Newspaper Page Text
/re would
ade would
jOld and sil-
' mines into
Fhe gold and
take a basis for
Ih’ij! the pres
ale tor Republic
llities for war and
make it the moat
e globe.
y the Columbia and
no richest viin of our
,o a channel exclusive-
d place it beyond the
annoyance; would sub-
.rter for the present ruin-
,* silver; would enahle the,
.e all the advantages of her
between Europe and Asia
her formidable to both—iu-
either.
AMERICANUS.-
<ic
■nv-
i, nut
out for
j which
n he is n
of the state of
of the country,
.minted wholly by
o' best interests of
, it cannot be fairly
•tidly to a lavish and
•ent of the public mo-
ry, the very existence
greatly depends on Ihe
/ of public officers, and a
onomy. All I condemn is
ny-wise and pound-fodfi 'h.”
i to save n little money not:',
ate or abandon the means of
and permanent defence. A de-
.icli on the arrival of a crisis, which
nature of things must occur, will save
nation thousands of lives and millions of
.oney ! 1
(ting
In
dians to
.liy when
gaud piui«— B
.Society every whci
its children ; they were
.tied, and ought, if they
every power, their friend
n. Sir, said Mr. M. if I
ake an attempt upon the foel-
i house, instead of lifting my
i would bring here in front of the
Speaker’s seat the sixty children, and 1
’ should be then sure that, without voices,
* their intelligent features, their sparkling
eyes, and their amiable demeanor, would
command, irresistibly, the hardest heart
•in this house to lean to their cause.
But, said Mr. M. the honorable mem
ber from Virginia (Mr. Randolph) has
discovered that, in truth, we have no
t ower, under the constitution of these
Ditcd States, to make a grant for the
purpose contained in this bill. I regret,
Said Mr. M. that, under that clause of the
Constitution upon which he has just com
mented—“ That Congress have power
to tn ike all laws necessary for the pur
pose of carrying into execution,” &c.
wc redly have no authority to establish
and maintain systems of instruction. I
have seen that the learned judges of the
Supreme Court of this land have main
tained the constitutional existence of si
bank; aud that Hortensius, by most able
and conclusive reasoning, although in a
different line of direction, has arrived at
the same happy conclusion ; and 1 must
express my re-rot and astonishment to
gether, that tliis famous clause of the
constitution has the magical strength to
bear so vast n hank, and is yet too feeble
to raise a common school "
I have wished that it might he con-
sideied necessary and proper to spread
instruction, and diffuse far and‘wide
knowledge, without which our constitu
tion itself, and still less our statutes,
could not long be maintained. I feel!
said Mr. M. that, underthe powerful op
position of such gentlemen as the Speak
er of this house, whose talents alone are
sufficient, if exerted, to destroy mightier
objects than this poor little bill; of the
gentleman from Virginia. (Mr. Randolph)
''rose genius and experience are always
ready to be poured out by his eloquence •
«od of the other gentleman from Virgin
ia, (Mr. Barbour) whose abilities nlso
ar -n C r°u P ?- t . ent tQ neater things—this bill
wil l.,,1 of its passage. If this must he
its fale, 1 at least-ehull have the satisfac
tion to record my vote, among the first
which 1 give in this house, for a grant of
a few acres of our immense public e«-
\ f ? P ,"Vr noble P ,,r P° s « of instruction.
> . A . nd 1 fih:l11 >east not he alarmed at the
\ idea of exhausting our resources upon
\ h .'‘deaf and dumb; for, thank God '. the
Tt*er is small, perhaps, not exceeding
bousand in the whole United State/
.pleased to hear the gentleman
ho generous. a ms, mi. uross said,
might be true or false, without throwing
much light on the subject before the
committee. The only important en
quiry is, has Congress the power to dis
pose of the public lands? The gentle
man saw no evil in the donation to Con
necticut ; but he seomed to apprehend
the destruction of our liberties liy the
proposed grant. Wherein, Mr. G. ask
ed, consists the wonderful difference be
tween the two cases, in point of princi
ple or result ? why, sir, in tho Connec
ticut asylum were to be found some pu
pils from without the state ! But, un
fortunately for the honorable gentleman,
the difference was only imaginary, and
did not exist in point of fact.
