DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.
Xeic York, Jan. 5. [
It is sorrow and with shame we regain take |
up the pen t r? record the v particulars of the >
wreck of another vessel destined to this port, I
when almost within sigrht oflt; sorrow at the
immense loss of fife with wfcich the event has
been accompanied, and shatne that otir port
regulations are insnflScint X6 guide the marl- I
ner to his hayen, when he has readied our
coast.
Ths information we i^ve below has been
derived by our reporter from the Captain c f
the shipwrecked vessel, and from p-vsons on ;
the spot where the ship came on shore. He
reached town this morning having1 been dt-s?*
patched by us thither, as som as the news or
the horrid catastrcphe reached us. - ?
Ttte Ba-q-.ie Mexico, Capt Winslow, sailed ;
from Liverpool on the 25th October last, hav
ing on board a crew consisting of twelve men
?*' and one hundred and four pass^n^rs, in all
one hundred and sixteen son Is. Sne made
the Rio'Wa.ud lights on Sa uiday ni^jhl last, at
11 o'clock, and on Sunday morning was off
the bar, with thirty or more squaje rigged ves- i
sels: all having signals Hying for pilors; but i
not a pilot was there m sight. The Mexico
continued standing off and on the Hook till j
midnight, and at dark, she and the whole fleet i
ofshipa displavel lanterns from their yards- 1
for pilots. Still no pilot came. At midnight i
the wind increased to a terrible gale from the I
north west, the barque was no longer able to
hold to windward and was blown off a distance
of some 50- miles. At this time, six of the -
. crew were badiy frost bitten, and the captain,
male, ancTtwo seamen were all that were left
able to hand and reef the sails. On Monday
morning about 11 o'clock, standing in shore I
they made the southern end ot the woodlands, ?
when she was wore round and headed to the j
nortk under a ciose reefed main top-sail, reef" j
ed fore sail, two reefed try -sail and fore-stay ;
sail. At four o'clock the next morning, the i
mate took a cast of the lead and reported to i
Capt. Wimrfowv that he had fifteen fathoms ,
water. SupijOsing from the soundings, as laid i
down on tiie chart that with this depth of wa
tery he- could still stand on two hours longer
with safety ? the captain gave orders to that
effect, and was the more induced to do it, as
ths crew were in so disabled a state, and the !
weather so extremely cold, that it was impose ;
sible for any oa>e to remain on deck longer than j
half ail hour at a time. The event has shewn j
that the information given by the mate, as, to f
the depth of water, was incorrect, his error !
probably aro3e from the lead lioe being frozen
stifF at the time it was cast.
Fifteen minutes afterwards the ship struck
the bottom 26 miles east of Sandy Hook ?
at Hempstead Beach, and not more than a
caWe'a length from tiw shore. The scene that
ensued fin board we leave to the reader's im
agination. For one hour and tliree quarters
she continued thumping heavily, without ma
king any water, , the sea, however breaking;
^ continually over her Her rudder was now
knocked off, and the C aptaia ordered the main
mast to be cut away*. The boats were then
cleared, the Long boat hoisted out, and veered
away nnder ner bows, with a stout hawser,
for the purpose of filling it with passengers,
letting it drift within reach of the people who
crowded the beach, then hauling her back a
ga in, and thus saving the unfortunate people
on board; bat this intention was frustrated by
the partine of the hawser, which snapped like
a thread, as soon as the boat was exposed to
the heavy surf. The yawl was next got along
side; and stove to pieces almost instantly. At j
seven o'dock the ame morning ths ship i
feilged and filled with water. Orders followed
from the Captain, to cut away the foremast*
*nd that every soul on board should come on
deck, ia txpreasible agony they thus remain^
?d until fber o'clock in the anernoon, when
* boat mm launched from the beach, and suc
ceeded in gettisg under the bowsprit of the
wnefc. The boat to6k off Capt Winslcw and
aam raen and succeeded m reaching the shore
sit safety. Tne attempt however was attend
ed" with such jinminent danger that none coud
' fct induced to repeat it. And now the borrors
#f She scene were indescribable. Already had
ths sufferings of the unhappy beings been such
as to surpass belief. From the moment of the
<Usaster, they had hung round the Captain,
. covered wish their blankets, thick set with
*' ice, imploring bis assistance, and asking if
" .hope waastiil left to them. When they per
ceived that no further help came from the
i&ftd their piercing shrieks were distinctly
T lfeaflP&ttfi*o?wderable distance, and contin
^ -nei tfjroughthe night, until they one by one
' The next morning, the bodies of i
~ many of the unhappy creatures were seen, j
lashed to the different parts of the wreck, em- ;
bedded in ice. None it is believed were drown- !
<ed But a U frozen to death.
Of the -cue hnndrt'd and four passengers. :
thirds were women and ch: dren.
-It *i< but justice to the people on shore, to !
say that every thing which human beings
ccuid accomplish to save the unfortunate!,
?was done that their moans p?rmited. The
only boat which boarded the vessel was haul
ed & distance of ten miles and was manned
?by an old man and six others, four or whom i
fire of the old man's sons and grandsons. ?
