remarked, that after the ample
discussion which tho subject before the com
mittee had received, he should cnnieut’biitiself
wi It stating one or two facts connected with it,
and adding a few necessary comments.
The first question, said Mr. Gilmer, which
presented itself for determination was, to whom
the unexpended balance of the 230,000 dollars
belonged, after satisfying the Georgia claim
ants. lie had no doubt hot that it belonged,
toitlie United States. When, however, he ad
mitted this, he wished it to be understood, that
according to his interpretation of the contract
between the l/tiitcd States, Georgia, and the
Creeks ; all parties supposed, that when that
contract was'faithfolly executed, there would
most probably he no balance whatever.
Mr. Gilmer said, that this matter would ho
better understood by a knowledge of the cir
cumstances under which that contract was en
tered' into. In 1821, Commissioners on the
part of the United States, proceeded to make
a treaty with the Creek Indians, for tho extin
guishment of their title to lands in Georgia, in
pursuance of ,nn appropriation of money spe
cially made by Congress for that purpose. That
according to instructions given to those Com
missioners by tho War Department, (and here he
wished the Chairman oftlio Committee on Indian
Affairs, to correct him if ho were in an error,)
they were not to exceed 10 cents per acte'in
a similar donation to the old Stales foi simil ir price forilmso they shoo'd acquire efthe Creeks,
purposes. In this debate, Messrs. Branch,
Benton, Barton, llr.ndriehs, and Noble, par
ticipated.; but before nuv question was taken,
the Sni'i'e Went in'o roiisi,lc.„iion ofoxerutive
business; after which, it adjourned.
Friday, Jan. 30.
M t . SH.il/ce presented the /Milton of Rich
ard D. Tinier, praying indemnity for spolin-
lions eommi'ied by tho French prior to 1800;
tftid .Mr. Wiilty presented th« petuionof Aron
Boiler, praying for (•.•pension for Revolutionary
services ; both of which were, wi bout regard,
referred to the appropriate commutes. The
report of the Committee tin the Judiciary, ad
verse to the petition of P. A. Guesticr, of
Baltimore, was concurred in, nod the report of
the Committed on claims, adverse to the pe
tition ef Hickman Jk'hnstm, Guardian of Julia
mid Eliza Sellers, was laid on tho table. Mr.
Marl's presumed certain resolutions of tho
Legislature of Pennsylvania, instructing their
Senators and requesting their Representatives
to procure, if practicable, the passage of a
I iw to abolish slavery In the District of Go)um-
b at ui-sneh manner as muv bo cousisiont with
the r-ights nf individuals, mid the constitution
of tjio United States; which resolutions were
! rd on •(.>> table. After the consideration of
E’t rii:. business, the Senate adjourned over
«x Mtmdrfv next. .-* fc ■
HO/'E OF^ REFlffeSENTATlVES.
• Friday Jan. 30.
Gr<rr i i Cia'e i and Treaty with Chcrokees.
■Tim fcdloiviui: *nswage in writing was receiv
ed from :!i • Prosit 1 •'lit of the United Stales:
7V> t\e K !JjHse of Representatives of the United Slates.
Washington, 30ib Jan. 1S29.
Iii h’aijdiiince with i lesohiiion of the House
of K epttssotiWmo* of the 13di inst. requesting
information uf tbs* measures taken in Execution
Of ilifi.art of :•!'• 9t!i M]>y Inst, making an ap
propriation fu>- carrying! into effect tho articles
uf agaicmcni and cession of 24th A|iril, 1802,
he'tMuyrp the State of Georgia and die United
S'at/iy jindddso in execution ofcertain provis
ion? of the irc.ity. of May last, with the Chero
kee Indians, I transmit to the Houso a report
from the secretary of War, with documents cont-
pr;s dig the desired information.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Thi.i Diestdge 1 wax read mid laid on the table.
B. MHtlary^- Georgia and Florida.
The Speaker Said before the.Hous'i the fol
lowing report form t he Secretafy of Stale:
Tim Secretary of State, in compliance with
the i elution of tho House of Representatives,
of tin! 20th instant, directing him “to commu
te no to thill House the following letters of
Andrew Eilicott, tho Commissioners of the
Uuitod State* for catrying into effect the Trea
ty of San Lorenzo el Real, of the 27th of Oc
tober,. 1795, between his Catholic Majesty and
the United St-i'e*: A letter to the Secretary of
Shite, a id tho papers included, dated 9ih of
October, 1799. nnd loiters to the Secretary of
Stt/te, of January 12th, April 5th, nnd July 4th,
1800, together with such other 'portions of bit
journal, or correspondence, as r oh tbs to tho
ascertainment of the head or source of the St.
