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Monday, February 8.

Mr. Goldsborough, from the committee of claims, reported a bill for the relief of Christopher Fowler, of John Petit, of John Prevost, of Bart. Duvenge, and Alexander Milne, which were severally read; and also an unfavorable report on the petition of Joseph Lefebre.

Mr. Burrill, from the judiciary committee, reported some amendments to the bill to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States.

Mr. Ruggles, from the committee of claims, reported a bill for the relief of John Anderson, which was read.

Resolved, That the committee on the judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the punishment of all persons concerned in duelling within the District of Columbia.

The Senate took up a motion made yesterday by Mr. Tichenor, to direct the committee of commerce and manufactures to inquire into the expediency of uniting the districts of Alburg and Champlain, in Vermont, into one district, and agreed thereto.

The engrossed bills to authorize the President to purchase the lands reserved by the act of 1817, to certain Creek chiefs and warriors; to provide a grant of land for the seat of government of the state of Mississippi, and for the support of a seminary of learning; and confirming Anthony Cavalier and Peter Petit in their claim to a tract of land, were severally read the third time, passed, and sent to the House of Representatives for con.

currence.

On motion of Mr. Dickerson, the committee on The Senate resumed the consideration of the finance were instructed to inquire into the expe- bill to extend for a further time of five years, the diency of so far altering the laws for appointing || pensions heretofore granted to the widows and collectors, district attorneys, receivers of public orphans of the officers and soldiers who died or moneys, surveyors of public land, registers, &c. were killed in the late war with Great Britain. as to have those officers appointed for limited periods, and subject to removal as heretofore.

The engrossed bills supplementary to the act further to amend the charter of the city of Washington; for the relief of Samuel Ward; for the relief of John Clark; for the relief of John A. Dix; and for the relief of John B. Timberlake, were severally read the third time, passed, and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

The bills from the other House, to incorporate the Medical Society of the City of Washington; and for the relief of Samuel F. Hooker, were severally read the third time and passed-the first with amendments.

Mr. Morril submitted the resolution, (already noticed,) to request the president to dismiss certain officers from service, concerned in a late duel.

Mr. Eaton, from the committee appointed on that subject, reported a bill supplemental to the act of 1817, to prohibit the importation of slaves into the United States; which bill was read.

Mr. Lacock moved that it be postponed to the 5th of March next, (to reject the bill,) which mo. tion was decided in the affirmative.

Wednesday, February 10. Mr. Noble, from the committee on pensions, reported the bill from the House of Representatives for the relief of Hannah King and Luther Frink, with an amendment embracing the cases of Thomas Lucas and Abraham Edwards; which was read.

On motion of Mr. Morrow, the committee on public lands were discharged from the further consideration of the petition of William Edgar and Alexander M'Comb.

Mr. M. from the committee on the public lands, reported a bill, providing for the correction of errors in making entries of lands; which was read.

A motion made yesterday by Mr. Taylor, to instruct the committee on the post office to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from Elizabeth, in Hardin county, Kentucky, by Fredonia, Mount Sterling, to Paoli, in Indiana, was taken up and agreed to.

The bill authorizing the payment of a sum of money to the officers and crews of gun boats 149 and 154, was taken up; and, on the question of Mr Burrill, from the committee on the Judiciordering it to a third reading, it was egatived-ary, to whom the subject had been referred, reand the bill of course rejected.

Tuesday, February 9. Mr. Williams, of Tenn. from the military committee, made an unfavorable report an the petition of Harbaugh and Potter.

The bill more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States was taken up; and the amendments reported thereto by the judiciary committee, having been agreed to, they were ordered to be engrossed, and with the bill be read a third time.

Mr. Morrow, from the committee to whom the subjeet had been referred, reported a bili making further provision for the sale of the pub-|| lic lands; which was read.

ported a bill relative to the patent office and to the salary (reported in blank) of the Superintendent thereof; which was read.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill "concerning the widows of the militia,” (granting five years' pension to the widows of such of the militia as died within four months af ter their return home, of disease contracted in service;) and

On motion of Mr. Lacock, the bill was postponed a day beyond the session, and of course rejected.