For thirty- five years has he been living on the j
sea shore, during which he has rendered a?sis* ,
tance fco numerous wrecks, and never before, |
have he or h-s comrades shrunk from the surf; i
but in addition to its violence on the present j
occasion, such was the extreme cold, that a
second attempt to rescue was rnoft than they i
dared ventare; it would have inevitably proved j
fatal to them. !
The ship at present lies with her starboard ;
aide about . four fet?t under water, her mizen ;
aiast Standing. Besides being bilged, her up- ;
per wor&B have so far parted from the hull, asj
to allow the cargo to wash out.
The Mexico was a substanttel eastern built
vessel of280tons,ll years old, owned by Mr. |
Samuel Broom cf this city. She is insured by
the Commonwealth office of Boston for ?8000.
The freight is insured by the States Marine of
this city. The atiantic office is also on part of
her cargo. T5e cargo consisted of
^*00 tons bar iron
100 do. coal
200 do. crates,
All consigned to Samuel Thompson.
.Sixteen of the bod ies had driven ashore when
our reporter left the beach, all frozen. It was
expected tke remainder would drift ashore dttr^
mg the night, the wind and current setting
strongiv m shore.
When on the Hook the Mexico, besides her
signal for a pilot, had her flag flying Union
down as a signal of distress in consequence of
the frost bitten state of the crew and the short- !
ness of provissions.* She spoke on Sunday the
Montreal, packet Ship, from the Captain of
which vvssel we learned she was below, and
reuorted her arrival in consequence yesterday
roaming.
Of the fleet of30 vessels that were off the
Hook in company with the Mexico on Sunday,
waiting pih/ts, not more than one half have yet
arrived. -
The unfortunate passengers were of a very
iumrior class-, and had considerable property
with them. On the bodies which drifted,
- ashore, gol<i of some amount was found.
?olumtiCs ^cltssrope.
SATURDAY. JANUARY l-t.-lS37?
A No. c f the Philadelphia -Saturday Chron^
icle has been sent to us,containing^some bitter
Abolition language, [t calls itself "a Family
newspaper, devoted to Literature, Science,
Agricu!tare, Education, Amusement," &c.
and, we believe, boasts of having 26,000 se
seri bor?, Southern families, at least, will
hereafter avoid it.
The amendments to the charter of the Lou
isviife, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road
Company (concerning the branches in Ken
tucky, the directors, banking privileges, &c.)
are in discussion ia the Legislature of North
Carolina. We perceive, from the Raleigh pa
pers that Col. Memminger is performing his
mission with much ability and effect.
4< Sermons , and an Essay on the Penta
teuch. By Robert Means, A. M. of Fair
field District j S: C. With an Introduction
and a Sermon occasioned by his death , by
George Howe, Professor of Biblical litera
ture in the Theo. Sem. Columbia, S. C."
We see a few copies of the above, at Cun
ningham's, printed in beautiful style. We are
glad to find in this shape, at least a portion of
ihe fruiU of the genius of this eminent divine.
To the^OW learning necessary to a theoJogU
an, Mr. Means added, in a degree very unusu
al -in this country, the elegant literature of
the general scholar, io him were mingled, in
the happiest manner, all the qualities that be
come the clergyman of adorn the gentleman.
His cultivated mind, fervent devotion, and
virtuous life, gave to his discourses a force,
an authority, an impressiveness, and a persua
sion, exceeding those of any preacher that we
have evetflistened to. ' .
Of tile sermons, we hare to regret that the
number given is only thirty five. Tfo; Eisay
on the Pentateuch, and the cause that produc
ed it, are sufficiently known.
11 A Coach made of the Wood of the ; Constitution . ?
A beautiful coach has been built entirely of the wood
of the oldjrigate Constitution, at Amherst in Mass
acirasetts. It is intended as we are informed, for a
New oars' present to General Jackson, and
was paid for bj the contributions of several gen
tlemen of this city. It is now at Washington, pack
ed m Merge boa from which it was taken on New
Yearo* jnorning. "
' ' i*
It appears from the above that General Jack
ion, after having so often rode over the Consti
tution, is now about to ride in it. Our only
surprise is, that fragments enough can be
found to construct the vehicle.
continue the figure. This being, we
presume, the State Coach, will of course be
bequeathed by the present President ~t? his
successor. We cannot but think that when
the latter takes the road, on the 5th of March
gpext, the spectacle will be not a very sublime
one. Of the sorry-looking, stumbling, shying,
baulking, team, we suppose the.broken. winded
Benton is to be wheel-horse? and Kendall
driver. Sttc^ie, who ia always ready to put
on any livery, will be footman ? Rives is plenty
light for postillion ? and Woodbury will make a
capital drag-chaia. Thus eqaipped, perhaps
the creaking isachine may jolt and rumble on
for a few stages. Certainly it will be in no
danger of being run away with. The worst
that can happen is that at the. first bal piece
of road, it will be very apt te break down, and
leave its owner sprawling in the mud.