Mary’* River,, or tho reasons why the same
wti* twit ascertained,”— has the honor to submit
to the House copies of tho loiters and papers
specifically required-by the resolution, and ro
siiectfuUy to refer to the toporl from this Do
partmem, tothe President of tho United States,
dated 13th February, 1826, a copy whereof
. is- herewith communicated to tho House, in
pnrsotinco of a resolution of the Sonnte, of
tlie lllli of that month, calling, amongst other
things, for tho Journal or report communicated
bjrihtsaid' Eilicott to his Government; which
states the cause that prevented • compliance,
at that time, with the wish of the Senate, in
rclati&nto the said journal or report, and which,
it is regretted, pvoveuts a. compliance with the
wish of the House of Representatives, at the
present, with regard to the same documents.
Ipmay im proper to state, • that the Minister
of the United States at Madrid, who was in
structed, as is mentioned in the report to tho
Senate, to apply to the Spanish Government
That accordingly, the Commissioners had con
tracted with that tribe, that it should cede to
the United States for the benefit of Georgia,
4 1-2 millions of acres, or which they were to
receive $450,000. That.after these terms had
boen signed,Commissioners on tlie part of Geor
gia presented to tlie Creek Chief* claims of the
citizens of that State against their trbe amount
ing lo-tlie sum of $288,000; and required that
they should he adjusted. It was then agreed
between the several parties, that tlie Creeks
should receive of tho United States $200,000
in money for their land, and the remaining
$250,000, which they were to have received,
should be paid.by the United States to the
State of Georgia, for the benefit of her citizens,
who" had received injuries from the Creeks ;
abject however, to the investigation and de-
termiic ition of the President of the United States.
In putsuauce nf which agreement, Mr. Gilmer
observed, that the Commissioners of Georgia,
gave to the Creek tribe a receipt in full of tdl
claims, debts, damages and property, which
the citizens of that State, had against that tribe,
prior to 1802. And ihe United States agreed
to pay to the citizens of Georgia, thoso claims,
debts, damages and property, provided the same
did not exceed $250,000. Mr. Gilmer obser
ved, that each nf the parties to this contract
seemed to have ha.' equal reason to he satisfied.
Tho Indians had sold' their land for a larger
consideration than usual, and with $230,000
of the price, Imd paid an account wliiclt the
Georgians had against them of thirty years
standing, most of which they had frequently ac
knowledged to bo just, and amounting to the
sum of$288,000. The Georgians were very
much pleased, because, by tho construction
which the United States had put upon the Con
stitution, their own State Government had not
the powor of compelling the Creeks to restoro
their property, or otherwise to do them justice ;
by which previously it had seemed as if (bay
were to have been deprived entirely of redress
for their injuries. And the commissioners of
the United States were gratified, because they
had been enabled not only to perform the pur
pose lor which they had been originally ap
pointed by piocuring a valuable tract of country
fur the State of Georgia, but also, to rendcrun
essential service to a large class of injured ci
tizens. There was also a possibility, that by
assuming the payment of the claim* oftlio
citizens of Georgia, with the .power given to
the President to adjudicate those claims, that
the United States might have a loss sum to ad
vance than that which it would otherwise have
been obliged to have paid the Indians. It was
to be romarkod, too, Mr. Gilmer said, that the
United States* Commissioners had taken care,
that this Government should not, in any event,
pay more than two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, and with a further lymeficinl proviso,
that whatever sum should be found due, might
bo paid in four annual instalments and without
intorest.
Mr. Gilmer observed, that if the view ho had
taken of tlie contract between all the parties
wos correct, he thought there could be no diffi
culty as to the disposition of what should re
main of the two hundred nnd fifty thousand
dollars after satisfying all the Georgia claimants.
Mr. Gilmer said, that he would proceed to
show llmt the United States* Government Imd
not done justice to the citizens of Georgia in its
adjudication of tlvsir demands against the Creek
Indians: They had been told, that they should
ho satisfied, because that adjudication was made
by an arbiter chosen by themselves. The pro
per answer to which, Mr. Gilmor said, was that
llmt circumstance aggravated the feelings exci
ted by the- injustice done them, especially as
llmt arbiter had gained in proportion to their loss:
Sir, said Mr. Gilmer, this government novor
can compensate the citizens of'Georgia for the
injuries they received from thoir savage neigh
bours. Those injuries could hot he estimated in
money.
