Newspaper Page Text
<tf which the publicentertain but ‘one
the
Voice fcftbe, people; and foertfoffi calculated father'to
tt&fiXr their indignation than idhy it Viewing the
dee ui this ligfyt, our intention wiJwo omit the address
♦atirely* but* as tone of his friends think Ks dissemina-
tMm viy u sw^iWe «, and as we are not willing
to be charged OttlpOnduc prejudice against, Turn*, at re-
■ quest, part of today’s paper is devoted to his publication,
‘ wl remainder of which. shall appear in our next.—Edi~
'tb-SmJlaMUrMicm.]
4J&fr V ainossT.
TO THE PEOPLE OP GEORGI A.
Conscious of haring discharged with foal and fidelity,
*■ the arduous duties it has be^ the pleasure of the legis
lature to assign me, and enfeebled by disease, the result
of laborious exertions to promote the public welfare; I
hadMetermined to bear in silence the unmerited and an-
■* '■ * jeAroaches, with which I am assailed'. I was
jttllie misrepresentations of artful demagogues,
season mislead the judgment of honest men;
^ on the liberality and intelligence of thf peo
ple, I had reposed in the conviction that time and reflect
tim-.wouMbt alone sufficient, to ensure a just decision I
Upa| rov public conduct That such will be the result
I am ajfU fully persuaded; but the very extraordinary
presetjboeftt of tfafe grand jlfry of the county of Wilkes,
vfijel ha recently appeared in the public papers, (and
' " as l^a^preiiend, was^procured by^plausiple repre-
the guise*'of patriotism, having for their
►jfeet personal aggrandizement, and the gratification of
and malignant spirit) would seem to impose on
me'the task of presenting to the public, a fair exposition
of the several subjects of camplaint.
* The act of congress, changing the mode of compen-
the members, appears to constitute the principal.
ground of displeasure. For my vole irvits behalf I . _
denounced db unworthy of your confidence. Sentenae
at condemnation is promptly passed me, without
examination, and without aknowledge of tlie facts and
circutpstances, which were indi pensable to a correct de
cision; wbde long and faithful services in times of natkln-
%1 difficulty and adversity—wbile\a life of unsullied in
tegrity, and disinterested devotion to the public weal,
whichcannot be <lenied*#ie, and which ought to have
shielded me from vague and. unfounded suspicions, are
totally forgotten. But, fell,<jW-citizens, the object of this
; %ddrem is not to complain. It is to funnsK a full
end frank development of those proceedings, which Itave
produced so much excitement hinong you.
Congress assembled at their last session under the
imost auspicious circumstances. The storm of war had
passed away—the noble ertrtkms of our country, had
become the theme of eulogy, throughout the' civilized
world—our revemjes were unexampled, and the people
prosperous and hifopy. At such a time, not to profit by
post events—no$ to provide for the future, against the re
currence of evils Which experience had disposed, would
have betnyed a want of political sagacity and forecast,
am worthy the representatives of the American people.—
To devise and perfect a general system of policy, calcu
lated to perpetuate the blessings of our free constitution,
and to prepare for those vicissitudes in humkn affairs,
- which are the lot of nations, became our obvious duty^
The task was one of no ordinary character, nop- was it
to be performed without great deliberation and active di-
■ ligence. Never did the national legislature labor more
incessantly, and probable never during any session, was
more important business transacted. Among the vari-
rious subjects which attracted our attention, was the
commentation of the members. When the present con
stitution commeticed its existence, it had been fixed at
sir dollars a day, during the attendance of members, and
tl>e same sum Was allowed for every twenty miles, in go
ing to, and feturtiing from the seat of government. At
that period'the necessary expences of a representative
■were equal to about one half of those which are now in
curred. This fact is susceptible of unquestionable proof.
