The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-02-16 00:00:00, page 2

does not make.so much profit, but the
planter gets a better price f But, Sir, the
Easseritship owner, except those who are
hi ‘hivour of this restrictive system, and
Who monopolize almost our whole trade,
and who have found their amount in it, say
tills is not correct, and they do not want
this discrimination. It would seem by the
'Observations of the gentleman, that the
firmer had no intereM in this business,
and that the question was not bow much
money should be made out of them, but
Who should make it, the American or Eng
lish ship owner. As the planter or farmer
does net freight or ship his own produce,
if the English ships are admitted the tom
peiition will be the greater and r ’ta - pro
duce must raise in price; if you exclude
Biitish ships there will be no competition
and the price of cotton will be reduced
nearly to the amount of duty.
' It really appears a mystery to me and
for my life I Cannot see into the motives oi
the southergggeiitlemen wishing to confer
1 what they call a great favour on the East
era ship holders, that they generally pro
teM against and sty they do not want i>
when its whole operation is so manifestly
•gainst their own interest. It io a kind ut
Mtagnanimity that I cannot comptehend.
It is time for the southern planter and
eastern farmer to consider themselves as
one great family, and having one common
interest; to look out for thcmselvfls: let
us therefore take off those ggftrictions and
relieve ourselves from the speculation of
the targe capatalists and merchants who
are in favour of this system because it ope
rates exclusively to their ad vantage; let
** have commerce free, the interest of the
farmer and merchant is Inseparable when
commerce is unrestrained ; the merchants
are agents for the farmer; if this system
was onee abolished the correct merchant
ef moderate capital will again resume his
boainesa ; there will then be a competition
in the market for the produce of this
country, the farmer also will receive a
valuable consideration for his hard earn
itigb and be relieved in some measure from
his embarrassments, occasioned by the
present system.
• Wk are making a law and Grcat-Britain
can control its o|>cratiou ; we are making
an Inatrumcnt for them to set to musick at
oar expense. Gentlemen say that Great-
Britain will not pass countervailing orders.
It is in vain to think that she will not re
taliate in some way or other. If you and
J, Mr Speaker, were neighbours I should
•visit y<iu with a very ill grace after I h.»<f
myself shut my door upon you ; there is no
better way to judge of this business than
to suppose Gi eat-Britain should puss such
a law tn interdict our vessels from her
ports while our ports were open to hrr
vessels. What would be the feelings of
every American on such an occasion. J
b4ii»ve there would be but one opinion on
the subject and for my own part if one of
her vessels should «.ntcr our ports under
such circumstances, if she could not be
got rid of :u>y other way, I would be one t<>
go on board of a gun-boat, as much as I de
test them, to endeavour to serve her as the
French^ served our floating colonies, when
they met them pursuing their lawful busi
ness on that element that they are so de
sirous of establishing the freedom of.
What can the object of this bill be i Can
ft be further to punish ourselves by re
ducing the people of the United States to
greater misery and distress than they have
already experienced ? Or can it be to pro
duce retaliation on the part of Great-Bri
tain so that we shall have a complete em
bargo and non-lniercourse operating al
most exclusively on ourselves, for Grcat-
Britain will supply herself by the repeal of
the non-intercourse in a short time with
every thing she may want from this coun
try for many years to come t or can it be
the object of our government by thio law to
bring on a very unpleasant state of things
between Grcat-Britain and thio country,
that will lead to war, or that they may
have this miserable weapon in their hands
to dispose of In a future negotiation, that
the people may be told that netwithstand
all their sufferings under the opera
tion ef fta whole of thio restrictive ays*
It is pretended by some gentlemen that
the exclusion of British ships is to be ot
frUt advantage to the American ship own
ffrs because then our ships will have the
fixclusivc* right to carry our produce to
tnarkrt; and it has been Mated by the gen
tleman from. Massachusetts, (MrCutts,)
that the difference in the freight of an Eng
or American ship of three hundred
tons would be about six thousand dollars
hi favour of the English in consequence of I
the difference of duties. Suppose this cor
rect, excluding British ships would nut low
er the duty on cotton exported in Ameri
can ships; it would be more likely to raise
it. If the statement made by the gentle
man be correct, what is the inference to
be drawn, that the American ship owner
Bans ? ar whv pnnixh ourselves ? For while
we are complaining about' the decrees and
cnlei s ni Fratute and England, and whih
Grent-Brijfiiiiis preventing us from trading
With Franbe, and France doing all she can
to prevent uS from trading with England,
and they ut w«r with one another aud all
tbr wold, they are, when it suits their in
terest, trading very cordially with each
oth*r. |
<•*■***•
Mr. Rom thought the two subjects con
nected.—Several other gentlemen spoke on
the subject, when the question on the
amendment was taken by ayes and noes
ind carried—ayes 39, noes 26.
