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M
AGON GEORGIA TELEGRAPH.
MISCELLANEOUS.
FOR TKC MACON TILEGRAPH.
Stanzas. >
nr MISS SARAH EMILY JACKSON.
I would go down to the grave,
In the pride of my early,years, 1
Ere the rose, though wintered, that decks my cheek,
Is washed away by tears—
I would go when the pulse is high, • •
And the earth is bright with dowers,
When the visions of fancy are flitting by,
In my Youth's enchanted hours.
1 would go down to the grave,
While die spring-buds blossom gay—
l would not live iu the cheerless world
Wnen the Summer lades away,
And when Autumn’s withering breath
lias blasted my childish glee;
I’ll hie me away to the better lard
In the fair blue canopy. *
I would go down to the grave,
Ere this heart has grown too cold,
And age has come with its woes and cares.
To tell me I am old—
I would not trembling stand
On the brink of the silent tomb,
But fade away like the sweetest flower.
Just brightening into bloom.
Reply.
Is Autumn then so dreary,
So destitute of joy ?
And winter so uorheery,
With nothing to employ ?
Has the monster Death no tenors.
Fairest one, to thee i
And the Grave, is’t so desirable
Thou would'st there for shelter flee ?
Ere Spring has shed her flowers
Or Summer’s sweets have come.
Or Autumn’s lovely moonlight,
Is scatter'd round thy home ?
Dost fear that Time's rude fingers
May trespass on thy brow ;
May snatch thy smiling ros-.’s,
And turn thy locks to snow ?
Dost fear some younger sister
May bear the palm away,
And hatest to lose the incense
Now offer’d unto thee?
With me the mellow Autumn
Is lovelier than May,
And age with honors circled,
ftforo rich than Youth’s display.
The flower that’s pluck’d in April,
Though beautiful and fair,
Is but a moment’s plaything,
And then, is where ?
I love the fragrant flower,
Can kiss the dewy spray,
Enjoy its sweetness for an hour,
Then throw it spoilt, away!
The bud that on its stalk remains,
Neglected, seemingly,
With heaven’* smiles it ripeness gains
Through many a sunny day;
And Autumn’s moons shall kiss its check,
(Though rude his wind* may be,)
Until with golden glory crown'd
It fa!ietli from the tree! B- B. B.
FOR THE GEORGIA TELEGRAPH.
Invocation.
O thou who art! from whom Creation aprung!
All wise, eternal, boundless and unknown!
Inspirer of the morning stars that snug,
Their joyous anthems round thy hallow’d throne!
At thy almighty fiat, “Let there be."
Light did conceive, and countless worlds were born;
Thou great incomprehensible! to thee.
My muse aspires;—her orisons adorn.
Forgive the wish, should it presumptuous prove,
Thai would thy nature know, as well thy power;
That would attempt to penetrate the love,*
That thou on frail mortality doth shower.
Thv nature’s love, as all thy wmks declare,
The noonday light, as well tbc midnight hour.
The atorm's rough blast, as well the gentle air,
The mighty torrent, and the sprinkling shower.
Eternal mind! immensely good and great!
Mv being's author, and my present slay!
Teach me to shun, whatever be aty state,*
What may nffect me in th’ eternal day.
Teach thou my heart forgiveness to extend.
In perfect truth and all sincerity,
To nil who hath, or who may yet offend,
And do to others as they should to tnc.
Extend thy grace to nil thousccstamiss;
Forgive*each sinful action, word and thought;
l.<*t me at last partake that happiness
Which for frail man hath been so dearly bought
And wh*n the hour of my departure’s come.
Let me before tliy hallow'd throne appear;
Let augel arm* convoy me safely home,
Where 1 mav praise and love tiiee more sincere.
COLIN.
JACKSONVILLE, May 11 }837.
Wc have no Liter or particular advices from
Tampa Bay. Front Fort Mellon, at Lake
Monroe, the intelligence is cheering.
By the arrival, on Tuesday last, of the
Steam Charleston, information contained hi a
leltor from our correspondent at Black Creek,
contained in to-day’s paper, is confirmed.—The
Indians occupy two camps, one seven and the
other five miles front Fort Mellon. Of the two
thousand at those camps, it is said fifteen hun
dred are warriors. This however, seems to us
to be a large proportion and too large an es
timate. Oseolahas surrendered. It is said
he commands 4S0 warriors, 400 of whom are
uow with him at his canq*. He occupies a
marquee, and his warriors have their tents a-
round his, which occupies the centre. lie says
Ito has never been whipped nor wounded. Phil
ip’s son is in, and is mi mourning, as he says,
for hi* wife. He commanded the daring littio
band that made the attack-on the house of Mr.
Higginbotham, so near Jacksonville,—murder
ed Mr. Johns, and set his house on fire,—shot
and scalped Mrs. Johns, leaving-her for dead.
A hold and bloody youth is lie. •
' NEW ORLEANS May 18.
Tito Velasco Herald up to the 4th May has
been received at this office. The Karanka-
wav Indians have been at head quarters, and
‘entered into a treaty of alliance with the Tex-
ian army. The army is going to the Nueces
river, it is 3,000 strong. Forty men have
been sent to man the vessels lying at Galves
ton,
From the Velasco Herald, May 11.
