Newspaper Page Text
< NJA C*\A a,. f
2i\ GSrport
On the Ripest of Newspaper Postage.
The committee on Post-Ojfide and Post Uoads, to
whom was referred the bill to repeal the post
age on newspapers, made a report, from which
wo make the following extracts :
**# W *
“ From a careful investigation of the sub
ject, in all its bearings, the- committee are sa
tisfied that tin: provisions of the bill cannot
be sustained without an annual appropriation
from the Treasury; and that appropriation
must be increased from year to year: for tire
increase of newspaper postage is greater than
that of letter postage in a duplicate ratio, ami
the *. crease of the weight of newspaper
mails, even while subject to postage, is to the
increase of the weight of letter mails, aboui
as thirty to one. It must then be obvious,
that, ii the revenues ar,sing on letter postage
arc not sufficient to defray the expense of
transporting both the letters and newspapers
which are conveyed in the mails, the defici
ency will continue to increase in proportion
ns tlic weight of the mails and the extent of
their transportation shall increase. The mea- ’
sure would, probably, in a few years, become \
seriously burdensome to the Treasury, and
might prove the foundation for a pretext, at
no distant day, for imposing a tax on news
papers, as an equivalent for .he expense of
transportation—a measure which, at this time,i
would meet the decided disapprobation of the
whole communilv.
The inevitable consequence of passing this
bill, would be a resort to the Treasury for the
transportation of newspapers. To such a re
sort, there are many, and, in the opinion of
the committee, very weighty objections. It
would give to the iiead of the department a
discretionary power over the national coffers,
to an extent beyond what ought ever to be
given to an individual in a free country. —
The appropriations, it is true, would be sub
ject to the control of Congress ;’ but neither !
Congress, nora committee of Congress, would j
be able, in addition to their ordinary duties, j
to investigate the minute and multifarious
concerns of that extensive and extending de
partment, with sufficient certainly to ascer-1
tain the exact sums required from year to!
year, to meet the public wants in mail facili
ties. It would be necessary in this, as in
oth-r departments of the government, to con
fide principally in tin- representations of ns
bead. lie would no longer have the motive
which now stimulates him, to present to the
nation an annual exhibit of the economy of
bis department in facilitating intercourse be
tween the most distant sections of the coun
try upon the strength of its own resources.
Tile responsibility he now fecl3 in the man
agement of those resources, would, in a great
measure, be lost. Leaning upon the Nation
al Treasury, the necessity for rigid economy
would decline, and, in a few years, would en
tirely disappear.
The sum to be appropriated for the first
year might be inconsiderable compared with j
the ability of the Treasury toniect it, but tin
experience of this country, well as that of
all others, shows that expenses, however small
in their beginning, are continually growing;
and, from the nature of this case, it appears
perfectly evident, that, if the national treasu
ry is once resorted to for the transportation
of newspapers, the increase of expense, from
year to year, will be in rapid progression.—
"While the propriety of reducing the public
taxes, at this time, seems to be admitted by
nil, tiie passage of this bill will produce a
new and alarming expenditure, which must,
at no distant period, become a serious burden
to (be community.
Newspapers cannot be transported without
expense, and they are generally distributed
by the mail at a much lower rate than in any
other way that can be devised: the price fix
ed is much lower than the actual cost of the
department. If they are excluded from the
mails, the weight would be so diminished as
greatly to reduce the expense of transporta
tion. It is the weight of the mail that sub
jects it to heavy charges for transportation ;
and from the best estimate that can be made,
the weight of the letters transported tn all tin
mails in the United States, does not amount
to more than one-fiftceuth part of the whole
weight of the mails; yet the postage on let
ters, for the year ending the Ist of Octocer
last, amounted to $1,823,503 08, and the
postage o.i newspapers and pamphlets, for the
same period, amounted to $228,870 50, a
bout onc-ejghth part of the sum, for fifteen
times the weight.
