Vincennes Gazette, Volume 4, Number 45, Vincennes, Knox County, 11 April 1835 — Page 1

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VOL.UIVIE 4.

VINCENNflS, INDIANA, APRIL 11, 1833.

NUMBER 45

Tin: V I NC3N NHS GAZETTE J I'u'tlish.e.d crrri Snhirdnv,

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TO MY

0,7-

;dks

Green-Sul

FALLOW CITX2

or Knox, Daviess, Martin, Laurence, Ojscn, Putnam, Clay, l igo, and

livan Counties, Indiana. Washington Ciiv, March 4, 1835. The second session of tho twenty-third Congress btins; ended, the duty of iuldr.-iieg yon on the subject of my conduct, course ami teneral views, as your represenlHtiv e r.ain devolves upon iu'. ; and as tar as the bmits of a letter can embrace it, 1 cheerfully comply with uiy usual practice. In my circular of tho last year, I presented you an outline of many leu. ling and iinpoi tant lueasures then agitated, in which yru mid the State at large are most deeply intctested, and hoped they would have been successfully acted on at the present session ; I rejiret to say, however, thrr have been, for the must part, postponed or defeated. Without recun ing to all the causes that may have produced this result, permit me here brutly to express to you ray solemn conviction, that it is high timo to canvass the conduct of party adherents; it is time that you should ascertain whether those, who boast of their strict submission to the popular will, do in fact practically conduct themselves in consonant; with their professions As a humble son and representative of Indiana, 1 would appeal to every freeman to scrutinize their immediate interests in connexion with the general welfare tit the country, and hereafter exempt their representatives from ii 1 1 the restraints of party rontrol, which only tends to augment the power that now so severely piesses upon the country, and must, if countenanced, ultimately destroy every hop of futuro prosperity. The bill of the but session, malting an appropriation to improve the Wabash river was revi-

ved ami passed oy ine o-u.nt-, um a .

At an early period of th. senior, when 1 ap- sectional feeling should be discarded, and nrehernleil no it nnrnnriiifinn wnu . ho nim nr I . ..... 0 v-.nv..,

tho road through our Suite, in consequence of the erioncuus report of the unexpended balance remaining in the department applicable to that object, I urged an appropriation before the committee to procure materials for a bridga over the Waba-h at Terre Haute. The estimated cost was unsatisfactory ; but before a decision was had more accurate estimates were called for by tlie Senate, together with a report on the practicability of constructing (he work without obstructing the navigation. This and other causes superseded ail further action of tho committee upon this subject, at the present session; yrt I have, no doubt provision will be made hereafter. In my circular of the last year I adverted to the inal-adininistratiou and consequent existing embarrassments of the Tost Otlico Department, anil then hazarded the conjecture, that until it should bo purified and redeemed by a thorough reorganization, the pressing wants of the western portion of the country would not be sutli ciendy provided for. I tqtiblly regret the truth of this prediction, and the failure of the bill which prov idid many new post routes in my district essential to the public convenience, as well as another salutary bill of the Senate to reorganize the department. I feel difficulty in forbearing (lie c xprcs-ion of my feelings of regret at the culpable conduct and situation of the department, which more than anything else has contributed to postpone the accomplishment of your wishes in regard to mail facilities, to much needed and so justly called for. The department failed to corn ince the committees of Congress of the legality of the debts incurred, or of the faithful application of the moneys to the public service, and the abuse? and gross oral -practices herelolcre charged were not only fully substantiated by the l'ate investigation, but '-for cleansed, washed to fouler stains.'' Unfortunately for the people of the new State?, whose necessities are daily demanding the establishment and extension of mail routes, the present posture of things is peculiarly injurious to them. While the old States are abuudantly provided with mail facilities, and cur growing settlements contribute, directly and indirectly, more than their equal share of all the expenses of Government, is it not to bo deplored, that in a department of the Government the uniform action ol Which should be strictly preserved, and its general utility faithfully administered for the benefit of every section of the country, tho Kxecutive who claims the super ision and control of all the departments should not have sought provision from Congress to relieve the General Tost Oilice from itscmburrassments, instead of insisting, to the prejudice of a large portion of the' country, that it should rely on its own resources to extricate it from tho debts in which it is sodeeply iuvolved? I have neither time nor space to enlarge upon this subject; but the early attention of Congress at the next session, I have no doubt, will bo directed to it; the department thoroughly renovated, and the wants of the people abuu-

