Indiana Republican, Volume 3, Number 120, Madison, Jefferson County, 27 March 1819 — Page 2

Notwithstanding the reluctance evinced by our troops on thir embarkation, and their present exiled situation, the utmost cheerfulness, harmony and good humor prevails, every one appears enraptured with the expedition and "for bold adventures eager." This happv change nriv I think be attributed to the uniform and correct svstcm of discipline .which has been observed by the ofiicers, and the prompt and regular manner in which they have been paid. One of our best soldiers lately received an accidental shot in the knee which has eventuated in the lors of a leg; on which the commander immedi iti ly very generously presented him with a donation of s.ven hutu'i i dollars for his 1 a : u e support. 1 troop., nre remarkably healthy, and the season beyoiu! description line. x

i ' i ' i M v IX SENATE. V. . . . :rv 24. i he bill to regulate and fix : -a!.i:ies oi ti: registers and riwrsofr public uicvs; the : o r the :'ief of Francis 13. ::v !!e ; 'die bill for tile reof Lcw.s H. Guerlm; the the relief of Joseph I' II: I ; toe or! hr the reiicf a uh: P. Deiande; the -for tar re'lef of Eh II tit, til one, i ; oeve an.i i;mJ".''. f lo'rs Ivodriiiucz, relief of Joseph o 1), C - Jfc ' et, scvcraHv passed through co:;:mi:tec of the whole, and were or J -.-red to be cnerrossed for a third reading. j-V'"f cf Representatives. 1 ,r vr.r.o?v. ivo. 2 r. The oill from the Senate to t7cir:et" the homo laries of districts and ecabau UuJ c j ill -vies tor the. disp sal ot tlie pubHe 1 r,.: not heretofore offered for sa'ie in Oldo and Indiana; the loll re jecting the location of certain .sections of hui-.: to be granted for the scat of jjrVtrmr.cnt of Indiana, were several! v read the third time .1 passe. !, and returned to 1 lie Senate. iArrr cfthc UnJhJ State?. The House proceeded to the consideration of the report of the com.i.ittec of the whole, on the subject of the Bank of the United States. The first question in order, was on concurring with the committee of the whole in their disagreement to the following resolution : 46 Resolved, That the committee on the judiciary be instructed to report a bill to repeal the act, entitled " An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank ot the United States' passed April icth, 18 16." The disagreement to this resolution, was affirmed by the House, bv the following vote 1;r concurring 111 the uisagr cement. izi Against it The question was then taken on concurring with the committee of the whole House in disagreeing to the following resolution, originally olfered by Mr. Trimble : 44 Resolved by the Semite and House cf Representatives cf the United States cf America, in Congress assembled, That the Attorney General of the United States, in conjunction with the DLtrict Attorney of Fenu. 1

sylvania, shall immediately cause a scire facias to be issued, according to the 23d section of the act. ' To incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States," calling 011 the corporation created by the said act, to shew cause wherefore the charter thereby granted shall not be declared forfeited ; and that it shall be the duty of the said ofiicers to cause such proceedings to be had in the premises as shall be necessary to obtain final judgment thereon ; for the expenses of which Congress will hereafter provide." The disagreement to this resolution was aio affirmed by the House, by the following vote: Yeas 116, Nays 39. So the 1 louse concurred with the committee of the whole in rejecting both resolutions. The House then took up the amendments reported hy the committee to the bill 44 to enforce those provisions of the act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States, which relate to the right of voting for directors." Mr. Pindall moved to commit the bid to the judiciary committee, with instructions to amend the same bv additional sections 1st to prohibit 11sury, and ' declare its punishment when committed bv the B ink of the United States, or its brandies, or directors, or officers, and to prescribe the method of prosecuting for that offence, edly. to prohibit the establishment or continuance, bv the bank, of ohices ot discount and deposit, in any btatc, after the iNt of February, 1 oee, unless bv the consent of the legislature of such state. Some discussion arose on this proposition, and had proceeded a h ort time; when. Mr. Harrison, from a dedre to ret rid of a subject likely to consume vet a great deal more of the time of the House, and to proceed to subjects ot absolute necessity, moved to postpone the bill and amendments indefmitelv. This motion was lost; and The question on Mr. Pindall's motion was decided in the negative by a large majority. The House proceeded with the consideration of the amendments all of which were evciltUiil'y agn-ocl to unci ill discussing and disposing of various other propositions to amend the bill in which Messrs. Spencer, Storrs, Mills, Lowndes, ferry, and M'Lanc cf Del. participated. In the course of the discussion, Mr. Harrison renewed his motion, -without success, to postpone the bill indefinitely. Mr. Johnson, of Virginia, after some remarks in support of the propriety and necessity of his object moved to amend the bill by inserting an amendment, substantially, to punish any person who shall offer any sum or sums of money by way of bribe to the President or Directors of the Bank or any of its branches, and any one of those otliccrs who shall accept the same, by fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. This amendment was agreed to by yeas and nays, by the following vote : For the amendment 98 Against it -26 Mr. Poindexter proposed to amend the bill by adding a

