Indiana American, Volume 3, Number 1, Brookville, Franklin County, 2 January 1835 — Page 1

AMIES-OB HQ AM 0

BY C. F. CLARKSO..

TERM OF THE AMERICXAV. tl in advance $2,50 in six months; or $3,00 at tU expiration of the year. Advertisements. Twelve lines, or less, will be inserted once or three times, for one dollar, and 25 tents will be charged for each additional insertion. IVKWS OF TIIE WEEK. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the Courier & Enquirer: Washington, D. C., Dec. 8th, 1831. On Thursday last the President gave the usual diyut:flique dinner, at the commencement of the session of Congress. The French Xfinister did not attend. L.ast year, on a particular occasion, there was a point ol of etiquette, which he thought ought to be surrendered by the Secretary of State. The latterobjected. The French Minister, it is said, replied,, " He, the n, can be. sick." Perhaps he has againTbeen "sick." It is his opinion, I understand, that the appropriations will not be made,before the Message of the President arrives in France. The opposition in Congress evidently conlidera war, not only unnecesary, but mostiniiirious to the nation. And yet, so far as I can discover, a large portion, if not a majority of them, arc determined to remain in a position ofnon committal. They say, and perhaps correctly, we are not responsible for the acts of this administration. "Give them rope enous'v' &c. In a conversation ou the subject, yesterday, a Jackson Senator remarked "the General has killed the bank. He nnw wants something new. He is one of those sportsmen that xilljalicays have a cock in tht pif." Oar affairs with France having assumed a icrious aspect, is it not proper that we should examine the ground upon which we now liand, as compared with that which we occupied at the beginning of the year 1831. No American can or will justify the unwarrantable depredations committed on our commerce by the Freneh; nor can their conduct, in withholding from us our just claims,he palliated by any patriotic or honorable citizen. Having promised thus much, 1 proceed to enquire, has the negotiation with France been conducted with due deliberation and caution? And is the President correct in the assertion, that the "treaty was dulr ratified in the man ner prescribed by the Constitution of both countries" t Before examining this question, it may be interesting to some to understand, better than they do at present, the character of oar claims upon France. From the year 1793 to 1800, there arose various causes of complaint between the two Governments. They were, however, in part amicably adjusted by a Convention signed on the SO-h September 1800. Such of them as were postponed to "a more convenient time," ,.wcre settled by the treaty of session of Louisiana, si gncd on the 30th April 1803. From wrat period, no to 1S0C there existed no sewous dimculties between the governments ot wrancc and the U. States. But from 1806 to ISI'2, our commerce was constantly plundered bv the freebooters of both England &. France. Sometimes under the pretext of Orders in Councilor Berlin and Milan decree?. At other times without even this AimMr apology for the depredations committed. It is for these wrongs that we now demand remuneration from France. Our commercial loses have been estimated at upwords of l l millions of dollars, exclusive of an average interest on this capital, for twenty-five years, which added thereto, would increase the amount to nearlv fortvmillions of dollars. And yet Mr. Rives agreed to surrender those claims for five millions of dollars: and then triumphantly announced to the world, that this sum was "amply sufficient to satisfy all the xn claims, of our citizens, of every description. comprehended in the scope of the negotiation."' The injuries for which we seek redress, arose out of seizures made by the French, unue er The Berlin decree, dated the 2lst November 1S0G. The Milan decree, dated the 23d Nov. and lth Dec. ISO?. , The Ramboullct decree, dated 23d March 1S10. The Trianon decree, dated 5h August 1S10. The seizures were made, n.4nhrerp in J-S07. In Holland in 1S09. In Bilboa, St. tian,Rayonne,Port Passage, &c.m IS 10. In addition to all which we have a claim for upwards of thirty vessels, with their cargoes, cpturedand burnt at sea, by French squadIk0 rrevent tneir giving information to the British of the position of the squadron. inese injuries had been the subject of disysaonfrom 1S12 to 1S31. In 1S12 Mr. ro commenced the negotiation, and in ;'.1e hoPe of brintrins it to a close, followed the mpcror Napoleon to Russia; but died at ."una daring the retreat. In Anril 1S14 ons the Sth I 1"" .mim, . u l iOV, Is U. vrfa(rain annf.-ilii1 i th i0ilfeofthe Frencli Government, through V : 1 1lstcr that Court. Iu Jan. and in tM'w 1M. the Prime Minister .V. de Richeadmits K. ;j f --v mm. lUUCIIllllULilUUII V CIS uur LZ. erchjts ; but avoided liquidating the i n consequence of the embarrassed KtS f the French finances. In 1819 and . " -Pvtratc claims ot our citizens were a-fc-in presented. Iu Jan. 1822 our Minister ia,popJ ., . r- . , a, .... s department of foreign affairs, froir

