The Alexandria gazette. [volume], April 23, 1822, Image 2

About The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822

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Mr. Allen, of Massachusetts, from
the Committee of Accounts, reported
unfavorably upon the petition of the
Executors of the last will and testament
of the late William Findley, deceased;
which, on motion of Mr. A. was ordered
to be laid on the table.
Mr. Rochester submitted the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on
Roads and Canals be instructed to in
quire into the expediency of providing
bv law for the improvement of the nav
igation of the Hudson river, so as to
open a free communication and direct
intercourse for vessels of all descrip
tions with the internal canal naviga
tion of the state of New York.
Mr. Edwards of N. C called for the
question of consideration; which was
decided in the affirmative. ]
On the question of agreeing to the
resolution, Mr, Rochester made a few
remarks in support of it, and Mr. Ed
wards of N C in opposition to it; when
the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Gorham presented the fol
lowing resolution, which lies on the ta
ble one dav of course :
Resolved. That the President of the
United States be requested to cause to
be laid before this house a copy of the
judicial proceedings in the U. States*
Court for the District of Louisiana, in
the case of the French slave ship La
Pensee; together with a copy of such
parts as he may not deem inexpedient
to disclose, and of the correspondence !
of the Executive of the United States
with the government of France, in relation
thereto,
Mr. Moore of Alab, laid on ;the table
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be directed to lay before this
house a statement, shewing the amount of
public money for which John Brahan, late
receiver of public moneys at the land of
fice at Huntsville, wa9 indebted to the go
vernment at the time he was dismissed
from office; the amount of public money
in the hands of said receiver, at the end
of each quarter of every year, from the 1st
of January, 1817, till the time of his dis
mission; all information obtained or re
ceived by the said secretary, as to the use
the said receiver made of id money ;
copies of all letters and instructions from
the Department to the said receiver, with
in the same period; all correspondence in
the possession of the Department, and oth
er information obtained by the secretary
therot in relation to any improper conduct,
violation of official trust, or omission of
duty on the part of said receiver; together
with a statement, of the time at which the
Secretary was first notified, or had reason
to suspect such improper conduct,violation
of official trust; or omission of duty; the
measures adopted to recover said money,
it any; the time when they were com
menced; what agent was employed tor
that purpose; what he accomplished; the
compensation allowed him for the same ;
if any mortgage cr deed of trust on land
has been given, and what land; the price
at which was originally sold by the gov
ernment; whether, in the opinion of the
said Secretary, the valuation ot the land
has depreciated, and, if so, whether ma
king all due allowance for such deprecia
tion, the said debt is well secured fo the
government; who are the said receivers se
curities; in what sura bound; and wbat
proceedings have been instituted against
them.
Mr. Newton gave notice that he
should, on Friday next, move for the
consideration of the bill to establish the
compensation of the officers of the cus
toms, &.C,
Mr. F* Johnson, from the Commitee
on the Post Office and Post Roads, re
ported a bill further to regulate the Post
Office Department; which was read
twice and committed.
Mr. Scott moved that the house take
up for consideration the bill to provide
for paying to the state of Missouri three
per cent arising from the sales of the
public lands within the same,which was
agreed to.
The question thereupon was, whether
the house would recede from their disa
greement to the amendment of the Se
nate. The recession was advocated by
Mr. Rankin, and opposed by Mr. Tay
lor and Mr, Butler, and after a few fur
ther remarks by Mr. Gilmer, and Mr.
Cook, the question was taken, and the
house refused to recede from their dis
agreement, and by a subsequent vote a
greed to adhere to the amendment they
had previously adopted. *
Mr Cook gave notice that he would
on to-morrow move tor the considera
tion of the report of the Select Com
mittee appointed on the subject ot the
western land offices, &.c.
A message was received from the Pre
sident of the United States, communi
cating information, called tor by a reso
lution of the House, in respect to claims
that may have been made by a foreign
power to the territory on the Pacific O
cean, west of the United States, which,
on motion of Mr. Cocke, was ordered
to be laid on the table.
