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PUBLISHED WEEKLY, bY S. GlU.YTLA.YDt,- K.M. ORHE, 0 Hancock Street, opposite the Auction Store - jnncE DOLLARS, IN ADVANCE, OR EO.UR A DOLLARS AT THE EXPIRATION or THE ip ^Advertiscmcnts conspicuously inserted t , the customary rates. Letters on business, il l ISO s, mii9l be post paid PROM TUP. PORTLAND ARGOS. Tin - . WATCHMAN. No. III. T„ |/*e Republicans of the Vtilled Sintra. 'Pin' economy of the republic should he ■^1,, that of a well regulated family. Each iluMild art in the sphere suited to his capa- |.' lv ., m j contribute his share to the. common nt ;, r ,.,|. Older and subordination should |„ observed, drones, idlers and prodigals ex- II,.’,], obstreperous disturbers »if the jteaee 1 punished and subdued, and ; im | harmony . ',I 1C income made to exceed thb expendi- l i ,« The mao w ho should thus manage would by men of sense he deemed dtsereet wise, hut hy spend-thrifts would pruba- j.| v I,,, denounced as a radical. In a government like ours each should contribute according to his means and he re- w .'iled according to his raorit. If the peo- .,roily govern, if equal rights and privlle- !• are the basis of tiinir government and Lj,!ic money is emphatically theirs, their eHirers should be made ficipiently and ellic- tuslly responsible. An office without a eommensurate duty is a b'irden which the people should never be D W dn to bear. Our great Parent has wise ly -hen os a world too sterile for the idle, but sufficiently productive for the irulustri- mis. The labor of all is made necessary for the comfort and prosperity of all. In Ibis country a man of no visible means of sup port is viewed with jealousy. We consider Idleness ns the parent of crime. In other countries pensions and sinecures nro often given for political influence or fa- merit. It consequently happens not Mi.ficquently that the labor of the poplc is lavish, cl upon the undeserving, industry is discouraged by the perversion of its avails and wealth is accumulated into the bauds of ti - basest members of the community HcAcca country of sinecures and pensions very soon becomes a country of vagabonds. The. people of the United States have tin offices to give meat/. None are allowed to eat the bread of idleness. In every office the compensation is to he graduated by the duty. No officer can he allowed an excess of compensation by reason of necessity, past cervices or family claims—He must hate qualifications adequate and adapted to the service, and for the exertion of these is lie to he paid, and nothing more it is admitted that offices which'require the first talents and integrity should com mand liberal compensation, and a niggardly parsimonious policy is not urged in regard to any. But when a change of exigency renders them useless, t hey become sinecures and should be instantly abolished. In this case a high-tnioded and honorable officer should divulgn to the proper department the fact that his pay has become more than adequate, to 'lie service. But instead of this, yon find them, one. and all, pleading starva tion, and condemning as a “ radical” every man trim ventures to propose a correction of official nbusaa. If three or four hundred thousand dollars have been squandered upon Dauphin Island, !o defend the entrance into a Bay whose ship-channel is at double cannoushot from the proposed fortification ; if a contract has been made to transport troops, munitions or provisions to the Council Muffs and there lias been a loss in the bargain on the ad- ranee of some hundreds of thousands, and you attempt to enquire, the radicals are at tacking tlie Sect etui y of War. If your principal officers of the Customs have, at a profit often or twenty thousands a year, sit- ptrintended your collections, while others at your expense have performed the duty, if their petty tide-waiters have engrossed or wasted fortunes hy a perversion of your law, and if such correction should lie made that the chiefs should lie reduced to the sum of participate in the enjoyment, If we are to live upon each other, it should lie In/ lams Perpetuities discourage emulation, grow into prerogatives, and establish the orders m so ciety on which royalty is erected. But when you see the tenant of a petty office, which scarcely requires the talents of a country Constable, and the emoluments of which, hy an honest appropriation of its avails, could lint support him with economy, rising in a few years from poverty to afflu ence, and riding over the heads of far bet tor men, who are. laboring hard to support | his extravagance, you have good reason to fear that your treasury in defrauded and that. your money is embezzled to minister to hia luxury. 