Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, January 19, 1836, Page 38, Image 2

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cases, the committee suppose it unquestionable that the executory bequest contained in Mr, Smithson's will of his whole property to the United States, in the event that has % occurred, for the purpose of founding, at Washing on, under the name of the Smilhsonan Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusionof knowledge among .men, is, by the law of England, a valid berpiest; that the United States will be entertaiived in the court of chancery of England juh to assert their claim to the fund, as trustees, for the purpose of founding the charitable institution at Washington, to which it is destined by the donor; and that that court will decree that the fund sliaK be paid and translerrc I to the United States, or their lawfully A-ithou/jcd agent, leaving it to the United States' to apply the property to the founda. tion ot the intended charhy at Washington, and to provide for the due administration of the fund, so as to accomplish the purpose /"*f thr? <lnnr?iv 1 hr? cninmitlw cf>iwi}ilo. however, that these are points which can only be determined and settled by-lhe judicial authority of England. In the opinion of the committee, the question which it behooves Congress to consider, are, whether it is competent to the Cnited States, whether it comports with their dignity, whether (all circumstances considered) it is expedient and proper that tlie United States should a ppear as suitors in the courts of justice of England, to assert their claim to the legacy in question, as trustees for the intended charitable institution to be founded at Washington. It might be a question of much doubt and difficulty whether it would be within the competency of the Government of the l'nited States to appropriate any part of tl?e general revenue collected from the nation at large to the foundation and endowment of a literary or any other charitable institution in the District of Columbia. But, in the opinion of the committee, no such question is involved in the consideration of the pro-sent subject. The fund given to the United States by Mr. Smithson's will is nowise, and never can become, part of their revenue; they cannot claim or take it for their own .benefit; they can oaky* lake it as trustees, to apply to the charitable purpose for which -it was intended by the donor. The committee can 6ee no reason to doubt that the United States jnust be regarded as the parens patria of the District ol Columbia. That in that character, they hav ^ a right, and they are in duty bound, to ^assert a claim to any property given to them for the purpose of founding a charitable institution of any kind within the District.-and to provide for the due application and tid ministratiou of such a fund when they have rwvr 1 riA.? r> Ul/icuuva [IVOOVCHMVll iV? JL ftUll tliU ll^Uia and duties of <hc United States, as parens patriae, of tlie Bistrict, iu such a case, are the same, whether *ihe charitable donation be made by the subject of a foreign nation, or by a citizen, or whether the claim to the bounty is to be asserted before a domestic * r ? 1 c? ? r?: * -u i -vuuu ui juain-v;, ur uoiuro u ivivjgu muuuai, which, by the comity of nations, or the laws of its own country, is bound to entertain the claim, and to adjudge the property to the U. States, if they arc by law entitled to it. If a foreign tribunal,decreeing such property to the U.States should-think proper to impose any conditions incompatible with the constitutional powers of this Government, or with its duties or its dignity, the United States may then-decline to aceept the property and the trust. Jbt no diflkulty-of that jiind is oppreltended. The eonamittce are also of opinion that the United States, in prosecuting a claim to property given to them for tlie purpose ol founding a charitable institution within the District of Columbia, and which they are entitled to claim, and take, and regulate the administration of, as the parens patriae of the District, may properly appropriate, out of their general revenue, such-surns as may be necessary to prosecute the claim with cf:fect?since the United States have no other pecuniary means to defray the expenses that may be incurred in exercising their -powers, or in performing their puties, as parens patriae of the District, but such as aic afforded by their general revenue. Upon the whole, the committee are of opinion that it is within the-com potency of the Government of the United