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CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
Wednesday, January 28.
The resolution o he red yesterday by Mr. Talbot
Was thken up and agreed to as follows : “ resolv-
od, that the committee on the judiciary, be in
structed to enquire into the expediency of so far
changing the present judicial system of the Unit
ed States, as to provide for the gradual diminu
tion «f the judges who' at present compose the
aupivme court, for the restricting the functions
and duties of the judges of that court to the hold
ing the sessions thereof and the other duties inci
dental thereto, of establishing and organi/.ing a
circuit court in each state in the Union in which
a circuit court has not heretofore been establish
ed, und of providing for the appointment of a
competent number of circuit judges for the hold
ing the circuit courts of the United States.”
Friday, January 30.
A message was received from the president of
the United States, communicating to the senate,
in compliance with their request of the 22d inst.
a report from the secretary of war, relating to
the manner in which the troops now operating a-
gainst the Seminole Itidiansjiavo been subsisted,
whether by contract or otherwise, and if they
have been regularly furnished. [The report
states, that the troops are regularly subsisted by
contract; that the forces now operating against
the Seminole Indians, are within the district, the
contract for which commenced on the 15th June
last; that the department of war, anticipating an
increased demand for rations, in that quarter,
made early and liberal advances of money to the
contractor, to enable him to give prompt obedi
ence to the requisitions of the commanding gen
eral; that req-.isitions were made for deposits
in advance, under the terms of the contract, at
the several posts on the frontiers of Georgia, and
in the adjacent territories; that by the last official
reports, these requisitions were not complied
with, ami the commandant had detailed offices
to supply the deficiency by purchase ; that the
contractor reports, that lie has sent an amide sup
ply of rations to Fort Scott, from New-Orleans,
and that they were shipped on the 5th ult.; that
this supply is intended to be conveyed up the
Apalachicola river, and it is believed may have
arrived at its destination before this period, in
which event,the purchases ordered by tlie general
\vill cease. Accompanying the report, is a cor
respondence, shewing the extent of the failure,
and the evils apprehended from an anticipated
one, and embracing all the information possess
ed by the war department on the subject.] The
message and report were read and ordered to be
printed.
HdUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, January 2G.
Mr. Sergeant, from the committee to whom
■was refered the petition of the American Bible
Society, reported (in part) a bill for the remis
sion of duties upon stereotype plates and upon
jjibles and Testaments in foreign languages, im
ported by societie- or associations, for the gratui
tous distribution of the Holy Scriptures.
Tuesday, Jan. 27.
On motion of Mr. Harwell, “ resolved, that
the secretary of war be directed to lay before
this house a statement of the claims of the state
of Massachusetts for the expenses of calling out
the militia of that state durum the late war, and
the reasons why those claims have not beeu set
tled by that department.”
Friday, January 30.
Mr. Ogle from the committee to whom the sub
ject was referred, reported a bill for the relief of
Major General Arthur St. Clair; which was twice
read and committed.
The speaker laid before the house a letter of
the secretary of the navy, transmitting, in obe
dience to a resolution of the house, copies of
proceedings of certain naval courts martial, by
which captain Oliver II. Perry, and captain John
He ath, of the marines, were tried.
0.. motion of Mr. Forsyth, “ Resolved that
the committee of Ways and Means be instructed
to inquire whether the Bank of the United
States is authorized by its charter to receive as
pledge or security for loans made to individuals
or coi-potations, transfers of public debt made
to the Bank, or to any officers thereof, and if in
their opinion such transfers are not authorized,
bv toe act of incorporation, to report to the
House some effectual mode of preventing them
from being hereafter made.