1 he mischief arises from a failure to apply the wholesome principle of rotation. A long exercise, of a principal of flee, creates an influence in the modification of its duties and tilling the vacancies to its accessaries. If hy any means ymir officer has amassed a fortune, lie will elude suspi cion by the united influence of his favorites, dependants, an I expectants. The public Journals wliicli his patronage supports, and his influence controls, and his leisure furn ishes with Ilia patriotic effusions, will en gage k secure your voices in his lavor. An enquiry will intimidate, if not sacrifice the in quisitor; his dispensing power will call to Ins standard tools U flatterers, k the attack up on him will be denounced and condemned a p; it or conspiracy of political opponents or disappointed rivals. Take rare, there, fore, that those who ride do not become ton securely fixed in the saddle. Take care that your servants do not become your mas ters, and roll you of your prosperity in spite of your teeth. But the effect of perpetuities is not lim ited to the incumbent—family claims will follow, ofenursn. The accumulation of of flees in a family, is the most iniquitous ik. dan gerous perversion of republican principles. Combinations for this purpose arc so fre quent that they cease to alarm us. A re publican of some distinction, perhaps the only one of his family deserving notice or regard, is promoted, and instead of exerting his influence for the good of the, people, he is exclusively engaged in making provision for a son, father, brother, cousin, any con nexion, even to the remotest degree. What ever are in his gift lie imhlu-hingty bestows and tlie rest are obtained by bis influence or his intrigues. By this abuse of trust, he forms around him a cordon of defenders of Ids measures and his character, becomes tilt reforms which lie will be unable to com plete, and tlie benefits of which lie may not live to witness. He lias had much to do, and considering the period of his administra tion and tlie difficulties and fluctuations lie has had to encounter, lie has done much.— Much still remains to lie done, and it must lie fearlessly undertaken. Frugality was once a republican virtue.— It is the basis of our government. On fru gal fare tlie sturdy patriots of Jamestown liv- cd. when they originated those doctrines which afterwards Henry preached and Jef ferson practised for our instruction and in spiration. And nn much more, frugal still • he immortal pilgrims fed, when on the dreary sands of Plymouth they established the republican principles and manners of N. England. They held and executed offices not as favors hut as duties. The}- were eni plialieally radicals—radicals in patriotism— adicals in courage. A patriotism which si orifices self for country—a courage not only active to execute, but patient to endure. It was deep rooted und strong. Prosperity could not subvert nor adversity wither it. Their principles were genuine and correct, and they flourished. By these our patriot soldiers have fought, bled and triumphed.— By these our brave and enterprising mnri ne.rs have carried the fame and terror of our star spangled banner into the remotest seas By these nor statesmen have convinced the world that the republic is incorruptible, in flexible. invincible. But in our prosperity, profusion has en snare.! all hearts, and turned all heads. Na tional prodigality becomes an example which is imitated down to the lowest grades in so ciety. Retrench your nfficeisof one fifth of their twenty kinds of choicest wines and of fund, equipage and establishments, proporti onate, and they complain of cruelty, and ivi republicans listen to their complaints. Be assured it is time to awake and to b< alarmed. He of all your candidates who has done and w ill do most to check I Ids waste, extravagance and prodigality, inus he your man, let him live where he may and let useless incumbents and pampered fa vnrites say what they vv The Watchman leaves you at present to reflect and consider. He may err, fur lie as piles not to perfection If he shall have a wakened you to enquiry, and shall hare con tribuled to bring hack the republicans to their old ground, lie is satisfied, lie lias no selfish purposes to accomplish, no office to quit e for himself or his friends. It is solely the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated ; which sum shall lie used hy the President ill providing such an additional force ns in his judgment shall be best calculated to answer the end aforesaid. [Accompanying this bill, Mr. Plea sants laid before the Senate a commu nication from the Secretary of the Na vy to the Chairman of (he Naval Com mittee, furnishing estimates of tlie addi tional force deemed necessary for the suppression of piracy, and the expense thereof. The Secretary, having the concurring opinion of the Navy Boatd in its favor, recommends an additional force, of First, 1 Steam Boat of 90 to 120 tons, to car ry two 18 pounders, unit two 12 p'Uiuders, up on travelling carriages, so as to fire from any part of the vessel. SecOud, III fast sailing Schooners of 45 to 00 tons burthen, to draw not morn than 5 to 7 feet water ; each to tie armed with one long 12 or 18 pounder, mutinied on n circle, with two 12 poflmf cnrcoimdcs; with the necessary number of small arms, to row from 20 to 24 sweeps ; in. Third, o light double hank Cutters, each to row 20 oars, and adapted to carry 10 men, well aimed vv it li muskets, pistols, hoarding pikes, cutlasses, tic. Tho whole cost of procuring these ad ditional vessels and of equipping and lil ting them for service, is estimated at 41,000 dollars.] Mr Johnson of Louisiana, submitted