About Savannah daily republican. (Savannah, Ga.) 1818-1824 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1819)
.. miWtfE «*« i i/A SKMtA OLE W7M rtwro i 'if.- ,7i**•»' V eowelm-'.ldfrtm jotmfeiy.l Tlv; justice of tbe eseection of Abdinot -*•• Avbiitlcr cannot, in toy mini], .admit linubt. Thy were volunteers in the , , . t -e of a h'Otu tribe of aavafefo whore . '.* cf warfare i> indiscriminate muu- X all age* and sexes. It ia right, H ia met* I i j inflict on these savage* those cruelties i*i.. A they practice and inculcate. In this, • ,-vcr, it ia proper to select the meat aCro- : a and vindictive. To'spare the effusion of . . blood even ojuvagcs, and to effect that ae- . .r.- y which arises from eminent examples, it is ..ilcntand arise to select those men-as objects ■.ttaliationand punishment, who trethe most • ~,vc flkfl successful in/practiiing andinflicting .-..•itltics. Who, then, could have been selec- ' ! as examples, with-more justice and peGcv, •. .. t -sc twoforeigoets, who had been taught -,i il.u school cf humanity, and understood the *J ureases which their conduct would inflict* Tli - general had* right to execute them with- - .St trial. This right is in executive right, and .»••** in the commanding general. A trial by -t a -martial, urietly tpealnng, in my mind, was .-J. As the renenl had power to execute •iKti. without trial, there could be no good <r urfn to trv these men, which would not apply • i ‘dschiefs who were hung-without trial, ex- • • the neeesnity of ascertaining whether they •. i re in fact concerned in provoking sad prose- .tang hostilities. All thal jaekson could have ;^f.lly done, would have been to appoint a .!..ird of ojf.ceri to ascertain thil fact. All the »ii tori ty which he delegated to them, therefore •i i odthal. -wu illegal; and it was his duty to .a ..".id it, and pass the judgment and sentence Veil the facts justify. The most, then, that •.«!>e contended, is, that this was a wrung mode • Viingiright act. And though I am not an < V e-cste for the principle, that the end justifies ■J,stains, yet in this ease, ! see nothing ao er- ‘■f-.-.ynueintne means, as to impeach thcchsrxc- i. Jf the sad. The truth wae found by the , wt-marital, and upon this it warn his duty to ■!' S'.le. ’He did decide, ar.d 1 tract correctly. not tire the patience of the committee by -. putricular statement of the evidence against : me men. Ambristet wss taken in mrms, end . ■ proofs against inm rt r abundant, that he was .■ tivvly engaged inprovtVing ar.d prosecuting ,s f-t war; and thst lie enforced the precept of , master, Nichdls, to regard the affections and . i '(.atlieit of the Indians. Arbuthnot waa not s. the exciter, but supporter of the war. . ..rawing..off the treaty of Port Jackson, of 1. August, 1814, he keeps up the pretence, • these Indians were not bound by it, but . ■ relieved by the 9th nrtielc of the British • i s'-y. lie it the successor of Nichols. He .Vs for succors from the British government ■.(. s the associate and confidant of the com. Vr. u.{a»t of St. Marks. He furnishes the Indians . -h the weapons of destruction, sir," an awful responsibility rests npon this •• t, c Upon their decision rests the safety of ’ winds. Hiopc and trust that the period has ' er'.eii, whim ti.e Toiled States shall have a- ;tcd®. rule of policy, to punuh every foreigner ‘■-'i* j rtuitt inotiyal.* the ravage, 10 war. Let it 1 ".. si -henceforth he promulgated, that no citizen riiiVucd nation, who excites the savages to iwit.s it to he spared. That, wherever he may ib found, he is to be deemed the enemy of man* '.. v I, anil to suffer instant death. Had this rule !t.i i n-adopted forty years ago, and rigidily ob- • rved, how many disconsolate mothers would (*ho v be happy in the embraces of their children! "Tin's many bereaved parents, and children, and ' vi ands, and wives, wop til r.aw be surrounded by their respective friends, and enjoying the ■t.ctraring chanties of domestic life! ttfir, it is not a matter of Xriflmg importance for 1 van to quit the swcetf .pf society, and to be- ts-c.nc an inhabitant of thp Wilderness, surround- r.! by ssa age beasts anil tstrage men. The pri- ntinns and dangers he pi to endure, demand >i.e protection and solicitude of the nation.