'- .‘lislirn'ent ofthe Navy 0
, the pressure was com;‘a'i‘atively"light; but there
‘ miion of our Navv to a prescribed limit, and
’
.._,,
MESSAGE coinmunicaterl by the Prcsitlmt
to the House of Representatives on the 80th
trltfenclosing the Report of the Secretary of
the A/‘any relative to u .iV'aval Peace Estab-
lish-inent:fo.r the United States. ‘
In cotppliatice with a resolution of the H.
ofRe-mleseiitatives of the 15th December last,
V‘ retlriestiigg the President of the-United States
‘ to comrnunicate a plan for a Peace Estab-
fthe Uirited States,’ I
,hei'ew ti transmit a report from the Secretary
I-ofthe Navy,which ountainstlie plan required.
,, In presenting this plan to the considei_'a_tion
of Congress, I avail iii_vselfofthe occasion to
make some remarks on it, which the import‘-
_ auce of the subject requires, and experience
justifies. Ilia system of universal and per-
manent peace could be establislicd, or if, in
war, the belligerant parties would respect the
rights of neutral powers, we should have no
occasion for anavy or an army. The expense
and dangers of such establislirriciits miglit be
avoided. The history of all ages proves that
this cannot be presumed; on the contrary,that
at least one half of every century, in ancient
as well as modern times, has=been consumed
in wars, and often of the mostgeneral and
desolating character. Nor is there any cause
to infer, ifwe exaiirinetlre condition of the
nations with which we have the must inter-
°coui‘se and strongest politicalrelations, that
we sliall, in future, be exempt from that ca-
lamity’, within any period,to which a rational
icalculation may be extended. And, as totlic
riglrts of iicutral powers, it is sufficient to- a‘p-_
peal to our own experience to demonstrate
how little regard will be paid to them, whc__n-.
evei they come in corillict with the interests of
the powers at war, while we rely on_the jus-
tice of our cause and on argument alone. The
aincu-it ofthe property of our fe_llo'w-citizens,
which was seized and confiscated, or destroy-
ed, by the belligeraut parties, in the wars of
the French revolution, and of those, wliicli fol
lowed, before we became a party to the war, is
almost incalculable.
The whole movement of our government,
from the establislrmeiit of our lIl(.le[)CH(lt.'ll(.‘e,
has been guided by a sacred regard for peace.
Situated as we ’are, in the new ll0lIil$[)l)el‘¢ ;
distant froiil uurope, arid unconnected with
its afl'airs ; blessed with thc_ happiest govern
iirent on earth, and having no objects ofam-
-bition to gratify -; the U. States have steadily
cultivated the relations of amity with every
power. And if, in any European wars, a re-
spect for our rights might be relied on, it was
uudoubtedlyin those to which I have advert-
od. The conflict being vital, the force being
nearly equally ba_lanced,and the result uiicer-
tain,’ each party had the strongest motives of
interest to culrivate"our good will, lest we
might be thrown into the opposite scale. Pow-
erful as this consideration usrially is, it was
never 1-less utterly disi'egartled,in almost ev-
ery stage of, and byeirery party to those wars.
Totlicse eiicroachrnerits and injnries,,ou'r fe-
gaijd for peace was f‘iiially foi"ced to yield.
In the war to which at length we became a
party, our whole coast, from St. Croix to the
Mississippi was either invaded or menaced
with in‘vasion;and in many parts,ivitli a strong
i,inpo'sing force, both land and naval. In those
parts wliere the population was most dense,
c
was scarcely an harbor or city, on any of our
great inlets,wliicli could be considered secure.
New-York and Philadelphia were eminently
exposed, the then existing works not being
sufficieiit for their protection. The same re-
mark is applicable, in a certain extent, to the
cities, eastward of the former; and as to the
condition of the whole country southward of whenevert
-may be given as an example.
judgment, even this Bay may be defended a-
and wherever else they might be deemed ire-
cessary. It is to the execution ofthese works
both land and naval, and under a thorough
coirvictiou that by hastening their completion,
[should render the best service to my country
and give the most effectual support to our free
republican system of government, that my
humble facrilties would admitof, that I have
devoted so much ‘of my time and labor to this
great system of national policy, since 1 came
iut‘o this office, and "shall continue to do it, un-
til my retirement from it, at the end of your
nekt session.
