The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-03-27 00:00:00, page 2

• uce ; all their conduct and professions, must j
be Us hollow and perfidious, as their perfidy '
and barbarity to our citizens, has been noto
rious—We believe that “ The Day’*'
speaks the sentiments of its founder fic pat
ron, lord Sheffield;, whose attachment to
America is well understood.—Aurora.
The following curious occurrence turned '
tip in France some time last year. Several !
persons taken on board British ships in the
capacity of captains, chief mates, and in ci.e j
Instance the surgeon of a British frigate cap. '
tuied by the Fiench ; had claimed to be A- I
mericans The French government had i
formed a rule to this effect, •* tiny person t
** taken on board an English ship when in
*' the service of that ship is to be regarded
*' in all respects as an English man.** Not
withstanding this rule, general Armstrong
succeeded in obtaining an order for the re
lease of 103 of them. Orders were sent to
the depots where they had been detained ;
there had been 15 of them at Valeuciennes,
but on the arrival of the order, there were
found'only three, to wit, Jamt* Great fiend,
James jVeal and Henry ■L.acnan, who sta
ted that the other 12 had volunteered and,
through the agency of I. C. Barnet entered ,
on board French firivateers ! The oilier
three declared they also would have volun- i
teered, had they rot families in America,
and wished to go home, for if sent to Eng
land their condition would be worse than
where they were, as they would certainly
be impressed on boat'd some British ship
,nf war, which amounted to imprisonment
v for life.—lb.
Letters from Paris of the close of the l ist
year, mention that some speculators who
made a dash in the U. States, with the mo.
ticy brought from the British Treasury', to
support Burr’d conspiracy, found their way
into a house of correction in that city.
L is a curious circumstance that the mo^eyr
* issued by the British Treasury to sustain
Bu i should go through this place—Issued
in Loudon to an accredited agent of Burr_
the money invested iu British dry goods, 3c
imported in several ships to the U. States_
the proceeds employed in ptsl’Chasitig vast
estates in tlm'city and neighborhood; a Cre
dit raised on the property, securing biWs of
Ci edit on Paris—the bills of credit employ
ed in purchasing a vast quantity of captur
ed German and Prussian arms, to be landed
ar New Orleans for the cultivation of Oua
chita lands—the intention of the arms dis
covered, Hie whole seized, the agent au se
cret -the arms confiscated, the estates
purchased go through the hands of the she
rill -.mat will be the next consequence
time has yet to reveal.—lb.
£xtract of a letter from an jtimericQn gen
tleman now at Tarragona, to his friend in
the town of Providence, Phode Inland,
dated December 20/A and 22d, 1809.
“I he situation of affairs in this country
are extremely critical, Since the peace with
Austria, the French are making exertions
to send a formidable force into this country.
30,000 men are said to be on their march
from Italy, and others by way of Bayonne.
T heir present force here is about 80.000
men, half of which are in Madrid. The
Spanish and English army was hvithin a
few miles of it. Gerona still holds out, al
though we have had accounts of its having
fallen ; the garrison has subsisted for some
time upon the flesh of mules and asses, and
by last accounts there was but very little
even of that provision in the place. The
pbstinacy which has been shewn in the de
fence of this place is unrivalled. Gerona
Stands in a valiev, and is entirely comman
ded by the surrounding hills, on which are
two strong batteries called Montjuich and
the Condcstible ; the walls are in many pla
ces entirely brokeh down, so that an entry
may be made at any time ; the French have
entered a number of tin.es, but have been
driven baefc with great slaughter—on the
4th instant thc\ entered in great force, but
notwithstanding the garrison amounts to
only Moo efleCdve n.cn, there being 800 in
the hospital from the want of sufficient f -od
um. wnn acerriijie slangh
wt i' ; • hey have at length began to exert
th» iiiselves to relieve i» but I fear too late.