clause to suspend its operation until the provisions thereof should receive the assent of a majority of the stockholders of the Bank ; deeming it not in the power of Congress to make any new conditions for the Bank without its consent, unless in a case of a violation and forfeiture of its charter. The motion was negatived by a large majority ; and The question was then taken on ordering the bill to be engrossed and read the third time, as amended and decided in the affirmative, as follows : Yeas 9 Nays 3 8 . Saturday, 27. OCCI'PATION OF FLORIDA. The following message, under the date of yesterday, was received from the president of the United States, bv the hands of Mr. j. J. Monroe. To the Seriate end House of Representatives f the if. States. The treaty of amity, settlement, and limits, between the United States and his Catholic Majesty, having been, on the part of the United States, ratified, bv aid with the consent of the Senate, copies of it are now transmitted to congress. As the ratification on the part of Spain may be expected to take place during the recess of congress, I reeommend to their consideration the adoption of such legislative measures, contingent upon the exchange of the ratifications, as may be necessary or expedient tor carrviug the treaty into effect, in the interval between the sessions, and until congress at their next session, may see lit to make further provision on the subject. JAMES MONROE. The message was read, and referred to the committee on t"- r,'ijrn relations, and pcimltjsion given to the committee to sit during the sittings ot the house. Mr. Holmes, from the committee, subsequently reported a bill, authorising the President of the United States to take possession of East and West Eiorida, for the transportation thence of the Spanish authorities., and providing for the temporary government of the territorv, cc. which was twice read. The house took up the bill from tl" senat. itier to suspend, for a limited time, the sale or forfeiture of lands for failure to complete the payments thereon. Mr. Hendricks moved to ameud the bill bv inserting the clause to exempt from back interest all sums paid previous to the 31st March, 1820; which motion was negatived, and the bill ordered to a third reading ; and after an ineffectual attempt by Mr. Mercer to lay it on the table, until the house should have acted on the bill requiring cash payments for public lands. The bill was read the third time, passed, and sent to the ether house.

Safes cf Pukfic Lands, IN SENATE Feb. 8, 1S19. Mr. Morrow, from the committee on the public lands, who were instructed " to enquire into the expediency of so altering the sale of the public lands, that from and after the day of next, credit shall not be given on such sales," made the following report : That a view of the exteo-

sive territory placed at the disposal of the government; the encreasing demand for new lands for cultivation, arising from the progressing augmcntation of the population in the United States, and the in fluence which the proposed alter-

ation in the system tor the sale tern, the frequent recurrent of public lands, must produce of circumstances which rendon the interests of a large por- necessary the interposition' tion of the community, give, the legislature to mitigate uV in the opinion of the commit- general operation of law, a" tec, more than ordinary impor- the extensive forfeitures vhicj, tance to the inquiry which they have been incurred, notwitC

are instructed to make.

