Newspaper Page Text
.. jvuisthefnxt quart,on
fl.ttfd 0 m 'icIiiKting, in relation to
'*»«»'• -.possible not to purceive
y* ‘f * f h i, joinder of tile Mil;
object in v " 1 .| ull( r and laborititua in-
.1 ti> pfiWi rf Jjp ljlso ,| r iqiiestiontviJI Cik.-
estimation « l Jvj 1 * a flnal dec'wiW "lay not
pimr, ufwn *', s0 0 f the session* ■«
tmlwl rililif-; . u |i, r difficulties and
vi«w of li' 1, f!l ,! „ ri »snit themselves, 1-hth :n
en-barr***' 11 ., n ,i Maiue. The Senate
t«» ***** by the terms of the art of
ViLreroll'.’ 1 ; ‘ 1 A.' t j ie Legislature of Mas-
«r,1hrat : 'V" I’ . ,*,, t the consent of that
■“Ife&th e as (then, on condition that
S c adnnttedinto the union be-
of March n-.xt. Tin. arrange-
f ° r ^ . nJU«rv, because the annual
**** »}Utata'fllBcors is to be made on
fli'’ 1 ®/ Stat| rfhat Legislature
toff course they are to pursue-
t“^ u , Trstions «• 10 l "' 'node, su ted
juuiWiusjist Winces produced by
p tip«W'the Comonwaaith
i aS- for the choice of
» mh< » l o Mil Senators; the circuits of
C Tu eU":ou.'t tube arranged accord-
fll ( n £*v ordcrofthings; and, yet, em-
▼SJEUduuccrWdy-
Nresw-ct to Mono, this delay and em-
«n‘ t is producing a greater anxiety
.rmentsuh.andw.il, in all pro-
Miletelvdcfaat all their objects,
■WtijiUliose measures which
"dlsf”Massaehuactts and
expected separation,
vdii# connected witli
matured on the part
'other entrance on
spvith respect to
-d.the hopes of
Ibcdisajipoint-
-rcast.„ They
lfinewof the
nparing to
II be cmn-
Vmsatisfied
language,
than ex
>f a vast
ted, as I
-,ss, it is
iirf state
.,<• Senate,
emy ohserva-
. attention of
'nciple of the
,Insight a hill
tt«j on lorrign’iueiiufhc-
osc of protecting domes-
th one for establishing a uni-
. bankruptcy, calling one bill
anil the other * Section 2,” as
.e present instance. In such a
carious interests,support and oppo-
,night all be brougit into operation at
uit in a manner rot the most happily
I for the investigation of truth and
■s of decision. The tendency, if
ign, of this union of subjects, is, to
m to give up a measure which
i and is anxious to promote^ or
iSopmrnn,which in his con-
eiifiw ft be right, lor the sake
hmftejetfc
*•.<*« amcrfdmeiV, presents to the
In Maine bill tm plain propo-
vfvill do what you believe to be
) to what cMadmit to be right;
otconsent to do fc, in this par
lor any other terms. The an-
,ch i proposition is obvious. I
.illy fippcal to the candor of honor,
.utlsmeii. whether any question ought
assocM and embarrassed in this
■*er; jivheiherit is calculated to increase
opeubnee of legislation, or render the
td'trutb mare direct and plain.—
, in hr application to Congress, stands
.,no need ifaid from Missouri. It is Mis
souri that Inns on Maine for support, if
would seemfrom this, that she needs sup-
" port. Whcmer IhcMiuouri question shall
come regular y under discussion, my jn-.nti-
ments shall b expressed; till then, lam *i-
ftent in rchtiin to it. Hut should I, for any
reason, be oppiscd to the admission of Mis-
toiiri, or be unwilling to authorize her to
lake a constituion of iho uiyost rioted kind
■esented to in hi this amendment, this
S mstnncr furnishes also a strong olijec-
Sn my mind, to the union of the two
,1 -
do rail
non to
lent. .
fejcctjs I hope, sir, tin- motion to re.com-
at trurbill, with pstruclions to restore it to
s original form, will prevail.
