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jT JE ‘’ ■:■ :
or ills or the u. jit^tke
niw in
\ Bum HOUSES QF CONOBCtH,
UKrifiK 1 H, I®TU(.
the Sc .nlr.
and Ifoutt of /?; / ei'Atmift* :
I rofret that f car.-..,', i thin occasion, con-.
gratulau you that the >t y*.ir bn* been one
of waallofed proipeei.Y. I'im ravage* of foe
nni dir.'-iae here pa’ fViy aflfeted otherwis#
flourishing portion* of our cofrnfry : nwl serf
ou* tui l ;.irras.iniii* yet derange the trade f
tinny of mtr euie*. lint ‘lotwithstanding these
jtdvarze circumt*ucoa, that general pramd
ty which has been her ‘.afore no lxnMitr>nlly
be ,towed upon ue by ‘ Author of nil'good
slid continue* to enli ! or our wormrdx grati
tude.— Bjpeet ally hove *ve reason \4 rejoice in
t!e exubcunt harvunt which have lavishly r
eompeitceJ well diruotc 1 miiastry, end given
toit that sure reward whieft is vainly sought
m vi no tory aptculati •••*. I cannot indeed
vi w without pccuJfar wtiifteiiiMi, the **vi
d ‘nee# affordcl bj the pa*t*e*on f the beri
e'itf that spring front the steady devotion of
the hu/jattaaii tto hi* honorable pursuit. No
• mean of niiividc and comfort I* more certain,
u:t<l \w aotirce of tmtf • *§ prosperity is so sure.
>'.,rf.i:r*j can eompeni* a People for e Pepin
ifv.ice upon othar* f-r |ne bread they e. ; mid
th it c eerful atiindanre on which the hrtppi
nets of every one much depend*, is to lie
looked for nowhere With anrh an re reliance n
in the industry of tne agriculturalist and the
(rnumins of tne earth.
With foreign coU't'. -.s our relation* exhibit
the same favorable a ‘-;; tl which was presen
ted in my last annua! ‘ueMnjje, and afford con
ned proof ofthe wi !( < uftfie pacific, just and
f rehearing policy adopted by the first Admin
i itr.itioo of the Fedora Government, and pur
ausdliy it* successor*.- Tin: cxtraordiary pow
er* vest-d in me by an act of Congrei s, for the
defence of the country in an emergency con
atdfre Iso for probald as to require that the
Executive should posse s ample mentis to meet
it, have not nee:) even “1. They have, there
fore, been attended with no other re mit than
to increase, by tha confidence thus reposed in
m- my obligations to maintain, with religion*
exactness the eardioal principles that govern
our intercourse with i ■ her nation*. Happily,
in our pending quo:-.; n with (treat Brittain,
out of which tills unusual grant of authority
arose,nothing haaoccurred to required* exer
tion; amt as It !• about to - ■■■turn to the Legis
lature, I trust that no future uecc ity may
call for its exercise by then, ..r its delegation
to another department of the ifoverumrnl.
For the settlement ot \orihwc*toru boun
dary, the propositi i.) pi Mllhc.d hy (treat 111 ll
tian for a commission ol exploration and sur
vey hai been received au Ia counter project,
including also a provi hi for the certain and
floral adjustment of tho lit tin dispute, is now
before the Briiish Government for r ednsidc
ratlotl. A just regard loth’ dellcuto state of
tills question, ami a propor i meet for the nat
ural in.; .lienee of the Htule ol Maine, not less
than a conviction that the negotiation Inn* been
already protruded longer than is prudent on
the part of either Government, have led me to
believe that the proton’ favorable iiuyiwnst
should on no cccmiiil he - i.Ttiol to pass with
out netting (he queatiow torovirwt rest. I feel
ocmndeul that tit” Oov#t it maul of her llritnn
ino M'tjciiy will take the hiiuio view of this
Mih|coMh,. i am persii (led it. is governed by
fifty atronifnd sine're for thoanit
cnble termination o. v.e controversy.
To the inlrmic difficulties of questions of
• boundary lines, Ospc ntlly those described in
regions unoccupied ami hut partially known,
is to tic added in our country the emharras
inenl necessarily urt. tng out our Constitution,
by wHtuli the General Govermnont is made the
or, nil of negotlmm* and deciding upon the
particular interests of ilip Slams on whose
frontier* tlieso lines arc to he lraced. To avoid
Hiiovhcr controversy in which a .Statu Govern
ment might rightfully claim to have her wishes
consulted, previou yto the conclusion of con
ventional arrangement* concerning her rights
Jurisdiction or territory, I have thought it ne
cessary to call tho attention of the Govornmr.nl
of Grout Ill'llt ito another portion of our com
tertuinou* and intuition, of which the division
Mttil remains t.> ito adjusted. I refer to the
line from the .trance of Lake Superior to the
most North'” ‘• ru point of the Lake of the
A’ nods, stipulation* fur the settlement of which
hi u to he Ibuit “and in the seventh article of the
treaty ol Ghee The eoiuinissiouern appoin
ted under thut match’ by the tvv o Government*,
haiutg dtflerotl in their opinions, made sepa
rate repotts, ace. dug to its stipulations, up
on the point* of (L i cement and thesediflbr
tnccs are how to 1 a submitted to the arbitra
tion of somefruii. lit v- vereign or State. —The
disputed points siuj. . oa settled and the line
dktdgnated before I flu ’ . ritortal Gov eminent,
ol which taos t- i .i 4atie*, take* its place
in the t mol) a* i ■ . and J rely upon tlm
cordial ivoperu! “ f the llritlish Govern
incut lo cllect thrt ct.