States, that -it well comports with its dignity, that, indeed, it is its duty, to assert in the courts of justice ol England the cuum ot the United States to the legacy bequeathed to them by Mr. Smithson's will, for the purpose of .founding, at Washington, under the name of " Tiie Smithsonian Institution," an establishment for the increase and diffusion of Jtnowledge among men; and that provision ..ought to be made by Congress to enable the Executive to assert and proseeute the claim .with effect. Therefore, the committee recommend the adoption of a joint resolution authorizing 'the President to take measures for recovering the said legacy. _Al>Mtrifcct of the Proceeding* of the Tweuty-l ourth Con^rem. First ScsKiou. SENATE. January 5. Mr. Ewing submitted the following; Rfjolccd, That the Secretary oftheTrcassury be directed to inform the Senate what has boon the whole cost attending the pur. chase and management of the public lands, up to tlic 1st January, 1836, designating the amount of each of the various heads of expenditure. Also that he informs the Senate what amount of land has been surveyed and offered for sale in each of the States and territories?which has been sold in each?and the nott proceeds of sueh sales to the 1st January, 1836. Mr. Tipton submitted the following-: JHesolced, That the Committee on the Public Lauds- be instructed to. inquire into the expediency of re-organizing the General Land Office, so as to give it more efficiency; and to enable that office to meet the exigencies of the increased and increasing wants of the settlers in the western country ; and Also of makinr that office a scpemtb department of government. Mr. Calhoun snbmittod the following: J Resolved,?That the Secretary of the j Treasury be directed to report to the Senate, 1 before the third Monday of the present month ? the amount of revenue from all sources, da- i ring the year ending on the 31st of Decern- < bor last, as far as returns have been received, j ' with an -estimate of the amount to be re- ( ! ceived. 1 I Mr. King objected to having any time i specified for making the report. Unless ] some special reason was given, it should be left to the discretion of the head of tho De- j j partment, as was usual. j ( Mr. Calhoun said he desired to act early ' i this subject, as connected with the bills ! introduced by him, in relation to the surplus i revenue. If the Secretary could not accoin- I ptali the object within the time specified, lie i j would not hesitate to say so, when it could ! i be enlarged. j The resolution was. on motion of Mr. C\, ; considered and agreed to. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. I J.-itiunrv r>. f I Mr. Cambreleng, from the Committee on Ways ainl Means, reported a bill making .appropriations tor repressing hostilities commenced by the Seminole Indians. Mr. Cambreleng, from the same commiti tee, reported an amendment to the Bill heretofore reported by him, for the relief of sufferers by the late fire in New York. r The amendment supercedes the provision ; in the original bill which authorizes the ; President to transfer the deposites of public ! revenue to such Banks as he might select for ! the relief of the sufferers; and provides for | extending the time of making payments on I all bonds given for duties at the Port of New j York, whctlier by sufferers or others, to six, ; nine and twelve months. Mr. Casey, from the Committee on Public Lands, reported a bill to graduate the : price of public lands, to make provision for i; ' actual settlers, and to cede refused lands to i the Statoc in wliich they be. On motion of Mr. C. the bill having been read twice, was referred to the committee of I the whole house on the state of the Union, 11 and ordered to be printed. On motion of Mr. Williams, of N. "C., ! three thousand extra copies of the report, were ordered to be printed. Mr. Storer, from the Select Committee on i 7 -the Memorial of Morgan Ncvill, of Ohio. 1 reported a joint resolution authorizing Mr. Nevill, Director of the Mint, to cause to be 1 struck off a gold medal, in hoilor of the bat-1 tie of the Cowpens, to replace the original one which had been lost, &c.; which resoki' tion was read twice, referred to the Committee of the .whole House, and ordered to be printed. 1UU r? 11U111 U1U VUIlllllillWV) appointed scarry into efTect the resolution : j of Congress of 1781, reported a bill to erect 1 a marble column in Yorktown, in the State ! of Virginia; which was read twice, and : j referred to the commtttee of the whole house ' j on the tate ofthc Union, and ordered toibc > printed. ! A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report with cojwes of statements and returns, showing the amount of capital, of bills in circulation, and ofepecie on hand in the Deposite Banks. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Mr. Beardsly asked the unanimous consent of the House, to present a Memorial from the legislative council of tho territory df Michigan,in order that the_samo might be ^ . a .Un nn tlia T X lrt |V?1 fl T*T ' tofrrvu iu iuc uuiiiiuu;w vn utv ?uuivjuij Mr. Bond, of-Ohio, asked for tlie reading of the memorial. If the document came . from the territory of Michigan, as it purported ; to do, he had no objection-to make. Thereupon, the clerk read as follows: j " Memorial from the Senate and House of \ Representatives ofthe State of Michigan? ^-c, Sir. Bond moved that the memorial'be j rejected. * Mr. Bcardsley insisted on his motion to suspend the rule,and Mr. Kinnard oflndiano, ! called for the yeas and nay*?, on the latter ! motion, which were ordered by the House. J Mr. Ashley, of Missuri inquired what was ' the purport of the memorial ? Mr. Beurdslev said, it related to thegeneJ ral question of the boundary. J And the question on the motion to sus ? .1 .1 j j m i .t _ j penu was men ra^en, ana aeciaea m tnc i negative: -yeas, 110; nays, 101, [not: two- j I thirds,] so the House refused to suspend the rule, and \he memorial could not according ; to the rules of the House>be then presented. On motion of Mr* Boardsley, the further consideration of the question of order under debate yesterday, and the whole subject of abolition to which it related, was po^poned till Tuesday of next week. Mr. Wardwcll, of New York, presented ). i a memorial from sundry citizens in that j State,, asking an appropriation for the coni struction of a ship canal round the Falls of I Niagara.; which was referred to the QpmI mittee on roads and Canals, and ordered to "j be printed. Mr. Beard*icy presented the above mentioncd memorial, purporting to come from the Senate ami House of Representatives of the State of Michigan. Mr. Hannagun, of Indiana, asked that the memorial be read: The Clerk proceeded to read --the same, when, Mr. II. interrupted him, and stated, that 1 he had heard enough for his purposes. He ; moved that the petition be.rejected ; and on ' that question he demanded the yens & nays. < The Speaker said that the memorial being 1 in the possession of the House, could not be < debated to-day, unless otherwise directed by. ] the House: * < So it lies over under therule of the Hotise 1 one day. Mr. JVIason, of Virginia, obtained leave to t sabmit a-resolution instructing the Commit- < tee on Elections to enquire into the expe- 1 diency of granting compensation to Robert t P. Letcher, as a Representative from the j State of Kentucky, daring the first session of 1 the last Congress. J Mr. Wise, of Virginia, said that nearly a i month ago, a large nntnber of extra copies 1 of the President's Message and the accom- 1 panying documents, hid been ordered to the < House. By a joint resolution of the two h E louses, it was provided tliat, if delay took >lace in the delivery of documents ordered from the public printer, the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House should be authorized to employ another printer, and charge the work to the printer who was guilty of negligence. I le wished to enquire of the Clerk, if he could give any information as to the reason of the gross negligence and delay which had taken place in the de< livery of these documents. The Speaker said, the enquiry was no in order, unless by the unanimous consen of the House: Mr. Gillett, of New York, asked the con sent of the House to furnish the Membe. from Virginia with some information on th< subject of his enquiry; Hut the House would not hear him; And so, at 4 o'clock, on motion of Mr Dnfnnl/tc ftP Illinmc IIV4UOJ v* XillMVlOj Thcflllousc adjourned. Wednesday, Jan. 6. Mr. Jarvis, of Maine, submitted the fol lowing reflation : lie solved., That, in the opinion of tfv House, the subject of the abolition of slav cry in the District of Columbia ought not t< be entertained by Congress. . And be it further Resolved, That in cas any petition praying the abolition of slaver iu the District of Columbia be hereafte presented, it is the deliberate opinion of th House that the same ought to be laid upoi the table without being referred or printed Mr. Jarvis said the resolution was pre cisely in the terms of that which had bee; suggested by the gentleman from (xeorgk (Er. Owens,) on a former day. In now o! fering it, he was actuated not by com mo courtesy alone, but by strong and lieart; approbation of the course which it jecom Mr. Wise sribmittetl the following as a janaendment to the resolution : Strike out all after " Resolved," and .? serf: That there is no power oflegislation gi\ en by the Constitution.to tbc Congress of th United States to abolish slavery in the Dis trict of Columbia; anddhai any attempt b Congress to legislate upon the subject < the abolition of slavery will be not onlv ur 9 0 authorized, but dangerous to the Union < the States. Wr. Wise said he would take the oppoi tanity to say that he hoped this amendmef would bring the question directly before th Honse. The war had commenced betwee the evasive and the direct course upon thi question. Both of the propositions of th resolution he roirarded as entirely evasive Nothing would satisfy the South but a bolt direct, and manly course. He wished t see how gentlemen would vote on the que* tion. He wished to see who would mov the previous question, and bow gentleillC would meet it. Let us, said Mr. \V., com to the mark. Mr. Glasscock submitted the following o an amendment to the amendment: Resolved, That any attempt made to aj itate the question of slavery in this Hous is calculated to disturb the compromises c the Constitution, to endanger the Union, aij< if j?orsisted in, to destroy, by a servilo wa: the peace aud prosperity of the country. After some conversation, the subjeet wa laid over, by consent. . Both Houses adjourned "from Thursda to Monday. January 7. Mr. Vinton -offered the following resolu tioa, which lies one day: Resolved, That the Secretary, of th Treasury be directed to .communicate t this House any information in his posses sion, of frauds or fraudulent practices udc the existing pre-emption law, and that hi also inform the House what in his opinio! has heen<"the effect of the pre-emption law now in force, or heretofore passed, upon th sales of the public lands, and upon -the branch of the public revenue. Mr. Hawes, ofjjgred the following -resolu tion, which lies over one day:: Resoleed, That a select committee c nine be appointed to inquire what amend ments, if any, are expedient to be made t< the laws relating to the Military- Academy o West Roi^t, in the State of New York, an also into-fhe expediency of modifying th organization of said institution; and tfta whether it would not comport with the put lie interest to abolish the same, with powe to report by bill or otherwise. Extracts from communications of Washingtoi Letter Writers. They have turned over a new leaf in re gard to tho reception of company at the pa lace; and as the affair relates to the Chic Magistrate it may he deemed of suffiden importance to be communicated to you: Gen. Jackson having come in'? office ai the democratic President par excellence, tlx democracy of the city, whether resident oi transient, have felt themselves authorized t< show their devotions to their chief, by inva r'ably rushing in, to pay their homage whenever the palace doors have been open cd to ihe public. These occasions hnv< been new year's day, and every other Wed nesday evening during the session of Con gross. Jackson, democracy, you know comprehends every thing?ever}' countn and condition, whether native or foreign" washed or unwashed; shaved, half shaved or unshaven. Some of them, that for the Ifrst time, since the beginning of the gov. *rnment, have been permitted to enter the palace, have not failed to avail themselves of the privilege, and receive the fraternal g. So great has -been the rash indeed, on :hese- public occasions, that the most novel ind ludicrous scenes have occurred. Fe. Tiales have been obliged to be taken out at ;hc windows, the continued press at the door >reventing egress that way. Pockets have oecn picked, coats torn off, ladies sleeves ost, and on 0Q? occasion a tight took place ruhe hall. This latter event was produced ly a quarrel for " the spoils." A gentle, nan having grabbed from one of the waiters fcvo cakes, another member of the pary thinking that two ca&cs was more tfran belonged to the other's share snatched it I away. The assailed, like his great protoi tvpe, swore " by the eternal" that he would i submit to no such aristocratic treatment, | and aimed a blow at the assailant, whereup1 on a gentleman (if i am not mistaken it was ? the Hon. Mr. S.