VyitI.in these ten days there has been a levy
ot 5,0 000 SuiiKitana. nr country people, in
tins Province, who tn.ve marched and arc
jnai tiling foi Gei nna ; •nny of them march
ed front t)eoct. .. d ...iu\ more are now here
on heir way. liuie are g.eat expectati
ons entertained iro n in-in ; but the French
he.ii ing ot the >e exertions, are pushing the
si*ge with ill,vigor, and 1 expect hourly to
iitar of its tad. The force of the besiegers
ci non ns to about 20 000 men. The Spanish
arrny, -hose head quarers are at Mauresa,
and mam hotly at V.ch, to perhaps as many
a blow will be struck soon. Gen. Blake
has resign, d the command of the army in
this Pi ovinee ; General O’Donald, comman
der ol the liisn brigade, will eventually
succeed him ; he is tnnught to he an able
man, and has once or twice signalized hiin
helt >ore Gerona. The Spanish arnay in
this Province is in a bad state, as they are
without provision or clothing; a short time
since a regiment wl them inarched iu here
nearly naked.
“ It is, as I predicted, the iirtmorial Gcro
na has fallen; the nev/s has just been ”c
ceivi-d here This has cast a gloom over
the v. dole pUce ; the general opinion here
!*• that this Province must soon fall. 16000
Ftench lately left Madrid, and have arrived 1
at Saragossa, about 8o miles from hence
supposed to be destined for Valencia. Ge
romi .mmediately after its capitulation, was
pillaged by the French, sm-i contribution
ot 250.000 dollars laid upon it. Since the
capture of that place tliev have marched in
to Paladins, Blancs, and St. Felicu, on their
Avfcy towards Barcelona: a part of them at
besieging a strong place called Hostalaich.
1 he Spkii'in army in La Mancha has been
entire!) destroyed by the French : they
brought twSiragOBsa 12.000 prisoners taken
from the Duke del Parque. Wc hear the
rmmatans are on the borders of France and
bn* yesterday, a monk io!d me that by
th1-* ♦itnc France is ours!” Poor ignorant
fellow, I could almost sty, that by this
BpHiii is conquered ; affairs wear a' must
gloomy aspect. What the Sttmatattg arc
uomg on the borders of France. I Cannot
tcM • they have made prisoners of a large
number ot tat hogs, coming from France,
which certainly is a most valorous action.
1 hey are poor miserable people to-be-sure,
tome with aims and sortie without. This
place is abh- to sustain a long sie^e. p,-ovi
. eo 1 ,*',e v?ri c provisions enough ; but there
i* not enough lor four months.”
„ , " December 22.
There his nothing ncw tak{|il
s.r.ce my fi a»t date. J>.at Gerona is taken
is cod into* 4 beyond d*r.n. i .-rttall have
the ensuing Christmas a chance to observe
the manner in which the Catliolicks keep
that greatest day of the Church ; there is an
eiega-'t cathedral here, very old and large,
and finely adorned with imnges, paituinrjs
and painted windows.’*
CtiAiLMTOit, March 15.
IVp lexrn by the late arrivals from Havanas,
that the most rigorous examination is made oh
the arrival oi tvsit*!* from the United States ut
that port, for the purpose of preventing the i i
troductiuh into th*t island of political hupp dia
ries from Fiance. Jivery passenger is sti .< tly
examined, and all suspicious letters are taken
possessioh of by the govereinent, mid in-, peeled,
for the purpose of preventing an improper cor
respomience being kept up, by cneutirs to the
colony. —Courier.
Cretat, count of Champincl, late minister of
the interior, died at Paris on the 28th of Nov.
last, in the 63d year of his age. The name fune
ral honors were awarded him as were to M.Por
tulis, late minister of public worship. His re
in .wits wore deposited in the Pantheon.
pH IT. A OKI phi a, March 20.
