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prefer the latter «!npe for the
question, to shew more strongly Ms °*
pinion of it—it would suit his toolings
„ towards it better. We have been go<ng
on for several years, said lie, oreumu it*
time power until srarcely nny is leu u
in Congress. If they had any power o-
ver the votes of Missouri nt nil, lie said
it wns when her votes were first receiv
ed • but no such power existed, I he
votes of Indiana, »t the la«t election for
President, were counted when precisely
in the same situation ns those of Missou
ri now. lie protested against this as
sumption of authority on the part of Con
gress, and wished to show his disappro
bation of the resolution in the strongest
manner.
Mr. Clay said the constitntion required
of the two Houses to assemble ami per
forin the highest duty that could devolve
on a public body—to ascertain who had
been, elected by the people to administer
their national concerns. In a case ot
votes coining forward which could not he
counted, the constitution was silent; but,
fortunately, the end in that case carried
with it the means. '1 he two Houses
were called on to enumerate the votes^
• for President and Vice President ; of
course they were railed on to decide
what nr* voles. It being obvious that n
difficulty would arise in the joint meeting,
concerning the votes of Missouri, some,
gentlemen thinking they ought to he
counted and others dissenting from that
opinion, the committee thought it best to
prevent all difficulty by waiving the
question in the manner proposed, know
ing that it could not affect the result of
the election. As to the condition of Mis
souri, he himself thought hern Rtate, with
a perfect moral right to be admitted into
the Union, but kept out for the want of a
ceremonious act which w as deemed by
others necessary to entitle her to admis-
lion. Though, in hia opinion, a state
in fact, yet not being so in form, her
votes could not be counted according to
form. He was aware that the question
of her admission might come tip and be
decided in this very shape ; for if Con
gress allowed her to vote for President
and Vice President, and counted her
votes, it would be a full admission of the
state into the Union ; but the committer,
thought, as there were other and more
usual modes of admitting the state into
the Union, it was better not to bring up
the question in the discharge of this so
letnn and indispensable duty, hut to al
low that ceremony to proceed, if possible,
Without difficulty or embarrassment.
Mr. Rhta said the constitution had in
ft neither wniving or elasticity, and it
would not bend to circumstances of ex
pediency. The constitution had declar
ed the duty A>f Congress in ascertaining
the votes for President—it was not com
petent for them to mend the constitution,
nor to decide such a question ns this pro
posed, and he was opposed to the resolu
tion.
Mr. Trimble said the very reason ur
ged for this resolution, was that which
Constrained him tq oppose it ; and pro
ceeded further to argue that it would be
better to exclude the votes entirely than
set snch an example.
Mr. Cnlbreth said he could hardly say
whether he was most gratified at being
relieved, by the gentleman from Virgin
ia, (Mr. Randolph,) from being the first
to make objection to the proposed reso
lution, or grieved that he could not have
the support of the gentleman from Ken
tucky, with whom it had given him great
pleasure usually to act. The people of
Missouri were, by the act of the last ses
sion of Congress, authorized to form n
constitution and state government ; and,
in the first article of that constitution, it
is declared that the said state, when for
med, “shall be admitted into the Union,
upon an equal footing with the original
states, in all respects whatever.” Be
lieving that the people of Missouri hav
ing formed n constitution and state go
vernment, in compliance with the act of
last session, in all its prvisions nnd con
ditions, and cohsidering that she is, in
fact, a state, and of right, if not in fact,
(and he inclined to bolinvc she was in
fact) a member of the Union, and that
she is kept out of the exercise and en
joyment of her rights by a sheer act of
power—he gpoke this in reference to the
act, and not to the actors—that simple
justice required her admission to the en
joyment of her rights. Mr. C. said, he
found, on examination of the constitution
of Missouri, that all officers, civil and
military, are required, before entering
upon the duties of their respective offi
ces, to take an oath, to support the con
stitution of the United States, as well as
of (hat state. It is declared (I use the
word declared emphatically) by Ihe con
stitution of the said state to he the duty
of the General Assembly, as soon as may
be, to pass such laws as may be necssa-
ry “ to prevent free negroes and raulat-
toes from coming to, nnd settling in, s.-.td
state, under any pretext whatsoever.”