There is every in to believe tlint distur
bance!* like those ,ncli lately ngitated the
ncighUorlhg Brim i Province will not again
prove thesourcet aordrr contention*, nr m
terposc oh*i!teiCl tiiw\l’ contimmuev) of that
good tIWnWT-landing . hicli it is ihc iwwttiai in
ler.'lTof Great Britt : and the l aitcd States
tofireserve ami nta tain.
fjm ithin the Provr ;-e* thcmsclvu* tmntjuili
ftfy is restored ; ami, on our frontier, lhai mis
guided sympathy in avor til w hat was presu
med lo a general f ill ill U lialf ol’ popular
rights, and which in some insiances misled a
few of (.or more it:.’ ‘ pencured citizens, tuts
subsided ilia ratioiul conviciion strongly op
p > ed n dl intern) “tiding with the iniermil
allair* of our neigh mrs. The people of the
l olted Slate* feel, is it is hoped they always.
Mill, a warm solicitude for the success ol all
who are sincerely endeavoring to improve the
political condition : mankind. This generous
feeling tney cheiisf towards the most distant
naiion : and it was natural, therefore, that it
should be awakened with more common
warmth in behalf ot their immediate neigh
bars. Hut it does not belong to their charuc-1
tor. as a community, to seek the gratification
oftnose feelings in ;.ols which violate theirdn
tv as citiicnsi en tiger the peace of their
enquiry, and tend t ■ bring upon it the stain of
a ti dated faith towards foreign nations. If,
zealous to confer b< nettle on others, 4hey ap
pear fora momenrdj lose sight of the permit- 1
neut obligations imposed upon them us citi
sens, they are seldom long misled. From all
the information Ii jeivc, eonfirmed to some i
extent by personal dservation, iam satisfied j
that no one can no v hope to engage in such
enterprises without encountering public indig- i
nation, in addition to the severest penalties of
the law.
Secant informal m also leads nut to hope
that the emigrants Irom her Majesty's Provin- :
ces, .who ivtye song refuge within our botin-j
darics. are dispose, • i become, peaccalde resi- |
dents and to abstain from all attempt# to en
danger the peace of that country which has I
afforded thru) asylum 03 a review of the
occurrence on both sj.fo., the. lie .it is satis- ]
factory to reflect tluA, in almost every com
plaint against our country, the offence Inav be
traced to emigrants from he Provinces who |
have sought refuge here, in the few instances
in which they were Jed by cituons of the
United States, the a. ,f these misguided men
were not only tad ; contravention of the !
bs v a and wall fcnjvr, v shesof their own Gov-1
I
enwnuit, tint met VilV the decided disappfo
bauoti of ‘he Peoplkofkha Umiod H*te.
I re net to state tka nppqararw* of a <JifT;r •
e'spirit Killing hfcr Majesty* itbjKli In the
j Canada*. The ssntiraenia and h<>‘t<luy *o our
I people and institute nix, which have been
: rrc()ueiitly cxprewicd UNr, nod the disregard
1 of our right* wliich huve V<n mamf’ -led on
omr occasion*, have, I am sorry to *ay, been
applauded and enruArngcd hy the people, and
J I'vrti by of th r'lbordmati: V<’4 author- ,
! iit<n of ib*- Provi<4*. The churl ok;er *“
’Canada oirtmintcly have not cntcihainivl**®
I aaiHKfueling, and have pcolmlily prevAittdl *'X
! cfuses that moat have been fiitul to timpclre of
1 the two countries.
I look forward anxiotialy to a period then
j nil the Iraii-artiotM which have grown ut of
thin condition of onr nffuirs, nod whirl huve
i been made the riibjrrtH of cowpluint t and re-
I monstrance hy the two Government* t qiec
! lively, shall be fully examined, and the prop
■ or satisfaction given where it is due fri uei
p ther side.
Nothing hna occurred todidtirb the I rrno
ity of onr Intercourse with Austria. ium,
Denmark, Prance, Naples, I'orfitgal. •’ “via,
i Russia,nr Hwedeit. Tin:tntrrnalutatetd pain i
j has hi naihly improved, and a weil-grn ided
* exi-ti t’ al the return of p .o ■ i r> •••
Uni! to the l*< oplo of that eoumry their irm
i cr prosperity, and cnahie the Governin’ it to
I fulfil all it* obligation* ut homo and fit nid.
The Government of I’ortilgal, I have th snt
i ufa<'lion to uiatii, line paid In full the etc ‘frill
, and lu-l iiihUliiO'iit din- to our citizen* so the
! ciuintH einlirilrcdin the settlement inane vth it
, on the third of Mart'll, 1827.
I lay before you of commerce &go
tiated with th". Kins,’- of Sit rJ in a mid the
Netherlands, ’ the ratification of which have
been exchanged sitin'the adjournment c Con
gress. The liberal principle* of these li a l ieu
will recommend them to your appro iliou.
