Star. — London, England, 1808-01-01 00:00:00

WEST INiolBS:. . , .. . QUES Il 0 N OF toE SLAVE.TRADE, AS AGITATED IN JAMAICA. The pr.oceedings of the Assembly of Janisica have been so warm, and the result so interesting, t ha t we think it will be acceptable to our Readers, vart • . larlv to all t hose who feel, in common with us, a lively zeal in maintaining the cause of human free dom against slavery, to have a short detail of the • s ame. The Assembly met oil the 22d of September. The Speech of his Honour the Lieutenant Gover nor was in the usual stile, and contained nothing par. ticalarly important. He earnestly exhorted them to make exertions to depend as little as possible for pro visions on foreign supply ; and he concluded with sta ting the arduous struggle in which the Empire was engaged, and declared that he expected from t hem all teat could be effected by public spirit, united exertions, and the sacrifice of individual interests to the general weal. This Speech was referred to a Committee, and the report thereof was committed to a Committee of the whole House. In the meantime they appointed a Committee of the whole House to inquire into, and take into con sideration, the State of the Island. This Committee was immediately formed, Mr. M ur phy in the Chair, and the House being resumed, he made a report, That n be recommended to the House to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the effects of an Act of the Imperial Parliament of the United Kingdom, entitled, An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade; as the proprietors, inhabitants, and others essentially interested in the welfare and prosperity of this Island; to state what resources remain for application, and what taxes can be substituted in lieu of those of which the operation of this Act of Parliament have deprived us ; and to endeavour to point what measures the House can resort to in relief, or in al leviation of the grievances and losses thereby inflicted." Mr. Murphy, Mr. "Whiteborne, Mr. Stewart, - of Trelawney, Mr. C. Grant, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Shand, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Perry, were appointed a Committee for that purpose, and they had power to send for persons, papers, and records. The House then proceeded in its ordinary business; appointed all its Committees, brought in several Bills, and among others, appointed a Coniniitte to prepare and bring in a Bill to prevent Preaching and Teach. ing by persons not duly qualified, and to restrain Meetings of a dangerous nature, on pretence of attend ing such preaching and teaching. On the 24th, a Motion was made, that the Printer of the House do forthwith print .50 copies of the Act of the Imperial Parliament for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, passed the 25th of March - last, for the use of the Members of the Legislature. A debate hereon ensuing, and the question being • •ut, the House divided.—Aves, 12—Noes, 10. So it was resolved in the affirmative. After this, (viz. on the '2sth of September), the House presented an Address to the Lieutenant-Go vernor, in answer to his Speech, which was an echo ereto, but with a short amendment, respecting the Ew and peculiar distresses of the Colonies. The same day the Governor, in a message, trans itted copies of papers and documents relating to disturbances in the parish of St. 'George. On the 30th an address was voted to him, thanking him in he most loyal terms for his constant solicitude for he safety of the Island ; and they ordered a bill to annmize two negroes, at his request, who had dis overeil the conspiracy. On the 15th of October Mr. Murphy, from the ommittee, made the first report on the alarming onsequcnces apprehended from he Abolition Act. rThis we have already presented to our Readers.] It was reported to a Committee of the whole ouse. A Bill for the protection, subsisting, clothing, and )r the better order and government of Slaves, was itroduced into the House, and read. 21st October the Bill to repeal several acts respect. ig Slavir., to declare Slaves' assets for payment of i ebts and legacies, and in what manner they shall end and be held as property ; and be sold and 1 nveyed in certain ca s es, was rea d a secon d t i me d committed. On the 23d October it was ordered that the Re. rt of the Committ e e on t h e Ab o li t i on Bill s h ou ld taken into con s id erat i on on W e d nes d ay t h e 28 t h. A most violent d e b ate too k p l ace , an d l aste d f or . o days, the 28th and 29 t h o f O cto b er , i n t h e course nveyed which such high words occurred between Mr. hand and Mr. Stewart, that a duel ensued. Mr. hand was a warm advocate for maintaining the bolition, as ordered by the United Parliament ; Mr. ewart. was equally w arm against the measure. ey met, and were both wounded : Mr. Shand ghtly in the shoulder; and Mr. Stewart received a ngerous wound in the thigh, but he was pronounced be out of danger. The St. Jag 9 de la Vera Gazette announces the re a which we gave on Wednesday last, in the fol. Ling words : " We hope these resolutions, and the dire necessity iich has occasioned them, may sink deep into the Gds of his Majesty's Ministers, and induce them to >I such measures as may relieve this loyal colony i the oppressions it has sunk under. The resolu. concerning the pay of the troops is the inevitable equence of the want of troops