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commend to Congress their repcal. To impose taxes, when the public exigencies require them is an obligation of the most sacred character, especially with a free people. The faithful fulfil ment of it is among the highest proofs of their virtue, and capacity for self-government. To dispense with taxes, when it may be done with perfect safety, is equally the duty of their representatives. In this instance we have the satisfaction to know that they were imposed when the demand was imperious, and have been sustained with exemplary fidelity. I have to add, that however gratifying it may be to me, regarding the prosperous and happy condition of our country, to recommend the repeal of these taxes at this time, I shall nevertheless be attentive to events, and, should any future emergency occur, be not less prompt to suggest such measures and burthens as may then be requisite and proper.

Wednesday, Dec. 3.

JAMES MONROE.

Mr. Barbour, from a committee appointed on the subject of the State of Mississippi, reported a resolution for its admission into the Union; which was Bead the third time, passed and sent to the other house for concurrence.

Thursday, Dec. 4. A letter was laid before the Senate, by David Holmes, governor of the State of Mississippi, inclosing the constitution of that State.

Monday, Dec. 8. The President of the Senate communicated the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury. We have room only for the following abstract of this important document.

The Secretary calculates the receipts of the Treasury during the year 1817, at $33,075, 984, which added to the balance in the Treasury on the 1st of January, 1817, makes an aggregate sum of $44,371 577.

The payments into the treasury, during the three first quarters of the year, are estimated to amount to $27,095, 934 14; viz. Customs $21,732,068 22; internal revenue and direct tax, $3,480,173 43; public lands, exclusive of those in the State of Mississippi and the Alábama, $1,326,077 44; postage and incidental receipts $26,913 93; payments into the treasury, $530,751 13.

The application of this sum, for the year 1817, is estimated as follows, viz.

To the 30th Sept. the payments have amounted to $32,710,002 93; viz:

Civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous expenses, exclusive of three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars paid to the State of Georgia, from the proceeds of the Mississippi lands, $2,798,248 75.

Military service, including arrearage, $7, 105,816 90.

Naval service, $2,044,474 25.

Public debt, exclusive of three millions five hundred and ninety-two thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven dollars and sixty cents of treasury notes, which have been cancelled in due course of settlement, $20, 761,462 98.

During the fourth quarter, it is estimated that the payments will amount to $5,660,000. Civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous expenses, $600,000.

Military service, $1,110,000. Naval service, $1,300,000.

Public debt to the first of January, 1818, inclusive, $2,650,000.

Making the aggregate amount of $38,370, 002, 88.

And leaving, on that day, exclusive of eight millions, 632,697 dollars and 70 cents in treasury notes, which are in a train of settlement, in order to be cancelled, a balance in the treasury of $6,001,575 88.

The public debt unredeemed on the 1st day of January 1817 amounted to $115,807,

805.

Between the 1st of January and the 1st of September there was added to the public debt by the funding of treasury notes, $1,097,315, making an aggregate amount on that day of $116,905,121.

During the same period there was purchased and redeemed of the public debt, including five hundred and fifty thousand dollars of temporary loans, the sum of $16,993,275 50.

Which, deducted from the amount of the public debt, last stated, leaves, unredeemed, on the first day of October, 1817, the amount of $99,911,845 41.

This amount will be reduced by the 1st of January, 1818, to $98,869,096.

The amount of the public debt purchased and redeemed in the year 1817, amounts to $18,036,023.

The old six per cent stock will be redeemed in the course of the year 1818. The Louisiana debt which becomes redeemable on the 21st of October next, might be redeemed at that time, did not the terms of the convention, which require that it shall be paid by

annual instalments of not less than three millions,' seem to preclude the right of discharging it at once. It may all be redeemed by the 21st of October, 1819.

After the redemption of the Louisiana stock, there is no part of the principal of the public debt redeemable at the will of the government until the 1st day of January 1825, except the 5 per cent stock subscribed to the bank of the United States. As the commissioners of the sinking fund are not authorized to redeem the five per cent stock, the permanent annual appropriation of 10,000,000 of dollars, from the year 1819 to 1825, under the existing laws, can only be applied to the payment of the interest of the public debt, and to the gradual reimbursement of the principal of the six per cent deferred stock; and will leave, during that period, an annual surplus of nearly five millions of dollars.