The postage on newspapers is not a tax :
it has no more the nature of a tax than the
freight paid on merchandize. It is money
paid for a fair and full equivalent, in service
rendered, and paiil by the persons for whose
benefit, and by whose voluntary consent the
service is performed. The law does not re
quire newspapers to be distributed bv mail;!
it,only extends to their proprietors that privi
lege, when it becomes their interest to avail
themselves of it, in preference to other more
uncertain and expensive modes. The sum
paid is les*s than the real cost to depart
ment, arid there docs not appear any suffici
ent reason why the public should pay for
transporting printer's articles of merchan
dise to a distant market, more than the pro-i
Auctions of other kinds of industry, in nil
cases, the expense must be defrayed, either i
by a lax on the community at large, or by the
persons for whom the service is performed ;
mid the committee cannot perceive a more
■equitable way than for cadi one to pay for
the service actually rendered to himself for
Li.s own benefit, ami by l:is own order.
From whatever source the revenue to be
applied to that object shall be derived, yet
ft is drawn fiom tiic people; and if the bill
whall pass, it will, in fact, impose a lax on the
people for the transportation of newspapers.
The greatest benefit from this tax will accrue
to him who reccivi-s the greatest mrtnbcr of
distant newspapers. The operation, then,
-will not bo in favor of tbe laboring communi
ty; the industrious and useful farmer and me
xhtml -, generally/contents himself with one j
iwoiv • - rrpers. while his more vedthv!
neighbor is aide to indulge himself with as
many every day. Tire measure will, there
fore, operate as a tax for the benefit of the
wealthy, at the expense of InS more industri
ous and more useful neighbor. The commit
tee do not perceive the justice of taxing that
portion of the community who read the few
est newspapers, for the benefit of those who
read most.
The effect it will have upon the political
character of the nation, is a subject worthy of
deep consideratio . There is a prevailing
curiosity in the interior to sec and read the
papers which are published in large cities,
and to learn the news and rumors which are
circulated ther . If these papers shall be
transported without expense, it is believed
that they will he generally preferred, although
ali the useful intelligence they contain is now
circulated, with a few dev s’ delay, through
the medium of the local prints. The city e
ditois, by fixing agents in the different towns
to receive and circulate their papers, willde
press, and eventually supplant, the smaller
establishments.
A monopoly of influence in the large ci
ties, whose political atmosphere is not al
ways most congenial to a spirit of indepen
dence, will be tiie consequence. That free
dom, that manliness of spirit, which has al
ways ehamotorized the great body of the
common people of cur country, and which
constitutes the safeguard of our liberties, will
gradually decline, and the loss consequent
upon such a state of things cannot be recom
pensed bv any savings of postage on newspa
pers. A concentration of political power, in
the bands of a few individuals, is of all things
most to be dreaded in a republic. It is, of
itself, an aristocracy more potent and dan
gerous than any other; and nothing will tend
so effectually to prevent it, as the sustaining
ol the newspaper establishments in the towns
and villages throughout the country.
It is imagined by some that the Post-Office
Department is at present a charge upon the
t reasury of the United States. So far from
this being t ;c fact, werepin account opened
between this department and the government,
the latter would be found largely indebted at
the end ot each year. Tnc Treasury of the
United States has, at all times, supplied annu
ally the amount necessary to dcirav the ex
penses incurred in the General Post Office
itself. 1 liese consist of the salaries of the
Post-master-Generul, assistants, clerks, and
messengers,which are annually aboiitssl,ooo;
watchmen, laborers, Sre. 1,640; contingent
expenses, $7,500; making an aggregate of
$60,240. To this sum should be added a
bout 7,000 dollars for extra clerk hire in each
year, making, in the whole, 67,240: and the
fact tnat a greater amount was appropriated,,
at the last session of Congress, for extra
clerk hire, argues nothing against tiie cor
rectness of this estimate, because that appro
priation included the arrearages for extraclerk
hire for tiie three preceding years. It may,
then, be safely taken for granted, that this de
partment docs not draw troin the Treasury of
the United States the sum of $70,000 per an
num. Against this suin advanced by the
treasury, from the best calculation that the
committee have been able to make, thereare
annually transported by mail, free of postage,
from anti to the Executive Department of the j
Government, (exclusive of the Post-Office j
Department,) to and from members, and the]
officers ot the two Houses of Congress, let
ters, papers and documents, which, if charg
ed for at the legal rates of postage, would ex
ceed five hundred thousand dollars. So,that
t e idea that this department is a charge up
on the Treasury, is wholly erroneous.