Indeed, I appeal to your own candor and recollection to
say how much more, money was worth, or in other words,
how much more, an equal quantity of money would pur-
•ehase in the year 1789, than at the present time. The
jcthie of money, like the value of every other article, is
increased or diminished by various circumstances. It
has been gradually depreciating for years past; and it is
as unreasonable to itnagi-’ie. that because six dollars a day
r
Were formerly a sufficient compensation, tlie same a
Is stiU' adequate, as it would be to say, that six dollars
witt purchase ai' much cotton now, as they would have
done four years ago. I know, that even since 1 first be-
came voarrepresentative, the expences of living in tlie
city of Wdlhington, have increased fifty per cent. For
tm&riVI then paid ten dollars a week, and now I pay
fifteen. The price of keeping -a horse was then three
dollars a week,'and now it is from four and a half to
five—generally the latter. •-
Was it* ever supposed, that the first law passed by con
gress, for compensating its members, #as of a cliaracter
g sacred that no occasion cquld justify tlie alteration of
jrovisions? The law was passed as other laws, and sub-
t, like them, to such ptodih cations, as time aud citeum-
fUnces might suggest There is nothing more novel in
changing the compensation of the public functionaries,
than in amending statutes in general. Have not the state
legislature found it'necessary to increase the compensa
tion of their members, since the pay of congress was ori
ginally' fixed? Has not congress long since, and from
liibcto time, increased the salaries of roost of the public
officers, which had been considered adequate at the time
the offices were created.* All those tilings have been
done,, while the national teprexentativea have abstained
from woeasing their own compensation until sound po
licy imperiously demanded it, and the situation of the
country peru-.tted it, without inconvenience to tlie peo
ple.'■ >
It has been justly said, that a %ood government badly
administered, may be worse than a bad government well
administered; and as well might you expect to find men
capable of managing a ship judiciously, who are unac-
quafoted wrth her machinery, as to imagine that the di
versified and complicated concerns of the govemmentpf
the limited States can be safely committed to tlie hands
t»f ignorance and inexperience. The importance of ex
perience and a thorough knowledge of the nature and
history of government in general, tod of our own in par
ticular—of the process from time to time of our rela
tions with other countries, and of the policy, both fo-
— : —domestic, best calculated to advance the n?tion-
is too manifest to need illustration. And I
may add, that in legislation as in other pursuits, tie a
man’s talents what they may at the commencement of his
S tic*l carter, practice and observation are indispensi-
to make him sen able and artful statesman. If these
Sons am true, (and I am persuaded they will not be
denied),! submit to your candor, whether at the mo
ment when congress were engaged in establishing the
great principles of public policy upon which, might es
sentially depend the future destiny of the only free-go-
vemraent on earth, they couM, without a. delerictiop of
doty, have ertriopked so great an evil as the probableex-
choton of experience and talents, from the councils of
the nation, or so far as depended on them, have neglect-
• The author of the presentment is ignorant of this
fact, or cares not what means be employs to delude the
people. Without citing the numerous instances during
almost every session, in which the pay ofr different •‘pub
lic funct ionaries” ha been increased, the following cases
wiH be sufficient to shew that congress have bestowed
“oh tUfc several officers of the general government an
additional salary also,” and-terg Before they tubed their
own compensation. The tabby of the secretary qf state,
and Of the treasury, had been fixed at $3,500 each—of the
secretary of war and navy, at $3,000—of the comptroller
of the treasury, at $2-XK>, amlof thfe attorney-general^at
1500. Ajv act was passed rft least twelve years ago, irto according fo the
... of the secretary qf state and of the
treasury to $5000: of war and navy, Yo $4,5-JO, of the
comptroller, to $3*500, and of the attortiey-geperal, fo
$3000. The law wm limited id ha duration and hmhrtn
rtgulariy rc>enm*ed from tiriidfo time until the kwitacs-
*ion, when it was madcpcrmaaj|
public his domestic happiness* i
ment of Ins private fortune, wkwui aue wmppwiwii.
ft would be unrestonahle fo expect it—dnjustto sjkft.