1 A 1 - I'l

tow house was established or provided for upon! "'PP

nnd fi thn Preside . I m.uiMi 1101 uu.amvu lit euner

House on the engrossing subject of the public lands, and referring you to my unchanged opinions on that head as expressed in my letter at the close of the last session of Congress, I shall

When, in my last communication, I expressed a hope that (he new States would instruct their several delegations in re-

Igard to this interesting topic, 1 was per

i:s banks hr either hou e,

in his veto of the bill of the last year, bad declared that all expenditurus for such improvements should be confined to streams below ports c ... n r ,,f itio nrpct'i'.l hill into n

law was utterly hopeless ;-and being placed in j iU lnis "t U1J observations to a very

, ..r .1. f 1 1. ...I ito nirii r """""

tile orueis Ol lue ium;, 4'-jim i.0v.... course of action, na vote could be had upon the subject. Of the claims of this reserved nation-. il highway to the aid and countenance of the

General Government; t!se extraordinary oojec

several Occasions, had made provision for itsjclly aware of the d.scotdant v.ews en-

iuinrovemeut ; the acknowlcilgeu consuiuiionai ici iciiucti uy uic i epi eseiuau ve oi inj

power of the Government equally to provide for domestic and foreign commerce; the absolute necessity of this improvement, to avail ourselvesof the advantages of the Wabash canal, already provided for; the wide extent of country, the population, the product?, tho general interests," particularly at the present crisis, (when a war with a foreign power may render a direct internal communication between NewYork and New Orleans of tho last importance to the whole country.) and a due regard to consistency itself, since similar provisions have repeatedly been made for rivers of much less

importance, ttiere wouni seem io oe uu "'gu

own Stale; and not content to conliue my

self to any half way measure for separating the graduation of the price from the equitable distribution of the proceeds, bolh of which objects, I conceive essential to your interests, I stand ready, at all

times, to advocate the measure in either shape. This subject is all important, and the prejudices of party, which have already produced an extravagant waste of time and money, should no longer be per- : ipi. . . .

" -. , .. . . , , .-, ,i milieu io uneiuie. uimu u. i ue zreat oumeut required to establish the legality amine- . l b

of the measure. vv nue niuiiwni ui e v.v.., ... ..g..,.

Tivislif-d. nnd additional millions demanded for

the support and porotection of lb seaboard, Indiana, who annually pays into the national treasury upwards of half a million of dollars in the proceeds from the sale of the public land?, besides her equal share of the general revenue, is unable, under the prevailing policy of the Executive, to obtain the small pittance of twciitv thousand dollars for the improvement of one "... i -i. .-. ., r-,., .i l .. 1 , .. l-; t I, a

of her rrvers, wnicn i toiucsucnij uu& m ,.u great chain of internal communication. Provision sought by me for improving the White rivers, tributaries of the Wabash, and for other objects under existing circumstances, could not i o.iblv be procured. The desired appropriation for improving the road from Louisville to St. Louis, which is of deep interest to a portion of my district, was not acted upon by either House; and if it had been it must inevitably have shared the fate of the Wabash. anJ a bill providing a grant of land to the road leading fiom Vincennes to Chiea-ro is still more doubtfully situated.

