LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS. The joint committee appointed to examine the votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor made their report on the 31st of May, which, being The government, however, well understand that amended, was accepted; by which it appears the hold of the present vessel could be rendered that the whole number of votes for Governor, re. cooler by other apertures for the admission of air, turned agreeably to the provisions of the constiand that on building another steam frigate, the coin-tution, were ninety-seven thousand and eightyfort of the firemen might be provided for, as in the of which there were, ordinary steam boats. For the hon. JouN BROOKS, For the hon. SAMUEL DEXTER,' Scattering,

The commissioners congratulate the government and the nation on the event of this noble project. Honourable alike to its author and its patrons, it constitutes an era in warfare and the arts. The arrival of peace, indeed, has disappointed the expectations of conducting her to battle. That last and conclusive act of showing her superiority invernor, returned agreeably to the provisions of combat, it has not been in the power of the commissioners to make.

If a continuance of tranquility should be our lot, and this steam vessel of war be not required for Owing to some informality in the return of the public defence, the nation may rejoice that the votes from several towns, 579 votes for Governor fact we have ascert ined is of incalculably greater were rejected, of which 327 were for Brooks, and value than the expenditure-and that if the present 252 for Dexter. The votes in the several unin structure should perish, we have the informa- corporated plantations which were rejected were tion, never to perish, how, on a future emergen-576; of which Brooks had 113, and Dexter 463. cy, others may be built. The requisile variations | will be dictated by circumstances.

discern no ground in nature for the assumption of republics, which time and experience have since a right in one individual to control the actions of disclosed. And it is an happiness, gentlemen, to another, we conclude that all men are originally have our lot cast under a system of government equal; and therefore that legitimate government constructed upon these principles. This system, must be derived from the will of the people. How-being the ordinance of the people, and enacted by ever little the existing governments of the world them in the exercise of their natural and underived generally, may correspond with these positions, we right of self-controul, justly and imperatively have the satisfaction to reflect that Massachusetts, claims to be the supreme law of the state. The and her sister states, separately and conjointly, constitution has been in operation nearly thirty-sehave realized, and are now enjoying the right ofven years-it commenced in the midst of the war self-government. of the revolution, under circumstances peculiarly That a numerous population should assemble and trying to its infant strength, and has successfully legislate upon the multifarious concerns incident resisted the shocks to which it has since, from a to the social state, is obviously impracticable. Re-variety of causes, been exposed. flection and experience however, suggested a convention, and a representative authority was the result of compromise. Every conceivable compact is preferable to anarchy. But if men duly estimate their own interests, in commuting their natural rights, each individual for the portion of liberty he surrenders, must receive in benefits from society far more than an equivalent.

To estimate the blessings derived to this people from our constitution, would be difficult-we can scarcely point to any source of enjoyment, that is not deduced from, or enriched, by its benign influ

ence.

I only notice further, among the civil provisions of the constitution for the preservation of liberty, property and characters, trials by jury, and the inThe people of this state have been favored by an dependence of the judges of the supreme judicial indulgent providence, with an opportunity sponta- court. These provisions were ordained by the peoneously of framing for themselves, a constitution of ple, and they operate for, and are essential to their government upon the broad basis of equal rights. safety. What otherwise could protect the weak And we may be permitted to exult in the reflection, from the powerful, the poor from the opulent, the that the great questions involved in forming a sys-simple and uninformed from the crafty and intellitem of rules that must last indefinitely for ages and gent? This branch of the social compact constiinfluence the conditions of millions, were discussed tutes one of its most precious attributes. An inwith a degree of intelligence, and a spirit of can- dependent judiciary not only directly guaranties dor and mutual concession, which mark the period an impartial interpretation and administration of as an age of wisdom and virtue. In that interest- the laws, but has a most auspicious though remote ing discussion, facts and principles were investigat-influence upon science and iiterature, upon chared; the most distinguished forms of civil polity, acter and the embellishments of taste, and more of which ancient and modern times furnished ex- especially upon the science of jurisprudence. The amples, were analyzed, and the effects of each desire of wealth, the love of fame, the hope of upon the character of man, and upon social happi-distinction, and every motive that can operate upness, were explored and elucidated, as might have on an ingenious mind, and give elasticity and force been expected, among men thus informed; men to the human faculties, conspire to ensure to the whose ancestors had suffered under the lash of tv-people a succession of learned jurists. ranny, and who were themselves menaced with similar evils; power was imparted to public agents with caution, and in every practicable instance limited with precision. Such concessions, however, were made in favor of delegated authority as promised to ensure tranquility and a due execution of the laws. It is obviously one of the leading objects of our constitution efficaciously to counteract the tendency of office to accumulate power, and so guard against an abuse of delegated trust.