The following bills from the Senate
were respectively read twice, aud refer
red to their appropriate committees, viz,
A bill for the relief of the legal repre
sentatives of John Donnelson, Thomas
Carr, and others; a hill to authorize the
building of light houses therein named,
and for other purposes; a bill to repeal
the 14th section of the act to reduce and
fix the military peace esaablishment of
the United States, passed the second
day of March, 1821; a bill to authorize
and empower the corporation of the city
of Washington, in the District of Colum
bia, to drain the low’ grounds on or near
the public reservations, and to improve
and ornament certain parts of such re
serv&tions, and a bill for the relief of
the legal representatives of Greenberry
H. Murphey.
A bill from the Senate to perfect cer
tain locations of the public lands in the
state of Missouri, was read a third time
and passed.
An engrossed resolution providing
for the security of the public mail by the
adoption of Imlay’s plan therefor, was
read a third time and passed.
The House then went into a commit
tee of the whole on the 6tate of the U
nion, (Mr. Nelson, of Va. in the chairj
on the bill in addition to the act to re
duce and fix the military peace estab
lishment.
The question recurred upon striking
out the second section of the bill, which
was carried—and, on motion of Mr.
Smith of Md. the third section was also
stricken out.
Mr. Smith, of Md. also moved to
strike out that part of the fourth section
which provided to reduce the Quarter
master General to the rank of a Colo
nel; and, after a few^e marks by the mo- j
ver, the question was taken, and the mo
tion was negatived.
Mr. Tracy moved to strike out the
subsequent part of the same section,
which provides for the abolition of the
offices of two Quartermasters, and the
question being taken thereon, it was car
ried.
Mr. Woodcock, after a number of ap
propriate remarks, submitted the fol
lowing amendment as a second section
to the bill:
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That
it shall be the duty of the President
of the United States, to cause to be
consolidated and arranged the com
panies and regiments ofinfantry and ar
tillery, so as to form four regiments of
infantry, consisting of ten companies
each, and two regiments of artillery,
consisting of ten companies each, with
the necessary regimental staff to each
regiment and to cause the surplus or
snpernumary officers, non commission
ed officers, and musicians, to be dismis
sed from service, fromaBd after the
day of-next.
A general discussion ensued upon the
amendment, which extended to the ge
neral policy of the present military es
tablishment of the country; and in which
the amendment proposing to reduce &,
consolidate was supported by Messrs.
Woodcock, Cannon, Gilmer, Wright,
and Rhe^, and opposed by Messrs. Poin
sett, Wood, McDuffie, Cook, Tatnall,
and Eustis; when the question was ta
ken, and the amendment negatived—
ayes 62, noes 95*
Mr Eust’6 moved to strike out the 6th
section of the bill; in relation to medi
cines, surgical instruments, and other
medical and hospital supplies; and the
question thereon was taken without de
bate, and carried without division*
The subsequent sections of the bill, to
the 10th inclusive, after having sustain
ed a variety of modifications and amend
ments in their details, were agreed to.
Mr. Poinsette moved tosirikeout the
11th section which provides for dischar
ging Jhe supernumerary officers and en
listed men of the ordnance department;
but the motion was negatived.
The 11th and 12th sections, (being the
residue of the bill,) having been gone
through with, and the blanks tilled,
The House adjourned.
IN SENATE.
Thursday, April 18.
Mr. Morrell submitted the following re
solution for consideration '
Resolved That the Committee on the
Judiciary be directed to inquire into the
expediency of passing a general law, re
quiring all persons who are authorized to
receive or disburse the public moneys, be
fore they commense such service, to enter
into bonds, with gocd and sufficient sure
ties, in a suitable surn, conditioned for
the faithful perfoimance of their duty;
and, also, that all public officers who are
authorized to make contracts with individ
uals, shall require such contractors to en
ter into like bonds, with like suretits,
conditioned as above, previous to their re
ce'ving any advance of public money; with
such other provisions, as may be necessary
to secure the public property, when in the
hands of public agents.
The bill from the house of Representa
tives to alter the times ot holding courts
in the western District of Virginia, and
for other purposes, passed through a com
mittee of the whole and was ordered to be
read a third time.
The Senate took up, in committee of
the whole, Mr. Dickerson in the chair, the
bill from the house of Representatives
making appropriations for the support of
j government for the year 1822; and pro
ceeded to consider the amendments report
ed thereto by the Committee on Finance.