— ■ ntlemcyi in this house can well describe the -J uigers and hardships through which the fron- .i 'er settler has to pass; and I appeal to the gen- rimer. from the West, particularly, if it is not well Old. rstood, and fully believed, that most of •♦he Indian wars were instigated by foreigners* : ask gentlemen to look hack awhile, and ex- imitie facta Let them recollect the letter of Mr. Jefferson to Mr. Hammond, on this subject, .in 1792. Let them examine the facts in proof rf foreign instigation, which occurred before and after the defeat of St. C.lsir, and the victory of Wayne. I eould call to your recollection the address of Lord Dorchester, advising the Indi ana 16 tithe up tho hatchet. The numerous ca. oca of British traders urging and provoking hos- •dities, and of British subjects found fighting with, and painted like Indians. But these arc familiar to gentlemen who witnessed the events .-f those times. A mass of evidence on this sub ject was collected by a committee, who made to ties house, on the lith of June, 1812, a very a- -ii\e report, on the subject of Indian hostilities, and their causes. I will, however, read you a paragraph from a life document of very high authority, and which presents the facts in a very forcible and emphat- ic manner. It is thus expressed; “The un dersigned very sincerely regret to be obliged to say, that an irresistible mass of evidence, con sisting principally of the correspondence of Bri tish officers and agents, part only of which has wood a pwptam* terete-retribution. That do-, ty and policy demand that you should punish, with instant drath every foreign instigator of Indian harbaritr, wherever he may be, and mAm- ever he may be' found. Then will your country become the protectors of the unfortunate, and the defenders of the defenceless. Then will you have tranquility on your border*—pros- perityin your dwellings. Then will your peace be indeed as a river, and your righteousness as fhe waves of the sea. There is a pause—and I Seem to hear the responsive .fnsen, descending foam the throne of ittfoutc mercy. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. - January, 19. In committee of the whole-on the state of the Union, the reiolution reported by the committee on military affairs, and the amendment* proposed thereto, being un der consideration— Mr. T. M. Nelson of Virginia, Amid it had been his intention, when the commit tee of the whole on the state of the union first took op the report which was now the subject of deliberation to have stated briefly the view taken by the mnjority of the mi litary committee, who concurred in the report; but, nothaving been sofortunateas t» get the floor, he had been obliged to de- Uy’doingso until now. I shouldnot, said he, tiav« obtruded any remarks upon you now, sir,had the report the aid of the chair man, who has so faithfully presided over the military committee ever since he has occupied that station; but I regret to say we differed in opinion on this occasion. - I believe I am correct in stating that, that part of the subject to which the report is confined: is the only one on which a ma- jmity of the committve could be united; ar,d, as the other branch of it might be fail !yconsidered to be in the hands of anoth er committee of this house, a reason was found for passing it over in silence. I moreover acknowledge that, although I did previous to the decision of tho committee lisapprove the proceedings against Pen tacola and Barar.cas, as unauthorized and unnecessary, J felt a doubt, whev (her tho capture of St. Marks might not be justified, upon the plea of neeesiity; but that is dispelled by a more minute el imination of the documents. A reference to the letter from the commanding officer at St. Marks, to geieral Jackson, nearing date fth April, 1818, to be found page 67 of the document* oi the Seminole, tyar, and which had escaped my recollection, shews there was no necessity for the cap ture of thst post, to preserve it from fall ing into flic hands of the Indians; the ap prehension of which seems te be the ori ginal cause of general Jackson’s design to take it- And, sir, if, for the peace of tho United States, it was important that St Marks should not fall into the hanusofthe enemy, the proposition made to general Jackson, in the letter I have alluded to, lo leave a force ia its vicinity, with which the Spanish troops would co-operate, t> effect that object appears to rae am ply sufficient for every purpose of seeurit;. anil defence, tieneral Jackson thought diffTerentlyihe thought “St. Marks was ne cessary, as a depot, to ensure succes, an> he occupied it with an American force.” Tne gentleman, (Mr. Holmes) whp pro ceded me in this debate, has gone into ; tong train of reasoning, t<> stiow that Spain has given us just cause of war, and thence nfiis that general Jackson had a right to t ike possession of the Spanish garrisons in West Florida Sir, I am not the apologis f Spain: i wish to be distinctly understn to say, that to Spain wc are under no obli ♦ ations for general Jackson's conduct while in her territory. When the gentle man, who is chairman of the committee ol foreign relations, sliall-olfor a proposition to go to war with Spain, it will be time enough to enquire whether we have just cause of war against her; but there would be many other points of discussion, beside the mere* justification or cause of war.