gate majority of nays in those opposed. In this way only can your committee give a meaning to the word majority, as contamed in the 2d and 3d || section of the act. The whole number of votes returned, including those subject to the exceptions mentioned, is The yeas are The nays are 22,316 11,969 6,031 4,409 The whole aggregate majority of yeas in Your committee are aware that it has been the popular construction, that five ninths of the votes returned are necessary. But they apprehend that this construction has prevailed rather from the use of an expression not contained in the act, than from a necessary import of the words themselves. Where this act is doubtful, it should receive such interpretation as shall best comport with the public will.. as may be, a constitution of government should be prepared, to be presented to the people of Maine. But as much time and labour would be required, before so important a document could be matured, they would propose an adjournment to some future day, and that a committee be appointed to sit in the recess and report a constitu tion at the next meeting of the convention. In this stage of the progress of the people of Maine to independence, it is proper that they should apply to congress for their admission into the Union. It is important, also, that a law be passed, that in case of separation, our coasting trade should be secured from additional embar. rassment. Should the legislature confirm their consent, congress, at their next session, would admit us into the Union. But should Massachusetts give an unfavorable interpretation of the act, or refuse to modify it, as justice requires, congress would decide, whether we have not complied with the conditions upon which the consent of Massachusetts was to be obtained. Your committee, therefore, ask leave to report the following resolutions-which are submitted: Your committee have considered the memorials from sundry inhabitants of Mercer and other towns, complaining, that they have no delegates in the convention. And they are satisfied that in forming a constitution, these and other towns & plantations are entitled to be heard. They can, That will has often been decidedly and une- however, devise no other remedy, (except what quivocally expressed. On the 20th of May last, may be contained in that part of the constitution the single question of expediency was decided in which shall provide for amendments,) than an apthe affirmative by a very large majority. On the plication to the legislature, so to modify the act, 2d of September, with the terms and conditions be- as to admit those towns and plantations not reprefore them, and the groundless alarms of expensesented, to send delegates to this convention at its to the people and embarrassments to the coasters, next meeting. the citizens of Maine, by the majority here reported, have decided the question again. And they are here represented by a majority of delegates in favor of the measure. It is expedient, therefore, that this convention should give such a construction to the act as shall best effectuate the hopes and gratify the expectations of the people of Maine. But your committee forbear to recommend that this convention act without deliberation and advice. The legislature of Massachusetts will soon The whole number of nays is be in session. No inconvenience would arise in That the majority of yeas of the town consulting their wishes or asking their opinions. and plantations in favor of separation is 6,031 Should they, as they undoubtedly will, confirm That the majority of nays in the towns this construction, or otherwise explain or modify and plantations, opposed to separation 4,409 the law so as to give effect to the voice of this ma- and that the majority of yeas as aforesaid is to the jority of the people, much dispute would be pre-majority of nays as aforesaid, a majority of five to vented and great satisfaction afforded to the op- four, at least, of the votes returned. posers of the separation. But if, contrary to all reasonable expectation, the opinion and decision of Massachusetts should be unfavourable, we could at an adjourned session of the convention, determine for ourselves and carry the act into full effect, agreeably to our own understanding of its provisions! Resolved, That the further consideration of the votes returned, be refered to the next session of this convention to be held by adjournment. Resolved, That provided all those papers and documents, which purport to be returns of votes, should be legal and correct, the whole number of yeas is 11,969 10,347 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to make application to the legislature of Massachusetts, to ratify and confirm its consent that the District of Maine shall be a separate and independent State. Resolved, That a committee of-be appointed to report a constitution for the commonwealth of Maine. ing as the original States. But in the report of the committee, prefixed to the act, we find it conceded, that" expectations Resolved, That a committee of three be appointhave been authorized, that the legislature of Mas-ed to make application to congress for the admissachusetts, would consent to the proposed separa-sion of Maine into the Union, upon the same foottion, when the deliberate wishes of a Majority of the people should be developed in