The railroad irorn t.vansvrue io i errc-iiauie, for which I made an effort to obtain ample provision, was partially provided for in a bill of the Senate, authorizing several rail road companies in Indiana to locate roads through the public lands; but this also remains unacted np on by the House. It nevertheless will finally become a law . The usual sum of twenty-five thousand dol lars is appropriated for the examination and surveys of public works throughout the United Slates; and a survey of a contemplated road from Matimee bay through Indiana to the Mis-

iinni river is ordered. Wh;it other objects of

internal improvement in the State which the

State under the constitution, and to ameli

orute the condition, und increase the numbers of the yeomanry of the country. How can this be most effectually accomplished? I humbly conceive the enjoy

nifciil by the new States of the rights and immunities hitherto guarantied to and enjoyed by the old of the land within their

borders, the equal distribution of the proceeds of all territorial lands, and the graduation and reduction of the prices of all which shall have been in market more than ten 3 eai s, will effect the object. ly this means the new Slates will be enabled to prosecute a general system of in ternal improvement essential to their

j prosperity, without depending upon the

fitful and precarious provisions of the

uGeneral Government ; and the poor indus

trious man will be ture to find a happy home and an adequate return for his labor. Unfoi lunately, however, our long and silent acquifsence in the system enables the prevailing parties of the day, by the agitation of vatious plans, to prolong its duration. Thus it is obvious the subject has i 1 3 difficulties; but when we compare Stale with territorial rights, the sovereignty of the one connecter! with and rnuluallv resting upon her sister Slate.-?, the other entirely dependant upon the

t'ngineers detniled for that work may be in-j (J ene nil Government for protection and

support, the distinction ot right hikI power as established by the constitution is to rnv mind plainly manifest; and 1 trust the day is not far distant, when in defiance of party jugging the subject will be equita

bly and fca'.isfactorily adjusted.

The president, in his annual message of 1332, in speaking on this subject in connexion with the public debt, observes:

"As the lands may how be considered

. , ... . !, iml i.ut 1 1 i . 1 . ! l-,,,t

SI niC V eu VO SHI r , J I- v uui-i'n .i ii , uiu 1 truit the War Department will aid in the nceomplishment of the 1 jiudiiblu purpose of our State legislature. After correcting an error in the return of the department of the reported unexpended balance r,f former appropriations to th national roaJ

in our Slate, nn additional provision f one hundred thousand dollars was obtained for this cdjjert w ilhmit difficulty. That portion of the road et of the Ohio is now finally provided for, and consequently one great obstacle to fu

ture appropriations lor me wmiKiii rminuv is

,.Ntm-y removed- Congress h ve relinquished i a3 relieved from this pledge, the object

their rontrol, to me riaics oi v rrgrnia, i enn- jor ujic, lnc v were ceded having been

sylvan,, an-I Mnry.an.i ,no w, mereai pro- plUhed, it is io the discretion of vide for ueh portions of the eastern section as 'i .! . pas il.roiich tl'ir respective limits; and it is! Congress to !ipoe ol them in Mich a wax i rio'-fi'stly'the interest of the General Gov crn-j ;1 s best to conduce to the quiet, harmoreiit make prompt end liberal provisions fori n anj general interest of the American it i- cciiiph'tioii of the western section, and re-i 3 jp

l ...... it in liuii i;i;im.er to ttio charge ol the new '

Stales.