-The Navy is the arm from which our gov-
ernment will always derivemost aid in sup-
port of- our neutral i'igirts. Every power en-
gaged in war, will know the strength of our
naval force, the number of our ships of each
class, their condition, and the proinptitude
with which we may bring them into service,
and will pay the due consideratioii to that ar-
guinent. Justicewill always liave great weight
in the cabiiiels of -Erii'op'e ; but in long and
destructive wars,exigencies often occur which
press so vitally on theui,tlrat, unless the argu-
ment of force is brought to its aid, it will be
disregarded. Otir land forces will always per-
form their duty in the event ofwar; bitt they
must pcrftirin it on the land. Our navy is the
arm which must be principally relied on for
the annoyance oftlic commerce of the enemy
and for the protection of our own ; and, also,
by co-operation with the land forces, for the
defence of the country. Capable. of moving
in any and every direction, it possesses the
faculty, even when rctnote from our coast, of
extending its aid to every interest on which
the security and welfare ofour Union depend.
Annoying the coimnerce of the eiiefny, and
menacing, in turn its coast,provided the force
on each side is nearly equally balanccd,it will
draw its squadrons from otir own ; and,in case
ofinvasion by a powerful advcrsar_v,by a land
and naval force, which is always to be antici-
pated, and ought to be provided against, our
navy may, by like co-operation with our land
forces, rt=.iider'cssential aid in protecting our
interior from incursion and dcprcdation.
The great object, in the event ofwar, is to
stop the enemy at the coast. If this is done,
our cities, and whole interior will be secure.——
For the zrccomplisluuent oftliisobjcct our for-
tifications nrust be principally relied on. By
placing strong ~.rorl«;s iiear the mouths of our
great inlets, in such positions as to command
the eiiirances into them, as may be done in
many instances, it will be difficult, ifnot im-
possible for ships to pass them, especially if
other precautions, and particularly that of
steam batteries, are resorted to’, in their aid.
"In the wars between other powers, into which
we may be drawn, in support of our neutral
rights, it cannot be doubted that this defence
would be adequate to the purpose intended by
it; nor can it be doubted, that the knowledge
that such works existed, would form a strong
motive, with any power, not to invade our
iiglits, and thereby contribute essentially to
prevent war. There are, it is adruitted, some
entrances into our interior, which are ofsuch
vast extent, that it would be utterly impossi-
ble for any rvoiks, however extensive, or well’
poised, to coiniinand them. Of this class, the
Cliesapeake Bay, which is an arm ofthe sea,
Brit, in my
gainst any power with whom we may be in-
volved in war as a third party," in the defence
of our neutral rights. By erecting strong works
at the mouth of James River, on both sides,
near the Capes, as we are now doing, and at
Old Point - Comfort, and the Rip Raps, and
coiinectiiig those works together by chains,
he eri'eniy’s force appeared,placing
the "latter, the events which marked the war in the rear some large ships and steam batte-
aretoo recent to require detail.
and navy signalizetl themselves in every quar-
ter where they had occasion to meet their
gallrint. foe, and the militia voluntary flew to
Our armies ties, the passage up the river would be render-
ed iinpructicable. This guard would also tend '
to protect the whole country bordering on the
bay, and rivers emptying into it ;' as the haz-
to their aid, with a patriotism, and fought ard would bctoo great for the enemy, howe-
with a brav'ei'y, which cxaltcd_tlie reputation ver strong his naval force, to ascend the bay,
ofthe}: (-,‘.‘0v(=,i-hinciii and country, and wlricli ‘and leave such a naval force behind ; since,
did them the highest honor.