favour of the measure." And we have no doubt that, with the present commanding majority, Massachusetts will give such fair and rational interpretation to the law, as shall carry into effect the" deliberate_wishes" of the people of Maine. Confident that a separation must be declared, your committee would recommend, that, as soon Resolved, That the same committee be directed to endeavor to obtain an alteration of the law of the United States, that in case of separation, our coasting trade should be relieved from additional embarrassment. Resolved, That when this convention adjourn, they adjourn to the-day of, to meet at this place. LEGISLATURE OF CONNECTICUT. On Wednesday last, his Excellency Governor SMITH, arrived in New Heaven. He was escorted into the city in the usual manner, by the second company of Horse-Guards. On Thursday the Legislature of this State commenced their fall session at New-Heven. The Governor was escorted to the State-House by his usual attendants. tem. How far the attempt has succeeded time will determine. It would not be strange that in arrangements affecting in a greater or less degree nearly every company in the State, errors should have intervened from a want of the requisite information, or from other causes.-These it is hoped are few, and when discovered will be readily and cheerfully corrected. You will permit me, Gentlemen, to congratulate you on the accomplishment of a reform which recent events bad The House of Representatives elected CHARLES shown to be every way desirable, and which, if DENISON, Esq. their Speaker, and Elisha Sterling, carried into effect, as it unquestionably will be, and Thomas S. Williams, Esq. their Clerks. The || with the accustomed spirit of our militia, must House soon after, upon message from his Excel-eminently conduce to the military strength, and lency, met the Governor and Council at the Coun- consequently to the future safety, of the State. cil Chamber, when his Excellency delivered the following SPEECH: Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, No important change in the foreign relations of the United States seems to have taken place since the last meeting of the legislature, nor has any event occurred to disturb our internal repose. It becomes us gratefully to acknowledge the Divine Goodness in the continued enjoyment of peace abroad, and of tranquillity at home. By particularly adverting to the act already mentioned, it will be seen that some future provisions are required to insure its complete operation. You will also observe that by a late act of Congress an alteration is prescribed in the rank and commissions of field officers-a regulation || which you will doubtless consider it expedient to adopt at the present time. It is not my design, Gentlemen, to detain you by an unnecessary reference to the various subjects which may suitably engage your attention. You will allow me, however, to remark, that the law which defines and punishes forgery, was passed at That the advantages which were confidently a period when the notes of incorporated banks expected from the restoration of peace have not constituted but a small proportion of the circulatbeen realized in their full extent, is indeed a sub- ing medium of the country. Hence, to forge, alject of regret, but not o despondency. The em- ter or counterfeit instruments of this description, barrassments arising from a limited commerce, and was subjected to no higher penalties than were the too successful competition of foreign vessels in annexed to several offences which are obviously the transportation even of our own productions, of an inferior grade, whether we regard the tempt from the depressed state of manufacturing em- ation to the crime, the frequency with which it ployments, and the unequal and restricted opera-is committed, or its injurious effects upon the tions of the monied institutions of the country, great interests of the community. If, therefore, are evils to which no adequate remedies can be in the one case, the punishment be now adequate, instantly applied. I trust, nevertheless, they will it is in the others manifestly too severe. From the be gradually subdued. The discouragements to free and general circulation of bank notes aunavigation which may have grown out of the late thorized by different states, it would appear that commercial treaty will expire at no very distant this is peculiarly a question in which the respecperiod, and I think we may entertain a well tive states have a common concern, and are congrounded confidence that they will not be re- sequently interested in establishing a uniform vived. Other embarrassments will undoubtedly mode of treating the offence. In many of them, disappear as the country shall return to the regu- it is believed, a much more exemplary punishlar pursuits of industry, and as Divine Providencement is inflicted than is specified in our laws. It may favour the characteristic assiduity and enter- is, at any rate, to be desired, that a crime which prize of our citizens. In the mean time, the re-strikes at the root of credit & confidence amongst presentatives of a people extensively concerned in men, should, if possible, be effectually preventthe cultivation of the soil, and in the arts and|| ed. How far a change in the intercourse of socimanufactures with which it is connected, will