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Of one tiling I am well satisfied, that all the'
feelings ot the administration are on the side
of the Spanish Patriots, and that if they
do.ii'dfc.ngfo aid them in their struggle they
talc
pede their efforts in a cause so sacred to every
American. Many men here for whose virtue
and patriotism I have the greatest respect, some
of them niy own personal friends, differ with me
essentially on this question. They consider that
the minister here ought at once tube acknow
ledged. Hut, is it necessary for the government
this at present ? As a mere agent, our
^courts are open to their minister, and under that
character he can perform every function essen
tial to the interest of those he represents. Even
correspondence with the government is not deni
ed him—and 1 know it to be a fact that lie has
recently sent in several communications. If
then lie can communicate with the government
and has free access to our courts, shall we for the
mere ceremony of recognising him as minister,
create new difficulties in our negotiation with
Spain ? At any rate, is it not a better course to
suspend this subject until the return of our com
missioners ?
The other question, the capture of Amelia
Island, is one of more difficulty. The law pass
ed in secret session, and which has been recent
ly printed, did not. in my opinion, authorize
its occupation. Of this, however, you are as
well able to judge as myself.—The law was pass
ed at a time when it was considered probable
that the British government might take possession
of Florida. The United States having claims
to a great amount against Spain, and anxious,
too, to possess the Floridas, did not wish them
to pass into the hands of a foreign government.
'Whatever construction the law may admit of,
this was its real object. Was it in danger of
passing into the hands of a foreign government
at the time the executive issued orders for taking
possession ? Can the association at Galvczton,
formed with forty or fifty persons, most of them
seamen, with a bankrupt auctioneer at their head,
come under the denomination of a foreign govern
ment ? Amelia Island was wrested from Spain
by American citizens. McGregor derived his
authority from the minister from some one of the
Mexican provinces at this place; a minister not
recognized or acknowledged by the American
government, and whose authority, even if ac
knowledged, could not extend to cases of war
ami peace, and particularly to the issuing and
granting military commissions, which is in all
countries a portion of the sovereignty, either
specially delegated to those who exercise it, or
vested in the supreme executive authority. The
commissions issued by Genet, a minister recog
nized by our country, and in the full exercise of
all the powers attached to the station, were con
sidered null and void on this ground.
The executive, too, in the public communica
tion to Congress, considers the persons occupy
ing Amelia Island as not authorised by any exist
ing government, and of course not a foreign pow
er as contemplated by the law. If these people
come under the denomination of a foreign power,
then the law justifies the course pursued.—If, on
the. contrary, they are American citizens, the
seizure by the United States, in consequence of
such an occupation, would be considered as a
mere pretext to get into our possession a territo
ry which it would be convenient for us to pos
sess.
The ground at first taken by the executive
when Russian povvwjiad approached tn Persia,
India ami China. The English must regard
these events .more seriously, as they inform us
that French officers had been kindly received at
the court of Persia, though nothing had appeared
unfriendly to the British interest, and the king
Imd apologised as he could not be permitted to
take British officers into his pay.—Esse.v tiepin.
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
Monday, February 2.
On motion by Mr. Campbell, the committee
of Finance were discharged from the further con
sideration of the message of the president, re
jecting the claim of the heirs of Caron de Beau- 1
Hiarchais, and it was referred to a select com
mittee, consisting of Messrs. King, Macon,
Campbell, Barbour and Daggett.
Mr. Burrill submitted tlie following motion
for consideration : “ Resolved, tiiat the commit
tee of public lands be instructed to report a bill
for extending, for the term of nine months, from
the first day of March, A. D. 1818, the time
tnhtcd for exhibition of claims for certain land
warrants, described in the act, entitled ,l An act
further extending the time for issuing and locat
ing military land warrants, and for other purpo
ses, v passed April 16,1816.
Mr. Campbell offered instructions from the
legislature of the state of Tennessee to their
Senators, to use their exertions to procure the
passage of an amendment to the constitution of
the United States, relative to the compensation
ofAleihbers of Congress; and moved that they
be received and read; but, on motion the further
consideration thereof was postponed until to-mor
row. [This is a matter on which the practice of
the Senate is not settled ; the propriety of re
ceiving such instructions formally by the Senate,
and entering them on record, having been a sub
ject of contestation heretofore, and never con
clusively decided.]