Mr. Gilmor snid, that tho most rigid rules
had been imposed by tho Government upon it
self, in allowing the claims of the citizens of
fora copy^iherep^ in question, of Andrew Georg ; a . H.didnot intend to say that tho
gsaagMacaagiga a-*™..* w* 4 *
that Governmoiii.made thenpplicntioti required
ofhim'tn May, 1828, hut that this Department
is st>ll uninformed of tbo result.
Extracts of»letter from Mr. Eilicott to this
Department, under date the 23d of March,I800,
nnd the copy of a certificate from the same,
concerning tho appointment of Patrick Tagnrt,
to trace the lino between tho mouth of Flint
RiVor, and the source of the St. Mary’s, are
like wise-herewith submitted,.as- coming within
tho seopo of the resolution of the House,
H. CLAY.
Department of State,- Washington, 27/A Jan. 1829.
. This report wits read and hid on the table.
* Friday, January 16,
Debate On the Bill for indemnifying the CUixens of Qeor.
itisensefGeo
a, for depredations on th'tir property, committed l
Hans,priar tothe year lefc.
T ho House was iu Committee of tho Whole,
Mr. Condict in the Chair.
The question was upon tho adoption of the
amendment proposed by Mr. Thompson, to sub
stitute, iu tho tepott of the Committee on In
dian Affairs, the'word “expedient," in-lien of
•V ***** “incxpfdieBt," in * relation to the
injustico
to those citizens. He thought that tlie peculiar
circumstances under which those claims had o-
riginated, had never been considered by the
Government. Had that been done, ho believ
ed it would have been convinced that the $250,
000 was a very inadequate satisfaction of those
claims. Mr. Gilmer then proceeded to say,
that during tho revolutionary war, tho inhabi
tants of Georgia were, at one time, almost en
tirely driven beyond its limits, by the Creek In
dians and (heir allies. At its conclusion, feel
ings of hostility had not ceased to exist. Re
peated injuries wore indicted upon the frontier
inhabitants, which the weakness of tho State
Government rendered it unable to punish. At
tempts were frequently made to conciliate the
Creeks. Treaty after treaty was made, from
1783 to 1790, they were, however, broken as
often as made, without the Government hav.
ing tho power to enforce them. The frontiers
were very extensive, and tho population so scat
tered, that the Indians had an easy access into
tho country every wl^ce, for .thp jvgtpqs.es,. of
plunder.The people were compelled to pfb
tectthemselves’by fortifications of their own
making. Block houses were erected by them,
and manned,by-voluntary service, in ot ^9 r to
intercept and pmiixli tho predatory parties of
tho Indians. This service was extremely bur-
thunsume to inhabitants, just strived from dis
tant parts of the Uuitcd States, and with scanty
means of support. Mr, Oiliner continued to
say, mat the loss of slaves, horses, and cattle,
could not then be repaired by the people, as
they could at the present time. Tho value of
such .property wqs far greater then than at pres
ent. The country was to ho cleared of its for
ests to fit it for cultivation. Labor was not to
bo hired. There wus no supplying tho placo
of a lost horse or stolen cattle, because the peo
ple in moving from Virginia and North Carolina,
found it difficult to carry with them a sufficient
supply fur their own use. The loss of cattle,
Mr. Gilmer said, was particularly felt, becau-e,
thereby tlie people were deprived of their most
useful nnd cheapest means of subsistence.
One of the principal inducements to the set
tlement of (ho country, had been the advanta
ges which its extensive range presented, aboun
ding as it did witli grass and cane.
The exuberance of the natural vegetation of
the country, instead of proving an advantage to
tho settlers, was frequently the occasion of their
greatest losses, by exposing their horses and
stock to the thieving habits of the Indians.
But tho injuries, Mr. Gilmer said, which
the frontier inhabitants suffered, by having their
•property plundered' and destroyed, wore ac
companied by evils, the extent of which, could
be only known to tliuse who had felt .bent. He
said, it was his fortune to have been a native
of the country, which bordered both on the
Creek and Cltorokee hunting grounds. He
could yet recollect the horrid views of the In
dian scalping knife, which were presented to
hint, in the dreams of his childhood. From tlm
commencement of the Revolutionary war, until
1794 and 5, the Creek Indians continued to
commit occasional acts of the greatest barbar
ity upon the frontier people.
