It follows from this view of the subject, that if the least danger in travelling the road from fort the force which has been put into service by your Hawkins to the Alabama, by this place and fort excellency has been required by major general Mitchell, but I would not advise travellers to use Dearborn, or received by him, and put under his the road from fort Perry to fort Gaines; or indeed command, that the expenses attending it will be any road as low down as for: Gaines, for the predefrayed by the United States. It follows likewise sent. as a necessary consequence, that if this force has been called into service by the authority of the obedient servant, I am, with high respect and esteem, your very state, independently of major general Dearborn, and be not placed under him, as commander of the D. B. MITCHELL, agent, I. A. district, that the state of Massachusetts is chargeHis excel. Wm. Rabun, Governor, &c. able with the expense and not the United States.Any claim which the state may have to reimburse. ment, must be judged of hereafter, by the competent authority, on a full view of all the circumstances attending it. It is a question which is beyond the authority of the executive. Talk of Tustennugee Hopoie, and Hopoie Haijo, to the agent of Indian affairs for the Creek nation. FORT MITCHELL, Dec. 30, 1817. My friend-The messenger which was sent to the Mickasukies has returned with an answer to Your excellency will perceive that this govern- our Talk. The Mickasukies say it was not them ment has no other alternative than to adhere to a that began the war. They were sitting down in system of defence which was adopted on great con- peace, and the white people came on them in the sidertion, with the best view to the general wel-night and fired on them. The Mickasukies are fare, or to abandon it, and with it a principle held still sitting down in their town and doing no missacred, thereby shrinking from its duty at a moment chief, and waiting to see if the white people will of great peril, breaking the guards deemed neces- make peace with them. The people that shot at sary for the public safety, and opening the door to the boat and killed all the white people, were the other consequences no less dangerous. old Red Sticks from the Upper towns, them that turned hostilities last war. The man that was By these remarks it is not intended to convey the idea, that a militia officer of superior grade, sent to the Mickasukies (Hopoie Haijo) with a regularly called into service, shall not command an peace talk, met the Mickasukies at the half way officer of the regular army, of inferior grade, when ground coming with a peace talk to us. Mr. Hamacting together. No such idea is entertained by bley and Mr. Doyle were taken prisoners-Hopoie the government. The militia are relied on essen-Haijo saw them. Tustennugee Chapco has gone tially for the defence of the country. In their to relieve them, and carry them to the fort at St. hands every thing is safe. It is the object of the government to impose on them no burthens, which it may be possible to avoid; and to protect them in the discharge of their duties, in the enjoyment of all their rights. The various points which are attacked and me. naced by the enemy, especially in this quarter, where they are waging, in considerable force, a predatory and desolating warfare, make it difficult to provide immediately for all the necessary expenditures. Any aid which the state of Massachusetts may afford to the United States to meet these expenditures, will be cheerfully received, and applied to the payment and support of the militia of that state in the service of the United States. It will be proper that the money thus advanced should be deposited in some bank in Boston, that the disbursement of it may be made under the authority of the government of the United States as in similar cases elsewhere. Credit will be given to the state for such advance and the amount be considered as a loan to the United States. I have the honor to be, &c. JAMES MONROE. Indian News-Official. SIR-The messenger who was sent below to propose terms of peace to the Seminoles, has returned; and the enclosrd is the substance of his report, which I received by express. The friendly chiefs and warriors are to meet me at this place on the 11th instant, and I have great hopes that our differences with the Seminoles can, with their assistance, be adjusted. I understand that much apprehension prevails about the safety with which travellers can pass through the nation. It is my opinion there is not Marks. I have sent you this little talk now; our meeting that you appointed will soon be, and then every thing will be made strait. We hear that the army has crossed at Hartford. The Cheehaws have received two letters from the army, and they had no-body to read them, and they don't know the contents-and wish the army could be stopped until our meeting is over. (Signed) (Signed) TUSTESNUGEE HOPOIE. General Mitchell, in a letter to the editors of this paper, dated the 9th inst. observes-"There does not appear to be any thing new in this quarter, except the prospect of peace with the Seminoles." [Georgia