That .the Jove of fame, and otter honorable incentives,
might under the farmer tfoe of compensation induce
many men of frteihgenoe and patriotism to mier the
councils of the nation is admitted; but, it is not lett true, *
that a fcwyears8J»emce (*nd amen too, study arid expe
rience have qualified them to be .the most useful to their
constituents) art Sufficient to oonvince theft, that pover
ty at home, or retirement from the pubBcxdhCems, are
tneir 6»ly alternatives. TbriTaotfs substantiated tirtlte
history of congress. Most of those who were members
when ! wa first honored with a seat in that Body? are
now in common with the rest of you devoting their time
and talents to the advantage of themselves and (jpnilies.
With the present unprecedented prospect of gam,'and
foe corresponding loss lritich must be'wrstalned by the
absence of mei* from thew homes, a considerable portion
of the year, with the fact that owing to causes beyond our
control, the real amount of eoinptoisatinn hiuj diminished
notwithstanding the nominal rate was foe same; justice
ahid the publfc welfare appeared to unite in calling for
legislative provision. Lookirdj at the change in the con
dition of the country, it could not escape the observation
of men takimf enlarged views of national policy, that the
sacrifices t^helbcumd by a member, would drive per
sons of moderate fortunes from the public councils.
"that event
(such *ar Sj
criptionof
rablqandad
fide nee. & iv
lieve such a
ition would be liinited to tbe wealthy
f South-Oarolina) and another efts-
have uothipg to make home desi-
recommend them to foe public cpn-
ible,-fellow citizems that you can be-
(teof-things would promote yout interest,
. 'tlu? success of republican principles? Ac-
•ordin^to nty conception of th* subject, the basis of tl»o»e
principles arc equal rights and privileges; and whatever
has a tendency to throw thedirection of tlie government
exdj*tivcly into the liafMs of the rich, or of any particu
lar class of society, Is anti-republican and ought to be re-
sifted. The statesmen who an the public councils have
so zealously, and so abiy . maintained their country’s
cause, and Who iiave so often received from the people
the encouraging plaudit, “well done, thou good and Lith-
ful servants,” are for the most part, in moderate pe
cuniary circumstances.
To enable the people of the United Sates to avail
themselves of the services of useful men, in whatever
ranks they might be found,' (which is the true, republi
can doctrine) without subjecting them to unnecessary and
unjust sacrifices, was the object of the act dunging the
mode of compensating the members.
It provides tluitinstead of six dollars a day, during tlie
session, each member shall be allowed fifteen hundred
dollars a year, and travelling expenoes as heretofore.—
For neglect of duty a proportionable deduction is to be
made. Tlie speaker of the house of representatives and
president of the senate are entitled, as formerly, to double
the pay of a member. Upon the justice of increasing
the compensation, and at least to tneamount provided by
the act, there was veiw little diversity of opinion in con
gress. The details oi the bill—the period when it should
take effect, tod whether the increase should be by the
day ogin tlie mode-proposed, were the. prmcipLe sub
jects dT controversy. Some gentlemen voted against the
measure in consequence of its operation not 1 laving
been postponed until the 4th of March next, some from
their objections to tlie inode; and others from the appre
hension, that although tlie tiling was right in itself, the
views of congress would be misrepresented, to the ad
vantage of the cufining, and to the injury ,of _ the meri
torious. The few who occupied a different gTOund,
have never been distinguished for superior information;
or extraordinary patriotism; nor is it more difficult for
foe uncharitable to impute to them unworthy motives,
tlun to others. Their opinions, therefore* are entitled
to nOmore respect than the opinions of an equal qumber
of members in general.
Is the compensation just in its amount, with _
both to the people and their representatives? In
are to be calmly and soberly considered. To be repre
sented at the expense of the representative, can neither
be just nor conformable to our republican institutions;
because, thereby, all would be excluded from the repre
sentative of the people, except men of large fortunes.—
such a state of things rnighl be acceptable to tiiat class
of society, but, I apprehend, it will not be desired by an
enlightendeit community: 1 esteem that compensation
just and wise, which, while it avoids extravagance, will’
\mable any man whom the people may chuse to elect, to
serve them without gr&t sacrifices. Is it tu> sacrifice on
tlie part of tlie representative, to do violence to tbe best
sympathies of our nature, to be absent at a great distance
and a gtoat portion of the year from liis family and do
mestic, tomforts? Are his family subject to no sacrifices?
