Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 9, Number 5, Vincennes, Knox County, 3 January 1818 — Page 2

nally accede to such an arrangement as would be equal between the parties. A disposition has been lately shown by the Spanish government to move in the negotiation, which has been met by this government, and. should the conciliatory and friendly policy, which has invariably guided our councils, be reciprocated, a just and satisfactory arrangement may be expected.— It is proper, however, to remark, that no proposition has yet been made from which such a result can be presumed It was anticipated, at an early stage, that the contest between Spam and the colonic : would become highly interesting to the : toiled Stales. It was natural that our citizens should sympathise in events which affected their neighbours It See me I probable also, that the prosecution of the conflict along our coast, and in contiguous countries, Would occasionaliv Interrupt our commerce and otherwise affect the persons and property of our ch.izcus. These anticipations have been realised. Sach injuries have been received from pet sons acting under the authority of both the )arties, and for Whi i redress as lit most instances, been Wlti held Through every stage- of the couflVt, the United States have main tain id an impartial neutrality, giving aid to neither of the parties in men money, ships or munitions of war. They have regarded the contest, not in the light of :m ord'unrv insurrection or rebellion but as a civil war between parses nearly equ il having, as to neiltral powers, equal rights. ' ur ports have been open to both, and every article, the fruit of our soil, or of the industry of our citizens, which cither was permitted to take, has been equally free to the other. Should the colonies establish their independence, it is proper now to state that tins government neither seeks, nor would accept from them, any a Ivantage in commerce or oth erwis which will not be e qtially open to all other nations. The colonies will in that c ent become independent states, free from any obligation to, or connexion With Us, which it may not then be their Itttere t to form on the basis of a fair reciprocity. In the summer of the present year an expedition was set on foot against East Florida by p rsons claiming to act under the authority of some of the colonies, who took possession of Amelia Island, at the mouth of the St. Mary's river, near the boundary of the state of Georgia s this province lies eastward of the Missis sippi, St is bounded by the United States an l the ocean on every side, and baa been a subjt i I of negotiation with the government, of Sp iin ,as an indemnity for losses bv spoliation, or in exchange for territorv f e ual value westward of the Mississippi a fact well known to the world, it excited surprize that any countenance shoul I be given to this measure, by any of the colonies. As it would be difficult to reconcile it to the friendly relations , existing bet ween the United States and the colonics, a doubt was entertained whether it had been authorised by them Or any of them T us doubt has gained Strength i by the circumstances which have unfolded ttterttseivci in the proseonion of the enterprise, which have marked v as i mere private unauthorised adventure. Projected and commenced With anincoir petent force, reliance seems

to have been placed upon what might be

drawn, in defiance ot our laws, from within our limits ; and of late as their resources have failed, it lias assumed a more marked character of unfriendliness to us. it being made a channel for the illicit introduction of slaves from Africa, into the United States, an asyium for fu itive slaves from the neighboring i, and a port for smuggling of every kind. similar estab ishment was made, at an earlier period by persons of the same description in the Gulph ol Mexico at a place called lalvestonj within the omits ol the United states as we contend, under the Cession of Louisiana. ibis ent u-pri.e has been marked in a more si ;nil manner by ad the objectionable circumstances which characterised the Other, anil more particular, y by tne equipmeot of privateers which nave aunt .d our commerce and by smuggling. T icse eal ihtisimerite if ever sanctioned bv iiiv authority whatever, which is not be ieved have abused their trust, and forfeited all claim to consideration A ju i regard tor the rights and Lure res s of th United States required that they should be suppressed ; ami orders have b en accordingly issued to t at ctV. ct. This imperious consid rations whu h prodor, t tis measure win be explained tj the pa ties Whom it may in any degree com- em. To obtain correct information on everv SUbjei t in which the United Mates are Intere ted; to inspire jus setitiM uts. m ail o i ,oiis in authority, on t ither sine of 0M fri nd v disposition, so tar us it may comport with an impartial neutrality ; St to -'.cure proper respect to our com

