Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume], February 12, 1823, Image 3

About Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume] (Harper's Ferry, Va. [i.e. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.]) 1821-1824

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jt, ^ggNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1823.
We are requested to state, that a
Bail will he held at the Harpers-Ferry
Hotel, on the night of Friday the 21st
instant, in honor of the birth of the illus
trious Washington.
Arrangements will be made to
have Music of a superior kind, worthy of
tne event to be commemorated.
We are gratified to leat^n, that some
valuable additions have been made to the
.Library at this place, comprising highly
interesting and useful publications, such
as biographical, historical, and scientific
Works. Among them may be found—
Professor Silliman’s Journal of Science,
the Edinburg and Quarterly Reviews, Life
of Gen. Greene, British Spy, The Spy, an
American production, and a popular work
entitled Valerius, founded on incidents in
Roman History, and said to be from the
same pen with the Waverly Novels. So
that the lovers of literature have now be
fore them a rich mental banquet, of which
they will doubtless avail themselves.
CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING.
In the strife for the advancement of fa
vorites to the Presidency, it is not sur
prising that the selfish passions of the
heart should be roused, or that petty jea
lousies should lead to acts and expres
sions injurious to the character and feel
ings of those whose duties happen to
draw them within the circle of this poli
tical convulsion. The odium of indiscre
tions by the unthinking, or flagrant vio
lations of propriety by the unprincipled,
is often attempted to be transferred from
the guilty to the guiltless. A recent ex
ample of this kind' has been given, in a
futile effort to irepeach the integrity
of Messrs. Gales and Seaton, by an
anonymous correspondent of the Wash
ington Republican. He charged them
: with expunging, from documents ordered
to be printed for Congress, a clause which
presented the official conduct of Mr.
• Crawford in an equivocal point of view.
t This was alleged to have, been done h'r
the printers, (or with their knowledge,)
to shield Mr. C. from the imputation of
a dereliction of duty, to which, it was
said, a full de' elopement of the document
in question would subject him. To vin
dicate themselves against a charge so
foul, G. & S. appealed to the House of
Representatives, and a committee was
accordingly appointed to investigate the
affair. The investigation has been made,
and these gentlemen have honorably pass
| ed the ordeal. The calumny has been
^hurled at them in vain. Indeed, those
Bwho knew them well, could have no hesi
tation in pronouncing an acquittal. We
can,from opportunities of personal obser
| vation, bear witness to their rectitude,
and to the ability with which the duties
connected with the public printing have
been discharged ; and it is with plea
sure we add ouy humble testimony in
their behalf.
It will be seen that the subject is not
yet disposed of entirely, a committee be
ing appointed to make further inquiries.
Efforts are doubtless made, to implicate
some officer of the government. 1 bat
Mr. Crawford did not authorise the sup
pression, must be readily admitted, as the
evidence in the case will show.
While on the subject of the printing
for Congress, we will subjoin the remarks
of a correspondent, whose means of judg
ing correctly are unquestionable: they
were written before the late investigation,
and may therefore he considered impar
tial ; and we know them to be founded on
truth.
“ 1 he subject ot Printing- will oe
brought before Congress this session. It
is important a judicious selection should
be made from among the numerous appli
cants it is presumed will appear. Among
them, it is hoped, Messrs. Gales and Sea
ton will be found. They will have had
the printing four years, on the termina
tion of the present Congress. It may
be truly said of them, that, during the
time of their employment as public prin
ters, the work turned off from their press
has been highly creditable to themselves
and to the nation. For several years pre
r ceding their employment in this capacity,
the work was done wretchedly, the mem
bers of Congress continually complaining
of the irregular manner in winch the do
cuments and other matters were received.
Since G. Sc S. have been engaged, the
documents, See. are faultless, handsomely
•p printed, and, with regard to punctuation,
- (one of the former glaring errors,) it is
impossible they can be excelled.
1 he disposition of the Public Printing
by Congress is really a matter of no un
r important consequence. To confide it,
; therefore, to those the ability and capa
> city of whom render an assurance of its
j faithful and excellent performance, is
surely a matter worthy of consider ation,
j Speaking disinterestedly and seriously,
. then, no persons within the range of our
Knowledge are better aule to uo u justice
than those above-named.
