Mr. J. S. Smith, of N. C. moved to amend the resolution by adding thereto the following: Resolved, That the act or acts of Congress an thorizing the appointment of two major generals be repealed, and that the office of major general in the military peace establishment of the United States, be dispensed with. Resolved, That the residue of the staff of the army of the United States be reduced to one half of the present number of officers, or as nearly so as the nature of the case will admit of The amendment was accepted by Mr Williams as a part of his motion The question was then taken on laying the resolutions on the table, and decided in the affirmative-yeas 71, nays 66. So the resolutions were laid on the table. Monday, February 15. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Treasurer of the United States, transmitting statements of his accounts; which letter and statements were ordered to lie on the table. Among the memorials presented to-day was the following: || state government, and for the admission of the same into the Union. The question being on the proposition of Mr. Tallmadge, to amend the bill by adding to it the following proviso: "And provided, That the further introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude, be prohibited, except for the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been fully convicted; and that all children born within the said state, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be free at the age of twenty-five years." The question being put on the motion of Mr. So the amendment was agreed to. 79 67 Tuesday, February 16. Among the petitions presented this morning was one from the postmasters of the cities of Boston, Albany, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, praying for an increase of their compensation. The bills from the Senate for the relief of B. By Mr. Sergeant, the petition of sundry mer-and P Jourdan, brothers; for the relief of Edchants of Philadelphia, stating, that, late in the ward McCarty; for the relief of Michael Hogan; year 1806, they made large shipments in Ameri- confirming the claim of Alexander Macomb to a can and Colonial Produce from ports of the Unitedt act of land in the territory of Michigan; were States to the port of Antwerp, in France; that the severally received, twice read and committed. vessels in which their shipments were made were The engrossed bill for the relief of Patrick Calcarried into England, under the Orders in Council lan, was read a third time, passed and sent to the of Great Britain, and, after being subjected to il Senate. legal duties, were released; that, upon their arrival at the port of Antwerp, the ships, with their cargoes, were seized under the decrees of France, commonly called the Berlin and Milan Decrees,||jority of about 10 votes. and were sold, and the proceeds paid into the treasury of France; that all their efforts to obtain redress have been unavailing, and praying that such measures may be adopted by the government of the United States as will induce that of France to grant them compensation for their property, as well as for its detention. The Memorial was read, and referred to the Secretary of State. A petition was also presented by Mr. Pindall, from sundry inhabitants of the state of Virginia, Mr. Williams, of N. C. moved to proceed again to the consideration of the proposition to reduce the army; which motion was rejected by a ma The house then proceeded to the consideration of the amendments reported by the committee of the whole to the bill for authorizing the people of the Territory of Missouri to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the admission of the same into the Union. The whole of the amendments made in committee of the whole were agreed to, with the exception of that which prohibits slavery or involuntary servitude in the proposed state. The question was taken on agreeing to the first praying to be permitted to settle on Columbia rimember of the proposed amendment, in the folver, in the Missouri territory, at a point below ||lowing words: the head of the navigation on said river; and referred to the committee on public lands. A memorial was presented, also, by Mr. Speak er, from George Williams, explanatory of his conduct as a Director, on the part of the government, of the Bank of the United States; which was read and ordered to lie on the table. "That the further introduction of slavery, or involuntary servitude, be prohibited, except for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been fully convicted." On which question the yeas and nays were as follows. Yeas 87, Navs 76. + The question was then taken on agreeing to the second member of the said amendment, which in the following words: Mr. Smith, of Md. reported a bill making an appropriation for carrying into effect the provi-is sions of an act passed on the 1st day of March, 1817, "making reservation of certain public lands to supply timber for naval purposes;" which was twice read and committed. Mr. Johnson, of Ky. reported a bill for establishing an additional military academy, and a military school of application; which was twice read and committed. The bill for the relief of Patrick Callan, was taken up, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The House having again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Smith, of Md. in the chair, on the bill to authorize the people of the Missouri territory to form a constitution and "And that all children born within the said state, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be free at the age of 25 years." On which question the vote was, by yeas and nays as follows: for the said second part 82, against it 78. So the whole of the amendments, as proposed by Mr Tallmadge, were agreed to. Some