merce in every port, and from every flag, it has been thought proper to send a ship of war, with three distinguished citizvns, along the southern coast, with instructions to touch at such ports as they may find most expedient for these purposes. With the existing authorities, with those in the possession of, and exercising the sovreignty must the communication be held from them alone, can redress for past injuries committed by persons acting under them be obtained ; by them alone can the commission ot the like, in future, be prevented. Our relations with the other powers of Europe have experienced no essential change since the last session. In our intercourse with each, due attention continues to be paid to the protection of our commerce, and to every other object la which the United States are interested. A strong hope is entertained, that, by adhering to the maxims of a just, a candid, and friendly policy, we may long preserve amicable relations with all the powers of Europe on conditions advantageous and honorable to our country With the Barhary states & the Indian tribes our pacific relations have been preserved. In calling your attention to the internal concerns of our country, the view which they exhibit is peculiarly gratifying. The payments which have been made into the treasury show the very productive state of the public revenue. After satisfving the appropriations made by laW for the support of the civil government, and of the military aim naval establishments, embracing suitable provision for fortifications and for the gradual increase of the navy paying the interest of the public debt, and extinguishing more than eighteen millions of the principal, within the present year it is estimated that a balance of more than six millions of dollars will remain in the treasury on tiie first day of January, applicable to the current service of the ensuing year. The pavments into the treasury during the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, on account of imposts and tonnage, resulting principally from duties which have accrued in the present year, may be fairly estimated at twenty millions of dollars ; internal revenues, at two millions five hundred thousand ; bank dividends and incidental receipts, at five hundred thousand ; making in the whole, twentyfour millions and five hundred thousand dollars. The annual permanent expenditure for the support of the civil government, and of the army and navy, as now established by law, amounts to eleven mol lions and enrnt hundred thousand dollars ; and for the sinking fund to ten millions ; making in the whole twentv-onc millions and eight hundred thousand dollars, le iving an annual excess of revenue beyond the expenditure of two millions and seven hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of tiie balance estimated to be in the treasury on the fiiM day of Janu try, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. In the present state of the treasury, the whole of the Luisiana debt may be redeemed in the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen ; after which if the public debt continues aa it now is. above par there will 4e annually about five my lions of the sinking fund expended, until tiie year one thousand eight hundred and twentyfivc when the loan of one thousand eight hundred and twelve and the stock created by funding treasury notes will be redeemable. It is also estimated that the Mississippi stock will be discharged during the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, from the proceeds of the public lands assigned to that object, alter which the receipts from those lands will annually add to the public revenue the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars, making the permanent annual revenue amount to twenty-six millions of dollars, and leaving an annual excess of revenue, after the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, beyond the permanent authorised expenditure, of more than four millions of

dollars. By the last returns from the Department of War, the militia force of the several states maybe estimated at eight hundred thousand men, infantry, artillery and cavalry Great part of this force is armed, and measures are taken to arm the whole. An improvement in the organization and disci pi hie of the militia, is one of the great objects which claims the unremitted attention of Congress. The regular force amounts nearly to the number required by law, and is stationed along the Atlantic and inland frontiers Of tne naval force it has been necessary to maintain strong squadrons in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Mexico. From several of the Indian tribes inhabiting the country bordering on Lake Erie, purchases have been made of lands

on conditions very favorable to the V. States, and, as it is presumed, not less so to the tribes themselves, lly these purchases, the Indian title, with moderate reservations, has been extinguished, to the whole of the land within the limits of the state of Ohio and to a great part of that in the Michigan Territory, and of the state of Indiana. From the Cherokee triba tract has been purchased in the state of Gorgia, and an arrngement made, by which, in exchange for lands beyond the Mississippi, a gieat part, if not the whole of tjio land belong ing to that tribe eastward of that river, in the states of North Carolina, Georgia ai d Tennessee and in thjMabama Territory, will soon be acquired." By these acquisitions, and others that may reasonably be expected soon to follow, we shall be enabled to extend our settlements, from the inhabited parts of the state of Ohio, along Lake Erie into the Michigan Territory, and to connect our settlements by degrees through tiie state of Indiana and the Illinois Territory, to that of Missouri. A similar and equallv advantageous effect will soon be produced to the south, through the whole extent of the states and territory which border on the waters emptying into the Missis.sip. pi and the Mobile. In this progress, which the rights of nature demand, and nothing can prevent, marking a growth rapid and gigantic, it is our duty to make new efforts for the preservation, improvement and civilization of the native inhabitants. The hunter state can exist only in the ast, uncultivated desart It yields to the more dense and compact form, and greater force of civilized population ; and of right it ought to yield, for the earth was given to mankind to support the greatest number of which it is capable, and no tribe or people have a right to withhold from the wants of others move than is necessary lor their own support and comfort. t is gratifying to know, that the reservations of land made bv the treaties with the tribes on Lake Eric, were made with a view to individual ownership among them, and to the cultivation of the soil by ail, and that -an annual stipend has been pledged to supply their own wants, 't will merit the consideration of ongress whether other provision, not stipulated by the treaty, ought to be made for these tribes, and for the advancement of the liberal and humane polic y of tne United States towards all the tribes within our limits, and more particularly fortheir improvement in the arts of civilized life. Among the advantages incident to these purchases, and to those which have preceded the security which jiuv thereby be afforded to our inland Srontiers is peculiarly inportant With Ja strong barrier, consisting of our own people t' us planted on the Lakes, the Mississippi and the Mobile, with the protection to be derived fro n the regular force Indian hostilities if they do not altogether cease, will henceforth lose their (error. Fortifications in those quarters, to an extent, will not be necessarw and the expense attending them may be saved. A people accustomed to the use of firearms only- as the Indian tribes are, will shun even moderate works, which are defended by cannon. Great fortifications wiil, therefore, be requisite only in future, along the coast, and at some points in the interior, connected with it. On these will the safety of our towns, and the commerce of our great rivers, from the bay of Fundy to the Mississippi, depend. On these therefore, should the utmost attention, skill and labor, be bestowed A considerable and rapid augmentation in the value of all the public lands, proceeding from these and other obvious Causes, may henceforward be expected. The difficulties attending early emigrations, will be dissipited even in the most remote parts. Several new states have been admitted into our L i.i n, to tin- west and south, and territorial governments, happily organized, established over every other portion, in which there is vacant land for sale. In terminating Indian hostilities, as must soon be done, in a formidable shape at least, the emigration, which has heretofore been great will probably increase, and the demand for land, and the augmentation in its value, be in like proportion. The great increase of our population throughout tiie Union wiil alone produce an important effect, and in no quarter will it be aosenrdbly felt as in those in cwiteuipiation. The pub'.c lands are a public siorlc