' "lu examining this question, all local and

the whole United States regarded as one

people, interested alike io the prosperity of the common country." Never the less, at a subsequent period, he vetoed a bill passed by both Houses of Congress in the exercise of their rightful disa-ttion which he had thu9 acknowledged; and vihile it did not conflict with the graduating system, it made a liberal improvement of the present plan, and was calculated, in a measure, to promote the interest of the new Slates. The specious arguments employed to vindicate this executive measure 1 have not time to canvass Ht large; but the party delusion by which it was attempted to blind the people in relation to it, must now be generally understood and reprobated. It is very well known that a bill to graduate and reduce the price of the public lands.separate and distinct from the distributive principle, has hitherto failed in Congress, and I can perceive no prospect f a different result while a few designing partisans, in the pursuit of selfish and political objects, adhere to the principle ol reduction alone, which however just and desirable in some respects, miglst be made to open the door to combinations of nonresident speculator, and utterly abandon our Slate interests to the doubtful legis lation which now impedes our advancement. Should party schemes continue to defeat we just legislation towards the new States, must look for our deliverance to the next sensiH alone. And I will barely add, thut the falacious prospects occasionally held out to the people, ol grants of refuse land to settlers, are obviously intended to impose upon them for political effect. It is well known that the eld States will not concede to us our constitutional rights, and that every attempt to procure nifeie gratuities has heretofore been successfully opposed by the political leaders ol the veiy party, some of the members of which are most active in propagating the delusion. The finances of the country remain in the same situation iu which they were left at the last session. And adveiting to what I then said in connexion with the proposition submitted by me for creatiug and regulating a general currenc', and

to the enlargement of my views upon that subject, iu a speech delivered at the present session, it is haidly necessary for me to dwell upon the subject at this lime. The proposition presented by me ut the

late session, which was chlculated to clfecl a beneficial change iu the existing banking system, was, without being examined or uodeistood, precipitately lfjected by the House. Jn noticing this result, 1 might derive consolation from the fact, that the l'leeideut of the United States and myself ara near ly io the same predicament. There

is this difference, however: while some of

the President's project?, which ar printed and submitted to the deliberate consid eration of Congress, are sometimes reject

ed by a unanimous vote of both Houses,

my bank scheme has been rs-jeced only by the unaimous vote of the House of Representatives, and that without being printed, or duly considered. Thia question involves not only the

rights of the States, but the interests of

the citizens of every State. The agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing classes have every thing at stake; and uu til the people shall divest themselves of paity trammels, tve can have very little

hope of the establishment ot a money system, (except lor local purposes,) that will not be liable to the fluctuatiog influences of trade incident to the broad ex tent of our country, the relative faculties of intercourse, and to the various habits and pursuits of our people. With a single eye to your especial welfare, in sub

mitting my opinions on this, as on all other

subjects of interest to the State, I can honestly disclaim all personal or party motives. You are aware that the promise of a hard

money currency was the ostensible basis of the present plausible experiment; and who does not see thsit a great and growing increase of local corporations, under the authority of the several States, with

enormous paper issues which always de

preciate in proportion to the extent of

their circulation, is the only tulhlaient ol tho pledge yet realised by the people! It is believed that since the removal of the deposiles the local institutions have been augmented in the country upwards of one hundred; and that the aggregate nomin

al capital of ull the blale banks now amounts to more than 200,000,000, upon which is authorized an issue of upwards of 400,000,000, which by au official es

timate, must rest on a specie basis of

something less than fifty millions of gold and silver. Of this sum a large amount

has been imported during the past year,

arisincr out ol the modification ot the- tar

iff. and the foreign loans necessary lor the

use of these new corporations. It is to be hoped, however, that Congress in its

wisdom will, at the next session, revise

the system, and adopt such measures as

will conduce to the permanent interests

and prosperity of the country. ! congratulate you on the payment o the national debt. This happy event can

nnt bp aacrihed to the peculiar wisdom

difplayed in any lecent financial tnea

sures. In 1795 the sinking fund wasdwhen such claims were viewed with

first created, with specific provisions to

discharge the then ascertained revolutionary debt, and was placed under the direction of a special board of commissioners in tiust for that purpose. In 1C17, when the debt had again increased by the operations of the late war to about $120,000,000, the system was temodeled and extended, and an increased annual appropriation, distinct from the current ex penst e. cf the Government, was made to meet the estimate and certificates then issued. A faithful application of this

fund, up to the present period, has final-

more jealousy and less favor by a msjori-

iy or our .National Legislature. it ii hoped, however, that the next Congress will be found mor propitious for their consideration. The immense increase of Executive patronage, which for some years past has augmented the expenses of Government, and created just caue of alarm among the people, arrested the attention of the Senate at the late session, who appointed a select committee to inquire into the ex tent of, and report the most efficient

means to correct the growing evil. The

ly extinguished the dept. To account.! preservation of liburtv nd hi.nmp.. ..