other amendments having been made to the bill Mr. Storrs, moved so strike out so much of the bill as says that the new state shall be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original states. The motion was negatived. part, as the present proposition was to impose a condition on a territorial government, instead of as in the former case, to enjoin the adoption of the principle in the constitution of a state, and as it applied to a more southern territory. The question on ordering the bill to be engross-ously occupied on this subject, but differing in ed for a third reading, was then decided in the affirmative, 98 to 56. Wednesday, February 17. Mr. Wendover presented a memorial of the chamber of commerce of the city of New York, praying that no measures may be adopted tending to dissolve the charter of the Bank of the United States, but that the evils alleged may be corrected, and the Bank permitted to continue its operations; and Mr. Tyler presented a similar memorial from sundry citizens of the city of Richmond; both of which memorials were read and referred to the committee of the whole House, to whom was committed the report on the bank, &c. The bill from the Senate, supplementary to the acts concerning the coasting trade," which had been referred to the committee of ways and || means, was reported by Mr. Smith, of Md. without amendment. [This bill, it will be recollected, proposes to divide the sea coast and rivers therein, into four districts, as heretofore stated in detail ] Mr Silsbee moved an amendment to the bill, which proposed, in effect, to divide the sea coast of the United States into two districts, instead of four, as contemplated by the bill; the first district to extend from the eastern limits of the United States to the southern limits of Georgia; the second district from the river Perdido to the west. ern limits of the United States. This motion gave rise to a discussion of the merits of the bill, as well as of the particular proposition; in which Messrs. Silsbee, Orr, Smith, of Md. Livermore, and Whitman took part; and the debate had proceeded for some time, when Mr. Trimble, to give further time for considering a proposition so important in its character, moved to lay the bill on the table; which motion prevailed, and The bill was laid on the table. Mr. Spencer, from the committee appointed on the 10th of April last, to inquire into the official conduct of Wm. P. Van Ness and of Matthias B. Tallmadge, judges of the southern and northern districts of New York, and of William Stephens, judge of the district of Georgia, made a report, touching the official conduct of the two first named gentlemen; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table and be printed. || The bill from the Senate respecting the location of certain sections of land to be granted for the seat of government in the state of Indiana,|| was twice read and referred. The engrossed bill to authorize the people of the territory of Missouri to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, was read the third time, passed, and sent to the Senate. The House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Smith, of Md. in the chair, on the bill to provide a territorial government for the southern part (the Arkansaw country) of the Missouri territory. Mr. Taylor, of New York, moved to amend the|| bill by inserting a clause (similar to that incorporated, on the motion of Mr. Tallmadge, in the Missouri bill) to prohibit the existence of slavery in the new territory. The motion was advocated by Messrs. Taylor, Talhnadge, Livermore, Spencer, and Cushinan; and was opposed by Messrs. Clay, Robertson, Walker, of N. C. Tyler, Hugh Nelson, Storrs, Johnson, of Va. Barbour, of Va. M'Lane, of Del. and Kinsey. Several of the gentlemen spoke more than once, and the debate was maintained, with much animation,, until near 4 o'clock. The question was finally taken on the first part of the motion (it having been divided) in the following words: "That the further introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude be prohibited, except for the punishment of crimes, of which the party shall have been duly convicted;" And was decided in the negative. 69 80 The remaining part of the proposition to de. clare all the children free after 25 years of age, who shall be hereafter born in the territory, was negatived without a division. The committee then proceeded with the bill, and having gone through it, next took up the Alabama bill, for enabling the people of that territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of the same into the Union on a footing with the original states. Much time was busily employed by the committee in receiving and disposing of various amendments proposed to the details of this bill, and in considering and deciding on its provisions -Messrs. Crowell, Poindexter, Cobb, and others, entered into the discussion. The committee negatived one or two motions to rise, and persevered through the bill, when The committee rose, and reported both bills to the House, with the amendments made thereto; and, at near five o'clock the House adjourned. Thursday, February 18. Robert Raymond Reid, a new member from Georgia, elected to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Forsyth, appeared and took his seat. Mr. Bloomfield reported a bill supplementary to "An Act to provide for certain persons engag ed in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" which was twice read and committed. The bill from the Senate for the relief of John B. Timberlake was ordered to be read a third time to morrow. Mr. Reed moved that the house proceed to take into consideration the resolution submitted by him on the 23d ult. for the erection of a monument to the memory of the late major general De