rcction the eiiciriy chose to move w
sqtuulrons and to land their troops, our fortifi-
In ivharevei-'di- in the event of a storm, wliereby his vessels
itli their might be separated, or of a calm, the ships
and steam batteries, behind the works, might
c-rtious, where any existed, presented but lit- rush forth and destroy them. It could only
tle obstacle to tlierfi. They passed those works he in the event of an invasion by a great pow-
witliout difficulty. Their squadrons, in fact, er, or a combination of several powers, and by
annoyed oirr whole coast, not ofthe sea only, l
andas well as by naval forces,that these works
but eve.-.y bay and greai river throughout its could be carried ; and, even then, they could
-.v.hole extent. In entering those inlets, and I
sailing up them with a small force, the effect i
was disastrous, since it never failed to draw l
out the _wl1ole population on each side, and to
keep it in the field while the squadron remai-
cies of defence, with the exposure of the in-
liabitarits,::ntl the waste ofpi'operty may read-
ily be conceived. _
The occurrences which preceded tliejwar, t
and those whiclr attended it, were alike re- l
pletc with useful instruction as to our
policy.
den cnstruc cle:ri‘l_v, that in the wars of other t
powers, we can rely only on if-or'ce f'or'ti:c pro-
tec‘.io;: of our neutral -:‘rglits._ Tiro_se of _the
_second dcriion:-ti‘z\tt:, with equal cei‘t:tinty,that
in any iviri in which \_re.- in-.x_v he :..ti,_;;=i,_r,ed here-
after, with a strong naval ;:ower.,tlie expense, l
‘yf,s[9:_l3_|]{-l 0lll'c1l‘,§Fll2‘.ttlll.lt:F, attrzirding it‘, coir- schooners be kept in actual service.
textt-i‘it of maritirnehfzlontier, poses a reduction of the navy yards, and the
itrlie tier".-gnited by adeqiiate, substitution of fixed salaries for the emolu-
ments now enjoyed by the officers stationed
siuering _llie var.
‘Carin-at fail, tirilc.-:;<
f'oriiZ'rcatiori's' and l‘._‘ittll?tlJl€ naval force to cor-
re.-spond with those wliich were experienced at them.
4 stations at Erie and ‘Nliitelfall are uselcss,aud
that there" are only two" vessels at Sackett’s
H-arl-Jor worthy ofpreservation, _atid these can
in the late war.
To (2 great objects are th'ercforc to be regar-
ded in [l_llE.8I~'l.'«tl)ll§lllll(‘.I]t of an adequa'te'naval
forcez; Tire ‘first, 1
may be practicable :' the second, to diniinisli i
public property can be disposed of o'r remo-
,inti- ved, and the latter‘ may be rnaintained on a
its calainities, wli'e_rifit, may be inevitable.
Hence, the srtlijlecfof d_cf'ence becomes
mately coiitrecteil, in all its parts, in war and .
in peace, for the land and at sea. . No govern-
ment will be disposed, in its wars with other
powers, toviolate, ourrigli'ts', if it knows we
have lhelmeans, are prepared, and resolved
to defend them. i The motive will‘ zilso be ‘ill-i
uiinisltetl,ifit knows that our defences by‘ [and
are‘ so well planned and executc_d,fhat anili-
vasion of our coast cannot b,e_producti've of
the evils to. which we have heretofore ‘ been
e_xpo5e¢_.__Ii; was under a thorough convic-
tion ofthcse trutlis, derived from the admoni-
tions of thelate war, that Congress, as early
as the vear 1816', during tlieterin of my en-
liglitened fat. Vil‘L_tilOltS pi'cdc'c_essor under. wliuin
the war had been dcclaretl, prosecuted, and
terminated, digested, and nrailc provision for
me dei'.;np,e ofour coun‘try and the support of
its rights, in peace as well as in war, by acts
which authorized and enjoined the augmen-
tbe con‘sti'iiction of suitable fort'iflcat'ions"tlrro’-
o prevent war, so far as it beprotectetl by a few men.
rot fail to retard the movement ofthe enetny
nto the country, and to give time for the col-
ection ofour regular troops, militia, and vol-
untecrs, to that point, and thereby contribute
essentially to his ultimate defeat and expul-
ned there. The expense attending this spc- sion from our couiury.
Uudera strong impr_ession, that a" Peace
Establishment of our Navy" iscounectcd with
the possible event of war, and that the naval
'orce intended for eitliefstate, howe'.er small
t may be, is-connected with the general sys-
future tem of public defence, Ilrave thought it pro-
Thiise which mark the‘fii'st epoch, per, in cominuriicating this report, to submit
liese remarks on the whole srilvject.
, JAMISS MUNROE.