Considered in its just point of view,
the Printing- for the National Govern
ment is a national affair, in which the
character of the nation is either implica
ted for the bad performance of its print
ing, or exalted for its excellence. Reing
one of the Arts, Printing should be fos
tered and protected by the government,
and, in their disposition of such portion
as relates to Congress, the members ought
to throw aside every feeling, to ensure its
good and expeditious execution.
One fact more it may be well to state.
No printing office in the Union, at all
events in the District of Columbia, is bet
ter adapted to the purp&se of National
Printing than Gales and” Seaton’s. This
tribute of justice is evoked by a sense of
the correct manner in which they have
hitherto performed the important trust
assigned them by the National Legisla
ture.” . *
From the Legislature of Maryland, now
in session, we le rn tjvat a bill has been
introduced into the'House of Delegates,
and has received some discussion, which
looks like an earnest intention to com
mence the great work of the Potomac
Canal. The completion of this undertak
ing will probably double the value of
nearly all the property in the State of
Maryland, and particularly all the pro
perty in the City of Baltimore; and yet,
to our extreme astonishment, we perceive
that there is an opposition from Balti
more to this great work. What delu
sion is this ! What evil genius, more
potent than any that fables describe to
us, has breathed his pestiferous influence
over that patriotic and public-spirited
city ? We can conceive of nothing more
derogatory to that character for intelli
gence which that city has justly borne,
than the disposition now imputed to it.
And upon what plea? That the District
of Columbia will benefit by the Canal.
And are we forever to be not only unfor
tunate ourselves but the cause of misfor
tune to others ? If the Canal should bene
fit the District, it will, at the same time,
doubly benefit Baltimore; and we cannot
conceive of a more suicidal act, than for
Baltimore, the monumental city, to inter
pose her influence in opposition to her
own aggradizement—in opposition to the
opening of the richest vein of commer
cial wealth that was ever presented to an
enterprizingpeople, and in opposition too
to a measure which is to connect, by in
dissoluble ties, the most productive and
the most commercial sections of our com
mon country.—\_JVat Int.
NORFOLK, JAN. 31.
We are authorized to state, and we do
it with the utmost satisfaction, that the
ROANOKE CANAL is completed to
the basin at Rock Landing, and that there
now remains no obstacle to the transpor
tation of produce ,/rcm above the falls of
Roanoke to this place. In a word, that
this work, which has been so long a sub
ject of solicitude, anxiety, and interest,
is complete.
Expedition against the Pirates.
List of vessels fitting out at the Navy
Yard, Gosport, to go against the Pirates.
Steam Galliot Sea Gulp Com. Porter—
lieut. coiiul’t Wm. H. Watson.
Store Ship Decoy, lieut. comd’t Law
rence Kearney.
Schr. Grey Hound, mast, comd’t John
Porter.
Schr. Jackaip lieut. coni’dt Thomas
H. Steveps.
Schr. Fox, lieut. com’dt William II.
Cooke.
Schr. Wild Cat, lieut. com’dt Charles
W. Skinner.
Sclir. Beagle, lieut. com’dt John T.
Newton.
Schr. Ferret, lieut. com’dt Samuel
Henley.
Sclir. Terrier, lieut. com’dt Robert M.
Rose.
Schr. Ueazle, lieut. com’dt Beverly
Kenon.
And the Cutters—Midge, Musquito,
Sandfly, Galley-Nifiper, and Gnat.
We further learn, that the sloop of
war Peacock, Capt. Cassin, and schr.
Shark, lieut. com’dt Perry, will be at
tached to the squadron.—[Wor. Beacon.
[If names are ominous of the results
which are to follow, we shall expect to
hear of rare havoc among'the freebooters
of the ocean. T'b-e and character of
the commander prove that he does not
lack spirit; and should the Sea-Gull fail
to Z^ccot/them from their abode, the cun
ning of the Fox, aided by the vigilance
of the Jackall, the fleetness of the Grey
Hound, the Beagle and the Terrier, the
sagacity of the keen-scented Weazle, and
the fury of the fPz'W Car, will soon Ferret
them out of their lurking places, and de
liver them over to the just indignation of
the Midge, Musquito, Sand-Fly, Gally
JVipfier, and Grcar, to receive the stings
due to the unfeeling violators of justice
and humanity.]—Press.