Mr. Storer submitted for consideration the fol
lowing resolution : “ Resolved, that the presi
dent of the United States be requested to cause
a statement of the progress made under the act
to provide for surveying the coasts of the United
States, passed February 10, 180", andjany sub
sequent acts on the same subject, to be laid be
fore Congress.
^jljjmSeiiate resumed the consideration of the
n!™% appropriation bill, and agreed thereto,
with several amendments ; one of which appro
priates 20,000 dollars for brevet extra pay to bre
vet officers on separate commands. [The bill in
the other house contained an appropriation of
3.5,000 for the same object ; which was there
struck out of the bill, and is now reinstated in
part by the senate.] The bill, as amended, was
ordered to be read a third time.
Mr. Williams of Mississippi submitted the fol
lowing resolution : “ Resolved, that the commit
tee on the public lands be instructed to enquire
into the expediency of providing by law for the
reservation of such tracts of land within the se
veral land destricts of the United States, as may
in the opinron of the president be suitable sites
for the laying out and establishing towns j and
for the sale of the lots therein.”
Thursday, February 5.
The senate resumed the consideration of the
mode of disposing of the instructions from the
legislature of Tennessee to its senators and re
presentatives ; and considerable debate took
mendinents of the senate to the bill for establish
ing additional, laud offices in the territory of
Missouri, reported tiic same with other amend
ments—which were agreed td by the house, and
sent to the s$na4e.
The motion submitted yesterday by Mr. For
syth, was taken up and agreed to as follows:—
“ Resolved', that the committee ot ways and
means bfe instructed to enquire whether the hank
of the IJ. S, is authorised by its charter to receive as
pledge or Beciirity for loans made to individuals
or corporations,,transfers of public debt made to
the bank, or to any officers thereof, and it, in their
opinion, such transfers are not authorised by the
act of incorporation, to report to the house some
effectual mode of preventing them from being
hereafter made.
Thursday, February 5.
Gen. St. Clair's case.—The house resumed in
committee of the whole, the consideration of the
bill for the relief of Major General Arthur St.
Clair. After some further debate, the question
was taken on Mr. Forsyth’s motion to refer the
settlement of the claim to (he treasury depart
ment, and negatived by a large majority.
Mr. Clay then, after offering his reasons, mov
ed an amendment to the bill, providing for plac
ing Gen. St. Clair on the pension list, and allow
ing him an annual pension of dollars, ami
moved to fill the blank with SG00.
Mr. II arrison moved to fill the blank with the
sum of 1000, which, after two counts, was car
ried—Byes 80, noes 73.
The question was taken on Mr. Clay’s amend
ment, with the blank thus filled, and negatived,
ayes 68, noes 80.
Mr. T aylorofN. Y. then moved an amend
ment directing the secretary of war to place
general St. Clair on the pension list, at the rate
of dollars per month, payable as other pen
sions are.
Mr. Harrison moved toinsert, before the clause
directing the annual pension, a provision for pay
ing to General St. Clair the sum of 4336 dollars
in full of his claim against the government. This
motion was negatived, aves 61, noes 88; and,
the question recurring on Mr. Taylor’s motion.
Mr. Palmer moved to fill the blank with fifty
dollars as the monthly pension.
Mr. Terry moved 80, which was negatived,
ayes G8, noes 78.
Mr. Storrs proposed ? } T3 per month, which was
also negatived, ayes 67.
Mr. liar rison moved the sum of 70, which was
also lost, ayes 71, noes 77 ; and the sum of 60 was
eventually agreed to—75 to 71 : and, thus a-
mended,
Mr.Taylor’s amendment was adopted by a large
majority ; after an unsuccessful motion by Mr.