That’ with Sardinia t* the find treaty o emu
mi ree firrmed hy Unit kingdom, and it ill. I
1 1 list, answer the expectation* of the | i-cut
Sovereign, hy aiding the developeinent and the
resource* of lu* country, and idimulatu ; the
enterprise of hit people. Tuat with the Xeih
erlnntU happily teriiiiuatei a long exislu ‘null
ject of dispute, and removes from our utnre
commercial inteteoursc ull iipj rehens m of
emhurra ■ tu The Kitigof the Nctlnfi ultda
ha* a I no, iu further illustration of Ins cha teter
for juste i oitl of Ills desire to remove very
cause of ilis-atisfuclion, made eotoperu ition
for an AiAerican vessel captured in IRK hy a
French privateer, mid carried into Curnmca,
| where the. proceeds were approprialed i the
I use of the. colony, then, mid for a altor time
alier, under the dominion of Holland.
J The dentil of the laic Sultan Ini* pro need
no alteration in our relations with Tfkey.
I Our newly appointed Minister It’ sirlelt has
reached Constantinople, and I have rcr-ived
assurance from the present Ruler that tl a oh
ligations of our treaty, noil those of fri>*u ship,
will he fulfilled by himself in the name spirit
that actuated his illustrious father.
I regret to he obliged to inform yqutlill no
convention for the setUoinonl of ins'c> >1 u* of
our citizen* upon Mexico ha* yet been r lified
hy tlm Government f‘hnt country. Tin first
eorTV'entioii formed fur tluit purpose wl not
. presented by tlte PlKiffimt of Mexico J< r the
upprohation of its Congress,from a befit f that
the King of I’nitutin, the arbitrator incise of
disagregigeiit in the joint commission to he
appointed hy the United States mid VI xico,
would not consent to tnkc upon lumsel ihm
friendly office. Although not entirely i iti-.fi
od with the course pursued hy Mexico, 11 It no
. hesitation in receiving, in the most coilt liltto
ry spirit, the explanation offered, am also
cheerfully eonaonted to h new coventi n, in
linin’ to arrimge the paymenu proposer to lie
made to our citizens, in a manner which,|u hilt:
equally just tolhcin, was doomed les* nacrous
and im'inivenliTit to the. Mexican Govergiuont.
Relying confidently upon theinlenlionsjifthat
liovcriMnent, Mr. i'lllis, was directed tnjrepair
to Mexico,and diplomatic intommrsuh lioen
resumed lictwceii the two countries. Tin new
convention bus, ho informs us, been rieeiilly
submitted hy the I‘retulcnt of that litpublie
to its Congress, under ctrcumslnnecsJ which
promise a speedy lalificulion ; a result which
I cannot allow myself to doubt.
Instructions have been given lo tig’ Com
missioner of the United Stales under dur Con
vention with Texas, for Ihe demarcntjnn ofthc
line which separates us from that Republic.
The t oumiissionera of liolli (eiveriildi iIUIUcI
in Now Oilcans in August lasi. The joint
commission vuts orguiiUed, and ailjdurued to
convene at the same place on the Iw glflli el'Oc
toher. Ii is presumed to be now ioitho perfor
mance of its duties.
The new tiovernmeiit of Texas has shown
its desirotoculin ale I'rieudly relations with lis,
by a prompt reparation for injuries complain- j
ed of in the caw of two vessels of Ihe I’m tod
Slates. .j .
With Central America a con edition has
been eoneluded for the renewal ofS'is former
treaty with the United States. Tils Win not
ratified before ihotlcparture ofour litof Chnrgc
d'Artairs from that country, and uittropy of
it brougiit by him wasnoi reeeivrdWfore the
adjeurnmi nt of the Suttiue at the Inst session,
fu the meanwhile, the period frlm the ex
change of ratifications having expired. I
deemed il expedient, m consequence of the
death of the Charge d’AtVnires, to lend a spe
cial agent to Central America torjoso the af
fairs of our mission there, ami to arrange with
the liovorntneut an extension of t|u time for
the exchange of ratifications.
The commission created by the Senate
which formerly composed the Republic of Co
-1 Itimbia, for adjusting the claim* Against that
’ Government, has, by a very uufjtpeeted cott
| strnclionol the treaty under wlilclt it nets, de
cided that no provision was made for those
claftus of citizens of tlu F nited Stalls which
* arose from captures by Columbian privateers,
|. and where adjudged against life el Mutants in
the judicial tribunals. This decision will com
1 |ud the I’nited Stales to apply to the several
! Governments formerly iinfied for redress.
\\ ill* all these—New Grenada. Vede/tila. and
hxnador-s-n perfectly good un lorsi.inding ex
ists. Our treaty with Vcnezula is faithfully
i carried info execution, and Unit country, in the
enjoyment of tranquility, is gradually advan
! eiug in prosperity under the guidance of its
present distinguished President. General Paez.
W ith Ecuador. a liberal commcrfinl conven
tion has lately been concluded, will be
transmitted to the Senate at an e.jrly day.