The Senate then resumed the consideration of the bill providing for the erection of an equestrian statue of general Washington, in pursuance of the resolution of the Congress of 1783.

The senate resumed the consideration of the motion submitted yesterday by Mr Morril, to re- Considerable discussion took place on this subquest the President to dismiss certain officers ject; in the course of which Mr. Wilson moved to from service: it was, after some discussion, with-postpone the bill to the 5th of March, (to reject drawn by the mover, who substituted the follow-it) with a view of then moving for estimates of ing, which was agreed to: expense, &c. to be reported to the House at the

next session; which motion was decided by yeas and nays, as follows:

For the postponement-Messrs. Barbour, Burrill, Crittenden, Dickerson, Edwards, Eppes, Lacock, Leake, Macon, Morrow, Noble, Palmer, Roberts, Ruggles, Tait, Taylor, Williams, of Miss. Wilson----18.

Against the postponement-Messrs. Daggett, Eaton, Forsyth, Fromentin, Goldsborough, Horsey, Hunter, Johnson, King, Mellen, Morrill, Otis, Sanford, Stokes, Talbot, Tichenor, Van Dyke, Williams, of Ten.---18.

The Senate being equally divided on the question,

The President gave the casting vote against postponing the bill, and the motion was according ly negatived.

After further debate as to the amount necessary to be appropriated for the object

The bill was laid over until to-morrow. The joint resolution for transmitting, free of postage, the documents which accompanied the report of the Bank committee, was received from the House of Representatives, read three times by general consent, passed, and returned to the House.

The bill making appropriations to carry into ef fect treaties with certain Indian tribes; and the bill for the relief of Daniel Pettibone, were severally taken up and considered, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Several bills were read the second time. The bill from the other House, directing the payment of certain bills drawn by general Armstrong, was considered and also ordered to a third reading.

The engrossed bill more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes was read the third time, passed, and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

The Senate then went into the consideration of Executive business, which occupied it until it adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, February 3. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, from the committee of ways and means, reported a bill providing additional penalties for false entries for the benefit of drawback or bounty on exportation; also a bill for the relief of Ambrose Vasse.

Mr. Robertson, from the committee on private land claims, made a report on the petition of James Hughes, accompanied by a bill for his relief; all of which bills were severally twice read and committed.

On motion of Mr. Robertson, the committee on private land claims were discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Michael McElroy.

had been referred, reported that it is inexpedient to authorise the appointment of an agent in each of the counties of the several states to receive the tax due to the general government on lands which are or may be sold for non-payment of the taxes; which report was read and concurred in by the house.

On motion, the committee on military affairs were discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Sarah Easton and Dorothy Storer.

The Speaker laid before the house the annual report of the commissioners of the sinking fund.

The Speaker also laid before the house a letter from Joseph Lancaster, expressive of the gratitude with which he is penetrated for the honor conferred on him in admitting him to a seat within the hall of the House of Representatives, which letter was read and laid on the table.

The house took up the report of the committee of ways and means, made at the last session, on the petition of Lawrence Muse, and, on motion of Mr. Garnett, it was recommitted to the same committee.

On motion of Mr. Cushman, the committee on the post office were instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing post routs, in New York, from Troy through Brunswick and Greenbush, to Sandlake, and from Cambridge through Hosack, Berlin and Shepherdstown, to Lebanon; and

The resolution from the Senate proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States was twice read and committed to a committee of the whole on the state of the Union.

The engrossed bill providing additional penalties for false entries for the benefit of drawback, &c. was read the third time, passed and sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The Speaker laid before the House a report from the Secretary of War, exhibiting a statement of the moneys transferred from one specific appropriation to another, during the last recess of Congress, &c.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. J. J. Monroe, the same as that received yesterday by the Senate, on the subject of British applications for restitution of property; which was read and referred to the committee of claims.

Saturday, February 5.