Amongst the amendments reported to
the bill by the committee was the following:
: “For surveying the public lands in 1821,
forty thousand dollars.”
I This amendment was intended to cover
one half of an amount of expense incurred
by the survey of a tract of country in Il
linois, which the Surveyor General can*
strued his instructions from the Commis
sioner ot the General Land Office to re
quire, but which, it appears, was not con
templated by those instructions; and a long
debate followed on the propriety ot mak
ing payment for it in whole, in part, or at
all, at this time.
The appropriation was opposed by
Messrs. Holmes of Maine, Macon, Bar
bour. Chandler and Morril; and it was ear
nestlyj supported by Messrs. Edwards,
Benton, Johnson of Kentucky, Lloyd and
Barton, who also advocated the propiiety
and equity of allowing the whole sum of
80,ooo dollars- Mr, Lowrie spoke against
I appropriating the whgie sum, but would
agree to 40,coo though he questioned the
strict propriety of go g even a9 far a&
that at this time. In t end.
The amendment wa agreed to.
The next amen ment proposed to
make an appropriation ot l5,ooo dollars* to
carry into effect the 4t • article of the trea
ty with Spain, which rnvides for running
the line between the United States and
the Spanish territory
After some explan on from Mr. Holmes
of Me* to show the propriety of the ap
propriation, notwilh anding the political
changes that have occurred in Mexico—
the amendment was agreed to, nem con.
The two next amendments reported by
the commmittee, went, first, to reduce to
1200 dollars the appropriation of 2000
dollars for William Lambert, who was em
ployed under a r* sol tion ot Congress to
make observ lions to certain the longi
tude ot the Capitol, euminary to the es
tablishment of a first me"dian 'or the na
tion; and secondly, o increase the appro
priation for JFilliam Flliot who assisted in
the observations, from 5oo to 600 dol
lars
After some discussion of the first of these
amendments, in which Messrs. King of N.
Y Pleasants, Holmes of Me. and Barbour
took part, the amendment was negatived;
ayes 13, nces i5; and that which added to
Mr* Elliot’s compensation was agreed to.
The nest amendment reported to the
bill was one which went to extend to the
military appropriation bill, already passed
the provision .ttached to the present bill
prohibiting payment of salary being made
to any oifirer while his public accounts
shall remain unsettled.
On this question, an extensive debate
took place. The principle of the provi
sion was advocated by Messis Holmes of
Me. and Morril as expedient, equitable &.
proper, though they admitted it would at
first operate very hardly on many indivi
duals Messrs. Johnson ol Ky. and John
son of Lou. opposed the provision because
it was impolitic, as it would drive men
from office of tbe most upright and virtuous
i characters; because men otten appeared
indebted to tbe government who proved,
on a settlement of accounts, to have mo
ney due to them by the government; that
the settlement of accounts was often sus
pended for the want of further proof or for
some explanation; that its effect would be
to make misfortune criminal, &c 4*c Mr,
Barbour, who concurred in these views op
posed the provision on the further ground,
that it ought, it proper at all, to be a se
parate act, and not <orm a part of an »p
propnation bill which was intended simp'y
to provide for paying sums which other
laws had authorized, &c. and he intimated j
an intention to more to expunge it altoge- ,
tber.
The debate on both sides took a pretty
wide scope; but before the question was
taken on the amendment,
The bill was hid on the table; and
The Senate spent some time on Execn
tivy business; and then
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr* Kent, from the Committee on the
District of Columbia, to whom was referred
a bill from the Senate, to authorize the cor
poration of the city of Washing on to drain
the low grounds and to ornament certain
parts of the public reservations in the said
city, reported the same without amend
ment, which on motion of Mr. K was or
dered to lie on the table.
Mr. Gorham’s resolution, laid on the ta
ble yesterday, calling lor information re
specting the Flench ship La Pensee, was
taken up, and adopted.
The. resolution submitted yesterday by
Mr. Moore, of Alabama, calling lor infor
mation respecting cert, in transactions in
the Huntsville Land Office, was also laken
up, and after a few remarks by Mr. Moore
the same was adopted
Mr. Floyd laid tbe following resolution
on the table. ^ . . ..