Capt.JrSnlove r'- the brig Amity, left Lisbon'
the 1st.of Feb and informs that very thing re-j
mained tranquil in Portugal.—The British army *
were stationed about 35 leagues distant from '
Lisbon—Coming out, capl. M. saw upwards of
GO British transports with troops goiilg into Lw .
bon.
Information relative to the elections in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, so far
ns received, renders it highly probable that 1
tney will issue in the complete triumph of
republicanism. -The town officers of Sa
lem, in Massachusetts, in which the votes
have for some years been nearly balanced,
are this year all republican, by a majority
'of 120. The elections in other towns in N.
Hampshire and Massachusetts exhibit a
j like result.—Alat. Jnt.
i AYu Hampshire election. The votes of 61
, towns for Governor, give
Mr. Langdoii . 6,48f
Mr. Smith 6,308
•ivv |Rumuiui majority l7y
Tlic same towns last year gave a federal ma
jority of 70.
“ ICeene, (n.h.) Much 14
“Yesterday was a meeting throughout' this
state for the election of state and town officers.
From the returns we have had of 12 towns in this
ebunty, we can hava no doubt but Mr. Langdon
will be elected Governor. The amount of votes,
in those. 12 towns, are for I.angdon 1039—for
Smith 1580—last year they stood for L 843—
l’ur S. 1754. This being the most federal part of
the state, no doubt can be entertained but Mr. L
will have a large majority.”
A letter from Dunbarton, N. H says—“ We
have this day chosen a republican Representa
tive, being the first time we have succeeded these
ten years past.”
To the Republicans of Cecil County, coho
were convened in Elkton. Ecbruary 2,
1810.
I have received, fellow -citizens, your ad
dress of the above date. The period and
the circumstances which have called forth
this expression of your sentiments, are tru«
ly interesting, as well to the character as to
I the rights of the nation—and it affords sa
tisfaction to find, in the meeting formed by
you, a harmony with so many orhsrs, in ap
' proving the measures which have been pur
sued in reference to both. In a government
founded on the principles and organized
in the for lift, which distinguish that of the
U. S. discord alone, on points of vital im
portance, can render the nation weak in
itself, or deprive it of that respect which
garrantees its peace and security. With a
union of its citizens, a government thus
identified with the nation may be consider
ed as the strongest in the world, the parti
cipat on of every individual in the rights 8c
welfare of the whole, adding the greatest
moral to the greatest physica’ strength of
which political society is susceptible.
For your kind assurances of regard and
confidence, I return my thanks 8c my friend
ly wishes.
j JAMES MADISON.
Dan’l. StlF.RIEINE, \
Esq. Chairman. 5
*
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
March 19.
Mr. AVKcc called for the consideration of
his resolution relative to adjournment on the
2d of April.
Mr. Stanley moved to amend it by striking
out “ the 2d of April” and inserting “ the
3d Monday in April.”-The motion was
lost.
Mr. ]V. Alston moved to refer the resohi_
tion to a committee to bo appointed by this
House to join with such committee as should
be appointed by the Senate for the purpose
of enquiring and reporting what businc s
was necessary to be done previous to ad
journment, and also at what day Congress
would in their opinion be prepared to ad
journ.
[This motion was supported by several
gentlemen on the ground that it was the or
dinary course of proceeding, and would be
but respectful to the Senate, as it was the
only means of knowing what business that
body hadbeloreit. If a different course was
pursued, the two Houses having different bu
siness in view, might each embarrass the o
ther’s proceedings.
It was opposed on the ground that Such a
course would only produce delay. Mr.
S ml lie and others were for adj irning at the
earliest possible day. It was admitted that
tiio course proposed was usual, but it was
said that the report of the joint committee
formed no guide for the conduct of the House,
who as often departed front as adhered to
its recommendations. If the day expressed
in the resolution did not coincide with the
ideas of the Senate, it was at their option to
amend it.]
1 he question was taken on referring the
resolution to a joiftt committee and carried,
75 to 32.