This last clause is supposed by some to
be repugnanYto the constitution of the
United States. It is believed that a fair
construction of the clause referred to,
taken in connection with the oath which
the individual members of the General
Assembly are required to take, does not
warrant such a conclusion. In the spirit
of candor, I wsk gentlemen, said Mr. C.
who entertqin this opinion, what is the
actual duty of the General Assembly of
Missouri, resulting from the oath which
they are required to take and the de
claratory clause above referred to ? 1
appeal to them os statesmen—as politi
cians—as oomtaon lawyers—nay, as gen
tlemen, of oommon sense, whether a fair
and liberal construction—whether the
k obvious &l only fair construction that can
be given to the clause objected to will
not reconcile it with the constitution of
iltc United States ?, Will it not be the
duty of the General Assembly of Missou
ri, acting nmler their oath, to support
the constitution of the United States, to
pass no law which shall violate that oath
nr be repugnant to that constitution.
To use the language of the gentleman . position to this coins
torm Ohio (Mr. Boss) on yesterday, can tofore been done. It had been umi
it he believed that they will commit per- Speaker of the House to receive!.
it be believed tbntthey will commit per
jury by the passage of such n law.--
(Here the Speaker reminded Mr. C.
that the hour for counting the votes lino'
arrived, and intimated the propriety of
his remarks being brought to a conclu
sion.J Mr. C. respectfully answered,
that be knew of no hour appointed for
any purpose it) relation to the business
of the house ; thnt, under the suggestion
of the honorable Speaker, ns well as from
a sense of propriety, he should bring his
remarks to a conclusion as speedily as
possible, consistent with n distinct ex
pression of his view upon the subject be
fore the House. It seems to me, Mr.
Speaker, said Mr. C. that if gentlemen
could divest themselves of all prejudi
ces—if they were not insensibly iullu-
enced by feelings and considerations not
necessarily excited by the provision in
question, thnt they would have no difii
culty in reconciling the seeming conflict
between the constitution of the United
States & the so often referred to clause in
the constitution -of Missouri. The Gen
eral Assembly of Missouri will undoubt
edly feel themselves bound to perform
the duty enjoined upon them by the con
stitution of that state, limited by the para
mount authority of Ihc constitution nlTlje
Unileil States, conformably to the oath
which they are required to lake. 11
they were, to attempt to extend the pro
visions of any law beyond this limit, their
act would he, so far, not only' void, lint,
if knowingly committed, the members
would be guilty of perjury. 1 have no
more to add.
Mr. Tracy was compelled, he said, to > ote
against the resolution, hut for reasons very
different from those of Mr. Cnlbreth. He
was opposed to the resolution, because Mis
souri was neither a statu in the Union nor
one out of the Union—but was in fact a ter
ritory. lie could not therefore consent that
her votes should he romped at all—consi
dering them etjtirely foreign to the election
of President nnd Vice-President of the U.
States.
Mr. Clay said lie would merely observe,
that the difficulty is before us—that wo must
decide it when the two Houses were met,
or avoid it by some previous arrangement.—
The committee being morally certain that
the question would arise on the votes, in
joint meeting, thought it best, as he had be
fore stated, to give it the go-by-in this way.
Suppose this resolution not adopted—the
President of the Senate will proceed to.o-
pen count the votes, and would the House
allow that officer, singly and alone, thus, vir
tually, to decide the question of the legality
ofthe votes? If not, now then were they
to proceed ? Was it to be settled by the de
cision ofthe two Houses separately! One
House would say the votes ought to be count
ed—the other that they ought not—and
then the votes would he lost altogether.—
Would the gentleman from New-York pre
fer that it be decided in the joint meet
ing? In that case he would find himself i-
a much leaner majority than on the quest!
on yesterday. In fact, Mr. C. said there
was rio mode pointed out in the constitution
of settling litigated questions arising in the
discharge of this duty—it was a casus omis
sus, and he thought it would be proper, ei
ther by some act of derivative legislation, or
by an amendment of the constitution itself,
to supply the defect.
Mr. Livermore made a few remarks in f
Vor of the resolution, which were not dis
tinctly heard by the reporter
Mr. Rhea made a few remarks in opposi
tion to the resolution. The ground he took
was this: that it was not in the power of this
house, or of both houses, by resolution, to
remedy a defect in the constitution.