BROOKYirj,E,

which resulted an interview, and promises of future adjustment were made. At this period, differences existed, on the subject of tonnage: and the two governments were carrying on, a "Custom house tear." Those differences, however, were arranged by a Convention signed at Washington in June 1822, by Hyde de Jeuville. From this period, up to 1S30, the negotiations were carried on, alternate!', at Washington and Paris, but without any favorable result. I " In January .1830, Mr. Rives commenced twd negotiations one official, and one confidential. They continued until the 15lhof June, with prospects of ultimate success. But then followed the revolution of July, in which the existing Government, termed in France, the restoration,, was overthrown. As soon as the new government was organized, the negotiations were renewed, and continued until the 4th of July "1831, when a treaty was signed at Paris. This brief summary w ill afford the casual reader an idea of the character of our demands and the efforts which have been made to ad just them; while, at the same time, it will serve as an Index for those who may desire to examine the public documents relating to the subject. At no period from 1812 to 1S31 have the French pretended to deny our right to indemnification, in a greater or less degree, for the spoilations committed on our commerce. The controversy w as as to the quantum of enumeration; and the time and mode of payment. These were the points which it became the duty of Mr. Rives to ad just. The revolution of July 1830 rendered it not only discreet, but imperative on every branch of the French government, to exercise, with great caution, the authority delegated to it, but in an especial manner, it w as necessary for the Ministry to avoid assuming powers, which of right appertained to the Chamber of Duputies, the immediate representatives of the people. In that country no co-ordinate branch of the Government, dared to usurp the powers of another branch, and then tauntingly exclaim "I take the responsibility." It should be borne in mind, that the tieatv with the U. States, was, probably, the firstsquiring a large appropriation of monev. that nau oeen negotiated, under the new order of tlunes. It became the dutv. therefore, of tlw French Ministers, to be guarded in their lan guage, and cautions in their assumption of power, it was not less the duty of Mr. Rives to be perfectly satisfied, that the French ne gotiator was duly authorised, not only bv the King, but that such anthorily was in conformity with the Constitution of the country, as promulgated, to pledge every branch of the Government, for the faithful performance oi the stipulations to be contained in the proposed treaty. The questions then present inemseives. Did the French negotiators assume to have authority to make the proposed treaty, and to pledge the faith of the nation,that it should be carried into full force and effect? If they did make these averments, were they, or were they not in conformity w ith the known and acknowledged Constitution of the land? These questions shall be examined in my next letter. THE SPY IN WASHINGTON. PRESIDENT'S .MESSAGE. House of Representatives, Dec. 9, 1S34. House went into committee of the The whole, on the Presidents Message. Mr. Connor submitted resolutions on the several sub jects therein contained; referring them to committees, amongst others, the following: "That so much of the President's Message as relates to the political relations of the United Slates w ith other nations, be referred to the committee on Foreign Affairs.'' The resolutions having been read, JUr. Clayton proItosed an amendment "that so much of the resident"s Message as relates to the Treaty with France, concluded at Paris, on the 4th day of July, 1S31, be referred to the committee of Foreign Affairs, with instruction to re port that it is inexpedient to await the further action of the French Chambers on the ques tion submitted to them, of granting the appro priations necessary to carry the Treaty into effect; inasmuch as the delay of consumating it seems to have proceeded more from the delicate and important character of the claims resting in voluminous documentary evidence, their long standing, and the peculiar perplexity of the principles involved in their adjustment, than from any design, on their part, to impair the friendly relations which have so longfe happily subsisted between the French and American Governments, or any desire to evade the performance of ample justice when the whole matter shall have been fully & fairly considered." On this subject Mr. Clayton remarked, that he would be the last to raise an objection to the course recommended by the Executive upon mere party grounds. He had no doubt that this . officer done as he had thought right, and he had nothing to censure on that account. But the President, in re gard to our relations with France, had imposed upon the legislature, a high responsibility, and to this body, the whole People must look for the consequences which must flow from our deliberations upon the subject. It was not to be disguised, that the course suggested by the President, was tantamount to a decla ration of war. Mr. Claibornk said, that th winds of