the following resolution for consideta- lion : Resolved, That tlie Committee on the judi ciary be Instructed to inquire into the expedi ency of modifying the Judiciary system of the United States so as to make it uniform throughout the Union, hy establishing Circuit Courts in tlie new states. I lin resolution submitted yesterday by Air. Llovp, requesting of the Presi dent of tlie United States to cause certain information relative to exports and im ports, to be furnished to the Senate, tvas taken up and agreed to. Mr. Holmes, of Maine, submitted the following resolution for consideration : Resident, That the Committee on the Jucli some decisive measures on this subject, 1 submit the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs lie instructed to inquire, and report as early early us may lie, vv lint further mea sures are necessary, not only for the more efficient protection of our commerce in the West India seas from piracy, but for the en tire extirpation of those freebooters, and the punisment of those who tnay lie found to aid and nbet them. This resolution having been read— Mr. Johnston, of Lou. enquired, if there was not upon the table a Alessage from the President of tbo United. Slates, Upon this subject. The Speaker sa d that there was such a Message on tlie table, received yesterday, which he had not an opportunity yet to pre sent to the House. On motion of Mr. Johnston, the resolution moved by Air. Condict was ordered to lie on the table—and The Message of the President was read, (tlie same vvhiell appears in the Procoedin of the Senate of this date,) and referred to the committee on Naval Ail'nrs. Tlie Speaker also laid before the House a Message from the President of tlie U. Slates, transmitting a plan for the Peace. Establish ment of the Navy of the U. States, and also of the Marine corps, which has been prepar ed in obedience to a resolution of the House ul Representatives of the Till May last. The Alessage was referred to tliu Commit tee on Naval Affrirs. CLO HUNG THE MILITIA. The House then, on motion of Air. Can non, resolved itself m o a committee of the whole on the bill for clothing tlie Militia when in actual service—Air. Condict in the chair. The hill was read through. Mr. Cannon, though aware ofthe difficul ty of calling the attention of the House to subjects of this description, addressed a few observations to the chair on the subject of this bill. A proposition of the same nature, he said, was before Congress eight years a- go. It was introduced in the House of Re presentatives, during the late war with G. Britain—and such was then the conviction of the propriety of the measure, that a bill embracing the same objects passed the H. of Representatives by an unanimous vote, medium of preferment, keeps the door of fur the republican cause that lie is alarmed. honor and confidence, and none are. permit ted to enter, but members of the family or their humble servants. When these things happen without animadversion, it is pretty strong evidence that we have fallen on evil times, and that the political atmosphere is sickly and pestilential. It is for you to apply the remedy, and a neglect of this duly, must and will lie asci ili- ed to a degeneracy from the virtues of your ancestors. Considerations nfaffinity nr enn- sanguitiity, are to lie v iewed with jealousy. Republicans allow no preference of blood. The poorest and meanest have a right to as pire to the highest trusts, and if the} have the qualifications, no pretensions of family are to stand in their way, Shall it lie said that in a republic one may he born to an of fice of which he is incapable, and to the ex elusion of a meritorious but humble citizen P Distrust your rulers, distrust yourselves, when family pretensions are nbtrudi d and allowed to the prejudice of integrity and ta lents. The injustice in itself is palpable e- nouglt, but when its tendency is considered, when you red>ct that the. pride of the hu man heart invents this mode of excluding merit, and that it has debased and ruined li very other popular government, you owe it to yourselves and tn posterity to set your fa ces like a flint against these inclinations and inducements to a privileged aristocracy Where is the republican independent, firm and ready to correct, prune and purify ? It is an unwelcome, arduous, hazardous duty. Men long habituated to consider their sine cures as their property, who have grown old in? improvidence k sloth, k wasted fortunes which they had never earned, will lie loml in If tlie alarm is groundless, if all is safe, if vv still are vvliat we have been, lie will rejoice in being convinced of it. rinry be instructed tn inquire into the espc- an( J was sent to flic Senate. It was then dienry of providing by law fir the better enrity of tbo public money* in the hands of Clerks of Courts and Attorneys Marshal?, and their deputies. fin or six thousands a year, the whole ken- their complaints. Wives, children, widow ncl h crying out poverty and starvation If officers of your Navy have been fixed at your Yards and stations, without duly, at 'a comfarlablc provision of over a hundred dollars per month, sixteen rations per day iind