Mr. Smith aid, with resport to the princi-
iles which had governed the Coisgrvss in the
Emission of territories to the privileges of
mdepcndenl states, that ihc population #>f
tiro Hate of Ohio, when admitted, was but
44jt00; the population of Indiana was but
■y v®*®.t *oatof Mississippi only about 37,000;
that »r Illinois about -10,000; whilst the po-
pulahjiu of Missouri was stated in the me-
moml oftlieLeeislature, at loo.ooo, twelve
months ago, mid was then, and hud since
been rapidly increasing.
, Mr. LLorn, of Maryland, expressed his
Dope that the motion which had been made
by the gentfcman from Pennsylvania would
, Prevail. He had not bee* sufficiently
onga mem.'otcf this h->dy to know precise-
*?, , e . u f 4 * n *W« of proceeding hi cases of
this kind; but \e should have thought the
reel sSr r „■
restriction upon Maine, to compel her to 'id 1
mil slavery within her limits ? If we have a
right to impose a negative condition in re
gard to Missouri, we have a correspondent
and equal right to impose, ail aflirmalivccon-
dition in regard to Maine. But, in this case,
it seemeed that every thing liberal was to
he conceded in regard to Maine, and every
thing illiberal, in his view of it, was to be de
manded of Missouri.
Willi regard to the time limited for the
admission of Maine, by the law of Massachu
setts, said Mr. L. are wo by surli a consi
deration to Iw hurried into the discussion of
an important constitutional question ? Be
cause the people of Maine had not foresight
enough to take sufficient lime fur the con
summation of the act of admission, are we to
legislate precipitately; and w ithout regard
to the true interests of the union? He pre
sumed not. There, was at least nothing in
this consideration to change the nature of
the. question before the Senate.
In his opinion, Mr. L. 3iiid,<Jongrrss pos
sessed the power to admit Maine into tho
Union or not; blit, if admitted, it must be
constitutionally: and the. same might be
said of Missouri. It appeared to him, then,
that the cases which were connected by tin-
report of the committee re.sted upon the
same principles for support; that if justice
was done to one, it must be equally dispens
ed to the other; and there could lie. no im
propriety in a course which bad for its ob
ject to place both on the same, footing.—
The question he considered not to he at all
affected by the argument that Maine was
forhied nut of astute heretofore in the Uni
on. She had no higher claim th4h Missouri:
eneli possessed the constitutional requisites,
and nothing more, was required to place
them on the same ground. When the states
of Kentucky and Vermont were admitted,
Mr. L. said, although it was true they were
admitted by separate ads, still the provi
sion for the representation of the two slates
in Congress was made by tin- same art—and
the same rule which was then adopted ap
plied with equal propriety in the present case.
By such a connection of tin* two subjects,
aii invidious discrimination w ould be avoid
ed between the two eases, which did not
differ in principle, and ought not to be sepa
rated in fact. •
Mr. I,, said, he presumed it would be im
proper, on the question ms now presented to
the consideration of the Senate, to enter into
an argument on the propriety, or to touch on
the policy, of imposing restriction's on aov
new state. He must therefore defer lor ilm
present any observations on that question.—
Hut, for his own part, he said, he was on
that point precisely in the same situation as
the gentleman from Massachusetts: he
found no difficulty in deciding on it. He
considered it a question ol'jiolicy whether or
not a particular state should be admitted in
to the union; and, when he was called upon
to admit one stale and to reject another, un
less he would consent to impose on her no
vel and unconstitutional conditions, he most
of course decide whether he would admit
the one .and refuse the other: and, said ho,
unless the same justice be dealt to all, it shall,
as far as my vote will decide it, be measured
to none. It was a question of policy, lie. re
peated, and of serious policy, when present
ed iit this shape, whether the Senate should
consent to increase the power of one porti
on of the union by the erection of, a new-
state, whilst from prejudice alone, obstacles
were iVise.d to the admission of new states
in another porimit of die union, 1 should
consider myself, said he, wanting in my du
ty as a representative of that section of the
country it I were thus to consent to weaken
its power. Unh ss -^e can ol^pin thftaa
sion of Missouri jnlo the rtiiiqr-^“'
terms amt as free and unsha
I am decidedly of opinion
mit nether. «
[DE^TK TO nr, CONTINUED.]