Messrs. W. Alston, Pitkifl, Findley,
Southard and Rhea (I ) were appointed n
committee on the part of this House.
DETACHMENT OF MILITIA.
The House again resumed the considers
tioa nt the bill authorising a detachment of
the Militia of the U. S.
Various amendments were proposed to the
bill and negatived by largn majorities.
About five o’clock, the bill was ordered to
l»c engrossed for a third reading. And the
House adjourned.
March 20.
On motion of Mr. Clay, a resolution was
iicuptcd instructing the Post-Master Gene
ral to report to the House whether any and
what expedition may he given to the cor
respondence between the s»ats of the gov
ernments of North and South Carolina and
Georgia, by employing for tlfit purpose the
present route to New Orleans, and what will
l>e the r-xpence of establishing connected !
lines ; also the amount of -money expended
in iuhiking the road from Athens to New
Orleans, and all other information he may
possess concerning the Mail route by Athens
to Orleans.
Mr, Stanley reported a bill for the dis
charge of John Carr from his imprisonment.
The hill was twice read, and, on the repre
sentation of the case given by Mr. Stanley,
ordered to be engrossed for a third read
ing .on Friday—Ayes 64.
Air. frisk frttin the committee of confer
ence on the census bill, reported, that the
committee recommended that the Senate
should recede from a part of their amend
ments, and the Hou^e should accept the re
mainder,with amendments thereto—The re
port lies on the table.
Mr. Johnston made sundry reports from
the committee if Claims, which wet „• dis
posed of bv the House
commercial hill.
The House took up the message from the
Senate announcing their adherence to their i
amendments to the bill concerning commer
cial intercourse, fee.
Ml*. Livermore moved that the House re
cede from its disagrement to the amend
ments of the Sen ue.
Mr. Love made a motion which took pre
cedence of Mr. Livermore’s vis. to post
pone the further consideration of the bill I
till Monday next. It seemed probable, j
he said, from information lately receiv-1
ed, that some events had taken place
which would essentially alter the state of
things. The situation of the two Houses in
relation to each other being somewhat em
barrassing, he said he was not desirous to
precipitate a decision, especially when. a
few days might produce a change in our re
lations with the belligerents.
Mr Cook was in favor of this motion, and
for the reason which had been given. He
thought it very impolitic to act immediate
ly on this important subject, when news was
every hour expected which might alter their
opinions very essentially. He biinuld be sor
ry to register an act at thi6 moment which
they might be under the necessity of undoing
in a week.
Mr. Livermore said he could not easily
conceive why a decision on this subject
should be further postponed. Under the ex
pectation of great news, this system was
continy-d from day to day to the great inju
ry of the American people. Gentlemen
would no doubt act upon their own convic
tions, but he hoped they would consider the
information received from every part of the
Union of the public voice appealing to Con
gress to repel the non-intercourse law. Was
there any news of war being declared a
gainst us by any nation * He had, to he sure,
heard some rumor of the kind as to France,
but he p’aced little faith in it. As to Eng
land, had heard from all quarters of favora„
ble prospects. He compared this procras
tination to the punishment of Tantalus in
flicted on merchants. One day was held out
an expectation of a decision, and when the
day came the bill was again put oil*. He ho
ped it wo-.ld now be decided.
! The question on postponement to Monday
! next was carried as follows :
YEAS—Messrs. L. J. Alston, W. Alston,
; Anderson, Bassett, Boyd, J Brown, 11.Brown,
| Burwell, Builer, Clay, Clopton, Cobb, Coch
| ran, Cook. Cox, Crawferd, Cutts, Dawson,
Desha, Findley, Fisk, Franklin, Gardner,
J Gholson, Goodwyn, Helms, Holland, How
ard, Johnson. Love, Lyle, Miller. N. U.
| Moore, Morrow,Mumford, Nelson, Newbold,
' Newlon, Nicholson, J. Porter, P. B. Porter,
Rea of Pen. Rhea of Ten. Roane, Root, Sage,
Sammonn. Sawyer, Seaver, Seybert, Shaw,
Smilie, G. Smith, J. Smrli, Southard,
Thompson, Tracy, Troup, Turner, White
hill, Winn, Witherspoon—62.