The Government hid been either unable, or
neglected to furnish the necessary protection to
its citizens. After a military force was finally
•authorised by this Government, and troops had
bPen unlisted from among tho people of Geor
gia, it was a matter of history, familiar to every
member of the Committee, that those troops
had scarcely yet been paid. For more than
thirty years", year after year, they had petition
ed ill vain. *
Mr. Gilmer snid that he had attempted to
describe the kind and peculiar value oftlio prop
erty of which the Georgia claimants had been
plundered by tho Creek Indians, their contin
ued apprehension of Indian attacks, and tho
want of protection on the part of tlie Govern
ment, in order to shew mure clearly the injus
tice which had been done them, by the manner
in which their claims had been heretofore ad
judicated, and as die best commentary upon the
reasoning of the Secretary of War and tho At
torney General.
Mr. Gilmor then proceeded briefly to con
sider the different clasies of claims which ho
supposed (tad been improperly rejected. First,
that for property destroyed previous to thetrea-
ty of New York: Secondly, That for inter
est upon claims which had been allowed: and
Thirdly, That for the valuo of the increase of
those female slaves who had been taken by the
Creeks, and not restored according to tho con
ditions oftteaties.
As to theclass of claims for property destroy
ed, which had been rejected, bccosue the trea
ty ol New York did not provide for them, Mr.
Gilmer said", that the treaty at the Indian
Springs spcci illy contracted for the payment
ot property destroyed priorto 1802. This stip
ulation of that treaty had been pressed upon the
Houso with its full weight by his colleagues and
other gentlemen. It was not his intention to
say any thing more upon that subject. Ho was
desirous of showing to the Committee, that the
provisions of the treaty of Now York ought
not to affect injuriously the claims of the citizens
of Georgia. That treaty, lie said, was, per
haps, the first act of the United States Govern
ment, which usurped power which properly
belonged to the States, it vras so .considered
at the dine. The first voice hoard in tlie Congress
ol the United States against the encroaching
spirit of Federal Dominion, was from a repre
sentative of Georgia, in relation to the treaty
of New York. By that treaty, the Government
of the United States, guaranteed to the Cieck
tribo of Indians In/ids, which that tribe had prp>
viously conveyed to Georgia. By it, tho Uni
tod States obtained from tho Creeks a stnula
tion, that they would hold no treaty with Geor
gia : And, by the same treaty, tha United States
agreed that il any citizens of Georgia should
attempt to settle on lands, claimed by the Creeks,
such citizens should bo placed without the pro
tection of the United States, and punished as
tbo Indians thought proper.
Mr. Gilmer asked tho members of the Com
mittee, to examine the treaty and judge, for
themselves, whether the citizens of Georgia
ought to lose the right to hare their injuries re
dressed, because compensation was not provi-
ded by it. What right bad the United States
Government to p]ace bevotid its protection, its
citizens, who by virtue of grants of land made
to them by the State qf.G.eorgia, within its own
limits, and in payment to those citizens for rev
olutionary services, settled on lands which the
United S.tates thought proper to consider Indi
an property 1 By that' treaty, a citizen of the
United States might have b.een burnt at the In
dian stake, without the right of rescue by his
Government. It was made too, by one Mc-
Gilvray, the son of a Tory, and an Indian, who
felt by inheritance, the deepest malignity and
most unrelenting revenge^ towards- the people
of Georgia. What means had the people of
that State of making known to the United States
Government, at the treaty of New York, their
claims for property destroyed 7 And yet, be
cause of thoir omission to do so; a considerable
portion of tho injuries received by the people
of Georgia of tho Creek Indians, previous to
tho making of that treaty, were to remain un-
rodressed. Was it right for the Uuited Siatcsto
take advantage of itsown wrong7
The second class of claims which had been
rejected by the Government, consisted of those,
tho principal of winch had-been allowed, and
upon which interest had been refused. Mr.