The Speaker, said Mr. G. thinks that
the city of New-York is an expensive
place, and consequently not well calcu
lated for'the education of persons of any
description. He paints the splendor of
the drawing rooms of the merchants oi
that great city with die hand of a muster,
aud with the accuracy of one well ac
quainted with his subject, llut, sir, said
Mr. G. although extravagance is visible
among the rich and gay, economy may
also be found among its inhabitants.—
We are not to enquire iuto the customs
of the fashionable; but into the prices of
rents and provisions, in order to decide
on the propriety of the location. For
the cheapness and variety to he found in
its markets, New-York lias no rival. It
is also said that it is partiality to grant
lands to one state and not to another.—
For my part, said Mr. G. I am willing
that a similar grant should be made for a
similar purpose, to every state in the
union. He doubted, he said, whether
we could apply the public lands to a bet
ter purpose, and he believed he was not
alone in so thinking.
The honorable gentleman from Mas
sachusetts, (Mr. Holmes) Mr. G. said,
could not restrain his propensity to he
witty on this occasion. He had fancied
the people of the United States struck
dumb at the enormity of the unheard of
provisions of this bill. It would be well
for the honorable gentleman, said Mr. G.
ifliis constituents were both deaf and
dumb; for, if they spake at all, they must
exclaim against ihe parsimony of their
representative
On the whole, Mr. G. said, he consid
ered the object of the proposed donation
as one worthy of the patronage of the
United States; that the cheapness of
provisions in the city of New-York, and
the facility of intercourse which it en
joyed with all parts of the union, render
ed it the most eligible of any place for
number o.
against the smuga,....},, »■»•> m
augment till: revenue to the required extent.
The principal reliance for supplying the de
ficiency which would be produced by the
adoption of the measure contemplated by
tly* resolution, must, it appears to me, be
placed in a system of internal duties or di
rect tax.
In aid of either of these modes of aug
menting the revenue, a small addition might
he made upon the rate of duty now paid
upon linens, manufactures of hemp, stuff
goods, coffee, brown sugar, teas, wines, mo
lasses, spires, and other small articles. If a
system of internal duties should he deem
ed, at inis time, advisable, an entire prohibi
tion of ardent spirits might he adopted,
without material injury to the revenue, and
wi*h manifest advantage to the agricultural
interest. In that event, the revenue which
has heretofore been received from the du
ties imposed upon foreign spirits, might be
collected from domestic spirits.
I have the honor to he, your most obedi
ent servant,
Wm. H. CRAWFORD.
Honorable Speaker
of lltc House of Representatives.
From the Charleston Southern Patriot.
The letter which we publish to-dav, from
a correspondent at Washington, will richly
pay the perusal of our readers, if it is only
from the importance of the statistical infor
mation it contains. The praises bestowed
on the secretary of war, will not be deemed
excessive and unmerited, w hen the extent
of the improvements lie has introduced into
that branch of tile public service of which
he has the charge, is recollected. The ex
pedition to the Yellow Stone, will of itself
reflect the highest lustre on his administra
tion; and when we consider the boldness of
the design, the manner of the execution and
the result which it promises, it must lie con
sidered among the proudest evidences of
the vigour and forecast of Mr. Calhoun’s
mind, and the utility of his public labours.
TO T1IF. EDITOR.
Washington City, Jan. 20, 1820.
Sir—In looking over the * Soutlie.ru Ih.t-
iot” of the 10th instant, I saw re-published
an extract of a letter to the editor of the
Evening Post,” of New-York: dated,
Washington, December 2Cth, in which it is
said “ that a spirit is rising up here, in ami
uut of doors, against the army, ami it is be
coming obnoxious, although Mr. Calhoun is
an excellent superintendant, and has much
improved the responsibility in the details of
the sen ice.” etc.
Now, sir, I am perfectly aware that not
only the reduction, hut c ii the prostndioi
of the army is aimed at, by some who are, h
fact, using every exertion, in and out ofdoors,
to make it odious. These are divided into
two classes: 1st. Those who conscientious
ly believe that its expenses are too great;
and fid. Those (a few in number) wlioTlook
with jealous eyes oil the rise, in public esti
mation, of tiie man who presides at the head
of that department with sn«h distinguished
reputation ; and permit luteto say, that both
classes are wonderfully assisted, in the attain
ment of their object, by the report of tin se
cretary of the treasury; which to say the
I
an institution of the kind, and that, liy
• • . , , . -- e»—........... the grant of the land proposed, it would
• • * St "))’ - r ‘ Barhour) de-1 experience much benefit, without a flee t-
xS- use munificence of lua native ling, in the least, the treasury of the
tp.n an incuts for literary purpos-1 United States. For these reasons, he 1 least of it, (in reporting a deficit of five mil--
;n g lias enabled me to enjoy the! won'' "*«te for the hill, and against thcl'“ m of dollars) lias given the most v.ufavor-
sfiese-'^hon of stating to this com-1 v I "bl® v, ew °f the finances of the government,
hire fact ' that the state of New- 'ffored some remarks I } sa y sf> ’ because 1 am informed, by men of
kevise been nobly munifkr on to the hilt. Ii u , "t’LTT'i “ j "! <>st
^ttat.k«h». p( .ro p ri.. M veil
%\r. .