other 11 contingencies,” equal to, from five to seven thousands a year, and you ba rn] the presumption to doubt the econo my, you are assailing the Navy—the tnonu- tni'iit of your glory. There arc old stories and cotne. from the '■Ul source. “High salaries arts necessary •o purchase tlie best talents,” is line federal maxim—“ reward your greatest men for past services" isanother. Lavish your trea sure on a few favorite men and measures, jo on expending and borrowing and you will very soon realize all the fruition of that orphans, age, poverty and decrepitude will claim, plead and expostulate. .Many have long enjoyed these abuses and they must he continued/or llto rest. B it your President must lie. equal to all. These officers who have liv ed and continue tn live upon you without duty must he re moved. And it is further expected that some rota tion vvii! lie practised. Some have lived so long upon the people, that their dictation nnii arrogance have become insufferable..— Not content to roll in luxury and splendor, to provide liberally for their friends and de pendants, to prescribe and direct in tilling va cancies, they seize the avenues of intelli gence, they muzzle the press, and while urg ing the. pretensions of a man ofequivoeal jio- fcderal national blessing—an irredeemable I litics or recent convictions, they .tic cliaiging national debt. But such maxima are be ginning to be fashionable again. Profusion, extravagance, and prodigality, are deemed almost national virtues.—The chief struggle seems tn lie who shall waste must of the public time or money. But republicans must become republicans indeed. They have reason to apprehend that prodigality is the rock on which we are destined to he wrecked. It lies concealed beneath the surface. Avarice, pride, patronage, and power are constantly drawing or driving you to it, and your pilots are imperatively 'ailed on to keep a constant look-out tu a- ioi<l it. Tlie security of the officer in his place, tempts him to prodigality, and prodigality tends to corruption. It is essential, ihere- forc, that he should hold his office hy a li mited, precarious, conditional tenure and lie displaced at stated periods k promptly dis missed for u failure of duty nr violation of buM. Dependence on the people preserves the purity of the republic. Removals should wot tie rare occurrences, nor matters oire- fi'eb That “ a man should continue in of fice so long as he does no wrong,” although tainth»-r federal maxim, is impolitic and un- h ue, Jf ilia office is a burden others should the real advocates of republican doctrines as radicals and ei]wslule.s. Your candidate must give some assurance from his charac ter and principles that such men will be made to retire. He must afford a reasona ble expectation that tlleso privileged, sun shine, fair-weather patriots, will exchange places with the honest, worthy and industri ous, hy whose labor these men have been fed and pampered. Family claims above all must be put down. The high and low must have equal c alms. To pack into office every kindred pauper, to holster up every bankrupt to the fifth gene ration, to provide for every presuming idiot, who claims the remotest affinity to the ori- ginal stock, will out, cannot he relished un til we have become more “ legitimate” in our views and principles. The republicans expect, and they must not lie disappointed, that a radical reform will he made in the next administration. No doubt those who now hold and who will not lie sa tisfied unless they ever continue to held the best offices, will ascribe the sentiment to op position In the President. But no blame is intended. The close of an administration LY SE.YATE. Tuesday, Dec. 10. Agreeably to notice, Air. Johnson, of Ky. having obtained leave, introduced a bill to abolish imprisonment for debt, hy the Courts of the United Slates ; and tlie hill was twice read by general con sent, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. In introducing this bill, Mr. J. made n few general remarks, explanatory of the justice k expediency of such an act : in timating that lie should go moVe fully in to tlie merits ofthe measure, vv lien the bill should come op for consideration. The following AJ essage from the Presi dent ofthe United States, received yes terday, was read : To tlie Senate of the United Stales : Recent information of tlie multiplied outrage, and depredations, which have been committed on our seamen and com merce, bv the Pirates in the 'Vest In dies and Gulf of Mexico, exemplified by tlie death of a very meritorious officer, seems to call for some prompt, and de cisive measuns on the part of tlie go- vernient. All tlie public vessels adapt ed to that service, which can lie spared, from our indispcnsiblc duties, arc already employed in it ; hut, from tlie knowl edge which lias linen acquired ol the places from whence these outlaws issue, and to which (hey escape from danger, it appears that it will require a particu lar kind of force, capable of pursuing [them into the shallow waters to which they retire, effectually to suppress them. I submit to the consideration of Congress, the propriety of organizing such a force for that important