The settled and accustomed practice of
file government should not he changed with
out strong reasons, presenting certain and
great advantages. The committee cannot
discover such reasons for the change propos
ed in the bill. The Post-G.Hce'establish
rnenl, upon its present basis, has ex'isted from
Ihe commencement of the government, and is
producing die most happy effects. Its affairs
are administered with great ability and faith
fulness.
I he frequency and celerity of the mails, in
their present improved state,are bringing-dis
tant parts near to each other, in point ofso
, cial intercourse, by which the bonds of Union
are strengthened, private friendships are gra
tified, commercial transactions are facilitated,
and political intelligence is circulateo, to a
degree beyond all former example.
The committee conclude tin ir report bv
recommending the indefinite postponement
of the bill.
SELLING A WIFE.
On the ?th ult. one of those whimsical
sales, w hich are not easily reconcileable to
that English rcvcience for law of which we
so often boast, took place at Lancaster. The
man was a farmer in the neighborhood ; the
wife, a buxom, good-looking woman, of about
■■!2. They had been married in 18'iS ; and
having no children, and seldom agreeing with
each other, they at length agreed to part—
The Lancaster Herald puts the following
speech into the mouth ofthe husband ; which
if genuine, is a curiosity in its way :
“ Gentlemen, 1 have to offer to your notice
my wife, Mary Ann Thompson, otherwise
Williamson, whom 1 mean to sell to th'c high
est and tairest bidder. Gentlemen, it is her
wish os well as mine to part forever. She
lias been to me a bosom serfient. 1 took her
for my comfort and good of my house; but
she became my tormentor, a domestic curse ;
a night invasion and a daily devil. Gentle
men, I speak truth from my heart when I say,
may God devliver us from troublesome wives
and frolicsome widows. Avoid them as you
would a mad dog, a roaring lion, a loaded
pistol, cholera morbus, Mount Etna, or anv
otner pestilential phenomena in nature. 1
have shown you the dark side of mv wife,and
told you her faults and her failings; I will
now introduce the bright and sunny side of
her, and explain her qualifications and good
ness. She can road novels and milk cows;
she can laugh and weep with the same ease
that you could take a glass of ale when thirsty;
indeed, gentlemen, she reminds me of wliiit
the poet says of women in general :
Heaven gave to women the peculiar graep,
TANARUS: laujjh, io wwj>, and cheat the human race.’
aararsMagaaasß,,
> c.m make butter and scold the maid ; she
can sing Moore’s melodies and ffiait h- r irills
and caps; she cannot make rum, gin or
whiskey ; but she is a good judge of the
quality, from r.er long experience in tasting
them. 1 therefore oti'er her, with ali her
perfections ami imperfections, for the sum of
fifty shillings.”
After an hour or two, the lady was pur
chased by a pent loner, for the sum of twenty
shillings and a Newfoundland (low.
THE SOLDIER’S WIFE.
fiy S. C. HALL.
It is now many years since the first battal.
ion ot the 17th Regiment of foot, w, re under
orders to embark for India—that far distant
land where so many of our brave country
men have fallen victims to the climate, and
where so lew have slept in what soldiers call
“ the bed of glory,’—were assembled in the
barrack yard ot Unatiiam, to be inspected pre
viously to their passing on board the trans
ports, which lay moored in the Downs.
it was scarcely day-break when the merry
drum and fife were tieard overall parts of the
town, and the soldiers w r erc seen sallying
forth from their quarters, to join the ranks
with bright tire-locks on their shoulders, and
their knapsacks and canteens fastened to
their bucks by belts as white as snow. Each
soldier was accompanied by some friend or
acquaintance, or by some individual with a
and arer title to bis regard than either ; and
and there was a strange and sonu times a
whimsical mingling of weeping and laughter
among the assembled groups.
I tic second battalion was to remain in Em
land and the greater portion of the divisio*.
were present to bid farewell to their old com
panions in arms. But among the husbands
and wives, uncertainty us to their destiny pre
vailed—tor the lots were yet to be drawn—
llte lots that were to decide which of the wo
men should accompany the regiment, and
which should remain behind. Ten of each
company were to he taken, and chance was
to be tiie only arbiter. Without noticing
what passed elsewhere, I confined my atten
tion to that company which was commanded
by my triemi Loden, a brave and excellent
officer, who, 1 am sure, has no more than niv
seli iorgotten the scene to which 1 refer.
