Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 9, Number 21, Vincennes, Knox County, 25 April 1818 — Page 2

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1 j thing ' n Ci y, March 17. 1 d 1 8. Sn n iac presi lents message at the r q nmenceineut of the session, you v. ill hate vci the otiuine i business which has sun i that time oct upied the attention of Congress. More' than three months oftae M-i'Hi , ,ii e-.apsed. and a ireat In i sot busness yet n maim u be taken up. ySeverai questions hate beeti agitated t i, whiter which have worn avy days and weeks in tedious debate, and iieh ha' t hot been productive of any j; ic ical result Such was the soldiers commutation bill, which ought to have p Used into a law ; the bankrupt bill &c. t . T ..is commutation bill offered to the soldier) at his option) one dollar per . re, in lieu of the lands he is entitled to receive. It had for its object his benefit

lone, n was neg uivea by a majority ot

t vo votes in the house ol Representa

Oti o list of laws which have passed during the present session) is one repeal ing t e internal duties. These duties ha t be. ome unnecessary, from the compotency of Other sources of revenue, more natural and less Oppressive) to meet t le current demands of the government, and furnish a sinking fund, more than su Rcient for the redemption of the public debt) at those periods when it shall become due. A law has passed making further pro vision f u the superannuated and indigent offl rs and soldiers of the revolutionary v if. It gil es. Under certain restrictions, to the officers of the revolution 20, and to the soldier $ dollars per month, during life. V nong the orders of the day is bill exten li ' for a further term of five years,

t e lis t-pay pensions) allowed by law to the a lows .nv.l orphans of the militia Who died in the service, or of wounds c di i bi ities contracted w hile in the seri during the late war. This bid includes the widows and orphans of the rni e.rs and those who fell in the cam p Ign on itie tVabash in November, 1811. A mi authorising a balance of pay to the to npa y ol rangers commanded by Capt. r, i i March, 1814, and a bill authorizing the payment of our three per rent, road hind, are yet unacted upon by I Htouse of Representatives. Tins continually growing fund, agreeable to a. e libit of the Treasury Department, amounted on the 30th Sept. is ir, to 12, 29 84 i ents ; whic i. if judiciously man e , . i an I appropriated) will be of immense advantage to the state. Vai ious post roads will, before the rising of CongresS) be established w ithin our state ; among which arc the following fro n FortH trrtson, on a route as direct as pr ictic ible, to rownstown ; from bale n by . ono, through Lawrence countv I the seat of justice of Monroe and from Peola by Orleans, to the seat of justit e of Lawrence ; and pains have been taken, to connect the arrival and departure of the mails, so as to admit as little Interruption as possible, to their steady pr r.vss throug our country. Little doubt can be entertained but ' tat commissioners will shortly be appointed and authorised) to treat for a furt er extinguishment of Indian title within the state of Indiana and, from informs t i received from the best sources on t it subject, as little doubt can be enter t i of a successful result to such ne c ri it ton. rea incidents Ot Otlt political history on f ht WC to hail as more important, than t:e organization of western States. The St itt of Mississippi has. during the presen session been admitted into the Union. Ti is. and similar events increas i . the Am I :an population on the Mis b ippi and m those countries west of that river, will tend to i sameness of C a r, and a more connected union cf tl , d ff rent and distant sections of this it republic. A law will in all proba-bi-ity iss, authorising the people of the I I inois Tei i itoryt to form for them- dves a co - Ltution and State Government. IV. u. Ol a similar nature have alo h a presented from the Territory of Missouri ; but no bill will be reported t!:. reon during tl e present session he cause of the Patriots of South-A-a, i lough u j ct to the vicissitudes Of ill revolutioniamg colonies, is still

impf strengtn. By argrees, and by ttons they have learned the art of . By the same means, some provin h oe lore since van lUisedthe armies

of the dii :. un ; others sre inarching forv ird) with a rid stea ly paceto lib r ti and indapendencc. The cause of t Pa.; lots never needed the alliance of this or any othei country, 'J he phisical re urees the v. t n an d the money, el t. province, ere jiial to the cause n which nv v were ...-.-ed, tbey only