ihcr of nii-
in the Ar-
Upon a
■'ll that on-
iwledge of
Me, an cn-
■onrt mar-
was heard
•ad been some
punishment inflict-
. n invariably punished
•y the head of the depart-
. commanding officers,
nas been asserted, as ihe correspondent
of the “ Evening Post” intimates, that there
were scarcely a Colonel’s command in tin
Army—that it was merely an Army of offi
cers. ’ The information from the. Depart
ment, on every member’s table, shews that
there are. nearly 7,000 jvrivntcs and nine
thousand, including lion-conimiisiomd offi
cers, musicians, fee.
The Army has hern stigmatized as ex
pensive beyond all hounds, hut h v a call for
a state of this fact, it Is evinced from incon-
testible evidence that every soldier and offi
cer, cost the government during the years
11110—11,of Mr. Madison’s administration,
upwards of jf 380 ; whereas tliev now cost
hut about 830, a sum hut very little higher
than the cheapest periods of Mr. Jeffer
son’s administration, when all sorts of sub
sistence were much lower.
Again, in 1817, the current expenses oftlir
Army, including pay, food, clothing, and
Quarter Master’s Department, which in
cludes forage, fuel transportation, quarters
bui. together with the. Medical Department
Military Academy, &.C. cost,
S 4,8.56,17 fi
In 1818, 3,745,207
In 1819, 3,423,809 and
III 1820, 8,1 RO,000
So that although the number of officers
has been increased, and additional expenses
in valuable improvements, incurred, the cur
rent expenses of the army have been conti
mially diminishing, and permit me. to add
so perfect has been the system of eeonomy
uid responsibility introduced into the army
by the commissariat, and other alterations
nade liy or at the suggestion of tue Seereta
y, that"for the next two years, these expen
es will he reduced to about three millions,
Our litte army then, so far from beng held
up fur public odium, oil account of its ex
penses, should he. cherished by the whole
country; not only as furnishing a defence
fur an "immense frontier, but us forming a
nucleus of Military knowledge and discipline,
which it will lie of the last importance to he
imparted to large bodies, and even to the
militia, in the commencement of a war!—
If, however, so small a military body, distri
buted at from 70 to 80 posts, "over a surfucc
of 3 or 1000 miles, is to be rut down and its
strength impaired, I say, in God’s name, des
troy it altogether, forin that event wo might
indulge some hope that the attention of the.
union would he directed to drawing from the
desperate eliaos in which it is now involv
ed, the militia of the country ; to classify ing
and training it for our defence.
It is true that the secretary of war in his
whole estimate, calls for about 10 millions,
hut in his department is included the prin
cipal part ofthc expenditures of the govern
ment for permanent and indii pcnsable pur
poses :—fortifications, ordnance, including
arms, cannon carriages, swords, magazines,
and other munitions of war. Here let me
observe, that these, fortifications at impor
tant points, many of which are in a eta’e of
forwardness, are not only indispensable to
guard and defend the inlets into the riches
of your cities and the heart of your country,
hut in forming this protection and defence
they save. ir. time of war twenty times the
money they cost, and they save "the lives o"
your citizens, by thousands, who must other
.vise he called from their homes, at ail im
mense expense, to tli. most sickly place
and at the most inclement and sickly sea
sans. There were at Norfolk and its neigl
borhood, at the close of the last war, 5000
fresh graves, not of soldiers slain in batth
hut of citizens who fell victim* to the cli
mate. As to the expense, let it be remewi
tiered} thjt governor Barbour, of Virginia,
Views of the Spanish Question.
FROM Till. KENTUCKY ONION.
Copy of a letter from (len. Thomas Metcalfe,
(a Representative in Congress from Ken
tucky,) to a gentleman in this vicinity, dat
ed,
IVasiiinoton City, Jan. 1, 1820.