The women had gathered round the fl ,g
--sergeant, who held the lots in his cap—ten
,ot them marked “ to go ”, —and all the others,
containing the fatal words, “<o remain .” It
was a moment of dreadful suspense, and ne
ver have l seen the extreme of anxiety so
powerfully depicted in the countenances of
human beings as in the features of each of
the sol .icr s waves who composed that group.
Otic advanced and drew her ticket. It was
against her, and site retreated sobbing. An
other—she succeeded; and giving a lou.l
huzza, ran ofi to the distant ranks to em
brace her husband. A third came forward
with hesitating step; tears were already chas
ing each other down her cheeks, and there
was an unnatural paleness on her interesting
and youthful countenance. She put her
sm di hand into the Serjeant’s cap, and 1 saw
by tin rise and fall ot h r bosom, even- more
than her looks revealed. She unrolled the
paper, looked upon it, and, with a deep groan
fell uack and tainted. So intense was the
anxiety of every person present, that she re
gained unnoticed, until all the tickets hud
been drawn, ami the gßeater number of wo
men bad left tiie spot. I then looked round,
*nd beheld her, supported by her husband,
who was kneeling upon the ground, guzipg
upon her face, and drying her fust falling
tears with ins coatse handkerchief, and now
and then pressing it to his own manly cheek.
Captain Loden advanced towards them
“ I am sorry, Henry Jenkins,” said he, “ that
fate has been against you ; but bear up and
be stout-hearted.”
“ 1 am so, Captain,” said the soldier, as he
looked up mid passed bis rough band across
his lace ; “ but tis a hard tiling to part from
a wife, and she so soon to lie a mottier.”
“ Oh, Captain !” sobbed the young woman,
as you are hot it a husband and a father, do
not take him from me? I have no friend in
the wide world but one, and you will let him
bide with me! Oh take inc with him!—take
mo with him-—for the love of Cod take me
"Rb him, Captain!,’ She fell on her knees,
laid hold of the officer's sash, clasped it firm
ly between tier hands, and looked up in his
lace, exclaiming, “Oh! leave me n>y only
hope, at least till Cod has given me another:”
and repeated, in heart-rending accents,
‘‘ On, take me with him! take me with him.”
The gallant officer tvas himself in fears—
he knew that it was impossible to grant the
poor wife s petition without creating much
discontent in his company and he gazed upon
them with that feeling with which a good
man always regards the sufferings he cannot
alleviate. At this moment a smart young
soldier stepped forward, and stood before the
Captain with his hand to his cap.
“ And what do you want, inf good fellow!”
said the officer.
“ My name, John Carty, plase ye honor,
and 1 belong to the second battalion.”
“ And what do you want here 7 ”
“ Gnly, yer honor,” said Carty scratching
his head, “ that poor man and his wife there
are-sorrow-hearted at pariing, I’m thinking.”
“ Weil, and what then?”
“ " by,yer honor, they say Pin a likely lad,
and 1 know I’m fit for service—and if yer
honor would only let that poor fellow fake
uiv place in Captain Bond's Company, and
h t tne take his place in your’s—why yer ho
nor would make two poor things happy, and
save the life of one of’em, I’m thinking.”
Captain Loden considered for a* few ino
nutes, and directing the young Irishman to
Remain where lie was, proceeded to his Lro
the- officers quarters. He soon made ar
rangements for the exchange of the soldiers,
•nd returned to the place w here he had left
tin in.
“ Well, John Carty ” said he, “ vou go to
Bengal with me; and you, Henry Jenkins,
remain at home with vour wife.”
“ Thank yer honor,” said John Carty, a
gain touching his cap as he walked off.
Hcnrv Jonkim and -his wife both rose from
the ground and rushed into each otiier’s|
arms. “God bless von, Captain!” said t!-■
soldier as he pressed his wife closer to his bo
som. “O.i, bless him former!” said tin
wile: idess hi tn with prosperity, and happy
heart!—bless his wife, and blessWcnti-ircm*
and she again tainted.
liieollici r wiping a tear from his eve, rid
exclaiming—“ May you never want a friend
when I am far from you—you mv good Jan,
and your amiable and loving wifi [” passed
on to bis company, whim the happy couple
went in search of John Cartv.