of their independence, when gained, could not have dispensed with thai experience. I i tins they learnt an important lesSQft Tiiey will remember the origin of their liberties, and prize them in proportion to what they cost. ii. story has very par tially pinfolded the resources of those oumr.rs. The unaci redited minister of t le republic of Buenos Ayres is now at t place, lie st.aes, that for the last Seven years no succesjHgrmy oi t!ie king t. is had footing in hflpunce ; that since the year 1810, theylhabfn r;oterned by their own institutions ami law s; and that in that year the single province ol Buenos Ayres was more populous than Was the United States in 1783. No favourable result has yet been had to our negociation with Spain. The Chevalier de Onis had, heretofore, declined any cession on the part of Spain, eastward of the Mississippi, unless the boundaries of Louisiana should be taken into dibcussion, and the United States Should cede their claims to all the territory westward of that river ; and was unwil ling to negotiate on the subject of spoliations on our commen ce, and of the suppression of the deposite at New-Orleans, until he should have received further instructions from his sovereign. Of a recent date, on the suggestion of the Spanish minister, negociations on the existing differences between the two nations have been renewed. The ins true tions trom his sovereign, heretofore wished for, are presumed to have been received. A disposition has been evinced, by the Spanish minister, to renew the former discussion and the old pretentions of Spain relative to the boundaries of Louisiana. He has proposed a submission of the difference between the United States and Spain, to the mediation of one or more of the pow ers of Europe. The President has wisely declined such mediation ; preferring no doubt, the fate of negociation, & the last resort of nations, to the mediation of any of the powers of Europe, particularly that of the British government ; w hich would wish a regulation at the mouth of the Mississippi, favourable to her ow n commercial and monopolizing policy. With regard to the boundaries of Louisiana, De Onis has been informed that his claims are inadmissible that to dispose of the territory of a sovereign and independent State, is not w ithin the competency of the executive government, Sc that the discussion on that subject will not, hereafter, be continued. Frcm these last results of a thirteen years, negotiation and forbearance, on the part of our government towards Spain little remains to be hoped for from the justice of that nation. The policy of our government, heretofore, has been to permit the negotiation to linger, waiting the arrival Ot a time, w hen the interests of Spain should incline her to justice. This policy may still be extended : the President being authorized to take temporary possession of her contiguous territory whenever he shall think it the interest of the United States so to do. With the other powers of Europe- our relations have not recently changed ; and the same balance of pow er, which was fixed and established by the sovereigns of the continent, subsequent to the last restoration of Louis XVHI, still continues to ex st. The adjournment of Congress will iiekiy take place between the 10 and 2 th of April. I expect to reach home shortly after the first of May. I am very respectfully, kc. WILLIAM HENDRICKS, For the tVesiern Sun,

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TO THF. CITIZENS OF IsPHN'A. A glance at the letter addressed by Won. 1L nd ricks, Member of Congress from Indiana, to his constituents. It has Ion.; been a custom (and it certainly a laudable one for tlui rep: -sentatives of the different states, to address their constituents at the close of a session) in a circular. The sub jects up o which they most commonly touch, are the important ones which have been di sed and acted upon by the home ; or if these are too lengthy tt tive in detail they at least inform theui of those with whi h th :i are more intimately connected.. Acting then upon this laudable custom and following the exam pie of ether Vm. Hendricks has thou jht proper to address von in a circular) a copy of which may be found in 1 1 io last Ccntincl. It is dated "Washington, March t?th, 181s." and begins in this manner 1 Sir, in the pres. . i's message at the commencement of the &esion you iil have seen the outline of business whi h has since that time occupied the attention of congress. Now, I do not wish to be too critic d. I Ul is this a fact I ask Mr. Hendricks whether more than half, nay even me third of tl:vb- ines! tvMch congress has transac