Livermore, to make the pension commence on
The pretended Dauphin. of France.~^\ u
following are some curious facts respectin'!- the
person assuming the name of the Dauphin, who
is now in prison at Rouen :—“ He is a y (Hni „
man of about four or five and thirty, handsome
deportment, and well informed. lie has beea
now a prisoner two years, during which period
he has been sent before two courts for trial as an
impostor, and both these courts declared them
selves incompetent to take cognizance of this
crime. Before one of these courts lie was del
sired by the president to uncover himself. The
Dauphin haughtily replied—“ Depuis qiiund est
ce qu'an monarque- se decouvre devant ces sip
jets.” He declares he can prove he is what he
assumes, rad demands to be taken to the final-
leries, and when there, lie will indicate places
where, when young, lie concealed several thin"-,
which lie will there name, and describe must
minutely ; and says he, when “ la Heine ma
mere etait en prison au temple,” she with a
sharp instrument, made a curious mark on the
back of his neck, (which he shews) and with the
same instrument, she at the same time made a
similar one upon that of the dutchess his sister;
that when young and playing with his sister, he
with a knife accidently stabbed her in the body
the mark of which remained, and he will if con-
Irented with her, describe the very spot where
it is. The Sahotier said to be his father, beiti»
called into court, was asked if that was his son?
He answered yes. The mother being called ia
and asked the same question, said no, and that
she had never seen the man before. The daugh
ter corroborated her mother, and said she had
never seen him, and that he was not at ail like
her brother. He says, that some years ago,
not knowing how to escape out ot France, lie
boldly told Bonaparte who he was ; that he did
not want to reign, and only wished for a sale
escort out of the country. Bonaparte, adds he
the 4th of July instead of March—the committee I na,nRt * 0I1R of his ministers, who is now living.
whom was referred the remonstrance of ma -
general Andrew Jackson, as one of the
sentatives of John Donelson, praying for tl i
lowance of a certain quantity of land
the state of Georgia out of the land ceded bv tl *
state to the United States, at a period long ant
rior to said cession, reported a bill “ f 0P f|, e k e ’
efit of Thomas Carr and otherswhich w,,
twice read and committed.
The speaker laid before the house the annuT
report ol the Commissioners of the Sinking V u „i
(the President of the Senate, the Chief Justice"f
the V. S. the Secretary of (he Treasury and till
Attorney General.) [The amount of (he nM\.
debtton the first day of the present year Jtan.U
at dolls. 99,004,800 31 100.]
FOREiGN.
that these persons did not derive their authority | place on the following motion, submitted by Mr.
from anv existing government, is the only onej Lampbcll : ‘[Resolved, that the amendment to
on wliicfi the course pursued can be justified, ami - fl' e constitution ot the u nited States, proposed
that will not sustain them in holding Amelia 1st- j «•« legislature of i eunessee, and the instruc-
arni.—1 consider the administration as actuated I tlons t° o* e senators and representatives of that
by a sincere desire to preserve peace, and believ
ing that more interesting to this country than
tlie acquisition of any territory, I shall not he
disposed to add to their difficulties, but cordial
ly co-operate in every measure calculated to se
cure a blessing, the value of which ought not to
be hazarded unless war should become necessary
to maintain our own acknowledged rights. In
the present state of the world, a nation capable
of maintaining ifs own liberty ought to be satis
fied, and leave to offers tlie task of deferJing
their own rights, and fighting their own battles.
VIEWS OF RUSSIA IN TIIE EAST.
The object of the Russian embassy in •”ersia.
is declai ed in Europe to be commerce, and the
appointment would have nothing extraordinary
in it in common times. It is now acknowledged
that it is not in Persia only, tlie object is to be
found. From this legation, ministers are to be
despatched to all the princes whose possessions
lay between Persia and the British possessions
in India. And it is already known that tlie em
peror of Russia is to have a minister in China,
by consent between the two emperors, and com
merce is the piofessed object of this new ar
rangement. When we consider tlie divided
state of Persia, and the growing power of Iton-
jeet Sing, in the com tries between Persia and
British India, we cannot be surprised if remote
consequences are considered, especially when
we know the commercial jealousies between the
British and Chinese empires. We readily turn
to the views of these events in India, and though
no persons can be authorised to explain them,
yet we sufficiently discover that they are not un
noticed and unexamined. From Bushire, on tlie
Persian gulf, a letter appears which represents
tin* Russian court, as employing every art to
conciliate the Persian nobility, ’
state accompanying the same, be received and
entered on the journals.”
