Indiana American, Volume 4, Number 4, Brookville, Franklin County, 22 January 1836 — Page 1

OUR COUNTRY OUR COUNTRY'S INTEREST AND OUR COUNTRY'S FRIENDS. Jfc7r. CLAKKSOT. VOli.IV. No. 4.

" " v LutiiiiKi s INTEREST AND OIK UUUNIHI liunuiji DROOKYILLE, INDIANA, FKIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 29, 1836. I

KRMSOP T,IR AMERICAN. ti in advance $2,50 in six months; or $3,00 at ,heeP'ration oft,,c ytfr- , , . invKBTisuMENTs. I'welve lines, or less, will be . r iliri tiuifs. for one dollar, anil 2

. ,v i!l be charged for each additional insertion cents "Tritic Kcpublican Candidate of the PeoGVS WH. II. IIAKRIS03T, OF OHIO. Harrison F.lectors for Indiana. Gen. John Clendenin, of Orange count)' J)r. IIiR Decker, of Knox. Gen. Milton Staph, of Jefferson. Mr. Enoch M'Carty, of Frankiin. Mr! Achilles Williams, of Wayne. Mr! Albert S. White, of Tippecanoe. Gen. Mkston G. Clark, of Washington. .Mr. Abram I1. Andrews, of Laporte. Mr. A. W. Morris, of Marion. Baltimore Xoiiiinations. FOR PRESIDENT, jIARTL VAX niREX. FOR VICE PRESIDENT. Van Biircn & Johnson Electors for Indiana. John Myers, of Knox County, William RockhilI,of Allen, Johnathan Williams, of Morgan, Geors W. Moore, of Owen, William B. White, of Fountain, Jesse Jackson, of Scott, Jlarinu8 Willett. of Rush, F.lisha Long, of Henry, Thomas C. Stewart, of Pike. AMERICAN. BROOK VI I. li E, INDIAN A. SUMMARY, Of THE REFOUTS OF HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS. TRBASCRY REPORT. This Report occupies, in its original shape, ?even and three quarters columns of the Com mercial Advertiser. To read it, will occupy the respectable portion of adav: we shall endeivor to condense it, so as to supply an mat it essential in the Report, in less than a column. -Mr. Woodbury-s Report, is termed Nible and luminious,'" in the administration prints; we must beg leave to diner from the encomium conveyed by this language. We think the Report unnecessarily minute, and bv no means w ell arranged in its topics. The first portion of it is employed in stating the condition of the finances, the substance of which is contained in the President's Mess age, lie estimates that the expenditures ofi lS3t), wili leave in the 1 reasury that ycar.bettveea six and seven millions of dollars. The Secretary then proceeds to stale the basis on which he lounds his calculations. 1 he "scerctarv enumerates, with a minuteness not cus tomary in these Reports, the constituent on which he rests his statements, and enters largely into the question of imports for the tuccecdiug year, modified as they must be.by the reduction of duties gradually taking place on a great variety of articles, conformable to the Compromise Rill. These calculations ocpv two or three columns, and are not essen tial in the statement of results. The Secretary anticipates a reduction for the ensuing rear in the customs, and estimates the re ceipts from this source for I836,at 15.250,000, instead of 1 ,OOU,IHHJ, the amount this year. The proceeds of the sales of public lands for 1S3G. are estimated at -1,000,1)00. The Sec retary assigns the reason for an estimate so much lower than the rccipts (over nine millions for three quarters of the year) of the present year. He then enters into a calculation of the product of the revenue from miscellaneous sources. It is supposed bv him, that the receipts will not vary materially from those of 1S35. He next proocccds to an examination of the amount of expenditures, under their several distinct hcads,fov 1836 which he estimated at a little over twenty-three millions. He then proceeds to an examination of the objects to which the surplus of the next year (betw een six and seven millions) can be applied. Three and a half millions of dollars are, in the Secretary's opinion, necessary for additional improvements 'at the Navy Yards. The Secretary recommends that a portion of me surplus be invested to meet any extraordinary contigency which may occur in our affairs. He specifies some other modes of applying any surplus which may accrue: these, however are not essential to a correct understanding of the Report. He however recommends a reduction of duties eventually, in case the surplus continues to accumulate, and a reduction in the price of the public lands. The t head in this Report, is the Deposit Ranks md the Currency. The Secretary reiterates Ihe President's approbation of the action of fhc Deposit Ranks in collecting and depositins; tha public money. The whole number of selected banks in "the Union is thirty-four, general statement cf the condition of the Deposit Banks will be made to Congress in few days. In all cases deemed proper, they hive given collateral security for the Deposit. Most of the Deposit Ranks have intimnted a w illingness to co-operate in the suppression of small notes. Twenty-seven milll0tns of specie have been imported into the United Stales, more than has been exported from it. The whole amount of specie in the United States is estimated nt 61,000.000 The Secretary believe that there will be no jcarcity of specie on the suppression of small baok notes. Under the new valuations, the mage at the mint from Aug. 15th, 1834, to ''"V. 1S35. ha hnnn R HI Ml.ri. Tllft SeCTCWrJ closes this portion of the Report, by sue