This interesting report, after taking a full survey of the national finances, concludes as

follows:

According to these views the permanent annual revenue may be estimated to amount to $24,525,000, viz:-Customs, $20,000,000; internal duties, $2,500,000; public lands, exclusive of the Mississippi and Alabama lands, $1,500,000; bank dividends at 7 per cent $490,000; postage and incidental receipts $35,000. And the payments into the Treasu ry during the year 1818 may be estimated at the same amount. To which add the ba lance estimated to be in the Treasury on the

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first day of January, 1813, $6,000,000. Making together the sum of $30,525,000.

The probable authorized demands upon the Treasury during the year 1818, are estimated to amount to $21,946,351 74, viz:Civil, miscellaneous, diplomatic, and foreign intercourse, $2,069,843 29; military servi ces, including an arrearage of 500,000 dollars, $6,265,132 25; naval service, including one million of dollars for the gradual increase of the navy, $3,611,376 20; public debt, $10, 000,000. Which, being deducted from the amount estimated to be received into the treasury, including the balance on the 1st of January, 1818, leaves, on the 1st of January, 1819, a balance in the treasury of 8,578,648 dollars 26 cents, which, however, will be applied to the redemption of the Louisiana stock, under the provisions of the act for the redemption of the public debt, passed the 3d day of March, 1817, as far as those provisions will admit.

Mr. Barbour gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, ask leave to bring in a resolution proposing to the several States an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, on the subject of internal improve

ments.

Tuesday, Dec. 9. Mr. Barbour introduced a resolution to amend the Constitution, agreeably to notice given yesterday.

Mr. Hawley, Pastor of St. John's Church, Washington, was elected Chaplain of the Senate.

Wednesday, Dec. 10. The resolution offered yesterday by Mr. Barbour, for an amendment of the Constitution, was read a second time, and referred to Messrs. Barbour, King, Lacock, Macon, and Eppes

Thursday, Dec. 11. The Senators from the State of Mississippi appeared and took their seats this day; the President of the United States having notified his approbation of the resolution of Congress, for the admission of the State of Mississippi into the Union.

Friday, Dec. 12. The President of the Senate communicated two memorials of officers of the Navy and of the Marine Corps, then serving in the Mediterranean, remonstrating in strong terms against the treatment received by Captain Heath of the Marine Corps, from Commodore Perry, and the proceedings thereon, and in one or two other

cases.

Mr. Daggett submitted for consideration the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of passing a law on the subject of bankruptcy; and, if they judge it expedient, to report a bill for that purpose: also, that the aforesaid committee inquire into the expediency of further provision by law for the punishment of offences committed in places within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States: also, into the necessity of further defining piracy, and other offences committed on the high seas, and into any defects existing in the laws of the United States for the punishment of crimes and offences.

The bill for the abolition of the internal duties was received from the House of Representatives, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Monday, Dec. 15. The following motions were laid on the table for consideration. By Mr. Troup.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the Senate such information as he may possess, touching the execution of so much of the first article of the late treaty of peace and amity between his Britannic majesty and the United States of America, as relates to the restitution of slaves, and which has not heretofore been communicated.

By Mr. Barbour.—

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate such information as he may possess, and which the public interest will permit him to disclose, relative to our pending negotiation with Spain.

The bill from the House of Representatives to abolish the internal duties, was reported by Mr. Campbell, from the committee on finance, with a few verbal amendments, which were agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.

Tuesday, Dec. 16. The engrossed bill from the House of Representatives, for abolishing the internal duties, was read the third time as amended by the Senate, passed, and returnto the House for concurrence in the amendments.

The resolutions offered yesterday by Mr. Troup, and by Mr. Barbour, respectively, were successively taken up and adopted. Wednesday, Dec. 17. No business of importance was transacted this day.

Thursday, Dec. 18. No subject of moment was brought before the Senate this day. Friday, Dec. 19. The Senate was occupied with subjects of local or private interest.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday Dec. 2d. At 12 o'clock the Presi dent's Message was received and read.

Wednesday Dec. 3d. On motion of Mr. Taylor, of New-York, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the state of the Union, Mr. Smith of Md. being called to the chair.

The President's message was the subject of consideration.

Mr. Taylor moved a series of resolutions referring to different committees the various parts of the Message. The first resolution offered was the following:

Resolved. That so much of the message of the President of the United States, as relates to the subject of foreign affairs, and to our commercial intercourse with British colonial ports, be referred to a select committee.