The objection to this proposition was, that the
wishes of tlie stale of Tennessee were not ad
dressed to tiie senate ; and that tlie senate had no
concern with the instructions of any state to par
ticular members ot that body. In reply to which
argument, it was said, that the object of propo
sing an amendment to tlie constitution, was to
bring it to tlie attention of congress, ami that it
could not be presented to congress, as the act of
that state, in any other manner than that now
proposed. The question was finally decided by
yeas and nays, as follows :—Yeas i9—Nays 14.
attention to tlie nobility left no doubt of the
real purpose at court. The heir to the ctaivvn
is represented as having the apprehensions be
longing to real danger, and as contemplating
the necessity of war, after all the disaster*
which had attended it. But whatever might be
the fears or purposes of the Persian court,
was believed that the embassador would be n*
ceived with the greatest pump, and that since h»
had entered Persia, every tiling was conducted
with tlie greatest ceremony, and at the last date*
the Russian minister had approached Tehran*
the residence of the court. The jealousies of
the court were felt even by the people. Wt
must expect such accounts, when the state ofi
the enst seems prepared for serious changes.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, February 2.
On motion of Mr. Robertson of I,, it was
“ resolved, that tlie secretary of the treasury
cause to be laid before the house the reports of
the several boards of commissioners appointed
for the settlement and adjustment of land claims
in the state of Louisiana & territory of Missouri.
The house by a small majority resolved itself
into a committee of the whole, Mr. Desha in the
chair, on the bill for the relief ol General Arthur
St. Clair. This bill gave rise to a discussion
which occupied the committee until sun set,
the course of which the motives of the act of
1810, for the relief general St.Clair, the act of
limitations, tiie merits of the petitioner, the jus
tice of his claim, &c. were all brought into view,
as well as tlie propriety of various amendments
offered to the bill.
A motion, made by Mr. Forsyth, to amend the
bill by directing the accounting officers of tlie
treasury to adjust tlie claims of Gen. St. Clair,
and allow him the principal and interest ot what
ever amount may appear to be due, any law to
xvTiile the greater j the contratry notwitstanding, was under consi
deration, when the committee rose, and obtained
leave to sit again.
Tuesday, February 3.
Gen. St. Clair's clui/n.—Tiie house resumed
tlie unfinished business of yesterday, and again
went into committee of the whole on the bill for
the relief Gen. Aithur St. Clair. The- debate
on the merits of this case, and the propriety of
Mr. Forsyth’s amendment, was resumed and
continued with increased ardor and unusual elo
quence, until 4 o’clock, when the committee
rose, and by the casting vote of the chairman,
obtained leave to sit again.
Wednesday, February 4.
Mr. Robertson of L. from tlie committee on
Public Lands, to whom had been referred the a-
of the whole then rose, and reported the bill
amended, to the house. Tlie house having taken
up tlie report of the committee of the whole ;
Mr. Taylor of N. Y. moved to strike out tlie 60
as the amount of the proposed monthly pension
and to insert 50. This motion was decided by
yeas and nays in tlie negative—yeas 73, nays 90.
Mr. Mercer then proposed an amendment, pro
vitling that Gen. St. Clair should receive for the
remainder of his life the half of (lie full pay at
tached to the rank which he filled in tlie army, at
the close of the revolutionary war; and also pro
posed, as a part of the amendment, a preamble ti
the bill, expressive of the high sense entertained
by congress of the virtue and services, &c
general St. Clair. This motion not being in or
der unless previously considered in a committee
of the whole ;
Mr. Mercer, to attain his object, moved tii
re-commitineut of the bill to a committee of the
whole house ; which motion was rejected by a
large majority, and tlie amendment with it* of
course.
Mr. Harrison made an unsuccessful attempt to
revive the motion made in committee by Mr. Clay
—and tlie question was then taken on concurring
with the report of the committee of tlie whole,
granting a pension of sixty dollars a month, and
decided in the affirmative, as follows:—Yeas 122,
Nays 40.
Mr. Mercer then moved tiie fallowing amend
ment, by way of preamble : “ Whereas tlie con
gress of* the United States entertain a high sense
of the tried integrity, as xvelTas of the civil and
military virtue of Arthur St. Clair, late Presi
dent, of the congress and commander in chief
of the army of the United States, whom they
leSrn, with regret, has been reduced, by misfor
tune, to extreme poverty.” This motion was
negatived—ayes 61, noes 81 ; and tlie hill was
ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to
morrow.
Friday, February 6.