The question on agreeing to the resolution
was then decided by yeas and nays, as fol
lows :
YEA.S—Messrs. Abbot, Alexander, Allen,
Mass. Allen, N. Y. Anderson, Archer, Md. Ba
ker, Batenmn, Beecher, Campbell, Cannon,
Clagetl, Chirk, Clay, Cook, Cushman, Pan a,
Darlington, Davidson, Dennison, Dickinson,
Eddy, Edwards, Con. Kay, Folger, Foot, Ford,
Fuller, Gorham, Gross, N. Y. Gross; Penn. HnCk-
ley, Hall, N. Y. Hemphill, II endricks, Herrick,
Hill, Hobart, Hosteller, Kendall. Kent, Kinsey,
Kinsley, I.ntlirop, Livermore, Maclny, McCoy,
McCreary, McCullough, McLean, Ken. Mallnry,
Murchand, Meech, Meigs, Moncll, Montgome
ry, R. Moore, S. Moore, T. L. Moore, Mose
ley, Murray, Neale, Nelson, Mass. Parker,Mass.
Patterson, Phil.,on, Pitcher, Plainer, Richards,
Rogers,Russ, Sawyer, Sergeant, Silshee, Sloan,
Stevens, Storrs, Street, Strong, Vt. Strong, N.
Y. Tomlinson, Udree, t'phiim, Van Rensseleaer,
Walker, Wallace, Wcudover, Whitman, Wood.
—90.
N AYS—Messrs. Adams, Allen, Ten. Archer,
Va. Baldwin, Ball, Barbour, Bayly, Blncklcdge,
Bloomfield, Boden, Brevard, Brown, Brush,Bry
an, BuO'um, Butler, Lou. Case, Cobb, Cocke,
Crafts,Crawford, Crowell,Cnlbreth, Culpepper,
Cuthbcrt, Earle, Edwards, Pen. Edwards, N.C.
Floyd, Forrest, Gray, Hall, N'.C. Hooks, John
son, Jones, Va. Jones, Ten. Lincoln, Mercer,
Metcalf, Morton," Nelson, Va. Newton, Parker,
Va. Pinckney, Randolph, Reed, Rhea, Rich
mond, Ringgold, Robertson, Ross, Shaw, Sim-
kins, Smith, N. J. Smith, Md. A. Smyth, Va.
Smith, N.C. Swearingen, Terrell, Tracy,Trim-
tile, Tucker, Va. Tucker, S. C. Tyler, Williams,
Va. Williams, N.C.—07.
So the second resolution was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Clay, it was then order
ed, that a message he sent to the Senate, in
forming that body, that this House, on its
part, concurs in the report of t he. joint com
mittee, and is now prepared to proceed,
with the Senate, in the performance of its
constitutional duty.
[Messrs. Clay, Sergeant, and Van Rens
selaer, were the committee on the part of the
House of Representatives, to act with the
committee ofthe Senate, in considering the
proper mode of proceeding in regard to
counting out the Electoral Votes.]
Mr. Edwards of N. C. gave notice that he
should to-morrow at 14 o'clock, offer for the
consideration of the House a resolution de
ckling the admission of the state of Miqpnu-
Vi into the Union, containing in all respects
the same provisions as are contained in the
resolution from the Senate, which was re
jected in this House.
On motion of Mr. Clay, and by general
consent, it was determined that the mem
bers of this (louse should receive the Se
nate, on th*ir entrance into the House, stand
ing nnd uncovered. In the same manner,
it was determined that a sufficient number
of the seats on the right hand of the chair,
should be set apart lor the Senators.
M,. Cl. ; moved flint n committee of two'
members be appointed to receive the Senate,
ami conduct the President ofthe Senate to
the eimir, and lilts members to the Heats as
signed to them.
Mr. .YWson, of Virginia, declared his np-
II had never herc-
inl for the
Presi
dent ofthe Senate, and to invite him ton
srat beside him—and he saw no reason, at
titis time, for tin- proposed innovation.
Mr. Clay said it was true it never had
been done before—lmt, linviug, " hilst he had
the honor to preside over this House, wit
nessed the embarrassment occasioned by the
want of such a regulation, he now thought it
would he proper to adopt it.
The motion of Mr. Clay was then agreed
to without a division, though not without
negative votes.
Mr. Nelson remarked, in an undertone
that he wished lie had have required tin
Yens nnd Nays upon it.
Mr. Clay and Mr. Hillof New-llamp«lnre
were appointed a committee accordingly.
Soon after, the Hr.x-.TF. came into the
Hall, preceded by its President, nnd attend
ed by its Secretary end Sergmiht at Anns
and the President was conducted to the
Speaker's chair, the Speaker occupying a
chair a1 his left blind.