not ety requires a corresponding alteration of our lose sight of those objects. I am persuaded, gen-criminal code in the case to which I have alludtlemen, you will be disposed to afford them suched, is a point respectfully suggested for your encouragement as shall comport with the best consideration. views of the interests of the commonwealth. An election of President and Vice-President of the United States will be held in the month of December next. Conformably to the existing law, it will be the duty of the legislature to appoint, within the limited time, the number of electors to which the State is entitled. I have the satisfaction to inform you, that the re-organization of the militia contemplated by the || act of October last has been effected, as far as respects the infantry, cavalry and artillery. The General Orders embracing these arrangements will be submitted to your examination. The for- In all measures, Gentlemen, which may be calmation of the regiments of Riflemen will proba-|| culated to promote the welfare of our immediate bly be completed in season for the appointment constituents, or which shall contribute in any reof their field officers at the present session. Inspect to support the national constitution, and addischarging the duties enjoined by the act, no pains vance the prosperity and honour of our country, have been spared to fulfil the intentions of the le- you may rely on my sincere and cheerful concur gislature in a manner the least burdensome to individuals; to combine, in short, as much as possiJOHN COTTON SMITH. ble the personal accommodation of our fellow- General-Assembly, October citizens with regularity and efficiency in the sys.Session, A. D. 1816. rence. 136 THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Continued from page 123. SKETCHES OF THE BARBARY STATES. IMPORTANT LAW CASE. From the (Newburg). Political Index, of Oct. 8. Two causes were tried at the late circuit in this county, before his honor Mr. Justice Platt, involv ing principles of much importance, and in which questions of law are raised for the decision of the Supreme Court, greatly interesting to many of our citizens. The first was Prime against Roe; an action brought by a young woman for a breach of promise of marriage. The defendant, when he made the promise, was but 20 years old-he refus ed to fulfil his engagement, and before he attain-yoke, that their weakness would be the means of ed the age of 28, married another girl. He has no property of his own; but his father, with whom he still lives, is a farmer, in easy circumstances. The defence set up was infancy-that the defend-position of the elder Cato laid the foundation for ant was not bound by his promise, made whilst a minor. The judge overruled the objection, and decided that the action was sustainable on this class of promise against any person of capacity to contract matrimony, which was at the age of 12 in females, and 14 in males. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, of 1000 dollars damages. The question of law, whether an action will lie on such contract, is taken up to the Supreme Court.. On the conclusion of the second Punic war, the power and resources of the Carthagenians had become so weakened, as to afford no prospect of changing the obnoxious features of the treaty entered into with the Romans after the battle of Zama. They, however, had the consolation to know, that if they were unable to shake off the insuring their tranquility, and rendering dormant the destructive ambition of their great rival-they were deceived in their calculations; and the opthe third Punic war. The Carthagenians finding their hopes of peace had fled, and perceiving their enemy was bent on their destruction, prepared to make a desperate effort in defence of their liberties. The Romans, under the commanel of the consuls Marcius and Manilius, commenced the siege of Carthage, which was prosecuted with vigour, until a fleet and reinforcement arrived; and the besieging army was then commanded by Scipio Emilianus. This general, with his com The other case was Borden against Fitch.-The bined forces, made his dispositions with consimother prosecuted for seduction and loss of soci-derable ability; he blockaded the Carthagenian ety, &c. of her daughter, by defendants procuring fleet, which was sheltered in the inner harbour, a ceremony of marriage to be preformed, falsely the celebrated Cothon, and made preparations to pretending himself to be a single man, when he burn them by means of fire ships, when the Carhad a wife then living. The defendant exhibited thagenians, it is said, in one night, with an increand proved a divorce from his former wife, grant-dible industry, cut a canal by which their fleet ed by the supreme court of the state of Versailed out, and doubling the point now called mont, "for desertion of him by his wife and other causes," and an exemplification of the statute of that State authorizing such divorces to be given. It was proved that his former wife was a native of Connecticut, and had always resided in that state, except for a short period that she had resided with the defendant in New-York, and that he never had any settled residence but in Connecticut and New-York. The judge decided, that the divorce was obtained by the defendant in fraud of the marriage contract-that