OURCOUNTRT OUR COUNTRY'S INTEREST AND. OCR

IIVDlAfrA, gRIJPAlT EVKMrVCJ, Heaven would soon waO f hp sage to the shares of France, and with it he uMieu mere should be sent an antidote. V hat would be Jhe result of the President's recommedations, if carred in effect? War, as certain as the rumbling thunder follows the lightning's flash; and that, too, with a nation, which, when clouds-and darkness hovered over our land, contributed, bv her sword, to erect this cilidel of freedom". Mr. Wayne observed, that the discussion was premature. A motion is made to refer the subject to the committee on foreign relations, and the gentleman from Georgia moves specific instructions to that committee, which leave the committee nothing to do but to act in conformity 4o the instruction., and thus this intricate subject, which the French Chambers have not been able to understand in three and a half years, is to be decided without consideration by a competent committee of the House. Gentlemen treated the Message of the President as a war message. He did not consider it in any such light. The President morel v recemmends, in the event of the French Chambers presisting in refusing to"carry the treaty into effect, the mildest measured He did not ask the power of making reprisals: he offers to execute that which Congress may properly confide to him. Mr. Archer suggested to the mover to withd raw his amendment. Mr. Clayton could not w ithdraw his njotion. He had no objection to postpone his motion a week or two, but he could not withdraw it. Mr. R. M. Johnson was not prepared to vote on the proposition at this time. He thought that action on the subject should be postponed to the last moment. It demanded the most mature deliberation. The minds of the members were not properly informed upon it, and he could see no good in pressing its consideration at this time. He concluded by appealing to Mr. Clayton to withdraw his amendment. Mr. Clayton remarked, that the Gentlemen from Kentucky had flattered him, instead of reasoning with him. He would therefore, withdraw his amendment. The committe then rose and the resolutions were adopted by the House. Fine Beef Cattle. Mr. Samuel Beresford has now on his farm, a lot of the finest beef cattle that has ever been in this mar ket. They were raised and fed by Robert Cunningham, Esq. of Clarke county, Ky. The were purchased of Mr. Cunningham at the price of sixty dollars per. head, thirty in number. They are four or five years old, and are estimated to weigh from thirteen to sixteen hundred pounds"nett beef. They are all of English blood, but a mixture of the Long Horn and Patton Stock, with a cross of the burnam in some of them. Thev n,,l.l tainly challenge a comparison with cattle of me same age in mis or any other country, both for their size and their beautiful symme try and proportions. 1 he exhibition of such animals in our market, and the very liberal price paid for them ought to stimulate our farmers in the Miami valley, to renewed and redoubled exertions to compete with our KeniucKy ureinren in me production of such stock. Our soil and climate are pnnallu r.n adopted to the production of corn and era" 1 I iL. ..... o uiu e nat e me same opportunity to improve our stock that they have in Ky. There are thousands of acres of land in Hamilton county that do not yield the amount of the yearly tax that is paid upon them, and all that thev r.,i to make them productive is to fence them. ciear up me unaer brush, so as in it in ii, sun to warm the soil, and sow them with timj 1 oioy , clover, and spear grass. 1 he miserable system pursued by many of our most able and wealthy farmers in ploughing their lands to death to produce grain for distilling, mi'ht well be thrown aside, and their farmes put down in grass, and devoted to the rearing of such fine stock as those to which we have allit . luaea. l nere is no reason in the nature of things why our market should be so completely monopolized and kept in the hands of the farmers of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Woodford, and Scott counties in Kentucky. Cin. Gazette. MY PRETTY KATE. My pretty Kate, I do not know The reason why I love you so Devotedly; but when a day Without thy presence drags away, I feel as though a year had flown And I the while been left alone. Yet when a day I spend with thee, It scarcely seems an hour to me, Yet tho' no suicide am I, Nor very anxious am to die; My soul unmoved the hope surveys, That Kate may shorten all my days. "Timothy," said a certain Grocer to his clerk "I've joined the Temperance Society, and it won't look tcell to sell liqijor, in future, before folks. So if any person call for any, you must take them into the back room.'''' Witty Inference. A lady asked a child how long it took to build Rome, and was answerea night. "How do you make that out V Shejreplied, "Because mamma told me it was not built in a day." A very virtuous lady was desired by another to teach her what secrets she had to preserve her husband's favour: -"It is," said she, "by doins all that pleases him. and bv endur ing all that displeases me."

COUNTRY FRIENDS.

