Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

ilgttlieyremiiin in p'— ur waters. Nothing loitafcasier, when the eris completely rep«i and ready lor sen, n to send both men and guns, it they need m, to Barrntaria, or any other convenient place, where the privateer repairs to and takes them on board and sails on a cruize, with an augmented force,'to commit hostilities against the •persons and property of a nation with whom the United States are at peace. It is universally reported and believed, many of these vessels (unaer the Mexican flag, and commissioned by Aury) are owned by persons re sideut here, ana enjoying the privileges of Ame rican citizens. At the end of tire cruize the same farce is played over njnin 5 and it may with truth be saifl, that each cruize commences and ewlsjnt this po^. Attempts have been made to cjlnyict ’them, nut as vet without success. They, 'easily exculpate themselves. Witnesses, on their part, are never difficult to procure, in a place where there arc a vast number of people until whom the solemnity of an oath has little weight. This you will believe, when I add, that two witnesses were produced in the United -slates' district-court in tlic month of May last, who swore that Galvez- ton was a considerable and well built town, with coffee-houses, shops, etc. and that the then con etituted authorities, (Ducoing, Espanol, etc.).had been appointed and commissioned by Aury. The testimony of the two latter, as well as many o- ther persons now here, wili fully refute that falsehood. I hope you will be pleased to give me some in structions relativPto the cruizcrs, that 1 may act in a way to meet the views of the executive. I have the honor to be, etc. BEV. CHEW. tit before theyltion among the'several military posts, whieL it is lliica, Ros.s," ^^rison'wax • «... designed to protect, and its competency tb pi e- Hie amendment proposed by Mr, mrrison v serve and defend the fortifications ammiglwikl. ultimate v re J. e ' tcd V comn rtee in o^er to it is distributed, and t.ihid in coustNctf* «h turn tor the rising °, f th «.,^e the. 1 other military works, if any, as it may be&Jui- tmstnone die subject.. I he committee then for the more effectual l r CONGilESS. SENATE. Monday, December 22. Mr. Noble laid on the table for consideration, the following motion :—“ Uesolved, that the com mittee on finance be instructed to enquire what legislative provisions uaressarv, if <**«' »r authvi»— *oe payment of the tnrfce per cent, now due, or that which may hereafter be due, to the state of Indiana, arising from tile net proceeds of the sales of the United States’ lands lying within the said state, in pursuance of an act of congress of the 19th April, 1816.” Tuesday, December 23. Mr. Campbell, according to notice given, in troduced a bill to authorise the state of Tennes see to issue grants and perfect titles on certain entries and locations of lands. [Those made pursuant to the laws of North-Carolina, before the 25th February, 1790, and recognised by the cession act of that state of 1789, and lying with in certain limits.] The bill was passed to a se cond reading. Mr. Campbell from the committee on finance, to whom was referred the bill from the other house, to continue the mint establishment at Philadel phia, reported the bill with an amendment, limit ing die operation of the act to five years from the fourth of March next. Wednesday, December 24. The resolution proposed by Mr. Dickerson, for amending the constitution, so as to provide for the election of representatives and electurs in the several states, by districts, was read a se cond time, and committed to Messes. Dickerson, King, Daggett, Macon aud Stokes, to con.idor and report thereon. Monday, December 29. Mr. Campbell presented the memorial of the legislature of Tennessee on the object of the un satisfied claims for lands in that state, derived under the authority of the state of North-Caro lina, which was read and ordered to printed. Mr. Tait offered the following motion for con sideration : “Resolved, that the committee on the militia be instructed to enquire into the expe diency of augmenting the pay of the militia when called into the service of the U. States.” HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, December 22. Expatriation.—Mr. Robertson of L. from the select committee to whom the subject had been referred, reported a bill providing the manner in which the l ight of citizenship may be relinquish ed. [The bill proposes to provide that when any citizen, by application in writing to the district court of any district of the United States, in o pen court and there to be recorded, shall declare lie relinquishes the character of a citizen, and means to depart out of the United States, he shall be thenceforth considered as having exer cised the right of expatriation, and as being no longer a citizen of the United States ; that such person shall be held ns an alien forever after, and shall not resume the rights of citizenship without going through the same piocess of naturalization as other citizens.] The bill was twice read and committed. Mr. Cobb of Geo. from the select committee to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill for the payment of certain militia claims (of 1793 and 1794) of the state of Georgia; which was twice read and committed. American manufactures.