****, then a member of . Congress from your State,) hollowed out, ; "Form a ring; fair play." To Charleston Courier, Jan. 3. t Mr. Pagcot, I may add, is packing up his t furniture with the utmost expedition, that he may be ready to take his departure instant. ly on the arrival of Mr. Barton in this r country. You may infer from the preva2 lence of there rumors, that there is some excitement and speculation in our community. Jn particular, our military and naval , officers have put on a fierce and ferocious character of countenance, and walk the streets with an air of greatly increased selfimportance. This is natural enough, and I [. do not remark on it in a tone of censure or disapprobation. They may soon be placed s in situations, in which the eyes and hopes of . their country may be fixed upon them." 0 January 4. c Mr. Pageot's sale is announced for the y next Thursday, and it is said lie will be quite r ready to depart by the end of the week, e should Mr. Barton arrive before that time. n , ? [. From another correspondent, same date, j. "To-day the House of Representatives n was again thrown into a fever heat, by the ^ presentation of a petition by Mr. John (|uinf. cy Adams, from a portion of his constitun ents, praying the abolition of slavery in the y District of Columbia. Mr. Adams, at the i. time of offering it, remarked, that he presumed it would be received, and lie over till n the aext day, (Tuesday,) for consideration, when he should move that it lie on the toi. ble. Mr. Glasscock, of Georgia, moved that the jictition be not received. Mr. Adams e objected to the motion, and appealed from a decision of the Chair in relation to it, the y nature of which, I did not understand, in >f, consequence of the great confusion of the i. House. The whole aspect of the ease >f now took a different lurn, and all sides oJ the House went into a debate, liarumer and p. Jongs, touching the decision of the Chair it .and Mr. Adams* appeal. All kinds o! ie ground were travelled over?any thing bul n the subject matter in dispute was discussed ; is and the eldest members got lost in the fog. ie The debate, though by no means interestj. ing, was exciting, and had a tendency tc 1, arouse a deal of very bad blood. Even 0 thing that was ever even heard or dreamed 3. of " in our philosophy," was Jugged into the e debate; and at last it was made a point tc n hinge the Presidential election upon. Mr. e Bell, of Tennessee, a most amiable man. b} the way, and an agreeable debater, off coal ts -and went at it, and at.last left it hanging on a " great and very grave national question yei r. to be decided." * * The debate was ;c not concluded when the House adjourned. ){ " It is rumored hero, that Lord Palmers1 ton l>as offered to this Government, .the r, mediation of England, in reference to om affairs with France, and that the offer was - L-Jndlv rejected. I cannot say that there is 0- - -J*""/ _ t f , , any foundatwn for the report; but, as it is y known, that his Lordship made a similar offer to France, it would seem to have something for its basis, i. "Every thing around us has a warlike aspect, and yet, up to this morning, Mr. Page' cot, the French Charge des Affaires, had e not demanded his passports. The Abolition question will bo presented to Congress, r in its fullest latitude, before the 4th of e March, if the South can force it up. Itapn pears to be the policy of your Delegation, s to force the action of Congress upon it e without delay." S. it ?? To the Fayettevillc Observer, Jan. 8. 1- " What the ultimate course of our Government may be towards France, it is diffiif:cult now to say. I think, however, the l_ I r?f Ronrrsjontatives will (\ mean the o majority,) adopt any course which the Preit sident may recommend, but the Senate havd ing a decided majority against the adminise tration, may, as they did in relation to the o deposites, wish to be convinced of the pro> priety of any measure before they adopt it." r Statement prepared at the office of the Secretary of the U. S. Senate, for Mr. Clay and publishod in the Nat. Intelligencer with hie speech on the n ?ubjeet of distributing the proceeds of tho public lands, shewing the dividend of each Stato (according to its federal population) of the proceeds of the public lands, during the years 1833?4, and '5, afler deducting from tho amount 15 per cent, previously allowed to the seven new States. * Federal ,Sliare for 15 j>cr ct. l'otal 1o r States, papula- each to new new tion. State. States. States. a Maine, 399,437 $617 269 ' N.tlamp. 269,326 416.202 r Massa. 610,408 913,293 ) R.Island, 97,194 150,198 . Connec't 297,665 459,996 , Vermont, 280,657 433,713 j N. York, 1918,553 2 964,831 ' NJersey, 319,922 494,391 3 Pennsyl. 