JANUARY 9,. 1833 TWMTT-THIGD CONGRESS. Ix Senate, December lGlh. On motion of Mr. Tipton, the resolution submitted by him a few days since, directing an inquiry into the expediency of making an appropriation to improve the navigation of the. river H abash, w as taken up for consideration. r " 5 Mr. T said : -The resolution now before the Senate is to renew an effort to obtain an appropriation to improve the navigation of the Wabash. It is with great reluctance I obtrude myself upon the notice of the .Senate; but this subject is of such vital importance to my consiluents, that I cannot let it rest Wi4si& making another effort to serve thenn The feeble slate of my health w ill compel me to condense what I desired to say at this time in relation to the subject. Bills have passed both "branches of Congress at different sessions appropriotingmoney to improve that river, but to these bills the President of the V. States has refused hrs sanction, under a mistaken idea. I have no doubt of the claims of the rivcr.and the facts of the case. I consider it due to myself, and not disrespectful to the President of the U. States, to state, that I differ from him in opinion in relation to the power to appropriate money to improve the navigation of our rivers. He does not feel authorised to sanction appropriations to improve rivers, unless it be such as lead to ports of entry established by law, and has more than once refused his sanction to bills for improving the Wabash. I am confident that the power exists to appropriate money to improve our rivers in any portion of the United States, here the business of the country and the capacity of the rivers, require improvement. 1 have no fears in trusting all the money in the Treasury to the discretion of the appropriating power, to be applied to such objects as the interests nf the country may require. Under the super vision and control that the people hold over their public servants through the ballot box, 11 c j y an is peneciiy sale. The President, in his Message, refin-mmr the last bill to the Senate, has signified, that 7 -.e , ...... if a port of entrv was established on the V: bash, it would brinsr an annronriatinn tn ini. ' .. . . ? . , i i . . prove tins river within the rule that he has laid down for lliP finvprnmnnt rC liie I laid down for the Government of his own . . 1 action in such cases. I consider it due to mystate, that I differ from him on this subject ., .. .. .... ..1.v,v...u. ....v. x .v.-Mucui, w - ------ ---- - - ? anu, wunout being able to perceive cither the wisdom rvr tlio intirr f fl-.ie ml T 'i Jo. wisdom or the justice of this rule, I have determinea, irom tnc necessities ot the case, to conform to it, so far as to ask the Senate to pass bills to establish a port of entry at La Fay. ette, and of appropriatine monev to improve ii i l i .l . v will look at the justice of this application. &, give it their sanction. , uic idsi session oi vongrcssahe bin tor improving the navigation of the Wahnsh wne laid before the President on the 28th of June, two days before Congress adjourned, and on the 30th of that month, the last day of the scssion,we received a verbal message through our committee, informing us-tWt the President of the U. States had approved and signed all the bills passed al the" then present session of Congress,except that for improving the Wabash; and as that bill involved a question of importance, it was retained for further consideration. In his message, return ing this bin to the Senate a tew da) s ago, the President stated, that he had not hen :.hb. in satisfy his mind that the bill oiiffht to pass; anu ne goes on to state his objections against extravagant appropriations for internal improvement,and he argues over again the case of the Maysville road bill, but savs not a word as 10 i ue merits or demerits ot the VI abash bill, against which I contend that no sound reason can be produced, drawn from the constitution or practice of this Government from its foundation; nor am I able to discover any necessary connection between the Maysville road bill and the W.-ihash bill TI.P provides for a local object, the construction of t iuau iivmm V' i iu I'i'iiii iu iiiioiiier, wiuun a State; the latter provides means to improve a river, the line of demarcation between two States; a reserved public highway for all the people of the United States, as i shall presently show. The common phrase.inlernal improvement, we generally use in speaking ot roads and canals. These may be local; a road or a canal can be constructed in any direction: through a State or County; but sir, improving the navigation of our rivers are very dilfererent. The rivers of the U. States, are the common property of all; every body may navigate them without letor hindrance; and thaOthc joint funds of the nation should improve them, cannot, in my- judgment be denied. This principle has been acted on from our earliest history, and I know of no case where the General Government has refused to improve a river of so much importance to any portion of our country, as the Wabash is to the Western States. The appropriation now asked is to be expended in connection with others, to open a line of water communication from New York to New Orleans. It should lie homein mini! that large appropriations have been made to ! .I. . - r- l w .i I . Mississippi, and the Ohio rivers. The Newi

York Canal will connect the Hudson with! improve them. I do not mention this in a Lake Erie and Bulfalo; the Wabash &. Erie; spirit of complaint, but to shew the contrast. Canal is to connect Lake. Erie, through theiWc have our 500 miles of Wabash, 1000

XVOL..IH ivo. 1.