—Mr. Johnson ofK. offered the following resolution :—“ Resolved, that the committee on commerce and manufactu res be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for clothing the army and na vy of the United States exclusively of American manufactures.” On motion of Mr. M'Coy of Va. it was “ Re solved, that the committee on public lands be in structed to enquire into tl * expediency of increas ing the price at which said lands shall be sold hereafter.” On this question there was a divi sion : the resolution was agreed to by a majority of 20 or 30 votes. Army and Fortification*.—The following mes sage was received ft out the President of the Uni ted States, by Mr. J. J. Alonroe, his secretary. To the House of Representatives of the U. States. In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 11th of this month, re questing to be informed of the present strength of the army of the United States, its distribu. ed proper to erect ty of the Untied States, and of the terri tints thereof; I now transmit a report’from the stcre- tarv of war, which contains the information sle sired. JAMES MO.nRO/C. . December 22, 1817. I “In compliance with the resolution of the Rouse of Representatives requesting the President ol the United States “ to cause to be laid before the House of Representatives a return of the pit sent strength of toe army of the United Stipes, wjtli the distribution thereof among the several inil ta- ry posts which rt is designed to protect, together with any information which he may be able to af ford respecting the competency ot such force to preserve aud defend the fortifications,' among which it is distributed, and to aid in constructing and to defend such other military works, if any, as it may be in the contemplation of the govern ment to^ercct, forthe more effectual security of the United States, and of the several territories thereof;” the secretary of war has the honor to make a return of the present strength of the army of the United States, with the distribution there of among the several military posts, The military esta 4ishmetit as it now stands, is sufficiently extensive to keep the fortifications in a state of preservation, but is wholly imide- quate,todefend them agaivst a regular attack by a force of sufficient strength or skill. To garri son the forts on the maritime frontier alone would require, according to the best information and estimates of this department, more than thrice our present numb r, to repel the assaults of sucli a force. The portion of the army stationed in the neighborhood of fortifications now erecting, are employed to aid in constructing them; but only an inconsiderable number lias as yet been so engaged, owing to its dispersed situation.- Though not immediately comprehended in tiie resolution ol the House, it is but justice to the ■>->nv to observe, that it has been employed to a coiisioeiuuie extern, ..w last rear, in the con struction of roads, arsenals and other public works connected with the defence of the coun try. The existing fortifications are tliotghl to be wholly insufficient in the event of a futile war.— As the declaration of war is the act of be whole community, justice, honor and liumanitV require that every portion of the country should, as far as posible, he protected against its ravage!. This is among tiie most sacied duties of thegovein- ment; and, impressed with its importance, a board of the most skilful officers in our service lias been constituted to examine the wliolt line of our frontier, aud to determine on the position and extent of works that limy be necessary to ihe defence of the c untry. This great wort is not yet completed ; and in its present state, it is impossible to speak with any precision a; to the extent to which our fortifications ought to be car ried. The soldiers will be able to render impor tant aid in constructing tue works that may he de termined on ; but from the composition ot the ar my, they can only come in aid of icgular aud professed workmen. J. C. CALHOUN.” [The detailed and particular statement accom panying Ihe report from the adjutant general"- office, states mo actual iiuuitier of the present peace establishment at 8,221, including officers.] The report was ordered to lie 011 the table. Surviving revolutionary soldiers.