This resolution having been read for consideration, Mr. Clay (the Speaker) moved to amend the same by adding to the end there. of the following words:

"And that the said committee be instructed to inquire whether any, and if any, what

provisions of law are necessary to ensure to the American colonies of Spain a just observance of the duties incident to the neutral relations in which the United States stand, in the existing war between them and Spain."

Mr. Clay supported this amendment by some spirited remarks in regard to the nature of the struggle in which the Spanish provinces were engaged, and the attitude which it became this country to sustain in regard to them. He called to the remembrance of the House our own situation in 1778 and 1789-the different treatment we had received even from 'inexorable legitimacy,' to that which we exhibited towards kindred republics. If we did not feel ourselves authorized to afford aid to a cause which deserved our wishes for its success, he trusted we should at least endeavour to avoid the appearance of hostility to the efforts of liberty in any quarter.

Mr. Sergeant rose, in consequence of an appeal to him to explain the circumstances under which the U. S. Court had interfered to detain certain British officers about embarking from Philadelphia to join the patriots in South America.

Thursday, Dec. 4. The standing committees as appointed by the Speaker, in pursuance of the order of the house, were announced.

Monday, Dec. 8th. An interesting discussion took place on a motion made by Mr. Rhea to call on the Executive for information in regard to the proceedings of certain persons who have established themselves at Amelia Island, and in regard to a similar establishment at Galvezton.

Mr. Rhea, Mr. Nelson, of Va. Mr. Miller, Mr. Johnson, of kv. and Mr. Harrison advocated the resolution. Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Robertson, and Mr. Holmes opposed it on various grounds, but not with a view to suppress the information required, which they contended was virtually called for by a previous resolution of the House.

Mr. Johnson of Ky. reported a bill authorizing a commutation of soldiers' bounty lands, for cash, at the rate of $1 40 per acre, which was twice read and committed.

On motion of Mr. Nelson, of Va. the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the Resolution from the Senate for admitting the State of Mississippi into the Union. The resolution was agreed to, reported to the House. read a third time, and passed.

Tuesday, Dec. 9. Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of Ways and Means, reported a Bill to abolish the Internal Duties. [The repeal to take place from and after the 31st day of the present month.] The bill was twice read and committed.

Mr. Johnson proposed a series of resolutions in relation to the Military Establishment -to provide for the widows and orphans of the soldiers who where killed in battle or died in service during the late war, to grant lands to the disbanded officers of the late army, to establish three additional military academies, to organize a corps of invalids,

to reduce the standing army to 8000, &c. &c. These resolutions were received and referied to a committee of the whole House.

Mr. Whitman offered a resolution to instruct the committee of commerce and manufactures to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for apprehending and securing foreign seamen deserting from foreign vessels in the ports of the U. S.

Wednesday, Dec. 10th. Mr. Forsyth offered for consideration the following resolution, to obtain a decision on a question raised by a memorial yesterday presented, contesting the election of a member from Ohio, and which Mr. F. considered of great impor

tance:

Resolved, That the committee of elections be instructed to inquire and report what persons, elected to serve in the House of Representatives, have accepted or held offices under the government of the United States since the fourth day of March, 1817, and how far their right to a seat in this House is affected by it.

The adoption of this resolution was warmly opposed by Mr. Taylor, of N. Y. and Mr. Johnson, of Ky. and was also opposed by Mr. Seybert, Mr. Livermore, and Mr. W. P. Maclay, and was supported by Mr. Forsyth.

It was opposed as casting an imputation upon the House, and as instituting a general and vexatious inquisition. It was advocated by the mover as the most direct means of putting the committee of elections in the possession of facts. He had understood that there were ten or eleven gentlemen in the House who came within the scope of the reso lution-there might be more,-had he known all the individuals he would not have hesitated to insert their names in the resolution. He did not mean to impeach the conduct of gentlemen who had taken their seats under such circumstances, they had doubtless satisfied themselves of the correctness of so doing, but the decision of an important constitutional question devolved upon the House.

On taking the question on the resolution, their appeared 85 in favour of it, and 65 against it. It was adopted by the casting vote of the Speaker.

The report of the Committee of Ways and Means, and the bill for abolishing internal duties were taken up in Committee of the whole, Mr. Desha being called to the Chair,

The bill was advocated by Mr. Lowndes, the Chairman of the Committee which reported it. and Mr. Williams. Mr. Tallmadge moved to amend the bill, so as to except the duties on sales at auction, from the general repeal proposed. This amendment was supported by the mover, and by Mr. Storrs, and opposed by Mr. Whitman, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Clay, (the Speaker.)