From the connection that the remedial laws for the relief ql) terms of credit have with the the purchasers, seem to forb'v; other provisions and additions any calculation on a success':.' " provided for the sale of the operation of the same system public lands, a correspondent in future sales. It cannot U alteration in the price, and correct policy to persist in tM size of the tracts offered for sale continuance of a system ST will be necessary when the ere- much aifeaed by circurns,.! , dit is discontinued on future ees, as that under consider) sales., That provision, alone, lion; which require the ht.; would virtually operate an en- qucnt aid of mitigating exf hancement of the price, and dients to preserve its existea; lessen the facility to men of and to prevent its oppres limited capital, of acquiring effects on a considerable po:. new lands for settlement and tion of the community. JtL cultivation. not believed that any of tht In this view the committee acts for the relief of purc'iasei. have consideied the expedieu- ot public lands were unr;--, cy of providing for the discon- sary indulgences. The unha . tinuancc of credit, a reduction vorable state of things, duru,of the price, and the subdivi- the restrictions on our co::,. sion of tracts in future sales, mercc, and the late war, ren. The provisions for the sale of dercd such measures necessa public lands, now in force, and the present scare ot th: with, some subsequent altera- currency presents claims sti.1 : tions, were adopted by the act more imperative. Judgingfro o of icth May 180. Py its the expeiience ot the pastegeneral regulations, a credit is things in future, it may be ; allowed on three-fourths (. the concluded, that the system cf ; purchase money for the lands credit is not well adapted to th: jsold. The moneys credited . circum stances of the country, . may be retained, by incurring and will be injurious so long a; the charge of simple interest, commerce is liable to fluctu;. . for five years from the time of tion. The allowance ot credit ; purchase'. It would appear on the sales of the public hud: that at the first sales under this could not have been adopter law, the long term of credit for the benefit of capitalist; allowed had iuducct? cAceIve to them it is unnecessary, ar.u purchases. The term of credit for them it ought not to hive! on these sales expired in the been provided. And yet it hi.

year 1S05 ; and in i8c6 it became ncccssarv for Congress to interpose for relief of the purchasers, to prevent extensive forfeitures for failure in payment ; and, since that period, nine several acts have been passed for the relief of the purchasers of public hnds; and these acts for mitigating the operation for the general provbion of the law have been in inrrr fnr truirp thin one hnlfr nt

the whole tin1'" nce the svs- from the land itself, he intcm was first organized. The curs a forfeiture of, the meaiey

which encourage purchases be- improvements. If the allowyond the means for making at fee of credit on future sales payment ; the general disposi- was abolished, every subse-

uuu ni uicu iu aiuieipaie uie quem purcnaser woulu, viu most favorable results from the out any liability to error, re products of their labor, and able to calculate his means for the frequent unfavorable flue- payment; and if his purchase tuations in commerce, which :ihould not be so extensive, hs cannot be foreseen by the most would at once become an indediscerning, are the principal pendent landholder, secure and causes of the failures in pay- quiet in his possession. In foment by purchasers of public ture, those fertile sources of lands. It must appear from discontent and disquietude, the Treasury statement, at the which arise from disappointpresent fession, of the amount ment, and from the exercis of out standing balances, on of measures necessary to Cy( account of the sales of public, force the payments, as also tl. lands, with the embarrassments 4 frequent distress occasion ed by arising from the deranged state the forfeiture of lands on which of the currency, that any de- settlements have been made, gree of punctuality in the pay- would be avoided ; and (as ment of the debts now due is will be proposed" were the pul highly improbable. If the laws lie lands offered for sale in were left to operate in the rigid tracts of eighty acres, at one exactions of the penalties and dollar and fifty cents per acre, forfeitures, the most serious then any individual, on the injuries (in the present circum- payment of 1 20 dollars, might stances of the country) must acquire a freehold estate, withfollow to a large class of the out incumbering himself with

community; and the effect of any debt whatever. It is herelief, by an exteiitiou cf the Iievei that an advantage to the

time for payment, while t! sales continue to progress fr produce an accumulation the debt, and increase thecHm culty in making the final pa ' I ments. The experience for seven i! years of the effects of this uCl;

standing the aid of frequ believed that it has operated most to the disadvantage ct men destitute ot capital. An individual who takes the who's term of credit allowed by hw. on the three last instalment? c: ; purchase money, is chireu on the moneys credited more than tenner cent, per annum! above the purchaser who makes 1 prompt payment; and, in mi-1 ny instances, if lie possess-no tit lCV resources than t llOSS ariS