the parties not being both resident in the state of Vermont, the court of that state had no jurisdiction of the subject matter, and that the divorce being granted for causes not authorizing one by the laws of this state, was of no force in our courts. That it accordingly afforded Scipio continued the siege with great vigour, no justification to the defendant. He was a mar. ried man, and his second marriage fraudulent and and gained only inch by inch. Carthage was devoid. It was proved that the plaintiff and her fended by Asdrubal, a man of dreadful energy; daughter knew nothing of the divorce, until after and when Scipio had made himself master of the the second marriage, and that the defendant has suburbs and lower town, Asdrubal retreated into always represented his wife to be dead. The chathe citadel, and continued to defend the city with racter and conduct of the defendant was proved great bravery; but being overpowered by numto have discovered itself to be most atrocious and bers, he sued for peace, and deserting his comdepraved. The jury retired a few minutes, and panions in the hour of danger, gave up the citabrought in a verdict for the plaintiff for $ 5,000 del. The deserters and mercenaries, finding themdamages the whole amount claimed in the de-selves betrayed, set fire to the splendid Temple claration. The counsel for the defendant have taken the case to the supreme court for their opinion on the validity of the divorce; and should that court decide against the defendant, avow their determination to remove to the supreme court of the United States. Cape Carthage, blockaded the Roman fleet, which had taken shelter in the Bay, opposite to the level part of the city known by the name of the suburbs of Mendracium. This canal, or cut, as it is called by historians, is at present so choaked by the sand and earth which have been collecting for many centuries, that it is somewhat difficult to identify it. After some labour, however, we were enabled to fix upon the spot. The Cut is at the base of the hill on which the Citadel of Byrsa and the Temple of Esculapius stood. It ran between the upper and lower town called Megara; and when viewing the same from the summit of Cap Carthage, the length of this canal is a full half mile, and ran about south-east and northwest. of Esculapius; and the noble wife of Asdrubal, to mark her abhorrence of the treachery and meanness of her husband, threw herself and her children in the flames. Thus fell Carthage; and the flames which consumed it lasted seventeen days. Rome now had no rival to contend with a strong military force still remained to her-without war or active emJeu D'Esprit.-The Jadies of Maine, it is said,ployment, they commenced a system of broils are opposed to a separation; and are all for union and commotions, which depraved their manners, corrupted their habits, introduced civil wars and -to a MAN. factions, until their liberties expired at the feet || is a tower, raised at present as a signal post to of Carthage. announce the appearance of vessels bound in, who are seen at a distance of thirty miles. This tower was built by St. Louis of France; and on this spot the good king died while endeavouring to wrest the country from the Moors. Several attempts were subsequently made to rebuild the city of Dido by Tiberius Gracchus and Julius Cæsar: and Strabo affirms that a flourishing colony existed, celebrated for its schools of eloquence. In the new city St. Cyprian, Arnobius and Lactantius resided, and rendered it celebrated for their learning and piety. Carthage was still reserved for new scenes of desolation. An unlooked for enemy, after overrunning Europe, suddenly made his appearance. The fierce Vandals, under Genseric, appeared before the walls of Carthage, and fixed his seat of empire in that city. These barbarians overran Africa, which they held for near a century, razed Carthage, its walls, aqueducts, and towers to the earth-it was the ruins, as they left them, which we now viewed. Africa, in 647, fell into the hands of the Moors. It is impossible to conceive or to describe the beauty of the surrounding country, when reviewed from this height. The eye glances over an amphitheatre of above sixty miles in circumference. On the left Cape Bon and the village of Soliman, the high and curious shaped mountains of Mamelif, at the foot of which are the celebrated mineral springs, so often visited by the Romans; the extensive Bay of Tunis, with the shipping and fortress of the Goletta; the lake and city to the right, the village of Ariana, the Gulph and town of Porto Farina, below the ruins and scite of Carthage, the vast plains on which stood the suburbs of Mendracium, the clusters of the olive We left Tunis early in the morning, with an and caroob trees here, and there interspersed escort, for the purpose of viewing the ruins; and with a few melancholy cypress, above which are went out at the gate called Babelswaka, which occasionally seen the Minarets and Mosques, gives opens in front of a modern aqueduct built by a most delightful appearance to this situation; Charles V. now used to convey water into two forts || and when Carthage was in its most flourishing which guard the road to the place, and at the state, its splendid temples and extensive comsame time commands the town. Carthage is nine merce, surrounded