*.** ' # *
About twelve months since, as two hoys
were watching the sheep confided to their
charge, upon a wide heath in the county of
Summerset, their attention was arrested by a
sold er, who walked along apparently#\*ith
much fatigue, and at length stopped to rest
his weary limbs beside the old finger-post,
which at one time pointed out the wav to the
neighboring villages, but which now afforded
no information to the-traveller, for age had
rendered it useless.
1 he boys were gazing upon him with much
cutiosity, when he beckoned them towards
him, and inquired the way to the village of
Eldenby.
I’he eldest a fine intelligent lad of about
tVVelve year* ot pomtoj In lUa piltffi iir*U
asked il he was going to any particular house
in the village.
“ No, my little lad,” said the soldier; “ but
it, ion the high road to Frorne, and l have
friends there; hut, in truth, lam very wea
ried, and perhaps may find in yon Village
some person who will befriend a poor fellow,
and look to God tor a reward.”
“Sir, ’ said the boy, “ mv father was a sol
dier many years ago, and he dearly loves to
look upon a red coat—it you come with me,
you tnay he sure of a welcome.”'
“ And you can tell us stories about foreign
parts,” Said the younger lad, a fine chubby
cheeked fellow, who, with his watch-coat
t!ire>.vn carelessly over his shoulder, and his
crook in his right hand, had been minutely
examining every portion of the soldier’s dress.
The boys gave instructions to their inteili
gem dog, who. they said would take care of
, the sheep during their absence; and in a few
minutes the soldier and bis young companions
reached the mite of a flourishing farm-house,
which had all the internal tokens of prosperi
ty and Happiness. The younger boy trotted
on a few paces before, to give his parents no
tice that they had invited n stranger to rest
beneath their hospitable roof; amt the sol
<ffi r had just crossed the threshold of the
door, when lie was received with a joyful cry
of recognition from his old friends, Henry
Jenkins and Ins wife ; and he was welcome
as a brother to the dwelling of those, who, in
all probability, were indebted to irhn for their
present situation.
It is unnecessary to pursue this story fur
ther than to add, that John Carty spent Ins
furlough at Eldenby farm ; and at the expi
ration of it, his discharge was purchased by
his grateful friends. He is now living in
their happy dwelling; and Ins euro and exer
tions hate contributed greatly to increase
t'u ir prosperity. Nothing has bion wrong
with them since John Carty was their stew
ard.
“ C'st thy bread upon the waters,” said tie
wise man, “ and it shall bo returned to thee
after many days.”
The prlee 01 Liberty .is eternal vigilance.
PRESIDENT JACKS As 1 .
Extracts from the Globe, of May 20.
From certain remarks made by Mr. Bar
-inger on the floor of the House, when the
vote io admit these resolutions was taken, il
•eemsthata conversation, held in his pre
sence, between the President and the Rev.
J. IS’. Dauforth, is the groundwork ‘of the
monstrous charges presented, first to the no
tice of too House" by :lr. Stanberv, ami now
io the nation by the rejected resolutions pub
lished in tfie Intelligencer, and which ,ire re
echoed by the opposition j rints throughout
the Union. There were several persons who
| heard this conversation, and since it has be
come important as forming the pretence for
the counterfeited apprehensions exhibited in
the resolutions quoted, we have taken some
pains’to ascertain the substance of it. We
will not attempt to give tiic tenor of the long
and familiar dialogue which occurred between
the i resident and Air. Dauforth, who princi
pally maintained the conversation, hut we
can lay before the public the “opinions” ex
pressed by tne President on the occasion, and
other occasions in his fireside conversations
with ins friends in relation to this subject
wile sufficient accuracy, to satifythc inquiry
of the prompters of tin' r jected' resolutions.
If Mr. Condict himself had realty desired to
know what the President thought ot said in
relation to the broil whigh has occupied so
much of the time ef the House, we have no
doubt he would have told lnm ins utmost
I thoughts, with all the open-hearted sincerity
which marks his character; and that he would
have made him sensible, as lie did Air. Dan
iorth and the rest who heard him, of his vir
tuous republican principles and f clings.