” ith the great American Kinp rc of Brazil
■ wr relations com intie unchanged as does our
, friendly intercourse with the ot ler Govern
mentsot South America—the Aigcntinc lle
j public, and republics of Urtiguny Chili, Peru,
and Bolivia. The dissolution of he Peru 110-
Ifv i,nr ( onfederation may oceasuli some tem
porary inconvenience lo our citizens in that
i quarter, hut the obligations on thi new Gov
ernments which have arisen out of that Con
: federal to observe its treaty stipulations
| wiH no dit ba soon imdcn-tiisd. and it is
I presm, that no indisposition vi(l exist to
luliill. <se which it contracted with the Uni
ted States.
The fiuanrj] operations of the bovcmmCJll
. during the present year have, i ait happy lo
i STiv - been very successful. The difficulties
j under which the Treasury Department has
1 labored from known defects in (he existing
law s rclalivcto the safe keeper ofj the public
| monies, aggravated by the suspension of spe
j cie payments by several of the banks bolding
j public deposit*, or jadcbied to public officers
[ l0 '’ “<s received in pay ment of public dues.
71113 SYIOXIVTOSH COUNTY IIBRALD,, •
have beeg summoned to a very gratifying ex
tent. Tbelaig* current expenditure* have
lu en punctii illy met, and the Faith of the Gov- j
rrumeiit in all ft* pecuniary eoiiccrnshasbccn 1
•crupuioudy niaintutned. j
The nineteen million* of Treasury ‘ otea
authorized hy the act of Goug"* l * IRd>, and
the iTi'sJdicatioiis ih*w.of, with a view to the
indulgence of merchatlt* on their duly bonds,
and of ,fl * deposUe bauka iiifbe puytuoal of,
( >*|i(’ inoticy* held by them, have been so j
puacliially radeeiucd as to leave less than the |
original ten miMlons outstanding at any one ;
ljme, and the whole amount unredeemed now
fills short of three million*. Os these the chief
portion I* nut due till next year, and the whole
would have been already extinguished could
the. Tro.i-ury have, realized the payments due
lo it fr-tn tile bank*.—lf those due from them
during the next year shall be punctually made,
and if Gougre-a ahull keep the appropriations
within the estimate, there is every rea-on to be
lieve that all the outstanding Treasury notes
can he redeemed, and the ordinary expenses
defrayed, without imposing on the people any i
additional harden, either of loans or increased i
taxes.
To avoid this, nnd to keep the, expenditures
with hi ruasiaioble bounds, is a duty, seeoud
only in importaaceto the preservation of our
iiatiotiiil enracier and the protection of our cil- [
citizen* in their civil and political rights. The
creation, in time of peace of a debt likely to
become |ieriuancnl, Is an evt! for w hich there
is no fuuivoienl. The rapidity with which
many of the Htate* are apparently spproeliing
to tin* condition, admonishes it* of our own
| ‘luitea, in a manner 100 impressive to be disre
garded. One, not the ie.i*t important, i* to
keep # tlic Federal Government always in actin
|(l iliou to discharge, With ease and vigor, Its
higticst functions, should there exercise l>e
requircd hy any *tidden eorijummrt •/f public
affairs a condition to which we are always
• xposts!, and which may itri ur w hen it is least
expected. To tliineud, it is indispensable that
its finances should lie untrammelled, and us
resource*, as far as practicable,umucumbered.
No circumstance could present greater ohstu
; eles lo the aecomplishmei of these vitally
important object* than the creation of.iuoner
! ous national debt. Our own experience, and
also that of other tuitions, have demonstrated
the unavoidable and fearful rapidity with
which a public debt is increased, when the
Government has once surrendered itselflo tin
ruinous practice of supplying it* supposed ue
cessiticaby new luaus. The struggle, there
fore, on onr part, tube suece-skii, must be the
threshold.—To inuke’ our clfiirt* effective, se
vere economy is lieces-.iry. This is the su
rest provision for the national welfare ; and it
is, ut the suing time, the best preservative of
the principle* on which onr institutions i*st.
.Simplicity ami ccbuomy in the nflairs of Slate
have never failed to chasten and invigorate re-
I publican principles while tlwwe have l*:en as
surely subverted by national prodigality, un
! her w hatever *p CCtoft* pretexts it may have
i been Introduced Or fostered.
These consideration* cannot lie lost Opon
a people who have never been inattentive lo
j the erttet of their policy upon the institution
they Imvenreated for tneinmdves ; hut nt the
present moment their force is augmented by
the necessity which a decreasing revenue must
impose. The check lately given in importa
tions of articles subject to duties,(the derange
ments til the operations of internal trade, and
j especially the reduction gradually taken place
ill our tariff of duties, ali lend materially to
lessen our receipts ; indeed, It is probable that
j the diminution resulting front the last cause
alone, w ill hot fall short of five millions of dol
lars in the year 1812, ns the final reduction of
ull duties of twenty per cant, then takes effect.