to continue it ; as a fact, that, unless some remedy k applied to our rings, it would he impossible for the Assembly, they willing, under existing circumstances, to the usual supplies. Of the inclination of the le of this island to support the interests of the nt state, and to evince their loyal attachment to nvereign, long experience has left no doubt ; and a s'efy melancholy consideration, in the present nine situation Of the world, that they should, by 'cessary. ;11-timed, and impolitic measures, be re d to so kLeadful a dilemma. The slave trade being abolished, how is his Ma 'to recruit his black troops ? But this is little to °Al'etted, considering the bad policy of that mea . When a . planter purchases negroes, he gene ' manages to take an equal number of males and 'les; but Government buys only males, and at. ts to confine, perhaps, 1000 men in a barrack, Nit a woman among them Is this system die t by the feelings of humanity to men accustomed 4 Ygarny ? Is it not the worst species of slavery ? r they arc to have wives, who must they be ? where will not these men go to meet theist •:" a Trilnent of such agitation and danger, we re- I tat a Nobleman, of the conciliating temper and relay untb ss of loth [ion. 1t 1, ICA. 701brir et::?dah ola rn andN HRO -tna ng d► 0 WTI IS .m at Untig ntake2 passen•. Li at the Go W, 1. 16 is. tice he RU* ches A is Se . lis briaPi subit7.: Aria 31** address of his Grace ilstrhike of Manchester, la; con sented to accept the alepointment of Governor of Ja maica. We expect the happiest results from his in telligence, activity, and manners. MERICA. IMPORT OF TILE SECRETARY OF TILE TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES. Communicated to Congress, Nov. 6,1807. In obedience to the directions of the Act Supplemen tary to the Act intituled " An Act to establish the Treasury Department," the Secretary of the Trea sury respectfully submits the following Report and Estimate : REVENUE AND RECEIPTS. The net revenue arising from duties on mer chandize and tonnage, which accrued during the year 1805, amAunted to - - And that which accrued during the year 1806, amounted, as will appear by the statement (A) to 16,576,4 , 54 The same revenue, after deducting that portion which arose from the duty on salt, and from the ad ditienalduties constituting the Mediterranean fund, amounted, during the year 1805, to - - 12,520,532 And during the year 1806, to - - 14 8011 1 758 . . . S 14,135,158 It is ascertained that the net revenue which ha.s accrued during the three first quarters of the year 1807, exceeds that of the cur responding quarters of the year 1806 ; and that branch of the re venue may, exclusively of the duty on salt, and of the Mediterra nean fund, both of which expire on the Ist day of January next, be safely estimated for the present, and if no change takes place in the relations of the United States with foreign nations, at fourteen millions of dollars. The statement (13) exhibits in detail, the several species of merchandise and other sources, from which the revenue was col lected during the year MS. It appears by the statement (C) that the sales of the public lands have, during the year ending on the 30th September, INO7, exceeded 384,0160 acres. Some returns are not yet received ; and the proceeds of sales in the Mississippi territory being, after de ducting the surveying and other incidental expences, appropriated in the first place to the payment of a suns of 1,250,000 dollars to the state of Georgia, have not been included, but are distinctly stated. The actual payments by purchase, have, during the same period, exceeded 680,000 &airs : and the receipts into the Tre asury from that source may, after deducting charges and the five per cent, reserved for roads, be estimated for the ensuing year at 500,000 dollars. The receipt, arising from thipermanent revenue of the United States may, therefore, without Inclu ding the duties on postage and other incidental branches, be computed, for th t year Isol4, at And the payments into the tee.tsury during the same year, on account of the -alt and Mediterra nean duties previously accrue 1, are estimated at one million three hundred thousand dollars - S 14,500,000 1,3CX),000 Making in the whole an aggregate of fifteen mil lions eight hundred thousand dollars - - S I t,500,000 LA4T QVARTER OF TIM TEAR 1807. The balance in the Treasury, which, nn the 30th day of September, 11106, amounted to 5,496,869 dollars, 77 cents, did on the 20th da) of September, 1807ramount The receipts 'tato thr Treasury from the Ist of October to the 3 1 st day of IX cember,l,4o7, are esti mated at S 8,530100 4,000,000 S 12,530,000 The expellees during the same period, for all ob jects whatever, the public debt excepted, and includ ing 686,076 dollars for the extraordinary expendi tures of the navy department, of which the estimate has been transmitted, are estimated at The ordinary payments on account of the public debt, Melodissg the provision for the interest on the Luisiana and Dutch debt, to the Ist of July, 180 H, are estimated at - 1,700,000 A further sum, of about 1,500,000 dollars, should also be paid during this quarter, in order to complete the annual appropriation of eight millions of dollars. If the whole of this suns, which is applicable to the purchase of the eight per cent. stock, cannot expended this year, the unex pended balance will form an additional