"sin relation to the winding up of the

U. States Bank, similar to those in the Presi

dent's Message. The last division in the Re port is on "miscellaneous subjects."' The Department has, within the last year, discontinued fourteen custom house officers. There is a great extent of detail in this Re port which no synopis can present. We have given all the leading facts and suggestions w hich could he interesting to a general reader. We omitted to mention in its place.that the imports into the United States for the year ending the 20th September, 1S35, were I5l,03S,3G8; and for the past three years, have averaged 1 '28,550,070. The exports for the past year w ere 1 18,951,209, being an increase over the preceding year of nearly 15,000,000. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. Mr. Dickerson's Report has been reeeived with greater favor than that of Mr. Woodbury. It is a more business-like and lucid document and more in unision w ith the plan of these Reports from the Departments. The Secretary, in the ouset, states that the Navy has fulfilled its design in the protection of our commerce during the last year. He proceeds to enumerate the de stination and present situotion of our vessels of war in different parts of the globe. He has obtained from the Navy Board, an estimate of the increased annual expense of two frigates, three sloops of war, and four steam vessels. This appropriation would amount to 131,000 dollars annually. The Secretary strongly recommends the construction of these vessel. We shall have in commission, if this appropriation is made in 183G, one ship of the line, six frigates, four teen sloops of war, tivc schooners and one steam vessel. The Secretary submits an esti mate for thejmprovement of our Navy Wards, including that of a Dry Dock at New York, amounting in all, to 3,500,000. He recom mends the establishment cf .1 national foundry for the casting of cannon; also the enlist ment of boys in conformity with the Presi dent s suggestion, lhere are three hundred and five pensioners on the list, the annual expense of whose maintenance is 21,911 including the widow pensioners, the whole annual expense is 57.538. Six hundred and nineteen thousand dollars have been invested in the U. S. Rank stock of the surplus fund of the Navy, according to the act. He recommends the erection of marine barracks outside of the Navy Yards. , The waters at Brooklyn, near New Y'ork, have been sounded by an engineer, Mr. Baldwin, and pronounced suitable for a Dry Dock. In compliance with the act of Congress, directing the Secretary of the Navy to make ex periments with a view of testing the safety of steam engines, the "secretary states mat a . . . i number of experiments have been made w ithout any advantage. Hassler's report of coast soundings is submitted. The Report con cludes with recommending the increase of salaries of clerks in the Navy Department, the superintendent of the south west executive building, and the sergeants, acting as clerks to the commandant and staff officers to the marine coips. T.EPOUT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. Mr. Cass's Reports have usually proved extremely acceptable to the public; w e presume that the present will be no less so than the previous ones. He has testricted himself to the usual topics, and within the usual limits established by his predecessors. The general positions of the army are the same as at the last Report. Fourteen companies have been placed in Florida, as a restraint on the Seminole Indi ans, and to insure the execution of the treaty . i rri . a for the removal ot the Indians, i ne rcgimcm r.f .lrntrnnn5 has been advantasreously employ ed amongst the Indians w est of the Mississippi. V . . , , . , 1 1 : . The discipline and moral state oi me army i satisfactory. The Secretary recommends increased pay to the Engineer Corps; also, some alteration in the provisions for the Topographical Corps. The Cumberland Road between the town of Cumberland and the Ohio has been surrendered to, and accepted by the States through which it passes, w ith engage- . ... rwt IT.'i J ments to keep it in repair. i ne unueu States are now exonerated from all expense on account of this road. The Red river has been .-l.-.rn.l cf raft timber which was entirely ob structed in its navigation, for the distance of eighty-eight miles, at an expense ot fcl.io.linj. There are twenty-three miles of obstacles yet to remove. A million acres of land w ill be reclaimed, it is estimated, by the removal of these obstructions. The Secretary submits additional estimates for the prosecution of the works on fortifications, no appropriation bav in" been made at the last session. He re- !"? ..i l 1 J commends an adherence to tne pians oi ueiVnrP which have been acted upon for years, also the action of floating steam batteries in the Chesapeake and Delaw are bays, and harbor of New-York. An appropriation of $100,000 is asked for the Delaware lireaK water and Fort Calhoun. The Keport ol the y cm Point Institution is submitted to Congress; the Secretary declares his approbation oftheir public examination. An additional sum for the armament of fortifications is introduced into the estimates. The Secretary advises the erection of a national foundry. The quantity of cannon required in the country is more tnan enough, in the opinion of the Secretary, tojustify extensive and vigorousarrangemcnts. He then enters on the subject of the mihlia shows the present inefficient condition of this r.., nniinnnl defence comments on i the necessity of an efficient organization, and