NAYS—Messrs. Bacon, Bibb, Blaisdell,
Breckenridgv, Butler, J. C. Chamberlain,
W. Chamberlin, Champion, Chittenden,
Dana, Davenport, Ely, Eniott, Garland,
Goldsborough, Gold, Gray, Hale, Iiaven,
Heister, Hubbard, R. Jackson, Kennedy,
Key, Lewis, Livermore, Livingston, Macon,
Marion, Matthews,M’Bride, M’Kee. Milnor,
T. Moore, Moseley, Pearson, Pitkin, Potter,
Quincy, Richards, Ross, Sheffey, Smelt,
Stanford, Stanley, Slephenson, Sturges,
Swoope. -Taylor, Uphani, Van I)y ke, V-n
Horn, Van Rensselaer, Weakley, Wheaton,
Whitman,—56.
MILITIA VOLUNTEERS, &r..
The engrossed bill authorising a detach
ment of the Militia of the U. S. was read a
third time.
Mr. Potter and Mr. Key spoke against it,
and Mr. Poindexter and Mr. Root in favor
of It.
The bill was passed.
For it—70.
Against it—47.
Majority 23.
And the House adjourned.
March 2T.
Mr. George Smith reported a bill Oh* altering
the times and places of holding the district court
in the district of Maine, which was twice read
and committed.
Me Newt n reported a bill to erect a light
house at the entrance of Scit-J.de harbor, a • >nc
column on a spit of land, at the entrance in Bos
ton harbor, in the state of Massachusetts, and a
light-house at the entrnnee of Bayou St. John
into Poncburtrain; which was twice read and
committed.
Tlie House concurred in the Senat'*'* amend
ments, as amended, to the census bill, and to the
sea-letter hill
GENERAL WILKINSON.
Mr Pennon said his object in now addressing
the House was to introduce to their attention a
subject interesting to the honor and intimately
connected with the safety of the nation, a subject
which had occtfpied a great portion of the public
I attention, and, if lie was not mistaken, had exci
I ted much public indignation. The resolution he
| was about to propose was in relation to the con.
| duct of the Commander tn chief of the army of
tiic United States. Gentlemen (said Mr. Pear
son) arc not at this time to 'u: informed that sus
picions, not light as air,not Rpcnditig on ordina
ry rumor, nor upon common newspaper publica
tions, hut appearing hi a shape infinitely more
imposing, hang over the head of this officer, and
the wonder only is, why this subject has been i
pei milled to rest uninvestigated so long. It is
not at present my intention to give any opinion
as to the truth or tallacy ot the charges exhibited
against this officer, because 1 conoeive it impro
per so to do ; for if r-n investigation of his con
duct does take place, it will be conducted by
gentlemen of this House, and it would be impro
per to prejudge any case on which we are to
decide, as we are bound to do justice as wail to
the individual us to our countly. The character
oi a soldier has always been dear to me. I have
been early taught to respect the name of aolUiev ,
and whenever I think of iti hixv\r and ; lliiotiim
associate themselves with lit? idea Hut I will
take the liberty of slating that the charges for
some time existing again t the eomnvmder in
cltief have become more i nposing, to my mind
tt least, in consequence of a publication which
came out during Hie last ydar, in which tliose
charges ere especially stated, and the evidence
with which they are supported, illustrated in a
manner calculated to make an impression on tlie
mind of almost any man. In order that com
plete justice uuy be rendered to this officer and
to my rc,untrv, I offer the following resolution :
l<itolled. That a committee be appointed to
enquire into the conduct of brigadier-general
James Wilkinson, in relation to his having at any
time whilst in the service of the y. States cor
ruptly received money from the government of
Spain or its agents, or in relation to having during
the time aforesaid, been an accomplice or in any
way concerned w \n the ngents of any foreign
power or with Aaron Burr in a project against the
dominions of the king of Spain or to dismember
these U. States. That the said committee en
quire generally into the conduct of the said
James Wilkinson as brigadier-general of'thfe ar
my ol the U. h.—that the s iid committee have
power to scud for persons and papers, and com
pci their attendance and production, and that they
report ilia result to this Hou«c.