Some other amendments were proposed and lost.

The Committee rose and reported their agreement to the bill without amendment. Thursday, Dec. 11. On motion of Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts.

Resolved, That the committee on Roads

and Canals inquire into the expediency of providing by law for constructing a navigable canal to unite the waters of Lake Michigan with the waters of those of the Mississippi.

That they also inquire into the expediency of providing for constructing a navigable canal to unite the waters of the Tennessee with those of the Tombigbee.

That they also inquire into the expediency of providing for improving the navigation of the Tennessee.

Mr. Bassett, of Virginia, submitted a proposition to amend the rules so as to dispense with the previous question of consideration. on any motion submitted to the House.

On motion of Mr. Spencer, of New-York, the committee on the judiciary were instructed to inquire whether any, and, if any, what legal provisions are necessary to prescribe the effect which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of one State shall have in the courts of any other State; and also to inquire what provisions by law are necessary to ensure a more prompt publication of the laws of the United States, and a more speedy and general distribution of them.

The engrossed bill for a repeal of the internal taxes was read a third time.

On the question "shall the bill pass?" Mr. Hopkinson, of Pennsylvania, rose to express his disapprobation of a course, which he was aware it would be useless to oppose. The reasoning of gentlemen who favoured a repeal of taxes, appeared to him fallacious. It proceeded upon the supposition that we were to enjoy an uninterrupted peace. He considered this doubtful. Were the position to be assumed as true, where was the use of augmenting the navy, or of supporting a standing army? If we could not confide in pacific prospects so far as to dispense with military and naval armaments, it was folly to make our revenue wholly dependent on a source which must in a great measure fail in the event of war. Besides, if we had really an excess of revenue, at this time, and "no adverse change to apprehend-if taxes were too prolific, and some of them must be repealed; he should prefer to remove the impost upon salt, to reduce the tonnage, and to diminish the duties upon tea, coffee, sugar, and other necessary articles of consumption; to destroying a system of internal taxes which had with such difficulty been brought into operation, and on which alone we could - rely in case of emergency. But he had been once deceived by a flattering picture of an overflowing treasury, and could not but fear that there was some delusion in our present golden anticipations.

Mr. Baldwin of Penn. could not but remark, upon the singular appearance it would exhibit, if Congress were now to repeal on the ground of a redundant revenue, those taxes which were laid but three years ago to retrieve a sinking credit. The inconvenience which this repeal was to guard against, was not yet felt, and notwithstanding the sanguine estimates on which the bill was found

ed, might not be experienced. He had not been allowed time to examine the statement of the Treasury department to his satisfac tion, but he thought he perceived some inconsistency in it. He did not believe that the public good or the public will required the repeal of the internal taxes, but if gentlemen, who were pressing forward the measure, thought they were running the race of popularity, he should not impede them.

Mr. Sergeant of Penn. had no idea of entering upon the race for popularity that had been spoken of On all occasions it was proper to presume the motives of members of that House fair; it was injurious to question them where they were borne out by the weight of argument. The system of taxation which it was now endeavoured to uphold had already been broken in upon, and its symmetry destroyed. A few fragments of it remained, which could not too soon be removed. A great proportion of the taxes which it was proposed to repeal were extremely objectionable; and even if the revenue did not warrant the repeal, he would still vote for the bill, and leave the deficit to be provided for in some more equal and equitable manner. He adduced various instances of the oppressive operation of these taxes. He not only considered it unnecessa ry as it regarded the national wants, and prejudicial as it regarded the national indus try to continue them, but he viewed it as pernicious in another light; the accumulation on a surplus in the Treasury would not be permitted. the possession of an exuberant income would lead to an improvident expenditure.

Mr. Holmes of Massachusetts was in favour of the bill. He thought these taxes should only be resorted to in cases of absolute necessity; and to enable the people to meet them at such times, they ought be remitted the moment that necessity had passed away. It was only as temporary burdens, indispensably requisite, that they would be submitted to with cheerfulness.

Mr Barbour of Va. Mr. Johnson of Va. Mr. Pitkin of Conn. and Mr Smith of N. C. spoke also in favour of the bill.