object. JAMES MONROE. Washington, Gilt Dec. 1822. The Alessage was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, to consider and re|iort. TnunsDAY, Dec. 12. On motion of Air. Barbour, so much of the President’s Alessage to Congress at the opening of the session, as relates to our relations with foreign nations, was referred to the Committee on Fo reign Affairs. Mr. Ronxr.v laid the following resolu tion on the table for consideration : Iteinlicel, That tlie Committee on the Judi cial y be directed to inquire into tlie expedien cy ofi continuing ill force tlie net, entitled '• An Art tn protect (lie commerce of the United States, mill to punish tlie crime of piracy and also of makuig such further provisions on the subject ns may be deemed proper for tlie security of our citizens, the safety of our com merce, and the punishment of the offence. SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY. Mr. Pleasants, from tlie Committre on Naval Affiirs, reported tlie following bill, which was twice read hy general consent : lie it enacted, <(-r. That, for the purpose of en abling tlie President of the U. States to nfford more efficient protection to the rommere HOUSE OF REPllESEJYTATIVES. Tuesday, Dec. 10. Mr. Cannon submitted the following re solutions for consideration : Resolved, That it is expedient to provide for tlm national defence by improving the Militia of the United States. IlcSolcetl, That the Committee on Military Af fairs be instructed to inquire whether it is most expedient to improve tlie Militia throughout the United States, by ineansofllie Military Aca demy, or I tint of tlie encampment of the officers, by brigades or otherwise, under proper regula- Resnlrcd, That the Committee on Military Af fairs Ini instructed to inquire into the expedien- rv of continuing the preference given to the Cadets educated at the public expense, in the Military Academy at VI rU Point, ill entering the public service, over others of equal qualifi cations mid merit, who are. or may lie, educat ed at their own expense, or that of their pa- reu'snr friends, at the sell .ol, under tlie juper- intciidance of Capt. Partridge, in the state of Vermont, or at any other place in the United States. Resolved, That the Committee on Military Af fairs he instructed to inquire into !he expedien cy of employing the regular army, or a part thereof, in the erection of fortifications during it state of pence, instead of having them built by contract in the way heretofore pursued. Remlrcd, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to make a statement to this House, containing the names and grade of tlie olfie belongtngdo the Naval Establishment of the Slates, and the duties each officer is perform ing—also, tlie number of officers of each differ ent grade necessary to command iri active service, the vessels of war, at this time belong ing to the Navy. Mr. C. said ire did not mean to press these resolutions to an immediate decision. Being of much importance in his view, lie wished them to lie mi the table and lie printed, with the expression of a determination on his part to call them upon an early day. The resolutions were ordered to lie upon the table accordingly. THE PIRATES. near tlie close of the war, and, before the hill was taken up in tile Senate, tlie news of peace arrived, in consequence of which, the iiill was not acted on. In that period of war, the necessity of the measure was seen k felt ; k Air.C. expressed his hope, notwithstand mg vve were now enjoying tire calm k tran quillity of peace, that we should look for ward to tlie Militia as our great national de fence io time of need, and adopt such mea sures as will make them competent at all times, and under every exigency, to tile de fence of our country. As such, ho consider i d them, and lie should make it always his business, hy every means practicable, to give to the militia that improvement, which will qualify it to lie vvliat it was intended, hy constitution of the U. States, that it should he. Hu was aware, he said, in regard to this bill, that many members had riot copies of it before them—tint it had undergone the deliberation of a committee during the l;wt session, and, if the object wax approved by tlie House, was in as good a form as could tie devised. It could not lie expected, he said, that the militia, when called into service, would provide themselves with the clothing necessary to render them efficient soldiers, unless means were provided to reimburse them the expense. The hill went, in short, to place them, in regard to pay Sc emoimn ills, on precisely the same footing as the soldiers of tlie regular army. Those who had expe rience in such service in the late war, would acknowledge that this measure was necessa ry during a state of war, and, if so, he lieliev- >rs! i'll the House would agree with him that U. I now, in a state of peace, was the proper time to make the provision for it. Air. Family rose, not to oppose the bill, hut to suggest the propriety of prescribing, in it. the description of the clothing with which the militia ought to provide them selves. At present it was left optional to each militiaman to provide clothes of what