Resolved, That the President of the U
nited States be requested to cause to be
communicated to this House, it not injuri
ous to the public good, any letter or com
j munication, which may have been recei j
! ved from Jonathan Bussell, Esq one ofthe j
I ministers of the United Stales, who conclu- 1
i ded the treaty of Ghent, after the signature |
of that treaty, and which was written in
conformity to the indications contained in
said minister’s letter dated at Ghent, 25th
December, 1814.
| On motion of Mr Thompson, it was
I ResoVed, That the Committee on tbe
Post Office and Post Roads be instructed
I to enquire into the expediency of esta
blishing a post Road from Lawrencevdle,
, in the county of Gwinett, or from Monti
cello in tbe county of Jasper, to the stand
ing Peach Tree, in the county of Fayette,
in the state of Georgia.
Mr. Rich laid on the table th* following
resolution :
Resolved, That the 69th section of the
rules and orders of the Hou«e be expunged.
and the following substituted in lieu there
of, to wit:
Exclusive of the ‘‘ committee of the
whole on the state of the Union,” there
shall be three committees ot the whole
House, to wit : one on hills and other sub*
jects of a public or general nature; one on
private or local bills; and one on subjects
of a local or private nature, upon which
, unfavorable reports shall have been made
by a committee. And when a subject,
shall have been referred to a committee ot
i the whole, it shall be assigned to the ap
; propriate committee by the Speaker, and
unless otherwise specially ordered, shall
be entered on the calendar for the next
succeeding day.
The House having resolved itself into
either ot the said committees, the several
subjects referred to it shall be announced
by the Chairman in the order in which
they stand upon the calendar; and any
number may, in the discretion of the com
mittee, be considered at the same sitting.
But no subject shall be considered, except
on the motion of a member, seconded by a
majority of the committee. Provided that
the house may specially resolve itself into a
committee of the whole, upon any subject,
which a committee shall previously have
refused to consider
Mr. Van Wyck moved to take up the
motion to print 5000 extra copies of the re*
port of the Committee of Retrenchment,
but the motion was negatived, ayes 69,
Mr. Wright moved that thfe House pro
ceed to the consideration of the bill in re
lation to the escape of fugitives, slaves
&c.; but, the question being put, Mr. W s
motion was negatived.
The bill from the Senate to ascertain
claims and titles to land in the territory of
Florida, was twice read and referred.
The House then proceeded to the con
sideration of the bill in addition to an act
to reduce and fix the Military Peace Es
tablishment. .
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
The House then resolved itself into a
committee of the whole, (Mr. Condict in
the chair,) on the bill making further ap
propriations for the military service of the
United States for the year 1822, and for o
ther purposes*
And after some time spent thereon, the
House adjourned.
' THE G-AZETTE.~
TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1822.
1 - —-- J. ■ -
| The magistrate’s bill now pending before
! Congress, I trust will be rejected by that ho
norable body. Jt is only calculated to increase
litigation, and to throw a vast deal of business
into the hands of two classes of men, who i
think have sufficient already. Considerable
discussion has taken place in the City of Wash
• jngton, respecting its merits, and like all ques
tions of a pecuniary character, there are advo
cates pro and con. Some writers there seem to
think that it is designed rather for what they
singularly and emphatically term trading jus
tices. What sort of persons they are, 1 am at
a loss to conjecture. Surely they cannot al
lude to gentlemen, who are in the commission
of the peace, and are vested with the highly
responsible functions of administering justice.
If justice is to be made a trade of, then indeed
is this District truly, in the language of the ec
centric and eloquent Randolph, a non de
cnpt territory.” In every portioa of the civil
ized globe, where laws are understood and de
fined, the fountain of justice is preserved pure
and uncontaminated, and so far from being a
shop of trade, the office of justice is the tem
ple of science, integrity and morality. From
what source the lexicographers on the other
sideoi the Potomac derivetnat new term, I have
not been able to collect. But 1 am inclined to
think that they are words of new invention,
that possibly the practice of administering jus.
tice there.may have given risetotheappellation.