The Royal Family. ? The following inter*
esting information is travelling the rounds of
the loyal papers, to the great refreshment of
the faithful. High station, after all, must be
the true Alchymy. How wonderful its power,
since it is able to bestow " bodily vigour,*'
even upon the decayed and diminutive Maitin
Van Buren.
" Martin Van Buren, President elect of the Unit
ed States, was 54 years of age on the 5th Dec. inst
His health is as fine, and he possesses as much bodi
ly vigor, as at 30 years. He is a widower, and has
several children, some of whom are grown His
eldest son is in the army, and was Aid-de-Camp to
Gen. Scott while in Florida."
*? He possesses as much bodily vigour as at
30 years^ There cannot be much difference,
we are lore. It should have been added, in
justice to the " President elect," that l.i? beau
ty, too, is not materially diminished.
CONGRESS.
Braid of the express mail, we have given
the proceedings of Congress up to Monday last.
Little has yet been -done, tho' various impor
tant matters have been taken up. Of the
members from this State, Mr. Calhoun has
taken his usual active and strong part ? Mr.
Preston, delayed in his arrival, has now joined
in the debates ? Mr. Waddy Thompsorf has
distinguished hraiself in the House on several
occasions ? and Mr. Pickens has spoken more
than onc?, with force and effect.
MICHIGAN.
The question of the admission of this Stato info
the Union, is the most stirring matter yet debated in
Congress. The facts seem to be as follows.
At the last session Congress passed an act provi
ding for llie admission of the new State into the
Union, under certain provisions or conditions refer
ring to the disputed boundary between the new
State and Ohio, which boundary Congress undertook
to settle in the act. Upon this, the Legislature of
Michigan called a convention in pursuance of the
express provisions of the act of Congress ; and that
c onvention, romnosed of delegates elected by the
people for the sole arid exclusive purpose of express
ing the will of the people on the subject, determined
not to ae^ept the offer of Congress, and refused to
enter the I nion on the conditions and under the
limitations imposed Dy the act. Subsequently, in
October last, certain arbitrary proceedings were
had in the State, and another ^convention, so
callcd, was held, which determined to accept the
conditions imposed by Congress.^ This was done
without any colour of authority from the Legisla
ture, or any other department of the State Govern
ment. The effect proposed was to undo what the
State, according to its established forms, had done;
t-nd Mr Grundy's bill proposed to sanction, by act of
Congress, this informal, extra-* onstitutional, and ar
bitrary repeal of a solemn act of the constitutional
authority of the State.
The reader will at once perceive the main points*
Michigan is a State, but a Staie out of the Union.
She bias a Constitution, and a regular form of gov
ernment in full operation. She, therefore, must
speak and act through her Government, as other
States fJo. But, from the day this administration
came inro power, there has been a scheme sys
tematically arranged, to break down the State
Governments, and to throw the people under the
control of the Federal Government- This plan
may be discovered in all the proclamations, protests,
manifestoes, and other papers emanating from the
Executive. It may be seen in the late proceedings
of the anarcbiats in Maryland disorgan
izing doctrines of Dallas, Wilkint, and Kendall, in
Pennsylvania. And now it may be seen in the bilL
of Mr Grundy. This bill intends nothing mare nor
less than the recognition of those revolutionary doc-:,
trines. The great object, the secret purpose is, to.
bring the State Go>x>rnments into disrepute, and
by removing their restraints; to throw the country '
into confusion, and to draw the people , by the aets
and appeals of demagogues, under the exclusive
control of this great Babylon of consolidation, the
Federal Government.
S U It PLUS REVENUE.
On the 3d. January, the following commu
nication was transmitted to Congress by the
Secretary of the Treasury. Amount to be
distributed, thirty seven and a half millions.
South Carolina^ share, ?1,401,000. As to
Michigan, it seems to us that she, not hejng-j
one of the States of this Union, has exactly
as much right to a share of this money as
China or the Moon ? and no more.
Treasury Department , Jan. 3, 1337.
?Sir ? I seize the earliest opportunity to inform
Congress of the measures adopted by this Depart-, j
merit since the 1st instant, in compliance with the
19th sec. of the act regulating M the deposites of the
public money."
The balance in the Treasury on that day, which
was subject to be appropriated among the "different
States, has, on the principles of the act, as construed
by the Attorney General, and explained in roy. last
annual report, been ascertained to be $37,468,859 97.
The division of this sum, in detail, among the sev
eral States, may be seen in the document annexed,
(A.) and including Michigan, |equals $127,445 10
cents to each electoral vote. ;
In consequence of the proceedings of the last con
vention in Michigan, and the views expressed -con
cerning them by the President of the United Ji^tates^J
in his recent message communicating those proceed-]
mga to Congress, together with th? provisions of the
bill now pending in one house on this question, the
Department has supposed her situation so far chang
ed since November as to justify the assignment to
her of a share of the public deposites; subject, how
ever, entirely to the future decision of Cortgress
upon the propriety of this step.