material, color, shape, or fashion, ho chose. Mr. F.suggested, that ns the clothing was to lie provided for strictly military purposes, there ought to he some provisions that the dross should lie uniform. Air. Cannon said that the suggestion of the gentleman from Pennsylvania had not escaped tiro attention of tlie Militia Commit- prepared in tho United Stales, and sailed front thence, within the present year, against the territory or dependency of any power in amity with the Unllcit Slates, u to inform this Mouse whether any measures have been taken to bring to condign punishment persons who may have linen concerned in sucii expedition, contrary to the laws of (lie United Slates. Mr. IAUe moved to strike out nil that part of the resolution which follows the word “ States,” in tlie 7tli line, and in lieu thereof, insert tlie following: “ And inform tiiis House, vvliat amend ments to the existing laws are necessary to punish persons who may have been concern* ed in any midi expedition.” Mr. Cul/lcn said he had no objection to this amendment, as he understood it, tho’ for his own part, he. believed that the exist ing laws were competent to the purpose of punishing this offence against tlie public peace. It was punishable, by law, by impri- sonment not exceeding three years, and also hy fine. It appeared proper, Mr. C. said, that lie should risk theattention ofthe Mouse fora few minutes, whilst lie explained Uni ciinsiderntionB whirli had induced him to propose this resolution. It was well under* stood, he presumed that, it had reference to an expi it it ion, said to have been fitted out from our ports against, the dependency of a country with which vve. arc in amity—He meant, the expedition against the Island of Porto Rico. Although wc have no further information on the subject than vvliat is de rived from the newspapers, he believed the information was of that sort to justify the proposition now on the table. In regard this subject, Mr. C. said there had been various reports; Jihad been stated that a considerable hostile expedition had been fitted out from oic shores—pa.tly, it was said, from tile port f Phil oh Ipltii—-in part from the port of B dtim e e, ami in part from New-York. The accounts of it were contradictory, hit all agree io tin-: that such an expedition had departed frooi this mtry. it appeared to him, there were some con-id rations connected with ibis Ex pedition, which deserved the consideration of tlie House. It must be recollected bv all, that, not long since, the United Stare* had taken possession of one of the depen dencies of this Very power, viz. Amelia Is land. () ir justifi atioo for doing so, was, that it was a harbor for pirates or a pl*ee where expeditions were fitted out without the interference of the government of Spain to prevent it. It was not long since, more- Mr. Condict, of New Jersey, rose to make , . a motion. In the message ofthe President Re. But there were difficulties m the way tho United Stairs from »he depredulions IN llll 1111 a (* ItM a wilt v H”u »»• « Aioimj, j Pilules in tlie Gu" abuses. Mr. Monroe is not to embitter the i|j„ n Seas, the si of - dollars is here in iat to bear it, if profitable others should j little rcinjraut of his political existence by [appropriated, te (re paid out of any money in to linth Houses of Congress, at the opening of the session, lie said a very brief allusion was made to Piracies, committed in the 'V. Indies. All that was said on that subject, is comprised in a short paragraph, which* 1Mr. 0. read. Intelligence has been recently re ceived, and probably since that part uf tliu message was penned, of transactions, so fla grant and outrageous in their character, as! to call, imperiously, fur the early and efficient interposition of this House. The premature death of tlie gallant and lamented Allen, has excited a spirit of indignation throughout our country, unequalled since the late war. it calls loudly for retributive justice, from those lawless barbarians—-and I hopetn see, with as little delay as practicable, a compe tent force, at the disposal of the Executive, under some one. of our most expel ienced na val officers, with ample powers and instruc tions to ferret them out of their lurking holes, and to drag them to a condign arid speedy punishment. A speedy punishment, because I have no idea of incurring the delay, or the hazard, of transporting them here, or of ex-1 tending to them a trial by jury, with all llici delays incident to our courts of justice.