The bill to be sure seems to halt along the floor
of Congress rather awkardly. It is possible
that our enlightened legislators may be a little
shy of giving their assent to the bill, lest they
might acquire the nick-name of the indoctum
parliamentum or lack.learning parliament.—
The sophistry which has been used to prove
that the bill does not invade the constitutional
right of a trial by jury, affords complete evi
dence of the feebleness of the advocate, or the
badness of his cause. It is a veil which has
been cast over the attempt to deprive this por
tion of the union of an inestimable and saored
right, but it is of so thin a guaze, that it is die.
sipeted by the smallest whisper ot sound reason*
The measnre may with strict propriety bc
termed odious, when it is introduced in a so
iemn manner, into the highest seats of legisla
tion. The constitution of the United States,
which on this subject is so plain and lucid that
he who runneth may read, is assailed in the
most barefaced and outrageous manner. That
statesman who asserts to the contrary, and jus
tifies himself by the example of State laws for
vindicating the enactment oi this law, shews
that he possesses less regard for patriotism,
than popularity. He differs essentially from
the great Lord Mansfield, who declared in the
case of \Vilkes—“ l wish popularity, but it is
that popularity which, follows; not that which
is run after. It is that popnlarity which sooner
or later, never fails to do justice to the pursuit
of noble ends, by noble means.” A.
The mutineers brought into Boston by the
Ruby, from the Cape de Verds, have been de
livered to the U. S. Marshal, and committed
to jail to await examination.
Duels—The Boston Centinel, in noticing
the late duel at Port Mahon, in which Midship
man Worthington was killed, says, “We have
seen other letters from Port Mahon, not only
authenticating this fact, but stating further,
that two other meetings took place on the same
day, between the Midshipmen engaged in the
affair which caused the death of young Worth
ington. One of them was settled without the
exposure of life, and the other after exchang
ing one fire, which proved ineffectual. A
fourth meeting was expected, but one of the
parties was arrested, and is to be tried by a
Court Martial.
An English paper states, that in the
town ol Barnstaple, the bellman went a
bout the town, informing the inhabitants
that beet was selling at one penny half
penny a. pound, anji fine mutton at two
pence which was reported to be prime.—
This exhibits a state of market which cor
responds with the period of Charles the
Second.
Tbe Jannissaries at Constantinople are
said to have refused to repair to the army,
and that the Porte has been compelled to
let them remain; in consequence, a part
of the Asiatic tioopshave marched to fight
the Greeks, who were making rapid head*
way in Thessaly,
The first session of the ne w Cortes wasj
opened at Madrid, on the 3d of ityarch, by
the King in person, who delivered a short
address which was answered by Riego who
had been chosen President*
It is said in the Loudon Courier that Dr.
Errick Bollman, died at Jamaica on tbe
10th Dec. last, on bis return from South
Aimtc*.
Account* from Berlin, include the cir.
cumstance that the Persians continued u
wage war against tbe Turks. 0
A footman in the service ot the R0yti
family at Paris, has petitioned tbe Cham,
ber of Deputies to know why the Kin?
bad dismissed hint. * •
A box of ripe Strawberries was sold fa
Boston market on Wednesday during
snow storm, for eight dollars- Cucu®*
bers upwards of eight inches in length
fresh from the vines, were exhibited the
same day.
By a private letter received fro® .
friend on board tbe U. S- ship Franklin
we have the pleasing intelligence of \[1
safe arrival of that beautiful ship at iL
Janeiro, on tbe 7th ot Dec last, and
to sail on tbe 9th for Valparaiso, Coni
Stewart availing himself of tbe bestopl
portunity of doubling Cape Horn- All
were well on board when this letter
written, with the exception of Mr. Smith 1
the purser's steward. [AT. F. Daily Ji^ j
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Jin. H
ttgua, to his correspondent at St. Eusla* *
tia, dated March 6,1822.