The payment of the share assigned to Michigan,
will therefore, be postponed until some expression of
opinion shall be given by Congress, which may eith
er sanction its being made to her in the samp man
ner as to the other States, or require its division
among the other States, in addition to. the sums
which have been already apportioned to them.
Twelve of -the States have communicatcd their
acceptance of the terms of this act, and accordingly
transfers, euualin amount to the first quarterly dopo
site required under the law, are now issuing m favor
of their respective agents. . i
Which is respectfully submitted.
LEVI WOOD B (TRY,
Secretary of the Treasury. ,
Apportionment among the several States of the Pub-;
lie Money remaining in the Treasury on the 1st
January, 1837, excepting five millions of dollars^
Amount to be deposited
States. No. Electoral votes, during the year 1837.
Maine, 10 $1,274,451 02
New Hampshire, 7 892,115 71
Massachusetts, 14 1,784,231 43
Rhode Island, 4 509,780 41
Vermont, 7 ?? 892,115 71 ;
Connecticut, * 8 1,019,560 81
New York, ? 42 5,352,694 28
New Jersey, 8 1,019,560 81
Pennsylvania, . 30 3,823,353 06
Delaware, 3 382,335 31
Maryland, 10 1,274,451 02
Virginia, 23 2,931,237 34
North* Carolina, 1*5 1,911,576 53.
South Carolina, 11* 1.401,896 12
Georgia, 11 1,401,896 12
Alabama, 7 892,115 71
Mississippi, 4 509,780 .41!
Louisiana, 5 637,225 51;
Missouri, 4 509,780 41"
Kentucky, 15 1,911,676 53
Tennessee, 15 v 1,911,676 53
Ohio, 21 - <2,676,347 14
Indiana, 9 - 1,1?,G05 92
Illinois, 5 68T^25 51
Arkansat, 3 - 382,135 31.
Michigan, 3 382,315 31
* ,v. : -
$37,468,85*97
^ We dont know when we h*ve seen ftie
pangs of getting -up belter .described thap in
the following. If the invention of .sleep
serves those famous praises,- Which Sancho
bestowed upon it, certainly be who first
brought into use the execrable discovery of
getting out of bed, merits, everjr morning, to
be remembered, by the whole human race,
with a curse.
"Cool Courage.? -What determined purpose,
what decisive action, what cool calculation, what *
powerful effort at volition, it require* to get out of
bed one of these icy mornings ! . 'JTie man who in a
steveless, fireless room, can deliberately pusfy back
the bcdclothes aud roll out of his warm nest, without
a shrug ?f shudder, is calculated for deed* of noble
daring. He should hold himself in readiness to en
list against the Indians, for he undoubtedly possess
es one essential requisite of a soldier, to wit, coolness.
He has a savageness of disposition, and an iciness of
feeling, which though they may command respect,
they cannot be envied. For a man of Phelgmatic
temperament, it requires a mighty effort to go to
bed ? a mightier to turn over when he gets therer?
but mightiest of all to get up again. Beiore he goes
he warms and turns, and turns and warms; pokes hie
toes to the fire, then his heels ? rubs his hands ?
bakes his shins, and sneaks to bed. Then if a shank
happen to stray over his linen, six inches from the
warm place where it was originally planted,, he
snatches it back aa though be were snake bit. But
when day comes, and the breakfast things begin to
rattle on the table ? here we must be excused for it's
no joke ? Hoo-oo-oo.? Crreensfcoro' Patriot
THE SOUTHERN AGRICULTURIST.,;
We have just received from the publisher,
A. E. Miller, the January number of this
valuable periodical. The following is its tabte
of contents :
Part i. ? Original Communications.? D n
Pise Buildings, by Bartholemew Carroll ; Suc
cessful Experiment of the six-acre system ra
Cotton- culture, by "Beaufort"; Three Experi
ments on the raising of Corn, by "No" Emi-:
grant**; Entomolagy ? The Grub Worm, by
Query on Salt as a manure for Cotton,,
by ' One Interested," with an Answer, by the
Editor ; Experiments in growing Irish Pota
toes, by the ediior. .
. Rart u.?rSe lections. ? On Soils ; on Ag
ricultural Reading; Memoranda for those
who would improve in fftrsbacdry^ ortfiteetfc?
Rail Road across the Isthmus of Darienj Ecoi^
omical method of keeping Horses, by Henry
Sully, M. I>. ; Foreign Agricultare; on the Cul-'
ture of Rye ; on the difference in the effect of
Dung upon different Soils ? and upon the same
land before and after it has been limed, by
William Dawson; Short Hints on Manures,
and their comparative value; Durability of
Wood.
Part iii. ? Miscellaneous Intelligence. ?
