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wcei - Jeivod f.om OF THE Usnth) S i AT ES jrkw Jackso.v, Jr, Ins Pri To the He During of Representatives V. S, w th? last sess:on vafonnaticn was Ji given to Congress by the Executive, that p; measures tmd been taken to ascertain '-the r- political*. military, and civil condition of Tex ia." I. now submit^ for your consideration. Ks*XJracta from the report of the njrent who had KtJqp appointed to collect it, rJatiw to the of that country. have le?u taken by the Executive ^acknowledgment of the lrulepvu ^.-and tlie whole subject would ..without further remark, on the >w given to Corjjress, were it jo Houses, at their Inst session, ite!y, passed resolutions shut iuce of Texas on^ht to be a c the United States, whenever lnforrrtat:on should be received successful operation a civ:! gov ible of performing the duties, ami obligations of an independent lis mark of interest in the question ?ndence of Texas, and indication ) of Congress, make it proper tiiat ^.newhat m detail, present the con j-tbat ha.ve governed the Executive in g to occupy the ground previously contest between Mexico and Tex jknowledgment of a new State as in dent itled to a place in the fain us, Is at aii time;? an act of great ? responsibility; but more especially such State has forcibly separated another, of which it had formed an impart, and which stilt claims dominion \ premature recognition, under these , inces,ifnot looked upon as justifia tt of war, is always liable to be regard iroof of an unfriendly spirit to one of j iinar parties. All questions re la- ! the government of foreing nations, ' ? of the old or the new world, have lied by the United states as questions aiy, and our predecessors have cautis tained from deciding upon them until j sst evidence was in their possession, them, not only to decide correctly, ski their decisions from every unwor- j ation. In all the contests that have j ; of the Revolutions of France, out of J j relating to the crowns of Portu- I u opdin, out of the revolutionary move^ h in t.lo?e kingdoms, oul of the separa the American possessions of both from ; European Governments, and out of the nu is and constantly occurring struggles for i iiiion in Spanish America^so wisely con- i tUt with our just principles has been the ? of our Government, that we have, un j ie icoit c. iticai circumstance ?, avoided all j mre, and encountered no other evil than i produced by a transient estrangement of i will in those against whom ws have been, ce of evidence, com poiied to decide. x has thus been known to the world that ; uniform policy and practice of the United \ is, to avo:d all interference in disputes i men ly ;elate lo the internal government 1 moj er nations, and eventually to, recognise : authority of the prevailing party without J ?nce to our particular interestand views, I r to the merits of the original controver- j m. PuMic opinion here is so-rirmly estab- j tished aid we!i understood in favor of this j policy, that no serious disagrement lias ev jr arisen luiotig ourselves in relation to it, j brought under review in a variety 7fbro is, and at periods when the minds of the )6pie were ?really excited by the agitation 'topics purely domestic in their character. ? has any deliberate inquiry ever been in-,, fled in Congress, or in any of our le"*?^ mjt bodies, as to whom belonged the i# r?riem%l!y recognising a new. State^-apow- | "" the exercise ef which is *jVufip'jTent, under j to a fljj&aration of war ? ?Jssfy delegated, and 1 aieu ui Constitution, as it is ne^ I n^r invoked in some ofthe great powers i to Congress^ in that given to the Pre- ' ttt?nd Senate to form treaties with foreign ! powers, and to appoint ambassadors and other feUic ministers; an i in that conferred upon ; Ike president to. receive ministers from foreign? ; ? a - - ? i ??WW#. . , fe in the preamble to the resolution of the i Hoose of Representatives, it is distinctly in . ri? ird ihti the expediency of recognising the i -Independence of Texas should be left to the i decision oi Congress. la this view, on the mpoaed expediency,. I am disposed to concur: [ and do not* therefore-, consider it necessary to j express any opinion a? to (he strict constitu- i C?oaai rijbt ofthe Executive, eitberapart from | or w ^conjunction with the Senate,- over the ? ?object, it to be presumed that on no fu ture occasion will a d spute arise, as none has i heretofore occurr d, between the Executive | and L^giaJature, in the exercise of the power i of recognition. It will always be considered | consistent with the spirit of die Constitution, and moat safe&hatit should be exercised when probably leadin?4o war, wilb a previous un^ derstanding with tfcttf body by whom war can aionc be declared, ajwl^y whom -all the provi sions for fustaiaig its penis must be furnished. Its submission to Cougresiwhich represents in one of its branches the Jetties of this Union, ? and in the other the People* of the Urihcd States, where there may be reasonable ground ' *0 apprehend so grave a consequence, would certainly afford the fullest satisfaction to our ova country, and a perfect g?