The passage of the bill was decided 161

to 5.

Friday, Dec. 12th. Mr. Hopkinson, of Pennsylvania, from the committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill to establish an Uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States; which was twice read and committed.

Mr. Bloomfield, of New-Jersey, from the committee to whom was referred so much of the President's Message as relates to the surviving Revolutionary Patriots, reported in part, a bill concerning certain surviving officers and soldiers of the late Revolutionary Army.

[This bill provides that every commissioned and non-commissioned officer or soldier, who had served in the army during the war which terminated in the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 1783, and reduced to indigence, or by age, sickness, or any other cause, may be unable to procure subsistance

by manual labour, shall receive half pay during life, equal to the half of the monthly pay allowed to his grade of service during the revolutionary war-provided, that no pension thus allowed to a commissioned officer shall exceed the half pay of a lieutenant-colonel.] This bill was twice read and committed. The motion submitted by Mr. Basset of Va. to amend the rules of the House was taken up and agreed to. [The question of consideration, which has heretofore been a matter

of much contention in the House, in the days of party conflict, is thus expunged from the rules of the House.]

Monday, Dec. 15th. Mr. Tucker of Va. from the committee to whom was referred so much of the message of the President of the United States as relates to the subject of internal improvements, made a long and elaborate report, concluding with the following

resolution:

Resolved, That, in order to promote and give security to the internal commerce among the several States; to facilitate the safe and expeditious transportation of the mails by the improvement of post roads, with the assent of the respective States; to render more easy and less expensive the means and provisions necessary for the common defence, by the construction of military roads, with the like assent of the respective States; and for such other internal improvements as may be within the constitutional powers of the general government, it is expedient that the sum to be paid to the United States by the 20th section of the act to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States, and the dividends which shall arise from their shares in its capital stock, be constituted as a fund for internal improvement.

The report was read and referred to a committee of the whole.

A message was received from the President of the United States, transmitting in compliance with the request of the House, the information in possession of the execu tive, in regard to the establishments at Amelia Island and Galvezton.

Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, offered the following resolution to the House:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the exercise of the right of expatriation; and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. R. explained his motives in making this proposition at this time. He wished to see the question decided by the proper tribunal, and he thought it might now be discussed and determined dispassionately. The resolution was agreed to without opposition. Mr. Harrison of Ohio, moved a resolution for instructing the committee on military affairs, to inquire into the expediency of continuing pensions granted to the widows and orphans of officers and soldiers who were killed or wounded in the late war, for a term of five years beyond their expiration by the present law. Mr. H. supported this resolution by a feeling and eloquent appeal to the sensibili

ties of the House, and the justice of the nation. The resolution was adopted without a division.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Bassett in the chair, on the bill for the commutation of soldiers' pay.

A debate of some length arose on this bill, and particularly on its details, which sion. did not, however, result in any final deci

Ky. Chairman of the Committee on It was supported by Mr. Johnson of Military affairs, and, with some modifications, by Mr. Clay, (the speaker,) and was opposed by Mr. Holmes of Mass. Mr. Storrs of New-York, Mr. Smith of Maryland, and Mr. Claggett of New Hampshire, principally on the ground of its opening a new field for speculators rather than benefitting those for whom it was designed to legislate.

Tuesday, Dec. 16. Mr. Rhea of Tennessee, offered for consideration the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on pensions and revolutionary claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of suspending, for one year, so much of the act, entitled "an act making further proand for the redemption of the public vision for the support of the public credit debt," passed the third day of March, 1795, as bars from settlement or allowance, certificates, commonly called loan office and final settlement certificates, and indents of interest.

Mr. R. supported this resolution by some feeling and pertinent remarks. Ít was adopted without opposition.

On motion of Mr. Whitman, of Mass. it was

Resolved, That the committee on pensions and revolutionary claims be directed to inquire into the expediency of continuing the pensions, granted to invalids of the army who served in the late war, in case of their decease before the expiration of the term of five years from the time of granting the same, to the widow or children of such deceased invalid, if any he has left or shall leave, to the end of the said term.

Mr. Wendover offered a resolution for the appointment of a Committee to innational flag; which was adopted. quire into the expediency of altering the

The House resumed the consideration, in committee of the whole, Mr. Bassett in the chair, of the bill for the commutation of soldiers' pay;

The question being on striking out the first section of the bill

A debate of much length ensued, which resulted in no final decision of the ques

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