Cochran's Many-Chambered Non-Conducting
Rifile ; to fatten Fowls or Chickens in four or
five days; to give luslre to Silver; Sir Walter
Scott; An excellent and eheap way of manur
ing Corn ; Beet Sugar; rcmovil of Fruit
Trees: Alum Mine discovered in New York ;
Salt made in New York; Spurious Mulberry
Trees; New Silk Factory, Sugar from Indian
corn; to fatton Hogs; A Lady clothed in Amer.
ican Silk; Mode of extinguishing Sparks in the
Chimneys of Steam-engines; Bleeding]at the
Nose.* Cure for Warts; Wonderful Effects of
Culturs.
Liverpool, Nov . 25.
Cotton, ? Sin e our last there has been
more business ; the 6ales on Wednesday
amounting to 2500 bags, and to day fully 3000.
The better qualities, of American are more
saleable: in other descriptions there, is no
change,
- Liverpool,' Nov. 26.
We notice a slight advance in the better
qualities of American since last Saturday, but
no change in the inferior qualities.
corcCrftKss.
? ' Senate, Jany 4.
In the senate ? Michigan question, ? The
debate on the admission of Michigan was re
sumed with increased interest. Mr. Morris,
who had the floor, concluded his remarks, and
was succeedcd by Mr. Bayard on the same
side. Wa believe it was the first time that
the Senator from Delaware had addressed the
Senate, and from this circumstance, as well
as from the power of his argument, he excited
general attention. His spcech was distin
guished by its clear and forcible views of the
doctrine of Slate rights. One remark, which j
he repeated with peculiar emphasis, deserves i
to be written in letters of gold, and hung up in
th i house of every man in this Union. " Sir,"
said he, speaking of the character of our institu
tions, '? the great, th* radical difference between
the Government of the United States , and the
Governments of the State, is this ? THE Ft/*
DERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO POW
ERS HUT THOSE THAT ARE EX
PRESSLY GRANTED BY THE ?ONS VU
TUTION; THE STATES HAVE ALL
POWERS THAT ARE NOT EXPRESS
LY PROHIBITED BY THAT INSTRU
.MENT," This is the true Jefferson republican
doctrine of the constitution, and we thank God
that it is not yet entirely repudiated. We
rejoice to see it again coming into credit. It
is the. doctrine of liberty ? and when it perishes,
.tfie liberty of the country will psrish with it.
! Mr. Bayard took up this doctrine, and wield
ed it with much force and eloquence. With it
overthrew, at one blow, tho federal and
disorganizing doctrines of the anarchists. He
left thefn without the shadow of support. He
1 exposed their evil tendencies, their certain in
fluence in overthrowing the rights cf the
States, and concentrating all power in the
' hands of the Federal Government. He de
precated these consequences with great earn
estness, and besought the Senate to pause
before they sanctioned such dangerous and
disorganizing principles. He was anxious to
see Michigan admitted into the Union, and
would Immediately vote for it, if the obnoxious
preamble, recognizeding the anarchical doc
trins of the day, were stricken out.
Mr. Brown, of North Carolina, replied to
Mr. Bayard, and defended, at length, the
principles contained in the letter of Mr. Dallas.
He said lie concured in the conclusions of that
letter, and so far defended its doctrines with
great zeal. He then went into a consideration
of the alien and sedition laws, and other party
topics, denouncing then bitterly, although his
associate, Mr. Buchanan, was sitting near. ?
He seemed to dislike the name of federalist,
though the thing itself seemed to be less un
acceptable.
Mr. Niles continued the debate a half hour.
Mr. Crittenden rose and made a few remarks.
He called upon the Senate to observe that all
were willing to admit Mitchigan. The pream
ble of the bill ? the first of the kind he had
seen ? was of no importance as to the act of
admission. It was introduced for some pur
pose, Which he should not trouble himself to
examine. Being stricken out, there was no
difficulty. Why, th m, retain it 1 It is admit
ted it does not contain all the facts ? it was
guilty of what the lawyers call a suppressio
veri. He was, therefore, opposed to it?but
net to the admission of the State ? but to the
M kite-tail'' tacked to it. He took occasion
to ridicule, with great justice, the clamorous
professions of the anarchists of " love for the
people." ? devotion to the " icill of the people
&c. &c. He pointed to the object of this,and
exposed the motives which induced it in the
happiest ma oner.
Mr. Fulton defended the preamble on the
ground that it settled the question of disputed
boundary, and maintained the right of the&zs/
convention, convened without authority of law,
to annul the acts of the firsly convened under
the Jaw.
The question was then taken on the amend
ment proposed by Mr. Morris, and carried in
the negutive. Ayes 18 noes 23.
Mr* Southard then moved to strike out the
preamble, which was also negatived. Ayes 1G,
noes 25. The bill was then reported to the
Senate withpni amendment.