$rantv to al? ? other nations, of the justice and prudence of the measures which might be adopted, f n making these suggestions, it is not my purpose to relieve myself from the respon-ibil ity of expressing my own onmions of the course the interests of our country -pcescribe, and its honor permits us to follow. It is scarcely to be imaginedthat a question] of this character could be presented, in refac tion to which it would be more difficult for the United States to avo d exciting the suspicion and jealousy of o U^r Powers, and maintain established character for fair and impar tial doling. But on this, as on ewrv trying . oceanic*, safety is to be found in a rigid ad* 4iefence Cy. principle. In the contest between Spain and her revolted co!o\ies we stood a!oof', and wailed -not only until vjie ability of the new s'a'cs to protect themselves was fully e&tabl siu-d, but ^til-the danger of their being a^ain subju^a ^*4 entirely passed awuy.~ Then, a:;d not tiii the,K \vace they rjcoirniz^d. Such Was our course m regar.j 0 herselr" ? The same policy wa* observed in nil thi> dis putes f re wing out ol lllc gepirarioa int0 ? distinct govern m?ni s of those Spanish Amer s can States who oegan or carried Vi r^? C0Rt t with the parent country, united un""d<-r0:ie cf government. We acknowlc lgcd"tk?.. Sf,p_ rate independence of New ( i rengia, or* zuela, and ot* Ecuador, on' v after their ini^ pendent existence was no lunger a. sr.H \-f ot' dispute or was actuaiiy aequiesc id m by these - mnh wnocn thsjy had been previously u:au?d. it is trre t hut uit!; regard to Tex::?, the civil ! authority of Mexico has been expelled, its t invading army defeated, and the Chief of the j Rqpubiic himself captured, and all present J power to control t lie newly organized Govern* i raeat of T< xus annihilated within its confines. | fKBygfe. the other hand, there is, in appearance ! at tefiUji an immense disparity of physical I force on tftesule of Mexico, .The Mexican* ' Republic, under another Executive, is rallying I its forccs under a new leader, and menacing ? a fresh invasion to recover its lost dominion. Upon the issue of this threatened invasion the mdependenc of Tevas maybe considered as suspended; and were there nothing peculi ar in the relative situation of the Un.ted States and Texas, our acknowledgement of its independence at sucli a crisis could scarcely be regarded as consistent with that prudent reserve with which we have heretofore held ' ourselves bound to treat all similar questions. But there are circumstances in the relations of the two countries which require us to act, on this occasion, with even more than our wonted caution. Texas was once claimed as a part of our property, and there are those among our citizens who, always reluctant to abandon that claim, cannot but regard with solicitude the prospect of the reunion of the territory to this country. A large proportion of its civilized inhabitants are emigrants from the U. S. , speak the same language with ourselves ; cherish the same principles, politi cal and religious ; and are bound to many of , our citizens by ties of j'riendship and kindred blood : and, more than all, it> is known that the People of that country have instituted the same form of government with our own ; and have, since the close of your last session, openly resolved, on the acknowledgement by us of their independence, to seek" admission in:o the Union as one of the Federal States. This last circumstance is a matter of peculiar j delicacy, and forces upon us, considerations of I the gravest character. The title of Texas to | the territory she claims is identified with her [ independence ; she asksus to acknowledge that title to the territory, with an avowed design to treat immediately of its transfer to the United States. It becomes us to bewaxe of a too early movement, as it might subject us how ever unjustly, to the imputation of seeking to establish the claim of our neighbors to a terri tory, with a view to its susequent acquisition by ourselves. Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate that we should stilfe stand aloof, and maintain our present attitude, if not until Mexico -itself, or one o?*'the great foreign Powers, shall recognise tfie independence of the new Government, af least until the lapse of time, or the courseyof events, shall have proved, beyond caviled isputc, the ability of the People of that country to- maintain their separate sovereignty^nd to uphold the Gov ernment constituted by them. Neither of the contending parties can justly complain of this course. By pursuing it, we are but carrying out the long established policy of our Govern rnent ? a poiicy, which has secured to us re spect and influence abroad, and inspired con fidence at home. Having tftas discharged my duty, by pre senting witfiLsimplicity and directness the views which after much reflection, 1 have been led to take offiis important subject, I have on ly to add the ?ixpressio i of my confidence that,*! if Congress s%n d iffer with me upon it, their judgment wijjL be the result of dispassion^ ate, prjidenJjj^ and wise deliberation; with5? the assur mcelthat, during the; short time I shall contiriuelconnected with the Govern-, ment, 1 shall piiijmptly