Com. Porter arrived at Norfolk on tri
day the 21st ult. and hoisted his broad
pendant on the 2d inst. on board the U.
S, ship Peacock, lying off Town Point,
when a uauouahsaiuie was urea vrom mat
ship.
We understand, (says the Norfolk He
rald,) that orders have been received to
fit out the John Adams immediately for
sea.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
7/iursday, Jan. 23.—Mr. Sexton sub
i mitted the following preamble and reso
lutions:—
Whereas it is suggested, from various
parts'of the commonwealth, by the good
people thereof, that the right of represen
tation in the house of delegates is not
equally enjoyed, and that the right of
suffrage is not extended to all such men
as have sufficient evidence of a perma
nent common interest with an attachment
to the community:—and whereas the
house of delegates, as at present organ
j ized, is too numerous for deliberate legis
lation ■
Resolved, therefore, That it is expedi
ent to take the sense of the electors quali
fied according' to law, at the ensuing ge
neral election for members to serve in
the general assembly, whether they are
for or against a convention, for the pur
pose of amending the constitution of this
state, so as to equalize the representation
of the people of this commonwealth in
the house of delegates—to extend the
right of suffrage to all men having suffi
cient evidence of a common interest with
and attachment to the community—and
to provide for such future alterations as
experience shall suggest.
Resolved, also, That if a majority of
persons thus qualified to vote at the en
suing general election, shall appear to be
in favour of a convention for the purpos
es aforesaid, the executive of this com
monwealth shall immediately cause elec
tions to be holden for members of such
convention in the several senatorial dis
tricts—each elector voting for as many
deputies to such convention as shall be
equal to one for every-thousand
of the whole population of such district.
The members so elected shall assemble
at the capitol in the city of Richmond on
the-Monday-next, for the pur
pose of making the Xoregoing amend
ments.
And Resolved, That a committee be
appointed to bring in a bill in conformi
ty with the foregoing resolution.
On Mr. Doddridge’s motion, it was
laid upon the table.
Friday, Jan. 31.—Mr. Yancey, from
the C. of Roads and I. Navigation, re
ported a resolution, authorising the
Board of Public Works to subscribe for
2-5ths of the stock of the Fairfax Turn
pike Company—which was agreed to by
the House.
Engrossed bills, “authorising the Board
of Public Works to subscribe for a part
of the stock of the Tye river and Blue
Ridge Turnpike Company”—and “con
cerning James Gibson,” were read a Sd
time and passed.
Saturday, Feb. 1.—A communication
from the Senate, that they adhered to
their 1st, 2d and 3d amendments pro
posed to the bill “giving effect to the ar
ticles of Convention agreed upon by the
Commissioners of this state and of the
state of Kentucky.”
On Mr. Barbour’s motion, this bill
with the amendments was laid upon the
table; and he submitted the following
Resolution :
Resolved, That the Governor’s Com
munication of the 23d of Dec. last, cover
ing a communication from the Governor
of the state of Kentucky, with the Docu
ments accompanying the same, be refer
red to a joint committee of both Houses
of the General Assembly.
On motion of Mr. Mennis, this Resolu
tion was also laid upon the table.
Most of this day’s session was occupi
ed in executing the joint order of the day
for the election of ten Directors of the
Board of Public W'orks—result as fol
lows :
For the District West of the Alleghany
Mountains.
James McLaughlin, Thomas P. Moore,
Andrew Russell.
Between the Alleghany and Blue Ridge.
Charles A. Stuart, Hiram L. Opie,
Between the Blue Ridge and the head of
Tide Water.
Samuel Pannell, William Ellzey, John
H. Cocke.
Below the Head of Tide Water.
John W. Green, George Newton.
Monday, Fed. 3.—The House took up
the University bill, with the amendment
of Mr. Doddridge, and the substitute of
fered by Mr. Griffin.—The latter was re
jected, and the amendment, after sundry
amendments thereto, was agreed to, and
the bill as amended, ordered to be en
grossed and read a third time.
Tuesday, Feb. 4.—An engrossed bill
“ concerning the University of Virginia,
and for other purposes,” was taken up.
The question being taken, the bill passed,
ayes 121, noes 66. It provides for a
loan to the University of $60,000—and
contains provisions for the more effectual
execution of the primary school system.