as it was with numerous vilmiles from Tunis; yet I have reason to believe,lages and tributary towns, must have truly made that in its most flourishing time, when it con- it the first city in the world; and it is much to be tained upwards of a million of inhabitants, that lamented, that so beautiful a country, with a soil Tunis must nearly have joined it. On the bor- and climate fruitful and salubrious, should contiders of the lake we meet occasionally with the nue at this day in the power of barbarians. foundation of houses very near Tunis; and the The only remains of Carthage yet in a perfect hollow sound arising from the horses hoofs at state are the cisterns which supplied the city with times, led us to believe that we were crossing water when besieged: these cisterns are of assome subterraneous passage. In fact, Carthage tonishing beauty, and form a row of cells or cawas entirely undermined, and for a most exten-verns, each of which are about fifty feet in length, sive distance was composed of these subterranean twenty in breadth, and twenty in depth. These caverns: the hill on which the citadel was built cisterns are built in an oval form, with great neatis a complete shell; and for several miles from ness; they were plastered with a cement which Carthage holes are seen in the earth of consider. has become hardened by time, and the water this able depth, flagged with square stones, and lead-day in them is perfectly sweet; at the extremity ing, no doubt, to passages of great length: the confined air renders it impossible to explore these caverns to any distance: if it was possible, and was permitted, many valuable discoveries might be made. The number of sieges this city has witnessed, its great wealth, and works of the arts it possessed, must have rendered these sub- Below the hill on the sea there are remains of terraneous passages extremely useful. From Tu an extensive mole, which the gradual approach nis to Carthage the road is perfectly level and of the sea has covered; there are sufficient ruins, clear, interspersed here and there with a few however, to justify the belief, that it was a most caraoh trees. We leave the fortress of the Go-extensive work. Large square masses of stone, letta to the right, about a mile distant, and first reach a beautiful spot called Marsa, at the foot of Carthage, on which most of the foreign consuls have summer houses and gardens. Carthage was built on three hills; and all historians concur as to this point. Yet these hills cannot be distinguished at any distance; but when you arrive at the foot, the three divisions are distinctly seen; these hills are not taken for cape Carthage, which is at a small distance behind them, and near one hundred feet higher; it was on the promontary where the citadel and temple of Esculapius stood, which was the strongest part of Carthage. On the summit of the hill there is at present a Turkish village, the burial place of a favourite saint, called Sidi Busaid; formerly none but Mussulmen were permitted to pass through this village; at present this superstition is wearing away. On the extreme point and height of cape Carthage, of them small temples were built, and the aqueduct which supplied them brought the water fifty miles from Zowan; the ruins of the aqueduct are visible, and can be easily traced the whole distance. The enterprise and industry of the work has never been exceeded. of which the mole was built, are seen in two or three feet water, and some of them have been found with large iron rings affixed in them, to which the cables have been attached. The whole of Carthage, which is rugged and uneven, is covered with ruins-foundations of houses, cisterns, caverns, pieces of marble broken columns, giving at once an idea of its nature and extent. AGRICULTURAL. From the Easton Star. RELIEF FOR A SHORT CROP OF CORN. Travelling lately through the country, I have discovered, and from the information of others, am satisfied, that the crops of corn now growing will be much shorter than the late one. As a re health, and full, gives his hair a good complexion, and keeps his skin loose. It multiplies the litter of your stable several fold. lief to the poor (and indeed to the rich) I am induced to lay before the community a certain remedy for the saving of thousands and tens of thou sands barrels of corn, that every year are unne Now is the time to save your fodder: and if cessarily wasted in feeding of the numerous horses from want of labor you are unable (as often hapand work cattle that are annually used by the far-pens) to save both tops and blades without injury mers of our country. The saving herein alluded to is not a speculative opinion, but is the result of my experience during the present year; and with me and my posterity to the end of time, even if corn were at half a crown the bushel, the present mode of feeding should continue. I have more than 20 horses, including old and young, and 8 work oxen, on my dwelling plantation, and since Christmas not one bushel of corn have they ate, unless by my 3 road horses. Many of my neighbors will tell you that my horses never looked so well; and I positively assert, that never since I have been a farmer did my stock of horses and cattle do their labor with so much ease to themselves, and pleasure to me-never were they so healthy and so well