Our Congress is uow in session, and matters
of importance will,“no doubt,*be transacted
during the u esentatnj next month. 'We. hope
that there w£J bo something done for the im
provement of the public roap;
The rd is a minor <hat Santa Anna has been
restored to power iu.Ucxico, and that the In
dependence ofTcxas lias been acknowledged
by that Government. It was reported here
that several Mexicans t had arrived at head
quarters, from Mexico,‘with a flag of truce and
official papers containing tho above intelligence.
through Brazoria on Tuesday last, on his way
to the town of Houston, with the papers allu
ded to in his possession, and one or two of the
Mexicans in company .'"^Wc do not feel willing
to say much on the subject until we hear somc-
thing morn, and that better authenticated.
POLITICAL.
PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION.
The Convention of the friends of the “Integ
rity of the Union” met at the Court-house in
Harrisburg, Pa ou Monday, the 1st inst.
Tlte committee to prepare and present for
the consideration of the Convention, an ad
dress and resolutions expressive of its sense,
by John R. Kane, Esq, the Chairman thereof,
reported the following, which were read and
adopted:
The cautious wisdom which distinguished
the framers of the Constitution of the United
States, is strikingly manifested in the reserve
with which that instrument alludes to the exis
tence of domestic servitude among us. Al
though the topic was necessarily presented to
their view, and exerted an important influence
on several articles of the compact, the term
slave or slavery no where occurs.
The apportionment of representatives and
of direct taxes, is required to be made accord
ing to the population of the States respective
ly, by adding to the whole number of free per
sons, including those bound ?to service for a
term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
three-fifths of all other persons. The migra
tion or importation of such persons as any of
the States should think proper to admit, is not
to be prohibited by Congress prior to the year
1808—No persons held to labor or service in
one State, according to the laws thereof, es
caping into another, shall be discharged from
such labor or service, but shall be delivered up
on claim of the party, to whom such labor or
service may be due. ,
By this carefully varied but clear phraseolo
gy, it was sought to protect the interests of the
slave-holding States, and to secure the right
of the master to the seviccs of his slave. Con
gress wa* vested with power to prohibit the
introduction of slaves after the year 1808;
but in all other respects, the subject of slavery
was included in the general reservation of pow
ers not delegated, and was left to the unres
tricted action of each State within its own lim
its.
Such are the articles of the Constitution
which relate to slavery within the Uuited
States fully recognising its existence, and
guarding against any legislation which might
liberate an absconding slave.
When it is remembered how many conflic
ting interests, and how many variant habits of
thought and life were reconciled by the spirit
of mutual concession as embodied in this com
pact, no argument should bo required to en
force all its provisions, and to rescue its princi
ples from violation.
Nor can it be necessary to demonstrate to
the candid and the honorable, that the spirit of
this compnct is opposed to measures by which
the rights it recognises are disturbed in their
exercise or impaired in their security. Princi
ples cannot sanction an indirect interference
with relations which are thus formally vindica
ted and established.
Slavery existed in the District of Columbia
at the time of its cession to the United States,
and the rights growing out of this circumstance
havo recently been made the subject of highly
excited dicussion. It is not however necessary,
in tho judgment of this Convention, toenquir
how far those rights are protected by the terms
of the Constitution. It is enough, that wheth
er so protected or not, they ought in no wise
to be affected by an act of legislation. Were
even the power of Congress unquestionable,
its action on the subject is forbidden by con
siderations of the highest policy.
Such it is believed are noxv the views and
opinions of the people of Pennsylvania—a
State which, acting for itself, has within its
own borders treated slavery as an evil, both
in the abstract and in practice, and it is for
the single purpose of expressing {them that this
Convention has been assembled. Its members
have been, chosen at meetings held without dis
tinction of party in the several counties of the
State and most of them have been specially
charged by the language of their commission to
“assure our brethren of the Sourthern States,
that we, as a State are opposed to the schemes
of the immediate abolitionists, and that we
will to the utmost of our ability defend and
sustain the Constitution of tlte U. S. and that
compact by which wc arc united as one peo
ple.”
Sensible of the importance of declaring,
frankly and accurately the sentiment oi Penn
sylvania on this subject, the Convention, after
full consultation, has adopted, in the name of
its constituents, the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Government of the U-
nited States lias no constitutional power what
ever over tlte relation of master and slave, in
any of the States of the Union.
Resolved, That, whether Congress does or
does not possess the right of legislating on the
subject of the Abolition of Slavery within the
District of Columbia, it would be unwise and
impolitic in tho extreme, to assert or exercise
such right; as any attempt to do so would im
pair tiic harmony and mutual confidence of the
integrity of the Union.
Resolved, Tint each State has the exclusive
right under tho Constitution, to judge of, es
tablish, and maintain within its own borders,
its own system of'domostic relations and do
mestic policy ; and that everv attempt by the
citizens of one State to denounce or invalidate
the established institutions of another, is un-
xvarranted by the Constitutions, and hostile
to the peace and harmony of tho Union.
