Litchfield enquirer., 1831-12-22


 opinions On other subjects are invited to meet on middle ground, and, on the altar of the common good, each to offer something for the preservation of concord and union throughout this favored land, the advocates and oppOsers of the existing system for regu- lating the currency may also he expected to jon in the same patriotic sacrifice.
 The punctnality of the American merchant In the payment of duties, in every periCd of our history, and under the most severe vicis- sltudes, IS deserving of the greatest adMira- ton; of the whole amount of Custom house bonds, falling due in the first three quHrters of the present year, only $46,965 76 have been unpaid. Of seven hundred and eighty-One millions of dollars secured for duties from the 1 commencement of the government, to the SOth ofSeptember last, the whole loss may be estimated to be less than six millions of dol lars. These delinquencies are believed, in 1 most It not in all instances, to have been the result of unavoidable misfortune, involving in 1 the ruin of the principal the sureties required by the laws of the United States. In most cases, the United States, by means of the ex- isting priority acts, have obtained the benefit of whatever property the debtors possessed at the tune ot their insolvency: in many instan- ces, their general creditors have released, or would be willing to release them, if the claim of the government did not render such an act of liberality unavailing. By this means a large number of our fellow citizens, of fair character and intelligence, and qualified by
 their exertions' to promote the prosperity of the country, are parazed in their industry,
 and deprived of the means of providing for
 their families and contributing to tho general | stock of labor.
 1 It is respectfully submitted to the wisdom
 and generosity of Congress, whether the DC. ) casion of extinguishing the national debt and relieving the burdens of the community at
 large, and where the greatest amount likely to be recovered is not required for the public exigencies, is not also propitious for giving | absolute relief to those enterprising men who
 in times of difficulty and need, contributed to
 enri0h the public treasury. The period of the total extingnishment of the national debt will
 be period of national rejoicing, and might
 be nrpperly signalized by such an act of grace tp tiiis unfortunate class of our countrymen.
 Should Congress. however, desire to com
 pei the payment of any portion of these debts, or to discriminate among the objects of its clemency, it is believed that law of greater scope than the present, authorizing an inquiry
 into the facts, and a discharge of the debtor where there is no fraud, with OF without pay
 menkOf any particular amount, and returning
 toeach debtor reasonable per centage of the
 sum paid, is recommended as expedient and
 necessary.
 1 SYNOPSIS OF OTHER REPORTS. Navy.--Mr. Woodbury gives a clear and saae&lnef statement of tho employment of the naxX during the past year. The force in cotnmIssion consisted of5 frigates, II sloops, and ' schooners; but Ofthese, 4 small schoon. sfs' purchased and temporarily used in guard Ing our live oak, and in making surveys of the coast, can hardly be considered as a perma- sRent portion of the establishment.
 Our force abroad has been divided be-
 tween the Mediterranean. the West Indies,
 Mediterranean, the Secretary recon,inensiS ,sis an increase of ship of the line and urges .ne importance of placing within the direc- tion ofthe Executive the means of protecting our extensive commerce with India and Chi. na. In the Pacific, our new com mander has orders to cruise among the islands to which our whalemen and merchantmen resort.-| Liberia was visited by the Java on her return rom me Mediterranean, and in conseuuence ot the loss ny piracy of vessel in the sm- pI0y ot tho colonists, the earliest opportunity w''l he embraced to have that region of coun. try again visited by one of our public vessels. 1 Dur force on the Brazilian station will soon oe strengthened by one of the schooners now building. "o"
 me Ja'a. Hudson, and Cyane; are found to ne very defective, and not worthy of re- pairs. The two former vessels were built ofl inferior materials. But as the "Java hsars the name of one of our trophies during the late war, 1t is recommended that an aDprn. prlatlon be made for purchasing timber to re. no'.a ner, and another, for similar reason. to e reoo'Id the Cyane. A frame has hereto tore been obtained for the Macedonian: and an appropriation to finish one ofthese vessels. wnose names are SO intimately associatcd "nh onr naval glory, could be expended with ""rn m,I aovantags the two ensuing years."
 Ine construction of the two Dry Docks are nearly complete, and will be ready for inc re- cepi'on of large vessels by the 4th of JuIv next, when it Is hoped !" that some oftha n,E nc vessels requiring repairs may he safsIv uucNea m these useful. economical, and sp'enaid conveniences for our naval establish. ment." The expenditures on each have been about S5oO,Ooo, and they present specimen. o' stone masonry unrivalled for bcautv and so"o'y. Dur dock yards are generallv in a prosperous condition. \" The vessels in ord;. nary nave been. at most of the yards. cover. ea. so as t"shelter them effectual!y from am. s"'ne ana storms, and to render their secnr;tv Irom ,r ueiay much greater than heretofore. .n 10 oOviate the inconvenience from had c,r- usse; tne erection of rope yards at proper snes IS recommended. Indeed, the Secrefa. " seems to think the reasons are more now- :L erlu' m favor of making our own cordar. .nan or building Our own vessels, or mannfsc' ."nng our own blocks and anchors. Th.