however, for the progressively increased 'deemed to be incompatible with the exer

cise ol such enoi mous power in the hands of one man, who, if he act upon the priuciple of rewarding his friends and punishing his enemies, will inevitably paralyze every sentiment of independence in the minds of a large portion of those who may participate of his bounty, and, through such influences, enable him to command the popular voice even ia the halls of the National Legislature. It is obviously the interest of the People to hold their power and favor vviibin their owu keeping, and impose as few duduties upon the Government as possible. Its control over them and their affairs should extend no further than is absolute ly necessary. Many a farmer has become a dependant of his poor but industrious neighbor, and many a master mechanic subservient to his foreman, from having neglected this salutary maxim; and it has infinitely more force of application in public than in private life. That that power has increased in our Government to an immense extent since the friends of the present Chief Magistrate first complained of its influence that it has become idely extended and greatly strengthened in its operations throughout the country, no man acquainted with our political history for the last six or eight years will pretend to deny. Let the people instruct their Representatives to grapple with and circumscribe it while it is manageable, and the result will prove cf lasting importance to the prospei ily and perpetuU ty of the Union. That the power and patronage of the Executive 'has increased, is increasing, au jiughlto be diminished," is abundantly manifest fiom the fact, that the uug mentation of the ordinary expenditures of the Government, from to 1834, the space of five years only, is nearly equal to the increased expenditures during the entire period from 1G03 up to the

accession ot tne present Administration.

And this prodigality has recently been

charged upon the Representatives of the

people, but with what justice I will leave you to decide. In days by-gone, compe tency and devetion to the public welfare were deemed indispensable requisites for office; but in these latter times, obedience to the executive will, and a full submission to the decipline of those who hold that "the spoils belong to the victors,11 are too frequently estimated the only essential qualifications for a seat in our Nn tional Legislature. Is it not a mockery, then under the existing state of things, to say that the People, or the People Representatives, are chargeable with the alarming increases of the public expenditures? You all know the meature essential to ycur prosperity, and are aware that no increase of expenditure has been created for their advancement. You are apprised, also, of the various pretexts re

sorted to to accomplish their defeat; anil I trust your sturdy independence will never permit subserviency to party, successfully to combat the potency of tiuth. A bill restricting this power, defining and

regulating the tenure of office, and re

periodical payments of the principal, it perhaps may be necessary to notice the

fact, that the annual diminution of the debt reduced the amount of interest, ar.d by this means an increased portion of the fund was made applicable to the rapid extinguishment of the principal. This glorifus result is the fruit of cur admira ble institutions, and the practical wisdom and forecast of those who have preceded us. It places our country in a lofty and enviable position, nnd should be a subject of mutual gralulatioii to all. I have the satisfaction also to inform you of the prosperous condition of our commerce. During the last y ear the imports, to supply our wants, did not exceed in proportion, the products exported to meet the demand . Rut that the present system of revenue laws regulating the collection of imposts should be so defective, and subject to such abuses as are acknowledged to exist, is a matter of universal surprise and regret. In the collection of the gross amount of $24,000,000, th tough losses, salaries, fees, and other deductions, the nett receipt in the'Preasury was about $15,000,000. With a view to correct this stateof thing, the senate passed a bili reducing the number of officers, graduating and fixing the salaiies, and defining and secuiing a faithful performance of their several duties. This bill, unfortunately, was not reached on the orders of the House; but from a general spii it to correct the abuses and irregularities of ev ery department of the Government which seems to pervade the country, 1 have a strong hope that at the next eessioo it will become

a ia w . The bill for the organization of a territorial government to secure and protect the Indians west of th? Mississippi is again postponed; nnd although the Chicago treaty, in which many of our citizens have immediate interest, has been conditionally ratified, nnd nn appropriation made to

carry it into effect; yet, before payment will be made of a portion of the claims, they must be examined and approved by a commissioner who ha been appointed for that purpose. The treaties made last autumn with the Pottawatamies and Miamies, were not sent Io the Senate by the President for ratification; d notwith standing he was repeatedly urged by a portion ef the delegation, through the

Secretary of War, and io person, to agree to their provisions and submit them to the Senate, yet it seems he remained immovable; -and the claims of our citizens are thus postponed, and the iuterests ol the State disregarded for at least another vear.