On motion of Mr. Scott, and Mr. Murray, res. pectively, the committee on post offices and post roads were instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing the following post-roads:

"From the Seat of Justice, in Franklin county, to the Seat of Justice in Montgomery county; also from St. Louis, by Belle Fontaine, and Portage Des Sioux to the Seat of Justice of Lincoln county; also, from St. Michael, in Madison county, to the Seat of Justice in the county of Wayne; thence to Hick's Ferry, on the road to Lawrence Court. House, and from Jackson, in Cape Girardeau county, to the Seat of Justice in the county of Wayne.

Thursday, February 4. The house met this morning under closed doors, and continued in private session until near 4 o'clock, when the doors were opened, and the injunction of secrecy having been in part removed from the secret proceedings, it appeared that the amendments proposed by the Senate to the military appropriation bill, to carry into effect certain stipulations of the late treaty with the Chickasaw Indians, had been the subject of the private deliberations of the house, which resulted in concurrence with the Senate's amend-following resolution: ments.

Friday, February 5.

Mr. Smith of Md. from the committee of ways and means, to whome an inquiry into the subject

From Halifax in Dauphin county, along the east side of the Susquehannah river, to Sunbury, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania."

Mr. Robert Moore offered for consideration the

Resolved, That the committee on roads and canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to subscribe shares in the stock of the road laid

out from Pittsburgh, in the county of Alleghany, to Waterford, in the county of Erie, in the state of Pennsylvania.

The motion was agreed to.

The bill from the Senate "to provide for the relief of sick and disabled scamen;" and the bill authorizing a subscription for the 11th and 12th volumes of state papers, were twice read and | committed.

The engrossed bill to authorize the Secretary of War to appoint an additional agent for paying pensioners of the United States in the state of Tennessee, was read a third time, passed, and sent to the Serate for concurrence.

The following message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. J. J. Monroe, his Secretary:

To the House of Representatives.

I yesterday learned that one Indian was killed and another wounded near the Foplar Spring.

This detail of events, however, was probably unnecessary, as you will receive from major Youngs every intelligence upon the subject. My principal object is to state that, in my efforts to protect the people over whom I preside, the territorial treasury, being destitute of funds, has afforded me no supplies whatever; nor has it been in the power of the commanding officer here to render the aid which he has uniformly manifested the best disposition to afford. I am desirous that the troops should be considered as in the service of the United States, and the accounts adjusted when their term of service expires. One company rendezvoused at Poplar Spring, for three months' service, on the 10th of April, and a detachment of twenty-five at Sepulga, lately, for the same term of service The expenditures incurred have been necessarily considerable, and altogether

I transmit to Congress a copy of a letter from governor Bibb to major general Jackson, connected with the late military operations in Flori-beyond my means of paying. You will readily da. This letter had been mislaid, or it would have been communicated with the other documents at the commencement of the session.

JAMES MONROE

Washington, Feb. 6, 1819.