CpNGRE£§?ONAl6 PROCEEDINGS.
4.Y SEMITE,
FHTDA*. JANUARY 21.
The engrossed hill to establish a dis
trict cour| in the state of Alabama, was
taken up, when*the blanks therein were
so filled as to pig)vide that the salary of
theJudge.be 2000 dollars, that of the
United States’ Attorney 4(H) tftllars, and
that of the Marshal 250 dollars per an
num; and, thus amended, the bill was
passed, and sent to the other house for
concurrence.
The Senate resumed the considera
tion of the hill to continue the act to pro
vide for reports of the decisions of the
Supreme Court, (the blank in which had
been previously filled, so as to continue
the act lsrfive years,) and the bill was,
ordered to be engrossed for a third read-
mote direct
vould have been to
m ow,l to siike out the. amendment as
i *" 7- U , forn V !* objected to the motion
, ? “nciple. It m Hern , m -,d that the two
subjects were different in t!„ i r nature. This,
Dir. J* ™ not admit What, asked he, k
nn.no " T^-Dnted hy the bill and the
pronosed amendment? It j„ this:—Shall
Union Em Mlssnuri admitted into the
r" ! ,T. W l0 °bt>g with the original
Question. " U ! , ,I !'' IT ’ ,h ’ asked, be ^ plainer
nv dktinei; ' v n, ly SW' 1 ,le > i,s l» a *
rfeat 0n: : 1 ’" t ' v " , “ Acase-S as we
ij’ower'rrv, *! * c co »fine ourselves to the
^ f, ( 77 Ui b y the cuu/titution, we
Iff* but oufc course
^ pumiG—which is, to
•dmit both the states, on theyUg terms, ir,
y admiite-l/ihat, as a general
^i | x >)H:prnper to tack tog,;-
vf+nding on different prin-
' on different arguments for
'* denied, hoWevof, that
r. He nffirnied, that if
-it to impose resirirpona
me:- •
The Senate then again proceeded to
consider the resolutions (introduced'hy
Mr. Dickerson) so to amend the constiH
tution as to provide an uniform mode.of
electing Electors of President and Vice-
President of the United States, and Re
presentatives in-Congress ; and, on the
question to en^Pks the resolution for a
third reading, it was dectfed in the af
firmative—ayes 27', nocs 13.
, JANUARY 24.
Mr. Wilson laid before the Senate cer
tain resolutions of the/ Legislature df
New-Jersey, on the subject of prohibit
ing the existenceftf slavery in Missouri,
Stc.kc. «
Mr. Login also laid before the Senate
sundry resolutions on the’ same subject,
adopted by the Legislature of Keutnckv.
The engrossed’hill tocontinuc in force
the act to provide for the reports of the,
decisions of the Shpreme court, was read
the third time and passed, and sent to the
other house. ' .
The other subjects in order for to-day,
were postponed ; anil then
The Senate again took up the Missou
ri bill.
Mr. Pinkney resumed the remarks
which he commenced on Friday, in op
position to the proposed restriction, and
spoke nearly two hours. When he had
_ concluded
v „ * dm . Oti3 intimtf.ed a wish to reply to
Mr. r. but as the. oenate, he -Paul, ufti y r
the intellectual banquet which they had
just enjoyed, would save now litflc relish
for the plain fare wTich he could offer ;
he moved that the sitoject be postponed
l until to-morrow, whict motion prevailed
* JANUARY 25.
I On motion of Mr. Minon, it. was
Retolverl, That the committee on fi-
nceha instructed to prepare and re
porta bill to remit the duties which may
be payable oo a statue of General
Washington, to he imported from Eu
rope, executed by'the Marquis Canova,
for the state of North Carolina.
Mr. Trimble communicated to the
Senate certain resolutions of the Legis
lature of Ohio, in favor of the. cncou-
rugenietit of domestic manufactures, and
of appropriations for roads and canals.
JANUARY 2fi.