I lie monstrous fabrications propagated
through the opposition press, in rclttion to the
1 resident’s private con ven sat ions, are intend,
i (!<l ,0 9U PPLv tlie place of proofs, and to sup
j P or7 tbe insidious allegations against lnm,
; which are so artfully interwoven in the re
jected resolutions. We aredirectly informed
that Mr. (Jay’s most trusted agents have
Ik’cu busied in the effort to conjure up some
alarming pnantoms in Connexion with the
‘ late anti that Messrs. Doddrigc and
Men (r have been particularly anxious to
pry, by an ex parte inquisition, into the pri
vate and familiar discourses of the President,
by way of preparation of their proceedings
in the House. They shall he gratified. They
shall have not only every sentiment enter
ta.ned by the Chief Magistrate, to obtain
winch they have expressed so much soliei
tude, hut they shall have also tin opinions ex
pressed by him on the same subject, in t!ir
presence of one cf tiic mest honorable men of
thpir own party in jhe hearing of tiie Luitor j
of this print.
We shall give the sentiments avowed by j
the President in the interviews alluded to,!
without attempting to preserve, the dialogue
of third parties by which they were N elicited,
retaining, as far as recollection cap furnish j
it, the emphatic language in which he con
veyed his ideas. He said :
“That the arrest and confinement of Hous
ton by the House of Representatives was an
act of usurpation, not warranted by any grant
in the Constitution :—that the punishment
of Houston fof the violation of the law, be
longs to the Judiciary, not to Congress:—that
tile power of Congress to punish for contempts
belonged to it only in its capacity as a body
to preserve its deliberations item interrup
tion:—that no act which did not affect its
functions as a deliberative assembly, could
be construed into an offence against it as a
political body:—that it existed only as a de
liberative body when its members were as
st milled tog- ther in the Capitol:—and lienee
its pdirt'r of self ■protection was confined to
its tcul/s, for it had no being beyond them :
that the individual members of the House,
when it was not in session, were upon a foot
ing with other citizens—they were under the
protection of the laws, and the courts would
ro-irci-iB :aJJ injuries to them, as to others.” To
-sustain thus view, he adverted to the case of
Casimir Peiv-r, the present Prime Minister
of France, and a member of the House of
Deputies. He stated that from lute accounts
it-appeared f he Premier had, in the discus
sion in the I,’ouse of Deputies, improperly
aspersed the < ha racier of a French citizen—
that the citizens awaited the adjournment of
the House, met him beyond the walls, and
chastised him Tor the insult. The Dcpufr
and Prime Min. stcrcompl ined to the House,
and was refen ciJ by it to the laws and the
judicial authority for redress. And this, he
observed, was the proper course.
The President, expressly declared to Mr.
Danfortli, Bari, tiger, and others, that Cat.
Houston's conduc t could not be Justified , but
asked in turn win -ther members of Congress
could be justifies! in slandering private citi
zens, arid m violading the rules ofthe House
by departing froc i the topic under discussion
lor such a pur post ■ ( He maintain and that tin
slanderer was woi so than (he murderer, lie
cause disgrace, wa t worse than death —and so
much the worse, ais death itself was no cure
for alurnny—that art honorable man would
rather die than submit to have his character
destroyed— he lives for character.
On the suggestioi i tha. the course taken
towards Mr. Stanbes y would lead to a seem
ol violence, at \Vaslit ngton- City, he observed,
that the mischief would cu-r? itself; ‘hat who
Memix rs ot Congress bee ames. risible b> tin
occurrence of a low such eases, that tin free
citizens of tit; country ' tould n t submit to
oc abused by them, In ,t would hold them
personally responsible for slanders on their
private character, tiny would cease to utter
them. But that so 'png as members of Con
gress were permitted to avail themselves of
what was assumed to. |>< a privileged station,
to (induce private character-—to assail the
reputation oi an A merican citizen, or that o'j
Ins w ife or dali/ iter, (for innocent women
Km already-hem i slandered in the debates ol
Congress,) itw • tsld inevitably lead toy.erson
al violence. >r belonged to Congress, then,
to prevent se cli scenes, by requiring its
members to a h ide by the rules of the House,
and no: viola c its order, their constitu
tional duties , and the rights of the citizen, by
wanoenng’u >yond the prescribed limits ot
debate Mint it was* the duty of the House, it
it could -in it restrain, to expel disorderly
members ;- -that libels on private character,
promulga t< ,tl on the floor of tiie House, and
Irtnisferrvi’i to the public journals,—-sanction
( u by the character and protected from being
questionr and in a Court of law, bv the consti
tutional privileges ofthe body—would drive
citizens , as had been the case with Houston,
to 1 tola t : ions ofthe law as their only means ol
\ indici :t ,ion; that, under such circumstances,
StanlH ry had invite*’ the treatment lie suff, r
ed, and had created the impression that lie
deserv, sd it.