— Would it be politic, would it be magnan imous, to make war upon a degraded, en feebled. enemy? These are questions wnich I am nut called upon at this time to decide. Sir, the question now before us, is, whether a war has existed between the United States and Spain, and by whose authority. That a war has been prosecu ted by general Jackson, against the Spa- lisli authority in West Florida, can bees rireadv been published.in America, erubhshes, I tablsshed by his own representation.— bevond *tl rational doubt, the fact, that a con- I _ y . nf •'vrtiemrnt to those hostilities. 11 refer you to the captttls-on entered into by general Jackson and the govern- jtant system ot" excitement to those hostilities, vaa pursued by the British traders and agents who iid aecess to the Indians not only without being discount cnanccd, but with frequent en couragement by the British authorities. And if 1 they ever dissuaded the Indians from commenc- ing hostilities, it was only by urging them, as in pn.device, to suspend their attacks, until Great Britain eould recognise them as her allies in the war." — Sir, do you ask me for Ole authority which I Tead* I answer, it is a communication made to \hc British commissioners at Ghent; and it is signed by John Q. Adams, J. A. Bayard, Henry- Clay, Jonathan Kiissctl, and Albert Gallatin;— ; tmr* which this country, I trust, will long de light to honor. Sir, is further proof nceded*- i .ot the disconsolate widow, and helpless oi yhan, whose cause I am advocating, be my wit- 4. css. I confess, sir, that I am excited, and my sensi bility is awakened. My imagination transports me into some distant wilderness, in some se questered spot. A female form stands before me, and seems to sa.\ “Once I enjoyed the con veniences and pleasures of life. Excluded, in 4ome measure, from the enjoyment and allure ments of the wor’d, I w as nappy in the soeieiv af my husband, and the embraces of my chil- The bounty of Providence was poured in. in copious effusion: the sen of prosper.tv had risen, was shedding its beams upon us and hastening to its meridian. But, it w as at once obscured by X cloud.'. Sjpmc foreign incendiary, pjompted by avarice or revenge, excited the oavage. and provoked him to vengeance.— The midnight veil" wax" heard—our habitation wax atari led—T*y-ts were forced—the hor rors of desnair^thickqnc.ct around uw. My hus band met arid fell imjer'thc fatal stroke; Children clung to. my neck; • and fastened on rflr b0*0 -1;—thev were lorn mm my embrace, and mangled an! murdered m my presence! I was doomed to a more lingering fate— to endufe rife torch and thd faggot, and wait the tardv a-p maell of the fatal messenger, in most , «xcruci*o|ig torment. Our spirits have taken i their ti gat—our mangled bodies are cast out, a 1 prev to flic vult-ircs and wolves wf the desert— ) our' hones ifoi<Ac4tt«red and bleaching on the Go te-Tl the advoeaU-s of talfe hu- i,d*i i»q veer countrymen, who revel ka\ ! wanton in theiuTt-ricsof freedom, that there I is an avenging God; Uiat justice xud mercy do or of Pensacola, “which, with the ex ception of one article, amounts to complete cession of the country to the United States,” to use the general’s own language. How, sir, was this effected? By the American army, commanded by general Jackson. Was it in compliance with the wish and desire of the Spanish commander? No, sir; it was in direct op position to his warning, that he would re pel force by force; which general Jackron says “was so open an indication of hostile teeling” on the part of the governor, that no longer hesitated on the means lo adopted. “I inarched for and entered Pensacola, with only the show of resis- a-ice.” In his letter of the 2d June, to he secretary of war, he derails all the ra natim "f mve-tingthe fortress of Baran- a*; of making a lodgement under the fire it the girrison;nf mounting