perceive how unpleasant has been my situation, without the means of affording the protection necessary to keep the inhabitants at their homes. The regular force in this quarter has been insufficient for the defence of the country; the militia Fort Crawford, 9th May, 1818. I have not had time to organize; and, above all, Dear Sir,-Proceeding to Georgia for the pur- not a dollar in the treasury. My views of the nepose of bringing my family to this territory, and cessity of forwarding men and money to this secdesirous to provide for the safety of the inhabi- tion of the country, have been repeatedly stated tants on the frontiers during my absence, I have to colonel Trimble, but I apprehend it has not been sought an interview with the officer in command in his power to meet thein. Having endeavored at this place. At camp Montgomery I learned in vain, with my limited resources, to arrest the that you would probably reach this place in a enemy; after their successive murders, and being few days, and indulged the hope of seeing you.satisfied that they sought refuge in Florida, I de. An interview with you would have been to me a termined to raise a volunteer force, and order source of much pleasure, and I regret that my them to attack the hostile Indians, without regard arrangements will not permit me to await your to our boundary. A part of the force is now unarrival. der the command of major Youngs, and captain The Indians commenced their murderous in-Stull is in possession of my order. Had I been cursions on the frontier settlements in January furnished with funds, the enemy would have been last, when two men were killed in this neighbor-driven from that retreat long before this time; hood. No events occurred afterwards to excite persuaded as I am that it is the only effectual meapprehension until the 14th of March, when a thod of affording security to this Territory. house on the federal road, near the Poplar Spring, I have this moment received intelligence which was attacked, and eight persons killed. This in- leaves no doubt of your approach to this quarter, telligence reached me at Claiborne, from whence and I shall now leave the territory perfectly satis a detachment of mounted riflemen was immedi-fied that the people will not suffer by my absence. ately ordered to the place for one month's ser- Mr. Henry Hitchcock is appointed territorial vice. A few days afterwards, five men, while tra- Secretary, and will act as govornor after I set out velling the road, were fired at, and three killed, from Fort Jackson, which will be the 26th or 27th from whom fifteen hundred or two thousand dol- of the month. I may, however, be detained a lars were taken. The people, for the most part, few days longer in arranging with the Big Warwere flying for safety in every direction, and all rior the reception of a party of Indians who have communication, by mail or otherwise, with Geor-sued for peace, and delivered themselves to major gia, wholly suspended. The Indians were known to be still in that quarter. In this state of things, three posts were established by my order, at which there are, in the whole, about an hundred men, who have instructions to scour the woods from day to day. A fortnight since they found a camp, but, on their approach, the enemy filed to a contiguous swamp, from whence they fired, and killed ne man. The commanding officer informs me that he thinks the number of Indians in the neighborhood considerable. I should have mentioned that, in April, a house, within fifteen or twenty miles of Claiborne, was attacked, the husband killed, and wife and two daughters wound ed. Thirty dollars, a quantity of bacon, and every article winch could be conveyed away, were taken and carried to Pensacola, where, I believe, the murderers might still be found.

Youngs. This they did so soon as the major convinced them, by a well-timed and well executed expedition, that they would no longer be permit ted to murder our citizens, and find refuge in the Spanish territory.

There are at this place forty volunteers, and the same number of militia at camp Montgomery. Should you need any additional aid from the territory, it would be promptly furnished, should you notify me at Fort Jackson before my depart

ure.

I enclose to you a letter I have received from the commanling officer of the militia near the Poplar Spring, which will present to you the state of things in that quarter. Excuse this hasty scrawl, and accept the assurances of my regard and esteem. WM. W. BIBB.

Major Gen. Andrew Jackson.

No. 8.]

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

WASHINGTON CITY, FEBRUARY 20, 1819.

[VOL. VII

Printed and Published, every Saturday, by Lawrence, Wilson, & Co. at five dollars per annum.

Contents of this No. of the National Register.
ORIGINAL.-Congress, 113.-Editor's Cabinet-Diplomatic.
Operations-Mr. Gallatin, 128.
SELECTED.-Documents accompanying the letter of Mr.
Adams to Mr. Erving, relating to the Seminole war, 113
-Proceedings of Congress, 119.

CONGRESS.

possibly be the issue. That the directors of the institution have acted incorrectly there can be no doubt. In speculating for themselevs, they have managed the firm badly. It is impossible for

them to extricate themselves from direct condemnation. These stockjobbers, it appears, are moving upon Congress with memorials, explanations, newspaper essays, and private manœuvreing. They will, no doubt, all certify for one another. But this will signify but little with an enlightened, virtuous community, whose pockets have been picked by the depreciation of the paper currency, brought about by bank directors, stockjob

ourselves a little in reserve until the Congress adjourns: we shall then mark the incidents-the rise, growth, and fate of Mr. Spencer's inquiry. There will, we fear, be but little time for discuss