extracts fromMr. Jefferson's Message of 1805, an outline of the system which he recommends for adoption. The Secretary proposes to classify the whole population above twenty-one years of age. but deems it necessary that the whole number of the militia should be rendered available, as different points of the

country might be successively exposed, and of course demand tlte entire body of its male population at different limes for its defence. A new organization would be of little avail; some public provision must be made for elementary instruction, and such equipment as is necessary for improvement in discipline. This expense must he incurred by the Public Treasury, or the system be abandoned. The Secretary dwells with great earnestness on this part of the Report reiterates the necessity of providing from he Public Treasury for the instruction and equipment of the militia. He adduces the authority of the Presidents in favor of a national militia, in preference to a standing military corps. The sub ject has been presented to Congress no less than thirty-one times in oflicial recommendations. All the Indian tribes in Che Union east of the Mississippi, appear to be yielding to the necessity of a removal to the west bank. The Secretary enumerates the accommodation and articles provided for the Indians, w ho have or are about removing consisting of land, subsistence for a year, annuities in specie to some tribes, agricultural instruments, domestic animals, mills, grain, Arc. These are the prominent topics and facts in the Report of the Secretary of War. REPORT CF THE TOST MASTER GENERAL. The Mail is carried, in the United States, in different conveyances, 22,SG9,iS6 miles. The number of Post Offices, on the 30th of June last, was 10.770. The Post Master General states the debt on the first of July last, at $1,01)1,381 92. This is the gross amount, and not the btianee of debt. The available meansofthe department. amounted, at the same time, to $I,010,CS1 93. This leaves a balance against the department of 180,700 59. Estimating productiveness of the department, for the remainder ol the year, to the 30th of June, 183(?, the department would be clear ofdebt, w ith a surplus of $17G,227. The Post Master General proceeds to state the embarrassed condition in w hich he found the department, and the method he adopted to extricate it. One part of the system was the pivision of classification of Post Offices, into 'Collecting,' 'Depositing, and 'Draft Offices.' Each of these classes had its distinct duties assigned to it, and the results of this arrangement were as anticipated, by w hich the department is placed in a sound condition. The Post Master General then introduces a table exhibiting the revenue of the department, and its expcnditnres,in 1833, -31, and 35. It shows a large excess of expenditure, in 1S33, and a rapid gain since that period, and excess of income over expenditure. The Post Office books have not been balanced for twenty years; it was thought best to balance them, and open distinct heads or titles in the new books, so as to give each head its quota of revenue and expenditure, and thence to transfer them to a general account exhibiting the final balance. Several new expedients have been resorted to, to secure the prompt accountability ot i ost lUasters and the rapid conveyance of the Mails, particularly of the newspapers, which are frequently left behind. It has been provided in the mail routes west, that the coaches shall he appropriated entirely to the Mails on (heir outward trips. New Mail contracts have been made to convey the Mail from Louisville to St. Louis, and from St. Louis to New Orleans. The Mail, by present conveyances, can be transmitted from Washington to Boston, by means of rail roads and steam-boats, in 39 hours. Efforts have been made by the Post Master General, to procure the conveyance of the Mail in rail-road cars from Washington north through New Jersey, but could not succeed, ow ing to the exhorbitant prices demanded ($250 a mile) the Post Master General offered $100 a mile, w hich is $25 a mile more than the Committee of the House of Representatives determined unanimously, under any circumstances, to allow. Other rail-road companies have offered terms which have been complied with. The Post Master General then enters into a statement of the abolition question, as brought to his notice bv the circulation of obnoxious pamph lets, by Mail, through the Sviuth. He states the decision he adopted, and the replies he gave when the question was submitted to him, as to the course to be adopted, by the Post Masters with regard to these publications. The Post .Master General then proposes a re-organization or tne department, anu furnishes an outline of the plan. The object is, to circumscribe the discretion of the Post Master General. As the practice is now, the Post Master General controls the entire net revenue of the De partment, being $2,000,"tUl. 1 ho proper course, Lis nmnion. would be to have the money pass in to the Treasury, under a distinct head. He pro.r. nnnther reform, designed to place the Post Office Depatuient on the same footing, in point of accountability, with the rvavy ana .Army wepariment of two or three additional officers. He statss the number of persons essential, in his view, to r.l,iri the concerns of the department with effi ciency and system. In the whole this amounts to 2'2 persons. This is the substance of this Keport, which occupiee five columns in the Commercial Advertiser. We think it a well arranged, business-like Report, creditabls to the Post Master General, and exhibiting an efficiency of an action & system, which the departmet has long demanded. Oak wood, was selling at ten dollars a cord, at Philapelphia, on the lGth ult.