A resolution, offered yesterday, l>y
Mr. Walker, of Alabama, to instruct the
committee of public lands to enquire into
the expediency of establishing two addi
tional laud offices in the state of Alaba
ma, w as taken up and agreed to.
JANUARY 2H.
Mr. Eaton, from the committee to
whom thrtubject bad been referred, re
ported a bill for the relief of the officers
and soldiers engaged in a latu campaign
against the Seminole Indians, [similar to
the bill lately before the other House,
for paying for horses and other property
lost, captured or destroyed in the Semi
nole war]—which was road.
HOpSK OF 7fFJ’KESENTATlI'ES.
AMENDMENT OK THE CONSTITUTION.
January 24.
Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, laid the follow
ing resolution on the table :
/{estival by the Senate and Home of
Representatives of the United States rf
.Imcrica, in Congress assembled, lau
thirds of both Houses concurring, That
the following article be proposed to the
Legislatures nl the several states as an
intendment to the* constitution of the
United Slates; which, when ratified b\
three fourths of the said Legislatures,
shall be valid to ull intents and purposes,
as part of the said constitution, to wit:
No Senator or Representative in the
Congress of the United States, shall,
during the time for which lie was elected,
be appointed to any office under the au
thority of the United States.
On motion of Mr. Livermore, it was
Resolved, That the committee on the
post-office and post roads be instructed
to enquire into the expediency of mak
ing alteration in the law that gives the
right of franking to members and dele
gates ol’Congress.
The speaker laid before the House a
letter from the Secretary of the Trea
sury, transmitting a statement ol tin*
number of acres cf land sold sit 'the se
veral offices from their institution to the
30th September last; rendered in obe
dience to a resolution of- the House of
the 10th instant; which report was inid
on the table, and ordered to be printed.
. The engrossed bill making appropria
tions to supply the deficiency in the ap
propriations heretofore made for the
completion of the repairs of the wings of
iho Capitol, for finishing the President’s
House, and the erection of two new Ex
ecutive Offices, was read a third time,
and the question stated on it« passage.
A debate of about an Pour ensued on
this bill —not so much on the question
whether it ought T>r ought not to pass,
as on the circumstances which called lor
it.
Mr. Johnson, of Va. and Mr. Randolph
argued against the practice of transfer
ring and cf exceeding appropriations,
for specific objects, and agahi-t tile re
sponsibility assumed by the President in
tins case, of borrowing tuonc-y for the
purpose of completing the public build
ings. These gentlemen protested warm
ly against the unconstntionr.lity of such
unauthorized exercises of power Uy the
Executive, their dangerous leaden
the culpability of permitting them,
unit no executive officer had the powd
to pledge Congress to make good sums
which he should raise, and expend, with
out the authority of law, &.c. &ic.
Messrs. Cobb, Livermore, Taylor,
Foot, Clagett, and Rea, although not at!
all differing from the former gentlemen
in the correctness of the doctrines they
advanced, supported this appropriation,
and justified the steps ou the part of the
Executive which had called for it; ar
guing that Congress had required of tne
Executive expressly to have these build
ings repaired and rebuilt; ^i^hey had
felt^a||^bessed .Rssati.-T.H^Wi-’.-au-v
tho^^^^^^-as r<vnfn|e.-s
for the reception of Con,
the President, consultingjhe
aver the other. If the
''vd been recently an-
’ orovisos on tile
orevail, bow
ine h&Aa
font-
convenience and accommodation -of the
Legislature, and finding the approprin-i
tions not sufficient for the object, had di-
v^rted the funds to it which had been ap
propriated to other objects in the cilv,
and had directed the commissioner of The
public buildings to accept an advance of
money which had been tendered by one
6f the cityffianks, and to make up the re
maining deficiency, relying on Congress
to make if good ; that what he had dft'nc
was in pursuance of what he deemed his
duty in providing for the uccominodation
of Congress ; and that, however jnst the
objections in the abstract, and to ordina
ry cases, the President was in this justi
fiable, &x. Lr.
The_qucstion was then taken on the
passage of ihe bill, and curried, without
n count, and the bill was sent to the Se
nate for concurrence.