nine-pounder land howitzer batterirs: and such other in- idents as arc attendant on most battles uetween civilized nation*. Mr. Chairman, il this be nnt war, I have always misunder stood the term, although three years a sol dier during what wa* then called war. General Jackson, speaking nf the cap •uretl gansnit, say», “the terms were more .r.vurahle than a conquered enemy would have merited.” H-'goes on, in the same letter, to state the Lind of government he had established, appointing revenge and other officer*, put'ing the revenue laws of the United States in force! By whit au thority lias all tin* been done, Mr. Chair man? Has it been the effect of any act •>f congress, where tne power alone is ves ted by tue constilulm .? It i* not neces- -ary to refer to that instrument to show that to congress alone belongs the war- making power; every gentleman wn hears ine knows it to be so; nor will 1 con seat to partition it- The inevitable re »ult of every gentleman’s unbiassed-enqni ry will bf^ that a war ha* been waged against a tireign power by the United ~ u t tie sanction of congre*». the right a* 1 ' 1 the power con- exists. Ami, in tins act o’ is, to tegret an.l deplore, the fied infraction of the consti- s ever occurred since it* a<l - option. 8htll we, etr, who represent the sovereignty iff the nation, tamely fold our arms aud rctuiesce in the violation sff that ■acred iuslrquient, which, by our oat! s and our interests, we are bound to support and maintain? I tirusLoot. Let us »p ply the only remedy in our power, cen sure the proceedings, and enact other laws which cannot be misoonstrued. I fear even this remtdy will prove inefficient: the constitofiot, to my mind, is so plain and explicit on this point, that lie who rens may read. The gentleenm from Massachusetts, re ferring to thejirtsidenth message of the 25th March last,says congress was appri sed of the courseabout to oc taken in the prosecution of the Scxiiusle war, and that we had ample o^psrtuiity to interpose and pi event tha, count, if it had then been thought necessary, and argues, that as the opportunitj was ntglected it is now improper to take any slips in relation t« it. HoW does tlit cisestand, in point of fact, sir? The ordtrgwen to gen. Gaines, which it was suppqsff.would and ought to have governed grri. ackson when he as sumed the comtnancand which was com municated to congres with that message, is explicit in requiriq that the “Spanish authority should be rtpecled, wherever it is maintained.” Sir^ieed l go into a mi nute examination ofthtdocuments to prove that the Spanish authoity was maintained both in l’ensacola andBarancas? I think not. Gentlemen will ind, by examining the evidence furnished ly general Jackson himself, to justify theepture of those pla ces, very far short of ny definite proof: and the greatest number ed' Indians said to have been in the neighbqhood does notex ceed two hundred; excep upon the hear say evidence of Win. Hrnbly, who certi fies that he had understood that five hun ilred had beta seen at Pensicoia some time in the early part of the yeat; these, howe ver, all dwindled down toon*, an almo-t superannuated chief, who us found there at the capture of Barancas.i I cannot con ceive, then, how congress ciuld anticipari so extraordinary adepartun from orders, in the prosecution of tho wa. I must now beg leave, si-, to call ynui attention to the other brarch of this suli jeet—■ I mean the report fron the military committee. You have understood that t'. chairman differed from a nxjnrity ol th committee, which accountsfor my feeble .•(forts to sustain it. The fust proposition if the report is, that there easts nc law ol the United States authotiving the pun ishment ot Arbuthnot and imbrister, bv i -nilitatv tribunal, for the chirges ofwhicl they were fouvd guilty and offered death The rules and arGcles of war alone con' tain the law which shall govern courts martial in their proceeflingt; and 1 deny that any authority can there he shewn tor the proceedings, in these cases of the cuurt or commanding general. The fifty-sixth and seventh articles cannot be construed to extend to foreigners, but are evidently- intended to operate on our own citi zens, only who shall be found guilty of aiding, abetting, conforting, or corres ponding with the eneny. But the law ol nations, say gentlcmoi', authorizes retalia tion on our enemy; an! the same law says, “where severity is not absolutely necessa ry clemency becomes a duty.” Let me, however, here protest, as