The Sccrctarl/’s Rcporf.—Iu his Report the
Secretary rectriiiinentls that two ships of the‘
inc, four frigates, eight sloops of war, and six
He-pro-
He says it is believed that the naval
The two former
iraytlic-i'efore be abandoned, as soon as the
very reduced scale. An annual saving of
323,001) will thus be effected. He advises the
establishment of new grades, by the appoint-
riient ofone vicé-admiral_; two rear adinirals,
a'rid three ‘commodores—-besides inferior odi-
cers. The vice adiniral to receive $900 per
month and 20 daily rations; the rear adinirals
8150,and 18 daily rations; and the commo-
dorcs S125 and 16 daily rations.
He rea.-roirs'as followsou the propriety of
establishing these new grands :—No one has
.ever been able to cointnand her armies or her
fleets by Captains’. ' And our experience does
irotjristifyais in believing, that our success in
such an experiment will be greater. Rank is
necessary to enforce discipline; the orders of
it superior are . always more readily obeyed
than those of an equal in grade. Rank is c-
qually nccessarytn insure the science required
to coiinnand air extensive force, which differs
.fi"oin‘, and is of a much higher character than
that which is comp‘etent to the coininand ofa
r at the whole extent of our maritime froritier,
single vessel; the desire, also, to reach the
~.
acquire the information which is suited to ‘it,
and operate ext‘eu_sively_on the general char-
acter ofthe whole corps. -Ifyou would induce
your, officers to prepare themselves for any.
service, you must present to tlremjthe certain-
ty of having that service to perform ; and that
they perfornrit well. It is no reproach to
them to say, that very few now are, and with
our present system, veryfew ever will be, fit-
ted to command our fleets successfully against
a powerful and sltilful adversary; and it is
earnestly to be hoped, that such an arrange.
menu will be adopted as to l_'u:rni'sh all grades
with such ,dp'portun_ities for improvement, and
su(_:lf exciteitieiits to exertion, as will prevent
our future exvpeiierice, on this point, from be-
ing c'alainit_o'us'. The increase of rank will al-
so obvizite some causes ofirritatioii, in the in-
course of our officers with those of other na-
tions, the least powerful of whom have higher
grades than we have, and they universally
claim honors and precedence accordiiig to
rank; this nuist either be _yielded, or inter-
conrso’ with them suspended. To the first,
the individual and national pride of our sea-
men cannot, and ought not to assent; and the
latter is productive of unfriendly feelings.
This inconvenience will be greatly augmen-
ted, and our naval reputatoii may stiffer se-
verely, froin this cause, should our vessels
lraveqoccasion to co-operate with those of any
other nation. In such cases, rank ni_iist be
respected. Our officers, for want ofit, may
always be subordinate ; our fleets, no matter
what their power, be subject to the orders of
others, though commanding a very inferior
force, and our i'eputation be thus placed where
it might not always be safe. I-Iistory fiirnisli-
es some valuable illustrations on this point.——
Oue additional, but inferior grade, that ofsub
lieutenant, is also proposed; it is rneant to
provide increased rank and pay for passed
inidshipmen, who have distinguished them-
selves by zeal and activity, in discliarging
their diuies,and qualifying tlieinselves for pro-
motion, and for whom there, may be no va-
cancies in the rank of lieutenant.
[By the proposed plan there will be asaving
to the national treasury of75 or $100,000.]
CONGRESS.
Senate, Feb. 5.—On motion of Mr. Jack-
son, the Senate, as in committee ofthe whole,
Mr. Ruggles in the chair, took up for consid-
cration the bill to authorize the making of a
military road from Fort St. Philip, on the riv-
er Mississippi,to the English Turn, as an aux-
iliary to the defence of New Orleans.
Mr. Jackson said, that, as it was objected to
this bill, when it was before under discussion,
that: it involved the question of the constitu-
tional power of Coiigress to make roads, he
was, therefore, about to propose an amend-
ment which would obviatc that objection. He
believed that the right of Congress to make
roads upon its own lands, for military purpo-
ses, could hardly be doubted. It was as evi-
dent as the right of any individual to dispose
of his property for his own purposes. Mr. J.
then submitted an alneiidrnent, proposing to
limit the road to Johnson‘s plantation, instead
ofe:-ttendlrig it to the English ’l‘urn; thus con-
fining it to the lands owned by the U. States.