The bill to establish a district coirt
in the state of Alabama, and the bill to
continue in force the a t to provide for
reports of the decisions cf the Su- ;■ me
Court, were received from the Bennte,
severally twice read-and referred.'
ADMISSION OF MISSOURI.
The bill to authorize the people of
Missouri territory to form a constitution
and state government, and providing for
the admission of such state into the union,
being the first order of the day, was an
nounced by the Speaker.
Mr. Taylor moved that the considera
tion of the bill be postponed to this dav
week, with the view of waiting the de
cision of the Senate on the bill now be
fore them on tliu natvjuct.
Tins motion brought on nu animated
debate of considerable length, in which
the propriety of waiting the movements
of the othet House, or of proceeding now
to consider this bill, in which there were
various details to he considered and'de
cided, besides the principle now under
debate in the Senate, kc. were discuss
ed.
The motion to postpone the Fill was
supported by the novel- a; J Messrs.
Livermore, Clagett, and Cushman ; and
the postponement was opposed by
.Messrs. Scott, Lowndes, Brush, Cook,
Floyd, and Cflmpbcll.
The question was at length decided
in the negative, by yeas and nays :
For postponement C7
Against, it 88
It was then moved by Mr. Holmes
that the House go into committee of the
whole on the said bill ; but, before the
question was put ou this motion, the
House, about 4 o’clock,
Adjourned.
JANUARY 27.
Among the memorials presented this
day, was one from the Legislature of the
state of Ohio, praying that provision may
be made for the relief of such purchas
ers of public land as may forfeit the same
from their inability to complete the pay
ment therefor.
RESPECTING THE SPANISH THE \TY.
Mr. Floyd, of Va. submitted for con
sideration the following resolution:
litsolve.il. That the Prethdent of the
United Ciates be requested to cause to
be communicated to this House, if in his
opinion consistent with the public good,
whatsoever information he may possess
relative to the extent of territory which
the instructions of the Minister Plenipo
tentiary of his Catholic Majesty author
ized him to cede to the United States in
his-negociation with the Secretary of
.State, which resulted in the treaty of
22d February last; and likewise at what
period he. obtained that information.”
Mr. I-’, said that he had been induced
to submit this resolution to obtain the in
formation required, as important, upon a
subject of great consequehsA^te^tbe nation
at this time. It was predicates upon ;m
expression in the letter of the Secretary
of State to our Minister,bearing date the
ICthof Aug. 1819, in which he says—
•' It is too well known, and the Spanish
government dare not deny it, that Mr.
Onis’s last instructions authorized hi n
to cede to the United State- much more
territory than Vie did.” Now, sir, as the
treaty has not been confirmed by Spain,
and we arc called upon to enforce the
friendly stipulations of that treaty, it is
peculiarly proper to have all the infor
mation which was possessed at the time
oi'the i,. gociution.
Ill reply to an objection which was
subsequently made in the resolve, that
a call for that kind of information might
have injurious consequences, Mr. F.
said, certainly no injury can result, as the
resolution does not require any thing
to be communicated ich it would be
improper to divulge, but, if that informa
tion were improper to be made public,
cannot the representatives of the people
of the United States bo intrusted with
that transaction ? For his part, he had
consulted none, and thought the informa
tion necessary. Surely it could not bo
improper to communicate to this house,
Mr. F. said, that which the Secretary of
State had said the Spanish government
“ dare not deny.”
This motiou gave rise to n short ile-
, in the course of which the adoption
ants opposed by Mu. Lowndes, Mr.
fergeant, M r. Holmes, Mr. Taylor, Mr.
hea, and Mr. Hill, on the ground, gen
erally, that the President 4iad*lfcorui#uni'
ented to Congress, at the coinmencetnen?