It is foreign to my intention as it would be to the occasion, to attempt an analysis of the constitu tion. But such provisions of that instrument as are vitally important to the public happiness cannot be too frequently brought to view and impres. sed upon the public mind.

A knowledge of the value of first principles ought to be cultivated.-Avarice and ambition wage eternal war with equal rights and public li berty. This was the doctrine of our fathers, founded in the nature of man; it is the doctrine of the constitution, illustrated by the unequivocal testimony of experience.

Frequent elections are deemed necessary for preserving the original principles of the government in their purity; and it is no less requisite to that end, that rulers should thoroughly understand Virtue is the great conservative of republics; and duly appreciate their importance. Principles and coincident with the other profound views de are immutable--and our system is so framed as to veloped in the constitution, and as auxiliary to their leave as little as possible for construction. A po- attainment, that instrument assigns an elevated pular government, destitute of a system of rules rank to morai and religious principles. The hap and principles, expressly distributing and modify.piness of the people, the good order and preservaing the delegated authority, and prescribing, as tion of civil government are declared essentially well to legislators as to magistrates, the conditions to depend on piety, religion and morality; and upon which it is to be exercised, must be fluctuat- wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, are con ing and transitory. The ancient republics afford a sidered as necessary for the preservation of the striking illustration of this remark A division of rights and liberties of the people. To give the ful the powers of sovereignty into several departments, lest effect to those principles, the constitution the idea of vesting the legislative power in two makes it the duty of legislators and magistrates deliberate assemblies, each having a negative upon in all future periods of the commonwealth to che the other; of separating the executive from the rish the interest of literature and the sciences, and legislative, with a perfect or qualified negative all seminaries of them; to encourage private socieupon the latter; and of establishing a judiciary in-ties and public institutions, rewards and immuni dependent of both, were desiderata in the ancient ties, for the promotion of agriculture, arts, scien

ces, commerce, trades and manufactures, to coun- among equals; a compromise among individuals, tenance and inculcate the principles of humanity who, arrogating no exclusive pre-eminent rights, and benevolence, public and private charity, indus- acknowledge no superiors. And those compacts try and frugality, honesty and punctuality in their being completed, their administration was entrustdealings, sincerity, good humor, and all social af-ed to agents to exercise that degree of power fections and generous sentiments among the peo-only, which their constituents had seen fit to imple.

part. The national compact, like the constituTo what extent the Legislature has from time tions of the individual States, is an emanation from to time fulfilled these benevolent injunctions, your the same pure and legitimate source; and the journals and statute books can honorably attest. spirit of freedom that pervades and animates the The establishment of numerous public institutions State constitutions, is carried into the national to countenance the principles of piety, of charity pact; and all powers not expressly given, are deand benevolence; for the encouragement of litera-clared to be retained by the people or the States. ture and the sciences, of agriculture and the me- This distinct reservation of rights, besides being chanic arts, evinces a copious transfusion of the a condition without the introduction of which the same enlightened spirit into our Legislatures that constitution would never have been adopted, forms originated and perfected the constitution. And a check upon the powers vested in the general the various aids in money, in lands, and in valua- government. The sovereignty of the States, ble immunities, which have been granted from time though reduced from its original amplitude, has to time, to the University at Cambridge, the colle- been viewed by the most illustrious statesmen of ges at Williamstown and Brunswick, and the nu- our country, as forming a most safe and effectual merous Academies and other literary and scientific counterpoise to that mass of power inherent in institutions, bear honorable testimony to the fidelity the United States constitution, and which is inwith which the constitution has been administered. dispensably necessary for the general welfare. In framing our constitution, provision was wisely From the experience we have had of the opemade for transferring a larger portion of sovereign-rations of the national government, we may infer ty to the United States, than had been conferred its efficiency, and that its continuance may be by the confederation, and the ruinous effects flow-protracted for ages. The machinery, it is true, ing from the impotence of merely a federative com- is complicated; but the several parts, we trust, pact, soon imperiously exacted a fulfilment of that are so well proportioned and adapted to each provision. In the mean time, commerce and cre- other as to render the mighty movements of the dit, both public and private, were nearly extinct; whole equable, salutary, and lasting. We preagriculture, trades and manufactures languished; sume the government will be administered in the and the whole country, that had recently and il- true spirit of it, and that a great and united nalustriously effected their independence after a long tion may be rendered happy under its auspicious and distressing war, was overwhelmed with gloomy influence. Whatever apprehensions may have apprehensions of anarchy and ruin. At length, a been at any former period entertained of the openew frame of government was announced, and af-rations of the national government, the people of ter long and rigorous discussion in the several states, was happily adopted.

this commonwealth have but one sentiment as to its continuance. Massachusetts will be among the last to impair the union of the States, as she would be the last silently to abandon her own just rights.