and cordially unite with j you in suctvui^asures as may be deemed besfi fitted to increase the prosperity and p^rpetu* j ale the peace of our favored country. / ANDREW JACKSON. Washington, Dec. 21, 1836. SENATE. Wednesday, Dec. 21. Mr. CALHOUN, agreeably to notice, ask- ? ed an^l obtained lea re to introduce the follow* , ing bill : *. A BILL to extend the provisions of certain sections therein named of the act of the , 23d June, 1336, regulating the deposites of the money that may be in the Treasury, on the 1st January, 1838. - . ; Be it enacted, <fc. That the money which shall be in the Treasury of the United States on the first day of January, 1838, reserving the sum of five m'llions of dollars, sha.1! be de posited with the several States, on the. terms, i and according to the provisions of the 13th, 14th and 15ih sections of the act to regulate the deposites of the public money, approved the 23d day of June, 1836. . ,> ? Mr. CALHOUN, in introducing the bill., observed that he had not asked leave to intro, duce this bill without satisfying himself that there would be a large surplus .of .the public revenue remaining in the Treasury at the ter mination of the next year, after allowing for very liberal appropriations on all proper sub jects of expenditure. From the calculations he had mode, he was convinced thatthe amount of this surplus would not fail short of eight ! millions of dollars. :>l ?*, He was fully aware that the Secretary of the Treasury, in the report submitted by that offi- j ; cer to Congress, had taken a very different i view, yet Mr. C. thought he hazarded little i when he said that on this subject the Secreta i rv was certainly mistaken. He knew, in I deed, that formerly such an assertion from a I member of Congress in relation to the highest I fiscal officer of the Government would have been deemed adventurous; but so vague, so un I certain, so conjectural, and so very erroneous I hid been thejreporrs from thatjDepartment for tv\'o or three years last past, that he could not be considered as risking much in taking such a position. That in this remark be did no in justice to the Secretary of the Treasury, (to-, ward whom he cherished no personal hostility ; or unkind feeling whatsoever,), he would take the liberty of presenting to the Senate the es-:; timates made by that officer for the present, i year, in December last, and comparing with it hili e actual result, as now ascertained from the: ^Secretary's own report, made the present sea-v i scii. His estimate of the receipts from all sotffces, including the public lands and every or heie branch of the revenue, amounted to $19, 750,000, whereas the report stated those re e ipU to have amounted to $47,691,898, pre i sen ting^S a dirierence in the estimate,, for a* ! single year, of ?*27,941 ,898. Thus the ;xcess | of the. actual receipts had exceeded the esti mate bjT more than one-third of the whole amount of the estimate. Each of the great i braiicfte^^revenue^lM^fpms and the pub lie la nds,- exceeded the estimate ^ ofliioos of dollars. Again: the Secretary had estimated the ba'ance at the end of the year, then within four weeks ot'its termination, at ?18,047,598, whereas the report showed that the balance ae ut.ly h mounted to $23,749,803, being an i r;-or of 153,702, *250 for that short period. ? How these errors arose, whether from negli ; gence or Trstttrenlion, or whether they were purposely"^, subserve certain political Y Vi^' 1 W11S m)t ; but they were k? t"at ran no vory *orm'da b. c harm* v \ venturing to siw that the views I oi the Secret-try m to^^*e ! fiiture^iibtbe crroneotrs. J ? gat further: the -Secretary, in his report' last year, had estimated the avail ble means of the Treasury tor the current year at $37, 797,508; they were nOw ascertained to ha^ : been ?74,441,701, exhibiting the smnll error j of $46,644,104. We might search the fiscal records of all civilized nations, and would not find in the compass of history an error so mon strous. He staled this with no feelings of ill will toward the Secretary, but with emotions of shame and mortification for the honor of the country. How must errors like these ap pear in the- eyes of foreign nations? How would they look to posterity ? But he w?s not yet done. The Secretary estimates thejexpenditures of thejear at $23, 103,444, whereas they turned out to be $31, 435,032, making a difference of $8,331,533. ? He estimates the balance in the Treasury at the end of this year at $14,500,000. lie now admits that it will equal $43,005,669, making an error of $28,505,669, and this notwitlistand ! ing he had made an underestimate of the ex ! penditure of more than eight million*, which, if added, as it ought to be, would make a mis take of nearly thirty-seven millions. The Secretary, however, had profited by the errors of last year. The estimates in the present report were somewhat nearer to the truth, but were still far removed from it. And indeed, so small was the amount in which he had profited, that he had risked an opinion that the expenditure would exceed the income, so that, of the sum which had been deposited with the States, a portion, amounting to be tween two and three millions, wo.ild