1318,0722083,233 J Delaware 75,432 116,568 ! i . Maryl'jid 405,843 627,169 Virginia, 1023,503 1581,669 ' j ! N.Caroli. 639,747 988,632 j ' S.Caroli. 455,025 701,495 . > Georgia, 429,811 664,208 , Kentuc'y 621,832 960,917 > Tenn'seo 625.263! 966,249 Ohio, 935,884:1 446,2661 230,84 li 1677,110 ' Louis'a 171,694 265,327j 67,561 332,888 ; Indiana, 343,031 530,102 325,485 855,588 > Illinois, 157,147 242,846 483,760 726,606 I Missouri, 130,419 201,542 174,554 375,897 Mississip 110,358 170,54e 788,403 958,945 i Alabama, 262,508 405,666 541,910 947,607 Extracts from the Message of' Governor j Thomas, of Maryland. J PUBLIC LANDS. Connected with these subjects [Education j and Internal Improvements] is the consider.! ation of the disposition to be made by the ! Federal Government of the public Lands of the Union. Surely the time has arrived for doing justice to the original States in this particular. The immense revenue derived from that source :z not only no longer wan tod by the f ederal government, but is actu- IV i lly burdensome to it. The National Troa- tl sury is full to overflowing, and the question it with that Government is ne t now how ways t< and means are to be raised to meet all its h legitimate and necessary expenditures, but t< it is, how are they to get rid of superabun. Ii dant revenue. Nothing would seem to fit t; the occasion better, or to be more con so- h jiant with the principles of equal justice, and p the genius of our institutions, than the dis- j tribution of these lands, or the revenue ( thence arising, among the several States, in i jnst and fair proportion, for the purposes-of i education and internal improvements. It 1 cannot be that Congress will hearken to the 1 proposition once made of ceding tliese 1 lands gratuitously to the States within whose limits they lie. It cannot be that the junior members of our political family have so en. grossed the aflections of the federal fiead, ( as that the common parents of both are to ^ be discarded and forgotten. It cannot be 1 j that the original States will ever patiently 1 I submit to such a flagrant violation of the ] ' principles of the original cession, and tue l dues of equal justice. " * ' MOBS. | It pains us to be obliged to advert to the spirit of insubordination which has of late j so frequently manifested itself in many parts of the country; and deep and unfeigned is j our mortification, while we are compelled to admit that our own State has exhibited some of its worst examples. In governments J not formed on the principles of republicanism, where j>crsons claiming to be independent of and superior to tiic people, under J color of laws enacted by themselves, practice tyranny and oppression, these popular l commotions may sometimes be palliated or . excused, as the only means possessed by j an enslaved people of checking the inordi- { nate excesses, and striking terror into the hearts of their oppressors. But in a coun- j ; try like ours, a countiy of liberty and laws, i where the People are acknowledged to be ( i supreme, and in fact are in the constant } : practical exercise of absolute sovereignty; , i where the Government, instituted by the j i People themselves, claims no power but i what is immediately derived from thcconf sent of the governed, and is administered . I solely and exclusively for the good of the wtirtln wlinvA 1mve nrr? mnde hv the im. f mediate agents of the people, and designed j t for the protection and security of the rights, i privileges "and possessions of all equally, ; , i and are subject at all times to be altered, rc. pealed, or amended, as may be agreeable to ) the wish, conducive to the interests, or pror motive of the happiness of the People, I there can be no apology, there is 110 cxtemii ation or excuse, for such commotions, and > their occurrence stains the character of the , Government, and wounds deeply the cause of equal liberty. Jf existing laws arc de- 1 fective; if artful villainy can pervert their ' 1 meaning or elude their justice, surely there ; i is virtue and intelligence enough to amend , ; such defects and to devise the means of j ' bringing thoso who will practise wrong and * * "* ' I A Ui , injustice to legitimate punisnmem; uui jet not the restraints, the security of the laws, be thrown off". How terrible is the condi- , i lion of that community where anarchy : reigns'! Mow much more of cruelty, | wrong, and injustice flows from it tlian from < the most despotic ctf Governments! How ( soon are all having claim to virtuous mo- < tives driven from