Resolved, That no State could be justly
required to rccogni/c as valid, under the con
stitutional compact of the States, a measure
which should violate its internal security and
peace, abrogate the rights of property of its
citizens; and that we pledge ourselves to unite
with the people of the otter States, in op
posing such infractions of the Constitution,
and in maintaining tlte domestic repose of eve
ry member of this confederation.
Resolved, That the project of colonizing,
on the coast of Africa free persons of color and
manumitted slaves, to be carried thither with
their own consent, does hold out to tjte patriot
and philanthropist tho hopo of the ulti
mate abolition of slavery, the ejevntion of the
African race to n state of equality with the rest
of the human family, the extension of the
blessings of civilization and self-government
Resolved, That a copy of these proceed
ings be forwarded to tho President of the U-
mted States, the Gox'ernors of the several
States, and the the members of the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United
States. . /
On motion of J, K, Kane, Esq.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this Con
vention be published, and that it do now ad
journ sine die.
THOMAS H. BAIRD President.
Trevanion B. Dallas,
Walter S. Franklin,
George Fisiier,
Thomas S. Bell.
Nathaniel Ewing,
George Chambers,
Samuel H. Lloyd,
John Bredin,
T. C. Miller,.
Martin Stambacgii,
Michael Holcomb,
James M. Pawling,
Morton McMichael,
*0
3
D. Patterson,
S. W. Randall,
J. William,
Secretaries,
JUDGE SMITH’S LETTER
Having declined accepting the appointment os one
of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the
United States, conferred upon me by the President
and Senate, at the close of the late session of Congress
and being the only man in the Union who has ever
done so, it has become a matter of considerable in-
S , as well as of some speculation, why I would
to a very dignified office, of light lahors, and a
permanent salary of $5,000 a year. And a number
of gentlemen have been quite solicitous for an expla
nation; which I have no motives to withhold.
•1 have not declined it from any bodily infirmity
which would incapacitate me to perform the duties,
because I feel my constitution as firm and healthy as
at any period of my life.
It is not that I doubt my legal learning, because all
the great principle* of legal science, which I ever un
derstood, arc as frerh in my recollection as when I
withdrew from tho courts.
Nor is it from a:iy cold indifference to this honor. I
appreciate it highly; qs I consider a seat in the Su
preme Court of the United States among the most
honorable appointments in the gift of the President
and cen.itp. Ar.d to be associated with tho distin
guished Jurists who now preside in that court, with a
J ieniianent salary of $5,000 a year. a salary which
Uv, Rutledge. Ellsworth and Marshall, tnen of trans
cendent talents, who were successively Chief Justices
of that court, deemed an adequate* compensation,
would render it un enviable and pleasing station. I
also highly appreciate this honor for other reasons;
it was conferred unsought for; and the nomination
was made by that illustrious patriot, General Jacksop,
in the last moments ofhis administration: from whose
hands i would a* soon receive it as from any other
man living. t
But from tny industry and attention to my own busi
ness, 1 have rendered my pecuniary circumstances com
fortable, without theaiu of a salary. ■
1 am governed, however, by other poQsidcrations; I
was among those who advocated both the first and
second election of General Jackson; and believe lie
has done more to rescue the Constitution from tiie
grasp of party purposes, and bring i.t back to its origin,
a] meaning and true construction—and given more
chatacter and respectability to tjic American name
abroad, than any President wljo has 1 gone before bitn
He has now retired to the shades of private life, with
the plaudits and blessings of Itis country resting upon
him. Yet he was assailed, with undue violence, up to
the close of In., administration, not only as regarded
his public measures, but his moral rectitude; too, at a
moment when he was heaving from his lungs bis life’s
blood under a constitution rendered too feeble to re
tain it, from tho toils and cares lie had borne ip serving
his country.
It would seem that he is not yet to be qt rest; if we
look since he has retired, at the party prints, the lopd
and continued denunciations which wc hear every
day in the sUcets, and the dinner speeches of disap
pointed expectants, who linger in his wake to arouse,'
if possible, public opinion against him, there is an ev
ident determination to pursue him to his tpmb, and
trample upon his very ashes, t int they may cleavo
down aud blot out the inestimable principles he has
established, and open afresh the constitution to a liber
al construction, or any other construction; and to
clamber into office, without merit or without any fixed
principles, upon such new constructions, compromises
anti factions, as they inay be enabled to form and excite
from this new order ofthings.
Whilst these scenes ore acting, I should be unwill-
ling to hold any Judicial station. Because I might
concern* it to be my duty as a citizen, aud as a inciii-
ber ofthis great coipmuioty, to offer, in some cousUlu-
tional inode, my objections. Although I have always
believed a Judge was not bound by any moral princi
ple to abstain from the politicul discussions that so
much agitate our country, I have nevertheless believ
ed him under the strongest prudential motives to do so
as lie might, with perfect innocence, in discussing a
political subject elsewhere, express an opinion which
might afterwards cross his Judicial path whilst on the
bench, place him iu a delicate situation, and, in public
estimation, cast a blot upon (he sacred ermine.
For these reasons, principally, I have declined ac
cepting that appointment
WM. SMITH.
Huntsville, A jiril 27, 1637.