Gilmer said, that ho had already endeavored to
show that the most liberal' allowance ought to
bo’ made in favor of all tho claims before the
Committee. He did not codsider the claimants
as demanding .interest, of thq i Government bat
as ins'wting upon the eqnitaliio lii?n’ they had
upon the fund in its hands, for a full and just
compensation for the injuries they had sustain
ed. He did not consider that interest upon the
value of tneir losses from the time when their
property was taken or destroyed, would really
bo ample satisfaction to the claimants for the
kind of dupredatious committed upon them, but
as furnishing the only fixed rule by which an ti
lt iforni estimate could bemade. Tho claim of in
terest was upon the fund appropriated for the
payment of the claims, and not upon the pub
lic Treasury. Tho question really was, wheth
er the claimants, whoso demands hid remained
unsatisfied for thirty or forty years, had not a
more equitable lien upon the unexpended bal
ance of the $250,000, tor compensation to them
fur the time they had lost the use of their prop
erty, than any right to it on the part of the gov
ernment. That compensation to the claimants
had, however, been resisted through the opin
ion of the Attorney General. The claimants
would have been better satisfied to have had
the justice of their demands decided upon by
the sense of equity of tlie chief magistrate of
thoir country, by whom, according to compact,
they were to have been adjudicated, than by
the technical rules of the government’s law of-
ficer. That high officer had determined that
in'erest did not follow a claim for unliquidated
damages. Nominally ho was right; but sub
stantially wrong. Tbo claims were not fur un
liquidated damages, but fur specific property in
the possession oftlio Creek Indians, which be-
lunged to citizens ef Georgia, and which, the
Creek tribe, by various treaties, had promised
to restoro to its owners. .Ifiijto Indians could
have been sued in the Courts of law, the rem
edy for the Cuorgia claimants would have been
an actiou of Trover, by which they would have
been entitled to recotvc their property, or its
full value in lieu thereof, together with damages
equal to the value of the use of tlie property
from the time at which it had been demanded
until the termination of the suit. That was the
law of the State within which both parties re
sided. It was tbu rule of equity, tliut tho com
pensation for injuries should be fully equal to
the loss sustained. Was there any reason why
the Georgia claimants should not have that jus
tice done them by their government, which one
citizen could compel of another by tho strict
rules of law 7 Surely it was not because (lie
government had neglected to compel the Creeks
to perform the stipulations of their treaties 7—
Hud the government duue its duty, the Georgia
claimants would have had their property restor
ed to them mere than thirty years ago.
it could not he said, that the State of Geor
gia had neglected the use of any means in its
power to obtain redress lor its citizens. Mr.
Gilmer then read resolutions uf the Legislature
of that State, directing the maimer in which the
claims of its citizens should be proven, and de
mand made oftbe Creek Indiniis. Thu Attor
ney General had given a reason, why interest
should not bo allowed upon the Georgia claims
that the property for which they had been paid
had been estimated at double its value. In
this, ho speaks without authority, and most dis
respectfully ofthe character of the United S ates
Commissioners, and the witnesses, by whose
oaths -that valuation was made. There were
many other most obvious objections to the o-
piuions of the Attorney General. He had de
termined, for reasons peculiar to himself, nm
io urge that subjec, uny further. His colleague.
(Mr. Wilde,) had performed that duty m the
most satisfactory manner.
The third class of claims rejected, Mr. Gil
mer said, was that for tho incroase of those fe
male slaves, who had been taken by the Creek
Indians Irotn the citizens of Georgia, and not
restored according to the conditions of the trea
ties with jhat State, and those with tho United
States. These claims were founded in that
principle of,law, by which tho issue of feindu
property followed the slate of its mother. The
right of tha Georgia claimants to recover tho i-
dentical slaves they had lost, was acknowledged
by all the treaties having reference to (hat kind
of property. The stipulations of all thotrea-
ties was, that the negroes taken from the citi
zens of Georgia, should bo restored, and not
that thuy should ho paid for in money. If the I u-
diiitis, who were id the possession of the issue
of female slaves, could have been sued in tho
Courts of Georgia, by the original owners of
such female, slaves, the Georgia claimants would
no doubt have recovered. The claimants con
tend for no right hut what wus sanctioned by
the law. The difficulty had proceeded from
the impossibility of compelling that branch' of
tlie Government which ulono had the power of
redress in its hands to enforce that right. It
was woll known to all the Southern gentlemen,
that femalo slavo property, which was owned
thirty years ago, had yielded a much larger
profit thttn any other equal amount of capital,
whateror. And hence it was, Mr. Gilmertaid,
that the Georgia claimants, who had lost such
property by tlie ants of the Creek Indians
were entitled to tho redress sought for them.