The whole revenue then accruing from the
customs and front the Males of public lands, if
nulmore, will undoubtedly be wanted to defray
tbo necessary expenses of the Government
■ under the moil prudent administration of its
I affair*. These are rircumctanee* that impose
the necessity of rigid economy, and require
its prompt and constant cxcrctie. Vit It the
legislature rest tip; power and duly of so
dijusting the public cx'pendilgjo as to pro
mote this end. Hy the provision of the Con
j stitlition, it is only in consequence of appro
priations made by law -tli.it money can be
drawn from the Treasury ; no instance has
occurred, since the establishment of the Gov
ernment, in which the Kxecittive, though a
component part of the legislative power, has
interposed an object to an appropriation hill
on the sole ground of its e.vtrnvigancc. Ilts
duty in tins respect hus been considered ful
, tilled by requc*rtiqgj.ueh appropriations only
as tlic public service may lie reasonably ex
pected lo require. In the present earnest di
reetioujif the public mind towards this sub
ject, both the Kvecutlve and the Legislature
have evidence of the strict responsibility to
which they wilt be hold <, and while I nut Ton
<‘iou of my >vt ii anxious effort* in f>e tfotmt
with fidelity this port Mm of my public ftmf
-1 lions. |t is ft fiitifTficiion to mo* to Ik; able to
count on n cordial co-operation from you.
AMhp time I entered upon ray present du
ties, Our ordinary disbursements—without
including those on account of the public
debt, the post office, and the trust funds in
charge of the Government—had been Inrge
lv increased by appropriations for the re
moval of the. Indians for repelling Indian
, hostilities and for other less urgent ex pen
ses which grew out of mi overflowing Tica
surv. Independent of the redemption‘of
the public debt ami trusts the gross expen
ditures of seventeen and eighteen millions
in 1634 and 1635 had by these causes swel
led to twenty-nine millions in 1836, anti the
appropriations for 1837 made previously to
the fourth of March, caused the expend
iture to rise to the very large amount of
thirty-three millions. \\'e were enable
during the year 1636 notwithstanding o\q
continuance of our Indian euifiarrassiiients,
somewhat to reduce this amount ; and that
for the present year, 1839 will not in all
probability exceed twenty six millions less
than it was last year. \\ ith a determina
tion so far ns depends on me to continue
this reduction. I have directed the esti
mates tor 1610 to he Subjected to the sever
est serai tiny and to he limited to the abso
lute requirements of the public service.
They will he found less than the expendi
turs of 1639 by over five millions of dol
lars.
The precautionary measures which will
be recommended by the Secretary of the
Treasury, to protect faithfully the public
credit under the fluctuations and contingen
cies to which our receipts and expenditures
are exposed and especially in a commercial
crisis like the present are commended to
your early attention.
On a former occasion your attention was
invited to various considerationsiu support
of a preemption law in behalfaGihv settlers
on the public lands ; and also of a law
gradualing the prices tor such lands as had
long been in the market unsold, in conse
quence of their inferior qualitv. The cve
cution of the act which was passed on the
first subject has been attended with the
happiest consequences in quieting titles,
and securing improvements to the industri
ous ; and it has also to a verv gratifving ex
tent been exempt from the frauds which
were practised under previous pre-emption .
law*. It ha* at the aamt lime a* was antic- I
ipated contributed liberally during iheprca- .
ent year to ah* racelpl* of the Treasury. I
The passage of a graduation law with
tin-guards before recommended, would also j
lam persuaded and considerably to the
revenue.for acveral year* and prove in other
respects just and beneficial.
Your early consideration of the subject j
is, therefore, once more earnestly re
quested.
The present condition of the defences of
Swr pritjfijtal seaport* and navy yards a*
I represented by the accompanying reports
of the Hecrctary of War, calls for the early
and serious attention of Uongresa ; and, a*
connecting itself intimately with this sub
ject. licannot recommend too strongly to
votir consideration the plan submitted bv
that officer for the organization of the mill;
tia of the United Htate*.
In conformity with the expressed wishes
of Congress an attempt was made in the
spring to terminate the Floridy war by
negotiation. It is to be regretted that these
humane intentions should have been frus
trated, and that the effort to bring these
unhappy difficulties to a satisfactory conclu
sion should have failed. Hut after entering
into solemn engagement* with the Com
manding General the Indians without any
; provocation recommended their acts of
treachery and murder. The renewal ol
hostilities in that Territory renders it nec
essary that I should recommend to your
favorable consideration the plan w hich will
be submitted to you by the Hecrctary of
War, in order to enable that department to
conduct them to successful issue.
Hiving had an opportunity of personally
in jecting a portion of the troops during
the last summer it gives me pleasure to
bear testimony lo the success of the effort
to improve their discipline by keeping them
together in as large bodies ns the nature of
our service will permit. I recommend
therefore that commodious and permament
barracks be constructed at the several posts
designated by the Secretary of war. Not
withstanding the high state their discipline
and excellent police the evils resulting to
the service from their deficiency of com
pany officers were very apparent and I re-
I coiuntcnd that the staff officers he perman
ently separated from the.line.
The navy has been usefully and honorably
! employed til protecting the rights ami pro
pony of ottr citizens w herever the. condition
‘of affairs seemed to require its presence.
\A ith the exception of one instance, where
an oulrgac accompanied hy murder was
j committed on a vessel of the United States
wliilo engaged iu a lawful commerce, noth
ing is known to have oeetired to impede or
molest the enterprise of our citizens on that
element where it is so signally displayed.