The President ofthe Senate then deliver
ed the votes of the states, in tlie fellnwingor-
der. to the committee for counting the votes,
\VhiI:
A in*
Here
t writing lhe«c n "mi -- - .
tt.iii for adjournment "as made,
arete another scene of-uuusiinl chn-
suffi-rod or allowed, cxerpl upon the per-
iVctly Hscvltamed consent of Such slaves, to
lie colonised in Africa
ndtd tils
hall
racier, a gentleman claiming to have had That, wherever suchi exchange
ofthe tloor before the motion for l he made, no separation ot Igl-baud amt w lie,
r parentand child, kIiiiII he permitted coil
possession
adjournment was made.
I'lie Speaker decided to the contrary,
Smit' , of Md. nr
d Sergeant,
of (his house)—
and the official
mithenlira
ions, fee. '! ere
of thorn twio.o vond in an amliluo tone*.
anil the votes recorded hy the Secretary nl
the Senate and the Clerk ol'tlie House of
Representatives
as follows
For IVcsi-
For Vii'c-l’rcH-
STATUS.
dent.
deiit.
J. Monroe.
D D.Tompkins.
New Hnmpt-hirc
7
7
Mnssarhnsct:*
15
7
Rlmde-frlsml
4
4
Connecticut
9
V
Vermont
«
8
New-Yo-k
CD
Ncw-Jernev
H
H
Penn-vlvir.iiu
24
24
Delaware
4
Man laud
11
10
Virginia
e.'i
25
Nortli-Ciirolinn
15
14
Smith-Carolino
11
11
Goorgin
S
8
Kentucky
12
12
Tennessee
7
7
Ohio
3
8
Louisiana
3
a .
Mississippi
2
Indiana
3
Illinois
3
3
Alabama
3
3
Maine
9
9
fije* The scattering votes were as follows
—for President, in New-Hampshire, there
was for John Quincy Adams, one vote.—
For Vice-President, there was in N. Hamp
shire, for Richard Rush, one vote—in Mas
sachusetts, for Richard Stockton, right votes
—in Delaware, for Daniel Rodney, four
votes—in Maryland, for Robert Gnodloe
Harper, one vote.
The process of this ceremony was very
tedious, from the length of (lie verifications,
proclamations, Kc. and the house did not
arrive at this stage of it till after 4 o’clock.
W hen the rotes of .the F, lectors of Missou
ri were announced, by the President of the
Senate, and banded to the tellers
Mr. Livermore, of Ne.vv-Ilnmpshirp, rose,
and said—Mr. President nnd-Mr. Speaker,
i object to reeciv ing nny votes far President
and Vice-President from Missouri, because
Missouri is not a State of this Union.
A motion was then made, hy a member of
the Senate, that the Senate do withdraw to
it* Chamber—and, the question having been
put, was decided in the affirmative—and
The Senate retired.
The House being called to order—
Mr. Floyd, of Virginia, submitted the fol
lowing resolution :
Resolved,That Missouri is one of the states
of this Union, and her votes for President
and Vice-President of these United States
ought tube received and counted.
On this motion arose a debate and pro
ceedings of which it is impossible tn-diiv to
give suull an account as ought to he given
The necessary sketch of it is deferred to. oil)
next. The following is'an outline ofthe petfi
Anderson, Archer, Md. Ba- erodings which subsequently took nl.ir
r " — Mr. Archer, of Marybm "
, moved tii post
pone the resolution indefinitely.
Mr. Clay subsequently moved to lay it on
the table.
The latter motion prevailed, after at) hour
nr more of debate.
On motion of Mr. Claij, a message was
sent to the Senate, that the House was r
dy to proceed to the completion ofthe bu
siness of counting out the votes
The Senate again came in. The votes
of Missouri w ere read, and the result of all
the votes having been read —
The President of the Rebate anpnnnced
that the total number of votes for James
Monroe, as President of the United Stales,
was 451, and, if the votes of Missouri were
not counted, was 428—and in the same form,
announced that Da.nice D. Tompkins, had
a majority of the whole number of votes for
V ice-Prey,lent of the United States.
The President then proclaimed that James
Monhof. is elected President of the United
States for tour years, commencing on the
jib day of March next, and that Daniei. I).
Pumpkins is elected Vice-President ofihe
United Stales for four years from the 4th of
March next.
WhiUt tins proclamation was making, two
members of the House of Representatives
claimed the floor, to enquire whether Un
votes of Missouri were or worn not countSd,
-■-C. apparently with a view to founding some
proposition on the answer.
Here, arose a scene of some confusion,
which resulted in the gentlemen being de
clared out ol oider, and required hy the
Speaker of the House to resume their seats.
The President of the Senate having finish
ed the annunciation, the Senate retired, leav
ing Mr. Randolph on the Hour, attempting
to he heard hy the chair.