control or sacrificed to t fury! How completely is the voice of reason silenced, and every thing useful or ( valuable, sacred or profane, prostituted, a- j based, ot destroyed, as may suit the caprice, ( or be suggested in the wantonness of brutal | \ force, acting without .virtuous motives, and < guided only by the principle of evil! How ] natural, nay, almost inevitable, the refuge from these horrors to the power most certain to afford effective protection! And i what power so effectual, w hen the jjcople t have forgotten their duty to themselves, as J a despotism? To this such things tend, l and in this they must ultimately terminate, i unless a just abhorrence for them can be g kept alive among the great body of the citi- i zens of the Republic, and there shall be awakened and cherished, in the bosoms of a majority of the community, a sufficient i sense of their .fatal tendency, and a devo- i tion to our laws and institutions, which shall t j induce them promptly to repress all similar I attempts, and to aid in visiting the judgments s of the law upon all who shall aim such fa- r tal blows at the nature and genius of our n konmr nf ? iicij/j/jr iviui Vi ^UTvimiivim > ~ ? t Forciyu. v From the Journal of Havre, 2d December. a Vice Admiral Mackau has recently been j appointed to the command of our West Indian station, and the Government of Marti. ^ nique. This is an appointment of which ^ we liasten to express our approbation, and e which, in our opinion, indicates, more than i all that has been said heretofore, the late and tj unfortunate misunderstanding which has a arisen between Franee and the United States. j( No one is aware of the maritime importance c our little sugar islands of Martinique and a Guadaloupe would acquire in case of a war p with North America, as roads for the an- a; chorage of prizes, and as places for the 1 victualling and refitting of our cruisers.? j These two colonies together with the Ar. I ^ chipe/ago des Saintes will possess a degree ^ of utility which the Chamber of Deputies ^ alone of all the people of France, appears not even to have understood. The admirable roadstead, and fine na- 0( tional harbor, of Fort Royal, may be com- Ioj pared in a maritimo point of view, with the be most perfect ports in Europe; and situated ta as it is, at the entrance ot the Carribbean in Sea, is perhaps one of those of which all ha Europe envies our possession. ga The reputation which the brave admiral Mackau has lately acquired in the West Indies, during his long residence as comman- af der of our Station in those latitudes, will iai contribute, we hope, not a little to render ea- ~sh syto bhn the new service to which he has inj been appointed, through the confidence re- so posed in him by the Minister of the Marine; be who is well aware how greatly a service 2( such as this, will require the efforts and at good will of the inhabitants of our colonies, cs lonsieur ue Mackau, young as be is for -Jj ic elevated station which he holds in our , lari nc, will be fully equal, we have no doubt, P ) all the exigencies of the active duty ho J . as just taken upon himself. To bring in. ) play the resources which our two West . ndia colonies are able to afford to us in { me of war, a leader must be popular, viguy^ ' * int, and experienced; and in these three' oints of view Mons. de Mackau is the best s Hereon government could have selected in- v ier circumstances, by which our windward slands may be required to protect once r?orf? aL.i 1 i .1 C acua uioi smrouiiu inem, nvui hose formidable privateers, which during he late war, rendered the resistance of our ,wo enterprising colonies so happily con- ?i jpicuous. From the Comtitntionel of Dec. 1st. The prices of stocks underwent a heavy j ;hange to day. Not only have the Spanish : f funds given way, but farther, we have expo- L j ienced a lull of 75 centimes on our three v* j :>cr cents. This fall is sufficiently accoun- ^ :ed for by tlie preparations at Brest and ] Foulon, which appear to be but the prelude '1 ;o farther armaments semiofficially annoua.