This body, which commenced its proceedings on the 16th day of last November, is drawing to the close of its session. It must adjourn, or, rather, will be constitutionally dissolved, on the 3d of March nex', precisely at midnight. It has, therefore, only eleven days more to sit. During the period of its session, up to this day,bers, shavers, &c. &c. &c. On this head we hold it has enacted but few laws; but many are in a progress of enactment, and some of them of considerable importance to the community. The Seminole campaign has absorbed much time; the Bank of the United States will probably absorbing the propriety of a bankrupt law; and yet, the much more. In relation to the former, we have late decision of the supreme court on the subject conceived it our duty to pay particular attention of insolvent laws would seem to require the insti to it; not so much because the arguments in contution of a bankrupt system more than ever. Since demnation of the President and general Jackson the foundation of the world there have been have been of a character worth very serious ani- bankrupt laws, either particular ones, operating madversion, but because the charges brought for at once upon great masses of people grown desward on the occasion were of a nature, and sup- perate by misfortune and debt; or general, letported with a vehemence, calculated to injure our ting into new life the unfortunate trader as the national character in Europe. From this consi-evils cf failure overtook him, so as to prevent the deration chiefly, it has been, that we have occu- accumulation in society of materials prepared for pied our pages so fully with the documents touch- civil war and pillage. We have kept up our ing this topic. Last week we published the un-|| answerable letter of Mr. Secretary Adams to Mr. Erving on this subject, and we shall follow it up with the testimony which supports his reasoning in every part. We call the particular attention of the reader to this testimony, commenced in the present number of the National Register. In proportion as it is examined, the arguments of Mr. Adams will be found more close and perspicuous. It cannot be disguised-and yet it has been sought to be disguised-that those who have condemned general Jackson, have levelled the shafts of hostility at the administration: for, as the administration approved the measures of the general, it follows that those who decry the latter do, by consequence, attack the former. The bat tery against the executive was masked; but it was, nevertheless, a battery. It has, however, been carried in the face of a pretty smart fire.— As to the bank question, it assumes so many forms the influence of that great monied institution beginning evidently to operate in several di rections-that, after publishing the report of the committee, we have paused, to see what might

journal of proceedings of Congress to this date with great regularity, not wishing to let them grow stale upon our hands: for, like certain li quors, unless used at the instant they are uncorked, they are very insipid. After the adjournment of the Congress, we shall have more room for miscellaneous matters, although we shall still be compelled to occupy several pages of the Regis. ter weekly with the public documents. Those who desire solid information will read them with attention: those who do not, will commonly find them accompanied by such literary and political sauces and condiments as will suffice to satisfy their palates.

In the arrangement of the following documents, those bearing upon each of the several subjects, marked in italics, are collected together. Their chronological order is, therefore, very irregular. But to understand their full effect, it is necessary to attend particularly to their respective dates: most especially of those relating to the proceedings of Arbuthnott-from his journal, 23d October, 1816, to his letter to his son, 2d April, 1818.

DOCUMENTS

Accompanying the letter of Mr. Secretary Adams
to Mr. Erving, the minister of the United
States at Madrid, in relation to the invasion of
Florida and the execution of Arbuthnott and
Armbrister.

Extract of a letter, No. 9, from Mr. Adams to Mr.
Erving, dated Department of State, Washington,
December 2, 1818