Journal. HEAD-QUARTERS, Hartford, Georgia, Jan. 8th, 1818, SIR-I received on my way to this place the 5th inst. from lieut. col. Arbuckle, reports of the state of his command up to the 21st December-by which I learn that the detachment with transports thirty miles below fort Scott by a force of Indians under maj. Muhlenburg had been attacked about and blacks, estimated at from 8 to 1200-that the from the 15th to the 19th Dec. and that our loss firing had continued from both sides of the river amounted to 2 killed and 13 wounded-the loss of the enemy not known. The vessels were so forti. the enemy's shot, except when carrying out the fied with bulwarks as to secure our troops from anchors to warp, or when working with the rig ging. the delay be likely to produce any serious conse We understand it is the intention of the go. others I have ordered, and have reason to believe are on the way, are expected to arrive; and which vernor to comply with the above requisition as far will be taken up the river in keel boats, secured against the enemy's shot. as may be in his power. Four companies of riflemen cannot be furnished, because it is believed A small work commanded by captain M'Intosh, there are not so many in the state; and there is no 12 miles above fort Scott, had been attacked and likelihood, at this inclement season, of their volun. surrounded for several days, by a large party; but teering. Form the defects of our militia laws, with although the captain's force amounted to no more regard to the election of officers, it will be impos. than forty, he maintained his work without the sible to organize the infantry, and march them to the loss of a man. The Indians finding themselves un-place of rendezvous by the first of next month.able to make any impression upon the work or The troops called for, we are informed, will be tagarrison, and having suffered from our shot, retired. ken from Byne's, Bell's (of Oglethorpe) and Glas[Georgia Journal. Captain M'Intosh's command has since been with-cock's brigades. drawn. CONGRESS. SENATE. A friendly chief, Wm. Perryman, having raised a considerable party of warriors on the Chatahochie, for the purpose of protecting the friendly traders below the line,and of aiding our troops, was attacked January 29.-After other business, the senate by the hostile party and is supposed to have fallen, proceeded, as in committee of the whole, to the with Messrs. Hambly and Doyle. It is reported, consideration of the bill to provide for the survivthat most of the party were forced (perhaps willinging officers, soldiers, &c. of the revolution. ly) to join the enemy. I have received information that a party of Indians entered the settlement near Trader's Hill a few days past, killed a woman, whose name I have not learned, and took off some three or four negroes.* Mr. King took a comprehensive view of the principal features of the bill, stated his objections to the provision it proposed for seamen, militia, &c. and concluded by moving, that the bill be recommitted and the committee be instructed to amend the same, so as to confine its provisions to a grant of I had previously ordered a detachment of artille-half pay for life to the surviving officers of the ry, with two companies of the militia, drawn from revolutionary army on the continental establishmaj. gen. Floyd's division, to take a post at Trader's ment, who served for three years, or until the end Hill, for the defence of that settlement. I have of the war, including those who were entitled, unreason to believe the artillery arrived at the hill der a resolve of congress, to half pay for life; the about the time the murder was committed, and the half pay to be so granted, to be ascertained by the militia soon after, and that the Indians were pur-rank according to which the accounts of the resued. spective officers were finally settled. The residue of the militia taken from maj. gen. Mr. Barbour followed, and, after arguing at some Floyd's division (five companies) are ordered to length to shew the impossibility of providing for this place, for the purpose of reinforcing gen. all included in the bill, and the impracticability of Glascock's command, excepting one company, discriminating between the different classes prowhich will be posted near the Big Bend of Ocmul-vided for, moved an indefinite postponement of gee. the bill. The motion was not decided upon when the senate adjourned. The detachment under brigadier gen. Glascock, delayed by rainy weather, bad roads, and want of punctuality in the contractor's department, will January, 30.