Miami river, with the '"Wabash, at or near the town of Lafayette. The Wabash and Erie Canal is upwards of 200 miles long: 80 miles of this canal lies within the State of Ohio, and 130 in the State of Indiana. This canal is now being constructed, 35 miles of that part of the canal that lies in Indiana is finished, and will be filled with water- next spring Upwards of forty miles more is now under contract, and to be completed next fall and it is in contemplation to put the balance of this canal within Indiana under contract next season. There can be no reasonable doubt but Ohio will finish her portion of tl;is 'pKle work without -unnecessary delay, and we look with confidence to the completion of thi&JTork within three years. Following down the Wabash from the intersection of our canal at Lafayette to the rapids at White river, where the improvement contemplated in the bill is' to be made, the distance is 300 miles, navigable for steamboats most of the year; and from these rapids to the Ohio is about 100 miles, also navigable. By improving those rapids, and the completion of our canal, we will open a water communication from New York to New Orleans, the shortest and the best that can be constructed across the continent.. Is such a work not worthy the attention of the General Government, or is the door of appropriation now to be closed on the application of Indiana and Illinois for aid to complete this important public work. The Wabash is a reserved public highway, by compact between the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, at the time Virginia ceded the Northwest Territory to the U. States; and, by an ordinance of Congress of 13th July, 1787, the 4th article of the ordinance concludes thus: The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and'st. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said Territory as t o the citizens of the U. States, and those of any other Stale that may be admitted into this Confederacy without any tax, impost, or duty therefore." By an act of 3d of March, 1827, Congress granted land to aid in constructing;, mnl. v"uin.v.ijM imtiMuic puiius, me waters o connect, at navigable points, the waters of the Wabash with those of Lake Eric, and re -.,,,. I a- ik. tf t-.. . served the right to the U. States to transport - o v v w iu 11 11113 1 Ul troops and munitions of war on the canal free u, miy ciiurgo. i uis canal is now in rapid ui luiisii uluuii. it ues wunin the limits of two States, and embraces what was : : l : . i . . the principal carrvinc nlare hitnrn fh M ississippi and the St. Lawrence, at the time of forming the act of cession and ordinance above quoted. The. U. States has reserved the right to use both our river and canal free . j v-iiui fe. va ii uc unreasonable or unconstfruTicnalTtraairTtfhe to aid in improving the navigation of this Can it be unreasonahlp rr river. At the point w here this appropriation is to be expended, the Wabash is the line of demarcation between Indiana and Illinois. Each State has made an appropriation to aid in improving the rapids, but these-young States hav e not the ability to complete this work. Indiana has contracted a debt, for the prosecution of the canal, of near half a million of dollars; it may be necessary to extend this debt to double that amount this year; and our people very naturally, and I think very properly, look to the General Government, the great landholder in the West, to improve these Rapids with the joint funds of the nation's it will evidently benefit the whole. The Stale of Indiana pays into the United Slates Treasury, as a tax or duty on goods imported from foreign markets, and consumed by her citizens, as large a sum as any State in the Union of the same population, besides w hat her citizens pay for the public lands bought for cultivation. She has no harbor to improve, except that of Trail Creek, on Lake Michigan; no breakwaters to draw millions from the Treasury in their construction. She asks nothing but aid to improve the navigation of of her river, which the TT. Stat(. havo preserved the right to navigate free of any cnarge. io session oi congress passes but other States are provided with money to improve their rivers. The Hudson, James, Savannah, Red river, and Cumberland, with a long list of smaller streams, that I will not take the time of the Senate to read,have been improved by the General Government. During the session af Congress of 1831-2, a bill passed and was approved, authorizing the improving of the Monongahela and other rivers, to points where there are no ports of entry, and the Globe, in apologizing for that approval, says: 4if the pui poses contemplated by Congress can be accomplished, and the three rivers mentioned made navigable to the points in question, then ports of entry will of course be established at the head of navigation.' I ask why not be thus liberal with the Wabash? That river is larger than the Monongahela; waters a more extensive territory of the finest soil in the world, with a numerous population to be provided for. To shew what has been done elsewhere, I have procured a statement of for improving, made in 1833 and 1831. The statement shews that millions on mill ions are applied to improving rivers and small v. v.i UlUUUtriiii?. 24 UUi JiAJ or 50 miles Ion?, vou call them rivers. nH w.