New York meeting of merchants nor a single whig
paper have alluded to in their rehearsal ofthe “causes
or the existing distress.” That wrong lies at the door
of Davis Wedster and the rest, who might have car.
ried Mr. Wright's bill by a single word, but purpose
ly defeated it, at the only time w hen, if it had passed
the Senate, it wonld also, have passed the House.
Is it not plain, then, that when men clamor
violently about the circular, and say not a word upon
the ip whig opposition to the anticipated distribution
of three millions of claims, Iw which that measure wan
defeated-rthat they are not honest in seeking out the
cause of commercial embarrassment, but look merely
for those which they can use to prejudice the people
against tfie General Government?
The meeting of the New York merchants, was
essentially a whig meeting. Its grand object was, to
obtain relief, to solicit relief of (be existing Govern
ment; and with consummate wisdom, deserving of
immortal record, to obtain this re fief, they heaped ev
ery opprobrium in (heir power uppp that sent of which
they were about to request a compliance with thetr
desires. ‘ _
They did more— themselves tlte most offending
parties—themselves the grand and primary cause of
the calamitous distress—themselves the speculator
the overtraders—themselves a portion of the air-sup
ported, credit upheld systsm— they dared to wash their
hands of all blame, and to throw their iniquity as well
as its own, upon the shoulders of tlte Government; and
then like innocent and unoffending babes, they go
forth tQ this scape-goat Government, to ask attention
tq their request,—Nirto York Transcript.
The proximate cause of tho present disorders in the
exchanges, aud in some degree in the money market
is, as is known to every man of sense, the distribu
tion act. This distribution act has rendered it neces,
sary to transfer, from point to point, an immense a-
moumof funds, qot according to the wants of Gov.
nient, nqr according to the demands ol commerce, but
according to the provisions of an act of Congress,
which completely binds the hands of the Executive
authorities. The distress thus produced iu the cities
is greatly increased by the clamor of tho whigs on ac
couqt or the operations of their own act. Their ob
ject is probably to bring about a general suspenion
of specie payments, in order that they may profit in
tho various ways, both political and pecuniary, in
which scheming men usually profit in times of public
calamity hesides laying a supposed basis for a rechar-
tor of the United States Bank.
Whether they will succeed in their object, remains
yetto be seen. Two of the payments to the States have
already been made, Two more remain to be effected.
If it suited the policy of the whig* to give over their
attempts to destroy every kind ofconfidence between
man and man, the two remuinipg payments would
cause mqch less distress than the two last have occasi-
sionod To effect thepayment of the third instaluien ,
it will, we understand, be necessary to transfer from
State to State, a sum amounting in the aggregrate
to only about one million three hundred thousand dol
lars To effect the payment of the fou fill instalment,
the requisite transfers will not be large. The amount
that remains to be paid to each State, is nqw, with a
few e veeptious, in the bapks of that State, <>r occas-
i»nally in one adjoining. The worst of the direct et-
fects ofthe distribution act are now over—if the whigs
chpose to have it so. And that portion of the whig
narty wjto have no interest in* a general suspension
of specie payments, ought to exetcise their influence
to prevent the political and pecuniary speculators
they have among them, from increasing the evils
which necessarily flow from the distribution net by
their incessant efforts to destroy confidence.—Globe.
From the Boston Daily Advocate.
THE IMDF.MN1FIC ATION.
A Matter of Fact.—The fifth instalment of the
i roue,*t iiiJem/ifi. ation will be paid to holders of ccr-
ificates ou the 10th of this jpitndk Fay® per cent,
was paid on me 5th of April- This wili.comribute to
the relief of the money market.
Do our merchants and business men, who clamor
much against the Government about the specie
-ircuiar, lurget what they owe to the whig opposition
f>r their conduct jn defeating U>® advance of the
French ana Neapolitan claims iu anticipation? At
an early part of the last session, -Mr, Wright, chjir-
iit in ofthe Finance t.'ouiniittee, brought forward n
hill m pay An the .merchant.* in advance tho French
aud Neapolitan .claims. I y this bill, the Govern-
inent wouldJiave.advauced oufoftlio Treasury near
ly litre* millions to ;he merchants at lour percent ju
te res: ; and that amount ill real capital would have
beeii iu circulation four ututitfis ago. The merchant*,
to whuin it would have principally gone, have since
cither tailed, or been compelled to pay three and four
percent, a month for hoi rowed money, instead of
getting theirowp in udi ance at only four per ficut. per
annual.
Now the whig presses and whig merchants insist
that the sppicie circular, which has transferred not
quite two millions of specie from tho Atlantic to tho
western banks, has caused all their failures, and ruin
ed the country. If this lie true, it follows that if a
substitute fur this two millions could have been sup
plied to the Atlantic cUies, the merchants who have
failed wonld have been sustained; fot uo man can pre
tend that sending two millions specie to the U cst io
•trengtoen the banks there, and sustain the debt
ors to ahe eastern merchants, who otherwise must
have Jaded with the banks, can possibly work any
injury, unless it be by abstracting the basis ou which
theeastormbanks might have extended their loans.—
Then admitting, An the argument, that the eastern
merchants have suffered by the specie circular to the
extent of every dollar of specie which that circular has
transferred to the western banks, two millions, does
it not follow thev have suffered one third more, by
:he defeat of Mr. Wright’s'bill to anticipate the in
demnifications, by which three millions, of specie
would have been put-in rircrh'K.Tatititiw) Atlantic ci
ties last January; the very Specie -which the whigs
complain has been locked up iu-the Treasury?—
There is no r scspc fren. this; for if taking away* two
■iiilliniis'iia* brought ruin, u supply of three millions
would have . sved ruin and one third mure.