to look at. A doubt last fall whether I should have corn enough for my own consumption, drove me to the experiment herein related, and a salutary and profitable one I have found it. It enabled me to sell several barrels of corn. My top fodder I carefully saved, and had it cured as green as the corn would allow; this was the food that my horses were fed with. I had it cut pretty fine in a common chopping box, filled a large trough with it, and over it sprinkled some water, and a small quantity of bran or shorts: this they devoured with more voraciousness than 1 have ever witnessed in horses at their food; a refuse at the but end would sometimes be left, when I had it taken out every night and morning, and given to the work cattle and milch cows, which would leave their other food of hay, husks, or straw, to fight for this. Will you believe me, when I assure you, that at my dwelling plantation we cultivate 350,000 corn hills, (about 180 acres) the tops of which were entirely fed away in the above manner, not one armful being used in the common wasteful mode.-The blades of my corn were principally used in the same way. I had as good a crop of clover and timothy hay as ever went into a horse-rack, yet so much did my horsas prefer the chop stuff, that the racks were seldom empty, not oftener than once, and at most twice a week. Some will ask where are we all to get bran or shorts? I will tell you how I got enough to last my horses from Christmas until my flushing for fallow will be completed. Last winter I had about a thousand bushels of old indifferent wheat of the last year's crop, which I had manufactured into flour and sold, the bran and shorts of which have lasted me ever since, and are not used. This plan I shall adopt so long as I live, unless I can make annual contracts for a supply, on suitable terms: in doing which there will perhaps be but little difficulty. But those who do not like that trouble, or to whom it may be inconvenient, have always a remedy at hand, and by the by a better substitute. You can have meal; and one quart is a sufficiency for one horse for the day and night, which is certainly much cheaper than twenty ears of corn for your horse per day when idle, and the double of it when working. The great advantage in the top fodder is the sweet juices it contains, and which when chopped up, wet and sprinkled with the offal of wheat, or with meal, keeps your horse in good to the one or the other, let the blades be lost, or injured; for there is no comparison in value between them, the tops being the most, nutritious. So confident am I of the very great importance of the top fodder, that I believe it, alone, and with out mixture, (except with a little water) will sustain a horse, or fatten a bullock, better than the usual mode of corn, &c. There is in practice, and has been ever since the settlement of the country, a most wasteful method of feeding workoxen with corn, of which they consume an inmense quantity. This is bad economy, as well as injurious to this useful animal; for when they are fed with corn, it passes through them, (one half of it at least) undigested; the cause is, that they have not long feed enough in them to wrest the corn in its passage, until it performs its intended purposes. Nor can you prevent it, while you keep up the corn feeding system. Work cattle, or fattening cattle, ought to feed on nothing but hay, or chopped fodder; or, if you wish them to have grain, it should be made fine and mingled with their drink. This will aid very much to their fattening, and a quart per day is enough. But if you feed them on corn, they will eat your hay very limitedly indeed, be it ever so good, cattle, if feeding for the butcher, or work-steers, must be kept full of something, and corn will bat fill them, though they eat until they leave at every meal. Horses are very much of the same nature. If the above advice is pursued, thousands of farmers who anticipate purchasing of corn will have an abundance; hundreds who think that perhaps with close feeding, &c. they will have enough to supply them, may sell more than half, or two thirds, of their crops; and those who think they shall have a few barrels to sell, may double, treble, perhaps quadruple their quantity, by which the markets will be kept fully supplied, and the purchasers will have it at a fair price that will no longer oppress them. JACOB GIBSON. N. B. On my dwelling plantation I have but 350,000 corn hills, (about 180 acres); they have twelve work horses: they have cultivated for me trod out 2000 bushels of wheat, and have finished do the seeding) and all this work without corn. me about 300 acres of fallow, (of which they will In cleaning up my corn houses I shall clean the shattered corn and make meal of it to complete my feeding for the year; I am, and have been for some time, chopping my green tops and feeding immediately, and test its truth. I shall make 12 with them. I beg you all to try the experiment or 1400 barrels of corn, 200 of which will supply my wants for the whole concern, as we shall feed with corn nothing but the families and hogs. From the Philadelphia Daily Advertiser. At a stated meeting of the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, held Oct. 8th, 1816 the following communication was read, and the information therein contained being considered |