The bill was tlren,on rnotiou of Mr. Holmes
of Maine, postponed, and made the order of
the day for to-morrow.
In the House ofReprcse’ntatives, on the 5th,
the Bill for obtaining the necessary surveys,
estiniates, &Lc. for roads and canals was bro’t
up, and after some discussion, Mr. P. P. Bar-
bour, inoved to strike oru the enacting clause
of the bill. Mr. Triinble objected, as the
House was very thin, and sortie were absent
who might wish todeliver their sentiiiicnts on
the subject. Mr. Barbour disclaiined any
wish to take advantage of a thin house to ob-
tain a vote, and the committee rose before the
question was take.u
Senate, Feb. 6.—Tlie Senate resumed the
consid'eration ofthe bill to authorize the build-
ing often additional sloops ofwar..Tlie ques-
tion being upon filling the blank for the appro-
priation with 31-‘-2:'2,0t)0 annually, for years-
- Mr. Barbour rose in support of the bill. He
believed the Senate could not feel any listless-
nests in regard to the navy of the country.-
There had formerly been a difference ofopin"-
ion oii the subject of the U. S. becoming a
maritime power‘; but €X})C|'l_C!l(2€ had not then
proved the necessity of a naval force : it was
their hardly to be hoped that any efforts of
ours would be suflicient to enable us to make
any stand, among the nations ofthe eartli, as
a naval power; and it was firmly believed by
many that we should only build vessels to be
captured. But, in the progress of time the
war came on 3 it frirnished a trial of our ca-
pacity as a_ maritime power ; and the decision
has been such as to produce air uniform opin-
ion, in the" nation,‘ that it is the duty of, the
governinent to cherish‘ this important means
ofour defence. In the brilliancy and glory
of its exploits, tire. Navy had far exceeded the
utmost aiitic’.p-.rt'ion of its friends, and certain-
ly, it had surpassed the expectations of its
opporicnts. It was ascertained, in that war,
thatour navy would furnish us with the great-
est means of annoyance against an eneiny,and
that it_woiild carry an impression of our pow-
er, more than any other force we could fur-
nish, and, consequently, the feeling towards it
had been clranged. Attachment to the navy
was now, Mr. B. said, confined to no particu-
lar part ofthe co_untry——-it was universal. Im-
mediately after the_\-var, at a morneint when
the natiouwas laboring under irllthe embar-
rassineuts resulting from the contest ; when,
individually and collectively, the country was
distressed in its fniariical concerns; in April,
1816, a law was passed appropriating one mil-
lion annually to the gradual increase of the
Navy. Mr. B. said he had mentioned that
fact, only to call the attention ofthe Senate
to the circumstances of the government at
that time——if a million ofdollars, annually,
was then appropriated ; when the nation was
embarrassed, and individuals were involved
in pecuniary distress, surely at this time, when
our debt is diminislied, and our population in-
creased, we may provide for the increase of
the Navy, proposed by this bill. Either the
appropriation at that time was the most no-
wise prodigality, or the bill proposed at this
time could irot fairly be objected to.