' Wire the:: defwtod Mr. Wright’s (till which was
a pica-a.c of relief to tlte co j.i-v, .hrought forward
bv the •uln.iu'riralioi) ? Th'' ansiver is ou the records
of the Senate. Whig Senators defeated that bijj.-—
John Da via made.it vehement speech against jt, .and
Daniel Webster skulked aud aid not vote upon it.—
Thev carried along with them just enougl
p'estcra
''curtors to defeat the bill, and thus hy their.deliber-
ate act. defeat the administration in its prudent and,
and the diffusion of the principles o? the Sac- sagacious forecast by which three millions of Isolid
, ^ ^ ; . ... v capital would have been diffused months ago, ip an*
ticip^tion *»f the commercial crisis, which it now
red Gospel of Peace within that benighted re'
gion; and that the praiseworthy efforts ofthe coloniza
tion of all the friends of the peace, order, har-
comes too late to relieve.
Here is® palpable net of injustice and wrong
to tho
uptain Joseph PoweL, wo understand passed I jtnony and integrity of the Union of these States merchants,, done by whigs, hut which' neither the
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, ■
Appointed at the Meeting ol the Merfhpntsof New York.
at the Masonic Ilall on the 2bth April, 1837.
This committee having been convened upon the day
after its appointment, we ascertained that a large ma
jority of our number could not leave the city without
serious inconyenirnce and loss, and we therefore ap
pointed a sub-committee of fifteen to repair to Wash
ington, and present to the Executive tlte remonstran
ces of the Merchants of New York. In the interval
between the nomination of this Committee and the
day fixed for iu departure, several pf the members
found that the increasing difficulties by which they
were surrounded, made their presence at home inflis-
pensabie; and accordingly only pine yv.er® able to en
ter upon the duty with which ice were originally char-
ged.
These gentlemen reached the Capitol on the eve
ning of the 24 .instant, and . n the following morning
their chairman addressed tho following note to the Pre
sident—
To Mari is Van Buren,
President of the Upited States ;
Sir I have the honor to inform you that a Commit-
lob has been appointed by a meetiug of the Merchants
of New York, for the purpose of addressing the Lxe-
entive upon the present distressed condition of that
Cl hi behalf of that Committee I respectfully request
an audience at as early un hour as your convenience
will permit.
With profound respect,
Your most obedient servnnt,
ISAAC S. HONE, Cliuirrnan.
The repltj to this note teas as follows :
Washington, May 3,1837.
Sir—I have received your letter informing me that
a committee had been appointed by a meeting of the
merchanUof New York, for the purpose of address
ing me upon the present distressed condition ot that
city, and requesting an audience at as early an hour as
mv convenience will admit.
I will receive the committee at two o clock today,
and will, at that, or any other time more agreeable to
them, be pleased to receive any communication which
they may desire to present to me. To avoid the mis
apprehension to which oral communications are liable,
auu also to avoid the errors which, with the best inten
tions are so apt to occur, on both sides, in giving an ac
count of suen interviews, I think it most proper that
the representation of the committee bemadcinwri
ting. In that form I shall be happy to receive it, and
when so received it shall be respectfully considered,
and answered in the same manner.
I am sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
M. VAN BUREN.
To I<;mc S. Hone,"Esq. Chairman, «J:c.
Washington City, M.ay 3,1837
To Martin Van Buren, President of the U. S.
Sir—I have the honor to inform you tliat the com
mittee will wait u|)oii you at 2 o’clock apd present
a written communication in accordance with the sug
gestions expressed in your note. 1 have the honor to
be your most obedient servant
ISAAC S. HONE,.Chairman.
At the appointed time they presented themselves,
were courteously received by the President, with
whom they found the Secretaries of the State and
Treasury Departments, andjrcad the following address:
Ty> Martin Van Brdk.n. President of the U S.
S'ir we have the honor of informing you that a very
numerous meeting of the merchants of New York
was held on the 2oth of April, for the purpose of con
sidering the present distressed condition of the city,
and deliberating upon the means of relief. It was
called bv more than three hundred firms, and was at-
tended by a large proportion of those merchants who
are connected with the internal trade of the country,
and who have an especial and direct interest in the
state of Domestic Exchanges.
\ committee was appointed to repair to Washington,
, a pil rqinonstrate with the Executive against the con-
’ tinuance of the Specie Circular, and to urge its tnt-
mediate repeal; also to ask that instructions may be
given to preveut the commencing of suits in any ot the
collection districts, upon unpaid Bonds, until after the
first day-of January next; and to prge upon the Exe
cutive tlie-projiriety of calling un extra session oi Con
gress at as e.qri' P- Jay as posiibte.
