ginia-‘,pi'ayii1gthatCongi‘ess not iiassa Bank"-_ '
frupt law--the reading’oj_; which was called for ,
=%.M|‘- T- as he b_elie.ve‘dit1eiipt;e'ssed the ‘sense__o.l' ' i
the great body«."o_f the people ‘V-irginia ;' alliliijit.
“a r'epreseiitative ‘on this floor. Conncctiiziit ‘tiiiist '
“E”-Efurnish 4.5,300.:l'D entitle her to one, and if you fix
for 39,000 asi-this ratio, this will leave Connecticut-
~ ... Lad several states their present number and
. ,a~._3.d but 7 members to this house, and he asked
asucs. ‘He b'elie'v‘e‘d, he said, that we Wt‘
rn'oit't\'riit~: Ni-ziv-volts DAILY ADVERTISER. wrong to those people, by disturbing th.,:'
SPEECH IN CONGRESS. and feelings. VVhat has become ofthr
The following speech was delivered a short tions which have passed before them ? ' ‘
was referred to the
time since in the House ‘of Represetitatives ofthe be ailibel on the Crea'.or to say that be h. -.:
United States, by a member from -the state of ‘ed from his creatures an obedience to ' ’
Maryland. .
was a petition from a charitable association-the
ubject is sufficiently stated in the-speech itself.-—
The author of it is a man tar advanced in years,
has filled many important offices in the course of
his life-’-lias been governor oftlre state in which
he lives, has repeatedly been elected a member
of at least one,and we are not sure but both bran-
chesof the national legislature. He is a man
much given to talking—-his capacity for the em-
ployment may be in some measure estimated by
this specimen of his abilities. I The wide range
of his intellectual circuit——the alternate elevation
and depression of his flight, from the most dis-
tant orbs in their several spheres to the stray pig-—
all go to prove his _extraordinary attainmeuts.--
But it is as a theologian that he appears to the
greatest advantage. ‘ The great legislator ofthe
world,’ says Mr. VVright, ‘ has written his law on
all hearts, and on_ all things.’ This he proves
by relerling to the orbs,'1to the animals, to the
pig who was ignorant of mathematics, and above
' all to a~robin that somebody carried from Duck
Ireek to Philadelphia, and which, when let loose,
flew immediately back to Duck Creek. ‘ How,’
says Mr. VVtight,* did it find itsnay ? The great
Jehovah had written his law in the hearts of these
animals, and instructed them how they should go.
He has done the same by Indians; andtht-.re_-are
no human beings but have {he law of God injtheir
hearts.’ We believe, among all modern philo-
sophical politicians, no one has appeared before,
whose system of equality has extended so far as
that laid down by this member of our Congress.
The Divine law is, according to his theory, ‘ writ-
ten on all hearts, and on all things.’--Cliristians
and Pagans, civilized men and savages, members
of Congress and Hottcutots, orbs and pigs, robins
and three cornered harrows—-are, in this respect,
all upon a footing. And, as if this doctrine did
not comprehend as much space as might be desi-
red, Mr. VVti;rht adds that—‘ Any measure taken
by this government to change the religion of the
Indians would be in the 5631/; of this Constitution.’
VVe have examined, not z‘/zc teat/2 but the body of
the constitution, and we cannot for our lives, find
a word said about Indian Tcfigfoil in it. There is
certainly no ex/tress provision on the suhject—-
and we do not learn that the Supreme Court, or
even General Jackson, has ever determined that
their religion is so far guaranteed to them, as that
missionaries may not try, by peaceable means, to
persuade them to become ch ristiaiis.
It may be thought by some inquisitive and a-
cute minds, that Mr. VVrigbt is not entirely dis-
interested in this question. It would seem from
a single remark, that he is something of a sav-
age, if not an Indian, himself; for he says—-‘, he
believes that the savage life which they enjoy—-
jbr he was fond of the chase /zinzse,’/"—-was more
favorable to the /za/2/zincss of the Indians, than any
new order ofthings which could be introduced
by the ecclesiastics.’