On learning this daring art of piracy.
Commodore Reed proceeded immediately
to the post and receiving •no satisfaction,
1 either iu the surrender of the murderer* or
the restoration af their plundered property
inflicted severe and merited chastisement
on the barbarians.
It will be seen by the report of the Hecre
, tary of the navy respecting the disposition
of our ships of war, that it lias heen deemed
necessary to station a competent force or
, the coast of Africa to prevent a fraudulent
, use of our flag hy foreigners.
Kccent experience has shown that the
provisions iu our existing laws, which relate
to the sale and transfer of American vessels
while abroad are extremely defectiv e. Ad
ventage has been taken of these delects to
give to vessels heUuing to foreigners, ami
navigating the ocean, an apparent American
ownership. This character ha* been so
well simulated as to afford them contpari
| live security in prosecuting'lhc slave trade,
a traffic emphatically denounced in out sta
tutei regarded with abhorrence by our cit
izens and of which the effectual suppres
sion is now here more sincerely desired
than in the United State*. These circum
stances msAe it proper to recommend to
: your early attention a careful revision of
; these laws, so that, without impeding the
i freedom and facilities of our navigation, no
impairing an important branch of our in
dustry connected with it the integrity artff
i honor of our flag nwv be carefully prescr
fTor” Informanou derived fronNttir Consul
at Havana, showing the necessity of this,
was communicated to a committee of the
Heimte near thq close of the last session, but
too late as it appeared to be acted*upon. It
will be hrouglit to your notice by the pro
per department, with additional communi
cations from other sources. **
The latest accounts from the Exploring
Expedition represent it as proceeding suc
cessfully in ils objects, and promising re
sults on less useful to trade and navigation
than to science.
The extent of post roads covered by mail
service on the first of July last, was about
133,999 milesand the rate of annual trans
portation upon them 34,496,878mi1e5. The
number of post offices on that day was
twelve thousand seven hundred and eighty,
and on the thirthicth ultimo, thirteen thou
sand and twenty eight.
The revenue of the s'osl Office Department
for the year ending with the 30th of June last,
] was four million lour hundred and seventy
six thousand six hundred and thirty-eight dol
lars —exhibiting an increase over the proceed
ing year of two hundred and forty-one thou
sand and five hundred and sixty dollars.—
The engagements and liabilities of the De
partment for the same periodate four million
six hundred and twenty four thousand one
hundred and seventeen dollars.
The excess of liabilities over the revenue
1 for the laat two years has been met out of the
surplus which had previously accumulated.
The cash on hand on the thirtieth ultimo, was
i about 6*406.791.59, and the current income of
the Department varies very little from the
rate of current expenditures. Most of the ser
vice. suspended lust year has been restored,
. and most of the new routes established by the
act of 7th July, 1838, has been set in opera
tion at an anuual cost of §136.963. Notwith
standing the pecuniary difficulties oftjie coun
try. the revinue of the department appears to
be increasing ; and unless it shall be seriously
cheeked by the recent suspension of payment!
by so niun#v<H'the banks, it will be able not on
ly to maintain the present mail service, but in
a short time lo extend it. It is gratifying to
witness the promptitude and fidelity with
which the agents of this Department in gener
al perform their public dutie^
Some difficulties have arisen in relation to
contracts for the transportation of the mails by
rail road nd steam bout companies. It ap
pears that the maximum of compensation pro
vided by Congress for the transportation of
the mails upon rail-roads, is not sufficient to
induce some of the companies to convey them
at such hours as arc rcauirod for the accom
modation of the public. It Gone of the moat
important duties of the General Government
to provide and maintain for the use of the peo
ple of the Htate* the best practicable mail es-
I tablislnnent. To arrive at timt end it is indit
i pensablc that the Post Olliee Department shall
ire enabled to control the hours at which the
! mails shall be carried over rail-roads, a* it now
j doe# over all other roads. Hhould seriou* in
i convenience* arise from the inadequacy of
the compensation now provided by law, or
1 from unreasonable demands by any of the
rail road companies, the subject is of such gen
eral importance as to require the prompt at
tention of Congress.
In relation lo steam boat lines, the most ef
ficient remedy is obvious, and has been sug
gested by the Postmaster General. The AA ur
and Navy Departments already employ steam
j boats iu their service, and although it is by no
mean# desirable that the Government should
undertake the transportation of passenger* or
| freight a* a business, there can be no reason*
I ble objection to running boats, temporarily,
! whenever it may be necessary to put down
! attempt* at extortion, to be discontinued as
j soon as reasonable contracts can be obtained.
My own exertions for the furtherance of
these desirable objects have been bestowed
throughout my official career with a zeal that
is nourished by ardent wishes or the welfare
of my country, and by an unlimited reliance
on the wisdom that marks its ultimate decision
oil alf great and controverted question*. In
pressed with the solemn obligations imposed
upon me by the Constitution, desirous also of
laying before my fellow-citizens, with whose
cortfidenee and support I have been so highly
honored, such measures as appear lo me con
ducive to their prosperily—and anxious to
submit tothetr fullest consideration the grounds
upon which my opinions are formed. I have
on this, as on preceding oerason*, freely offer
ed my views on ihiwe points of domestic poli
cy that seem, at the present time most promi
nently to require the action of the Govern
ment. I know that they will receive from
[ Congress that full and able consideration which
the importance of the subjects merit, and 1 can
repeat the assurance heretofore made, that I
shall cheerfully and readily co-operate with
you in every measure that will tend to pro
mote the welfare of the Union.