Dear Sir—No report has been made,
or will, as I am told, he made for some time,
idler liy the committee of the Senate on
foreign affairs, or by the committee of the
House of Representatives, on so much of
the President’s message as relates to foreign
affairs. It is, therefore, difficult, at this time,
to discover what Congress will do hi relati
on to tlie existing differences between the U.
States and liis Catholic majesty. T^r mem
bers, aware of the magnitude of this matter,
have been slow in expressing their senti
ments. Rut now it begins to be a principal
theme, and to he freely and openly discus
sed in our rooms. The President’s senti
ments, as expressed in his message, are con
strued very differently; and various opini
ons arc entertained as to the true policy and
interest of the nation under existing circum
stances. Owing to the non-ratification of
the treaty, it is conceded that it is not valid
that it is not legally binding em Spain;
or, in other words, that the title to Florida
is not fairly transferred to the United States,
But the failure to ratify was a downright vi
olation of goad faith, arid of the solemn
pledge of his Catholic majesty. It is an ad
ditional proof that no reliance can he placed
in his royal word, (a in his solemn promise, or
in his disposition to do justice. It i. an ad
ditional insult; an additional injury, for
which, underthe laws of nature and of na
tions, w e are justified in seeking redress and
indemnification, at such time, and in such
manner, as we mav think best calculated to
secure the just rights, and promt. the best
inti rests of this nation. The ere .’, has ar
rived, when we must rely on ourselves, and
not on the jo - tiee or magnanimity of Spain.
No alternative is left. To redress ourselves,
is the best k only resort. But in w hat way
is it to he done? Here lies the rub ! We
will outfit no minister plenipotentiary for the
Spanish court.
One insists that if wc attempt to enforce
the treaty, it will he deemed an art of hosti
lity, and we shall be plunged in war. Ano
ther insists, that if we assert our claim-to the
province of Texas, and attempt to wrest it
from Spain with an armed force, it will lie
considered an act of hostility, and will in
volve the nation in war. Now, if Spain in
tends tear, both these parties are. right. For,
whether we take the one or the other, it will
furnish Spain with a sufficient pretext 1o
strike at our commerce, liy way of reprisal.
The following questions present them
selves to the consideration of the statesman,
and of the American people, and ought to
lie well examined:
1. Shall we, for the present, suspend ac
tive operations ?
2. Shall we, at our own expense, attempt
to enforce (lie treaty, leaving our views
solely to that object ?
S. Shall we, in consequence of the non
ratification oftlir treaty, abandon Flori
da and enforce our claim to Texas?
4. Or, shall we seek redress and indemni
fication, in full, bn all the means in our
power ?
Perhaps a little time will furnish a satisfnc
tory solution ; but, in the mean time, as yo
are a legal doctor, 1 would be glad to hear
what prescriptions you think most likely to
afford relief.
The Maine and Missouri hills we are try
ing to unite, better for worse.
Your most obedient servant,
THOMAS METCALFE.
A PEEP THROUGH A TELESCOPE
FROM THE ST. LOUIS ENQUIRER
There are three objects w hich American
statesmen should have constantly befor
their eyes, which they should steadily
vunce upon, and never abandon, until they
were fully accomplished. They are—
1. The acquh-itiu.i of Cuba.
The possession of that island is necessary
to the Republic—to maintain II;.- union o
the Western and Atlantic states—to protec
tlie commerce of the mil v of I,'in ML ;<, s ip
pi—to copiniaud tint of Mexico- and
funii'h C(.fi':e to the Uonuh’.V.,
Charleston City Gazette, 8th ilists
: FROM THE PATRIOTS.
i an esteemed friend at St. Thomas/
ve the following late and interesting
.genre of the. success of the patriots.—■
•ve know that lie lias the best means of'
tabling tlie most correct information as
garels South American affairs, we cun safe
ly venture to vouch for the authority of'
what lie relates. He has also forwarded us<
i St. Thomas’ price current of the 31st ult—
which is published in this day’s Gazette.
llxi,-art of a letter to the Kditor, dated
St. Thomas, Jan. 21st, 1820.