of the session, on the subject of Spanish
affairs, nil the information which he
deemed important to the public interest,
and which, in his opi-don, it was not in
consistent with that interest at present
to communicate ; that the conduct of ne-
gociations having been given by the con
stitution to the Executive, and also the
authority to communicate to Congress,
from time to time, information of the
state of the Union, it was to be presumed
the President had, in the performance
of that duly, commitnie^H a|i that was
sj>^nnio6 proper to h#4hmrnunica-
tedHHBhcting our rel.-.tinifl^Nth Spaiu ;
as we have yet a Minister at
Madrid, and matters were not finally ad
justed with that power, the disclosure of
uch particulars as were required
made, might have a prejudicial effect on
the questions pending between the two
countries, &c
Resolved, That the committee on Mi
litary Affairs be instructed to enquire in
to the expediency of providing by law
for the allowance of military land to all
iers who enlisted m the late war
with Great Britain, and who procured
substitutes, in proportion to the time of
ervice performed by them and their
mbstitiites respective ; and also all o-
tliers who enlisted anil remained in ser-
\ice during the war, and were regularly
discharged, not already provided lor by
law.
On motion of Mr. PindnU, it was
Resolved, That the Secretary of State
he requested to lay before this House
a list of the newspapers in which the
laws, resolutions, and orders of Congress
are published, and have been published
during the.sessions of the 11th and 15th
Congresses, designating the state, dis
trict, or territory in which each news
paper was published, with an.estimate
ol the expense of such publication.
Washington, January 29.
We have at length been enabled to
make a beginning of the Debate in the
Senate of the Union, on the leading topic
of the present day—the Mist-sari Ques
tion. Well may it be culled the leading
topic. : it now occupies the attention of
both Houses, exclusively; and will con
tinue to engross it so entirely as, we
apprehend, to prevent that attention be
ing paid to other legislative objects,
which many have sanguinely calculated
on.
The'proposition which is the subject
of so much debate, reduced to a familiar
phraseology, is Ibis : whether it be expe
dient to impose, as a condition of the ad
mission of the territory of Missouri into
the Union, an obligation on her people
to prohibit the future removal or trans
portation of slaves into that territory.
This question divides itself into three
branches :
1. The constitutionality of the mea
sure.
2. Its conformity to the stipulations of
the i reaty ot 1803, hy which France ced
ed the territory in question to the Unit
ed States.
3. The expediency ofthe measure, as
it id iv affect the relative condition of per
son.-: n OW held to servitude in the. Unit
ed Stales, and as il may affect the rela
tions between different parts of the Uni
on.
The affirmative Hud-negative of these
questions are supported with equal zeal,
by nearly equal numbers. In the Senate
the majority is supposed to be opposed to
the restriction : in the House of Repre
sentatives, though the question has not
been tried decisively in any shape, it is
supposed there is a majority in favor of
the restriction.
An excitement appears to prevail, or
rather it is painfully apprehend, in re
gard to this question, which would, with
difficulty, be accounted for, from a gene
ral view ofthe points embraced by it.—
The truth is. and it is in vain to shut our
eyes to the fact, that tiiere are consider
ations of deeper interest at the bottom of
this question. The balance of power vi
brates ; and the feelings of our politicians
vibrate in sympathy. It has been sur
mised, we perceive by letters from this
City, published in the Eastern prints, that
already it is attempted to establish polit
ical distinctions by this question. We in
cline to think, however, that this sugges
tion is rather the result of gloomy tbre-
bodings, than the delineation of a reality
which could not be loo earnestly depre-
cutrj. Of all political tests, our feder
ative system abhors a geographical one*
We shall publish the debate on the
Question, in both Houses of Congress, if
it. be not drawn out to so great a length
as to prevent our continuing on to the
end of it. Our readers will doubtless
peruse# it with interest ; and we shall
cheerfully leave them to draw their own
conclusions from it.
One only remark we shall be pardoD-
ed for making here on the merits ofthe
question.
It is yet attempted to impress the pub
lic mind in defiance of repeated contra*
dictions, that this is a question which in
volves an extension of slavery, that is,
the multiplication of slaves in our coutry.
Once for all, no such question is pre
sented to the consideration of Congress,
or of the nation. The question con
cerns only the diffusion or the concen
tration of the slaves now in the country.
There is not in the. CongreM of the
United States q siuflli iudiviApal who
would raise his haniiin favor -of author
izing the introduction of slaves into thfc
The proposition was supported by* the! United States—or, in other words, in fa : .
mover, and by Mr. Johnson of Va. am!