have to be refunded. The Secretary held out language of this kind, when he acknowledges that the income of the year would be $24,000, 000. Mr. C. said he would be glad to see the Administration, with such an iucome, venture to call upon the States to pay back the moneys they had received. No Admin istration would venture the call, except in the case of a foreign war, -in which case these deposites would prove a timely and precious resource. W it h proper management, they would enable the Government to avoid the necessity at the commencement of a war of resorting to war taxes and loans. All those gentlemen, and he saw several of ! them around him, who were here at the 1 commencement of tlie last war,, would W6ll remember the difficulty and embarrassment .which attended the operation of raising the revenue from a peace to a war establish ment. ^ ~ Assum ng, then, that there would be a surplus, the question presented itself as to what should b? done with it. That question Mr. C.. would not now attempt to argue. ? I The discussion of it at this time would be premature and out of place. He proposed to h mself a more limited object, which was to s'a'tfthe points connected with this subj-ct, . which he considered as established ; and to point Out what was the real issue at present. One point was perfectly established by the proceedings of the last session? that, when there was an unavoidable surplus, it ought not to be left tn "the Treasury, or in the deposite banks, ^ut should be deposited with the States It'was not only the most safe, bu. the most ijtjst, that the States should have the use of ?the money in preference to the banks. This, in fact, was the great and leading principle ? which lav at the foundation of the act of last session? an act that would forever distinguish the 24th Congress? an act which will go down y*ith honor to posterity, a? it had obtained the ^almost unanimous approbation of the present ^3 ay. Its passage had inspired the country 'with new hopes. It had been beheld abroad as a matter of wonder; a phenomenon in the fiscal world; such as could have sprung out of no institutions but ours, and which went in a powerful and impressive manner to illustjate the genius of our Government. He considered it no less fully established "that there ought to be no surplus, if it could be avoided. The mon^y belonged to those wbo^ade ltj. and Government had no right exact it unless necessary. What, then, was the true question, at issue 1 It was this : Can you reduce therevenue to the wants of the People? ? he meant" iii a large political sense; Could the reduction be made without an injury that would more than countervail the benefit 1 The President thought it could be done; and Mr. C. hoped he was correct in that opinion. If it be practicable, then, be yond all question, ft was the proper and natur al course to be adopted. -It- was under this impression that he had moved to refer this part of the President's message to the Com-* mitt e on Finance. He not only considered that as the appropriate committee; but there were other reasons that governed him in mak -jng the reference. A majority Of that commit tee were known, to be hostile to the deposite bill, and would *.hereforei do all in their power to avoid the possibility of having a surplus.? Ifi then, that committee could not effect a re duction, then it might be safely assumed as impracticable. If they couldltgree on a re duction. the Senate no doubt would readily | concur with them. y'^ There was one point on which the fconimit tee need have ' no apprehension, that any re duction they might propose to make wpuld be considered by the South bre&ch^p?.th6 compromise act. Her . interest in that, act is not against the reduction,, but. the increase of^ duties. If it be the pleasure of other sect ions, to reduce, she will certainly not complain. Mr. C. said he would take this occasion to define with exactness the position be occupied , in regard to the -compromise. .He Stood, per sonally, without pledge or plighted faith, as far as that act was concerned. He clearly foresaw, at the time that bill passed, that there would be a surplus of revenue in the . Treasu ry. He knew that result to be unavoidable, unless J>y a- reduction,, so sudden?as to over throw our manufacturing establishments ? a catastrophe which hft. ?incerely desired to avoid. Whatever : might thoaiht-'tp. the Contrary, he . had al ways been, the friend of those estabiishm?c3s?;i41e^ ^thought at the time that the reduction proyided, for in the bill had rtoUbeen n-ade to tajse. place, as fost^ as it might have been.. Buttheterms of the bill formed the only ground on which the op posing interests could jagrse, and -Jie, as rep resenting iapartj one of theSouthern States, had accepted, it, Beleving it, on the whole, to be the best arrangement fchrch could.be effec- ; ted ; yet he saw (it did not, indeed, require much of a prophet c .&piriO .that there were those who were then -ready to . collect the tariff at the point of the bayonet, rather than yield an inch, who, when the injurious effects of'ttifrsw^i^stoId be felt, would throw .the responsibility on those who supported the bill. Seeing this, Mr. C.