I ever will, against, tne assumption o1 this right by a military officer; my, by the executive itself. Sir, il belongs to ctngress, and to congress alone Else wbf, or, a former occasion, was it thought necessary to dele gate the power, by speciil act, to Mr. Madison during the lgte wsr with Great Britain? Gentlemen are not aware to what extent this doctrine leads. Under their construction, the most ignorant, be sotted corporal, in yourserrice, if in com mand, may assume the exercise of it. And now sir, to the neeesiity of the case. General Jackson, in his letter to the secre- tary of war, dated 20tk April, page 52 of the documents, says “the war is ended for the present.” In his 't'.ter of tbe 26th of the same month, (the very day on which the order issued for the crurt martial) af ter detailing some plans fir securing the conquered country, ths “valuable acquisi tion to the republic,” he says “I shall pro ceed direct to Nashvilfe—my pres* nee is n# longer necessary it tlis country.”— Why was it not, Mr. Chqrman? The war was St end, and no neceisity existed for retaliation. If he possessed the power, clemency became aduty. Colonel Butler, adjutant general, in his report to the war department, informs ui,tkat, on the 20th April, general Glasscock vas ordered to march nis brigade to Hartford, Georgia, and muster them out of service. On tlw 24th, general M>Iatosh, comxianding the friendly Iadians, was ordered to fort Scott, to muster them out of service. How then, Mr. Chairman, can these executions he justified upon the pica of necessity?— The war was at an end, to all intents and purposes, notwithstanding general Jackson chose afterwards to renew it agaiu«t Pen sacola and the fortress Carlos de Barren- doubt in your mioff whether (he lanff ob tained under that treaty ia justly held? Particularly when it is rem *-.jered that the tre aty was notoriously made with the friendly chiefs only, who conitituted about >ne third of the nation- This circumstance. . I though not susceptible ot proof at this ime. is strengthened by the face of the treaty itself. It is there to be found, that the iui*i*idual property of the friendly chief* within the ceded territory, is ex pressly reserved, establishing most clear ly, tkat the friendly cniefs ceded io us that which did not b dong to them, and which, my humble opinion, we are bound to re store. In further extenuation of Arbuthnot, it will be recollected that he was residing,** he had a right to do, among these peopl.-; he enjoyed protection in his prison ami properly; he shared their hospitalities and kindness; he was in fact an Indian. He, no doubt, prompted by one of the noblest principles ot our nature, espoused their cause—became their friend and advis-.r.— He had a right to do so. Aud shall it be said, in the ball of an American congress, that he who obeys the dectate ol gratitude to an Indian deserves to die? I nope not. I will not pass on to the evidence upon which Arbuthnot was convicted. In addi tion to the objections made in tbe report to that part of the proceeding of the court martial, I must be allowed to aay, that I should be extremely cautious, at any time, how I found a man guilty of the forfeiture of big life, upon the testimony of his per sonal enemies; and it will be recollected by the committee that two of the principal witnesses were proved to be such in the examination before the court* The fact was acknowledged by one, and a corres pondence with the other, exhibited in the trial, established it as to the other. I will now take a short view of Ambrit- ter’s ease. Some of the arguments which l have offered to the committee, which ex tenuate the offences charged against Ar- buthnot, are applicable also to him. He wa* living with the Indians—enjoying their protection and kindness. He, too, from that principle of gratitude inherent •n man, was called upon to aid and succor them in time of distress and emergency.