the neglect of the base-minded, to the ingrati
tude ot his country, anil—wluit to a lofty and
discerning spirit is infinitely more mortifying—
to the frigid supercilious politeness of smooth
hypocritical arrogance. The man who once pi e
sided over Congress, when Congress was not an
assembly ofspouters, bat a dignified moral body
at which the world looked with admiration and
astonishment, and whose genius its most invidi
ous enemies Confessed, whose magnanimity na
tions regarded with reverence,&to whose wisdom
and intrepidity even its rivals felt themselves con
strained to pay the tribute of confession, may
now—we have seen it—find a chair for himself
at the fire place of Congress, if he can—and if
he cannot find one, stand as well as he can, upon
those limbs, chilled with the frost of eighty-six
winters, but which once bore him in native Cale
donian vigor against the enemies of freedom and
Annyica. Thev who “ with a learned spirit ol
human dealings,” can scan the actions of men, A
read their hearts pourtrayed in the legible and
lasting characters of nature in their faces, might
speculate even till their own hearts sickened w ith
disgust, at certain incidents we witnessed, ol
whose deformity the actors in them seemed un
conscious, and which would have overwhelmed
us with shame arid concern if they had not been
attuned for by the elegant tenderness and unfeign
ed respect evinced to the veteran by other per
sons of different habits and feelings.—Nat. Jltess.
proclamation.
George P. It,—\Vhereas there unhappily sub
sists a state of warfare between his Catholic
Majesty and divers provinces or parts ot pro-
vinces m Spanish America : anil whereas it has
been represented to us, that many ot our sub
jects have, wi tliout our leave or licence, enlisted
or entered themselves to serve in the military
forces or ships of war raised or sett forth, or in
tended to be raised or set forth, by the persons
exercising or assuming to exercise the powers ot
government in such provinces or parts of prov
inces, and that divers others of our subjects
are about in like manner to enter and enlist
themselves ; and whereas such practices are
highly prejudicial to and tend to endanger the
peace and welfare of our crown and dominions ;
we do therefore, hereby, by and with the advice
of our Privy Council, strictly charge and com
mand all and every of our natural-born subjects,
of what degree or quality soever, not to serve
in any such military forces or ships of war as
aforesaid, and not to enlist or cn>r themselves
tosci-ve therein, and not go beyond the. seas or
embark, in order to serve, or with intention
to enter or enlist themselves to serve in any
such military forces or ships of war : and it is
die to the meritorious in every situation of !iU|
Permit me to recommend to the attention of
the legislature the subject of roads, ferries ar.d
bridges. The strength of a country consists i n
its population, and it is peculiarly the interest of 1
this territory to invite emigration hither, by fu r .
nisliing every possible facility of communication,
I am aware, however, that under existing cir
cumstances, the object cannot be wholly attained
without the interposition of the government of
the United States.
Your attention will doubtless be directed, at
an early period of your session, to the act of Con-
gress establishing the Alabama territory. It j»
with you to make the necessary provisions re*
specting the seat, and accommodation of the go
vernment. To you also, belongs the power of
electing a Delegate to Congress, and of nomina
ting six persons to the President of the United
States, three of whom are to be selected by hint
for members of the legislative council. I have
moreover to apprize you, that Robert Beauty, esq.
has resigned his seat in that body.
It will not escape your observation, that some
provision in regard to the representation in the
house of representatives, together with a suitable
modification Of the laws, and re-organization of
FOREIGN.
Gen. St. Clair.—The venerable St. Clair, the
oldest military officer and statesman united, in
this country, has appeared in the house of re
presentatives for some days past., at once its pe-
tioner and its reproach ; ami excited sensations
jn our bosoms, which we should in vain attempt
to describe, and which, if we could describe
them with the utmost fidelity, would not be very
well understood, perhaps bv many ; General St.
Clair, originally a British officer, was one of the
first of those who, in their enthusiastic zeal in
the cause of freedom and America, ami the self
ish and unprincipled were balancing between
virtue and fear, encountered the danger, then
enough to appal a stout heart, of abandoning
the cause of power, and clinging to that of right;
and 4 * verily he has his reward,”—while those liv
ed and possessed influence in whose bosoms the
lamp of gratitude and beneficence was not ex
tinguished by the haze of vulgar pride and ava
rice, the deserts of this gentleman met their
meed. As he deserved, so he was elevated to
an honorable station in that country to whose li
beration from colonial dependence he Imd contri
buted Ills share.—He was raised to high political
rank; ami the name.W St. Clair stood proudly
|oo among the highest of our military comman
ders:—But “ the race is not to the swift, nor the
battle to the strong,—neither yet bread to the
wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding,
nor vet favor to men of skill”—-And time and
chalice, which every day exalt the knave, the fool
and the coward to opulence ami prosperity, and
precipitate wisdom and virtue and valor, into
the mire, smote his fortunes on the head, and
tphjcctcd him to the contumely of the sordid* to
Mina.—The following intelligence, of the fate
of the unfortunate general Mina, is translated
from the Gazette Extraordinary of Mexico, of
November 1, 1817, received at ^Vashington city:
Silao. Oct. 27, 1817.—Most excellent sir,—It
is witli the greatest pleasure I communicate to
your excellency that I have taken prisoner the
traitor Mina, together with twenty live of Ids
principal partisans, at the post of Benadito, ap
pertaining to the plantation of Flachiquera,
where he was stationed with two huudred men.