Mr. 1’. said us it was not hi< intention st tTiis
tiinu to agitate the question, he w.shcd it u> lie
on the table a day at least.
BATTURK AT NEW ORLEANS.
The House again resumed the consideration
of the bdl providing the means to ascertain the
title to the batlurc id front of the suburb of St.
M..ry.
Mr. Bibb made a moli in to strike out the whole
of tlie bill 11 nd iqsert an amendment nearly similar
to that which he proposed in committee of the
whole.
Mr. Ghaiion desirous to introduce an amend
ment diffi rent from Mr. Bibb’s, called for a divi
sion of the question, so as to take the question
lirst on striking out, that be might be at liberty
to move a substitute d liferent fj ojn that offered
by Mr Bt! b.
The motion to strike out the sections was sup
pmud at gteat In gth by Mes.v s. GhoLoo,
Love, Taylor t*. M-icun ; and opposed by .Messrs.
Ross, Kv-y, Shefiey amt Hovd.
Tlie House adjourned without taking a ques
tion Oil it
Previous to adj jurnment the following mes
sage w..s receive.: liont tlie President ot the L!.
SUh-s.
To the Senate and Houte of
lit pretent at tert of the U. Sratts ;
I lay before C .ngres-. a retuni of l.ie militia
of tlie United States as received by the He
partmentof War from the several.-lutes and ter
titorics.
JAMES MADISON:
Abstract of rtiF. Return.
Year fur tchich
Tct.il
1 rtturns in ule.
New Hampshire }8u9 24 2>1
Massachusetts 18.-9 tWj.j
Vermont 18'>9 2u 4J9
Rhode Island 1808 7 348
Connecticut 18u9 20 176
New York 1807 92,554
New Jersey 1809 33,50.5
Pennsylvania 18u9 96 407
Delaware 1808 8579
Maryland 18u7 047
Virginia 1808 80,863
North Carolina 1809 47,922
South Carolina 18j7 29.C04
Georgia l803 25[o38
Kentucky 1809 40 599
Tennessee 1805 16 822
Ohio 1807 15 324
District of Columbia 1V08 2,245
Mississippi Territory 1807 2 158
Indiana Territory 1806 2,U(>7
Orleans Territory 1807 ^5,626
Louisiana Territory 1309 2 Ji0
Michigan Territory I806 i,0T3
Total Militia 634 33$
. March 22.
Mr. Champion obtained leave of absence for
the remainder of the session front Saturday
next. Mr. Ross obtained the same leave a few
days ago.
Mr. Rhea reported a bill to establish post
roads ; which was twice read and committed.
REDUCTION OF ARMY AND NAVY.
Mr. Randolph prefaced the following resoluti
on by some general observations :
Resolved, That the military and naval establish
ments ought to he reduced.
litis motion was, after some observations from
Messrs. Eppes, Smihe aiid M icon, .elt-rred to
tile committee ot me who}.- to whom was rclbr
ivd the bill for iMinus-fig aJd.tional duties on im
ports
I lie Mouse resolved itself into a committee of
the wn-iL, vir UesBA in the chair,011 the (nil
Cor carryi g into elL-ct ceilain Indian treaties,
i no bnl was gone through, r ported to the
House »nd ordered ta be engrossed for a third
reading.
BATTUttE.
The House bgain resumed the consideration of
tne bill to provide the means to ascertain the ti
tle to toe Uaiture.