Iu conclusion, Mr. Gilmer repented, that hy
the treaty of the Indian Springs, tho Creek
Chiefs had contracted to relinquish a certain
quantity ofland to the United States, on con
dition that it wodd pay to them $200,000, in
money, and satisfy the claims of Georgia against
their tribo, estimated bv thopartiesnt $250,000.
That the valuo of the land* relinquished by the
Indians, was considered by them, ns worth
$450,000, thereby making the consideration re
ceived by the United Stales for its contract to
pay the citizens of Georgia, equal to the sum of
$250,000. That the U nited States having tho
power to adjudicate the claims of those citi
zens, had circumscribed them within such nar
row bounds, that the larger portion of the fund
appropriated by the Indians for their payment,
had, instead ofbeing applied to that purpose,
gono into the treasury of the United Slates.—
That it was inconsistent with her character as
an arbiter, and still more with her national
character for justico, to deprive her own citi
zens of a fund, which had been appropriated
for the payment of losses sustained by them,
under circumstances of peculiar hardships, and
occasioned partly too, by tho neglect or want
of power in the Government, to protect them,
lit-therefore confidently trusted that the Com
mittee would support the motion ofhis colleague,
and determine that it was expedient to have
further legislation in favor of the claims of the
citizens of Georgia. -
Thursday, Jan. 29.
On motion of Mr. Haynes, it was.
Resolved, That tire Committee on the Post
Oflice and Post Roads bo instructed to inqtrfj
in In flirt si-fftiitiinnpu nP LA.X
by Stalling’s Store, m said county, by Tu^ -
Store and Covington, in Ne-vton coum^/l
Latimer’s Store, Decaturs, and Feign’s Si ■
iu DeKalb county, by Sand Town, i B (vJT
bell county, and by Alley’s Store to Carroll!*
in Carroll county, in said Stale.
Mr. Alexander reported p bill from the Cr
mi I tee on the District of Columbia, f oun ^,
on tho resolutions proposed by Mr. Miner I
lative to the existing state of slavery j„ t | )e V/'j
trict of Columbia. It was read a first and sec, J
and committed to a Committee of (U
»i|
Whole House; and made the ordef of the t, ■
for tomorrow. Mr. Vance, from th e
mittee-on Military Affairs, introduced a bill i
abolish the office of. Major General, and
regulate brevet rank in the army af the U
which was refered to a Committee of the Win.
on the state, of. tho Union. The discussion o
Mr. Weems's resolution relative to the distri
button of tho public lands, was resumed s
continued by Messrs. Weems, Sprague, Strc
and Moore of Alabama, until nearly one o’ch,
when, on motion of (ho latter gen thjman,- it t
laid upon the table. After variousfesvimir.,
had been submitted and referred, thp Hmiijl
went into a Committee of the Whole ootWl
state of the Union, Mr. Martin in the Chair 1
and took up the Cumberland road bill, Mr' I
Buckner,’ addressed the Committee until 3 „>J
clock, wjjen, on motion by the Speaker, the I
Committee rose, and the House adjourned. I
Fjuday, Jan. 30. I
Iw the House of Representatives! the res* I
lmion to meet at eleven o'clock instead of I
twelve, as in the former part of theeruion, came I
into effect yesterday. Several reports were!
presented and private bills introduced; nfier I
which Mr. Hamilton, from the Select Commit. L
tec on Retrenchment, reported a bill to (yi-uKl
ize a.Board for the settlement of claims against f
the Government of the United States, to in.
crease tlie duties of the Attorney General, &nj
for other purposes. It provides that the At-1
torney General and tho Comptroller and A*
dilors of the Treasury, shall form a Board ot
tribunal of appeal, four of them to constitute a I
quorum, for the decision of claims upon the
Government, with the privilege to the claimants
of appeal to Congress under certain, conditiont
and regulations; the Attorney General, or in
his absence, the Comptroller, to preside in the
Court, records of the proceedings of which are
directed to be kept. It provides, also, that the I
Attorney General shall receive an annual com*
peusatiou, the amount of which ix left in blarit,
for.tlie additional duties thus imposed upon him.
It was read a first and second lime, and ordered '
to be committed to a Committee of tlm Whnlt
House on tlie state of tlie Union, and to be
printed.
The Queen of Portugal, dressed, equipped,
nnd attended, as described below, is a girl, il.
will be remembered, of nine years of age!