Half of them were killed, as well as the ring
leader, Moreno, whose head I caused to be bro’t
to this place, where I have just arrived. 1 will
send it to general Don Pasqual Linan as soon as
possible; and 1 now anticipate this information
to your excellency, on account of its importance.
God preserve your excellency many years.
FRANCISCO ORRANT'IA.
HisExc. the Vice Ui»y Don Juan Ruiz de Apo-
daca.
Vera Cruz, November 7, 1817.—Besides the
capture ol Mina, and the destruction of his band,
I have to communicate to you another importan
event; namely, that the ringleader Bergara has
just delivered himself up. with all his men, to
the royal troops at Puente del Rey, by availing
himself of the Indulto published on the occasion
of the Queen having been happily delivered of a
princess
7ft. Petersburg, Oct. 31.—The following is
an abstract of the report of Lieut. Kotzebue to
the Chancellor Count Uomanzow. “ In con
sequence of instructions given to Lieut. Kotze
bue, he was to sail in the summer of 1817, to
Norton Bay, to make a voyage, into the. interior
of North America. Conformably to those
structions, Lieut. K. sailed on the 17th of July,
1317, from the port of St. Peter and St. Paul,
for the above named Bay. . The wind was so
favorable on the passage, that on the 2Gth, he
arrived at the Isle of St. Laurence, about two
degrees south of Behring's Straits. As there
remained sufficient time to go into Norton Bay,
he resolved to enter Behring's Straits, if cir
cumstances favored him in that respect. lie
could not, it is true, flatter himself that he
should be able to go further North than Capt.
Cook, but he wished more nearly to observe the
coast of America. De entered Behring's Straits
on the 30th of July, with a favorable wind and
cloudy weather; and the next day he found
himself oil' a bay, which he wished to examine ;
but the great number of shallows, and the want
of canoes, with which he had not provided him
self, obliged him to give up that research uutil
next year. He continued his course along the
coast of America, keeping as near to it as pos
sible ; and on the 1st of Aug. he discovered a
passage, into which lie entered, and to which iie
perceived no boundaries ; it was only after
having navigated for two days that he saw the
land. Lieut. K. employed more than 15 days
in exploring that great bay, in hopes of finding
in it the mouth of some river. The inhabitants,
who came to reconnoitre him in canoes, and
who conducted themselves most amicably to
wards the Rurik, (his ship's name,) altmmgh
they appeared very warlike, being alt armed,
pointed out to him a little bay, where, according
to their report, lie would find a canal, which
would conduct him to the open sea ; but it re
quired, they said, a navigation of eight days be
fore he could reach the sea. He examined that
to which he gave the name of Good Hope, and
found the mouth of a small river, but it was
navigable only for canoes, and into which he
consequently could not enter. From the num
ber of canoes which lie found at the entrance of
the great bay, the country must be well peopled.
Lieut. K gives, in his report, a very favorable
description of the inhabitants. They arc tall,
strong ami well made, and appear to have ac
quired a greater degree of civilization than the
inhabitants of the middle part of the North
West Coast of America. They learned, in the
bay of St. Laurence, upon the coast of Asia,
where the Rurik anchored, that the Ischuktches,
who inhabit that coast, are in a state of habitual
hostility with their .fyncricau neighbours; but
that they barter with the Ischuktches, who in
habit a more distant country, and who receive
iron, tobacco aud coral in exchange for their
skins. A stormy and very cold season forced
tiiis officer to quit this bay and to return to the
soutii, resolving to pursue his discoveries next
year. He then sailed to New Albion, where lie
at the same time our Royal will and pleasure,} the offices within your control, are rendered in-
- • - ■ ■ ■ • - •* 'dispensable. And 1 apprehend you may alto
deem it advisable to change the boundaries of
some of the existing counties, by creating new
counties, or otherwise. Under that impression
1 have abstained from filling appointments within
the scope of my authority, for the purpose of a.
waiting the result of your deliberations. Unac
quainted indeed, with the present civil and mill,
tary arrangements, and without the means of as.
ceri&ining who are in office, except by applies,
tion to the former executive, delay in that re*
spectlias been unavoidable.