Mr. Randolph, for the. general reasons
tssigned hv the* mover, and for the rea
son, additionally, that the President had,
by his communication to both Houses of
Congress, at ihe commencement of the
session*earnestly recommended the sub
ject of the state ofour affair* with Sjjiin,
to tliQ-iiltention of Congress, and indeed
■xpressiy submitted to them whether or
not the provisions of the treaty should
he carried into effect independently of
the. consent, of Spain, &c.
On suggestion of Mr. Sergeant, the re
solve was so amended, by consent ofthe
mov er, as to request the President, in-
stc-id of instructing the Secretary of State,
(as at first offered) if in his opinion it
should be expedient, to cause the re
quired information to be laid before Hie
House—the objection being to leaving a
compliance with an order from the house
discretionary with any officer of the go
vernment subordinate to the highest in
authority.
The question being taken on agreeing
to tho resolution thus amended, it was
decided in the negative—aves67,noes88
JANTJAR.’ 28.
vor of the extension of slavery. Justice
to the character of our country requires
that this should be distincly understood,
and never overlooked, as it frequently
is, in the newspaper discussions of what
is called the Missouri Question.
• [Mat. Int.]
New-Orlean*, Dee. 31.
Yesterday the captain anil seventeen of
the crew of-Sehr. Bravo, captured some time
ago by the revenue cutters Alabama and
Louisiana were sentenced by the District
Court of the U. States, to be hanged on
the 2.0th May next. These men compris
ed all that belonged to the vessel at the time
of her capture. It was deemed necessary,
in conducting the. prisoners from jail to
court and back again, to take extraordinary
precautions to defeat any attempt to rescue
them that might be made by their coadjutors.
The several volunteer corps ofthe city were
under arihsin the neighbourhood of the pri
son for several hours, &. if an attempt to res
cue was meditated, the number and appear
ance of the troops must have convinced those
who were disposed to assist in it that it w as
utterly hopeless and impracticable.
We learn thatuvcbsel lately commanded
hy Vincent Gambia, was a few days ago tak
en possession of by a boat belonging to the
J navy, in some one of tho passes leading to
On motion of Mr. H r otker, of N. C. itj Barra taria. She is said to he a remarkably
wa* * fast sailing vessel, mounting oi.e bias*
si.V pounder, but had no person on board
when she was taken. It is reported that
Gambia some short time ago had in his pas-
session on hoard this vessel pooo dollars in
pecif, and that while asleep with the money
imler his head, his brains were knocked out
by one of his crew, and that they immedi
ately deserted the vessel.
Extract of a letter renivtd in Raltimorc dated
Washinoton, Jan. 2D.
“ Give unto Cesar the things thut ure Cciar’s.”
“ You will see under the editorial head
f the National Intelligencer of this morn
ing, that the crowds of spectators arid list
eners in the lobbies and galleries of the Se
nate, is attributed to the importance of the
Mis sOuri Question, now under debate.
’Tw no such tiling—the orator, and not the
tmbjeet attracts—Mr. Pinkney, the Senator,
from Maryland, is the potent magician, who
gathers around the capitol, and holds with
in his spell, the grave, the gay, the thought
ful and the thoughtless—Nay, all ages, sex
es and conditions, hang around to hear the
matchless genius of Ills mind—It is him
—and not Missouri—for when he even ar
gues a recondite ease of law, in the Supreme
Court oftiie United States, this same, pleth
ora is felt through every alley and avenue of
the court.
You will recollect tlrat on Thursday
week last, the detrate on the question was
postponed at hia motion—Well, 1 have at
tended every day* since, and heard almost
every person who came to listen say, that
it was with a view of hearing Mr. Pinckney.
After a day or two it was generally under-
tood, that in consequence of a severe cold he
had taken in coming from Baltimore, he
would not speak for some days—You could
see the shoals of visitors diminish and retire
—there was no difficulty in getting either in
to the lobbies or galleries, except under the
expectation of hia speaking. The day be
fore yesterday he became entitled to the
/lour for yesterday. This was published—
and yesterday, an hour before the time, the
doors were beset, and before he rose, lob
bies, galleries, and all the intervals filled up
to suffocation. For nearly three hours lm
discussed the .Constitutional question of re
stricting Missouri ; wiih anelnqueuce, which
for its combinations of criticism and wit, and
fancy, and logic and delivery, I will venture
to say, has never been equalled in the delibe
rative councils of America.