—The re mainder ol this day’s sitting was spent in com mittee of the whole ori the bill concerning the surviving officers and soldiers »f the revolution. There was much deoate, occasionally eloquent, but generally desultory, on amendments propos ed 11 the bill, but involving also its principles. The principal question before tie committee of the whole, was an amendment proposed by gen eral Harrison ; which was to strike out the two first sections of the present bih, and insert in lieu thereof other sections providing that every revolutionary officer and soldier who formed a part of the military establishment of the United States at the close of the war, or who previously thereto served not less than three years, and re ceived an honorable discharge, shall receive a pension, if an officer, of half pay ; if a private, of five dollars per month, hut no of.icer’s pension shall exceed the half-pay of a lieut. colonel, etc. Tuesday, December 23. On motion of Mr. Holmes of Mas. it was “Re solved, that die committee on the judiciary be in structed to inquire into th* expediency of provid ing by law for the appointment of justices or con servators ol the peace, or other magistrates, au thorised to enforce the execution of the laws of the United .States.” On motion of Mr. Floyd of Va. a committee was appointed to enquire into the expediency of extending the privileges of franking to one person in each of the stales and territories of the United States, who shall be appointed by the go vernor or legislature thereof, fur the purpose of distributing the vaccine matter, within such state or territory, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Case of Mr. Meade.—Mr. Tiimble of K. of fered tor consideration the following resolution : Resolved, that the President of tie United States be requested to cause to be laid before this house any information he may be able to communicate elative to the impressment and detention in con finement of Richard Cowles Memle, a citizen of the United States. Agreed to without opposition. On motion of Mr. Herrick of 0. the commti- tee on the judiciary was instructed to enquire in to the expediency of increasing the compensation paid to jurors and witnesses summoned 10 attend the several courts of the United States. Revolutionary survivors.—The Imime haifSig resolved itself into a committee of the whoh^pn the hill concerning the surviving officers aud sol diers of the revolutionary war— The debate continued 011 the main subject, and on the proposed amendment of Me. llarhson. In this debate Messrs. Bloomfield, S. Smith, Har rison, Colson, Baldwin, Ulaggctt, Ilopkiuson, postpone the subject. The committee tlien went m further to amend the bill, on suggestion of va ious members. In the proposition and discus sion of these amendments, Messrs. Peter, Bloom field. Livermore, Pai-riB, Rhea, Bennett, needi er, Harrison,Terry, Forsyth, Smith of N.C. Tay lor of N. Y. Tailtnadge, Whitman, Uaggetf, Palmer and Storrs took part. Among the suc cessful motions was one by Mr. Parris, to in clude the“ officers and marines who served 111 the navy of either of the states, or of the United States,” thus placing the revolutionary officers ol the navv on the same tooting as those o tne ai- uiy. 'fhe committee of the whole rose about 4 oxlock, and reported the bill as amended. The house took up the amendments reported by the committee ; when various propositions were suc cessively made and discussed to disagree to or to amend many of them. The house having at length, goue through the amendments—the bill was ordered to be engrossed, as amended, uem. con. and iead a third time to-morrow. Wednesday, Decemder 24. Surviving revolutionary patriots.—The bill pro viding for certain surviving officers and soldiers of the°revolutionary army, was read a third time : A motion was made by Mr. Lowndes to recom mit the bill to a committee of the whole house, with instructions “ to limit the benefits of the act to soldiers who were enlisted for a term of three years, or for the war, and who did not desert, and to officers who continued in the service ol the United States to the conclusion of the war in 1783, or were left out of the service in conse quence of disability, or in consequence of some cfera.’gemeut of the army.” The question being stated on thus recommitting the bill, Mr. Ed wards moved to amend tiie said instructions by striking out the words “ three years” and to in sert in lieu thereof the words “ one year.” And the question being, taken thereon, it was decided in the affirm tive. Altera considerable debate, in which Messrs. Johnson of K. Miller, Ogle, and RK™ to,.L- part, a division of question being required, it was taken on recoin in ittintr the bill, and decided in die negative, ayes 37. The ques tion was then taken on the final passage of the bill, and decided in the affirmative without a di vision ; and the bill was seut to the Senate for concurrence On motion of Mr. Drake of Mass, it was « Re- solved, that the committee of commerce and