Is it no sacrifice that his personal attention and exertions
towards the advancement of his private estate are lost?
Is the devotion of% man’s time and talents to tlie public,
worth nothing? I put these questions t<| every dispassion
ate man in the country, and I ask whether it is reasonable
to expect that competent men will incur such sacrifices
for any great length of tune, without due compensation?
While, therefore, I would not deem it necessary to fix
the wages so high as to make them £ source, of wealth;
I do think, that every consuleration of justice and sound'
policy requires, that they should be adequate to afford
something like indemnity for the sacrifices incurred. Self
examination alene, feilo# citizens, will convince you,
that although the love of distinction, of honor, and other
similar inducements, in a* tempt intelligent and worthy
men to e/nbark to the public councils, they will be whol
ly insufficient to keep them there, if separated from their
families a considerable part of the year, by a pittance of
compensation, not equal to the losses incurred by their
absence from home. As to the fifteen hundred dollars, I
hfo persuaded it would not be thought extravagant, if
you knew the expenditures, to which a membef is sob-
ject. To what extent it is an increase in the amount of
the former compensation, may be ascertained with suffi
cient accuracy, by reference to the number of days in
each year, during which congress have .been - in session,
on an average since the commtoceraenFof the present go-,
vemment. Talcing that as the rule, the increase is about
fifty seven per cent. And considering the great acces
sion of merhliers, amounting a*.pi*seat' in the house of
representatives to one hundred xnd eighty tiro, and the
{ irobuble addition of many more in a few yearo—the en-
argement of our territory and'settlements—tbe extension
of our commercial relations, it is manifest that the dura
tion of the sessions for the future, was not likely to' be
shortened. The increase of compenaation, therefore, so
far from being enormous as has been falsely *#sorted, is
hot equal to.the increase'in the price of boafding and
other source*, of expeuce incident to a seat in congress
Nor admittir“‘ K " — 1 —-*-* “
tax on
dmitting'thepaesent compensation to be paitfby a
i the people, wpujffithey. pay as much in natva-
n, and supposing the
tax, the following
Pursuing die rule I have laid
compensation to be p*id ‘
views are disclosed:
Congrew luve been in <M>n <U> en avenge, in each
yfcar, one hundred, and fifty nine days, or upwards of five
months. The annual compensation to each member at
six dollars a day during the sessions, ha therefore
amounted to rime hundred and fifty four dollars; and the
*ggwg*te for.tae proem number of aen.tora end re-
preventative, of the United Butch would be two htm-
dnd .nd ween thotmnd nine hundred ind .evenly two
dollin. The proportion which Georgia would pay iw
mi thotmnd nght hundred hod fifty.*, dolUr. !u,d a
facuon. The whole, fwy of onngKM at Efteen hun
dred doilarsayear for each member,hthree hundred and
r^woiS^i^^ *"•*
ty dollars and a
difference is' thi
four doilril*, which
hundred and eigh-
refet taxes ■
wok* and m
The wt*
apportionment of ti
•nfcahle J*4oJ£,r“ th rri
ortvrvefl at f A »ko :.. - l,le Vie w<l(J j^f
I pwelWiand ll^lfcrulre
worm lea
cents and a quarter formerly? lam pumuadedfoeaequw*
wili.bfc answered in the affirmative by cvety imp: ~
tial man, who is acquainted with.the btoory oftius coun
try. Coapai* thd present pay* the duties, expenses and
sacrifice* of a member, of congress With the y®^ r
state-officers, (which ia certainly low enough) alra their
duties, expenses, and sacrifice*. A jddge receives four
teen hundred dollars a year. Are his expenoerf artf thing
like those which a member ofcoQgrtss,must incur? Do
his sacrifice* in regard to domestic happiness bear any
comparison With those of a member of congress? Is he
subjected to greater pecuniary sacrifices? Are the duties
of his station more laborious, or do they require neater
mental exertions? Unquestionably nob I speak of a
member Who possessed capacity and diapobi ion suited
to the trust; because l have too much confidence in ti*e
intelligence Of the people, to believe, they will be repre
sentedby any Other. I do not mean such igfibrant, ar- will merit arid receive the confidence' °of ’ tbe*''-T
rogant, poUtiewl brawlers as the author oi the grand jtrty- ♦:« w-.ti nn .,i n-ut. *i.. - tr!