The question on the resolution as amend
ed was then taken and carried—ayes 92,
noes 19.
The appropriation bill was taken up,
read a third time and passed.
Ow wotfow ef Mr. Fisk, the bill pswidfag
far the th'ud section of the United States,
was taken ap in committee of the whole—
Mr. Milnor in the chair.
Mr. Dana had no objection the
information proposed by the amendment,,
but he could not see the connexion of the
two subjects*—He thought they would have
about the same connection with the man's
discourse, who said, •• while we are talk
ing about boot*, how does your grand
father do ?”
Mr. Quincy had no objection to the call,
but he thought the resolution as amended
wpukl exhibit a sinking in language that
would disgrace the proceedings of this
body. It appeured to him like the title of
4 low authour, who published a “ history
of the creation of the world, and especially
if the manufacture of buttons at Birming
ham.”
Several of the blanks in the bill were
filled, when on motion of Mr. Bacon the
committee rose end reported progress.
On motion of Mr. Ross, the committee
wera discharged from any farther con
sideration ef the bHl—And on motion of
Mr. Bacon the bill was recommitted to a
select committee ef Mvesu
The Hanse adjourned. Jfoen. Pwt
Twcsaat, Ftaanaav &
Mr. Sawyer made a tong, tedious and
most foolish m* about a natioMl bank
He called this a adwrv vi*w rf the subject
Mr. Sawyer concluded Me rfadorwrr speech
by cslling up the rseehrtien of Mr. Nichol
son, laid on the table seme days since.
aider the resolution? was taken by ayes
-«nd noes, and carried—ayes 71, noes 39.
Mr. Mumford offered to ameod the re
solution, by requesting the President to
communicate such information as may be
in his possession respecting forged papers,
purporting to be papers of American ves
sels.
On this motion, considerable debate took
place; a motion was made to refer the
subject to a committee of the whole ; thia
question was lost—Ayes 41. Noes 43.—A
motioo was then made te commit the sub-
Mr. Mosely called for his resolution laid
on the table some days since, for calling on
the President for information respecting
the correspondence betwet*, this govern
ment and that of France, mentioned in tin
President's message at the commencement
of the present session.
The question will the House now odM
I have represented the operations of the
whole of this system on my constituents not
chat I supposed it would influence this de
cision, but because I considered it my in
lispensnble duty so to do,' that the interest
<f the farmer may be brought into view be
fore this house, in hopes that the time is
not far distant when the merits and suffer
ings of that class of people will b a little
more attended to than they have been for
nany years past.
iljey are, and not as they ought to be, and
| let us do the best we can in the situation
we are in; let us not punish ourselves be
cause we have been injured by France and
England who have been governed in their
conduct towards us by their ambition and
interest and not by a sense of justice ; let
ns therefore reject this motion tending to
make this law permanent and adopt the
iin endmen t made by the gentleman from
North-Carolina, (Mr. Macon,) by which
means we shall get rid of our present em
barrassments, and at t lie end of this sea
aion of the whole of this system: With
that view I shall vote against the atn emi
nent under consideration.
Much has been said respecting the Bri
tish Orders in Council operating against
us, but if they were-rescinded by agree
ment with this country we could not semi
a single vessel to any port that we could
not if our restrictions were repealed; the
very consent of the English would be a
sufficient cause of sequestration at least
with the French. I may have been wrung
in saying that we would not'tarry our pro
perty to France, but. Sir, for mauy years,
past, I never have beard of the' return of
any that has been carried there ; it is like
death and the grave, from whence there is
no return. .This has been the case with all
our property that has been carried to
France for many years and I presume it
would be with any more that we may send
there.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mowoat, FkbruartS.
quished if the British orders should l>e re
scinded, but they have answered no other
purpose than to give the rich an opportu
nity to speculate on the poor, aud this will
answer as little purpose abroad and much
the same at home.
tern for three years past, that It has been
the means of bringing about a settlement?
I hope not—The embargo and non-intef*
course were put into their hands for that
purpose, and have been offered to be relin-
I entreat gentlemen to take things
Mr. Mumford supported the bill, which
he thought would operate aa a bounty upon
American shipping. He waa surprised
that it should be opposed by the gentleman
*from "Rhode-Island (Mr. R. Jackson,) as if
any part of the union had a peculiar inter
est |n thio subject, it must be the northern
pari.