“Dear Sir—The late memorable cam
paign of the indefatigable Bolivar, to the-
kingdom of Now-Crenada, has reached you
through the different channels, and it would
he el hut little interest to you, for me
to repeat the same in detail. The results-
of it, however, are and will be of nnicli
importance to South America, collective
ly, as to redeem millions of her sons, ah
a period not far distant, from the igno
minious sceptre of despotism and cruelty*
and elevate her name to the first dignity
among civilized nations of the world*
that of a free and independent ypublic.—
Yes, the name of Boiaca, like another
Bunker’s Hill, will lie pointed out as the.
proud spot where tlie Satellites of Ferdi
nand and his nefarious tyranny, were con
quered and humbled by the valor of Ameri
can prowess and the victorious banners of'
freedom, waved triumphant over the fallen*
degraded standard of royalty never more to.
rise. So fatal and destructive was this bat
tle to the Spaniards, that their brave chief
tain and vice roy, Samano, tied with the ra
pidity of a bird or the wing from his capital
Santa Fe, on receipt of the mournful intel
ligence from the battle ground of Boyr.ctv
Tin? city of Santa Fe, shortly afterivavus re
ceived w ilh applause aud shouts of welcome.
“ vivas” the brave and conouering hero and
liberator, Bolivar, who, with the almost un
paralleled activity of a Bonaparte, marched
with his little band of patriot warriors, thro*’
a country intersected by more, than a him-,
dred deep rivers, which he had to ford,,
overcoming a thousand unforscun and heart
rending obstacles, entering into combat un
der the most embarrassing circumstances},
defeating regular disciplined troops* almost
double the numbers of his Trojan followers*
and at last annihilating the enemy’s forces*
which were treble his own, when lie under
took that arduous and glorious campaign for'
the liberty of Ncw-Grenada, entered its ca
pital in 75 days on takiug up Ilia line, of march,
from Mantecal in Venezuela, a distance of•
more than 325 leagues.
“More than.three millions or doi.-.
i.ars in the King’s treasury, inclusive of'
the private effects of the enemies to the
cause, were found in metallic on the inde
pendents occupation of that place. The-
whole of tlie Spanish army in New-Grana-
da, with the exception of SOU men who ef
fected their escape from its capital, headed
by the sanguinary Calzada, were either ta
ken, or surrendered themselves prisoners of*
war, with their general in Chief Barreyre,.
and ail his staff', officers, fcc.
“ Two very respectable armies were im-.
mediately embodied, the one for the South*
&, the other for the North, to liberate the dif
ferent provinces in New-Grennda and Ve
nezuela, and marched on tlie same day, (the
20th Sept.) for their respective points of o-
perationi. After having established a pro
visionary government in Santa Fe, for the.
safety of the kingdom of Grenada, general
Bolivar left said city at the same time with
the northern army, to place himself at the
head of all the republican corps in the pro-
ince of his native Venezuela, and open k
igorous and decisive campaign against the
blood thirsty Morillo, and thus terminate a
ar often years, which has cost them up
wards of 5 250,000 souls ; left their country
in desolation, and its inhabitants overwhelm-
d with hardships and misfortunes, without
openly having received the protecting hand
of any foreign nation or power whatever.
“ The taking of Santa Fe, by Boliver, pro
duced as if by electricity, a general political
revolution throughout that \ast country*
and before tho liberating army should have,
reached the capital of any of its provinc-
ils undaunted citizens effected their
mancipation, and hurled the sycophants
of a base Monarch from their seat of power,
Si restored again to independence the virtu
ous sons of Columbia, awed by the too suc
cessful operations of the expedition of Mo-,
rillo against Carthagena in 1815, which oe-
asioned the melancholy loss of all that
kingdom.
“ By last official accounts, thi rteen pro-
inccs were already in the full enjoyment of
their rights and privileges, only Carthagena
and St. Martin being in possession of the
royalists, which must inevitably fall in a few
months, as they are without provisions and
redit.
“ The presence of general Bolivar being
required at Angostura, previous to his de
scent upon Cnraccas and the sea coast, lie
arrived in that city on the lltli of Decem
ber, amidst an admiring concourse P'- 0 -
ple, who received him with every demon
stration of joy and eclat, that the mind of
man can imagine, in 17 days he. passed from
Pamplona in Ncw-Grenada to Guyana,,
which has never been performed till now in
less than from 25 to SO.
The project of the fundamental law of
Columbia, (a translation of which I have,
made) 1 think ii magnanimous, and lays a
solid basis on which to erect the splendid
and superb superstructure of a great, pow
erful a ml respectable republic.
“General Bolivar set out from Angostura
for bis head quarters of Apure, on the 2. In
ult. and before the 20th of February next,
you may expect to hear that lie is at Car-
rnccas, with an army of more than 12,501*
men; and that Morillo, with the remnant
of his forces, will he driven into the fortiir
cations of I’orto Cabollo, w here a close anu
vigorous tiege will soon terminatu his iw>