Mr. Calhoun then offered an amendment
proposing to strikeout the preamble, and to
amend thcbill so as to divest it of its obnoxi
ous principles. His amendment propose 1 the
immediate admission of the State into the
Union. He expressed his -solemn conviction
that the bill, as it stood, was pregnant with
most dangerous consequences ; and with the
view of expressing his opinions, he moved an
adjournment, as the hour was late. He wish
ed to have an opportunity of explaining his
?yiews tomorrow. On this motion Mr. Walk>
er called for the ayes and noes. The vote was
-taken, and the motion was negatived. Ayes'
13, noes 24.
Mr. Calhoun then rose and said, "1 see,- sir,
that the majority have the power, and that
they are determined to exercise it. I will
no: complain. I consider the amendment as
of great importance, involving the most essen
tial principles. But I will nol sptak at this
late hour. Let them take their advantege. ?
All I can now do is, to ask to record my name
on the amendment." He called for the ayes
and noes. The question was then taken on
the amendment, and it was decided in the
negative. Ayes 12 noes 25. The question
then being upon the engrossment for a third
reading,
Mr. White arose and made some remarks
explanatory of his vote. He would vote for
the admission, not for the reasons assigned by
the preamble, or those who support it; but be
cause Congress in June last had settled the
boundaries, and to avoid fature controversy.
The vote being then taken, there appeared,
.ayes 4, noes 27; so the bill was engrossed for a
tun# reading.
House of Representatives, Jan. 4.
D1STRIB UTION OF THE PUBLIC
LANDS.
Mr. C. Allan offered the following pre
amble and resolution :
Whereas Congress has heretofore made do
nations of the public lands for the purpose of
internal improvement and education,
To the State of Ohio, 1,737,83 _ u.cres,
Indiana, 1,012,592
Illinois, 1,712.215
Missouri, 1,181,248
Mississippi, 733,244
Alabama, 1,216,450
Louisiana, 920,053
Territory of Michigan, 599.973
Arkansas, 996, '338
Florida, 947,724
in the aggregate amounting to eleven million
fifty-seven thousand six huudred and eighty^
five acres :
And whereas each of the United States has
an equal right to participate in ihe benefit of
the public lands, the common property of the
Union;
. And every wise and good American havii.o
acrreedin the opinion that the cause cf general
education is indiesolubly identified with the
cause of general liberty ':
Therefore, to do equal and exact justice to
all- the States, to aid in diffusing among the
rising generation intelligence enough to com
prehend, and spirit to defend, their rights, and
thus to elevate the national cbiracter and in
sure the perpetuity of our free institutions ?
Be il resolved. That a select committee of
one member from each State, be appointed,
whose duty it fchall be to inquire into the jus
tice and expediency of making t > each of the
thirteen original American States, together I
with each of the States of Vermont, Maine,
Kentucky, and Tennessee, such grants of the
public lands, for the purposes of education, as
will corre spond in a just proportion with those
heretofore made in favor of the first named
States and Territories, and that said commit
tee have leave,to report by bill or oiherwise. ?
But, to avoid the objection of one State hold
ing land in another, the committee is directed
to insert a clause in the bill which they may
report, providing that the grants to be made
thereby shall be subject to sale under the laws
of the General Government now, in force, and
that the proceeds arising thoreCrom shall be
paid over to the States entitled to the same.
Senate Thursday, January 5.
The resignation of the Hon. A. Porter
was communicated to the Senate by the
.Chair.
Mr. Fulton presented sundry resolutions
of the Legislature of Arkanpas, instructing
lhe Senators from that State to vote for the
expunging resolution.
The ordinary business being despatched,
the bill providing for the admission ofMichigan
into the Union came up orf its passage.
Mr. Calhoun addressed the Senate at some
length, in opposition to the bill. He was will
ing and anixous for the admission of the State
and had the day before offered an amendment
to remove difficulties? But by the vote of the
Senate, the amendment had been cut off. ?
He referred to the inconsistency of Senatore;
at the last session they had declared that
Michigan was a State; now they maintain she
:s but a Territory . lie spoke of the embarrass
ments, attending the admission of the Senators
from Michigan on the floor ot the Senate, if
Michigan were only a Territory. If it were
a State, how could the Senate recognize and
sanction the proceedings of an assembly, con
vened without, and against the constituted
organs ? the government of the St"te 1. He
spoke in a solemn and Impressive manner of
the character of the times, and the tendency
of things to confusion and revolution. He
expressed the opinion, entertained for years,
that in the North, the caucus system would
finally subvert the forms of the constitution ?
and that in a country like ours, to abolish forms ,
was, in effect, to make power predominant, and
to sacrifice liberty itself.
He enquired how a Territorij could be ad~
mitted into the Union 1 It must be a State
before it can be admitted. Can Congress make
it a Stale 1 No. Congrefs u>ifhdraics its au*
thority, ar.d the people forma State const tu*
tion, and then apply fir admission. He ex
pressed the opinion that the Convention in
December was a mere caucus , that it had no
right to supercede the acts of the Convention
in September, convened under the authority
of law, and that, in strictness, its members
were indictable at common law. He was
assured that a like proceeding in other States i
would be p-inished as highly criminal. He
deprecated the progress of the dangerous and j
disorganizing doctrines which the Sanate were
about to sanction, and portrayed the fatal con?
sequences. ? He touched on the question of
nullification, and exposed the wide difference
between its doctrines and those of the destruc
tives. He professed himself a conservative ,
because he was a State rights man; and, if
they would have it, tnullifier. Our Govern
ment was the very best that ever was devised;
he was content with it; he never expected tor
get a better, and he would stand or fall by the
constitution.