presentment, the object of whose seqseless jaron is pro
bably a seat m congress. No, as a eftizen oftieorgia, I
should think the people had a very hard bargin, to be
represented by such a man, for nothing.
But, it is said, “the nation just emerging from the dan
gers and, disasters of a bloody war, a great increase of
our national debt consequent thereon; our relations foth
foreign nations, especially .England, France and Spai*;
the general aspect and disposition of the European pow
ers towards us; tlie late alarming embarrassments Of our
national treasury, did not, to our opinion, warrant an in
crease of compensation.” .1 should imagine that the
members of congress are at accurately informed
on all these matters, as the author of the presentment,
or those who signed it; and yet according to their infor
mation upon the subject, our rotations w ith foreign na
tions in general, are pacific. Tne controversy with Spain
about which a correspondence took place during the last
winter between tor minister and the Secretary of State,
. ulj: i—:ra : —u.. u
will probably be adjusted; but if it is not, what have we to
apprehend from that power, with her meai
ns of annoy
ance? Her provinces'on our frontier are entirely at our
mercy; and as to Engtan^, it is not to be presumed after
her experience in tlie late wur with this country, she will
embark in another for tlie sake of Spain. How the-fact
of the United States liaving been engaged in war, and ol
tlie treasury having been embarrassed a year before, “did
not warrant an increase of compensation,” is totally be
yond my comprehension. The people weft also embar
rassed; and yet if I wefe to tell a planter that “just
emerging from the dangers and disasters of a bloody
war,” and the late alarming embarroasments of his pri
vate “treasury,” which had compelled him ti> bear pri
vations and evils, “did not warrant” their removal now,
when his funds are sufficient to meet his engagements, and
his income unexampled, I should expect to pass for an
ideot. His reply would be obvious—the war is over and
gone—my embarrassments *re removed—1 have money
enough to pay my debts which are due, and an income
sufficient to meet such as fall due hereafter; what there
fore has my former embarrassments to do With tlie pre
sent prosperous state of my affairs? A reply of tlie
same nature mav be made with respect to the “national
treasury.” Its funds are adequate in amount to fulfil the
engagements of the nation, and its means competent to
meet the demands against the government as the) be
come payable. So far from embarrassment—from tax
ing the people on account of the increase of com
pensation, or to defray any other expenditure, the
state of tlie “national treasury” is so prosperous, that tlie
iiame men who are now so much vilified, Were enabled at
the last session to reduce some of the taxes, and to repeal
others. The direct tax which was permanent in its pre
visions, is reduced to one half its former amount, -nd
continued for this year only. The duty on domestic spi
rits is repealed, and the substitution of an increase or
licenses to distillers, amounts to less than one half the for
mer tax. The duty on retailers is reducetl, and the du
ties on manufactures, on watches, and household furni
ture, and tlie additional duty on postage, repealed.—
Owes litis look like embarrassment in the “national trea
sury”? These things are matters of record; and to talk
termination of this question, a variety of consideration bloody war,’’ “England, France and Spam,” and
‘*ffite- alarming embarrassments,” is most idle, and most
absurd.-
(To be continued.J
FromVtc JVatio/ui^Uetlierencer, July 30.
Circular, addressed b’
the State Bank:
^he Secretary cf the Treasury to
)3Uj»e
ntodyrto facilitate the execution of
the resolution of ctnti^ss, Dassed 29th of April, J616.
• Treabiry department, July 22, 1^6.