— They have placed themselves beyond the protection of the laws of civilized society— "they have set at open defiance the laws of God and man—their hand is against every man, and every man’s hand should combine against them. And the moat effectual re straint whicli you can impose upon their barbarities, is to furnish to them the spectacle of a few dozen of their leaders suspended hy the halter, from the yard-arms of some of our public -hips. Deeming it expedient that Congress should, at an early period, adopt if.i provision of the nature proposed—the difliucnt States prescribed different uniforms for the militia, and to establish a uniform dress for the militia would he attended, in practice, with difficulties which appeared to him to lie insuperable. No amendment being proposed to the bill, the. committee ofthe whole rose and report ed it to the. House. On 'he question to en gross it for a third reading— Air. Hardin suggested that this hill ought to have a more full examination before it was finally acted upon—and lie therefore moved that the hill lie upon the table, and be printed for tlie use of the members. Which motion was agreed to. The next subject in order was the resohi- lution for carrying into effect the agreement between the United States and Georgia— and the House having gone into committee upon it. on request of Air. Gihner, (Air. Bas set in the Chair)— On motion of Mr. Gilmer, the committee rose and obtained leave to sit again, and tlie explanatory Report upon the subject, made at the last session, was ordered to he printed. Thursday, Dec. 12. Air. Cannon, from the committee on the Militia, reported the bill for disciplining the militia of the U. States,in an amended shape —which was ordered to lie on the table. PORTO WCO EXPEDITION Tlie House then resumed the considerati on uf tlie following resolution, yesterday submitted hy Mr. Colden : Resolved, That the'President of ttio 17. Stales lie requested to lay before this House, such over, we had made application tn Spain and to her Colonial Government of Cuba, re monstrating to that power, that she ha < not done her duty to u - k to tlie world, in a sin licit as she has not re-trained the enterpi izes uf in- div idmils from her ports—k it was a remark able circumstance tiiat at the very time this expedition was fitted out to wrest from tiio mother country this diquuid un y of l’orto Rico, w e had a negotiator there remonstrat ing with tlie Government ofth.it dependen cy in strong terms, but with a courtesy and propriety of manner which did honor to the naval character (CnpU Spence) who con ducted tlie negotiation, against the unlawful expeditions fitted from that port to cruise on the high seas. Another singular eiicutn- stance, Air. C. said, was worth notice.— that one ofthe persons at the head of this hostile expedition, lie who signed hi- name ns Su- * cretary of ijlutc, was a gentleman, who, not very long ago, was a diplomatic agent of this government to the territories of that govern ment, of which Porto Rico was adependen* deney. Air. Colden said, it was not his in tention, by this resolution, to cast censure on any one. AVe do know, said he, that expe ditious may he fitted out from our ports without our government having knowledge of the fact, or the means of preventing it.—- It was quite probable the President might answer, to this resolution, that he had no in formation on the subject— or, if lie did not, he might tell the House that lie has directed the proper officers to investigate the trans action in question. In either ease, Air. C. said, he should he satisfied. His great ob ject was to shew to the other nations, that, while vve demand justice from them, vve are not indifferent to the conduct of our own ci* lizens. Mr. C. on further reflection, and ennsuit- ing members near him, declined assenting to the amendment proposed hy Mr. Mttlc ; and the question being on agreeing to that amendment— Mr. Condict objected to it as contemplat ing an alteration in the laws lor the punish ment of offences already committed, thus giving to t icm an ex post facto operation. Air. Hill had another objection to the a- mendment. It was the first time, he said, he had ever heard it proposed to apply to the President for his opinion what iivvs Congress ought to pass upon any subject. Air. Tracy objected 10 the amendment on the grounds taken by the two gentlemen who preceded him, anil enlarged upon them. Air. Lillie said his reason for proposing any amendment to this resolution was, that lie felt no disposition tn give, his assent to a resolution w hich called in question tlie con duct ofthe Executive ofthe country in re lation to alleged violation of existing laws. He did not feel himself justified in voting for a declaration, in effect, that the proper authorities have refused or neglected to exe« cute the Laws of the Union. IJis amend ment was drawn up in haste, on the sugges tion ofthe moment, and certainly not with tlie most distant idea of passing r.r post facia laws. His object was, to devise laws tn punish offences of this description thut may lie hereafter committed, if such laws do not. now exist. If the gentleman would consent to strike out the latter clause, Mr. L. said he would waive his proposed amendment, leaving the question of law to be examined hy tlie proper committees of this house. Air. L. then withdrew his amendment and moved to strike out the latter clause of the resolve, without proposing to substitute any tiling for it. Mr. Cache said lie hoped the House would not agree 1o strikeout the. latter clause of the resolution. It only proposed to en quire of tlie President whether any meai- snres had been taken by the government to formation as he may possess, with regard to a-| bring to punishment the persons, ifany, who iiy ho-tHi- Expedition which may have been I Inve been concerned in fitting out an expe*