— I will not say any thing of the quotatioi from the law of nations, under which gen eral Jackson justifies the executions; that is put to rest by the report- But the ad vacates of general Jackson again meet as with the law of retaliation. Let us sup pose, for argument sake, anil for argument sake only, that he possessed t r .e right; wa: not that right waved by his submitting the s.tse to a court martial, who sentenced th prisoner to one punishment, and the com matuling general inflicted another and J g eater—death? In doing so, he violat every principle of law and justice In ra; opinion. Even suppose that Ambristci was legally tried, and legally convicted he cannot be considered legally punished when the punishment exceeded, far ex cceded, the sentence of the court. Sir, I feel that-the detail of circumstances to which I have confined myself, and whicl must be familiar to every gentleman of th* committee, must be uninteresting; I will leave the subject in better hands than mine i to comment on. (dibit* to DC codtzxucd) I will endeavor to sbovr, that Arbuthnot wa* pardonable in thy view be took of In dian rights, in relatiin to the land obtain ed by the United Sates, by the treaty ol Fort Jackson; as maty, less ignorant than he i* presumed to Ir, construed the 9ti> article of the treaty >f Ghent to mean what it upresses—to »blge both parties “to re store to such tribes .r nations ol Indian* respectively.all the>..sse«»ion», right- a; d privileges, which thy may have enjoyed or oeen entitled to h on • thousand eight hundred and eleven” It will Ue recol lected that the trea)r of Fort Jackson was made in 1814. Sir, will it not admit of a Congress of the United States. Monday, January 25. TBE SENATE \)fere occupied a part of to.dayon exe cutive business Much legislative busi ness was, however, acted on partially and forwarded in its progress; but no measure Vf a prominent character was discussed or dvcideil on. The particulars of the day’s proceeding will be given to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MrLowndes, frotn the select committee appointed on the 27th of Nov. last, to en quire whether it he expedient to make any amendment in the law* which regulate the coins of fte United States and foreign coins; and also to enquire into the expedi ency of fixing a standard of weights and measures, made a detailed report upon the latter subject; which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. T. M. Nelson, from the military committee, to whom was referred the en- rossed bill “regulating the pavmenta to invalid pensioners,” reported It with an amendment, (changing the mode of au thenticating claim* for pensions) which, (after an unsuccessful motionb_v Mr. Hugh Nelson to lay the bill and amendment on the table) was agreed to, and the bill or dered to a third reading. SEMINOLE WAR. The house then proceeded to the order of the day, and again took up, in commit tee of the whole, Mr. Pleasants in the chair, the report of the military committee etc. on the subject of the Semino(e war; when Mr. Storrs, of New-York, concluded the speech which he yesterday commen ced, in support of the report and resolu tions of censure. Mr. P. P. Barbour, of Virginia, next look the floor, and addressed the commit tee more than an hour, against the adop tion of thv resolutions. Mr. Sawyer, of North Faroliua, follow ed, at some length, on the same side of the question. Mr. Mercer (after an unsuccessful mo tion for the committee to rise) proceeded to unfold his views in support of the reso lutions; and had spoken a short time, when, a motion for the committee to rise being made. The committee rose, reported prog:e*s and obtained leave to sit again. Mr. Mercer, then, agreeably to an inti mation which he hail given in committee of the whole, offered the following re*o lution: Hettolvcd, That the secretaries of war and the navy be directed to lay before tin •muse a ropy of tbe military orders, >n vir tue of which the Negro Fort, within the territory of East Florida, wa* destroyed, in the month of July, 1816, togetner with the correspondence of colonel Clinch and com. Patterson in relation to thst event* On suggestion of Mr. Strother, the fol* low.ng was received by the mover as fo part of the resolution: And any other information, which may be in their power, in relation to the move ment of the Indians in the Seminole conn* r Some conversation, took place on thia resolution, in which Mr. Mercer stated his objrct to be to shew, by the papers called for, etc. that the United State* were the aggressors in tbe war which ensued with the Seminole Indians. On patting the question on Mr. Mercer’* resolution, it wa* discovered that there was not a quorum of the members present* and The house adjourned. IN SENATE. Tuesday, Jan. 26. The senate, on motion ut Mr. Eppes, resumed the consideration of the bill, from the other hoot-, to authorize the payment in certain cases, on account of treasury notes which may have bren lost or destroy* ed, and tbe amendment reported thereto by the committee of finances, which hav ing been agreed to, the bill and amend* ment were ordered to a third reading- ^ The senate on motion of Mr. Barbour, resumed the consideration of the bill, froiu the other house, to establish a judi cial district in Virginia, west oi the Alle gany mountains, together with en amend ment reported thereto by the judiciary committee;and the amendraenthaviiig'Wn concurred in,it was, with the bill, ordered to be read a third time. Mr. Tail, from the nhval committee, reported a bill authorizing the purchase of live oak timber for naval purposes; which was read. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, Jan. 26. Mr. Smith, of Md. trom th" committee of wavs and means, repotted a bill making appropriations for the support of govern ment foi the year 1619; which wan twice read and committed. Mr. Lowndes, Irom the select commit tee appointed on the 27lh of November, iost- to enquire whether it be expedient to make any amendment in the laws which regulate the coins of the United States and foreign coins, nia >e a d. tiiled report thereon, accompanied by the following oill “supplementary to the act establishing a Mint. Be it ena-'ted. ike That the treasurer of the mint shall be, and lie is hereby di rected to retain fnui teen grains and 85- 100th of a grain ot pure silver from eveiy amount ot 371 grains and 25-tOOtl, of n train of such silver deposited for coinuge it the mint, after the passage of this act, sons to make the dollar of the United States con'ain 356 grains, 40-!00th of a grain of pure silver, anti 599 grains, 36- 100th of standard silv er, anil smaller coin* proportional quantities ot such silver, and “le -uni so retained shall be accounted for by the said treasurer with the treasurer of he United States. Sec 2. Jind be it further enacted, That the gold bullion deposited for coinage at the mint after the passage of this act shall oe coined as is now provided by law into cngles, halt eagles, and quarter eagles. But the eagle shall contain 237 91-100 grains of pure gold, and 259 61-100 grains of standard gold, and the smaller coins proportional quantities of snch gold re spectively. And the person or persons by whom the said gold bullion shall have been deposited shall receive in lieu there of gold coins containing an equal quanti ty of puce gold with that contained in the bullion. Provided, always, that, when gold or silver bullion shall be deposited for coiiuge at the mint, which bullion shall be below the standard of the United States, a sum equivalent to the expense of refin ing the same shall be charged in theman- ner provided by the act respecting the mint passed on the 24th of April, 1800. Sec. 3. And be it enacted. That nothing in this act shall be constructed to effect the regulations of the mint now provided by law, in respect to assays, alloy, reme dy, or in respect to the duties and liabili ties of the officers of the mint so far as such regulations are compatible with the provi sions of the preceding section. Sec. 4 And be it enacted, That the parts of Spanish dollars, and coins less than half dollars, issued from the mint of tho United States, shall not be deemed to be a legal tender to an amount exceeding five dollars un any one debt. Mr. Lowndes, from the state committee, reported a bill continuing the currency, for a limited time, of the crowns and five franc pieeea of France; which bills were severally twice read and committed* On motion of Mr. Mercer, the house took up and proceeded to consider the resolu tion submitted by him yesterday, near the hour of adjournment, calling for copies of certain documents from the war and navy departments illustrative of the enquiry now pending before the house—and agreed to the same. SEMINOLE WAR. The house then proceeded, in commit tee of the whole, Mr. Pitkin in the chair, to the consideration of the report of the military committee; and the amendments moved thereto by Mr. Cobb, touching the transactions of the Seminole war. Mr. Mercer, of Virginia, resnmed the floor and concluded, in about two hours, tho speech which he commenced yester day, m support of the report and resolu tions. Mr. Colston, of Virginia, followed, on 'hessme side, and addressed the commit tee nearly an hour. Mr. Strother, of Virginia, rose in oppo sition to tne resolutions, and proceeded fot some time. Baltimore January 29. The navig>ti..;i of the Patapscrt is entire ly clear, and in all pro j.Atiility will not be agarn obstructed in any decree naring the pre-e-ni *ea*un- , V.--»eis of g'1 kinds aril coming up.—Censor.