Other subjects were incidentally touched,
but we have not time to go more . in detail.
He was followed by Mr. Strange, who avow
ed himself highly interested with the remarks
of Mr. C. but declared that: they were insuffi
cient to unsettle his opinions, and that they
rather confirmed him in their correctness. ?
When eminent counsel faiV*n their cause, he
had no doubt of weakness. In his experience as
a Judge he had often seen the weakness of *Jie
cause, as much from the fallacy of the argu
ment on one side, as from the strength on the
o'.her. He . deprecated the dangers which
would result from allowing the people of a
Territory to form a State Government, by the
withdrawal, on . the part of Congress, of its
authority over the Territory.
Mr. .Buchanan admitted that Michigan was
a State, but not a confederate Stale. We were
now treating, with heras a sovereign State*?
He thought that the doctrines invo ved, so far
from being novel and dangerous, were the
true doctrines of our revolution. lie inquir
ed why the objections now made were not urg
ed at the last session 1 Mr. Calihoun answer
ed, because every body then thought that the
Convention, to which the act ofadmission re
ferred, was understood to mean a legal, au
thorized Convention, and nota caucus, as the
present was.
Mr. 13. continued. It wa# acknowledged
on all sides, at the last session, that the Leg
islature could not give the assent of the State,
to the act of admi.-sion, and for that reason the
act had referred the question to a Convention.
The Legislature could not change the boun
daries of the State, but a Convention might.
The first Convention was legal, and^lie
thought the last was also legal and expres
sive of the will of the people. He would, vote
for the bill, as by it the unfortuu&te contro
versy about the boundary between the new
State and Ohio would be definitively settled.
Mr. Calhoun. 1 wish to ask the Senator,
one question. Can Congress eall a Conven
tion of the people in a State 1>and ifjso, from
what clause of the constitution is the power -
derived 1 " ?
Mr. JBcchanav. I answer no; emphatically
no; nor has it called the Convention in Michi
gan.
Mr. Calhoun, i will vary the tetms of
the enquiry. Can Congress, in the opinion
of the Senator, sanction,' and give effect to
the acts of a Convention in a State, assembled
without the authority of the State, and canceN
ling the acts of its organized.Govemment 1
Mr. Buchanan replied, butswe could not
comprehend what he desired tc* be understood
as saying. The apparent confusion in terms
of his remarks left us at a loss to know what
was his meaning.
Mr. Davis then addressed the Senate in op*,
position to the bill. - He took a position not
before occupied by any of the Bpeakers ? con
tending that, jieither at the Jasj; session, nor
at this time, was Michigan a State. His
argument restai upon the ordinance of 1787,
which regulates the disposition of the territory
northwest of the Ohio, and east of the Missis
sippi. By its terms, three States (Ohio, In
diana, and Illinois) were to be formed of the
territory lying south aline drawn from head
of Lake Erie, due west to the Mississippi, and
touching the southern extremity of Lake Mi
chigan, with a discretionary power to erect
two more States of the territory lying north
of that line, composed of Michigan Territory.
He denied utterly the right of the people re
siding in a portion of such territory, of their
own mere motion, to set up a State, and fix
its boundaries for themselves. The people of
Michigan had done this, and the boundaries
iad been fixed by ita constitution. That con
titution had not been altered so as to accord
rith the provisions of the bill of the last sea
ion. It was directly opposed to that bill.?
^nd even granting that the people of that por?.
ion of the territory had the right to establish
l State Government without the authority of
Congress ? which he denied, while her con
ititution remained as it is? he could not voto
o admit the State into the Union. It vai
igainst the constitution of the United States,
yhich he had sworn to support.
After 6omc remarks from Mr. King, of Ga.
n favor of the bill, defending it from the charge
>f favoring the doctrines of the anarchists ?
ind denouncing the doctrines of its opponent*
is being substantially those of the Stuarts, the
Bourbons, the House of Brandenburg, the Holy
\lliance; the doctrines of despotism every
vhere ? the question was taken, and the bill
massed the Senate; Ayes Noes 7? several
nembers in the opposition haying left the
Senate. . ; . i
Senate, Jany^\W?z- ?