Mr. Bjbb’s motion to strike out all but the en
acting clause being still under consideration—
Messrs l hoison, Holland and \V. Alston sup
ported the motion and Mr. Fisk opposed it.
The House djourned at 5 o’clock without ta
king the question
[A furtner account < f this day’s proceedings
in our next.]
On Wednesday last Mr. Eftfies, from the
committee qj Ways and Means, laid before
the House the following documents, which
were ordered to be printed.
• January 8, 1810.
Sin,
Having stated in your several reports,
that loans would constitute the principal re,
source of the United Stages fof defraying
extraordinary expences, the Committee of
Ways and Means have instructed uje to re
quest, that you will report your opinion fisto
ttie more eligible mode of obtaining money
by loan-keeping in view both the facili
ty of borrowing sums commensurate with
the exigencies of the United States and the
ultimate extinguishment of the debt con
tracted.
You have already given your opinion in
favor of an increase of duties on importation.
1 o what extent tan this be carried with
safety * Can any other resources, except
taxes and loans.be relied on for immediate
revenue'
I have the honor to be,
With respect.
Your most obedient,
JOHN W. EPPE9.
Gilbert Gallatin, linq. Stc’rj o/"£
the Treasury. j
Treasury Department,
February 26th, 1810.
Sir,
I have the honor to submit the follow.,
ing observations, in answer to the several
objects of enquiry embraced by your 1< Per of
the 8tli ultimo. The amount of extraordina
ry expences which may be authorized by
Congress l>ting yet unascertained, it is not,
even at this time, practicable to state, with
precision, the sum which may be wanted on
loan for the service of this y*»r. Ar<l i re
lationto ensuing years, it would be pram,
ture to lay down any general rules inspect,
mg the most eligible mode of borrowing ».;uis
of money, commensurate with the exigen
cies of the United States in ense of war_
It is, therefore, thought sufficient, for the
present, to point out some of the most obvious
means of efisetiug loans generally ; leaving
it a subject of subsequent consideration to
decide according to existing circumstances
on the most eligible mode, and uu the ar
rangement of details.
The enquiries of the committee ofWays
and Means apply to the three following
! points: 1st. What is the most eligible mode
of obtaining money by loans, keeping in
! view both the facility of borrowing sums
[commensurate with the exigencies of the
[United States, and the ultiiimecxtmguish
i meat ofthe debt contracted? 2dly. To what
i extent cun an increase of duties on icnp«i ta
! tion be carried with safety ? Silly. Can any
other «esources besides tarfes and loans, be
relied on for immediate revenue?
LOANS.
1st. The commissioners of the sinking
fund, will, out of the annual appropriation
I of eight millions of dollars Iqi* »uc payment
j of the debt, reimburse, in 1810. the residue
[oltbe exchanged six per ter.', stock, a
j mounting to b 750,000 dollars, a.;d in 1811,
I*he whole of the converted six per cent,
stick, amounting to 1,8GC GOO dollars. It is
probable that the owners of those t wo spe
cies of stock, Would consent to re-loan the
amount, provided, it was irredeemable for
>a few years.
2 !ly. It has already been stated, in the
i annual report of November 5th, 1507, “that'
the several banks of the United Stales mighJt
find it convenient, as the diminished com
! merce ofthe country might require less ca
pita', to loan to government a considerably
portion of their capital stock, then co^nput- *
ed at about forty millions of dollars.” Such
temporary loins can be obtained only to a
limited amount; but they are convenie nt in
two respects: 1st. They do not diminish
j tiie facility of obtaining other loans from in
i ilividuals, inasmuch as they do not increase
i ihe amount of stock at market: 2dly. Be
in* redeemable at will, and in any sums
which may suit the convenience of govern
ment, interest is paid (inly as long as the
money is wanted ; and the extinguishment of
the debt contracted is t endered more easy
and certain.