Mr. VVright made one remark which, if we
are to consider the language and sentiments of this
speech as a fair sample of the district he repre-
sents, we are ready to subscribe to. ‘ These mis-
sionaries,’ said he, ‘ mig/was well be sent into illu-
ryland to convert the [160/I18, as among the Indians.’
We think so too—-and hope the first experiment
will be made on this aged statesman—-for we are
inclined to believe that few Indians want the hen-
efit of their labors and services more emphatical-
ly than himself. And we take the liberty to re-
mark, that in this case there is no time to be lost.
It is obvious that he is in his doiage—-the most un-
friendly season in life to mental or moral improve-
ment—and it is equally apparent that he has ev-
ery thing to learn in his second childhood, which
ought to have been taught him in his first.
_ Mr. Wright said—‘ As he understood the pro-
position embr'ace_d by this memorial, it was to give
to this company a quantity ofland, to enable them
to settle in the neighborhood of the Indians, and
teach them the christian‘ religion.—-He was sor-
ry to see any proposition introduced into this
house connected with religion. He protested, to-
zis virzbus, against any legislation on that prin-
ciple. The God who created those Indians had
inscribed his law on their hearts. Could any
man presume to exact from them obedience to a
law which is not written in their hearts? He be-
lieved, he said, that those people are as religi-
gious; that they worship with as much ardor and
zeal the great unknown Spirit, as any other sects
whatever, and that we do no good by converting
them from'their faith, because we unbinge their
principles at the same time. The grest legisla-
tor for the world has written his law on all hearts
and all things. Look at all creation, said he, ev-
e,ry>ot‘l-), moving in its own sphere, or revolving
on its own axis, and filling the functions forwhich
it was created. Look at the animals, whose in-
stinct is astonishing, and shows the work of the
Creator- The pig, said he, no matter what dis-
tance he be removed from his usual place of a-
bode, without compass or logarithms, can find his
way home again through the pathless woods and
wilderness. A robin was once taken from Duck
Creek to Philadelphia, and left there; making
itsescape, it immediately flew back to the place
from which it was taken. How did it find its
way? The great Jehovah had written His law
in the hearts of these animals,and instructed them
how they should go ; and, if we look at the scrip-
tures,we should find that He imprints on all hearts
the way injwhich they should go. He has done
the same by the Indians, said Mr. W.—and there
are no human beings but have the law of God in
their hearts. Any measures taken by the govern-
ment to change their religion, would be in- the
teeth of the Constitution. , These missionaries,
sent among the Indians, he apprehended, were
little better than spies among them to learn how
to cheat them, Stc. How do we know, said Mr.
VV. that the Indians have not for their guidance a
better law than we? Do we see them with their
whipping-posts and jails in every settlemvent ?--
Now, the law of God has given them [)l‘(')|5"t".'l"ty' in
common, and so they enjoy it with freedom and
with pleasure. He said he believed that the sav-
age life which they enjoy-—for be was very fond
of'the chase hiniself-—..was more favorable to the
liappiness of the Indians than any new otider of
things which would be introduced by the ecclesi-
,r.
~‘
The occasion which called it forth without inscribing his law on their heart »
missionaries might as well besent iiito Maryland
or any other state, to convert the people,as among
the Indians, Congress having as much right to
regulate the religion of one as of the other. He
hpped that this proposition to give land to those
‘missionaries would not succeed. V\/hat do they
seek, said he——the good of souls ? No—they are
pursuing thatlaw which binds individuals to their
interests, and it is their own interests and not that
of the Indians, which they are in pursuit of.’
—-duo-— '
SUBSTANCE or MR. s'ruvi«:NsoN’s REMARKS IN
couc-nnss, on THE BANKl'tUP'I‘ BILL-
IN REPLY 'l‘O Mn. SERGEANT.
Mr. Stwms-on began by stating the delicacy
of his situation, he being opposed tothe Bill from
principle, and many of his constituents anxious-
ly looking to the passage of the Bill for relief.
He said—‘ His objections then to a Bankrupt
Law, were two-i-that it was unconstitutional, and
impolitic.—I“irst, he was doubtful of the right of
Congress to pass a law which should go to extin-
guish contracts——certainly to give it a retrospec-
tive operation—-to impair the obligation of subsist-
ing contracts.’