“i am obliged by your offer of provision! *
but 1 have a large parcel of meal in store i
and our Planters are unfortunately not hu
situation to purchase largely, having no '
means of payment, owing to the crop ha- j
ving failed* I am ol opinion that we shall 1
have a direct intercourse with America by 1
the first of June; and 1 think there is ootr $
more than sufficient provision at market. 1
Washington, April 19. jj
The bill “further to regulate the post I
i office Department,” which was report.)!
ed in the House of Representatives on J
Wednesday last, and is now depending
there, provides, among other things, as^
follows: That all post roads shall be <
discontinued, on which the nett proceeds
of postages do not amount to one third
of the expense of conveying the same,
except those which lead to seats of go.
vernment, or between seats of govern*
meat of the several states or territories
or to or between seats of justice; that no
postmaster shall frank or receive free of
postage, any letter or package, except $
on business relating to his office; that oo ,
post master shall be concerned in any coo* I
tract tor carrying the mail; that any po«t«i
master shall be forthwith removed from of-f
fice who shall fail to render bis account)'*
within fory tdays, or pay drafts on him by a
the General Post Office tor moneys due by $
him to the office; th.t no allowance for 1
clerk-hire in post offices shall hereafter be }
made, unless sanctioned by the Poatmas- i
ter General; that the commissions hereaf»!
| ter to be allowed, per quarter, to postmas- $
| ters, shall be as follows: On any sum not
; exceeding one hundred dollars, twenty* ;S
’ five per cent; on any sum not exceeding.'
two thousand three hundred dollars ever '
and above the first hundred dollars, twenly
per cent; and on any sum above the first 1
two thousand three hundred dollars, eight 1
per cent; that the following postages be]
hereafter charged, viz: on every single let* 1
ter conveyed by mail for any distance not j
exceeding 20 miles, 6i cents; for any dis* ^
lance over zU miles, and not exceeding 60
miles, 10 cents; for any distance over 60'4
miles, and not exceeding 120 miles, Hi f
cents; for any distance over 120 miles, and 1
not exceeding 240 miles, 181 cents; foranf
distance over 240 miles, and not exceeding
400 miles, 20 cents; for anv distance over
400 miles, and not exceeding 740 miles; ;
25 cents; and for any distance above 740
miles, 31 i cents; and for every double let*
ter, double those rates, and lor every triple
litter, triple those rates; and for every quad* j
ruple letter, quadruple those rates; and lor j
every letter or package weighing one ouuce [
avoirdupois weight, single postage for e*
very quarter of an ounce, and in that pro* j
portion lor all greater weights: and the pos* 9
tage to be charged on newspapers shall be, f
for any distance not exceeding 60 miles, 1 r
cent: for any distance not over 60 miles,
and not exceeding 300 miles, 14 cents; k
for any distance over 300 miles 2 cents; *
provided the pottage to be charged oc a i
single newspaper from any one place to a* ;
nother in the same state or territory, shall j
not exceed 1 cent; and the postage to be
charged on magazines or pamphlets shall
be, lor any distance not exceeding 50 mil** ,
14 cents per sheet; for any distance over 60
miles, and not exceeding 150 miles, 2 cents
per sheet; for any distance over 160 miles,
and not exceeding 3oo miles, 24 cents; tor
any distance over Soo miles, and not ex*/
ceeding Soo miles, 3 cents; and for any
distance exceeding 5oo miles, 34 cents;
that no publisher or printer of a new6pap*r
shall be entitled-to receive, free of postag*
more than 5o newspapers, nor more than
6 from any one state; that no officer of tn*
government shall frank or receive free ot
postage any letters other than those relx*
ting to the business of bis office.
Washington April 20,
William P. Duvall* of Kentucky, rt*
cently judge ot the United States' Court
in East Florida, has been appointed by
the President, with the consent of the Se*
nate, to be Governor of the Territory w
Florida. «
Of the documents yesterday transroifted
to Congress, by the President connected
with recent occurrences in Florida,'ll*
most important is a letter from the Secre*
taiy of State to Don Juaquin d’Anduag**
Minister of Spain, giving a definitive ans
wer to bis complaints against the pro
ceedings of General Jackson, whilst Gov
ernor of Florida. The letter is of sticu
length, that we shall not be able immedi
ately to publish it. Meanwhile, we Prc'
sent our readers with the following, wine
are the concluding paragraphs of the w *
-ter, and which afford information of t'1
destination of the Macedonian
which lately sailed from Boston: [AV, /*•
“The delays of the Captain Generf
Cuba* with regard to the fulfilment of
Royal order transmitted to him by coi
Forbes, were so extraordinary, and, UP0*'
any just principle, so unaccountable, to?
the Minister ot the United States in Spam
was, by letters from this Department, 0