The constitution of the United States is without precedent and without parallel. In its composition and form it partakes of the federative character; but from the extent of its fiscal, ex- Regulating commerce and encouraging manuecutive, and other powers, possesses the essential factures fall within the province of the national prerogatives of an integral government. The government. The rights and benefits of the confederation was a government of courtesy. The former are probably as extensive as consists with national interests demanded one of efficiency and the rights and interests of other nations. The coercion. Regulating commerce, maintaining cus-distress which some of our manufacturing citizens tomary intercourse with other nations, forming treaties, exercising the rights of war and peace, and providing for the national defence, were large concessions made to the government of the United States; but they were then, and are still, believed to be necessary to maintain the stability of government, to command the confidence of our own citizens and the respect of other nations, as well as to preserve the union of the States. The just mean between a too-limited and an indefinite grant of power, was assiduously sought, and the result cheerfully submitted to the test of experiment.

have suffered from the astonishing changes that have recently taken place in Europe and America, are undoubtedly great, and excite our sympathy. Congress may probably, in adjusting their new tariff of duties, have done as much for their relief as a due regard to justice and the good of the community at large would allow.

While the renewal of the scenes of war must be deprecated by every benevolent and patriotic heart, it must be highly satisfactory to you, gen. tlemen, to observe that the interests of naval and military establishments are consulted and patronized; and that the formation of respectable military depots is taking place in various parts of the United States, and particularly in the vicinity of this ancient seat of government.

In whatever degree the American systems of government may have been derived in their exterior forms from pre-existing models, their origin is essentially dissimilar. The British constitution, Having received sundry letters from the several for example, was the product of feudal times, and governments of the States of Rhode-Island, Vir. the people of England were supposed to receiveginia, Ohio, Connecticut, and Louisiana, the Seprivileges from the hands of the king, as though power was primitively and inheritently an attribute of royalty. Our constitution originated from a different source, and is strictly a compromise

cretary will lay them before you, as likewise a copy of a law of the United States, passed the 20th day of April last, providing for the appointment of a colonel, lieutenant colonel, and one major in

each regiment of militia, instead of one lieutenant colonel to each regiment, and one major to each battalion. Considerations of some weight, as it regards the officers who are to be affected by the operation of this law, may perhaps lead you to make some provision for carrying it into effect the present session.

Should any thing of sufficient importance to require your immediate attention occur, I shall communicate the same by special message; and I shall be happy to co-operate with you, gentlemen, in all your efforts to promote the public good. JOHN BROOKS.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

CIRCULAR.

The following addressed to the Members of the County Courts, was not written for the papers; but as it contains matter of public concernment, we have obtained permission to make it public-Enquirer.

GENTLEMEN,

Council Chamber,

Richmond, May 12th, 1816.

from its mouth to the Harrison line; New River to the North Carolina line; Little Kanawha from the Ohio to Salt Lick Creek; Monongalia to Buckhanan's River; West Fork to Clarksburg, and Cheat River to Chaver's Fork. As soon as the surveys of the boundaries, mountains and rivers aforesaid, are completed, under contracts with the Executive, the contractor for the County Charts will be furnished with such parts of the respective surveys as may be necessary to complete the said Charts.

I am, Gentlemen, with great respect, your hum. ble servant, W. C. NICHOLAS.

From the Richmond Daily Compiler.

AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL
COTTON.

In this desultory description, the reader will not look for learning; or else we might quote at length an account of it, of the same learned nature, with the following definition from the Edin

"Cotton is a name, which, in common language, very loosely given to any vegetable filamentous substance; but it is correctly appropriated to that peculiar vegetable matter, consisting of innumerable filaments, arranged together with an external coat, and enveloping the seeds of the genus Gossypium."