M VAN BUR BN.
Washington, Dec, 2. 1829.
A horiubi.e Case OK Poisoning. —On
Saturday evening, two girls ofgood appear
ance hut of evidently the most base nnd
abandoned characters and morals, went to
the Catharine market to the Stall N 21,
owned and occupied by Mr. John K. Floor,
batcher, of No |h| Orhartl street and in an
i apparently pleasant and polite manner, gave
’ to young Mr. Floor, who is a voting tnan
of 23 or 21 years of age, a large and hand
some cake as a present, in testimony of
their kind feelings towards him. Mr.
Flooi suspecting nothing wrong commen
ced eating the rake, which tasted very
pleasantly, and also gave some to two other
victuallers who were near him, who also
eat of it. The women after giving the
present retired anti were seen no more.
Soon after eating the cake Mr. Floor was
taken violently sick with nausea, and com
menced vomiting profusely and became so
had that he had to lie conveyed home where
notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the
physician ho died at six o’clock yesterday
mornili gos the effects of the poison. One
of the other persons who partook of the
cake but whose name we could not ascer
tain is reported to us as still dangerously
ill. and his recovery considered doubtful.
The nan es of the infamous females w ho
perpetrated this horrible outrage oil ’hu
manity we have not been able to ascertain
and they as yet remain undiscovered.
New York Paper.
A Game Transaction. —lt may not be
known to our citizens generally, that the
lower part of the Bowery, in the vicinity of
Bayard street, is the grand mart at which the
surplus produce of Westchester county, in the
way of poultry and pigs, and rabbets, and wild
fowl, and sueli other etables, is disposed of.
One day last week there were displayed in the
basket of one of the dealers four grey squii
rels, the very sight of w hich gladdened the
eyes of all beholders,—They were so large so
plum, and looked so tempting, each one slrelt-n
---edom tvKft tin acorn lieteen its teeth, that the
lot was soon purchased hy a French gentleman
at a large price, lie had scarcely been ab
sent an Wmr when back lie crime in a terri
ble rage. He had handed the squirrels over
to his cook, who upon proceeding to strip
them found they were mere effiges, nothing
more than skins stuffed with tow. straw and
other rubbish, but so skilfully manufactured
that they had deceived all who had seen them.
We have heard of a hurbacne catamount stuf
fed with tenpenuv nails, and squa fonts for
gravy—but a squirrel pie of tow and chopped
straw would be a novelty.—N. Y. Com, Adv.
PARENTS, READ THIS.
TheChocp.— We copy the following from
the last PottsviUe Emporium, and it may per
haps*, be useful to many of our readers. The
remedy is very simple, and no harm can be
done by trying the experiment!
“To those who may have children subject
to this dangerous disease, we would suggests
simple remedy whichwe have on sevral oc
casions successfully used in our own family.
It is the essence of an onion roasted in brown
paper and mixed with a double portitjn of ho
ney. It affords instant relief, and in twohours
time effects a perfect removal of the disease.
To those who, like onrself, have anxiously
watched for days and nights the struggle of “a
fa vorite child while gasping for the breath of
life, this simple prescription will certainly be
acceptable.”
Thanksc.ivinc. in Virginia.—Yester
day, says the /Richmond Enquirer of the
13th inst. “was a day of General Thanks
giving through the States, for the numerous
blessing which a gracious Providence has
showered down upon us. The stores were
! shut. All the Churches were thrown open
in this City ; and vve understand, that sev
eral sermons of great powder and beauty
were delivered from the pulpits.” This is
the first time, wc believe, that Old Virginia
ev.er kept Thanksgiving, in concurrence
with the practice so long prevalent in New
England.
iVore/ Reason foe Discontinuing a Pa
per.—The Picayune tells us that an edi
tor of a newspaper in A irginia, recently re
ceived a note from a distant subscriber, run
ning nearly as follows : “Sir : You will
please discontinue my paper at the expira
tion of the year, as I do not find in it th at
species of information I was anxious to
obtain when I subscribed. I have looked
over it carefully -for six months for the
death of some individual I was aepuainted
with, but as yet not a single soul I caic any
thing for has dropped off. You will there
fore please have my name erased.”
Ilvn airjy rchh, but not Hurried. —The
Knoxville Times state* that a fellow front
New Orleans run away with the daughter
of a weulthy planter in Dlount counlv,
with intent to marry her, but was closely
pursued aud overtaken by the girl’s broth
er, and another young tnau. Tbe fellow’*
name is Gant or Grant, id he it a person
of fine appearance and preposaesaing man
ner*. The young lady did not feel dispo
sed to relinquish the match, until her
brother proposed her return, and if her in
tended husband could disprove certain char
ges of being a blackleg and a common
swindler, the family would consent to the
marriage. -Grant refused to return on these
terms, and making some impertinent re
marks, the brother had him tied to a post,
beared his back, aud gave him fifty lashes
with a negro whip, and then sent about his
business. He was also promised a regular
lynching unless lie took himself to part*
unknown instnnvr, which he was very
; glad to be permitted to do. The younglady
is of highly respectable connections, is un
der 17 years of.age, and has had a narrow
escape.’ Wo suppress the name of the fami
ly from feelings which the public vvill ap
preciate.