Mr. Clay caHed for the reading of the
bill, as those who were not cenvemant with
mercantile affairs did not perhepsperfect
ly understand the subject.
Mr. Rosa, Mr. Quincy, and Mr. Pitkin
supported the amendment.
Mr. Newtun sold that sea-letter vessel*
would be a moth in the hands of our mer
chants, when peace should take place.
Mr. Dana explained the principles of
the Wil. *
Mr. R. Jackson moved to strike out the
words " in future,” and insert, “ from and
after the first day of June next/’ in order
to give a reasonable notice of the time
when the operation of the law would com
mence.
k Mr. Love moved a resolution, declaring
that the United States have a claim to the
Batture, which was referred to the com
mittee upon that Subject.
Mr. Dana moved to alter the phraseology
nf the bill, so as to read, instead of ?• vessels
entitled to be registered,” •• ships or ves
sels duly registered, or enrolled and li
censed, aa ships and vessels of the United
States.”
Mr. M‘Kim doubted the propriety of the
amendment.
Mr. Mumford and Mr. Newton opposed
the amendment, as the intention of the bill
waa to put an end to sea-letter vessels im
mediately.
Mr. Macon’s bill, yet quiet, has not been
debated in the Senate. The business be
fore the Senate for several days past, has
i»een the volunteer army. Giles has failed
in his attempt in this bill.—On the question
to grant a bounty to the volunteers as they
, enter, the voce in the Senate stood 16 to 16.
The old Vice-President gave it against the
bounty, and of course against the system of
Giles—the volunteers are not to have the
bounty until they enter into actual service.
Giles in his speech yesterday, advanced
he doctrine that the President could
' natch the militia out of the United States.
He said that the militia could be ordered
io enforce the lawa of Congress Now
Congress could. make a law to take Canada
or Jamaica, and the President hid power
ro march or transport them to either of
those places to enforce the law. He de
clared it aa hl< opinion, that If Great-Bri- j
tain did not make war on us, we ought to '
make way on her.—But he appealed to
rest his only hope on her making war dn
us. Hera, you know as well as I, he will
be disappointed.
No motion being made upon the subject,
Mr. Tallmadge moved that the committee
rise and report the bill to the House. Car
ried.
On motion of Mr. Tallmadge, the House
resolved itself into a committee of the
whole, (45 to 29,) upon the Militia Detach
ment Bill.
Mr. Basset in the chair.
Mr. Newton called up the Sea-Letter
Bill.
The committee went, through the bill,
<nd reported to the bouse ; before any or
ler was taken on it, the House adjourned.
On motion of Mr. Newton, the bill pro
hibiting the granting of sea-letters was
taken up in committee of the whole—-Mr.
Pitkin in the chair. Several gentlemen
spoke on the bill. Mr. R. Jackson was
against it—Mr. Dana was for it. The bill
was reported to the House,'and laid on the
table for further consideration.
On motion of Mr. Southard, the bill pre
scribing the made of taking evidence in
cases of contested elections of members of
Congress, was taken up in committee oi
the whole—Mr. Pitkin in the chair.
fject to a select committee; this question
was alee loot, only eight members rising in
the affirmative.
__ Mr. Montgomery offered a resolution to
instruct the committee on the military es
tablishment of the United States, to inquire
whether any, and what alterations are ne
cessary to be made in the act proscribing
rules and regulations for the army of the
Usited States. This resolution was adopted.
Mr. Morrow offered a resolution to in
struct the committee on publick lands to
inquire what other provisions ought to be
made by law, to ascertain'the title, and
complete the surveys of lauds in the terri
tories of New-Orleans and Louisiana.—
Adopted.
Mr. Rhea, the old knight of the everlast
ing spinning wheel, made a motion to cal)
up the bill from the Senate, relative to the
dismissal of foreign Ministers. His motion
was negatived—46 to 41.
On motion of Mr. Morrow, the bill for
extending the time for locating Virginia
military land warrants, was taken up in
the committee of the whole—-Mr. Pitkin in I
the chair.
The blanks were filled; the time was |
extended to five years, and the bill was
reported to the House. It was .taken up ;
tlje amendments agreed to, and the bill I
ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
Mr. Newton was in favour of it.
The amendment was carried.
Wednesday, Ferruary 7.
A.
