The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-12-12


1t seems, from the foregoing, that the two
first days of the session of Congress were occu-
pied by the House of Representatives in bal
loting for a Speaker. The Message of the
President was not communicated until We'd
nesday. II necessarily occupies large space
in our paper. Our readers will however find
it an interesting document.
The Message first gives clear view of the
present state of our commercial relations, and
Of the policy on which they are founded. 1t
seems that, by means of the countervai!ing du-
ties imposed by the parties, the direct COM
merce between France and the United States
"is in great measure suspended" This
subject will probably engage the early atten-
ton of Congress. The policy of the heavy
tonnage duty imposed on French vessels is
doubted by many politicians. Should it be
removed, the difficulties with France might,
perhaps, be satisfactorily adjusted.
We are not informed what is Z" the question
concerning the construction of the first article
in the Treaty of Ghent," which, it appears
from the Message, is referred to the decision of
the Emperour of Russia. That article stipu-
lates for the restoration of "private property
taken on either side, (including slares,) and
for the surrender of all posts or places taken by
either party from the other; except the islands
in the Bay of Passamaquoddy, and the Island
of Grand Menan in the Bay of Fundy, (Which
were claimed by both parties under the treaty
Of 1889 The title to these islands was to be
settled under a commission. There seems to
be nothing of doubtful construction in the arti-
Gle, unless it be the stipulation concerning the
restoration of slaves. Whether this restora-
ton should extend to slaves who voluntarily
left this country and found protection in the
British armies or fleets, as we'll as to those who
were forcibly taken from their owners, might
be questioned. II we recollect right, there
has been some controversy on this point, and
this may be the question referred to the En-
perour of Russia. There is, however, no pro-
vision in the treaty for referring any question
of construction" TO the decision of third
power.-The disagreement alluded to of the
Commissioners under the fifth article of the
treaty, is in relation to the line between Maine
and the British provinces. In this case,
the controversy is, by the terms OF the treaty,
TO be referred to the decision of s'some friend
ly sovereign or state"
The conduct of Gen. Jackson, as Governour
of Florida, is made a prominent topick in the
Message and although the President is care
full to express no opinion as to its character,
yet it is not difficult to conjecture his views of
that part of it which relates to the controver-
sy with Judge Fromentin. He says 1t was
presumed that the commissions which were
granted to'the officers who were appointed to
execute each branch Of the system, [of gov
eminent in Florida, and 10 tchich The commits
SONS wsre adopted, would have been UNDER
stood in the same sense, by them, in which
they were understood by the Executive.n II
is settled then, by the highest authority, that
there were at least two branches of govern
mont in Florida ; and these, according to the
whole scope of the Presidents observations,
were TO be egsected, the one by Gen. Jack
son, and the other by two Judges, one of