-A message was received from the not be able to form a junction with the U. States' president of the United States, communicating to troops at Fort Scott before the 24th of the present the senate, in compliance with their request of the month; and as a great part of the detachment will 22d instant, a report from the secretary of war reprobably be disposed to return home soon after the lative to the manner in which the troops now opeend of the month, there is reason to apprehend the rating against the Seminole Indians, have been subtime will be too limited to make such an impres-sisted, whether by contract, or otherwise, and if sion upon the savages, (which one decisive victory would effect) as to put an end to the war; and leave them convinced, that their future safety will de pend alone upon the strict observance of peace on their part. I have therefore to request the favor of your excellency, to furnish an additional detachment of militia, to consist of four battalions of infantry, with four companies of riflemen, to assemble at this place on the first of the next month, prepared for a three month's tour of duty, in the service of they have been regularly furnished. [The report states, that the troops are regularly subsisted by contract; that the forces now operating against the Seminole Indians, are within the district, the contract for which commenced on the 15th of June last; that the department of war, anticipating an increased demand for rations, in that quarter, made early and liberal advances of money to the contractor, to enable him to give prompt obedience to the requisition of the commanding general; that requisitions were made for deposits in advance, under the terms of the contract, at I shall make arrangements for the necessary sup- the several posts on the frontier of Georgia, and plies to be in readiness at this place in due time, in the adjacent territories; that, by the last official for arming, equipping, and subsisting the detach-reports these requisitions were not complied with, and the commandant had detailed officers to the United States. ment. I have tht honor to be, with high consideration supply the deficiency by purchase; that the conand respect, your obedient servant, EDMUND P. GAINES, tractor reports,. that he has sent an ample eupply of rations to Fort Scott, from New Orleans, and that they were shipped on the 5th ult.; that this supply is intended to be conveyed up the Apalachicola river, and it is believed may have arrived at its destination before this period, in which event the purchases ordered by the general will cease Accompanying the report, is a correspondence,{ shewing the extent of the failure, and the evils apprehended from an anticipated one, and embracing all the information possessed by the war department on the subject.] The message and report were read and ordered to be printed. Mr. Wilson submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That the president of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the senate, a statement of all the arms and accoutrements, which have been manufactured at the different armories of the United States, with the cost of each stand, and the number delivered to each state, respectively, under the act for arming the whole body of the militia. The resolution respecting the Massachusetts claims, for militia services, was postponed to Monday next, and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, Jan. 30.-The speaker communicated to the house, the report of the commissioner of claims, on the facts of certain cases laid before him. Mr. Ogle, from the committee to whom the sub. ject was referred, reported a bill for the relief of maj. gen. Arthur St. Clair; which was twice read and committed. The speaker laid before the house a letter of the secretary of the navy, transmitting, in obedience to a resolution of the house, copies of proceedings of certain naval courts martial, by which capt. Oli. ver II. Perry, and capt. John Heath, of the marines, were tried. The message yesterday received, from the presi dent of the United States, by Mr. J. J. Monroe, was read as follows. The senate closed its doors for executive busi-representatives, of the 224 of December last, re. ness, until about the usual hour of adjournment. February 2―The resolution for appointing a committee on the Massachusetts claims, was on motion of Mr. Otis further postponed to this day week. On motion of Mr. Campbell, the committee of fi. nance were discharged from the further consideration of the message of the president, respecting the claim of the heirs of Caron de Beaumarchais and it was referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. King, Mason, Campbell, Barbour, and Dagget. To the house of representatives of the United States. In compliance with a resolution of the house of questing information relative to the imprisonment and detention in confinement, of Richard W. Meade, a citizen of the United States; I now transmit to the house a report from the secretary of JAMES MONROE. state, containing the information requested. Washington, Jan. 29, 1818. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. The secretary of state, to whom was referred the resolution of the house of representatives of the Mr. Campbell offered instructions from the legis- 23d of December last, requesting the president to lature of the state of Tennessee to their senators, cause to be laid before the house, any information to use their exertions to procure the passage of an he may be able to communicate, relative to the imamendment to the constitution of the United States, prisonment, and detention in confinement of Richrelative to the compensation of members of con-ard W. Meade, a citizen of the United States, bas gress; and moved that they be received and read-the honor of submitting to the president the accom. but, on motion, the further consideration thereof panying papers, received at the department, on that subject; with a letter addressed to the miniswas posponed until to-morraw. ter of Spain, residing here, since the resolution JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. of the house, and the answer received from him. [This is a matter on which the practice of the senate is not settled; the propriety of receiving such instructions formally by the senate, and entering them on record, having been a subject of contestation heretofore, and never conclusively decided.] MR. ADAMS TO MR. ONIS. The senate resumed the consideration of the mi- Don Louis de Onis, envoy extraordinary, and minister litary appropriation bill, and agreed thereto, with [The bill in the other house contained an appro. plenipotentiary, from Spain. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, 26th Dec. 1817. SIR-I am directed by the president of the United States, to invite your immediate attention, and to urge that of your government, to the case of Richard W. Meade, a citizen of the United States, who has been confined since the 2d of May, 1816, in the prison Santa Catalina, at Cadiz. The bill, as amended, was ordered to be read a It has been repeatedly represented to your go. time. Daggett submitted for consideration the follow-vernment by the minister of the United States at ing resolution: Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed to enquire into the expediency of repealing or altering the law passed in 1812, establishing brevet rank in the army of the United States. February 3-The military appropriation bill was read a third time, passed, and returned to the house of representatives for concurrence in the amend Madrid, that the imprisonment of this person, was under a sentence of a tribunals at Cadiz, condemn. ing him pay a second time, a sum of money, which, by virtue of a prior decree of the same tribunal, he had already paid into the royal treasury. This fact has never been denied or contested by your government. It has been proved to them by the attestations and certificates of their own officers. It was to have been presumed that, upon the first moment that such a fact was authentically presented to your government, an order would instantly have issued from it for the discharge of Mr. Meade Resolved, That the committee on military affairs from his imprisonment. The president regrets be instructed to enquire into the expediency of es-that after so many and such urgent representations tablishing by law the salaries of Indian agent and assistant agents. ments. Mr. Campbell submitted for consideration the following motion. The revolutionary patriot bill was postponed to in his behalf by the minister of the United States at Madrid, it should yet be necessary to address this call upon the most common principle of jus tice to you. I am instructed by him to say, that MR. ONIS TO MR. ADAMS. The chevalier de Onis, to the secretary of state. solicit his release from confinement. In compliance with the wishes of the president, and yours, sir, I shall, with great pleasure, make this request in favor of Mr. Meade, although I am not informed of the details of the suit instituted against him, nor of those which have produced his confinement. Confiding in the just intentions of the king, and his high consideration for the United States, I must hope that his majesty will attend efficaciously to this request, and use his authority in having justice promptly done to Mr. Meade, that the laws may be observed with the strictest impartiality, and no motive or pretext left to doubt of the IM MACULATE (accendra) purity which has ever been acknowledged as the particular attribute of the Spanish magistracy. I renew my respects to you, sir, and pray God to preserve you many years. LUIS DE ONIS. Washington city, Dec. 29, 1817. On motion of Mr. Smith, of Md. Resolved, That the president of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the house such information as he may possess, (and which may be communicated without injury to the public interest) relative to the claims of the merchants of the United States, for their property seized and confiscated under the authority of the king of Naples. Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of ways and means, made a report on the petition of the pew holders of the monumental church in Richmond, unfavorable thereto: which was read. [This petition asks for the remission of the amount of duties which have become payable to the treasury on the importation of an organ for the said church from abroad.] Mr Tyler moved to reverse the report of the committee. This produced a lively debate. The committee it seems, reported against the petition because such an organ might have been obtained in the United States. Finally, the motion for a reverse of the report was negatived, and the report agreed to. The house then resumed the consideration of the bill providing for the recovery of fugitive slaves, and the question having been announced to