Let usvnot think that we shall always enjoy
peace. This may have a benumbing influence
upon our country. If_ it is true that it is not
necessary to make any expenditiires more
than your present service rcquii‘es,all that you
have done since the war is in vain ; your forti-
fications, yo"nr cannon, the increase ofyonr
‘navy, is all a useless waste of the public mo-
higher rank, willcreate strenuous exertion to’
theirduty and honor will equally demand that’
ney, and it is better to stop instantly ; but if
the necessityofpreparing for ou.I?_,,d¢zfcn(:e con-
tmues asstrong as it has been,-it-tis.better not
to fold our arms, and cry peace, peace,,when
peradventure, there is no peace. ,,l)_,ur',ing the
We W81‘: Mr. Barbour said, his situation had
brought the importance ‘of this subject _partic-
ularly to his view. ' The state ofVirginia was
iiitersecfed by numerous and large rivers,con-
tributing to the beneficial intercourse of the
inhabitants, in time of peace, but in ‘i‘vai", f‘ri'r-
nisliitig high roads to the enemy from which
to make th_eir,incursions upon the country..-
Thousauds ofthe citizens of that state were
detailed to protect its shores. The enemy
was constantly changing his position, and fren-
dered any defence almost impossible. One
single ship, at the mouth of the Potomac, her-
metically sealed the commerce of Virginia,
Maryland, and a part of North Carolina. The
expense of the protection of that part of the
coi.intry was much greater than ifit had been
protected by a competent maritime force, in-
dependently ofthe thousands of our valuable
citizens who perislied in garrison. In anoth-
er war, the same horrors might be sustained,if
thisarm of national defence were not strength-
ened. "Early in the present session, a reso-
lution had been submitted, calling for infor-
mation on the subject. The Secretary ofthe
Navy, the organ ofthe government, aided by
three gentlemen ofhigh standing in that De-
partment, had expressed his opinion in favor
of the necessity of building the vessels provid-
ed for in this act; it was stated, that the good
ofthe service required them ; that they fur-
nished the best means of educating and in-
structing our officers; and that they were re-
quisite to answer peculiar purposes for wliich
vessels are, at present wanted. Mr. B. appre-
hended that, in building the vessels c_ot_itet_n-
plated by this act, the government would only
restore this class of vessels to its original num-
ber, as it stood formerly. At one time, we
had thirteen oftliem, anti now tllere_ wereonly
four. Ifit was proper, then, that there should
be thirteen vessels ofthis class, how much more
necessary is it now, wlieii the prop,orti_on of
large vessels‘is increased P If gentlemen would
advert to the navies of other nations, particu-
larly to that of Great Britain, they would find
the proportion oflarge vessels to be only about
one half. Ofiipwards of seven hundred ves-
sels in the British navy, uiorc than one half
are of smaller grade than frigates. In the
United States’ navy, the small vessels bear no
proportion to the large ones.
Mr. Barbour wished to call the attention of
the Senate to the experience furnished by the
last war. It was made a matter of boasting,
that in sixty days the trees of the forest were
converted into vessels, and floating upon the
water. And what was the result ? The Se-
cretary of the Navy now tells you how worth-
less they were. If the necessity of this kind
of force had been felt previous to the war,the
materials might have been properly selected,
and prepared, and the vessels luive been still
in existence, and fit for service; but, as it was,
they perished almost as soon as built. Six
weeks brought them into existence, and six
weeks carried them to the bottom ofthe Lakes,
or rendered them useless. In time of war,
there are no surplus fundsto build vessels with.
All the funds that the nation can raise, are
put in requisition for other purposes. And
before the vessels are built,the necessity which
called for them may [rave passed away. These
vessels are wanted for a particular scrvice.——
Under the necessity of the case, the last Con-
gress passed an act for the purchase ofaddi-
tional vessels. They were not of suitable kind
for the service. "be men were exposed on
board of them to thediseases ofthe climate in
which they were used, and perished in large
numbers. They proved so many graves for
the men employed in them, and, in the lan-
guage ofthe Secretary, they were unfavorable
to discipline. This particular kind of vessel,
therefore, is necessary in the service. It will
actually promote economy, instead of being
an useless expense, to build them. -They are
superior, in point ofsize, for the service. We
send ships of the line, or frigates, on distant
service, to carry nriuisters,&Lc.wl~:ere these ves-
sels would answer the purpose equally as well,
and be supported at much less expense. In
wars’ with the pirates, they are particularly
serviceable.-‘.
Mi‘. Chandler said he could not possibly see
the necessity of a_pp'ropriating all the money
at this time. The tinibcr for the vessels can
only be got in the winter scasoii. The present
winter is too far advanced to do any thing to-
wards it. Nothing can be done, as to procur-
ing the materials, until the next winter ; and
the building cannot be commenced until the
summer f'ollowin<r. Before the materials can
be collected,Congress will be again in session.
If ten sloops of war are necessary, let them be
built. But, Mr. C. said, he was not afraid to
trust a future session of Congress, to judge
according to the cii'cumstanc'es that might
then exist. He was willing to fill up the blank
with such a sum as would be adequate to the
purchase ofthe timber.
Mr. Barbour said he was willing to modify
the bill, by dividing the appropriation between
three or four successive years ; whatever sum
might bethonght necessary for each year, had
better be appropriated. So that the ten ships
were built, he did not care whether it was in
one, two, or three years. .