In obedience*.pir, to these instructions, wo present
ourselves before yptt. ahd ask your deep and solemn
attention to the unhappy condition oi that city, which
has hitherto been the .promoter and the index of our
national prosperity, qpd whose fall will include the ru
in of thousands in every region of our territory. We
do not tell a fictitious tale of woe ; wc have no selfish
or partisan views to sustain, when we assure yon thnt
the tiohlc city which wo represent, lies prostrate in
despair, its credit blighted, its industry paralized, and
without a hope beaming through tlte darkness ofthe
future, unless the government of our country can be
induced to relinquish the pleasures to which we attri
bute our distress. We fully appreciate the respect
which is due to our Chief Magistrate, and disclaim
every intention inconsistent with that feeling; but we
speak in behalf of a community which trembles upon
the brink of ruin, which deems itself an adequate
judge of all questions connected with the trade and
currency of the country, and believes that the policy
adopted by the recent administration and sustained by
the present, is founded in error, and threatons the de
struction of every department of industry.
Ourmerchants, manufacturers and mechanics, have
repeatedly predicted the fatal issue of that policy—
“What was prophecy, has now become history;” and
the reality far exceeds our most gloomy anticipations.
Under a deep impression of the propriety of confining
our declarations within moderate limits, we affirm that
the value of our real estate has, within the last six
months depreciated more than forty millions; that
within the last two mouths theie has been more than
twa hundred and fifty failures pf houses engaged in
extensive business; tUpt within the same period, a de
cline of twenty millions of dollars lias occurred in our
local stocks, includit g those Railroad and Canal in®
corporations, which, though chartered m other Slates,
depend upon N. York for the sale; that the immense
amount of merchandize in our ware-houses, has with:
in the same period fallen in value at least thirty per
cent, that within a few weeks, not less than twenty
thousand individuals depending upon their daily labor
for their daily bread, have been dischargedby their em
ployers because the means of retaining them \vere ex
hausted—and tliat a complete blight has fallen upon
a community heretofore so active, enterprising and
prosperous—the error of our rulers has produced a wi
der desolation than the pestilence which depopulated
our streets, or the conflagration which laid them in
11 Wc believe that it is unjust to attribute these evils
to any excessive development of mercantile enter
prise, and that they really flow from that unwise sys
tem which aimed f t the substitution of a rnetalic lor a
paper currency—the system which gave the first shock
to the fabric of aur commercial prosperity, by remov
ing the public deposites from th<* United States Bank,
which weakened every part of the ^Cf by the de-
struction of that useful and efficient institution, and
now threatens to crumble it into a mass of rums under
the operation of the Specie Circular, which withdrew
the gold and silver of the country from the channels iu
which it could be profitably employed. We assert
that the experiment lias had a fair, a liberal tpal, and
that disappointment and mischief are visible ;n all >t«
results—that the promise of a regulated currency and
equalized exchanges has been broken, the currency
totally disordered, and internal exchanges almost en
tirely discontinued. We therefor® make our earnest
appeal to the Executive, and ask whether it is not nine-
■ nterpose the paternal authority of the Government.
1 abandon the policy which is beggaring the people.
Amid all the distress of our condition wc have been
gratified by a view ofthe generous and forbearing spi
rit which has almost invariably marked the conduct of
the creditor towards the debtor.. A general disposition
has been manifested to indulge (he debtor with ample
time for the arangement ofhis business and collection
of his debts, and we would respectfully suggest tlie ex
ample for the imitation of the Government. The em
barrassment and distress of the merchants would be
more readily relieved by the suspending of suits upon
unpaid Bonds, until a future day, when the wisdom in
Congress may grant some measure of relief.
Feeling as we do, that we have reached a crisis
which requires the exercise of all the wisdom and en
ergy of the country, to heal the wounds which have
been inflicted upon its Commerce aiid Productive In
dustry, we would respectfully and earnestly urge up
on the Executive the propriety of calling an extia ses
sion of Congress to deliberate upon the unprecedent
ed and alarming embarrassments in which we are in
volved. The members coming directly froiq their con
stituents, will have hafl the opportunity of knowing
and appreciating the extent pf the distress which ex-
ists, and are convinced that their collected opinions
will fully sustain those which we have expressed —and
their testimony indicate an amount of suffering which
we cannot believe you, sir, have heretofore beena-
ware.
We persuade ourselves that the representations
which we have given of the actual condition of our
affairs, will induce ypu to doubt the expediency of the
policy which has been recently pursued, and we trust
to your intelligence fpr such a change of measures as
win revive the hopes and stimqlate the energies of the
merchants of New York.
ISAAp S. HONE,
JAMES W. BRYAN,
BENJAMIN LODER,
ALEX. B. McALPIN.
JOHN A. UNDERWOOD,
THOMAS TILESTON,
MEIGS D. BENJAMIN,
ELISHA LEWIS,
SIMEON DRAPER, jr.
Washington, Rlny 3, J837.
After the address had been read to him, the Presi
dentin brief & emphatic terms assured the committee
ofhis sympathy with the distresses of his fellow citizens
of New Y ork, and of bis desire tq do (every thing in his
power for thjoirrelief, consistent >vith his views of his
official duty, and said he would answer the address in
the manner indicated in his note.