be on the passage of the bill *It is not our custom to make notes on official papers-but "immaculate," as applied to Ferdihand the ungrateful-whose follies or crimes has made him the laughing-stock or subject of hate, of the world, is really too much to pass, even from De Onis, unmarked. We have, therefore, printed it ED. REO. in capitals. A debate followed. Mr. Adams, of Mass. thought that the constitution would not support certain features in the bill in favor of the owners of slaves. Mr. Anderson, of Ky. supported the bill, and replied to the objections urged against it. Mr Livermore, of N. H. opposed and Mr. Mason, of Mass. defended the bill-Messrs. Holmes, Rhea and Storrs spoke on the same side. Mr Witman, of Mass. generally approved of the bill, but was opposed to ome of its provisions. Mr. Williams, of Con. then spoke against it-when The question on the passage of the bill was taken NAYS.-Messrs. Adains, Allen, Mass. Allen, Vt. Anderson, Pen. Monday, Feb. 2. A report was received from the secretary of war, in compliance with a resolution of this house, upon the subject of land warrants issued and extra pay allowed since the third of March last, under the act granting bounties in land, &c. to certain Canadian volunteers. A letter was received from the secretary of the treasury, transmitting two statements, the first shewing the quantity of land in each district in which the public lands have been exposed to sale, the quantity which has been sold, and the quantity which remains for sale; secondly, the emoluments of the receivers and registers of the land office for four years preceeding 1st October, 1817; which was referred to the committee on public lands. Mr. Bassett submitted to the house a bill for organizing and classing the militia, &c. to be taken up upon the consideration of the bill reported du ring this session on the same subject by Mr. Harrison; which was ordered to lie on the table. The house then by a small majority resolved it self into a committee of the whole, Mr. Decha, in the chair, on the bill for the relief of gen. Arthur St. Clair. This bill gave rise to a discussion which occupied the committee until sun set, in the course of which the motives of the ast of 1810, for the relief of gen. St. Clair, the act of limitations, the merits of the petitioner, the justice of his claim &c. were all brought into view as well as the propriety of various amendments offered to the bill. A motion made by Mr Forsyth, to amend the bill by directing the accounting officers of the treasury to adjust the claim of gen. St. Clair, and allow im the principal and interest of whatever amount may appear to be due, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, was under consideration, when the committee rose, and obtained leave to sit again; after which the house adjourned. Tuesday, Feb. 3.—Mr. Mills, from Massachusetts, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat. The house took up the amendments of the senate Wednesday, Feb. 4.-The motion submitted yes. to the bill making an appropriation for the payment terday by Mr. Forsyth, was taken up and agree! of arrearages in the military establishment and con- to as follows: curred therein. Resolved, That the committee of ways and means Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the com- be instructed to inquire whether the bank of the mittee of claims, to whom was referred the report United States is authorized by its charter to re of the commissioner of claims on the claim of ceive as pledge or security for loans made to indi Samuel Hughes, of Maryland, for property destroy-viduals or corporations transfers of public debt ed during the war, reported unfavorably to the claim, on the ground that the said claim does not fall within the provisions of the 9th section of the claims' law. The report was referred to a commit tee of the whole. Mr. Williams also made an unfavorable report on the petition of Basil Shaw of Tennessee, who prays compensation for a slave killed, whilst in his employ in the military service, by a cannon ball, before New Orleans, on the morning of the 8th of January; which was read and concurred in. The amendments of the senate to the annual military appropriation bill was taken up and referred to the committee of ways and means. Mr. Forsyth laid upon the table the following resolution, the consideration of which he gave notice he should move for to-morrow. made to the bank, or to any officers thereof, and if in their opinion such transfers are not authorized by the act of incorporation, to report to the house some effectual mode of preventing them from being hereafter made. The speaker laid before the house a letter from the secretary of the treasury, transmitting the an nual statement of miscellaneous claims paid during the year 1817; of contracts made at the treasury in in the same year on behalf of the United States, and of payments by collectors in 1815 and 1816, in relation to the revenue and the temporary relief of sick and disabled seamen. Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of ways and means, made a report on the amendment of the se nate to the bill making the annual appropriations for the military establishment; which was read and Resolved, That the committee of ways and means made the order of the day for this day. be instructed to enquire whether the bank of the The house, then, on motion of Mr. Lowndes, susUnited States is authorized by its charter to re-pended the preceding orders, and forthwith resolv. ceive as pledge or security for loans made to indi-ed itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Bot viduals or corporations, transfers of public debt sett in the chair, on the said report. made to the bank, or to any offices thereof, and if in their opinion such transfers are not authorized by the act of incorporation, to report to the house some effectual mode of preventing them from being hereafter made. Mr. Trimble submitted for consideration the following resolution: The first amendment made by the senate to the bill, was the insertion of a provision appropriating $20,000 for additional pay, rations, &c. to officers having brevet commissions, when commanding se parate posts, districts, or detachments, requiring them to act in their brevet rank. This amendment the committee of ways and Resolved, That the demand made by the presi- means recommended to the house to disagree to, dent of the United States for the liberation of and on this question the debate was revived, which Richard W. Meade, a citizen of the United States, had engaged the house when the bill was first in. detained in confinement in the castle of Santa Ca- troduced-embracing in its scope the expediency talina at Cadiz, ought to be supported and enforced of continuing brevet emolument, the propriety of by vesting the president with authority to make defeating an existing law by refusing the appro reprisals, in the event of a failure on the part of priations necessary to give it effect, &c. &c. a view Spain, promptly to discharge the said Meade, of which may be hereafter presented. The gentle Mr. Trimble supported his motion with a brief men who joined in the discussion, were Messrs. but spirited speech. Mr. Forsyth was not prepar-Lowndes, Mercer, Harrison, Clay, Smith, of Mary. ed to express a definite opinion on the subject-land, Terry, Hopkinson, Storrs, Colston and Forsyth. he wished time to examine. He moved that the The question was finally decided against the se resolution should lie on the table, which was final-nate's amendment. ly agreed to nem. con. Mr. Lowndes, after briefly explaining the liability of the government to be defrauded of its revenue by drawbacks on the re-exportation of foreign liquors from the absence of any means of indentifying them, except the marks on the casks, &c. moved the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee of ways and means be instructed to enquire into the expediency of making provision by law for allowing foreign wines and distilled spirits to be deposited in the stores of the government, and of limiting the draw. back on exportation to such as shall have been so deposited. The resolution was agreed to. The committee agreed successively to the other amendments of the senate, which produced no de bate, and rose and reported their proceedings to the house. The house took up the report of the committee of the whole, and in concurring therewith on its disagreement to the first amendment of the senate, the question was decided as follows: Corn, Cruger, Forney, Fuller, Harrison, Herkimer, Ingham, Irving, N. Y. Jones, Kinsey, Lewis, Livermore, Mercer, T. M. Nel son, Ogden, Ogle, Orr, Palmer, Parrott, Peter, Pindall, Poindexter, Robertson, Lou. Seybert, Alex. Smyth, Spencer, Stoors, Terry, For the senate's amendment.-Messrs. Baldwin, Ball, Blount, Williams, N. Y. Wilson, Mass.-32. Against the amendment-Messrs. Abbot, Adams, Allen, Vt. Ap derson, Pa. Anderson, Ken. Austin, Barbour, Va. Bassett, Bateman, Bayley, Bellinger, Bennett, Bloomfield, Boden, Boss, Bryan, Bur well, Butler, Campbell, Claggett, Claiborne, Cobb, Comstock, Cook, Crafts, Culbreth, Cushman, Desha, Drake, Earle, Edwards, Elli cott, Ervin, S. C. Floyd, Folger, Forsyth, Gage, Garnett, Hale, Hall, Del. Hall, N. C. Hendricks, Herbert, Herrick, Heister, Hogy, Holmes, Mass. Holmes, Cou. Hopkinson, Hubbard, Hunter, Huol ingdon, Johnson, Va. Lawyer, Linn, Little, Lowndes, McLane, W. Maclay, W. P. Maclay, MCoy, Marchand, Merrill, Mills, Moore, Morton, Mosely, Mumford, Murray, Jer. Nelson, H. Nelson, Nesbitt, Reed, Rhea, Rice, Rich, Richards, Ringgold, Robertson, Ken, Ruggles, Sampson, Savage, Sawyer, Scudder, Sergeant, Settle, Shaw, Sherwood, Silsbee, Slocumb, S. Smith, Balt. Smith, J. S. Smith, Southard, Spangler, Speed, Stewart, N. C. Strong, Strother, The house then resumed the unfinished business of yesterday, and again went into a committee of the whole on the bill for the relief of gen. A. St. Clair. The debate on the merits of this case, and on the propriety of Mr Forsyth's amendment, was resumed and continued with increased ardor and usu-New, Newton, Owen, Patterson, Pawling, Pitkin, Porter, Quarles al eloquence, until after four o'clock, when the committee rose, by the casting vote of the chairman, and obtained leave to sit again. The house adj'd. |