Kalb, which motion was negatived. Mr. Holmes moved that the house do come to the following resolution: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to in. quire into the expediency of providing for the first meeting of the next Congress at an earlier period than the first Monday of December; and that the committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. #his motion gave rise to a wide and long con- On the question to agree to this motion, it was tinued debate, covering part of the ground previ- I decided in the negative. The bill from the Senate to regulate the pay of the army when employed on fatigue duty, was twice read, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. Crowell further to amend one of the sections,). were ordered to be engrossed, and, with the bill read a third time. The house then resolved itself into a committee The bill from the Senate, confirming the title of the whole, Mr. Hugh Nelson in the chair, on of Alexander Macomb to a tract of land in the the state of the Union, to whom had been referteritory of Michigan, was read the third time and || red the report of the committee appointed to inpassed. vestigate the affairs of the bank, the conditional restrictions subsequently submitted by Mr. Spencer, the resolution absoultely to repeal the charter, submitted by Mr. Johnson of Va. and that offered by Mr. Trimble, to issue a scire facias. The house then proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee on the bill to establish a separate territorial government in the southern part of the present Missouri territory. Mr. Taylor moved to amend the same, by inserting the following proviso in the bill: "That the further introduction of slavery, or involuntary servitude, be prohibited, except for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been fully convicted." And that all the children born within the said state, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be free at the age of 25 years." The question on this motion being divided, was first taken on agreeing to the first clause thereof, in the following words: "That the further introduction of slavery, or involuntary servitude, be prohibited, except for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been fully convicted." And decided in the negative. The question was then taken on the remaining clause of said proposed amendment, in the following words: "And all children born of slaves within the said territory, shall be free, but may be held to service until the age of 25 years;" And decided in the affirmative. The question was taken on reconsidering the vote, and decided, by yeas and nays; In the nega. tive-for reconsideration 77, against it 79. The question being then stated on ordering the bill to be engrossed for a third reading. Mr. Bassett, deeming every effort called for on the part of the minority on this subject, to sustain their constitutional rights, which he considered to be assailed in the amendment just adopted, moved that the bill be recommitted to a select committee. The particular subject first in order was the bill reported by the bank committee to enforce the provisions of the act incorporating the bank, and it was accordingly announced by the chairman. Mr. Johnson, of Va observed that, as there were two other propositions before the committee, the adoption of either of which would supersede the necessity of acting on the bill, he thought it would be the preferable course first to take up for consideration one of those propositions; and he moved that the committee proceed to consider the resolution moved on the 9th inst. by himself, in the following words: Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report a bill to repeal the act entitled "An Act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States," passed April 10th, 1816." The committce agreed to take up this resolution, which was read. Mr. Spencer rose and stated, that he owed it to the civility of Mr. Johnson, that, in violating the usual custom on such occasions, which allowed the mover of a proposition to commence its disMr. Williams, of N. C. then moved to reconsi-cussion, he was sanctioned by the assent of Mr. der the vote just taken. He had voted with the Johnson. Mr. S. begged leave to remind the commajority, for the purpose of obtaining for himself mittee that there were three distinct propositions the privilege of moving a reconsideration, wish- before it; the first was the resolution of the gening for a full expression of the opinion of the || tleman from Virginia; (Mr. Johnson,) the second house on this important question, which could was that he had the honor of submitting some not now be obtained, as many members were out days since, directing the issuing a scire fucias, if of the house. the bank did not on a certain day express its assent to a modification of its charter; and the third was the resolution of his friend from Kentucky, (Mr. Trimble,) directing a scire facias absolutely and unconditionally. Mr. S. observed that he should prefer a modification of the charter, even if it should by some be esteemed a new compact, to the total destruction of the bank, with the views and apprehensions he entertained at present of the consequences of such a measure. If the committee should reach the resolution he had submitted, it was his intention to modify it, in some respects, particularly to omit the third proposition which proposed giving the President the power of removing any director; and he should in other respects amend his propositions, as time and reflection had enabled him, he thought, to improve them. And, if the committee should reach the bill reported by the select committee, Mr. S. observed, he should, with the approbation of the gentlemen composing that committee, submit an amendment