on. u<oans may oe on.aineu from individuals
to an extent commensurate with the national
capital, and limited by the existing demand
for that capital for private purposes. The
terms must vary according to circumstances,
always giving the pre ferencc >o »he most sim
ple form that can eflVct the object. A portion
ot the public lands may perhaps, if necesary,
cither as a premium or by giving an option to
subscribers be advantageously applied in
facilitating loans or improving their ternu.
j 4th. Treasury notes, heating interest ani
payable to order, one year alter date, may
be annually issued to a moderate amount,
and be put in circulation both through ths
medium of hanks, and ■ a payment of sup
plies. A portion would be absorbed during
the year by the payment of public lands and
revenue bonds, and the redemption of the
residue be provided foi by the *ioa:i of the
ensuing year. This annual anticipation of
the revenue, though liable to abuse, may. if
kept within strict bounds, facilitate both the
collection of tilt revenue and the leans them
selves.
In relation to the extinguishment of the
debt contracted, those who borrow can do
nothing more than to provide and pledge,
funds sufficient for that object, and to givt»
such a form to tile debt as iiihv not impede
its redemption. J'o render It irredeemable
for no longer time than is necessary, in or„
der to obtain the money ; to make it reim
bursable by instalments at fixed periods ;
never to create, for the sake of diminishing
! the annual interest, a greater nominal a
niount of stock than the sum actually bor
rowed,.and above all never to incur expen
ses v/luch are not actually necessary forth*
defence or welfare of the country, are prin
ciples essential lor a nation which does not
con.cmplate a sy stem of perpetual and in
creasing debt. But for its actual reimburse
ment we. must principally depend on the re
tain ».f prosperous circums’aaees, on the
g owing resources of tiie country; and on
the wisdom of our successors. The artifi
; provisions m a suiting tuna may always
be rendered inefficient by the necessities
or extravagance of government. Tfce real
amount of a national debt cannot be dimi
nished, unless the aggregate of revenue in
cluding the funds assigned to the sinking
; fund, and exclusively of new loans, exceeds
,tlle agsrcyate of expenditures, other than
I those, for the payment of the principal of the
1 debt. Favorable circumstances, and a ri
gid economy in the current cxpences have
enabled the United States to reimburse du
ring t'ne last eight years, one half of the debt
created by the revolutionary war, and du
ring some of the ensuingyears. Similar cir
I cunistances, and an adherence to the same '
principles will be requisite to secure the
actual reimbursement of the debt which it
may now be necessary to contract. But that
government will possess resources amply
sufficient for that object, cannot he doubled
The proceeds of the public lands would a
lone, slowly perhaps, but certainly,
guisli a much greater debt ilian the LJnU‘<Y
, States have it now in their power to create
And it is sufficiently ascertained that th4
Rational wealth of the United States, imd
I therefore the means of raising revenue, in
crease in a ratio sliil more rapid than their
population, a population which almost dju
hies every twenty years,
j Those considerations connected with o
thers stated ai large in ihe annual reports of
November 1807 and December 1808, have
produced a conviction that loans might v/itb
ou danger be resorted to as the principal
resource for supporting a war. Permit mo
at the same lime to observe, that the sug
gestion has been confined to that object nlone,
and that, excepting the case of war, either
immediate or contemplated, it app<«urs con
sistent with sound policy to raise during thr
year, the means of defraying all ihe national
expence*, borrowing no larger sum than the
amount of principal of old debt paid during
the year. The propriety for provid'ug, e
vcii in time of war, a revenue equal to the
annual expences on a peace establishment,
the interest of the existing debt, and ihnt
on the lotus which may be raised, lias alr.e
beyii suggested in lor me r reports.
Increase of Duties.
On that subject, but little can be added t«
the opinions expressed on former occasi u»*.
I » i;l think that tins source of revenue is, ,a
the U. States, ami at this time, the. most p. ..
ductive, the easiest to collect the le;>vf b.i“.
then some to the great mass or the people;
and that the dutiu ou im^ouaviou g.iivrnlly