Sir—By thefconstitution aiffi laws of the United States,
gold, silver, an4 copper coin are made the only lawful
money of the United Suites, currenlaa»-a legal tender in
all cases whatsoever.
By particular acts of congress, treasiurv notes issued
by the government, and notes issuedby the Batik of the
United States, are .mad^. receivable in all payments
to the United States.
But, in consequence of the suspension of payments it.
coin, at many of the principal State Banks, the lawful
money of the'United States suddenly ceased to be a cir
culating medium, and the treasury notes- issued by tin.
government, having suffered an undue depreciation, the
government, as well as private citizens, yielded to the
necessity of receiving and paying the notes of the State
B*nk^as a national currency.
VgS ute Ban ks, have hitherto excused the suspension
of tlffi payments in opin, upon the alletlged necessity of
the act; and assurances have been given, repeatedly, that
preparations were making to resume those payments.
The effect of such preparations has not, however, be
came visible; and an apprehension has at length been
existed in the public mind, that the temptation of profit
according to the present irregular course of banking, is
too great to adimt of a voluntary return to the legitimate
system of banking, upon the basis of a metallic capital.
The Banks of the New England States, (which have al
ways paid their*) wn notes in coin) ate ready to co-operate
in the ge.ierai revival of metallic currency. The Banks f
tlie States to the south, and to the west of Maryland, are
ready ahd willing, it is believed, to co-operate in tlie
same measure. The objection, or the obrtacle, to the
measure,'principally rests with the Banks of the middle
States; but the most important of these Banks, have con
verted their unproductive capital of gold and silver into
the productive capital of public stodc, and a restoration
of the metallic capital is alone wanting to enable them,
also, to resume their payments in coin.
Under these circumstances^it will not be doubted by
any candid and intelligent citirifc, that a simultaneous and
uniform movement of the state bank would, at tliis period
be successful, in the revival of the public confidence, and-
theresto ration of the lawful currency of the United States.
An appeal is therefore ma<Le to these Banks, in the hope
and confidence, that they will adopt a policy dictated by
, . . - j-. - n r.-/ c — their own real and permanent interest/as' well as*bv*the
lue, as in former years, to meet the six dollars a day.—— justice due to the communitv
I'lipcmnir 111- milu T k-.-n i . J .. n— , i* '
By a resolution of congress, passed on the 29th of Lu .. .. ,
April, 1816, it is declared, that “from and after the 20tb P£? testtxl against the demand,
day of February next, no duties, taxes, debts, or sums of ^berty ufatil a hearii
money accruing, or becoming,, payable to the United
States, ought to be collected, or received, otherwise th a p
in the legal currency of the United States, or Treasury
notes, or notes of the, Bank of the United, States, or in
notes of Banks, which are payable and paid on demand,
in the said legal currency of the United *»
a<Jopt such measures, as he may deem riecessar
as upon as may be* sUsrich duties, taxes, debts, ors >tns of
‘he legal currency of
.. . or notes of the Bank
of the United Statesfas by thelaw provided and declared,
of in notes of Banks, Which toe payable, and paid on de
mand in foe legfoouroncy 'of the United States.” Af-
mlDthofWrusiy, 1817, therefore, the revenue
pryxr jvmtt, for ui atoblUfi.
i i
tiipartm&it kte ooitve ved as*
tory steps, that may, I thii
eirfnterest and
ittnwird tt!
tftar v^untu, ukm to tl* Mn-jeiBa,, --oi,
e-lly jrroduce a,' nm bem-fici i
shall prBct«l (b hnnou c» it in oiSci lr “.l
me, theretore, to request an mriv cotnmunif^' Pl 1 1
decision of your Bank nnon tie wtWtkt ” tf >U
Thepr-sc.it opportunity U emhSced to rrnr.. ,c
wntncohiwlinih h.ce been undofn.lv «•
B ti nt “ ,edSu, .' s >'> bchS4t'elvconm- S , ° f ‘'
te crepai prosper,!, of the Stine Bunks, p're ’
Mid clficient principles of co-ofleretion, i, i. i
theumthttiO"^federal and st.«,»i!l bemutuL '■ . d
able. From the State Banks,.i„ C ere aiKitffecn
tton, in the common cause of restorinr the leu
cy, is certainly expected and required; bi '
and of tlie National Bank; tlie transfer t>f tl
fiiqds, from the state Bank to the National Bant
branches, will be gradual; and tlie
freel
i . , ,, - notes ut tlie s
!ely circulated by ihe treasury
1 very respectfully, sir, y ( - Ur .