He then argued that, although the constitution
gave Congress power to pass a Bankrupt Law,
it did not necessarily give Congress a power to
pass a law impairing the obligation of contracts-—
because, he contended, a Bankrupt Law is not
necessarily a law which discharges contracts.
‘ But it is said, that if Congress has not the
power to pass a bankrupt law, which shall extin-
guish the obligation of private contracts,the clause
in the constitution relating to the subject of bank-
ruptcy, is a dead letter. V.-Vhat is the meaning
ofa system of bankruptcy ? Does it necessarily
involve the idea of a power to discharge the ob-
ligation of contracts? Is this its distinguishing
characteristic? Mi’. 8. denied that this was its
distinguishing characteristic, as used by the Eng-
lish writers, and referred to the definition given
by Blackstone, upon which he commented some
time. The bankrupt systeni established in Eng-
land, that of Henry the Eighth, did not discharge
the debtor ; it was made only to secure the cred-
itor. Again, by the English law, none but the
creditor can sue out a commission; but in the
bill proposed, it is contemplated to give this pow-
er to the debtor. If gentlemen take the meaning
of the word used in our constitution, from the
English statute laws, why not pursue it strictly ?
But in this country, it has been solemnly decided,
that a bankrupt law did not ex vi tc‘1‘7niI1i mean
the power of extinguishingcontracts. He refer-T
red to the opinion of the Supreme Court, in the
case ofSturges vs. Crowninshield.’
Mr. S. then argued, that the passage of the
Bill was inexpedient, both on general grounds
and on the particular provisions of the bill.—-
He inferred its inexpediency from the repeal of
the law of 1800, which he considered the test of
experience. Mr. S. contended, that the propos-
ed bill contained provisions utterly repugnant to
our notions of civil liberty. ’
* If a murderer escapes into a neighbouring
State, he cannot be arrested without the consent
and assistance of the Executive of that State ; but
the bankrupt is to be seized wherever found, in
violation of the dignity and sovereignty of the
States, and that too on suspicion. He had thought
that a man’s house was his castle ; but by the pro-
posed law, the doors of a supposed bankrupt
might be forced, his bed-charnber entered, and
his trunks broken open ; and it had been in con-
templation to compel even his wife to co-operate
in effecting his ruin. This however it had been
discovered, was touching a tender point, and it
had been very prudently omitted in the bill. Mer-
chants would not thank Congress for such a law.
It was giving a stone for bread, a gilded serpent
for an egg.——A person s-us/zectedto be in debt, was
to be dragged over two States ; an extent of pow-
er which had not been given in the most impor-
tant cases. Another 0I)jccti()l‘l to the bill, was the
severe penalties to be inflicted on those who;
should aid and assist the bankrupt in escaping. or
concealing himself. Suppose a daughter should
do this ;‘shall she-be incarcerated ? Shall she suf-
fer pain and ignominy for following the purest"
and noblest dictates of duty and affection? Histo-
ry tells us of a Roman daughter. who nourished
her parents from the fountain of nature; and was
honoured with a statue for her filial piety. The
law of nature, (and that wise nation knew it,) is
‘the first and strongest of all laws.-——He could go
on to enlarge upon this and other topics, suggest-
ed by the bill, to an extent. The field was am-
ple; but he was unwilling to take up the time of
the committee. He hoped others would succeed
him, who would do the subjecthetter justice.-—
lnstead of the advantages held out by the advo-
cates of the measure. he believed its fruits would
be perjury, fraud, ruin and di:-zgracc. It would be
an ignis fatuus to lure the. follower to his dcs
truction.’
l
.
‘I
:{§;-—
House q/'Re[zresentaIz‘ves on 1/26 bill_/or the .21];-
/zortionnzcnt of ,Re]zresmm./.z'on under the new
Cens-us.
Mr. Burrows expressed his sentiments in favor
ofa recommitmen‘. of the bill before the house.
The gentleman on his left. (M r. Alexander,) who
had moved for the "previous question, had told
the house that sufficient time has been already oc-
cupied on this subject; btit, said Mr. B. I am at a
loss to know by what role that gentleman has been
able to come to such a conclusion. This is a ques-
tion of importance, involving our dearest rights.