Cotton, which clothes nearly half the world, and contributes so much to our furniture, our beds, and our tables, is, luckily for man, as common in its growth as it is in its utility. It is "a native of the tropical regions in every quarter of the world. The "Act to provide an accurate Chart of It is mentioned by Herodotus, as growing in Ineach county and a general map of the Territory dia, at the time he wrote his history. It was found of this Commonwealth," directs the Executive among the Mexicans and Peruvians, on the first "to cause such surveys to be made of the exte-discovery of America; and among the latter, the rior boundaries of the Commonwealth, as may be manufacture of it was carried to no inconsiderable necessary to ensure greater accuracy in the de- extent." tails of the preceding Charts where they present the boundaries of adjacent States, and to cause such surveys to be made of the great divisions of the Territory of the Commonwealth where the same are occasioned by chains of mountains orburgh Encyclopædia: rivers." For the purpose of carrying into effect this part of the Act, contracts will be immediate-is ly entered into by the executive. It would be a useless expense to have the same lines surveyed twice and in many instances three times. The respective county courts are therefore requested to exclude from the contracts they may enter into for county charts, the lines of their counties that The reader is well enough acquainted with Cotare a part of the boundary of the State, the Blueton for the present purpose. He ought to be inRidge, North Mountain and Allegany Mountains, the Chesapeake Bay, and the following rivers and parts of rivers, to wit: Roanoke to the fork of Dan and Staunton; Dan to the N. Carolina line above Danville and Staunton, to the junction of But in South-Carolina and Georgia, the greatest the North and South forks of Roanoke above Fort Cotton States, three species are recognized:-1. Lewis; Maherin to the Charlotte line; Nottway to "The black seed, or long staple, which came from the line of Prince Edward; Black Water to the Pernambuco about the year 1787 or '88. 2. The line of Prince George; Elizabeth River to Kemps-green seed cotton, or upland cotton, or short staville; Nansemond to Suffolk; Appomattox to its ple, cultivated in the middle and upper counties; source; James River from its mouth to the point and 3, nankeen, or stained, cotton, also grown in of Fork; the Rivanna from its mouth to the first the same parts of the country, the color of which fork above Charlottesville; the Fluvanna from its is deep and durable" The two former are grown mouth to Jackson's River; Jackson's River to the and shipped in the greatest profusion. The first mouth of Dunlop's Creek; Chickahominy to its grows along the sea-coast, and is said to derive its source; York River from its mouth to the junc-fine quality more from the salt air than the soil; tion of Mattapony to the Caroline line; Pomunky it is easily cleaned from the seed. The second to North Wales; Northanna to the Orange line; "grows on the upland, at a distance from the Piankatank from its mouth, as far as it is the line coast, has a green seed, is of a short staple, and of Essex; North River (Mathews) to its source; until the invention of a machine for the purpose, Rappahannock from its mouth to the fork above was so difficult to be cleaned, or separated from Fredericksburg; the North Fork to its source; the seed, as to be scarcely worth the trouble and the Rapidan to its source; Potomac to the South expense of cultivation. This machine was in Branch; the South Branch to Moorefield; the vented by Mr. Eli Whitney, a native of MassaNorth Branch to the Allegany; Shenandoah tochusetts, who was accidentally in Georgia, in the Port Republic, Occoquan and Bull Run; Kana-year 1795, a gentleman of education, and distinwha from the Ohio to the mouth of Gauley guished for his mechanical genius. This machine

formed, however, that there are many varieties of the plant-some have enumerated ten species, whose distinctions are to be found in the form of the leaf, and the size of the tree.

has enriched the southern planter by enabling him ||rics. Great Britain must obtain her supply from to cultivate to the greatest advantage, one of the us. She lately attempted to dispense with it, by most valuable staples in the world. Before its getting a substitute from South-America; but the invention, very little upland cotton was cultiva-staple was not long and fine enough for her purted, and scarcely a single pound was exported pose. She is yet trying to rival us by the growths from the United States; afterwards the culture of of the Isle of Bourbon-but, it seems almost asthis species of cotton became the principal object certained, that the production is inferior to our of the planter in South-Carolina and Georgia, and best Sea-Islands. in the year 1807, more than 55,000,000 of pounds of upland cotton were exported, and which was valued at more than eleven and a half millions of dollars." This important machine has thus wrought an immense revolution in the occupations of many thousand people. Mr. Whitney has not been without his reward. South-Carolina has given him and his partner $50,000 for the privilege of using it in the state.

How rapid has been the increase of this valuable staple in the last few years! The progression is detailed by Mr. Pitkin, from whose statistics we borrow so profusely.