Mr. Lloyd, of Massaclitisetts, withdrew the
motion which he had inarle, to fill the blank
in the bill with four hundred and twerity-five
thousand dollars anririally, for two years.
Mr.l-Iolmes,of ;Vlairie,theu moved to amend
the bill, so as to provide for procuring the ina-
terials for building the vessels; and, on mo-
tion of Mr. King. the Senate adjourned.
February 7.—-The Senate were engaged in
often sloops of war.
House qf Representat£t'es;——l\’[r; Forward,
frotn the Committee on .\1anufaciures, report-
ed a bill laying a duty on sales ofinerchandize
at auction, and for other purposes ; which was
twice read, and referred to a committee ofthe
whole on the state of the Union.
he National lntelligencer, gives the fol-
lowing abstract of this bill. It proposes that
from and after the 15th of.-\prll next, there
shall be levied on all sales at auction,ofgoods,
wares, Estc. whether of foreign or domestic
growth, seven dollars and a halfou each lum-
dred dollars purchase money, at such sales,
and in the same proportion for less or greater
amounts; and two and a linlf per cent. in ad-
dition‘, where the bales or packages in which
goods are int" ported, shall be broken or subdi-
vid,e'd.———-‘Licences are to be granted free of
cost to auctioneers, on their entering into cer-
itain penal bonds for the compliance with the
discussing the bill providing for the building V
pi-bvisions oftliis law. They are to retain rhg
amount of duty from sales, and for this labour
are to receive an allowance of ._one per cent,
commission. No sales are to be made witli-
out notice publicly given, nor in anv other’
manner than by public outcry. '
Ifany goods are imported from-abroad,bear-l‘
ing American marks,or purporting to be ofA-
merican manufacture, though really offorcivrt‘
make, they shall be absolutely forfeited.] 0
Senate, Feb. 9.——The resorution appmpria_
ting one hundred dollars, to pay the fm,e,.,,1
cxpences of Samuel Turner, jun. late First
Clerk in the office of Secretary ofthe Senate
was,i_'ead_ a third time, and passed. -
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the bill for an additional number of sloops of
wa_r—tl_ie question being upon Mr. Holmes’
“"‘e"(l_".T8"l- . Mt'._ Lowrie could not secure
necessity ofbtiildiiig so many vessels immedi-
""59-l)’*l‘B gititibterl the expediency ofmakiug
so large an tIppI‘0])i‘lt_lti()j), confined to one or
“_"° .Yei"'S-. He. was in favor ofainending the
bill so as to_appropriate ,-g,-30,000 douarg pm.
the pl'e-Sim! year, and 150,000 dollars annual-
ly, forthe four sricce_e(ling'years. He thouwlrt.
it permanent appropri=u,i'oii better than an firi-
uun_l one, as such a course would Pmce me
subject bcfore_ the Now Board, to ,,,.,,cead
according to their jridginciit and lillowlndoe
ofthe btisiricss. After some further i~ein:..-T;
the lquestiou was taken on the anreiidiiienitl
and lost-—yeas 11, nays Ell. ’
_ On motion of Mr. Barbour the blank was‘
then filled furtlie appi‘op;-iaiion, viith Q50 00,,
dollars for the present year, and Q00,000,r|(,|-
lars annually, for the three succectling years
and thcbill was ordered to be engrossed amj
read a third time. ' _ .
Ifoitscqf Repi'escizfat;T;ig_<,-, _,«‘c5_ _q,.__Nu,,,e,._
°"5 Pfllttions were prcsciited——among which
we noticed :1 memorial from Dr. Smith of
Baltimore, on the prevention ofthe smallpox -
the memorial goes at length into the subject:
and, after mentioning the present alarming
preyalence ofthe disease, and discussing the
valitlity of kinc pock, as its preventive, pro-
poses a plan for the dissemination of genuine
yaccine matter, by a Central Agent, at Vfash.