From Ihe Jrew-Yorker. A POLITICAL. CENSUS. We have deemed it not unadvisable, at the opening of a year which seems destined to prove one of strong political excitement and the era of a most violent Presidential contest, to pass in review the present aspect of National politics, the results of recent struggles, and the indications of popular sentiment in the various States of the Union, as exhibited in the assemblage of Conventions, Public Meetings, in Legislative resolutions, &c. &c. If we can but present a fair, even though not clear, reflection of public opinion throughout the Union, in relation to this subject, wc may render a service to many who feel an interest in the result, and who, without hoping to pierce the veil of futurity, are yet aware that some idea of the events which it conceals may be gleaned from an accurate survey of and an intimate acquaiatance with the character of the present. We proceed, then, to a summary statement of the political phases now presented by the several States commencing with Maine. Here the friends of Mr. Van Buren maintain an unquestioned ascendency having the Governor, Senators and six to two of the Representatives in Congress, and a majority in either branch of the Legislature. The last serious struggle (in '.'34) gave them a majority of 4,000; in September last, on a much smaller vote, this was doubled. The Presidential Election will be strongly contested, but no doubt oftheir success is entertained by the supporters of the Baltimore nomination. New-Hampshire is more unequivocally favorable to the election of Mr. Van Buren the most completely so of any State in the Union. The Governor, Senators and Representatives in Congress, witli large majorities of both branches of the last Legislature, are of the dominant parly, whose mo. jorityat the last trial was near 10,000. Unless some change takes place in the elements of the conflict, we hardly see how the Opposition Jean even hope for success here. Massachisetts is thoroughly 'Whig' in all departments of her government, though by a less considerable majority in ';55 than in '34. The AntiMasonic organization in this State would seem likely to be wielded in behalf of Mr. Van Buren in which case the friends of that gentleman have reason to hopekfor sccccss of their Electoral JTicket. The majority of the 'Whig' Lieutenant Governor over the candidate supported conjointly by the 'Democratic' and Anti-Masonic' parties whs but trifling; while the Union of the two minoritiet effected the election of nearly one half of the State Senate. The 'Whigs,' however, entertain no doubt of carrying the State on a full poll by at least, 10,000. Rhode Island has a State Government elected by a conjunction of the Administration and AntiMasonic parties, on a full and extremely close vote scarcely 100 majority in nearly H,000. Congress Senators Whig, Representatives Administration and Anti-Masonic. It is understood that the two

