Columbia telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1828-1839, December 31, 1836, Image 2
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.