Mr. Gordon was requested to communi
cate the said bill to the Senate.
tveanesyay, reo. 5-.—A great variety
of business was disposed of by the House
of Delegates. The bill reducing the pay
of the members of the General Assembly
was returned from the Senate. That bo
dy agree to the amendment proposed by
the H. of D. to their first amendment:
and recede from their 2d and 3d, ansi in<
sist on their 4th amendment, which re
lates to the pay of their clerk. .The H.
determined to adhere to their disagree
ment. The 5th amendment providing
for the pay of a Sergeant at arms to the
Senate was insisted on by that body, and
the H. of D. receded from their disagree
ment thereto. The Senate.also insisted
on their 6th amendment, and the H. of
D. determined to adhere to their disagree
ment to it—and receded from their disa
greements to the other amendments of
the Senate, to whom the bill, in this
shape, was returned. The only differen
ces between the two Houses on this sub
ject, relate to the pay of the clerk of the
Senate, and to an additional compensa
tion, proposed to be given to the 1st door
keeper of the Senate, during the period
he performed the duties of Sergeant at
Arms.
A message was received from the Se
nate, by Mr. Cabell, that they had fiassecl
the bill “ concerning the University, and
for other purposes.” The vote in the
Senate was 19 to 3.
John S. Barbour, Thomas Brown, and
Thomas Marshall, are announced as Can
didates lor Congress in the Culpeper dis
trict. Thomas L. Moore, the present
representative, declines a re-election.
Jesse B. Thomas has been re-elected a
Senator of the United States, from the
State of Illinois, for six years from the
3d day of March next, when his present
term of service will expire.
The inhabitants of Dauphin county,
Pennsylvania, friendly to the election of
Gen. Jackson to the Presidency, have
held a meeting, and prepared an address
to the public, ten thousa?id copies of
which they ordered to be printed.
WASHINGTON, KY. JAN. 22.
At Frankfort, on the 15th and 16th in
stant the President and Directors of the
Bank of Kentucky destroyed, by burning,
one million three hundred and ninety
eight thousand nine hundred and twenty
four dollars, of the notes of said bank
and branches.
MARRIED,
On the 29th ult. by the Rev. B. B. Smith,
Mr. Samuel W. Lackland to Miss Eliza
beth, daughter of Thomas Griggs, Esq.
all of Charlestown.
WEEKLY ALMANAC.
FEBRUARY,
1823.
SUN
RISES.
SUN
SETS.
MOON S
PHASES.
12 Wednesday
13 Thursday
14 Friday
15 Saturday
16 Sunday
17 Monday
18 Tuesday
43
42
41
40
39
37
36
Ti >t! ^ r*
S' a £
17
18
19 to — pr ^ t)
2o< -00 210;
^loWO'O?
23 ^ o? — S
24 P P 3 3
Timely Notice and Caution.
THE subscriber is compelled to give
notice to those indebted to him to
call and make speedy payment. The ne
gligence of many in this respect has been
indulged to so great an extent, as to ren
der it inconsistent with justice and equi
ty to indulge it any further. PAY-DAY
being near at hand, he expects all who.
have a due regard for what is right, to
discharge the sums due by the.:i without
delay. ,
There are many articles belonging to'"
the subscriber, which have been loaned
to different persons so long, as to give
reason for the belief that a restoration is
not intended. The time has arrived,
when a return must be made, or an expo
sure to public view will be the conse
quence. It is hoped this notice will be
attended to. If it is not, the fault will lie
with delinquents—and not with him.
Feb. 12. GEO. W. BOND.
WJSAVUNli <JU 11UJN, cJC.
NOS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, Cotton Warp and
Filling, Candle-Wick,
Coffee, Fine Salt, See. at
WEED Sc WARING’s.
N. B. They have also on the way from
New York, and will shortly receive, a
pretty general assortment of
Dry Goods,
among which are low-priced Cloths,
Flannels, and Domestic Cottons.
Feb. 12, 1823,W. Sc W,
Flax Seed and Roll Butter.
I HAVE the above articles for sale.
PETER CONLAN.
Feb. 5, 1823._
Oval Water-Proof
HATS,
AS, also, CHEESE at a reduced price
by the whole cheese, just received
by WEED &. WARING,
Jan, !8?-3*