parties will unitedly support the election of Mr Van Buren; and if such should be the case, the F.lectorial vote may be deemed very doubtful; oth erwise, the Whi-s will prevail without question. Connecticut was handsomely carried last April by the Administration party, who hold all depart ments of the Government one Senator in Congress standing opposed. Since that time, the Whigs claim strong reactions'in their favor. The spring election must test the justice of this claim; mean while the chance seems to be against them. Vermont is divided into three parties the An ti-Masonic, Administration, and Whig clasting them according lok their relative strength, as exhibited in the last contest. The State Government is in the bands of the first named party the Congressional Delegation is of the last. Ve deem it probable that but two Klectorial Tickets will be offered, and that a portion of the Anti-Masons may support the one friendly to Mr. Van Buren; nevertheless, we should infer that the chances are strongly against his receiving the vote of the State. We may pause here to remark that, in all the New England States, Mr. Webster is presumed the favorite of a majority of those opposed to Mr. Van Buren, though Gen. Harrison lias advocates in Maine, Connecticut, and Vermont, and Judge lute is supported in iev Hampshire. There is little doubt, however, that all the elements of Opposition in this quarter will untimately unite on a single Electorial Ticket in each State. We proceed: New-York, we need not say, presents an imposing front to the opponents of Mr. Van Buren Governor, Lieutenant Governor, with five-sixths of the Legislature both Senators and thirty-one of forty Representatives in Congress. A resolute and not absolutely hopeless rally will, however, be made adversely; and, if the voice of the press may afford a criterion, under the banner of Harrison and Granger. The friends of the Vice President do not consider the State at all debatable. New -Jersey is also in the hands of the suppor ters of the Baltimore nominations, who appear confident of succss in the approaching contest. Their majority in the great contest of 'H4 was but a trifle over 1,(1(10 out of 54,000 votes; and the Whigs have no idea of submitting to a default. Gen. Harrison would seem to be the Opposition favorite. Pennslvajua has a thorough Opposition State Government, with a Congressional delegation of whom seventeen to eleven are understood to be friends of Mr. Van Buren. On either side there are dissensions to heal and difficulties to surmount, which we presume will be mutually effected, and the most equal, spit ited, and important contest in the Union here afforded. The influence of the State Government, with the personal popularity of Gov. Ritner, will operate in favor of Gen. Harrison; while the fact that the two opposing candidates received some thousands of votes above those cast for Mr. Van Buren. The friends of Gen. H. roundly assert that they will carry the State by as great a majority as ever was given to Gen. Jackson (50,000!) while those of Mr. V. B. are content to claim 20,000. We utter few prophecies; yet wc will venture to predict thit the vote of Pennsylvania determines whether Mr. Van Buren can or cannot be elected by the people. Delaware is all Whig, except the Governor, by an inconsiderable majority. Since Maryland and Pennsylvania, on each side of her, have nominated Gen. Harrison, we may presume that he will be the candidate of the Whigs in this State. Onto has a Van Buren Governor and Legislature U.S. Senate divided; House.ten Whig to nine Van Buren. The friends of the Baltimore nominations evince greater activity than their opponents, who have not yet effected a concentration. A ma jority of the Opposition journals which reach us fa vor the claims of Gen. Harrison; who will probably be their candidate. Both parties abundantly sanguine. Kestcckt is Whig Governor, CongroM and

