Southern recorder. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1820-1872, March 06, 1821, Image 2

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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