expenditure for the year 1808, charging, however, the whole to this quarter Making an aggregate of 4,900,000 dollars, and will leave in the Treasury, at the close of the year, a balance of about seven millions six hundred thou sand dollars S 1,700,000 1,503,000 7,600,000 5,12,500,000 EXPETZDITURFS OF THE YEAR IRoB. The permanent experces calculated on a peace establishment are estimated at 11,600,000 dollars, and consist of the following items, viz. t. For the civil department, and all domestic ex pences of a civil nature, including invalid pensions, the light-house and mint establishments, the ex pences of surveying public lands and the sea-coast, the fifth instalment of theloan dueto Maryland,and a suns of t 00,000 dollars to meet such miscellane ous appropriatiors, not included in the estimates, as may be made by Congress - S 1,100,000 2. For expences, incident to the intercourse with foreign nations, including the permanent appropri- atiun for Algtera 3. For the military and India Department, in cluding trading houses, and the permanent appro priation for cerain India Tribes 4. For the naval establishment 5. The annual appropriation of eight millions of dollars for the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt; of which sum not more than ::,400,000 dollars will, for the year 1808, be appli cable fur the payment of interest 200,000 1,2R0,000 1,020,000 8,000,000 S 11,600,000 To the permanent cepences must be added, for the year 180 R, a sum of about uOO,OOO dollars, ne ces,try, in addition to the annual appropriation of eight millions of dolLrs, to complete, on the Ist of January, 1809, the reimbursement of the eight per cent. stock 800.000 And for paying the balance of American claims, assumed by the kr.:41:11 convention 200,000 Making, altogether, 12,500,000 dollars, for the expences of that year - S 12,600,000 The receipti of that year having been estimated at - S 15,800,000 And the protaMe balance in the Treasury, on the ht of January next, at • 7,630,000 Making together - 23,490,000 Would, therefor•, probably leave in the Trea sury, on the Ist of January, 1890, a balaee of near eleven niilli•ns of dollars PUBLIC DEBT. It appears by the statement (D.) that the payments, on account of the principal of the public debt, have, during the year, ending the 30th day of September, 1807, exceeded 4,600,000 dollars ; making the total of public debt reimbursed, from the Ist of April, 1801, to the Ist of October, 1807, about 25,880,000 dollars, exclusively of more than six millions, which have been paid during the same period, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty and Convention with Great Britain, and of the Louisiana Convention. Of the twelve millions of dollars, which, according to the preceding estimates, may be paid On account the public debt, between the 30th of September, 1807, and the Ist of January, 1809, about eight millions will be on account of the principal. It must, however, be observed, that the unascertained result ..,.. • of the proposition made to the public creditors, for the modification of the debt, may affect the amount payable during the year 1808, on account of both principal and interest. On die Ist day of January, 1809, the principal of the debt will, if the proposed modification be not assented to by the public creditors. amount to near fifty-seven millions and five hundred thousand dol lars. The subsequent annual payments thereon, on account of principal and interest, will not, exclusively of occasional purchases, exceed 4,600,000 dollars ; and the whole of the debt, the nineteen Millions of three per cent. stock only excepted, will be reim bursed in sixteen years. A general subscription would reduce the capital to about fifty-one millions of dollars. The payments would amount to eight millions of dollars annually. during six years, and average less than three millions during the seven following, at the end of which pe riod the whole debt would be extinguished. An annual unappropriated surplus of at least three millions of dollars, may henceforth be relied upon with great confidence. The receipts of the year 180 S have been estimated at 15,300,000, and the expences at 12,600,000 dollars. The permanent revenue has been computed at 14,500,000 dollars, and the perma nent expences predicated on an annual payment of eight millions of dollars on account of the debt, have been stated at 11,600,000 dollars ; and as this would, if no modification of the debt should take place, be re duced to less than 8,500,000, the annual surplus would then amount to six millions of dollars. Nor are the seven millions and an half of dollars, which will remain in the Treasury at the end of the present year, included in the calculation. What portion of that surplus may be wanted for necessary measures of security and defence ; what por tion should be applied to internal improvements, which, whilst increasing and diffusing the national wealth, will strengthen the bonds of union ; are sub subjects which do not fall within the province of the Treasury Department; but it is not impos , ,ible, that after making ample provision for both those objects, considerable surplusses, and which can no longer be applied to the redemption of the debt, may still accu mulate in the Treasury. The previous accumulation of treasure in time of peace might, in a great degree, defray the extraordi nary expences of war, and diminish the