Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-05

BY orr violation oft; and presenting, as
the alternative, war, or renewal of the
former treaty, which stipulated among
other things, an annual tribute The an
swer, william explicit declaration that the
United States preferred war 10 tribute,
required hisrecogniiion aud observance OK
the treatvla made, which alolshcs tri-
butte, and the slavery OF car captured CT
tlzens. The result Of the answer has not
been received. Should he renew his war
fare on our commerce, we rely on the
protection 1t will ind III our naval force
actually III the Mediterranean
With the other Barhary states, our al
fairs nave undergone no change.
The .adiau tribes within our limits ap-
pear also disposed to remain az peace
From several OF them purchases of lands
have been made, particularly favorable
to the wishes and security ofour frontier
settlements as well as To the general in
terests OF. the nation. I'm some insian-
ceS, tue titles, though not supported by
due proof, and ciashing those of one
tribe will the claims Cf another, have
been extinguished by double purchases;
the henevolcntpolicy oithc United States
preterrIng the augmented expense 10 the
hazard OF dong injustice or TO the Ell
forcemsnt ofjustice, against feeble and
untutored people, b, means involving or
threatening an etfusion of blood. | am
happy to add, that the tranquility which
has been restored among the tribes them
selves, as well as between them and Our
appropriation. will favor the resumption
of the work ofcivilization, which had made
an encouraging progress among some
tribes; and that the facility is increasing,
for extending that divided and individual
IL
| property only to the soil itself; anil of
thus establishing in the culture and i'm
provement oft, the true foundation for
| transit from the habits of the savage, TO
| the arts and comforts of social life
As a subject of the highest importance
TO the national welfare, must, again. ear
nestly recommend TO the consideration OF
| Congress, a reorganization of the Militia
on 4 plan which will form il INTO classes,
according TO the periods of life more and
| less adapted TO military services An eff
ficient militia is authorised and contem-
plated by the constitution, and required
by the spirit and safety of free govern
ment. The present organization OF our
militia is universally regarded as less eff
ticient than il ought to be made and no
! organization can be better calculated TO
| give To it its due force, than classiiicati-
IN the defence of the country, to that por-
ton of its citizens, whose activity and an
imation best enable them To rally TO its
standard. Besides the consideration that
time ofpeace is the time when the change
can be made with the most convenience
and equity, it will now be aided by the ex-
perlence ola recent war, i'll which the mi
litla bore so interesting part.
Congress will call TO mind, that no adj
equate provision has been made for the
uniformity ofweights and measures, also
contemplated by the constitution. The
great utility of standard, fixed in its
nature, and founded on the easy rule of
decimal proportions, is sufficiently obvi-
Gus. 1t led the government, at an early
stage, preparatory steps for Introducing
it; and a completion of the work will be
just title To the public gratitude.
The Importance which have attached
to the establishment Of an University
within this District, on scale and for
objects worthy of the American nation, in
OF it, TO the favorable consideration OF
Congress And particularly invite again
their attention to the expedIency of ex-
ercisins their existing powers, and where
necessary, of resorting to the prescribed
mode of enlarglng them, IN order to effec-
tuatc comprehensive system of roads
and canals, such as will have the effect of
drawing more closely together every part
of our country. by promoting intercourse
and improvements, and by increasing the
share of every part III the common stock
of national prosperity.
Occurrences having taken place which
shew that the statutory provisions for the
dispensation ofcriminal justice, are def
| cient inrelation both 10 places and TO per-
sons, under the exclusive cognizance of
| the national authority; an amendment of
| the law, embracing such cases, will merit
| the earliest attention of the legislature
| II will be a seasonable occasion, also, for
inquiring how far legislative interposition
may be further requisite iii providing pc
nalties for offences designated in the con-
stitntion or in the statutes, and to which
either no penalties are annexed. or none
with sufficient certainty. And submit
! to the wisdom of Congress, whether a
more enlarged revisal of the criminal code
be not expedient, for the purpose of miti-
! eating, in certain cases, penalties which
were adopted into il antecedent TO expe-
riments and examples which justly and
recommend more lenient policy.
| The United States having been The
first to abolish within the extent ofthcir
| authority, the transportation of the ma
tives of Africa into slavery, by prohibit
ing the Introduction of slaves, and by
Furnishing their citizens participating in
the traffic, cannot but be graiiied at the
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