The House being called lo order—
Mr. Randolph, after a few remarks, sug
gested a motion respecting the. votes from
Missouri, which he reduced to writing, as
follows:
t. Resolved, That the electoral votes of
the state of Missouri have this day beei
counted, nnd do constitute a part of the ma
iority of 831 votes given for President and
Vice-President
2. Resolved, That the whole nttmher of
electors appointed, and of votes given for
President.ind Vice-President, has not been
announced hy the presiding officer of the
Senate, and House of Representatives, agree
ably to the provisions of the constitution of
thn United States, and that therefore the
proceeding 1iaa been irregular ami illegal.
however,’ami the question on adjournment
was decided, hy V ens and Nays. '1 here
were,
For the adjournment
Against it 0®
So the Yeas had it—and
The House adjourned.
Tut iti-nAV, Feb. 15.
1 Mr. Anderson, from Ihc committee on
thb public Bands, to which was referred
the bill from the Senate “for the relief
of the purchasers ol public InniA prior
to the first day of July, 182U,” reported
the same w ithout amendment.
Mr. Meigs, of New York, rose for the
purpose of calling the attention of the
house lo certain resolutions which he had
the honor of submitting to its considcra-
Iion at the Inst session of Congress.—
These resolutions related lo the subject
of slavery. He bad. he said, somewhat
modified the resolutions offered nt the
last session, and would now vend them
to the house before he proceeded further
to explain his views in relation to them,
lie was aware that, on the first mention
of this subject, nnplea«ftit Cyclings might
he excited in one pact of the house, hut
he trusted, on examination ofthe pro
posed plan, it would appear less objec
tionable than w»| believed ; and lie nr-
(I nlly hoped., indeed, that ultimately it
might be found the menus of closing for
ever, l»y one of the most glorious acts of
legislation that ever proceeded from any
legislative body, the growing contfover-
y liplwoen the North and South, ac
knowledged on all hands to be of a most
serious and alarming nature. [Mr. M.
read his resolutions, as below.J \\ lien,
he said, it was considered tint, in the
certain increase ofonr population, doub
ling in twenty-five years, we should see,
in half a century, not less than forty mil
lions of people in the United Slates, ol
w hich perhaps twenty would be inhabi
tant* of the vast countries beyond thn
Mississippi, we cannot fail to admit that
the 500 millions of acres, contemplated
to he devoted as a fund for the emancipa
tion of slaves, will have had a value more
than, competent to the redemption and
colonization of all such of our slave po
pulation a« it shall be found expedient or
desirable to part with. Let me endeav
or, said he, to shew in few words Un
practical operation of this fund. Sup
pose the lands, intended to constitute this
fund, to be surveyed into the usual sec
tions and quarter sections, and number
ed ; that the alternate numbered portions
he sold for certificates of the value of
slaves-; that the intermediate portions
he disposed of only for cash ; that the
certificates of value of slaves be furnished
in the following manner ; whenever the
owner of slaves is willing to part with
them, let him make application lo the
District Judge ofthe District, who, with
the Marshal of the District, shall, togeth
er with the owner and some discreet per
son appointed on his part, ascertain the
value ofthe slaves proposed to he eman
cipated ; that, when snch valuation is
made, it shall be nt the option ofthe ow
ner finally to accede, in it; that, on his
consent, the District Judge shall deliver
to him a certificate, of such valuation,
which shall he receivable only in pay
ment for the alternate sections of which
I have spoken. Then, w ill it not be ap
parent, tliat, if such alternate sections
are purchased with such certificates, the
intermediate portions will 'acquire a va
lue. which will command sufficient sums
of money to defray t lie expences of colo
nization ? Will not this operation pro
ceed pari passtt ? Mr. M.,said lie lia-.l
witnessed, with constant anxiety, the
progress of the great controversy whi.h
now agitates u<, and had from tiio begin
ning of his career, as a member of (In-
house, determined, if it sil'mild become
necessary, to dev ote himself a tacrifi-e
for the great object, if possible, ofkeep-
ingthetivo great parties in pence. I do
not know, said he, whether I have, made
such a sacrifice. It is probable I have,
bv the well known course which l have
pursued upon this subject. But, sic, if in
deed I have lost the confidence of those
whom I represent, l w ill, before I leave
tnv present station, at lea<t make one ef
fort for the purpose of uniting the par-
lies by the only measure which appears
to me to bn calculated to unite them+-ono (
lvary to their well ascertained consent.
Tlie question on proceeding to consider
the resolution was decided in the affirmative,
t;;t to 50 votes.