On the 21st of December last, I received a
communication from Major-General Gaines, re
questing that two companies of militia might be
detached, for the defence of a part of our south-
cm frontier. A detachment has been ordered
accordingly to Fort Crawford, for two months
service, and now constitute a part of the Gene*
ral’s command.
It has been represented to me, that the conven*
tion of Mississippi have forwarded a petition t» 1
Congress, soliciting an enlargement of that State^a
by hmitting the boundary ol this territory to thwl
T ombigbee river. I consider the decision of that I
question highly important to the people, whose
interests are committed to our care. The pre
sent line of partition has been deliberately fixed |
by the competent authorities, and voluntarily ac
cepted by the inhabitants of the state. They
have exercised the exclusive privilege of framing I
a government for themselves—a privilege, which
1 trust will not be denied to#ur fcllow-citizene.
Nor do I perceive any just grounds for the pro-
and we do bv and with the advice aforesaid,
hereby also strictly charge and command all and
every of our said subjects not to serve or enlist,
enter themselves to serve in any ot the mili
tary forces or ships of war raised or set forth,
nr to be raised or set forth, by his Catholic Ma-
jestv, anil not to go beyond the sca9, or embark,
in order, or to the intent to serve, or enter, or
enlist themselves, to serve in any such military
forces or ships of war : it is nevertheless our
Royal will and pleasure, that nothing herein
contained shall be deemed or taken to prohibit
any ot our subjects who are engaged at the time
of the date of this our proclamation, in serving
: n the military forces of his Catholic Majesty
vith our leave ox licence, from continuing to
serve therein, provided that such our said sub
jects do not serve with the military forces of his
Catholic Majesty when employed in Spanish
America :and we do hereby, by and with the ad
vice aforesaid, strictly require all of our subjects
duly to conform to our- commands herein con
tained, under pain of our highest displeasure
amt the utmost forfeitures, penalties and pun
ishments, to which by law they will other
wise be liable.
Given at our Court at Brighton, the 27th day
of November, 1817, in the 58th year of our
reign. God save the King.
Kamtscliatka, May 25.—As in the whole
east and north-east part of Siberia, it lias hap
pened also in Kamtschatka, that in the course
of last winter an incredible number of bears . „ _ „ .
have left the woods, frequently entered the posed change, or any advantages that can result
houses of the Kamtschadales, in many places trorn it. The improvement ot the navigation of j
have attacked and devoured the inhabitants, nay,
traces have been found of their having killed
and devoured each other. At the end of the
winter many bears were fount! that had perished
with hunger. In several settlements they have
killed from 2 to 300 bears. The oldest Kamts-
chgdales do not remember ever to have seen the
bears so savage and bloodthirsty. The cause of
this savageness and of their hunger is, that for
these two years past, there has been an entire
want of fish in the Kamtsckatka sea ; and fish,
as is well known, are the chief food of bears,
which, being usually so abundant in those wa
ters, they easily contrive to catch.
DOMESTIC.
ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.
Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,
and of the House of Representatives :
I beg leave to tender to you my congratulations
on the first meeting of the general assembly of
Alabama territory.
The circumstances ofotir country, under which
you have convened, present a most gratifying
spectacle, and claim our most devout gratitude.
While the habitation of man in many portions
of the earth, is the residence of poverty, oppres
sion and wretchedness, the people of our highly
favored nation, are in the tranquil enjoyment of
every blessing. The rights of persons and of
property are carefully protected ; and alike open
to all is the road to wealth, and fame, and public
honors. At peace, (except with a part of our In
dian neighbors,) and prosperous beyond example,
we may review with pride the scenes of war which
are past, and indulge the most pleasing anticipa
tions of the future. The high destiny of the ter
ritory for which you are called to legislate, we
cannot fail to contemplate with peculiar satisfac
tion. Ample in extent, abounding ia navigable
waters, and rich in the advantages of soil and
cljmate, the period cannot be distant when the
haunts of the savage will become the dwelling
places of civilized man, and the forests of the
wilderness he converted into fruitful fields.