And are we to be deprive.-d of the privilege ofdis-
cussion, and thus precipitated to a premature de-
cision ? On this question, the consumption of
time is less important, in my opinion, than the
result. All such questions he considered as ques-
tions of compromise, and as far as he could judge
from appearances, this house. will fix on the ratio
members. This will have a very hard bearing
on some of the states. and especially on ..Connec-'
. =1 V - o
ll/(.‘.l.li,'1;_l)_C state which he had the honor, in part,
to rep.-'esent. That state has a population of
"2fr'5,000', and if, said Mr. B. you fix on the ratio
l pt}fi_0,0.0_0 which will entitle most of the states to,
'1,
Remarks of Mfr. Burrows, of Connecticut, in the _
of 40 000, which will increase the_,_number to 212“
whether it would be right to deal thus with the
-old states ? We had been told, if the number of
lmembers in this house.w-as increased, business
would not be so Well done. But he was entirely
at a loss to know where to seek fora rule that
would produce such a conclusion.
things by comparison. VVill any gentleman say
that bnsincss is not as well done in this house with
the present number as when it was 40 or 50 less ?
Mr. B. did not feel authorized to say what ratio
would be most agreeable to his constituents, yet
he could state one fact. In the convention held
in Connecticut, (of which he had the honor to be
a member) to frame a Constitution, a trial was
made to reduce the numbers of representatives,
in the legislature of that state, which is about 200.
It was decided by a very great majority against
the motion. The population of that state is about
275.000, which on an average gives one repre-
sentative, or nearly so, to every 1,600 persons.
From this circumstance he was led to believe his
constituents would be satisfied with a ratio of 39,-
000. It had been frequently stated by gentle-
men in,.dis.cussing thisiquestion, if you increase
this house in numbers, business will not be so well
done, and the public interest will not be so well
promoted. His experience in legislation had not
been so great as that ofmany others But he had
frequently been a member of the legislature of
that state--a body which consisted of 200-—-and
yet order was preserved and business dispatched
with facility. Hefelt himself authoriztd to state
that a gentleman of high standing as to talents
and integrity, and whose politics are adverse to
the present administration of that state, who was
a member of the legislature last spring, said that
more business was done and better done, in five
week_s in that body, than was done at a whole ses-
sion of Congress when the number was about 60
or short of 70. is gentleman was a member
of that Congress. "I%§;t>niiecticut has had but a
small increase of population and the reason is ve-
ry obvious. That state has furnished many thou-
sands who have emigrated to the new states. Ma-
ny gentlemyén on this floor can bear testimony to
this fact. -And now he would ask, will you not
regard h¢r rights? will you reduce her number
of reprejlentatives on this floor? Had this house
fixed on a ratio, which would in its operation,
have ddne equal justice, he would have been satis-
fied, hilt in his opinion the ratio proposed, would
do manifest injustice to many of the states.
In the Senate on the 19th, the principal busi-
ness was the subject of the apportionment bill.—
The ration of 40000 was finally re-instated, and
the bill ordertd to a third reading. On the 20th
the bill was passed. '
CONGRESS.
SENATE, Feb. 15.--The Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the bill to apportion the num-
ber of Representatives according to the Fourth
Census—the amendment reported by the Judicia-
ry Committee. to strike out 40,000 and insert
42,000 as the ratio, being under consideration.
A division of the question‘ being required, the
question was first taken on striking out 40,000 and
cart-ied—-ayes 22, noes 16. The question being
then on filling the blank with 42000, a debate fol-
lowed ofconsiderable duration, when on motion of
Mr. King of Alabama, the bill was postponed to
Monday. '
Feb. i8.—The Senate resumed the considera-
tionof the bill to apportion representatives among
the several states, according to the fourth cen-
sus-—the motion to insert a ratio of 40,000 being
still pending.