Mr. Floyd said, be did not much approve
oftliis plan himself, but, ifitw as to he adopt
ed, lie wished to make it as perfect as he.
could, lie therefore moved, as an amend
ment, to come in immediately before the pro
viso, the following: “or distributed in equal
“ proportions among the congressional dis-
“ Diets ofthe different states, beginning with
“ the state of Maine, and so in regular order
Smith ward."
Mr. Clark, of N. Y. moved to lay tlie re
solution on the table.
Mr. Meigs expressed his regret that the.
gentleman should have thought proper to of
fer this amendment, which hat! tlie air of
treating his proposition with contempt.—
There was reason w hy a different treatment
should have been extended to him—and hu
had hopes, that the gentleman, to oblige
him, would withdraw his propo ed amend
ment.
Mr. Floyd said, that the gentleman from
New-York was one of the last whom he
should have thought of treating disrespect
fully. To oblige him, lie would withdraw
his amendment. At the same time he Iho’t
it a good one, and that some sueli must ne
cessarily he a part of any plan of the kin#.
The question on laying the resolution on
the table was decided in the affirmative, tit;
to 55.
Mr. Clark, ol New-York, submitted the
following motion, accompanying it with
some remarks in support of it:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Re
presentatives ofthe. United Stdhs of America
in Congress assembled, Thnt Missouri shall
lie admitted into this Union on an equal foot
ing with the original states in all respects
whatsoever on the first Monday in Decem
ber next: Provided, That, previous lo the
said first Monday in December next, Missou
ri shall have expunged from her Constitution
the follow ing clause, In wit. “ It shall he the
duty ofthe Legislature, as soon as may lie,
In pass laws to prevent free negroes and mit-
lattoes from coming to or settling in this
state, under any pretext whatever.” And
that on said day, certified copies of said
Gonstiiition, so amended, shall ho delivered
to the President ofthe Senate and Speaker
of the House of Representatives ofthe Uni
ted States.
On the question to proceed to the con
sideration of this resolution, it was decided
in the affirmative, by a vote ofSO to 1C.
Mr. (Hark, not desiring the -resolution to
he acted, on to-day, moved to lay it on the
table : and the motion was agreed to, ayes
Monday, Feb. 19.
Mr. Clay, from the committee (himself
and Mr. Allen, of N. Y.) appointed to wait
on the President of the United States with
the resolution declaring the feelings of this
house in regard to the Spanish provinces of
South America, reported that the committee
had according to order, presented the reso
lution to the President; that the President
assured the committee that, in common with
the House of Representatives, lie Wit a great
interest in the success of the provinces of
Spanish America which are struggling to es
tablish the rfreedom nnd independence; and
that lie would take the resolution into de
liberate consideration, with the most perfect
pi ct for the distinguished body from
which it hud emanated.
PUBLIC LAND DF.BT.
On motion of Mr. Crowell, the several or
ders of the day were postponed, in order to
take op the lull from the SeWnte for the relief
of certain purchasers of public lands ; fo the
house resolved itself into a committee of the
whole, Mr allien, of N. Y. in the chair, on
the said hill.
Some time was spent in rommittee of the
whole on the bill; in the course of which Mr.
CroweU made some remarks in favor of tlie
hill, Mr. McCoy and Mr. Mien of Tcnn. a-
ainst it,and Mr. ll'oid rather in doubt on
the subject than in opposition to the hill.—
Mr Campbell, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Hendricks,
and Mix Cook,suggested arid supported the
propriety of the committee's rising and ob
taining leave to sit again, it being obvious
that the house had prematurely entered on
the subject, and were not prepared lo act
upon it. [There were 'barely a nindred
inemh-rs in the house, many heiug absent,
ittenjling tile, argument on the great, ques
tion this day argued in the Supreme Court.]
On motion of Mi '.Anderson', the commit
tee rose, reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again.
vvnUhUi.w
Nr.w-YoaK, Feb. it.
VERY LATE FROM EUROPE.
Tlie. packet ship Albion, Williams, arrived
yesterday morning from Liverpool, which
place she left on the 2d of January, bringing
papers and advices to that date.