He divided his subject into three parts—
the constitutionality—the effect ofthe trea
ty, and the policy or expediency—The two
last he will discuss on Monday next. Oth
ers will still continue the discussion—yet I
will predict after Mr. Pinknay finishes, any
person will look in vain to see the chamber
filled from the magnitude ofthe question.-—
The lyre will pass into other hands, but Or
pheus will have ceased to strike it?
I glow with Roman exultation in be
holding our Senate—It is a noble congrega
tion of profound and animated patriots!
There are many of them eloquent too—but
there is no second Pinkney litre!—In my
humble judgment, there is no one here to
compare with him as an orator. Possessing
all the advantages from nature, he has for
nearly half a century, had only to develope,
expound and perfect all the constituents of
the most finished rhetorician.
He hud not the impediments of TYemost
henes to remove, nor the naturally un
comely person of Cicero to encumber him
—he grew op lapped in tho enthusiasm qf
American liberty—his heart has beat an'd
swoln in the very hallwhere Chatham spoke!
He has drawn classical inspiration from the
very tomb of the Mantuan Bard! He has
paused on the very spot where great Julius
fell! And he has been invigorated NYnidst
the sublimely tempestuous regions of the
iirctie world! With all 11 n-serare ad vantages
of study, of travel, of health, for perfecting
his great master passion, eloquence; it is due
to his exertions to say, as he has deserved,
so has he succeeded to the. undisputed title
of imperishable celebrity, as the greatest or
ator America lias ever produced. May he
long continue to shed a halo, not only on
his native state, hut on the union of this great
republic, of whose constitutional inviolabili
ty lie yesterday proved himself so match
less a champion. Mr. John Randolph, a
judge of eloquence—for he ton, in d»ys of
better health, possessed the witchery of no
ordinary elocution—it is said, wished the
House of Representatives to adjourn, that
upon so interesting a question, the members,
•fight hear one of the most accomplished
orators of the age.
-“Ifhis conclusion shall correspond with
Ir beauty and dignity of his exordium, I
llall consider it tin: most finished piece of
senatorial eloquence and intellectual strength
ever exhibited, at least in our country; and
I accord with anopinionofavencrahlemem-
ln r of the Senate, a few minutes after Mr.
Pinkney closedliis discourse, “I would ra
ther have spoken that speech than be E.m-
pcrorofall the Russias*, and deeply slmll'I-
regret, if forvvafit of a senatorial roporter or
stenographer, it does not appea* in print.”
VV.
MANUFACTURES.
Extract of a letter from President Adams
to the Editor of the Providence Jour
nal,
“ December, 14, 1319.
“ Sir—I have received your polite
fivout ofthe 10th, the subject of which
p of great importance.
I* “ I am old enough to remember the
war of 1745, and its end—The war of
1755, and its close—The war of 1775,
a«d its termination—-The war of 1812,
ami its pacification. Every one of these
wars has been followed by a general
distress, embarrassments xjn Commerce;
destruction of Manufactures ; fall ofthe
price of produce and of lands, similar to
these we feel at the present day—and
nil produced bv the same causes. I
have wondered that so much experience
lias not taught us more caution. The
British Merchants and Manufacturers,
immediately after the peace, disgorged
upon us all their stores of merchandize
and manufactures—not only with put pro
fit, but at a certain loss for a time—with
the express of purpose annihilating all
our manufactories, &i ruining all our ma
nufacturers. The cheapness of the ar
ticles allures us into extravagancies-—
and at length produces universal com
plaint. .
“ What would be the consequences ot
the aboiifion of all restrictive, exclusive,
and monqpo[i|tqg laws, if adopted by all
the nations of the earth, 1 pretend not
to any ; but Khile alt the nations, with
whom, vp have intercourse, persevere
in cherishing suchlqws, 1 know not how