Mr. King, ofA|abama, after repeating the dis-
advantage which that state labored under from
not having her pop ulation fully returned, (which
arose from the death of the first marshal, and the
inability of the second to complete the business
within the prescribed term.) and the propriety of
making provision for the case, when the returns
shall be received-—-stated that he had an amend-
ment provided to meet the case, which he would
offer now if in order; but that not being the case,
he moved to re-commit the bill to the Judiciary
Committee, with instructions to report a provi-
sion substantially. to give further time for com-
pleiing the census in that state, and that the next
session be authorized to allow, by law, such addi-
tional number of representatives as the state may
be entitled to by the ratio now adopted. Mr. K.
accompanied this motion with; a number of re-
marks, further explanatory of the circumstances
which justified the course he proposed.
A pretty wide debate followed, on this motion,
when the bill was rccommittcd.
. t
House or REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. 14.
‘Mr. Floyd remarked, that in consequence of
unollicial reports of the promulgation of an impe-
rial ukase ot the Autocrat ofall the Rus.~.i..ns, in
relation to the western limits of the United States
he begged leave to lay on the table the following
resolutions.
Resolved, That the President ofthe U.States be
Hrequested to communicate to this House, wheth-
’er any foreign government have made claims to
any part ofthe territory ofthe U. States upon the
coast ofthe Pacific Ocean north ofthe 42d degree
of latitude, and to what extent ; whether any reg-
ulations have been made by foreign powers affect-
ing the trade on that coast, and how far it effects
‘the interests of this republic,‘ and whether any
communications have been made to this govern-
ment, by foreign powers, touching the contem-
plated occupation of Columbia River.
Feb. 15.—The House resolved itself into a
committee of the whole on the Bankrupt Biil.—-
Mr. Barbour ,(‘5peaker) rose and addressed the
House-in a speech of more than two hours. in fa-
vor of the motion to strike out the first section of
the bill. when Mr. Sawyer of N. Carolina, took
the floor and made some general remarks on the
opposite side, but owing to the latenessofthc hour
and want of tiine to discuss the more particular
provisions of the bill, be moved that the commit-
mittee rise and report, which was agreed to, and
in the house the committee had leave to sit again
' A bill for the preservation ofthe timber of the
the United States in Florida, was read a third time
and. passed.
$
Feb. I6.--Mr.Tuckcr, o'fVirg. presented a pc-
VVe judge of
' 9of the Russian Ukase on tlle subject of her domiri- ‘
tition from sundry citizens ofLynchburg, in Vir-
_ComhiitteE; of the whole oil .4,
jthat subjéct. '3. _ . ._' A- _ . V
The jjesoluiion summit'ted" y'est_er_day by Mr.’
Floyd, requesting of the President of the United
Skates information whether any foreign gove.rn- ,
ment has made claim to any part .of the ‘tn-rritory '
of the United States on_ theiicoast of the. Pacific
'Ocean, Ste. was read for consideration. ‘
Mr. Floyd observed, that he had made this"mo'-
tion in consequence of understanding that a copy
l
ions on the Pacific was in possession (if our gov;
'ernment. The Russian government laid claim,
it appeared, to a considerable por_tion,of the terri-
tory on that coast which belonged to the United
‘States, in addition to what she held without dis-
pute. From a claim so eniortnous. it would seem
that the Emperor of Russia had forgotten the can.
tious policy which had characterised him hereto.‘
fore ; and the claim was such an one as would be
resisted by any country.--The resolution.was a-
greed to without objection.
Mr. Cocke said, the Committee on Military
All-‘airs had obtained, from the Paymaster Gene-
ral, a ‘statement of the saving which would be ,.
made in the expense of the military establish-
ment by the passage of the bill now before the,‘
House for the better organization of the army—.."'
which statement, that all the members of ti e
House might be put in possession of the informa-
tion_it contained, he moved to have printed. The
motion was-agreed to.
Feb. l8.-—l\’l r. Vvoodstock laid on the table the
following resolution :
Resolved, that the Secretary of \Var be direct-
,ed to lay before this house, a statement of the
number of Cadets educated pt the Military Acad-
emy who have remained in the service ofihe U.