necessity of either loans or additional taxes. It would provide, during periods of prosperity, for those adverse events to which every nation is exposed, instead of increasing the burdens of the people at a time when they are least able to bear them, or of impairing by anticipa tions the , resources of ensuing generations ; and the public monies of the United States not being locked up and withdrawn from the general circulation, but on the contrary deposited in banks, and continuing to form a part of the circulating medium, the most formidable objection to that system, which has never theless been at times adopted with considerable suc ce,s R, other countries, is thereby altogether removed. ' It is also believod that the renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States may, amongst ether advan tages, afford to Government an opporinnity of ob taining interest on the public deposits, whenever they shall exceed a certain amount. Should the United States, contrary to their expec tation and desire, be involved in a war, it is believed that the receipts of the year 1808 willnnt be materially affected by the event, inasmuch as they will princi pally arise from the revenue accrued during the pre sent year. The amount of outstanding bonds due by importers, after deducting the debentures issued on account of re-exportation, exceeds, at this time, six teen millions of dollars. The deduction to be made from these, on account of subsequent re-exportations, would, in case of war, be less than usual ; for expor tations will then be checked, as well as importations, and in proportion as the will decrease, a greaterhome demand will be creazal for the stock on hand, and the necessity of re-exporting he diminished. It has already been stated, that the specie in the Treasury, at the end of this year, together with the surplus of the year 1808, will amount to near eleven millions of dollars—a sum probably adequate to meet the extraordinary expences of the war for that year. It will also be recollected, that in the estimated ex pences of the year 1808, the reimbursement of near five millions and a half of the principal of the debt is included. The only provision, therefore, which may render any contingency necessary for the extra ordinary service of that year, in order to cover any deficiency of revenue, or increase of expenditure be yond what has been esimated, will be an authority to borrow a sum equal to that reimbursement. That the revenue of the United States will, in subsequent years, be considerably impaired by a war, neither can or ought to be concealed. It is, on the contrary, necessary, in order to he prepared for the crisis, to take an early view of the subject, and to examine the resources which should he selec ted for supplying the deficiency, and defraying the extraordinary expences. There are no. data from which the extent of the defalcation can, at this moment, he calculated, or even estimated. It will be sufficient to state, Ist. That it appears necessary to provide a revenue at least equal to the annual expences on a peace esta blishment, the interest of the existing debt, and the interest on the loans which mar be raised. 2. That those expences, together with the interest of the debt, will, after the year 1808, amount to a sum less than seven millions of dollars ; and, therefore, that if the present revenue of 14,500,000 dollars shall not be deminished more than one-half by the war, it will still be adequate to the object, having only the inter ' est of war loans to be provided for. Whether taxes should be raised to a greater amount, or loans be altogether relied on fordeftaying the expences of the war, as the next subject of consi deration. Taxes are paid by the great mass of the citizens, and immediately affect almost every individual of the community. Loans are supplied by capitals pre viously accumulated by a few individuals. In a coun try where the resources of individuals are not gene rally and materially affected by the war, it is practi cable and wise to raise by taxes the greater part at least of the annual supplies. The credit of the nation may also, from various cirCumstances, be at times so far impaired as to leave no resource but tatationl In both respects the situation of the United States is totally dissimilar. A matitime war trill, in the United States, gene* raly and deeply affect, whilst it continues, the re- • 44 F • . ••• goatees of individuals, as not only commercial prbfiti will be curtailed, but piitriPally because a gnat pox: tion of the tarpluS of agricultural produce tiecellarily requires,a foi-eign marlc'et; The reduced price of the principal artiokS exported fromthe United States will operate more heavily than any contemplatedtax: And without enquiring whether a similar cause may not still more deeply and permanently affect a nation at war with the United States, it seems to follow, that s 6 far as relates to America,' the losses and Pri vations caused by the war should ,not be aggravated by . taxes beyond what is strictly necessary. An ad dition to the debt is doubtleis an evil; but ex perience having now shewn with what rapid progress the re venue of the Unien increases in time of peace, with what facility the debt formerly contracted' has, in a few years, been reduced, a hope may confidently be entertained that all the evils of the war. will be tem porary, and easily repaimd, and that the return