On the afternpon of the -1th the committee recei ved
the following reply to their address, and deemed it so
explicit as to leave p.o opening for ai*y farther cqm-
municatioq.
Washington, May 4, IS37.
Gentlemen,—I have bestowed on your communi
cation the attentive consideration which is due to the
opinions, wishes, and interests ol the respectable por
tion .oftny fellow citizens in whose behalf yop net.
In the correctness of the judgment which, t in the
exercise of undoubted right yon have, in such general
teiins, pronounced upon particular points in tho policy
ofthe late and present administration, you cannot ex
pect me to concur. My opinions on those points were
distinctly announced to the American people before
my election and 1 have seen no reason to change
them. Buthjoweyer much f. may differ With you upon
them, as well as in respeetto the causes ofthe exis
ting evil, voti may bc'assurcd ,of the jyarm interest I
shall ever fgcl, in whatever concerns tile mercantile
community, of my deep sympathy with tl.iosc who are
now suffering from the pressure of the times , and ot
my readiness to adapt measures for tjieir relief, con
sistent with my con victions.of duty.
The propriety pf gjying to the Collectors, .ot the
Customs instructions of the character desired, neces
sarily involves inquiries into the extent ofthe power ot
the Executive over the subject, the present condition
of the Treasury, and its probable receipts and expen
ditures for the remainder of the year. These exami
nations have been directed, and are m progress, and
the result will be communicated by the secretary ot
the Treasury to the Collector of New >,prk, who wtU
be instructed to give it publicity. A few days will be
required to arrive at a safe conclusion upon some
parts of the investigation, but there shall be no un
necessary delay. ,
The other subjects to which you haye called niy„ at
tention, are first.au immediate repeal ol the order
requiring specie in payment on salesot public lands,
issued by iny predecessor, for the purpose ofenforcnig
a strict execution ofthe Act of Congress, which for
bids tlie allowance of credit on such sales: and sec
ondly, an extra session of Congress. I have not been
able to satisfy myself that I ought, under existing cir
cumstances, to interfere with the order refcrrqu to.
You must be awaie ofthe obstacles to on immediate
convocation of Congress arising from the miperfect
state ofthe representation in one branch of that body.
Several of the States have not yet chosen their Rep
resentatives, and are not to do so for some months to
come. Independent of that consideration, I do not
sec at present, sufficient reasons tojust-fy me m requir
ing an earlier meeting than tliat appointed by the .con
stitution.
I am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Y’our obedicntservant.
M. VAN BUREN
To Messrs. Isaac S. Hone, jam. s \V. Bryan, Bcnj.
Loder.’Ajex. B. McAlpin, John A. Underwood, lhom-
as Tileston, Meigs D. Benjamin. Elisha, Lewis, and
Simeon Draper, jr. Committee,,«S;c.
The Secretary- of the Treasury, in a communication
to die Colfector of New-York, as relates to the ap
plication'of th® Committee of the New-York flier-
chants “that instructions may be given to preveut no
commencing of suits iq any of the Collection. Districts
upon unpaid bonds qiUil after the 1st day ot January
next,’states that liejegrets instructions cannot be git-
on foi so protracted a.flqlay aud in so gf neral a man
ner, from the imperative direction of the act of Con
gress of 2d .March 1799, which provides that ‘.when
any bond for t lie payment of duties shall.uol be satis
fied on ilie.dqy it may become due, the Collector snail
for'hwilhand without delay, cause d prosecution to be
romnienctri for the recovery of the moi\cy thereon, by ac
tion or suit at law.” .' . ,
The Secretary ndds that as.power is given to the
Department of permitting some indulgence m special
c.ves'before an action is couimqn ce ^ or a “ er * where
seasonable application is made, “the extent ol the de
lay being fegulated by the facts "f each ca»c and the
existing cud.probable wants of.the Department will
be disposed to grant such delay according, to usage.
TALLAHASSF.E, Mav 13th.
Wc regret to be eompelle.dto state tbattbo Union
Bank iu this city stopped specie payment on Satur
day last. The nutes ofthe institution, however, are
current with the merchants here and as will be observ
ed by the proceedings of a meeting of the merchants
of Quincy, at that ]dacc also. We understand that
a statement of the affairs of the Bank has been drawn
up by tire officers of tho institution for the satisfaction
ofthe public, but not having seen it we are unable
to give any definite information—as to the ultimate
solvency ofthe institution we bqlieve thei;e is no qu ej .
tion.—Ffiridian.
SUSPENSION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS.
Our readers, will perceive.by the proceed,
ings which we* this morning publish, that, our
citizens have recommended, to our Banks to
suspend specie payments.
At any other time than this, such a measure
would be of doubtful character. But when We
see the Banks of New York, Philadelphia, j}a),
timore and elsewhere, pursuing a course which
the crisis ham imposed upon them, our own in.
stitutions, in self defence, must yield to the
dire necessity and decline for the present, to
redeem their notes in Specie.
Not, that they do not possess an abundance
of the precious metals werewith to sustain their
circulation. So far from any deprivation ofthe
same, we assert on the best authority, that in
no city on the Atlanticare the Banks in a sou*,
der condition than those of Savannah, or in
the possession of more Specie in proportions
their circulation, to meet the redemption of
their nqtes.