From a ■ London Paper.
The Qwcii of Portugal.—^The Queen of
Portuuul will be presented to ius majesty u> two
o’clock to-d.«y, at Windsor Castle. Since it
had been officially announced to the Viscount
fe lthbav.mn lhat his Majesty would hold a
Court for the purpose of receiving her Majes
ty as Queen of Portti'.: d, most splendid eqnj»
t ines have been prepared for her, to cynvey
ior Majesty and tier suito from Laleham to
Windsor. Vi«coimt Ithliavina arrived at La-
lehuni yesterday, and the Marquis de Pul mo It
e.iine down this morning. At 1 o’clock her
Majesty entered tho state carnage. Site was
dressed in a superb white lace robe, nnd was
decorated with'tbo Portuguese and Brazilian
Orders. She wore a sMeitdid portrait of her
father the Emperor of -‘Jrazil, suspended hy a
diamond nccltice, and studded with diamonds.
Her Majesty was accompanied in her rarrinru
by bar guardian, lint' Marquis do B.irliaeena,
tlie Countess de J.bvjijn, and the Chevalier de
Saldanlm. H r Majesty’s carriage was prece
ded by one in which w.i-: the Chevalier D’Ai-
ineida. The Viscount do Itahuyana and the
Marquis de Rezend were in tin* second. Tho
third carriage contained the Marqu.s and dm
Marchioness de Palmcd.'i. The first and fourth
carriages were distinguished hy the royal livery
of porjugal, and ail the equipages Were well
worthy oftlio important oci-saiOu.
roHihhi
the expediency of establislUng'iV
frem Madison, "in .-yirgm cC-.in^T
Politicol Iforizon of the East.—If the question,
whether winter would restore peace to the. East,
were to be decided liv the mutual interests of the
belligerents, we should have poare, fin troth r.rcd
repose. The Tnrks are brave, and have just prov
ed that they have not degenerated. They are yet
susceptible of that religious enthusiasm which
work* miracles. The nature of tlie sail, and the
climate, and the firm character of Mahmoud, hare
been of great service to them* and leave no Iwpo
of forcing him to make concessions. The resist-•
ance of the Mussulmans ha* been glorious in the
late campaign; it will he obstinate should the war
be renewed. Turkey, however, could not long
sustain the contest. "Tho elements of her military
S iwer are yet rude, and require to he fashioned.—
er regular army is sprung froqpthe midst of qpn*.
yulsions which deluged the capital with blood, and
of which the conaeqnences may yet be frit. Des
potism governs Russia asjwelt as Turkey, bnt in
the formeritis more tempered by a further advan
ced civilization than in the latter. The. Czars have
long established a regular military force, aod a sys
tem which brings it nearer to order nnd regularity-
Its finances aro in a bud state. The population of
Russia Is about 44,000,000, nnd yet its provinces.
are depopulated, and there is a want of homogenl-
ty In its . languages, manners, and custom*- I* 5
force must not be measured by the number of it*
inhabitants. Its army of 800,000 is now reduced,
and justly, to the half of that number. Russia, iu
her present state, does not need conquests, but a
good domestic administration—the abolition of
slavery, the diffusion of education nnd improvements
in agriculture and other arts. Its complaints a-
gainst the Porte, are mere pretexts for making war.
The deliverance of Greece is now accomplished,
and for Russia to prosecute the war, would be to
betray her secret ambition. A second catnpaico
would dissipate all the prejudices which yctremaiu
in favor of her moderation and magnanimity, and
would show that the Emperor Nicholas is prece
ding straight forw ard to attain the completion of th*
gigantic plans of Pf'tor die Great and Catharine.—
Austria does not like tSe war ou her frontiers, and
likes the Turks for neighbors. The Court of Vi
enna, which loves rcpci|k£ sleep in peace by the side
of Pachalicks. England is not pleased with th®
pretensions of Russia, and with her own idleness t
and, if provoked, may prevent, uy forge of arms,
the capture of Constantinople. France i will only
interpose to procure pc&co—4ier policy is concilia
tory. It is not supposed tbat Prussia wishe* to sc®
Russia aggrandized. On every side we think that
ftrtHenee.and good reason advise peace, but only
■rfail rthito pr/rfl- atid interested flatterers, who advits war, will
Georgia; :*8 are' ofriad, b e heard^-Comier Franc St. r