manufactures be instructed to enquire into the ex pediency of granting bounties to manufacturers who manufacture a given number of yards of woollen and cotton cloths, of a certain widlh ; and that a permanent iuud be appropriated for that purpose.” The bill for the remission of the duties on the painting presented by Benjamin West to the Pennsylvania hospital was taken up in commit tee of the whole Mr. Desha in the chair. Monday, December 29. Mr. Taylor of N. Y. submitted for considera tion the following resolution : “ Resolved, that the commissioner of the general land office cause to be engraved a plate of the surveyor general’s office map,of the military bounty lands in the ter ritory of Illinois, and cause to be printed six hundred copies thereof, subject to the future dis position of Congress. Mr.T. explained his object in moving this resolu tion ; which was to procure, at a small expense, to each soldier,along with his bounty land, a map on which its location, &c. should be designated, and which would enable him better to estimate the va lue of his land. Such a provision he thought would be as useful to him as any other provision, in respect to securing him from the arts of the speculator, that Congress could make. The cost hejiad enquired into, and found that it would nut exceed a few cents for each copy. Tuesday, December 30. Mr. Miller of S. C. ottered the following reso lution with a view that the act passed on the 3d March, 1817, might be so amended as not to bear against the Spanish cblouies which at this time it materially did—he had no doubt that it was the intention of the House to confine themselves to a strict neutrality, but that the law was defective and bad evidently a partial bearing:—“ Resolv ed, lliat the committee on foreign affairs be in structed to enquire into the expediency of so a- mending the fourth section of the act passed on the 3d March, 1817, entitled an act more effec tually to preserve to neutral relations of the Uni ted States, as to embrace within the provisions thereof, the armed vessel* of a government at peace with the United States, and at war with a- ny colonies, districts or people, with whom the U. States are or may be at peace. Mr. Forsyth objected on the ground that it was not necessary to take up the affair immediately, that the committee of foreign affairs had not yet reported and doubtless would report on this sub ject, he said the act was passed witn a view to guarantee a strict neutrality to each party, but the bill was reported late on the night of the 3d of March, last past, and it was impossible at that late hour to give it that due weight, that was ne cessary, it was a mere verbal inaccuracy, a slip of the pen, and it was not necessary at this time to trouble the house. Mr. Miller said that the verbal inaccuracy which the gentleman from Georgia has just ad mitted was the very reason why he wished it im mediately altered. Some other little debate a- rose as to the partial bearing of the law when .Mr. Edwards moved to lay the resolution 011 the table, which said motion was agreed to. The bill for the commutation of bounty lands for the soldiers was then brought up. When Mr. Robertson offered an amended, which went to al low one dollar per acre in stock, instead of the 100 dollars as proposed, he said it would be a benefit to the soldier, and could be done without an advance of one single dollar from the treasury. Mr. Johnson of K. thought that the amendment was q matter of moment, and ought not to be de cided on too hastily, he therefore moved that it lie on the table, and that the amendment be print ed, which was agreed to. Mr. Cobb spokc at some length in support of the bill claiming remuneration tor militia service* m tiie state of Georgia, in 1793 and 4. The com mittee after some little debate reported progress and asked leave to sit again. - FOREIGN. DEATH OF GENERAL KOSCIUSZEO. Paris, Oct. 31.—The funeral ceremonies of general Kosciusko took place this day. His name belongs to the nvilized world, and his virtues to humanity. America includes him among her most illustrious defenders. Poland laments in him a patriot, whose life was conseciated to.the muse of her liberty and her independence Fra.ice and Sw.lz*.riir d '' mired in him the mau < of beneficence and virtue. Russia, who van. quished him, never beheld a man more unshaken in his principles, or firmer in adversity. We are not all surprised, then, that the funeral service, celebrated in honor of general Koscuisko, attract ed to-day, to the church of Saint Rnch, not only the friends of the illustrious deceased that were in Paris, but also a great number of Polanders, many of whom have shared the dangers and the victories of our warriors, and who wore that hone orable distinction which occa-ioas such, glorious recollections. The Americans also paid the tri- bute due to the memory of the friend of Washing, ton, of