"lglofli find local Agents in each Corivrerl
sional District. The memorial was refigrféd
to a select committee. _
Mr. \_Vickliffe offered a resolution directing
fl" inquiry, by a Select Committee, what far-
ther steps it was proper for the government to
take. in relation to the improvement of the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
_ Mr. Wickliffe stated that surveys and inqui-
rres had been made on the subject, and were
in possession ofthe proper department. The
object of his resolution was to urge the gov-
ei‘ii_iqeiit to put those means into operation, of
which they were already in possession. ‘ He
was happy to find that even tlrcopponents of
the bill now pending on the subje-.ct ofInter—
nal improvements, conceded that government
might, constitution-all_v, act on the improve-
ment ofthe Mississippi. He would not detain
the House with dilating on the importance of
the measure to be accomplished, not only to
H1058 Who were in the immediate vicinity of’
these rivers, but to the Union at large——the
obstacles were such as nriglit easily be rr-.inov-
ed, and whose removal would in a very short
time repay its own expense fourfold.
After some conversation Mr. Wicklilfe con- .
sented to withdraw the motion for the present
till further information was obtained. 9
The House then went into committee of the
whole, l‘vIr. Foot, of Conn. in the‘Chair, on
the bill for obtaining the requisite survevs and
estimates on Roads and Canals. ' '
Mr. Livingston rose, and delivered a speech
in favor ofthe bill, which occupied the Coiii- '
inittee till four o’clock——when the question
being put, on the motion of Mr. Barbour, to
strike out the enacting clause, it was decided‘
in the negative—ayes 84, noes 108.
Senate, Feb. 10.—-Mr. Van Bureu present-
ed the memorial of several thousand persons,
residents in N. York, praying air alteration in
the Alien Laws. Referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.
Mr Lloyd, of Maryland, presented the ine-
morial of the Board of Ti'irstees ofColuinbia'
College, in the District of Coluuibia, p|'aj'ina*‘
a loan from the Gov’t. for certian purposes. 6
The bill autliorizingtlie building of an ad.
ditional number ofsloops of war, for the imvul
service of the United States, was read the
third time and passed.
The bill better to secure the accountability
of public officers, was, after some discussion
and air ineffectual attempt to strike out the‘
third section, ordered to a third reading.
[The first section of the bill provides, tliat"
no salary, compensation, or enioluinent, shall
be paid to any person who is,’ or shall be, iii-
debted to the U. States, until such person has
accounted for, and paid into the Treasury, all
suuis for which he may be so indebtcd.]
House of Representatives, Fab. l0'.——Th'e'
House then resumed the consideration of the
report ofthe Committee ofthe VVhole,on' the
bill to obtain the necessary plans, estimates,
&.c. in relation to Roads and Canals.
Mr. Floyd moved to strike out the enactinrr
clause of the bill—-but at the suggestion ofMr°.-
Randolph, withdrew the motion; and Mr. _
Randolph moved that the consideration ofthe
bill be iitdq/initcly postponed, and on his ino-
tion, the ayes and noes were ordered.to be ta-'
ken upon it.
Before the question was taken, however,
Mr. Saunders moved that the bill be re-
committed to the Committee on Roads" and
Canals, with instructiom to ‘designate such
Roads &I.C-anals as are ofnational iniportance
in a coinmercial or military point of view, or
uecessary for the transportation of the public
mail, or ‘may be deemed proper and expedient
to have surveyed and reported upon.’ ' ’
The question was then taken on the propo-
sition of Mr. Saunders, to re-commit the bill
with instructions, and lost—-ayes 35, noes 116.
The question was then taken on indefinite
postponement, and decided as follows: ayes
86, nays 113.
After some attempts to amend, the question
was taken on ordering the bill to be engrossed
for a third reading, and decided in the affir-
u_iati_ve-—_ayes 115, nays 86.
The Tin-r'fl'Bilf.——.\‘Ii'. Tod then moved that
the House go into committee of the whole on
the State ofthe Union, with a view to take up"
the bill for a revision ofthe tariff.
Mr. Randolph rose, and said—‘ Sufiicien:
for the day is‘ the evil t|iercof——I hope the
house will do no such thing.’
The question was then put on Mr. Tod's
motion, and carried. Ayes 93, Noes 82. So
the House went into coruinittee on the bill,aiid
some progress having been Iltztile i.n__ji5 ,e;.i_j. ‘-
ing the committee rose and the house adj.
Norwalk Chronicler