w nich ought to be disposed Jktj adxantage for the natmn. I hehHK should, thercfore,live the profit proceeding from the continual rise in their value. Ever- encouragement should be given to the emigrants, consistent w ith a fait copetition between them, but

that competition should operate in the 1st

which may be adopted. But if looking forward to the rise in the value of the public lands, they should have the op-, portunity of amassing, at a low price, vast bodies in their hands, the profit will accrue to them, and not to the public They would also have the power i:j that degree, to control the emigration and settlement in such manner as their opinion of their respective interests might dictate. I submit this subject to the consideration ol Congress, that such further provisionmav be made in the sale of the public lands, with a view to the public interest should any be deemed expedient, as in their judgment may be best adapted to the object. When we consider the vast extent of territory within the United States, the great amount and value of its productions, the connection of its parts, and other circumstances on w hich their happiness and prosperity depend, w e cannot fail to entertain a high sense of the advantage to be derived from the facility w hich may be afforded in the intercourse between them, by means of good roads and canals. Never did a country of such vast extent offer equal inducements to improvements of this kind, nor ever were consequences of such magnitude involved in them As this subieet was

acfed on by congress at the last session

and there may be a disposition to rciv

it at the present, I have brought it intl

view, tor the purpose oi communicatinj

J I'Viiiiviii.i vii a. v,n 1111 pUI lillll V 1 1 1 ctiinstanee connected with it with that freedom Mid candor which a regard for the public interest, and a proper respect for rongrcss re. mire A difference of opinion has existed from the first formation of our constitution to the present time, among our most enlightened and virtuous citizens respecting the right of congress to estab ish such a system of Improvement Taking into view the trust wfth which I am now honored, it would be improper, after what lias passed, that this discus , ion should be retired with an uncertainty of my opinion respecting the right. Disregarding early impressions, I have bestowed on the subject all the deliberation which its great importance and a just sense of my duty required and the result is, a settled conviction on my mind, that congress do not possess the right. It is not contained in any of the specified powers granted to congress; nor can I consider it incidental to, or a necessary mean, viewed on the most 'liberal scale, for carrying into effect any " the powers which are specifically granted. In communicating this result, I cannot resist the obligation which . feel to suggest to congress the propriety of recommusK ing to the states the adoption of an vl mendmcnt to the constitution, whickv shall give to congress the right in quc tion In cases of doubtful construction, especially of such vital interest, it comports with the nature and origin of our institutions, and w ill contribute muc h to preserve them, to apply to our constituents lor an cxp.icit grant of the power. We may confidently rely, that if it appears to their satisfaction, that the pow

er is necessary, it will alwavs be grunt-

in tin:, case l am happy to observe

cd.

sa.c to tot. advantage of the natmn rather than of individuals Great tpitaflMs will derive all the benefit inc'idUM tUA superior wcalthj under ai-y nuXAdsdk

a w

uuu, experience nas atto.ued the most ample proof of its utility and that thebenign spirit of con hiation and harmony w hich now manifests itself throughout our Union, promises to such a recommendation the most prompt and favorable result. 1 think proper to suggest j also in case this measure is adopted, thar it be recommended to the states to include in the amendment sought, a right in congress to institute likewise seminaries of lean. ing, for the all important purposes of ditfusng knowledge amon our fellow citizens throughout the Ui: ted States. Our manufactories will require the continued attention of congress. The capital employed in them is considerable, and the knowledge acquired in the machinery and fabric of all the most useful manufactures, is of great value. 1 heir preservation w hich depends on due encouragement, is connected with the high interests of the nation. Although tne progress of the public buildings ias been as favorable as circumstances have permitted it is to be regretted that the Capitol is not yet ia a state to receive you. There is good c;aisc to presume, that the two wings, the only part as yet commenced will be prepa ed for that purpose at the next sess iOfl. The time semis now to have arrixed, when this Bttbject mav be deemed worthy the attention of -Vongress, on a scale . d- uatc to natioiK.l purposes. The completion of tin- middle building will be ncuiury to the convtmei.t ac eommodation of Com res-,, of the committees, and various offices belonging to it. It is evident that the other pemiic buildings are altogtthei inst.rVu u ot for

the C ommodatyOii of the se r.d ecu-

tne otpartnitrus ecme ol om are much crowded, and ever subjected to the