A. J. l), '
- • , Secretary of the T~
To the President of the Bank of —'
Banks will be
National Bank
obedient servant,
DRAFT OF A NOTICE
PBZSBICTED FOR THKCONSiIIKUATISS t*r THE STl
, irL , Trmisury Department, J„ „
Whereas, by a resolution of ciiign .ns, pass'd
20th of April, 1816, tlie secretary ofihe treusi- .. ' *
edand directed to adopt such measures as he n, , ‘
necessary, to cause, a* soon as may all dotii '
and debts, or sums of money sccruing or bi-r< '
able to the United States, to’ be coUccted ai.ti n ' •
legal currency of ihe United States or treasur. ' '
notes of the Bank of the United Stales, as by l - r
dedaml declared, ar in notes of Banks which are
'and paid on dem;aid in the legal cuiTencv of ti lt T-'*'*
States: Audit is further, by the soju resoiu:it, n ofV'
grew, declared, that from and after the 2uth <u.- 0I [ {
ruarv, 1817, no such duties, taxes, ditots, or sun,* ’
ney, ought to be otherwise collected or recei\ ul t l"'
tlie manner a:6resaid:
And, whereas, it is deemed expedient and *n r- k -.
adopt measures preparatory to tile gt: K r.l rest or - ;
tbe le^i currency of the United States, conten nL
theswd resolution of congress, as well as tof ciiii
collection of the revenue, as soon as may be m i c -
ncr therein specified.
NOTICE IS THEREFORE GH FA , AS FOI LOlVv
Thai from and after the first dav ol Octoln r m v i - t S
note s of the deiiomiiration c^ffive doilars, and mn'er i
not be received in any payments to the United Stitch
debts, dutu s, or taxes, unless such notes are p:.vab‘< •
paid on demand in the legal cum ncy of the l ni»F
States, by the tonka respectively issuing the s..nu.
2d. That from and after thp first day of October her
batik notes of whatevei'denotflination ustiul by am b -i
which does not pay upon demand rti notes of the div.
Donation of five doUars, and under, inu.e legal cuithki
of the United States, shall not be received in any ™
ments to the United States, for debts, duties, or ,ai t V
id. That from and after the first day of October n,r.
all stfms of mohey accruing or pay..bie to tbe United
6tates, for the purchase of public "lands, or other ,lt ve
or for duties of import and tonnage, of tbeainc .nt o: rive
dollars and Under, and all fractions of such suitis of mo
ney, anti duties, not exceeding the amount of .htifiLra
shall be paid and collected in the leg.J cr.rru.c. t ihe
United States, in treasury not?*, or in ffie noti-,. i ihe
Bank of the United States, or in notes ol IJai k- t»\,ich
are payablfosnd paid on demand, in' the said l.
rency of tne United States, and not otherw ise.
4th. That from and after the first day of October
all sums of money accriiing and foiyaMc to the l
States on kcooimrof the internal revenue, -or dine u
of the amount hf one dollar and under, rind Mifr.irm
of such last mentioned sums of money, not exceed toe a
amount of one dollar, shah be paid and collected in tc
legal currency of the United States, in treasury n< '(,j
the notes of ihe Bank of the United States, or "m - <>:
banks wliich are payable and paid on dem inti, i ; sa
leai currency of the United States, and not other* v.