The ailairs of Naples are drawing to a
crisis.. King Ferdinand IV. on the invitation
>f the Allied Sovereigns of the ilpjy Le
too, in which both may participate, and I ‘’ ! ' H T" 1 ! h " ;lld
in winch they win, as 1 repeat, perform .
one of the most noble acts.of legislation
—one wdiicli l would not exchange for
til Ihe laws on our statute hook from’ 80
to this day. I have even indulged what
may be considered an extremely roman
tic opinion, that the original plan of Las
Casas, of preventing tlie destruction of
the Indian race by supplying liieir place
with the hardy natives of Africa, may yet
terminate in restoring to Africa, from the
pressure ofthe great necessity which we
leel on the subject, her long estranged
children, with the first principles of the
Christian Religion and of Education, so
that Africa, long benighted, may assume
a respectable rank among the People of
the world. With these remarks, Mr.
M. submitted the following resolution :
Whereas slavery in the United States is
an evil acknowledged to he of great and cn-
creasing magnitude, and which merits the
greatest efforts of this nation to remedy—
therefore
Resolved, That a committee be appointed
to enquire into the expediency of devoting
500,000,000 acres of public lands next west
ofthe Mississippi as a fund for the purpose
of, in tlie first place, employinga naval force,
competent to the annihilation ofthe slave
trade. Secondly, the gradual emancipation
of slaves, hy a voluntary exchange of the
lands for them ; and, lastly, colonizing such
emancipated slaves in site'll ways as may he
conducive to their happiness in their original
country, Africa: Provided, That no such
exchange of lands for slaves shall ever be
gress at Laybaeh, in Germany—and it is
said that this journey is undertaken with tile
consent of the Neapolitan Parliament.
which last for some days together, when lie
remained secluded, as well from his friends,
a: liom his visitors. The circuit to which
lie was formerly limited, has recently |>een
extended, nnd lie is permitted to ride and
walk in a space of not less than 14 miles,—
The advices add that several British officers
hod been allowed interviews with him, nnd
particularly Gen. Dovetoo, who continued
in the company of Bonaparte for a long pe
riod.
A Vienna article of the 14th of December
states, that as soon as the affairs of Naples
shall have been arranged, the t Allied Sove
reigns, will turn their attention to Spain
nnd in the spring another Congress will be.
leld, at which they will concert means for
securing the safety of the existing instituti
ons in Europe.
The London Courier states, flint the ac
counts from the different and distant provin
ces of Spain seem to indicate the approach
of a general convulsion. Hostility to this
constitutional system is avowed with a dar
ing, which the civil authorities, aided hy an
active military force, find it dillicfilt to re
strain.
Madrid papers ofthe 1 nth Dec. state that
the Duke de L’lnfatitndo and Gens. BaSse-
court and St. Mare, have received orders
to quit Madrid and the province. Their
exile, is attributed to the little disposition,
they entertained in favor of the constituti
onal system. An extraordinary meeting of
the Cortes was talked of. It appears that
tlie advices which government had received
at Troppau, Were of a nature to inspire just,
alarm as to the disposition ofthe Allied’Ca
binets towards Spain. Public tranquility
has liecn disturbed in several provinces. At
Cadiz )()()((smugglers have united, which ex
cited the greatest alarm, it being feared that
their objects are political. Seditious assem
blages have been held in several towns in
that quarter. A division of 500 men at
tempted to lake Oviedo hy surprise. Pro
clamations have been seized. The govern
ment now begin to see the necessity of a-
dopting very vigorous measures.
Liverpool, Dee. 30.
The king of Fi ance has opened the pre
sent session of his legislative bodies hy a
speech, which, like all the former speeches
of that w ise and benevolent Prince, exhibits
more of the language of a patriarch address
ing his progeny, than that of a monarch ad
dressing l.is subjects. The attachment to
free institutions which it breathes, is ns un
equivocal as its spirit is mild and conciliato
ry, and its polities moderate and rationaL
The state of France, as depicted in his
speech, exhibits that surprising power of re
siliency after pressure, which has so often
been remarked by historians. None of tho
great empires in Europe, have been brought
m low ns France, and yet none equals it in
the elasticity of its rebound. In every de
partment. ol u.imestic industry she. seems to
have recovered the prosperity of former
times—her foreign commerce is rapidly in
creasing, and what is still better, her public,
debt is rapiply diminishing. Those who
consider the actual resources of France, their
vast extent, and their permanent nature, will
not he surprised at this sudden recovery.—
The resources of our own country are not
less extraordinary, hut unhappily they ara
of a nature more adventitious and more sub
ject to vicissitudes.