I ask, is there any thing said of ti e boldier'a commutation bill, which in the very next sentence he acknowledges M has worn SWay day! and weeks in tcdious debate" any thing of the case of Col. Andersen j a subject which employed the whole attention of congress for mote than two w eeks, and called forth more talents and learning, than any Otl OT Question has done since any thing of the immense number of public Sc puvate petitions with which congress has be en besieged since the commencement

of the session. Now a circular from our representative, it appears to me should have for itobject the dissemination of information on subjects w hich have been discussed, and which the people cannot be supposed to have known, especially such acts as are immediately interesting to them, because of a local nature. But if the president's message contains the outline of the business w hich has occupied the attention of congress," w hy not send a copy ofittoeach of his constituents, k save himself the necessity of a circular. The president certainly could draw up a circular of this kind as well as Mr. Hendricks and fios.sibly equally well written ; but it is not true ; and Mr. Hendricks know s it, that " the president's message contains an outline of all the business which has engaged the attention of congress.' The president no doubt intended js message for an outline of certain business to be transacted ; but it is mere shuffling on the part of Mr Hendricks to say to his constituents, " you can refer to the president's message for what has been done." Several questions have been agitated which have worn away days and w eeks in tediQUm debate, and which have not been productive of any practical result." Such w as the Soldiers commutation bill 4 w hich ought to have passed into r law, the bankrupt bill," Ice. &c. No doubt Mr. Hendricks thought the dchate tedious, as he has not opened his mouth to our know ledge the whole session again and again have I con'd over the papers to lii.d w hat our resfiected and tlotjumt representative has said on some important bill. I leave read on, and found Mr from Virginia saying this, and that, and making an eloquent speech, w hich in the language of the editor, claimed the attention of the whole house" Mr. from Kentucky, spoke so k so Mr a delegate from Illinois, remarking thus and thus, and having pe rused the paper through and finding poor Indiana not represented at all in "the tedious debate9' have as a last consolation, found among the ayes and ftaes the name ofliENDHICKS ! If the debate on the Soldiers bill for instance was tedoiun why did not Mr Hendricks by a clear anil logical analysis of its principles, convince the house ; or if it was imfionnibU for Mr Hendricks, (as it very probafa e "aN to do this, at least he might have argued the point, for the benefit of his constituents) and convinced them as he fkQatibiy might, that in the language of ti e circular, u the bill ought to have passed," The bill had foi its object his benefit (the Soldiers) and his alone 1" This is directly denied Lv those who opposed the bill ;and 1 hac no .oubt, correctly and truly, Mr. 1 endricks asset tion notwithstanding. What God ami Natuic intended Mr Hendricks never should be I would not expect to find him, viz. .1n et . nt man ; but certainly he might hae made at least, one observation on so important a bill" especially w he n he had so fully made up his mind on the merits of it. MHn the li st of laws w inch have passed during the 'present session is one repealing the internal duties." This,mr. He ndricks, the people already knew ; w e la ve had it thundered in our cars from one end of the country to the other How many notices fellew citizens, have you not see n worded in this manner 41 the collector of Indiana has the pleasure to f inn his fellow citizens that the internal dn'ics are repealed," Sec. yet Mr. Hendricks comes out in a circular, informing us of a fact which has been posted, on the door of every com t house in the state. After noticing the repeal of the- law he goes on to exhibit no$ his own butthe president's reasons fcr the repeal. If the following extract from Mr. Hendricks circular, is net a phlagiarism from the president's message I Cannot read 4i These duties (internal) had become unnecessary from the competency of Other sources of revenue, more natural k less oppressive to mee t the current demands of government) and furnish a sinking fund more than auffi-ci.-.it for the redemption of the public d hi at those periods w hen it shall become due" this is the language veri n timet letcratim if you doubt, refer to the message. N I did suppo.e although Ml iler.-