- !'J :od. The change of the Portugwre istry, which has just taken place isnaet. J pectedly, to embarrass the Spanish question,/ ? :ended in no small degree to this fowrtunaiti B result. That, however, which- has contrD y Dated the most to effect the views of tHe 1 speculators, is the change in the language | Df the London papers, which begin to coo- 1 jider it doubtful whether our differences j kvith the United States arc susceptible of an a amicable arrangement. j From the Havre Journal of Dec. 1. I The papers of the different provinces 1 announce, that preparations for defence are I joing on in our sea-ports. Armaments are M n vigorous progress of equipment at Brest and Toulon; levies of sailors ore in the 1 course of organization, on all the coasts of 9 France. Besides the fleet placed undqp the 1 command of Admiral Makau, fafteen ships I if the line, as many frigates, and a large 1 lumber of smaller vessels, will be so diapo- 1 sed as to be ready for sea at the shortest no* , ice. - ' \ From Galign&iii'd Messenger, Dec. 2 * A letter of Uae 27th ult., from Montreuil, says: u Our coast is in a state of agitation. | A "considerable levy of men for the navy j* j being made in all the maratime orondisse- -i ?* ..... l? 9 mews. >? u uu nui ^ci un; uwui^ii but the administration detains every effective man, from 18 to 36 years of age, who i has not yet served." { The Courrier (says the Constitutionet) \ refers to one of its late articles, given in our columns a few days ago, on the relative for- . ccs of the French and American navies; by which it appears that France could, at the present moment, oppose to America 119 vessels of war, while the latter could only produce 60. It now adds, that, as in case* ; of a war, precautions woukl bo- rerpdsite . agjiuist oiiicr powers, ? is aKuswujory io jg state that, in six months time, a considerable % number of vessels could be fitted out. Thus in the port of Toulon alone there are, afloat v and dismantled, the following vesse.V:?3threcrdockers', 4 two-deckers; total, 7 ships >} of the line, 10 frigates, 8 corvettes, 7 bigs 15 other light vessels, 15 transports, 3 steam ooats, total 65. The number ?f vesselsJismautled in the Atlantic ports is still mor; * considerable, and certainly the United States cannot produce half the number of vessels :hat France can put 4o sea. The Kenovateur says: <;M. Bois-lc- a Uomte, the most supple of diplomatists, is 1 mmediately to set out for the United States |U :>n a mission to President Jackson. It is ta i 3e hoped that M. Bois-le-Comte will be moro J successful than he was in his radsion to Ma- a hornet AJi in 1833." < London, Nov. ^81. \ The unsettled state of the aflaira of Ariierica with Fiance, give a 'suspicion that he French Government is determined to lave the amende honorable, and, if refused, "W lostilities will take place. This is aprevailng opinion in this city, and throws a great J< jloom on the various speculations of the V. narket.?Sun. a London, Nov. 27. The Pans papers contain accounts of the laval preparations making by France to. 9 ncct the contingency of war with the Uni. '} ed States; but we still hope they will not * ' )c required. Really if the Amcrtoan Pre- -.J | fldent and the French Ministers wish to 3L nake statesmanship the laughing-stock of W ninkind, they will spend a few-millions, Si ;hcd the blood of their subjects, and destroy jf* he prosperity of the two nations over ^ t hicli they preside, in this mosi insignificant 1 ind unintelligible quarrel.?Courier. ' London, Dec. 5th. It is stated, on the authority of a letter rom Toulon, of the 28th ulh, that orders iad been received their by telegraph, for the quipmcnt of several ships of war, intended j 3 reinforce the French naval divisions in be Mediterranean and the ocean. The . j gents of the insurance companies at Tou- i >n have, it is said, refused to insure^mer-, , I hant ships, even for the coast of Africa, ^ I nd that consequently, vessels for Algiers,] ; j| lona, and Oran had sailed, and others were r 1 bout to sail, uninsured.?Times. : j Paris, Nov. 10. j News was received here yesterday, that i ;<j 1 e ship Majestic, from New Orleans for \ H is port, with 1100 bales cotton on board, i 1 is been totally lost at sea. , wfl A Condjcta from Tampico, with $900,- | vH )0 dollars of specie, said principally to be- > ?| Af Won* Orlonna VlOO ifl.l "g HI lUCIUUOUia VI 4IVU ? v- . en stopped at St. Louis, by order of Son- i-38 Ana. Another, with about $90,000, ar- wl red safe at 7hmpico?& part of which jflfl is been brought to this place by the Atta- t! ppas.?New Orleans Bee* Isffl Tens. H St. Augustine, Dec. 21.?Immediately ym :er the taking of San Antonio by tl>e Taxis, a large reinforcement came to the as. itauce of Gen. Coss. The Texians be- flH g in possession of the city, took them pri- jHH hers, which, in addition to those they had ifore token, made in all 13,000 men, with fl^^ )00 stand of arms, 30 pieces of cannon^J^^H id a large amount of military stores, hors* l I 'f camp equipments, &c?, which cqqdo^^H ^ ^ ,y_ , jH