To :■ in intimation made by Mr. Danforth,
that puJilic functionaries ought to be protect’
ed. coupled with the inquiry whether the
President had no other protection than as
Aintre w Jackson, he replied that the law
suifici ently protected them all; that the Presi
dent Mad no other protection than as Andrew
Jack..- on, and that was enough ; that to men,
com b Jcting themselves prop, rly, this precious
book (alluding to a book of constitutions, on
win - Ii he laid his hand) gave ample security;
and ‘mat it gave Congress no right to punish
for assaults and batteries committed in the
s-re l :ts ; tfiat the acts of Congress, in relation
t° contempt to Courts, showed the opinion
entertained by it, that the offence could only
bo committed, in the presence of the body
oil e filled-—and yet the House of Represcnta
tiqcs, tii the late case, had refused to be
bound by its own principles as embodied in
this Jaw.
The only additional ideas advanced by the
President, on this subject, in the interview
at which wo were present, we proceed now to
gIFO.
Ifc said that he, as one of the soldiers of
the revolution, would assert that they did not
shed their blood in contending against the
British tyranny, to transfer to the American
Congress the most undefined and despotic
power ever claimed by either House of the
English Parliament; that of trying and pun
ishing for construct ice contempts committed
beyond the pair of its deliberations ; that ours!
was a government of written constitutions]
am! laws that no line in the constitution, or!
letter of any law, authorized either branch
Congress to assume jurisdiction over of
fences belonging to the courts and juries ; that i
the Sedition l.nw itself, ns it had tbe sanction
ol all the departments of government, bad th<
semblance of right to countenance if, but
that the authority recently assumed to pump
for offences analogous to those provided for
Hi that law, had not even the color cf a legis
lative net to sanction it, and was exercisi and in
derogation ot tlx* genius of our Government;
that if tolerated in its small brginmgs, ii
iyouh] Wy.jj great encroachments in the erd ;
>.butnop ople coul I submit to it fori„. ®
of time, without being j r par. and fj’' 1 ®
shackles which it would certainly j, ®
that lie was sure free American citizens,?®
not consent to principles which tin sm'!'®
ofthe French monarchy bad successful]'!'!®
sisted, although enforced by the influent®
the Prime Minister—that they kmnv t, ®
tli .t tin word i‘tti:i;ocATivj: could not l { - ®
within the (ids oj the Constitution. J " ■
Tie earnest manner.in which the p rcs p I
expresses iii< opinions upon deeply j, ,, 1 " ®
ing topics, ( specially npon political n ßoc ®
involving the liberties and rights ©1 l ■ ”®
low-citizens, givi s a prt text to note-( a i s ®
his fireside remarks, to impute violet
ill temper to his conversation. The a ®
was a more unjust imputation. Tl- f " acv ®
deed a peculiar boldness of thr ioiri , Js ®
energy of expression, in the Pros’ ’ a ®
versation when discussing subjoins Co ®
ting interest—but no man can nnsM,* 1 ' 1 -®
generous enthusiasm which im- Jarts,i n -\®
to his tones, and an < ioauerit
hts language, fur passion or ilj
the contrarv, the mind ol" fVm ! i.
catches the natural warmth of l>i© f f(/
and it is only when some cold eaicuK
political spy retires among his
gives garbled expressions to party-
j to work "I lo ' l ’ they a fe enabled to tec
j l"* conversations to me ah someth,,,,, ?