1%. Tiiat IronySnd after the 20th day of Feb:-..«rr
1817, all duties, taxes, debts, or sums of roone i : cnoii>
or becomfog payable to tbe United State si si...;, :
paid and collected in the legal currency of the l'r - e<
Sutes, or treasury' notes, or notes of the Uar.k of the
United States, or in notes cf banks which are payable, -nc
pa.d on demand, in the said legal currency of the l r,.=e-J
States.
And all collectors and receivers of public moriv, s
required to pay due attention to the notice i.. nu\ giwi
and to govern themselves, in tlie collection ar.'.'ieuir:
of the public dues, duties, and taxes, accordingly.
SPANISH “MAGNANIMITY.”
The case of Richard Meade, esq.
Injustice of an abused fellow citizen—to exerr.piifr
the gratitude of Spanish royalkta and held ’liur. n i
the approbation they deserve, we have caref: .i\ -A vt.cai
the folk) wing from a long detail of fkd* ai. 41 in,m
‘Mished in the Aurora.' It appears u. c«.n.am "i
ie whole ground.” '
Mrf*Mfeadejs an American citizen, who has be.nfrr
several years a merehaut at Cadiz; and was c- nsa. tl
interim, of tiiat port for tlie United States mm
city was invested by the French, and even subsk-ii.uit'.
he advanced to the Spanish government sun'o
^iount of more than two millions, for the subtil- ,.J
their armies. A part cf tins was discharged hi h.-«
London, but it appears that about one million stii'l n:.
ed due. »Y hile the cortez sat at Cadiz he was imnrisi • -
for refusing to surrender to them his property. and
of the American merchants for whom he was act. -
commission. FrOriJlthe civil authorities, that exccu-
this base outrage, be appealed, in a spirited manner,
the cortez, and bj tliis procu reclhis recast; notwittotiih!
mg which, his stores were broken open and Ids Droper-
taken.
^Afterwards, in the course of his mercantile business, r.
obtained by negoclation and agency, one ortwoiiu t "> •
thousand vfollars of a credit on aoeount cf the Su-'^
treasury; and this, together with a further credit i« vt
eign countries, secured on the same account, he foa, !
consent of the public authorities, placed as a liquil.-':
of an equal oiriount of debt due to him—triplicate recc*j‘->
being given to him to that effect, y
Above a year after this affair had been thiw aciji.s"'-
when ai new set of hungry public agents h d uot m’o
E sr, he was required to pay into the treasure -= *
l to that for which he luid obtained recei;)’s. Olid*
: May last, he was informed, by tbe audi-or of «- r -
that in consequence of X secret consultation, a rouu' ^
had been issued, requiting ©f him, under the p< ni
imprisonment, to pay the money or formsn
the tribunal of commerce satisfactory tea<r>H ’
frit to P***
be had, he tendered the most ample security—consat
tmg of a “deposit of notes, in which the mend r*
of the tribunal were among the signers.” The del-* ^
was then changed, and no security but cash would -
accepted. Mr. Meade then offered bills and o;
of the king, (0bramients* J which henoasessed.
^ . - . .. .je noasesstt
Butin addiSon to thisiiositive limitation, the resolution tto amount, on the treasuries of the province.--
“requires and directsthf secretary of the treasury to fc lP f [ eped 1 t ? K« y e security for his pefoovdo any n»°un.
j " - ^ • irfeceiaT^ti^-'— ^ to »4d «ie deposit of notfo proposed; but he ah;
a4d tlie deposit of notfo proposed; L—
aolutely refused to augment the debt already due
to him by foe Spanish government, as an order had issu*
eddeclankg, that dB contracts made prior to December.
1814, Should be considered as belonging to the public
debt* which was equivalent to a determination not to P'7
—their eiidences of debt being at eighty or ninety
cent, discount- It was then observed to biin, tiv*
(rtder made an exception of debts due to foreign^
riach class he belonged. He replied to this, th* 1 “
had * written declaration (ri)m foe mtendant of thetreasa*
S * stating foat his chums were included m tlie d
i which tlte auditors told him that they had nothing
of foe case, *»* thatn*
r fon sllvfufoffijfosl they were mformed ¥^1
r» ^<itt.,ci^
.-.tto-