which would require the stockholders, constituting an attorney to vote for them, to swear to their ownership of the stock. Mr. S. thonght it proper to apprize the commit. tee of these intentions, that the subject might be fairly considered. For the reason before stated, Mr. S. said, he should at present vote against the resolution for the repeal of the charter, and against that directing the issuing of a scire facias; Some conversation took place between Messrs. Pindall, Colston, Edwards, Scott, Lowndes, and Mills, as to the course now most expedient to give the bill; in the course of which, Mr. Lowndes moved that the bill be laid on the table, stating at the same time that, to prevent its being called up and decided by surprise, he should, at 12 o'clock to-morrow, move for a call of the house, and to take up the bill for a decision. This motiotion prevailed, and the bill was laid on the table. The house next took up the amendments reported by the committee of the whole to the bill from the Senate, to authorize a state government in the territory of Alabama, and for its admission in the Union. The amendments were concurred in by the house, and (after an ineffectual attempt by Mr. but, if he should not succeed in at least the plan of the propositions he had submitted, although he should not be tenatious of each particular one, he should feel it his duty to vote for a scire facias unconditionally. den, Madrid, and Rio. What is the reason of all this? Why do our citizens get so soon tired of these places? Are they not worth retaining? Is the pay not sufficient? Does the novelty of diplo matic life soon wear off? Or what is it? We con fess that we do not like to see this: We do not like to see our ablest citizens declining posts where they might be so useful; for it is at foreign courts, in observing the progress and influence of foreign policy, the course of commerce, the improvements in education, in arts and sciences, and in transplanting them to their own country, that our most eminent characters might be most Mr. S. proceeded to make explanations of some expressions in the report. The remark, that "the "principal business of the Bank certainly has "been to discount on notes secured by a pledge "of stock," was liable to misconstruction. The expression used does not convey the meaning of the committee; it was either an inadvertence in the draft, or an error in copying; he believed the expression originally was, "a principal part of "the business, &c. and it was intended to confine the remark to the business of the Bank at Philadelphia, which was sometimes loosely designated as the Bank. With respect to the busi-highly useful. With men of sense, however, the ness of the Bank and all its offices, it would ap-glare of courts. the eternal round and uniformity pear, that about one-fourth had uniformly been of ceremonies, soon present themselves in their discounted on pledged stock; while at Philadel-native nothingness, and teach the understanding phia the discounts on stock had frequently very how vain is every thing but virtue and knowledge. nearly equalled those on personal security. With regard to the expression, in the close of the report, that "whatever differences of opinion can exist among them, (the committee) as to the "result and inferences to be drawn from the facts "stated, they unanimously concur in giving to "the preceding statements of facts, and abstracts "of documents, their sanction." Mr. S. observed, that he thought the expression sufficiently precise, but he understood it was liable to a mis- Mr. Gallatin. This gentleman, we have been construction. When inferences were mingled told, means, after his return to America, to retire with facts, the unanimous sanction did not extend to the shady scenes of western Pennsylvania. to these inferenbes; but, that, in all cases wherever a fact was definitely stated, the commit-To play, perhaps, with Amaryllis in the grove, &c. tee meant to sanction it. Mr. S. remarked, that &c. The political school boys know the rest. the report had been prepared at a time of severe indisposition, and when the committee had been fatigued and almost exhausted with labor, and he should not be surprised if many erroneous expressions were found in it. Mr. Johnson, of Virginia, then rose in support of the resolution under consideration, and addressed the committee about an hour. Mr. Pindall, of Va. followed on the same side, and spoke nearly two hours in favor of the power in Congress to repeal the charter, and the expediency of doing so. Mr. Lowndes then intimated a wish to make some remarks on the subject, which, late as it was, he would proceed to do, at once, if the committee were disposed now to hear him; but if they were desirous of rising he would give way. A motion being made to that effect, the committee rose, and The House adjourned. EDITOR'S CABINET. CITY OF WASHINGTON, February 20, 1819. Diplomatic Operations.—It is already known that In the diplomatic corps from foreign sovereigns and states, we hear of no changes, except of an intended visit of Mr. BAGOT, the British minister, to his native country. Mr. ANTROBUS, at present the secretary of the British legation, it is understood, will remain as charge des affaires. Vice President TOMPKINS has left town for New York. Mr. BARBOUR, of Virginia, presides, pro tempore, in the Senate. In New York there has not, as yet, been any election of Senator, in the place of Mr. KING, whose term of service will expire on the 4th of next month. There were several ballotings in the legislature, but without effect. The contest seems to lie between Mr. KING, the actual Senator, and Mr. JOHN C. SPENCER, at present a member of the House of Representatives. There are three political parties in the state of New York: the Clintonian, the Federal, and the Tammany. The first mentioned is rather the strongest. Their conflicts remind one of the loves of the triangles. The salaries of the Heads of Departments have at length been increased by act of Congress, to wit: Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of the Navy 6000 dolls. 