The population of France is not in tho
dangerous situation of being dependent
lo the extent of nearly half its amount on
trade and mauufnctuics ; exposed, therefore,
to tlie eapi ices of fashion, the hazards of fo
reign markets, and the fluctuations of poli
tical events. Five-sixths of the French na
tion are chiefly supported by agriculture and
its dependent pursuits, and even its manu
facturing population is nut, exeept in very
few instances, congregated together in those
immoral and distempered masses which are
found in the principal manufacturing dis
tricts of this country. The difference con
stitutes the only superiority of France over
Britain,and renders it, in ordinary times, a
country much easier to lie governed.
NAPLES.
Tlie following official documents have been
published at Naples :—
Copy of a letter from tlie Emperor of Austria
to the King of Ada pies.
“ Tiioppau, Nov. 20.
“ Sir, my Brother, and very dear Father
in-law ;
“ Unhappy circumstances have prevented
n-.y receiving the letters addressed to me by
your Majesty during a period of four months.
The events however, to which those letters
ive probably related have not ceased to oc
cupy my most serious meditations, as well
as those ofthe Allied Powers assembled at
Troppau to deliberate in unison on the con
sequences with which these events menace
the rest ofthe Italian peninsula, and perhaps
tlie whole of Europe. In determining cm
this common aonstitution, we have only ac
ted in conformity with the transactions of
DIM, 1815, and 1818—transactions of which
your Majesty, as well as Europe at large.,
knew tlie character and object, and upon
which that tutelary alliance is founded—•
solely designed to guarantee from all danger
the political independence and territorial in-
tegiity of nil its states, and to ensure the re
pose prosperity of Europe at large, hy the
repose and prosperity of each of Ihe coun
tries of which it is composed. Your Majes*
ty, then, cannot doubt that the object of tho
Cabinets assembled here is to reconcile the
interest and well-being, the enjoyment, of
w’hicli (lie paternal solicitude of your Majes
ty would lead you to desire for your peopf
A meeting was held at Liverpool the last 1 with the duties of the Allied "Monarch's I
"IVu*^’-. for ,_i P lll 'P9 3 « of consider- j their own states, and the rest ofthe world.
ing the propriety of addressing the king up
on the present state of the country. Tile
mayoratate.il, that the object of the meeting
was to take into consideration a loyal and
dutiful address to the king. Immediately
after this was announced, a gentleman ad
dressed the meeting, calling upon theassem
hly to use their exertions for a reform in the
present state of tlie times. Much tumult
ensued—when the mayor stated that the
meeting was dissolved, “ it not being in the
power of any man to preserve order."
Letters from Vienna, dated 18th Decem
ber, contain the assurance that sometime, at
least, must elapse, under whatever circum
stances, before the tranquility of Europe is
interrupted. The intention of the king of
Naples to repair to the Congress at Lnylnirli
was known—and it is added, as a credible
rumour, that the mediation ofthe Pope had
been offered to heal the differences with Aus
tria, and the other members ofthe holy al
liance, and that Cardinal GunsnUi would
probably he present at the Congress for that
purpose. The commencement 0 f|ho deli
berations at Laybaeh, is not likely to take
place very early, as the emperor was certain
ly expected at Vienna on the *!st Decem
ber, nnd would remain thereuntil thu begin
ning of February.
Letters from Rt. Helena, nrn received to
the 7th November, at which period Bona
parte enjoyed good health ; he is however,
frequently subject to fits of despondency,
But my allies and myself should feel happy
to fulfil these solemn engagements with tho
co-operation of your Majesty, nnd we now,
faithful to the principles we have proclaimed,
demand this co-opnratien. It is solely with
this view that we propose to your Majesty to
assemble with us in the city of Layiinch.— -
Your presence, Sire, we are. sure will hasten
a reeoneilatinn almost indispensable'; audit
is in tho namo of the dearest interests ot
your kingdom, mid with that watchful soli
citude Ilf which wo believe that we have
given more than one testimony to your Ma
jesty, that we now invite you to receive new
proofs of the true friendship which we bear
you, ar d of that frankness which forms tho
lia-us of our policy.
“ Receive the assn ranee ofthe distinguish
ed consideration and unalterable attachment
with which
I am your Majesty’s true brother, son-in
law and ally. (Signed) FRANCIS.
Letters we also addressed to the King of
Naples hy the Emperor of Russia nml tho
of Prussia, but precisely in tl* u same
Kin
■terms
Add
of
Idress hy Ferdinand I. hy tlio gtf c ot
God and the Constitution of tho Monar
chy, King of tlie Two Sicilies, &c- *- c - to
his faithful deputies of Parliament.
“ Tho Sovereigns of Austria, Russia, anil
Prussia, united in Congress at '1 roppau,
have sent me three letters,in which they in
vite me to repair in person to Laybaeh, to