1 hr following extract of a letter con
veys information of the most unhappy com
plexion. There is nosubject scarcely that
we know of which merits more immediate
ly the attention of Cnngrtw than that of the
army of the United States. We have, on
a former occasion, signified our decided
disapprobation to the continuation of the
recruiting system, as we conceived the pre
sent force was sufficiently large, oppres
sive and burthensome. Rut this is norea
son why that portion of it which is now em
bodied and stationed in different districts
of the United States, should not be occa
sionally noticed by us. Our troops ought
to be preserved in health, as far as may be
practicable, by the necessary precautions,
and confirmed in their attachments and de
votion to the government of their country,
by the dismissal of those who are most like
ly to weaken that attachment and spread
disaffection throughout the camp—in fact
by an immediate amputation of every mem
ber from the main body of the army, hold
•ng a signal command in it, whose aban
doned intrigues and flagitious conduct have
justly rendered them objects of suspicion,
contempt and infamy. The military es
tablishment is one of the Most expensive
which attaches to the government of our
country, none more troublesome and vexa
tious, norany that has tendered less /tree
tical good to its citizens. The principal
use that seems as yet to have been made of
the army itself by the late administration,
has been, wrongfully to deprive a citisei,
of Orleans of the possession of property le
gally acquired, and a statute of the ninth
Congress, intended and framed for the ex
press purpose rtf removing persons, who
should, contrary to law, and to the jtoi
claim of United States, to what are
termed the Y-ioo lands, attetftpt to settle
upon those lands, has been resorted to as
• uthority to justify the administration for
this act of injustice and arbitrary exercise
of a constructive power. As to the late
commander, Brigadier General James Wil
kinaoo, what is it that be has not done I
Thursday, February 8.
The Sea-Letter Bill was read a third
time and passed.
On motion of Mr. Tallmadge the House
took up the 100,000 militia bill—Mr. Da
na’a amendment still before the House.
( Mr. Butler spoke loudly against the
amendment, and in favour of the patriot
ism of the people of his State, (South-Ca
rolina.)
Mr. Pickman, though he did not ap
prove of the bill in its present form, was
against Mr. Dana's amendment. *
Mr. Troup moved to amend the amende
orient by adding a clause in substance as.
follows And that the state of Connecti
cut, in consideration of her being admitted
to an equal representation in the Senate
with the state of Now-Yoi k‘ and Pennsyl
vania without an equivalent, be required to
furnish a quota of tnilitia in proportion to -
her representation in that body.
Mr. Tallmadge regretted that his col
league, (Mr. Dana,) was not in his place,
as he was satisfied that he would withdraw
his amendment, when he heard the letter
which he was now about to read. It was a
letter stating that militia returns had been
received from all the states.
Mr. Dana came into the House while
Mr. Tallmadge was speaking.
Mr. Taylor made some observations re
specting the return oCmilitia from Connec
ticut being so much stnaller than from the
state of New-Jersey.
Mr. Dina answered Mr. Taylor, afid ac
counted for the difference of the returns of
Connecticut and New Jersey.
Mr. Southard moved to recommit the
bill in order to apportion the quotas of the
several states mi proportion to their wealth
•nd population.
Mr. Roas and Fisk spoke in favoqg of
the recommitment, as did Mr. Tallmadge.
The question was taken.and carried, and a -
committee of 20 appointed?
WASHINGTON, January 3&
THE JR MY. r
Macon's bill has not
nate—perhaps it never
The amendment was »>st —60 to 39.
Mr % Dana moved to amend the bill, so
that it should not operate upon “ vessels
built within the United States, and arriving
within the same by the —— day of
Messrs. Pitkin, R. Jackson, and Quincy,
supported the amendment, and Mr. New*
ton opposed it. Mr. R. Jackson moved to
fill the blanks with the Ist of June. Lost—
-47 to 36. Mr. Pitkin named the 15th of
May. Lost—so to 41. Mr. Tallmadge
named the Ist of May. Mr. Wilson sup
ported the motion. Mr. Ross called for
the yeas and nays. Mr. Fisk opposed the
amendment. The amendment was lost—>
61 to 56. The bill was ordered to be en
grossed. . .
And th* day was ntpidly approaching
when there moat be peace in Europe.
[Doubtful, as we say of unofficial news.]
Mr. Dana opposed the amendment, as it
would authoriae an improper speculation
until the time mentioned.
Mr. M'Kim also opposed the amend
ment.