Treasury Circular. ? Mr; Soothard resum
ed his argument . He denied that the Presi
dent had any powor to control, or regulate the
currcncy, from any right appertaining to hia
office. He must look to the laws of Congress
to warrant any such authority. He refitted
to these laws, and showed that, by them, the
circular of the Secretary was not only not au
thorized, but expressly forbidden. The law
authorized the reception of certain bonk notes
in paymerit.for pflblic lands* which notes the
circular expressly prohibits. He said thaUtho
power thus assumed was the highest known.'
to our institutions, 'ami that no roan Md thg?
right to exercise K at hw discretion. ft?
amounted to a repeal of the lawa of (tonfrvt*
and the regulation of the entire currency cHao
country. Such power was of the eswsnce of
Bovereingnty. It said tbats/fcts had been jfe
clared to be the only true. cOI^atjfRtionalicui*
rency. This waa not so. -llie ^onstitntion
authorizes no such conclusion. There was no
such thing aaa "constitution currency <? The^,
constitution fixes the value of metals , and
prohibits the passage of laws making any other
medic * legal tender in payment of debts ; but
the Government can receive, and always has
received, other media in payment of debts due
from man to roan, not from the citizen to the
Government.? -Many of the metals are not, and
never have been, a legal tender; only such are
legal as the law* of Congress have made legal.
. Mr. S. examined the various arguments of
the friends of the measure; that neither from
the resolution of 1816, nor the act of 1820
nor fro n any other act of Congress making
discrimination in favor of actual settlers, could
any argument be adduced to copntenance too
circular of the Secretary. The first eijuessly
allowed purchasers to pay in other media than
those mentioned in the circular? the second
referred expressly to lands forfeited to the
Government? and the clause requiring^***
payment for such lands, did not warrant the
conclusion that specie payments were intend
ed. Payments m fash do not mean payments
in specie, , Hut the law bad no reference to
thi* question. The power of Congress to dis
criminate, between resident and non- resident
settlers, if admitted, only proved that the Ex
ecutive did not have the same power, iastead
of proving that he had. The admission ofthe
power in the one department, negatived ita
claim for the other.
Saturday, J any 7Uj,1837r
The Senate did not sit to day.; the
House of REjpRESENFATivES,8evefRl priyate
bills were reported from the Committees. ^
FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS. "? ??.
Mr. Bell gave notice that on Tuesday
next, he should ask leave of the House in
troduce a biiUhr securin g the freedom of elec
tions. ' ' w
. t J>ISTRlBUTIOSO?
. The House resumed the
the, resolution heretofore offer* ,
of Kentucky, for appointing a a
of one member from each Sul .
and report upQ^ ttiP justice and
making grants Of public la^ds jg
States, so as jo place th'ei
in regard to donations of I
States.'- '*> < a ,'.v>
' Mr. Lake spoke a?,
estlf jn oppositi
he conohlde * "
r-so?nti<
The
Mr. Thomas ask?drthe,
the Senate bill for the i
into the Uniwij ilfc
consideration: agr
The bill was taked.np ant
Mr. Thomas, under inst
Committee on the Judiciary, ?
bill be postponed to Tuesday next, and^
the special order for that day and cach 1 ^
ceeding day, -till the same be disposed. OR-?
Lost. r-- .
On motion of Mr. Thomas, the biD waa tteiv
postponded to Tuesday next. '
Senate, Monday, Jan. 9, 1837*
Communications weee received ;Jrom the
Departments ?f fitatft .-tnT W ar,
statements of co&MinsalibteoltfCM
contingent expensci .
menu -
Mr* Grundy from the committee on the Ju
.diciary, reported resolutions unfav
petitions from New Yorjran^jJ
praying Congress to make
the erection of <x>ert ie
ry in certain places.
Mr. Ruggles from the selcct
tbe^Patent Office, reported abilltb;
the said office, which was read afir
ordered to a second reading#?
? m r% * _ m. ? ? ? ? ? . m'mi ? ? ^
Mr. Benton, 2000 ex^ copies were.
to bcupfintedv v :
The credential of the Hon. Wr- Priofts*,.
of Vermont, and the Hon. W. C.'Prefiton of
South Caroliua, re-elected by the Legislature*
of the respective States as Senators for six
years after the 4th of March next, were re*
ceiued and read by the clerkv - \?:r-' ?*?.
The Senate then toofc up the biil/optto
regulation of the Mint of ibe Umted Staies,
which was read a third time and passed,
The bill for the relief of Samuel Warren
was read a third tima^and passed*
The Senate then,, on motion qT Mr. Clay,
proceeded to the consideration of the order of
the day, it being the resohftioQ of Mr. Ewing
of Ohio, to rescind ' '$? ^
the tr e as cry ascvuX^.
Mr. Strange of N. C., addressed the Sen-'
ate in opposition to the resolution, and had .
not concluded his remarks when our oaner
Jackson and Adams. ' . r .7-..
Mr. Adams presented a petition, sigacd by
one hundred and fifty females, in favor of the
abolition of slavery m the District of Colum
bia. Mr. addressed the House Ui favor of
the reception of petitions on thin object.
Mr. Glascock addressed th.e House in oppo
sition to the reception of the petitioiur, and
made a motion that (he petition be not re
ceived.
went to press.
House OF RSPRBSEST,
Petitions were presented by