the hero who shed his blood in their de fence, and was one of those to whom they are in debted forthe independence of their country. A- mong those who attended, we r> 111 irked one of our greatest literary characters, Mr. Sisniond de Sismondi; one of the defenders iff nur constitu tional rights in the chamber of peers, Mr. de Bra- lie, and that general (Lafayette,! who, a compa nion in arms of Washington and Kosciusko, stij- red their dangers, tiieir glory, their noble disin terested ne»s, and if we may so express ourselves, life itself with them. Nothing but severe indis position prevented the attendance of the minister plenipotentiary of the United States. After the service, the following biographical note was distributed, and we publish it, in the be lief that it cannot fail to inie. est our readers. One of the virtues which distinguished the illus trious deceased, wuann uncommon modesty. TJlA, person who has sketched, in a few lines, the prin cipal events of the life of the hero of Poland, has conformed with his character, in leaving facts tv speak for themselves. Thaddeus Kosciusko, was born in Lithuania. He was educated at Warsaw, in the corps of ca*' dets 5 to learn the art of war and of national de fence, he went and took service in the rising states of North-America. He remained thero until the end of the war of independence, ami ; there merited and obtained the friendship of gen. Washington, of whom he was the companion iq arms. When the very existence of his country ' was menaced in 1792, Kosciusko hastened to re turn to it; he offered it his services and the expe rience he had acquired in a country, which, hko Poland, fought for liberty, and had succeeded iu establishing it without the sacrifice of order. Ha made his first campaign aa brigadier-general, un der the orders of prince Joseph Poniatowski. In the second, which took place in 1794, it was he, who, by the enthusiasm of national honor, rallied the army,and prince Poniatowski then pi 'ced him self under his banners. Without funds, without magazines, without,- fortresses, Kosciuszko maintained hi* army fyr nine months against forces infinitely superior.- Poland then existed only in his camp, bevot d« ness made up for the want of resources, and cour age, supplied the deficiency of arms; but tho general had imparted his noble character to all hii> soldiers. Like him they knew tio dangers, they dreaded no fatigues, when the honor and liberty of Poland were depending; like him they endeav ored to lessen the sacrifices which were required of the inhabitants for national independence; and their obedience to their venerable chief, was the more praiseworthy, as it was voluntary. He held his authority by no other tenure than that of his virtues. • , That unequal struggle could not, however, be long. Kosciuszko was overcome by 'superior numbers at the baftle'of Macieyowice He was wounded, taken prisoner, and conducted to Russia. The emperor Paul, on his accession to the throne, thought he could not grant the Polish nations more acceptable favor than to restore to liberty the hero whose loss they regretted. He himaelfan- nounced to general Kosciuszko, that his captivity. was at an end.—He wished him to accept, more-’ over, a present of fifty thousand ducats of Holland; but the general refused. Kosciuszko preferred - rather to defend for subsistence on the recom- . pense to which his services in Ameiica had en* ' tilled him. With this humble fortune, obtained in so hon orable a way, he lived for a while in the United States; then in France, near Fontainebleau,iu the family of Zetther, and lastly in Switzerland. From that time, he refused to ta’ke any part in the af fairs of his country, for fear of endangering tho national tranquility, the offers that werp made him being accompanied with no sufficient guaran tee. A fall from his horse, by which he was drag ged into a precipice, not far from Vevey, was the cause ol his death, which took place at Soleure, the 15th of October. He was aged upwards Of GO years, he had never been married, and his family is roduced to a single nephew, who lived far dis tant from him. But the Polanders all considered themse'ves a$ his children; they encompassed him with respect ,. and love, aud presented with a degree of pride to other nations that model of the virtues of their country, tlmt man so purej so upright,so greatat . the head of an army, so modest iu private life, so honorable to his enemies in battle, so humane, so mild to the vanquished, so zealous for the glory and independence o{Jiia country. _ Charleston, Jan. 3.—By the arrival last eve ning of the ship Friends, capt. Jetfery, from Li verpool, via Belfast, 35 days from thelattet port, wc received Belfast papers to the 19t!i Ntfv. which contain London accounts to the 13th of the same month. These papers are dressed in deep mourning, and filled with various accounts