The Co/umbiad. —The big gun, rceertt}y
east at Mr. Alger's Foundry, at South Bos
ton, was tried yesterday at Honth Boston
point, near Blake's lumber wharf. It threw
a ball, or rather shell, weighing 150 pounds
nearly across tlie water to the llonchester
shore. Home of the ball ricorhettcd on tbe
water very beautifully throw ing up columns
of spray, presenting quite a pirtuicsque
appearance. Some of the shots were fired
with the muzzle of the gun elevated, au 1
made a tremendous whizzing while passing
through the air. These experiments w ith
the big gun, cost something, however for,
‘•Every time they fired it off,
It took a horn of powder”
weighing 10 pounds—and the whole ex
pense of each charge was sls. — Bottun
Lvsr or Tim wouicans.
V large company of this tribe of Indians
arrived fast evening in the steamer Illinois,
from Green Bav, and formerly from the
; state of New York. Many of them are iu-
I tflligeut, and speak our language wiiji
j gieat llueoce. We learn from them that
they are seeking a home in the Far West,
though they are yet undetermined as to
what particular course liter will lake. In
the crowd we observe some two or three
squaws, who appeared to be the ton on
of the company—they were really very
pretty, ami a little facetious withal. One
of them asked, with a quizzical smile, “ if
the white men would kill them if they
went up town ?” AA'c assured her that our /
citizens admired and respected beaut) and
intelligence, and that she, at h nst, would
he safe among them, “Oh,” she replied*,,!
find that all white men catl flatter, but the
Indian girls understand their flim-flanr,”
AA e need hardly add that we defended our
sex our best inninicr, and bade the interes
ting creature adieu hut we must not for
get to state Bid she gave us a very neat
watchf'urd, which we shall certainly wear
through ali time to come.— St. I*mi* Pen
nant. \
Tilr Ghost in Spectacle*. — I once saw
what nobody, except always the. audience
of that particular night could have seen—
tlie Ghost of Hamlet's father acted at Co
vent Garden Theatre in speclccles. Ar
mour, of course, was tlie costume, and
chalk tlie complexion : the performer was
the late .Mr. Chapman, who was remarka
bly nearsighted. Having acted the Ghost
so frequently as to have entirely forgotten
tin part, (lor who can expect people to re
member things for ever I) hr hh“d put on
his spectacle* on the outside of the easqnrt
which covered his “auncient” head, Bnd
being suddenly rrflled to the stage, on
;he went —helmet, glasses, and nil. AA'iieu
i once on.Afn remove the glasses, would have
bccri impossible: u ghost without specula
tion in his ayes, inking off a pair of specta
cles, would have hern fatal: and according
ly. the ghost performed his duty, eren to
the time l eock-crow ing, framed and gla
zed as ghost was never seen before.—New
Monthly Magazine.
( vn aoa.—Our Albany Correspondent,
the other day spoke of rutnors disturban
ces about to take place in Canada : ami
the rumor to have some fotee, judg
ing from a remark in I)r. Thelier’s news
paper, published at Detioit, that a blow
will be struck at tlie Royalist iu Canada,
during the ensuing winter, “and in a quarter
little suspected.”—AYtr York Express.
Ihe New A ork Express savs—“AA’ith
in the last three vveebs over a million and
a halt of Woolen goods have been reship
ped back to England.—These shipment*
have been made for two reasons, First, the*
would not pay a profit, and the next’ the
parties were fearful that the Collector
would seize them as he had seized a large
portion of W oolens that have been before
imported. The difference to the revenue
will be very great.
The Balloon. —On Wednesday Mr. Green
made his ascent from the gas works, under one
of the most serene and cloudless atmospheres
that ever shone. R. Crawsnay. Esq. was his
companion ; indeed, it appears that the voyage
was undertaken to gratify that gentleman,
rrom this union there is likcdy to result a ve
ry important measure; namely, the construc
tion of a balloon of experiment capable of al
most any purpose to which it can be capable
of almost any purpose to which it can be ap
plied. Aerostation is certainly yet in its in
fancy. and true philosophy never doubts the
possibility of useful improvement.
W e understand that Mr. Green has, at the
solicitation of a few of his staunch aeronauti
cal and scientific friends, gratuiliously consen
ted to construct a powerful a splendid balloon,
to be used solely for the purpose of scientific
experiment and recreative amusement ; and
we have his authority to state that he would
willingly, with such a machine, , undertake a
voyage front new York lo Europe , thus at
once putting to the test the duration of the
power of a balloon when properly constructed,
and furnished with every necessary appen
dage. We think with Mr. Monk Mason, who
accompanied Mr. Green and Mr. Holland on
the ever memorable voyage from London to
W lelburg, in Germany, that earth's who'e sur
face may at some not very distant day be tra
versed by a balloon. —New A’ork paper.
There was an earthquake at Tuscumbia, Ala
ou the 14th ult.