^ai determined that it | should not be thrown u?bn. him. He had ! therefore risen in his place, and after calling on the stenographers to note his w'ocds, he had declared t!>at he voted for that b II in the ! saTne manner, and no other, than he did for i all other bills, and that he held himself no far ; ther personally pledged in its passage than in | any other. Mr. C. was therefore at perfect ' liberty to select his position, which lie would ? now state. We of the South had derived in calculable advantage from that act; and, as ' cue bolonei n* to that section, he claimed ah "es*-- <? to the verHast letter. Thar, net had reduced the income of the Govern ment greatly. Few, he believed, were fully aware of the extent to which it had operated. It was a fact, which the documents would show, that the act of 18*28 arrested ot the custom-house one- half in value of the amount of the imports. . The imports at tiut time, deducting reshipments, were Mubout si\ty-five millions of dollars in value, out of which the Government collected about ^thirty*, two mil lions in the gross. The imports' of the last vear, deducting reshipments, amounted to $>120,000,000, which, if the tariff of 1828 had not been reduced, would have given an increase of ?60,000,000, instead of something upwards ot $21,000.000. lie- claimed not tie whole difference for the compromise, but upwards of $20, 000, 000 may be fairly carried to its credit. Under this great reduction, we of the South began to revive. Our business began to thrive and to look up. But the com promise act had not yet fully discharged its functions. Its operation would continue until the revenue shoul?l be brought down- till no duty should exceed 20 per cent, ad valorem, and the revenue be reduced to the actual wants of the Government. But, while he claimed for the South all these very important advantages, Mr. C. trusted he was too honest as well as too proud, while he claimed those benefits o:i her part, to withhold whatever ad vantage the North may derive from tjhe com promise. II is position then, on the question of reduction, was to follow, and -not to lead ; arid such he believed to be the true position of the Sou h. If tt be the wish of other sections to reduce, she will cheerfully follow, but I trust she will be the last to disturb th^pre sent state of things. flavtng thus clearly defined his own posi^ tion, Mr. C.said he would venture a sugges tion. If the manufacturing interests would listen to the voice of one who had never been their enemy, he would venture to advise them to a course which he should consider as wise on all sides. It is well known (said Mr. C.) that the compromise act makes a very great and sud den reduction in the years ^41 and '42. He doubted the wisdom of this provision at the time ; but those who represented the mantis facturing interest thought it was siferand better to reduce more slowly at first arid more rapidly at the termination of the term, in or der to avoid the possibility of- a shock at the commencement of the term. He thought ex perience had clearly shown that there could be no hazard in accelerating the ratcj of re duction now, in order to avoid the great and rapid descent of '41 and '42 ; and in this view it seemed to him that it would be wise to dis tribute the remaining reduction equally on the six remaining years of the act. It was, however, but a suggestion. o o Mr. C. observed, that had not this been the short session of Ccngross, he should have postponed the introduction of the present bi)/, and awaited the action of- the Committee on Finance. But it was possible that committee might find it impracticable to reduce the reve nue, and as there were but about two months of the session leff, if something-^were not *ef fected in the mean time, a large surplun might be left in the Treasury, or rather in thj depo sitc banks? -left there to disturb and c isorder the currency of the country ; to cherjsh and fester a spirit of wild and boundless specula lion, and to be wielded for electioneering pur poses. >A standidg surplus in the deposite banks was almost universally condemned. ? The President himself had announced it in his message, and Mr. C. heartily agreeed with him in every word he had said on that subject. Before sending the bill to the Chiair he would take the liberty of expressing his hope that the subject would be discussed in the same spirit of moderation as had characterized the debates upon it last year. It was u noble example, and he hoped it would be fo lowed. Lst the subject be argued on great public grounds, and let all party spirit be sacrificed on this great question to the good of the country. Yet, he would say to the fridnds of thw Administratian, that it was not frOm any /ear, on party ground, that he uttered this sen timent ; for he believed there was no subject vyr.ich, in -the Jiands .of a skilful opposition, would be more fatal to power. The bill was, by consent, read twice when Mr. Calhoun moved that it be made the order of the day for Monday next.. He sawrrio rife cessirv for its commitment. i Mr. Clay was extremely unwilling to inter rupt for a moment (and he would only inter rupt for a moment) the progress of tho de bate expected