In 1791, the U. States exported 189,316 lbs.in 1794, 1,601,760 lbs.-in 1798, 9,360,005 lbs.in 1800, 17,789,803 lbs.-in 1802, 27,501,075 lbs. -in 1804, 38,118,011 lbs.

The following table exhibits the cottons of domestic growth exported from 1804 to 1814.

Sea-Island.

Uplund.

Pounds.

Pounds.

1805

8,787,659

29,602,428

6

6,096,082

29,561,383

7

8,925,011

8

942,051

9

8,654,213

10

11

12

13

8,604,078

The South may, therefore, congratulate itself upon the possession of an invaluable staple. A new market too is now offered for its produce.Until lately, we made the cotton, and Europe mamufactured it. But now, the North manufactures a great deal of what is made by the South. Some of it is woven into cloth, and some is shipped to Europe, in the form of yarn.

Wherever the spindle whirls, whether in Europe, or America, the southern states are at no loss for a market. They possess a mine of wealth, superior to the silver of Peru, or the diamonds of Golconda.

The following observations, made by a gentleman
of this town, while on his passage up the Mis.
sissippi to New Orleans, have been communi-
cated to us by a friend for publication.
Salem Reg.

Value. Dollars. 9,445,000 "By what process have the banks of the Mis8,332,000 sissippi river been formed? This is a curious 55,016,448 14,232,000 question, but it may be answered. The mouth of 9,681,394 2,221,000 this river is about 110 miles from the city, and the 42,326,042 8,515,000 banks from the city to the mouth, have certainly 84,657,384 15,108,000 || been formed by the deposition of the mud from 8,029,578 54,028,660 9,652,000 time to time. How long it has been progressing 4,367,806 14,519,571 3,080,000 from the city, cannot easily be conjectured. One 4,134,849 14,975,167 2,324,000 mile in 50 years would require an era nearly as 2,520,338 15,208,669 2,683,000 old as creation, and as the same phenomena apThe exports for the years 1815 and '16, are pear above the city as far as Natchez, we are oconsiderable, and the prices of cotton very high. bliged to suppose that it progresses much faster. An immense stream of wealth has consequently But as the mouth of the river advances into the poured into S. Carolina and Georgia-exchange, sea, it must progress slower, as there will be a premiums on money, all the symptoms of prospe- greater depth to fill up. rity have been in their favour.

14

Most of the American cotton has been exported to Great Britain. In 1807, for instance, "more than 53,000,000 lbs. were shipped directly to her, leaving about 13,000,000 for all the other parts of the world."

A calculation has been made, that Great Britain turns 5,000,000 spindles, spinning on an average 1,777,777 lbs. a week; making a consumption of about 7,000 bales per week, or 364,000 bales a year, the bales weighing about 250 or 300 lbs. each.

To ascertain by what process the detached mud banks at the mouth of the river are formed, I made the following experiments while lying about one mile below the bar at the mouth of the river. With the log line and glass, I first ascertained the velocity of the current on the surface, and found it to be at the rate of two knots per hour. Then putting more weight on the log, so as to sink it to different depths at pleasure, it was soon found that there was no current at the depth of two fathoms; for at this depth the line floated astern, while the log-board remained stationary. From the result of this experiment it was conjectured that the water beneath the surface was sea water. To decide this question a vessel was prepared in the following manner. A glass bottle was secured to the sounding lead, and a line attached. Then a cork was fitted to the mouth of the bottle, and a small line attached to the cork, and held by an assistant on deck, while the sounding lead with the bottle was sunk. When Europe must look to more genial climes than at the depth of ten fathoms, the cork was pulled her own for her cotton wool. Bonaparte attempt-out, and after waiting for the jug to fill, it was ed to encourage the growth by a premium of ten drawn up, and the water contained in the bottle cents on the pound. But the experiment failed. was found to be salt water, turbid with the sediNature forbad, what man encouraged. Searchment of the river. This experiment was repeatthe world through, there is no cotton superior, or ed at different depths, and the result was, that at perhaps equal to our sea-island for the finer fab- one fathom the water was nearly fresh, at two fa

Our cotton exported to G. Britain constitutes a large proportion of the whole quantity of her imports In 1810, we sent her 240,516 bales, averaging 300 lbs. each-thus forming a total of 72,154,800 lbs. Her whole imports in that year were 561,173 bales, of which 142,946 were from Portugal and her colonies; each of these averaging only about 100 lbs. More than one half was thus procured from the United States.