25? tfje jUaila.
tasted the 8e-
Helts* arretted at pleasure, alike the pri
vate cituen and the common soldiy—hel<(
the civil and military authority of hi* cour.- >
.try in. contempt, and put it at defiance—
trampled upon the constitution—spread
disaffection and dissentient throughout the
ranks of hi* soldiers, by conduct at once
intriguing and treacherous—challenged
to single combat, and published as a “ cow
i ard and paltroou,” at a time when the na
tional legislature wa* in session, and ia the
very teeth of Congress, one of its most
distinguished members for integrity and .
talepts, for the performance of duties, Dot
solicited, nor courted by, but constitution
ally imposed upon him—perjured himself,
ifd is, after a mock* trial has been had,
regarded and received by heads of the ad
ministration, as *• the saviour of his coun
try,'* and finally sent back vested with
undiminished authority, and clothed alike
with the mantle of power and the favour
1 and the countenance of government, to the
very place where bi* crimes were notori- »
, ops, his conduct had beep flagitious, and
■ his sight was odious, as if, not only to in
sult anew the inhabitants of that district of
country, to* whom it was well known .he
hid previously, by hi* outrageous manner,
.rendered himself particularly obnoxious,
but seemingly with a view to disregard *•
the ingenuous bust of general
which was manifested towards this modem
Cataline by all classes of citisens, and to
defy the already too fas trespassed upon, *
offended majesty of the people 1I Wilkin- f
son ia, it seems, by his own shewing, and
was, (as we some time since stated, but
which statement has been repeatedly con
tradicted in some of the ministerial prints,) *
ordered oh to this place. But has the sta
tion he occupied been filled by a mas
whose appointment can either be approved *
by the nation—inspire confidence among “•
the people—obliterate in any degree the
stain cast upon the national character by
the retention of Wilkinson in command,
after the general notoriety of his treasona
ble practices, heal the wounded pride of
enlightened freemen at such an occurrence,
or comport either vhth the pubKckintereat,
r he national Isunour or general expectation *
It has not. His successor is not qualified » "
to accomplish any one of those desirable
>bjects. He is, however, every way cal- '
misted, we are informed from high au
thority, *to make the moat of the means
confided to him.** He is certainly well t
versed in wiles, and fraught with Yaaoo-
! ism from the crown of his head to the sola
”f his foot, and if knowing “how to make
the most of the means confided to him,"
being Versed in wiles, and fraught with
Yatooism, entitle him to preferment—he
has undoubtedly pre-eminent claims to the
patrapage of the administration, and ia
most bJppily fitted to be the successor of
Don James Wilkinson. But U.i| not unM
counttbfe tKat this cHiracwi-, * 4
this giant of Yaauoism, above all other per
sons, should have been selected from tea <
or twelve millions of people to fill this tig
nal station ? Can it -be supposed that the
framers of the authorising the employ
ment of military force for the excretion
of such persons as should illegally settle '•
upon the Yazoo land* of the United States, >
ever contemplated that Wade Hampton,
the chief of the baad, the grand piouter in
Yaaooism was to be entrusted with ita ex
ecution ? As well might the innocent lamb
be committed to the custody of the wolf,
as that the publick prqnrty should be con
fided to the protection of three, whose in
terest it b Io plunder, and net to guard it
from unwarrantable violation. Is an ad
ministration that thus spurts with the feel- » •/ }
mgs of freemen, entitled to their respect
•nd confireiDCe? Or can any admiabtnt- ?
<ion, even though it had a thousand Lieu
tenant-Colonels enlisted in thundering theie
math etnas and hunting down every indi
vidual In society, every patriot who had V
the independence to oppose and firmmme J
to develope the baneful tendency of itk
acts, calculate justly upon the willing and
voluntary support of an enlightened and
generous people f In vain will be the at
tempt to silence opposition and stifle Com
pls in against measure* and acts neither
justified upon principles nor warranted by
• xpediency a* long as the pres* ia free, V * <
and there remain* among the great body
'*f the people the smallest vestige of civil
liberty. It b a great consolation to know
that there yet exist* p few who have the
boldness to stand up against, and the spi
rit constitutionally to resist the current off
popular prejudice, independence to doubt <
the infallibility of our administration, and
talents to detect and expose villainy and
corruption wherever they have or may ap
pear. There things cannot last long. “ The
first swell of the great stream of publick
opinion,** which must come about before
many years shall have elapsed, will** break
up into fragments utterly contemptible and
harmless,** the power of inflicting injury
<tnd of withholding what i« due to the es
sential interests and insulted majesty of
the true born sons of the gallant heroes z
of Tfi.
Attract qf a letter from e geotlmmn
resectability, to u Member Congreoo,
doted Wethington, (M. T.) Jvnurry *
3, 1810.
** We have the new levies with us, but
they lewe Vs deUy. It is believed that be
tween loot and 12QQ have died since their