of peace will, without any effort, afford ample resources tOr reimbursing whatever may have been borrowed during the %var. The credit of the United States is alco unimpaired either at home or /bread. and it is believed that loans, to a reasonable amount, may be obtained on eligible terms. Measures have been taken to ascertain to what ex tent this may be effected abroad ; and it will be suf ficient here to suggest, that the several banks of the United States may find it convenient, after the en suing year, and as the dimished commerce of the country may require less capital, to loan to govern ment a considerable portion of their capital stock, now computed at about forty millions of dollars. It might be premature to enter into a particular detail of the several branches of revenue, ,which may be selected, in order to provi& for the interest of war loans, and to cover deficiencies, in case the existing revenue should fall below seven millions of dollars. A general enumeration s'eems, at present, sufficient. 1. Not only the duty on salt and the Mediterra nean duties may he immediately revived, but the. duties on importation generally may, in case of war, be considerably increased, perhaps doubled, with less inconvenience than would -arise from any other mode of taxation. 'Without resorting to the example of other nations, experience has proved that this source of revenue is, in the United States, the most productive, the easiest to collect, and the least burdensome to the great mass of the people. In titne of war, the danger of smuggling is diminished ; the scarcity of foreign articles prevents the duty ever fal ling on the importer ; the consumers are precisely those members of the community who arc best able to pay tll,l duty ; and the increase of domestic manu factures, which may be indirectly affected, is in itself a desirable object. 2. Indirect taxes, however ineligible, will, doubt less, be cheerfully paid as war taxes, if necesiatry.— Several modifications of the systems formerly adopted might, however, be introduced, both in order to di minish some of the inconveniences which were expe rienced, and particularly to insttiv the collection of the duties. S. Direct tales are liable to a particular objection, arising from the unavoidable inequality produced by the general rule of the Constitution: 'WhatArer dif ferences may'exist between the relative wealth, and the consequent ability of paying of the several States, still the tax must necescariiy be raised in proportion to their relative population. Should it, however, be come necessary to resort to that resource, it is believed that the tax raised upon that species of property, in each state, which, by the state laws, is liable to taxa tion, as had originally been contemplated by Con-• riess, would be preferable to a general assessment laid uniformly on the same species of property in all the states. as was ultimately adopted. All which is respectfully submitted. ALBERT GALLATIN. Secretary of the Treasury; Treasury Department, Nov. 5, 1307. Letters from Ireland mention that Government is making preparations for giving a due reception to the French, should they attempt an invasion. Four camps are to be immediately formed in various parts of Ire land, viz. Athlone, Aughncloy, Bandon, and S r bane, each of which is to consist of 15,000 men, b sides yeomanry. The Court of Directors of the East India Coin • pany, yesterday ordered the following ships, viz. Ocean, Ceres, Carlton, Dorsetshire-, AlMvick Castle. David Scott, and Exeter, to prepare for the reception of troops, to he landed at Madras, in their outward voyage to India. This arrangement will afford great accommodation to litany private passengers, wishing to proceed by the early ships. Some persons seem to tnd a difficulty in deter mining to xVhich to give the preference of adventure —to the present State, or City Lottery. From to manifest weight of interest in each Scheme, the bulk of Fortune's Suitors will be apt to experience a greater diffitulty in abstaining from an advenute in both Lotteries. MONTHLY ACRICULTURAIe RFPORT.--011 dry soils, a large breadth of land, has been already plowed up for barley and peas. The green winter crops of wheat, tares, turnips and rye, from the mildness of the weather, look kind and flourishing. Manuring meadows, hedging and ditching have been also car ried on to a great extent. Many hands are now employed in the barns and in thrashing mills, which last are to be found, on most large farms, and in general give satisfaction, doing their work effectually. The barley crop does not yield equal to expectation, bUt no deficiency has,, as yet, been experienced in the wheat and oat crops ready threshed. Wheat averages throughout Eng land and Wales 70s. 8-11 per quarter—Oats 335. and Barley 38s: I Id. The straw proving short and small in bulk, and a scarcity of fodder being expected, the prices of lean stock have been considerably reduced. This consi deration brought immense droves to the late fairs and markets, where little business was however done, farmers fearing to make large purchases, and hay being dear. Cows and Calves (for th e time of the year) have been offered unusually low. In Smith. field market, Beef fetches from ss. to 6s. per stone of 81b.-Mutton from 4s. 4s. to ss. 4d.—Pork from 4s. to 4s. Bd. Fresh Horses and perking Pigs obtain Loolpr:ces, being much wanted. 10,8:10,000 S 23,430,000