pinger was well informed of the operations of Arbuthnott and Woodbine, and that he saw them in their true colors. How then does it happen that a year afterwards the Spanish commandant at St. Marks is found so entirely leagued with Arbuth nott, as to sign his name to the approbation of a power of attorney, given to him by the hostile chiefs, to write letters and deliver talks, in their names; to hold councils of war with them at his quarters; to hold as prisoners white persons, inhabitants of the province, taken by them, and to On the 27th of March last, the Spanish minister write a letter to Arbuthnott, asking him to come here, Mr. Onis, addressed a letter to this depart and confer with him upon subjects which could ment, for the professed purpose of vindicating the not be committed to paper The original of that character and conduct of the Spanish command- letter, which is in bad French, and in the hand ing officers in Florida, and of proving that they writing of the commandant of St. Marks, signed bad invariably discharged their duties of friendly by him, is in our possession, [48] A copy of it is proceeding towards the United States, and the among the papers enclosed. We cannot doubt obligations of the treaty of 1795, by which Spain that the Spanish government will consider it as a was bound to restrain, by force, the hostilities of proof of the conspiracy of the commandant of St. her Indians in Florida, against the United States. Marks, with Arbuthnott and the Indians, against To this letter are annexed fourteen documents; the United States. Should he be put upon his the greater part of which consist of remonstrances, trial, as you are instructed to demand, the originaddressed during the late war between the Unit-al letter itself will be transmitted, to be exhibited ed States and Great Britain, to British officers, to the court. against their continual violations of the neutrality It is to be observed that the original draught in of the Spanish territory. It is not however to Arbuthnott's hand writing, of the letter from Bowthose documents, but to the two numbered 13 and 14, as annexed to that letter, [66, 67,] that I legs to governor Coppinger, differs in several paragraphs from the translation communicated by wish to invite your attention. No. 13 is the trans Mr Onis, as received by him from governor Coplation of a letter, purporting to be from Bowlegs, pinger. The following passage particularly, one of the Seminole Indian chiefs, most invete. which appears in the draught, produced before rately hostile to the United States, to Don Jose the court martial, is not in the translation furnishCoppinger, governor of St. Angustine. A transiaed by governor Coppinger. "The Spanish subtion you will say why a translation? and from what language? Neither governor Coppinger, of the Americans to be our friends. For the gojects in the Floridas are too much in the interests nor Mr. Onis, have furnished the means of anvernors I shall always entertain the greatest reswering that question. They are furnished however by the papers of Arbuthnott, which fell into gard; but for the people, they do not act so as to inerit my esteem and protection." The remaingeneral Jackson's hands. The language was EnWe do not glish, and the original was written by Arbuthnott.der of the letter is nearly the same. The draught was found among his papers, and was produced to the court martial upon his trial, [49, No. 2, p. 152 34.] We naturally suppose that governor Coppinger, upon receiving a letter init English, from a Seminole Indian chief, must have been surprised, unless he knew from whom and whence it came. The substance of his answer shows that he did know, both whence it came, and the character of him by whom it was written. By the copies of the two letters, which are enclosed, you will see, in that of Bowlegs, a part of the systematic intrigues of Arbuthnott, to instigare, as well the Spanish commanders in Florida, as the savages, against the United States; and in that of governor Coppinger, a direct declaration to the Indian, that all his supposed causes of alarm and complaint proceed from the information of persons in whom he ought not to place the smallest confidence, it being their principle to employ such opportunities for the purpose of seducing him and his people from their daily labor." Af ter offering his own friendly advice, the governor adds, "I am fearful, however, that the sentiments of those, who come into the territory, under the appearance of friendship, but with bad intentions, may duence your minds, and obtain your confidence, by their flattering representations And finally, he complains that two persons had lately presented themselves as commissioners of the English nation, and carried off several runaway negroes, belonging to inhabitants of the province. It is apparent, from this letter, that governor Cop."

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suppose that the omission was made by the governor, but rather that Arbuthnott, yet uncertain how such a reflection would be received, omitted from the letter itself, which was transmitted to the governor.

The papers marked 62, 63, 64, and 68, are copies of originals, in the hand writing of Arbuthnott, taken with the rest of his papers; but not exhibited before the court martial The sheet of his journal is of some importance, as exhibiting his connexion and dissatisfaction with Woodbine. 65 is a letter from him, said to be to an officer of rank, in England, (no doubt Nicholls,) dated 30th January, 1818, only three months before he was taken. The sheet of the journal shows that Arbuthnott arrived, with Woodbine, from New Providence, at Suwany, about the last of October, 1816, and that they immediately commenced their operations with the Indians, against the United States. Bowlegs's letter to governor Coppinger is dated the 18th of November, of that year, and apologizes for his not having sooner answered a letter of September, from the governor, by the impossibility he had been under of finding a person to write the answer from him. Among other complaints against Woodbine, in this journal, there is one, distinctly, that he had promised the savages assistance from the British government, without authority, and by direct falsehood, and he expresses an apprehension that when the Indians and out that none of those promises are realized, their fury will fall upon him self.

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