I am persuaded, gentlemen, that in the dis
charge of your duties, you will find the strongest
incentives to cultivate harmony among themselves
—and to afford to the country, thus distinguish
ed by the bounty of Providence, all the benefits
of which it is susceptible. You will not be un
mindful that the diffusion of knowledge, and cor
rect habits among the people, and wholesome laws
impartially and rigidly executed, are essential to
our happiness and prosperity. To promote those
objects it is important—1st, that schools and the
means of education, should be provided and en
couraged to the extent ot your powers; and 2d.
that, regarding a proper economy, with due re
ference to the obvious depreciation in the ex
changeable value of money, sufficient compensa
tion should be allowed to those who may uevote
their time and talents to the public, to ensure the
services of competent men. Parsimony in that
respect, is not economy, nor w it calculated to
place your offices equally within the reach of the
rich and the poor. Worth and capacity are not
exclusively confined to those who can submit to
was kindly received ; from the Spanish Governor! pecuniary sacrifices for public honors. They are
of San Francisco he experienced the greatest at- to be found in every class of society ; and it is
tention and kindness, and had his vessel vict-i the course of wisdom, that such provision should
milled. ' be made, as will render the public service accessi
on r rivers, is a subject of the highest interest;
and when equally the business of separate state*,
it is always difficult, if not impracticable, to ob
tain the necessary concert for effecting the object.
I would further submit to your consideration i
the propriety of adopting measures during your
present session, for ascertaining, previously to
the next meeting of the General Assembly, tb» |
number of inhabitants within ou.r limits.
My acquaintance with the affairs of the' terri*
torv, necessarily imperfect as it is, does not ena- I
ble me to detail particular defects in the laws, lor |
to specily the appropriate remedies. Such as oc
cur to me, will constitute the subject of a taituro
message. I have however, the satisfaction to
know, that the legislative concerns are in tha
hands of those, whose intelligence and patriot
ism, furnish a sure guarantee for a sure and judi
cious and faithful performance of their duties,
And I beg you to be assured, that every aid which i
it may be in my power to contribute, will be |
cheerfully rendered. \VM. W. BIBB.
St. Stephens, 20th January, 1818.
Frankfort, A". Jan. 1.—Resolutions expressive
of the sense of the people of Kentucky on the
patriotic struggles ot South-Amcrica, and on the
policy which the general government ought to’
pursue in relation to that country :
IN SENATE 3Y MB. BLEDSOE.
Resolved by the general assembly of the eoiw
monwealtli of Kentucky, That the people of this
state view with the most lively emotions, the pa-
triotic struggles of their South-American repub
lican brethren, to throw oft’ and break in pieces
the yoke of Spanish despotism ; to take their
stand amdngst the nations of the earth ; and to
vindicate th» exercise of those rights of self-go
vernment which the God of nature has given to |
man, as his unalienable birth-right.
That while this legislature, and the people 1
whom they represent, fully appreciate the bles
sings of peace flowing from the observance of »
just neutrality, as to the conflicts between other
powers ; they are nevertheless fully sensible of
the immense importance to the United States of
the establishment of the independence of the
South-American colonies, as respects the proba
ble commercial and political relations betweea
the two portions of the same great continent, j
That neither interest nor duty on the part
the United States, as respects old Spain, exists
to induce them to take one single step towards I
favoring that power, or strengthening tne rod of I
oppression, which there is reason to hope horco'l
Ionics are about wresting from her hand forever, f
That it is in our opiniun wise policy as well * 5
justice, for the government of the United States
to acknowledge the independence of such of the I
former Spanish colonies of South-Amcrica a'l
shall have shown or show themselves capable * I
vindicating aud maintaining the rights of selt-|
government.
That the strictest regardto neutrality between I
the parties neither requires nor authorises, the I
arrest or detention of foreign men, vessels or I
munitions of war passing through our country or I
touching at our ports destined to assist either I
^.ir the general government of the I nited j
States is prepared to take a side in this contest, I
the many an redressed wrongs, and the oatia*