In expressing my dissatisfaction in relation to the course pursued touching the interests of Indiana, in regard to treaties which provide for the payment of just

debts due to our citizens, and lor the ex

tinguishment of a portion of the Indian titles so essential to their security and welfare, 1 have exercised a spirit of forbearance, and suppressed much that 1 might add.

A bill reorganizing the Circuit Courts

of the Uniterl States, providing two new j movU from office, was introduced , with

circuits in the valley of the Mississippi, and reducing the number on the seaboard, passed the Senate by a very large majority, but was defeated in the House for want of time to art upon it. The States of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, composed one of the circuits, and jouiiiana, Mississippi and Alabama, the other.

Bills to create two new I erniories, and

masterly report, and passed the Senate by

a large majority, embracing members of both polictical parties; but no action was had upon it in the House. The usual annual appropriation bill for fortifications, was, I regret to say, entirely lost, by a species of legerdemain in the

House hitherto unpractised in that body. It originated in and passed the House;

to authorize Michigan and Arkansas lovassent to the Senate, where in pur

form State governments, were also defeated from the same cause; nnd there are, I

suance of sundry recommendations from

the departments, large sums were auded

sincerely lament to say, two other bill?ji increase me deteuce oi tne eeauoara.

wWh shared the same fate. One of , v nn tnese amendments it passed tne se-

these provided pensions for the remnant, nate, and was returned to the House a

of the brave troops who served under j veeic neiore me adjournment, wnera Clark and Wayne, on the western frontier, jmost of the Senate's amendments on the

some years subsequent to the close ol the iasi nigni or tne session were aoep:sn, 10-

revolutionarv war; the other rive years' g'r wun a new amemiuir.ui, ijrveii

lalf-nav Pensions to the widows and or- to the president a discretionary power

phans of those who fell in the late Indian; to expend 3,000,000 for lh military

wars. The recently discovered frauds ana navn i v ic, in audition to tne vasi upon the Pension Office contributed main-j:inount embraced in the bill as amen- . . , i ' . rC t - . I . tint 1 1 if ilia nr, .1 ( a rPliu liitt iVific i rri a r

v to liustrate me patriotic eiion uisi.,,,u -j uvwni. ui, uu n,,.u- , . .1 f ( It n. a ilfd lipirirr tfeftirniarl I r llio onnto w u

were maue to secure iu pasa ui muse , " - - bjilj promptly disagreed to, as totally inexpe-

The bill establishing the northern dient and rlangprous. It was agm xe-

boundarv of the Slate of Ohio, in which turned to the I1oup, and tLe House it.

the northern boundaries ol Indiana and tisieu. I lie senate ao-'Kiea, and tire

Illinois nre recapitulated, was unavorda- U"U?e requested a coiUience, which was bly postponed. The northern bound try immediately nrcedul to, and in lieu of of cur State is already unalterably fixed, the $3 .000 000 a specific appropriation ami no power on earth can abridge it, ol neat a tniilion, lor fortifications and without the consent of the State herself, jnaval purposes, wus agreed to be repoitI was very anxious Io have provision ed. it was accordingly lepoited in the made by law for remunerating losses sua- senate, but the chairman of the commit tained in the Tippecanoe campaign, and lee on Ihepait of the House refined to during the late war.by many ol my fellow-' report, and . it was not until ufter th citizes; but there hai uever been a pcti- Senate ha l sent a uiccaage ,ieu..ud;ng