The suspension being a defensive step, it j s
gratifying to observe, that the community are
prepared to sustain the Banks in those meas
ures produced by the state of affairs.
The meeting of yesterday called on the mo
ment, was very full and respectable, and but
one feeling pervaded the assembly.
The Mayor was in the Chair, and the resolu-
tions passed without a dissenting voice.- . a.
vannah Georgian.
AUGUSTA May 18.
PUBLIC MEETING,
A large and highly respectable meeting of
the citizens of this place, was held this more-
ing at 9 o’clock at the Masonip Hall, in pur
suance of the call made in yesterday evening’s
paper—.\Vm. W. Holt in the Chair, and Wa.
T. Gould and Jno. Kerr, Secretaries. Mr.
Hale offered a preamble and several resolutions
which from thjpir length, arc excluded from to-
day’s paper. The preamble repited the un-
precedentcd state of affairs itVtl\o commercial
world—the suspension of specie payments by
the Banks in all the commercial cities of the
Union, and urged with great force the necessi
ty of a similar course pn the part pf thp Banks
in this city.
The JtesoJutipus request the Bapj>s pf this
city to suspend specip payment anil pledge
the co-operation of the citizens to sustaip them
by receiving their bills at par in payment ol
debts, and fpr ordinary business transactions.
A resolution was also passed requestin'; the
Govcrnpr to call an extra session of the legis
lature to take into consideration, tho condition
of the cqrfcncy ofthe CountJy-
On the yeccipt of the news pf the suspen
sion of the New York Banks, 4 meeting was
held in Bosh n, at which upwards of forty
Banks of that city Salem, Charlestow n, Cam
bridge. Roxbury, Lojvcll and Concord, wot
represented. It was unanimously resolved to
suspend specie payments. All the Boston
Banks except three were represented..
Prom the N. V- Cant. Adv. May !*>•
FOUR DAYS L AT ICR FROM ENGLAND
Bv the packet ship Wellington, Capt. Chad
wick from London, we have London papers to
the evpuingof the 11th of April, inclusive.
The intelligence they contain is to the full as
gloomy as was expected, although it consists
rather of portents than of ppsitiyc results.
One ofthe great American house*—that of
G. Wildes & Co.—had been compelled to so
licit aid froyn the Bank ol England, with the
intimation that unless it was giyen they must
stop payments at once. The aid was given, to
a large amount, after long and anxious consul
tation between the directors ot the Bank and
the treasury department, although Messrs.
Wildes & Co, were unable to offer any secu-
rity.
A deputation fipjn the Merchants of Liver
pool had gone tip to London, seeking aid fycffl
the Bank and the government,
Fppm the N. Y. Daily Express, May 15,
MONEY AFFAIRS IN ENGLANp.
The crisis is approaching rapidly in llicEiifL-
fi*h money market, A meeting pf rncr.ciianb
Juts been held in Liverpool. Mr. John Crop
per was called to the chair, Mr. Joseph San
ders addressed the meeting, and concluded
by moving a scries of resolutions, embodying
the views of commercial men, and submitted
to.the meeting fpr their approbation. These
resolutions wore, in substance, that it was ex
pedient and necegary for comiperciai men to
apply to Government for pecuniary assistance,
to enable them to hold their stocks ( ol produce
until the present pressure should have passcc-
and prices should have reacbqd rates which
would prevent the pecuniary sacrifices which
must follow present .sales. The resolution*
were adopted unanimously, the urgent neces
sity of immediate . application to the Govern
ment for pecuniary assistance having been re
cognised by all the gentlemen present at the
meeting. A deputation to prqceqd to London
to lay the wishes of the merchants .of Liverpool
before .the .Government, tyas then appointed.
A deputation has also -been sent from Man
chester. The request they piake is, that n c
G overnment issue Exchequer bills upon bon
ed American .produce, which the Governn'.cn
as yet do -pot seeni disposed to do. .
Tho amyigtment between the Bank ar)
Messrs. G. Wildes.&■ Co., leads many pen®*
in England to believe tliat the Bank ha ve so a
committed themselves in this affair, that the'
arc .bound -to extend the same assistances to
the American houses if required, in xvhicn
says the London-Glcbc, all doubt about the1
pal result of their embarrassments is remote
From the N. Y. Evening Post. 3Iay 15*
•The news from Paris is to the 9th uit.
Fifth Legion of tho Paris National Guard
been dismissed by order of Government,
cause was supposed to have been the election ^
the company, of two captains who are p ers0
all - offensive to tlte King. . .
Meunier, the individual who made the
attack on the person ofthe King, has c0 " fcS> c
that he had drawn lots withLavaux and La
to know which of the three should. ass J lsS ! 1 ' ta
the King. Ho is said to have declared *
secret society of conspirators existed, con .
ting of about 40 persons to whom numbers
been allotted to determine their order, W
endeavor to commit regicide.
The French Ministry had not yet been
pleted. M. Thiers may perhaps return to t
cabinet and it is said that he has coinbined ^
M. Soult, Montalioch and Humann, m orcu-
arrange a new one.