® n,! i' ro !' r - In the r.-p, titio,, of*|.,T!
been uttered, t:.o easy court! sv - Arh
lie passes from subjects which 'rouse the?
thus:asm of his ehar.uct rto those of a ii,-
and cueerlul cast, is lost—insulated e
sions arc given, and discoloured by alh
circumstances—and Jesuitical ffifrr©, ic "
then employed to draw alarming threats !>1
the expression of opinions supporting t| ( , i
gal rights of tin citizen, against usurped!
thority. 1 “
These men commit anew outrage, | n -;
vac'i rig the famdinr and pri vate conve’ f<a i; n ‘"
m which the President unbosoms
those whom he supposes to be his fouul- •'
the purpose of dragging hi Ul j nto lhe J J
which they originate in tp. e House. Wehavr
direct information, assm. „ s ()..,{ j]
Mercer and Doddridge solicited a bctrayalo
what fell from _tbo President,in the
<-d hours of social u.t .rouse, as the 0
the tongrcssiorj proceeding. Beta ,
not iced. \\ o o _ s k, tt hat right has congrcs
O institute ae. impiis-ticn into the print
thoughts of the Chi, f Magistrate? TV
■have none.. A'he movers in ibis affair knei
Uu y had none : nor did tin y intend irxvin
I huy.gr, U obt in ,t only a subterfuge, to p
• I ,li '-ine of a Congressional proceeninyt
t he Ulse and foul inuendoes, which tlipylm
‘‘tf. cod ted in the shape of resolutions.' Tfc
rsons, the refor,, to whom we have referrn
'mist stand responsible for this at empt, t „
will be forever branded by public reprobation
unless they adduce some evidence to snstai;
the black insinuations with which they ot
tempted so charge tin; journals ofthellom,
ffiKMlTSS'ggg,
“ He <■ omi -t,. lu> come s,
Tsie busy iterulil ef a noisy worlii,”
'HIE WAR BEGUN.
City of Ft. Louis, May 22, 1832.
j D'/cat if the Jhittiu . —from a source, o
i which reliance may hi- placed, we have lean
ed the following particulars—
I he detachment concerned in the* engart
nieiit (idiom 2To men) had been ancamplti
at Dixon’s Ferry for several days before It
arrival of the main body of the Militia unde
the command of General Whitesides. Ini
no dlately thereafter a request was preferra
by Alajor Stilniam who commanded the de
tachmcnt, to he allowed to go out upon a
3' outing expedition ; which was granted by
! Central V\ . On Monday, the 141 h, the de
tachment met a small puny of Indians,and
j ladled two, and made two otln rs prisoner?
| i hey continued their route, and encainptw
i for tiie night in an advantageous position—
dense wood surrounded by a prairie. Altaos
as soon as they had dismounted, turned thu
horses loose, and commenced preparations!!
supper, a small party of Indians were disem
ered in the neighborhood of the encarnpmen
bearing with them a white flag. Capt. Fadi)
with a few inen, was sent out to meet then;
when tile Indians commenced a precipitaU
rutreat. Tfiis officer being acquainted will
the mode Indian warfare, and suspecting an
ambush, followed them as far as he deemed
prudent, and then ordered his men Io fall
back upon the main party. Although it was
nearly dark, the whole detachment had been
ordered to re-mount, and were met upon the
roots by the men who were returning.
Fhe pursuit conducted without an?
tegart! to discipline, and had continued for
several miles, the Indians receding ns the
troops advanced, until they had deemed theta
across Sycamore Creek, as it is called in the
proclamation. This they did in disorder, and
each man successively reached it. Being
thus decoyed into the midst of the mam bed?
of the Indians, and without being allowed
tunc to form, hostilities were commenced.—
1 lie Indians showed themselves on ever?
quarter, mounted and armed. They com
menced the attack with their guns, and after
firing them, resorted to the use of tomahawks
and knives. As soon as their desperate situ
ation was known, Major Stilman ordered 3
retreat across the creek, after an ineffectual
fire at the enemy. The savages
ciose upon them. No time was allowed f°r
them to form on the opposite hank of the
creek. A company under the command of
Captain Adams, of Tazewell county. "I |o
w ere in the rear, endeavored to make a stand
against them and fought them with despot-'l
- About half of the missing afe thoiijß
to have belonged to this company. The but
tle was fought by moonlight, in an open
prairie, and the pursuit was kept up for tenor
*w< Ive miles. The survivors began to arrive
it Dixon's Fcrrv, about one o’clock in tho
morning, ami after a sufficient time bad
elapsed, the text day, for them all to bare
come in, the roil was called, and fifty-two
were founcj to be missing. A few of tlie
who'escaped w re wounded, and many in •
their hats, clothes petforated with i'