Legislature and Gen. Harrison is here the favorite. All theelections of the last three years hava had one general result; and the State is the most decidedly and purely Whig of any in the Union. Illinois looks Van Buren Congress, Legislature and political press; the Governor for White, who will probably poll the Anti-Van Buren vote, though Gen. Harrison has likewise supporters.. Sundry local triumphs are claimed by the friends of Judge White: but they are notsufficient to change the general aspect of the State. The last year has afforded little clue to the popular feeling. Indiana is contested by the fripnds, respectively, of Mr. Vnn Buren and Gen. Harrison; the former having the Congressional Delegation; the latter the Governor, Lieutenant, and an ascendancy in the Legislature. It would seem at this distance that the friends of the General are most numerous. Each party is modestly claiming 10,000 mrjority. Tennessee is unequivocally for White, so far as its government is concerned Governor. Congress and Legislature: but the friends of Mr. Van Buren will contest with spirit and without hope. We may now recross the mountains. Maryland is Whig in all branches of its government Governor, Congress and Legislature but by a slender popular majority something liko i3,000to 24,000. The Opposition, it will be seen, have presented Gen. Harrison and Gov. Tyler as their candidates for the highest stations; and the chances are in their favor. Virginia has an Opposition Governor and U. S. Senators, but a strongly Van Buren Legislature, w hich is usually taken as an index of the popular will. The Representatives in Congress, fifteen to six, are understood to be friendly to Mr. Van Buren. Judge White is here the opposing candidate. The Presidential question was not made ntthe last election with sufficient d'ftinctness to dctermiao positively the character of the State; but the friends of Mr. Van Buren appear to contemplate the con. test with the firmest confidence. North Carolina lias a Vnn Buren Governor and Legislature, Senate divided, with a 'White' delegation in Congress; but the sent of the old Member is disputed by General Newland, of debated politics. The imperfect minutes which we took of the last election seemed to indicate a White majority wit h the people, as there certainly was of tho votes cast for Members of Congress. The Southern manner of conducting elections renders such data very questionable. South Carolina is violently Opposition, and will probably vote for White or Harmon. There will hardly be a contest. The 'Union' party take no interest, and the 'State Rights' have not yet resolved on its course, exapt to oppose Mr. Van Bu ren at all hazards. Georcia is debatable but the friends of Mr. V. Buren'are in the ascendant throughout, though by a majority materially reduced since last year. An apparent drawback on the prospects of Judga White is the avowed reluctance with whic'j a poi tionof'StateRights'party will support l.im.if at all. Alabama is Just now in chaos or our opinion are in regard to its course nexf fall. Missmsippi has apparently declared for White, but by a majority too slender to be regarded as settling her Presidential vote. Louisiana is regarded oa an Opposition State, from the result of the election of 'J14. White.Harrison and Webster have each their friends here. If more than twojElectoral Tickets should be formed, the State would probably vote for Mr. Van Buren. But we have no recent and adequate criterion. Missouri has a Van Buren government, if wo mistake not Governor and Legislature, as well as U.S. Senators. On the other hand, Gen. Ashley was recently elected to Congress by a higher vote than was ever given to any other candidate in the State. The Opposition rallyj on Judge White. Result doubtful. Wc believe it is contemplated Fto admit both Michigan and Arkansas into the Union in season for the Presidential contest but 'sufficient unto the day,' Arc. The reader has above the principal facts bearing on that contest, as they now exist, with the more obvious deductions that we have

drawn from them. If he cannot yet determine with certainty the issue of that contest, lie may still be as wise in relation thereto as many who fancy them selves much wiser. Washington, Jan. 1. An nmusinc'iticident -"happened oii Tueday morning last, in'the House of Representa tives, just before they convened, of which the following account is given by the Reporter for the Baltimore Chronicle: "A Quaker lady in the gallery rose and commenced an exhortation to the mcmberslo attend more to the principles of religion and morality, as a duty the)- owed to their God and country, being Representatives of the freest Government in the world, and concluded by requesting permission to preach in the capitol this evening. Mr. Carr w as sent up by the Speaker to cut short her delivery, but the members on the floor cried "go on. hear, hear,' but some one near her prevailed on her to sit down. w hen a member arose and observed that he hoped, as the lady in the gallery had conclu ded, the clerk would proceed to read the journal of the House.' JViul. Intelligencer, Cravfordtvitle. Ia. Saturday, Jan. 2d. Panther Hint. A well grown panther of, about six feet body, has been several timet w ithin the last ten days, in Coalcrcek tow n ship, seven or eight miles north west of this place. Some boys, taking a common nignc hunt, found him reared against a tree, with thp do at bav. Asthevcamcup the dogs closed upon the panther for a hard fight, upon which one of the smaller boys requested the axe to despatch him; but the largest, who carrieti tne ac uctummf!; mi i'"vU retreat, and they ran to Mr. Brooks', whose sons were the principal actors. Three of tho four dogs soon came in; and the panther wa heard for some time screaming along the coun try towards the east; the lost dog died a few rods from where they fought, having an ear and one side of his head torn off, and his body ript completely open. The panther ha rer turned and been seen since near the thicket w here he is supposed to be sojourning; and the neighbors design stirring him out on tbS first snowy morning, for a grand chase. .fto0

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