6000 6000 6000 The Attorney General is to receive 3500 dolls. The Chief Justice of the United States 5000 dolls. The Postmaster General 4000 dollars, &c. &c. Mr. JOHN GRAHAM succeeds Mr. SUMTER at the Considering the vast depreciation of money, these salaries are still very low. Twenty years ago, half the amount would have been of more No 9] THE NATIONAL REGISTER. WASHINGTON CITY, FEBRUARY 27, 1819. [VOL. VII Printed and Published, every Saturday, by Lawrence, Wilson, & Co. at five dollars per annum. In 1802, we had not a single league of coast on the Contents of this No. of the National Register.` ORIGINAL.-Treaty with Spain, 129.-Bank of the Unit-bine to the St. Mary's, we reckon about thirteen ed States, 129. SELECTED.-Documents accompanying the letter of Mr. Adams to Mr. Erving, relating to the Seminole war, 130. -Proceedings of Congress, 132.-Contents of the Treaty with Spain, 144. TREATY WITH SPAIN. degrees of longitude upon the borders of the Ocean which we did not possess in 1802. It is thus we stride, from object to object; and shall eventually light upon the banks of the river Columbia and the shores of the Pacific! What mag ther: but if we look narrowly into the matter, we shall find that the state governments, as at present organized, possess a conservative power which enables them on the instant to protect themselves, without the necessity of waiting for orders from the national government; and this very power will induce them to adhere longer and with It will be seen, by an article which we copy in-nificent prospects open upon us! We sincerely to the National Register to day, from the Nation-rejoice at the rising grandeur of our countryal Intelligencer, that a treaty has been at last conWe rejoice that liberty and law are destined to cluded between the United States and Spain, on prevail over so large a portion of the globe. At all the points in controversy between the two na- the first thought, it would appear that such an extions. Mr. Adams, the Secretary of the Depart-tent of territory could not hang very long togement of State, the American negotiator; Mr. De Onis the Spanish negotiator. By this treaty the Sabine is constituted the extreme south-western boundary of the United States; and, thence, the lime runs obliquely to the 42d degree of north latitude; and is to follow that parallel to the Pacific Ocean. The British convention of the 20th of October last, fixes our northern bound-more firmness to the confederation than any other ary along the 49th parallel of latitude, from the Lake of the Woods. We run, therefore, from about the Stony Mountains, or a little on this side of them, with a breadth of seven degrees of ter-westward, the balance of union will be broken by ritory entirely across the continent; and, for the first time, our government begins to see its way to the Northern Pacific Ocean with any thing like a clear and definite view of sovereignty. It will be remembered that we had contended for a boundary to the Louisiana purchase as far as the Rio del Norte. By the treaty with Spain we give up about four degrees of maritime frontier on the Gulf of Mexico: very valuable indeed, but the surrender of which is fully justified by the cession of the Floridas by Spain, which puts an end to all animosity, gives us a fine territory, and good harbors directly in the vicinity of Cuba and the adjacent islands. The five millions of dollars which our government is to pay to Amerioan citizens for spoliations by Spanish and French cruisers, is a mere song, when put in the scale against this grand and invaluable purchase. principle whatever. There are, however, many good men who have serious fears on this head; and who apprehend that, by travelling too far separate interests, and that two or three nations may spring up in the place of one. Whatever basis there may be for apprehensions of this kind, it will still be a consolation to find the contiguous parts settled by people of the same family, habits, education, manners, and language, who will, from old recollections and present interests, cling to each other in any great line of policy which may be salutary for the whole. The treaty with Spain must be sent to Madrid, for the ratification of his Catholic Majesty, and the ratifications be exchanged, before it will be promulgated or be binding. This will take up about six months; so that we do not expect to have the pleasure of perusing the instrument until August next. At peace with all the world, our rulers have now little else to do than to study economy, prosecute internal improvements, ameWhat will be the effect of this wide spread of liorate our code of jurisprudence, and give en our dominion? Will it or will it not tend to weak-couragement to the arts and sciences. en our confederation? Are we to have members BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. of Congress coming to Washington by the way of Cape Horn? or, for their convenience, and that of The reader will perceive, by the proceeding commerce, shall we cut a canal at the Isthmus of under our congressional head, that there has been Darien? Will not our position on the Florida a great reaction in favor of the Bank of the U. S. shore fill our heads with naval notions, and push and the stock begins to rise accordingly. But, will us on to naval enterprises? In truth, for the last it ever rise to 150 again? Will the speculators who seventeen years we have gone on swimmingly. I bought in at that price, with a view of selling out at |