to proceed to-day. But, from the numerous indications which had been giv en of a purpose to disturb the compromise act, and from the direct allusion to the subject wliich liad just bep'n made, he felt himself call ed upon to-say one word. Considering the circumstances under which that act passed, the'manner through' this body, the acclama tion with which.it ran'through the House, -the cordial reception with which it- was greeted by every part and every interest in the country, -hie did^ not think that it ought to be lightly touched^ In faith of adherence i to the provisions of that ^act, wlarge invest ments have been iriade;?and' under its bene- I fioient operation every interest has prosper ed, the manufacturing not less' than' other . great interest s^ The whole country has^ looked to the inviolability of the act ; the, messages of the President; the reports from ? the Secretary of the Treasury ; the decla-: rations of members of Congress," upon this floor and that of the other House, all here tofore have united in stamping upon it that character. Strictly speaking, he was aware that Congress possessed the power to repeal , or modify the act,_ but in his opinion it could not be done, without something like a violation of the .public faith.. He had foreseen,- at the . period of the. passage of the' act, the probability of- a large surplus, beyond the Wants of the Governmentv eco nomically administered, and he had enclea-. vored, simultaneously with ...the passage of the act, to piovide for it by the, introduction J of : the land bill. That bHh had passed Con rgress, but unfortunately had encountered the veto of the President. . If that bill . had re ceived his sanctijwi, there would Jiave been no surplus at ?tJiigNast> session, tone -, now, probably none - hereafter, to divide and dis tract Uf. : For, it was from the proceeds of itfter public Jaiids; that rt\?e Jgigrtus Arose. v If] the- land bill which- passed at theja'st ses?^ sion of the.. Senate had become a law,-it would have distributed, among' the several iStati s a larger sum than Will be deposited in their treasuries' under" the deposite act.< .; alVlr. C. said that he knew well that the pres rvation of the compromise act did not depend upon him. ? He well kne\v that its fate was in the hands of a majority of tlie Senate, as now constituted," and a majority pi' the House. But, if they chooie to repeal it, or to make any essential alteration in the measure of protection secured by that act, he could only deeply regret ihe^re^opemiig wounds which had been so happily heaJed.^ He, can co-operate in no such object, but** *? f. >r himself, steadily oppose any material cWin ?c ofih.' provisions of the act, and in?61 upon that efficacious and complete remedy {or a sur" plus which is to bo found in the land bill, or upon some other competent remedy which will not unsettle all the great business of the country. The bill was, after further cebate, referred to the committee on Finance. MR. LEIGH'S RESIGNATION. On resigning his seat in the Senate of the United States, Mr. Leigh addressed the fol lowing communication to Lieut Gov. Robert? son : "Richmond, Dec. 5th, 1836. "Sir? In the letter I addressed to the Speakers of the two houses of the General Assembly, under the date of the 2nd March i last, 1 announced my purpose to resign my ; i office of Senator of the U. States at the com mencement of the present session : and 1 now : hereby resign that office. "I should have confined this letter to the single purpose of making this resignation, if the obligations of truth and candor, the care 1 owe to my own reputation, and, in my sense of things, my duty to my country and its in* stitutions, did not impose upon me the neces sity of correctingi some misapprehensions, which I have discovered to exist, as to my motives for resigning; ^"1 shall, therefore, avail myself of this , opportunity to declare, in the most explicit and solemn manner, what 1 thought 1 had intimated very distinctly in my letter of the 2d March, above referred to, that my sole rea son and motive for resigning my seat in the Senate, consist in the imperious necessity I am under of giving my whole attention to my private affairs, or rather in my sense of the duty which I owe to my family, and to all rny personal relations in society. I could not re tain my seat in the Senate, if I would ; and I must ask leave to say further, that so far from being in the slightest degree influenced to resign by the instructions which the Gene ral Assembly gave me at its last session, and the resolution it thought proper to adopt, that :I was bound to obey those instructions or resign ? so far, too, from being moved by any apprehension of the censure of the General Assembly, or even of any ^public odium I might incur by retaining my office, I placed my whole hope of the lasting approbation of my country upon my resistance to the principles and doctrines asserted in the reso'utions of the la?t session ; principles arid doctrines, as novelv in fny^opinionjas they are erroneous and daiigerous, tending to an entire sub version7; of the Constitution of the Senate, to an altera, tion of the whole frame of the Federal Gov ernment, and