States five years ; and the number who have re-
ceived commissions and resigned, or have been
discharged from service before the expiration of I
five years ; also, the number that have left the
Military Academy without commissions, and the
amount of money that has been paid to each -
. . pk, ._,~;»j~':,~A_:.g-j 1-:3-r_.~',«,'..*-.-_;‘_~"..-. ~._, ,,_ ___
, Bl-'
so, the amount paid to cadetsbetween the tinge I
of their appointment and that oftheir being: intl%.- ‘'
tercd at the Academy, and the time ofleaving the
Academy and the time of receiving commissions
and emfiting the service of the United States;
also, the number educated at the Academy who
were in the service during the late war ; also, the
expense of maintaining the officers and instruct-
ors of the Academy each year since 1802; and
the expense of ammunition which has been fur-
nished for the use of the Academy ; and the sol-
oliers who have been stationed at the Academy for
the assistance ofthe cflicers and cadets since its
establishment; and also, the number of cadets
educated atthe Academy since its establishment ;
distinguishing those who are sons of officers and ff
soldiers who have fallen in the defence of their '1'”
country, or died in its service. ‘.
On motion ofMr. Hardin, it was resolved, that
a S£:ItC[ committee be appointed, whose duty it
shall be to inquire whether any part_of the public
expenditure can be ret."enched without detriment
to the public service, and whether there be any
offices or appointments in the goverment-of the
United States which have become useless and un-
necessary, and can be dispensed with, and that
the comtiiittce have leave to report by bill or oth-
erwise.
The House then resolved itselfinto a commit-
tee of the whole on the Bankrupt bill. Mr. Gor-
ham occupied the floor more than hour in oppo-
sition to the motion to strike out the first section
of the bill ;.and was followed by Mr. Wiood, who
apoke on the same side, and continued the debate i
until afrcr 3 o’clock; when Mr. Fuller took the
floor, and. intimated his intention to express his
views on the subject, but owing to the lafeness of
the hour, moved that the committee rise and re-
port, which was agreed to; and the‘ house ad-
journed.
I
F mm the National Intrlligenccr.
The debate in the House of Representatives on
the Bankrupt Bill yet continues. and we do not see
much prospect of its soon terminating. ‘The
speaking talent in the House of Representatives
is even greater than usual, and it is freely exer-
cised. A pretty full examination on the subject
of a Bankrupt Law, however, is justified at the
present time, if not required, by the considera-
tions that this is the last attempt, if it fall, which
is likely to be seriously made for many years, by
the friends ofa Bankrupt system : and that, wheth-
er it succeed or not, good reasons will be expect-
ed on the part of the victors in debate.
—-:.j$j———
CHARLESTON, Feb. 14.
Afare Pirates ca/ztured.—-The U. States schr.
Grampus, Lieut. Gregory, from a cruise of four
months in the VVest Indies and along the Span-
i_sh Maine, arrived at our port yeseerday morning,
lastfrom Santa Martha. She has brought in 3
Pirates, viz: James Maxwell, one ofthe crew that
robbed the Orleans of Philadelphia, and Charles
Owens and James Rose,who robbed ‘a Portsmouth
schooner of $2600 in the Bite of Leognae. One
of these daring free-hooters was delivered up to
Lieut. Gregory by the Governor of St. Barts, at .d
the other two by the President of Hayti, for trial
by the United States. The Grampus has board-
ed several privateers during her cruise, and trav-
ersed a space of 9000 miles, spreading terror a-
mong those wretches whose impotence is equal
to their atrocity, and who only require active pur-
suit to frighten them out of visible existence.
-Z10}?
Nstv-‘Iona, Feb. 25.
From Pcrnambuco -—Accounts to Jan. 6,~,are_
received at Charleston. The Brazilians had soc-'
ceeded in establishing the new Constitution ‘and
had compelled the European General. with,the
whole of his troops, to embark for Portugal. An
illumination took place in consequence of the
King's ha\'in_tr disapproved of the oppressive ad-
mitiistration oftbe governor Gen. De Rego, and
the return of the patriot prisoners sent by him to-
Europe. Tranquility was cs’abliSl‘Ie(l, and ener-
getic steps were taken by the provincial ‘govern-
ment, for the increase of the patriot army. Threi:
n8WSP'<tP€t‘5 were about to be established at Per-
nambnco, which place with a population of 60,000
has hitherto been without any public vehicle 0
intelligence. '
Norwalk Chronicler