Mr. Southard, from the committee on Indian
Affairs, to whom was referred the Senate’s bill
directing tlie manner of appointing Indian agents,
•.nd continuing the act for establishing trading
houses with tlie Indian tribes, reported the same
without amendment; and it was referred to the
committee of the whole to whom was referred a
hill previously from the same committee respec
ting the civilization and education of Indians.
On motion of Mr. Barbour of Va. the commit
tee of ways and means were instructed to in
quire into tiie expediency of authorising the
president to distribute an additional sum a
inongst the assessors of tlie United States,fur ex
tra services.
The engrossed bill for the relief of major-gen
eral Arthur St. Clair, was read a third time, pass
ed and sent to the senate for concurrence.
Monday, February 9.
Mr. Newton reported u bill " to increase the
duties on iron in bars and bolts, iron in p : gs,
castings, nails and alum; and to disallow the
drawback on duties on the exportation of gun
powder. [The duties to he substituted for those
now existing are, on iron pigs, fifty cents per
hundredweight; on iron castings 75 cents per
hundred weight; on nails 4 cents per pound ; on
iron in bars and bolts excepting iron manufactur
ed by rolling, one dollar per hundred weight;
and on alum, R2 per hundred weight.] This bill
was twice read and committed. ,
Mr. Claiborne, from the select committee to
and he saw me safe to the frontiers ; this person
is living, and lie will name him, in order that lie
may identify him for the man he escorted out
ot France. It is strange that during the numer‘
ous interrogations lie has Imd, lie has never ut-
teied a word to commit LiniseiI. People seem
to think there is much mystery in it, for if there
was not reason to suppose him what he pretends
to he, he would long before this have been tried
and sent to the gullies. It is said that he has a
strong party in this country. It has been well,
ascertained, that the person poisoned was not tlie
Dauphin. The surgeon who inspected (he body*
ol the child given out for tlie Dauphin, asserted
it w as not, and for so doing he was found poison
ed himself in his bed the next morning. This
young man has travelled a great deal, and has
been received at most of the couits in Europe.”
Spanish Regulation.—Copy of a letter from the
American Consul at Malaga, to the American
Consul at Gibraltar,—Malaga, 12th, Nov. 1317.
“ Sir—The Governor of this place has official
ly communicated to me that all Ainricau vessels
calling in at the Ports of Spain, will, hencefor
ward, be subject to a Nav "•.tion Duty, as it is
called, ol one dollar jfer ton. None are tu be
exempted, those that arrive from other Ports ia
Spain, (where the duty has already been paid,)
wiiidbound, that come to anchor in our bay, and
even vessels forced by stress of weather, will be
called on for the amount, according to the inter
pretation of the order by our Captain of the Port,
who is charged with its execution. But, no
charge will be made of the tonnage duty, visit or
admission to pratique, anchorage, or light duty,
and cleaning the mole, or fur the Tariff’d light for
merly exacted, these items being now all inclu-
led in the above mentioned Navigation Duty.
‘‘ As so many of our vessels call in at your
am t, with the intention of proceeding to the
ports in Spain, I have considered it proper to
pass to you the information, that the Captains
may he made acquainted with this new regula
tion, and. in consequence, act its they consider
most conducive to their advantage. Your’s truly,
‘ xvji. kiuRpatiuck.
Ukase—Addressed to the Legislative Synod
at Moscow, by Alexander, Emperor of Russia,
dated from Moscow Oct. 27, 1817. “ During
my late travels through the provinces, I was o-
bligcd, to in v no small regret, to listen to speeches
pronounced by certain of tlie clergy in different
parts, which contained unbecoming praises of nic
—praises which can only be ascribed unto (iod.
As I am convinced in the depth of my heart of
the Christian truth, that every blessing lloweili
unto us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ alone, and that every man, be lie whom be
may, without Christ, is full only of evil; there
fore to ascribe unto me tlie glory of deeds,in
which the hand of God hath been so evidently
manifested before the whole world, is to give un
to men that giory which belongeth unto Almighty
God alone.
I account it my duty, therefore, to forbid all
such unbecoming expressions of praise, and
recommend to the holy synod to give instruc
tions to all the diocesan bishops, that they them
selves, and the clergy under them, may, on simi
lar occasions, in future, refrain from all sucli ex*
pressions of praise, so disagreeable to my ears;
and that they may render unto the Lord of Hosts
aior.c, thanksgiv ings for the blessings bestowed