to the destruction of all the balances wisely provided. by the Constitution, as well in respect to the relations of the several departments of the Government to?: wards each other, as the relation of the whole towards the State Governments. - "I request yqu to commoaicate this letter to j have ihe honor to bey Sir, With J; ' ^ ; m Your obedient servant^ VV- 4.EIGH. To the Hon. -WyndhIm. Robertson, 3 Lieut; Governor of Virginia." THE MILITARY COURT AT FREDEv .. wricks fx r v The Baltimore^tfript ^savs- ? c,The officers who are now in attendance, besides those com posin^the Court, arejMajor Gen.Scott, Gen. Sanford, of Georgia, tol; Bankhead, Capt. Depeyster, Cppt. Gree njJJj; S . A ., and Capt* Thistle, of the Louisiana Volunteers. About 15 witnesses, on the part of Geii, Scott, who have not, as yet, arrivlld^Jire to be examined. The feeling here runs high in tavor of Scott, and the indignation of the people strongly ex pressed against Gen.3esup, the Quarter-Mas ter-General." C ^ EXAMINATION OF COLONEL BANKHEAD. From the Baltimore Patriot. * ~ > By the Court! ? What station did you hold in the army which operated in Florida, be- j tween February and May ? " Answer. ? L was Commandant of Artillery and Commander of tiie Post of Picolata, until about tbe 9ih of Marcb, when I received in structions from Gen. Scott to proceed imme diately to Fort I)rane, in ord?:r to give succour to Gen.- Gaines, whom report said was sur rounded^by the Indians, and in a starving con dition, on the Withlacoochee. The bad state of the roads rendered my progress slow; and when within a few miles of Micanopy, I heard that Gen. Gaines had transferred his command to- General Clinch, and had arrived at Fort Drane. Gen. Scott then directed me to send the mounted men where they could get corn for theirhor?es, while the foot proceeded slow ly towards Fort Drane.' When 1 arrived at Fort Drane,' Geri. Clinch assigned meto the command of all. the troops in that quarter; and when, the right wing toek up the march from Fort Drane, 1 was appointed to the command of the left column "of the right wing, which station i held during the campaign. By the Court? In what state did you find the Ordinance and Quarter-Master's Depart ment 1 "f* i ; k ' v Answer.? TJhei^e were 2 six-pounders and a howitzer at Picolata, but no ammunition pre', pared for them. I was compelled to use the men's flan neL-d losses for bags. Gen. Scott tendered his flannel. I cut up the bare i)f lead, as a substitute jbrcannister shot. Thefcowiis ,zer we had toteaye, for ,the want of horses to draw it. \ ?> By the Court. ? Were you inthe confidence oCGen. Scott V ? did he make you acquainted with-bis plans, and were they, in your opinion, calculated to produce a favorable result ? Answer.* ? I lived with Gen. Scott, and was familiar with his plans and objects ; and, but for a combination of nncontrolable circum stances,- 1 believe that he would have sue* ceeded in effecting .his purposes. By the Coilrt. ? What, in your opinion, was the cause'of the failure of the expedition con ducted 4>v Gen". Scott ? J i-. 4 * ?; ^ '"t- ** ? ? . " ? Answer.-r-Thc lateness of the season, when - operations were commenced; the excessively bad state of the roads; absence of tra nsporta tion; ibe defective state of the ordinance de^ partmenf; the want of suitable clothing for tK} troops; the want of good and wholesome ** erf but the most important cause is t^-un" authorised movement of Gen.Gaj/y* 8 the consumption of provisions by^.^ WW AH these conspired to render ^^ca,"Pa,S? labortiv-e.; ' .J>' By the Ceiirt^Had yo^^nvcre*Jon with Gen. Gaines whUej^ndJJI ^ . - a Hn to Fort Drane L ' Answer.? ^On myjvp remarked <rWeil Jno gwd,-u's leavinS 'heiafeVen^oi, war was ended. my mind.tnjep^ : rv>lnno/ ^ankhead als,cy remarked, in the ? .^a^his evidence., jhat Mr. Morris, the strttS^t Tampa Bay, Had informed him that jn J^nsequence of the publication of General fines' order in New Orleans, that his bro ther had concluded to postpone the shipment of provisions and clothing to Tampa, in con sequence of which the troops suffered very much. ^ 2-! ~ Gen. Scolt arose frequently duringthe ex amination of the witness, and explained the j object of cei taio of hit interrogation#, coop ling them with the attempts which have been made "by a certain General and his slajf" defame his reputation by publication* in every part of the United StaWa. He said he had rcfrainedreplying to thera on account of his peculiar situation, but that now tbe time had an i ved when he should claim the justice due to him. His aitastons to Gen. Jessup went** indignantly expressed, and not Jesa ii^VfSn they when he spoke of cerUjjKpublications which animadverted with- Severity upon bis official charactcr in conducting tbe cam paign. Capt. Thistle being recalled, Gen. Scott questioned him on several unimportant jioints. He asked him if he or his troops expressed any dissatisfaction to go into the .field under the command of another officer beside Gen i Gaines. ^ Capt. Thistle, in a plain and simple man ner, said that for his part, he never heard of such a man as Gen. Gaines until be saw bin in Florida, ? that he -thought he was to be , commanded by Col. Smith