least have committed it to paper :n the form of a circular ; but here . gain I was mistaken ; and how many of you fellow citizens, might have (had 1 not exposed him) rejoiced on reading the .boe extret, that you had SO to,p andaif a;e presentativc one w ho could thus 4 The gordian knot of it unt:c, Fumiliu: s his garter." and one w ho would have gien credit to Wm. Hendrickt for an opinion which truly, lawfully, and legally, belongs to a statesman, viz. the president of the United Mates. " A law has passed making further provision for the superannuated and in digent offi ers and soldicss ol the revolutionary war." 1 have no objection to this, though I believe it to be a fcet w hich every person knew, at least every person who takes a newsp per Why did not Mr. Hendricks tell the agency he had in passing this law -hut WC promised not to be too critical, and shall therefore ere elit Mr. Hendricks for thif part oi his letter, und in the name of those of my fellow citizens who do not know the fact, thank him tot the ii formation. " Various pest roads will be established Ul Indiana" "Pains have Le en taken to connect the arrival and departure of the mailb so as to admit as little mteirup tion as possible to their study progress through our country." I should really like to know from Mr. Hendricks, who took this pains ; 1 have been creditab I informed that application has often been made to our Senators on this subject, be that they hae procured a promised remedy fortius evil from the post master general. If Mr. Hendricks be entitled to credit lor an alteration in the arrival and departure of the mail, let him haveit; but 1 should be first glad to know whether is entitled only to credit lor an alteration made in January, that delays our mail eight days longer than formerly. I .ittic doubt can be entertained but that commissioners ill shortly be appointed and authorised to treat fore further extinguishment of the Indian title within the State of Indiana, and froiu information received frcm the beat sour ces on this subject, as little doubt can be entertained of a successful result in such negociation." All this may be true, 8c taking Mr. Hendricks word for it, I ruj pose it is ; but I should like (as it is a matter of more importance to us t an any other subject which he has mentioned) to know where Mr. Hendricks got his information he says fromM the best sources," what those sources are, 1 am at a loss to determine, as I have generally understood that opinions or information upon this subject, can only be received from the bat ovreem by authorised agents, for to promolatc an intention Ere quently e! ft ats it. The next object w hich Mr. Hendricks treats oi is the admission of New stJ tes. 'I he admission cf new states, ht hails as important e vents . greater statesman than the writer of the circular, have doubted ti e policy, of extending ourterritury ; Mr. II r.diicks ' owever, says wc ought, and 1 suppose it is sc and so be. it. ThecaUseof the Patriots If r. Henchicks ente: s into With wain.th Sc feeling but unfortunately this pan of ti e le'trr seems to be a sen cf degression frcm the test he here ghes us h own viewi without informing us what ccngre ha- e done on the subject. The fjet is, thy have done nothing. Mr Hendi icks speculations may be very shrewd and entertaining without doubt, ar.d ptobtbly mere valuable because he ha-., bad a consultation M with the unaccredited ministei 4 the republic cf I uenos Ayres." I leel as much interest in the patriot cause afl Mr. Hendricka can ; but wl at a spectu lation of his. on that subject l as t do with a ciicular to his constituents. 1 cam not conceive ; and that t o, when r ide op of extracts from newt-fiaper which wc have all seen, and the information of a patriot minister tmacxiedtted by cur government. g No favorable result I as been had to our rcoe iations with v ' So v.e had understood Mr. ii icks migfcl have kno. !. t! : ire he i- home. " The Spams:, minister has proposed a submission of tfa difference between tne United b'...; aid Spai . - th mc

diation of one or mo.e oi tl e owers of Europe. ' Tl e ; : si ' i : r.s ttiscty de, citned such mediation Then cones another speculation of q ,r be, the probable reason- w ; t; p;t declined the mediation which is, that the president had rather h-.c a f.ght than leave it to a;.:, b j iv n; : h U i to G: eat Jiritain who v ould v. ish a r -u Irtion at ti e mouth cf the M . hire tble to her own commercial

opoliaing policy1 a it the . n I Europe. (Spahs excepted have riot recently changed, an I tl balance of power whicl - . : , 4