and Col. Lawsoft. * (This is a strange assertion on tbe part of Capt. Thistle, when the troops were master ed into service by Geh. Gainesftand reviewed by himself in penon.) The captain went into a prettyfuiLaccoant of the, sufferings the men endured for the want of shoes and otbfr -articles of clothing, as well aa provision* ? - said that he found a few gallons of whiskey if Tampa Bay, which sold for 15 or 20 dollars a gallon ? that many, of the men Jjpre worth 20,000 dollars, and yet coold no^get a pair of shoes to wear. THE STEAM PACKET DOLPHIN BLOWN UP. FIFTEEN LIVES LOST. The pilot boat Charleston , Capt. Dsht, ar rived at this port yesterday, from Savannah, bringing the Georgian of that city, of Wed nesday morning, from which we copy the following particulars of the entire destruction of the Steam Packet Dolphin . We understand that the Dolphin wae unw der contract of. pale for $30,000? end* that she was in the U. S. Government employ at? $4000 per month. We further learn that ?5000 was insured on her. ' jt''- -T ? . L - SjlYA&MKC, Dfec. 20. LOSS OF THE STEAM PACKET* DOLPHIN. We deeply regret to learnj.by Cant, Brooke of the steamer Santee * who^arrived yesterdays morning from Volusia^ t4iat on Monday-' last,. 19th in*t. about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the steam packet Doiphins Capt. Kudolpb, off St.. John's Bar, stopped to take a pilot on boards and in the act of starting the enpne, tfate; boiler burst, and. unfertnnately killed fifteen persons. The Santee waa lying at anchor" inside of the bar, aod sa?Mbe explosion take place, whereupon s be raised : steam and- pro ceeded for the wreck.. _ When . within about' hirlf a mile of the wreck met' a pilot boat of?" St. JofiiVharbo^hafiii^onSbardCol. Brown,, ladv, three childten<*and servant, .Mrs. Gibba and soff< aatoBw^llltdolgb ;,at the same time picked up one of the Ddtyhw'a boats, with thre^meft belonging to <her, and one of' "tyje St. John's pilots. Oh ? the arrival of the Santee at the wrcck, she look ofTDf. Martin of S. Army*, and Messrs. Waldron and ' m. The small beat of the Santee .VT7r^ sent to* man wheifed drifted about' a. mile o\ & piece o f timiferTrom the wrecks . and while getting bim oi*? board the boeW* ; another person was ^soorered-abbut one hu m-rg dred and fifty ^ards ftem them with his beadi ; just above wmle*, who proved to be Col. Dell, of Jacksonville, fclightfy Hounded, and much1' exhausted, and Bucteeded' in saving him. It* getting dark, the Bwitee retarnear tnslilf Iter bar, with the following persoi^:jHt?ed~jfoat' the wreck, viz : ? Col. Krowrr, and?twt>' children, Mrs. Gibbs andVnv Dr, Martin, S. A.; Messrs. Waldro&ai&^oh B^'sHghtfyv " wounded, and' onegpereot)r (whoee* name we * could not ascertain,), Capttrtnji&ldolph, the*-, stewardess, a colored wonnn, and, four hands, one of whom is badly scalded. The following ars the names < ? Col. Brooks, Lieut. Alexander B S. A.; Miss Brown, da^^tffrof^Cojv Barnabus Luce, mate; ~B6nf?and Engineers ; Kennedy, pilot ; . two deck three stewards, and three blacft*. We learn that Barnabus Luce, the mal was a native of Rochester, (Mass.) : About thirty person.* were supposedio have'~J been on board of the Dolphin at the time of r * the disaster; J * . ryVr-oC~ J?r' "Ji The survivors were conveyed to Sti Atigi na tine by the Steam boat John Stoney,. with., the exception of Col. Dell, who was taken to Jacksonville. We understand that thfe DdK phin sunk in four fathoms water. It is worthy of remark that Dr. of the army, after the explosion took plf&. gave up bis place in the scow to a Lady, and clung to a log until the steam boat Saptee came No news from the army since they left: Volusia, for the Wahoo Swamp. Jacksonville, Dec. 15. i The army under command of Gen. Je?sup> left 'Volusia c? the 12th inst. with ten days provisions. The march . is upon Wahoo. Swamp where it is supposed the hostile IndU. ans, or a part, at least, of them, are deter mined to make a last and desperate stand. If* the information obtained from the Indian pru. soner, taken by Gen. Jessup can be relied on, the" Wahoo Swamp is Oseola's fortress ? his last strong hold ? wbichjie with bis men, ISO in number, are determined to defrod or die in the attempt. His^forlress is impenetrable,, says the Indian prisoner, except in two places ?one of which wi# require rafts, the other cfn be forded ? s*d both of them are very difficult and da*?erous passes. These Oseola intends tadf^nd an^ he has erected fortifies^ tionV fbiy>^r^e^nc?- Gen- Jessup proceed? Tto thesfe^'? poicte, where there will probably be hv* before the passes nrp forcedL ftuyfow long can such a handful of men hold " " An ftrnfjr of two thousand J . Let p??*. ?f position be evsr so great ? the passes ever so di Sign It ? the Aide fortifica tions sijch an ehemy can erect, inus: be swept - away, and tfiey either slain oMorctd to seek refuge iri the eyengades&L Jjr The amountof inorfmat?Neiifed from the Indian. m weciii Ieito?-* riors are alone PhHip, Jumper were the ? "? but. have kegs of ^?v^i W /S?. f * < L; SlO ? *of - that his' five were In the there woun< towi \ all this may be so, andaslt is derivei a captivs enemy, it is at least liable to picion.