nation had adopted the same policy towards us, by a repeal of their discriminating and countervailing duties. The question was not decided at that session. It is understood that our minister at London was instructed to propose this subject to the British government, and that in consequence of this communication, the British Parliament passed an act, authorizing their King to abolish their discriminating and countervailing duties, upon the event of the United States concurring in the measure. At the opening of this session of Congress, the President says, he "commanicates with satisfaction" the act of the British Parliament, and submits to Congress the propriety of meeting them, in the abolition of these duties. The committee of commerce and manufactures, to whom this subject was referred, made a detailed report, which concludes by recommending a resolution for repealing the acts imposing discriminating duties. While this resolution lay on the table, the chambers of commerce of Philadelphia and New-York, and some other cities, and the mechanics of New-York, petitioned against the measure. They state in substance, that experience under these acts had proved their benignant effects that our shipping had increased to an amount sufficient for carrying all our productions intended for exportation and the importation of such articles as are necessary for our home consumption. That by a repeal of these duties the ships of Great Britain would be permitted to bring us the products and manufactures of all countries, while by the operation of their navigation act, we should be restricted in our trade to that nation to the carriage of goods the growth or production of our own country only; that the vessels of all nations would be allowed equal privileges with American built ships, without any equivalent on their part: That the European nations not only build and equip their ships much cheaper, but also navigate them at much less expence than we can, which advantages in their favour must prevent our competition with them in navi. gation, and leave American vessels idly to rot in our docks. They all conclude with expressing a confidence that repealing our discriminating duties would discourage ship. building, deprive us of the profits at present derived from the employment of American vessels, and make us dependent on foreign nations for the exports of the products of our soil; that it must be prejudicial to va rious important interests in the community, detrimental to the revenue of the country, and, in a national point of view, extremely impolitic. The subject was postponed from day to day, and at length the friends of the project consented to let it pass undecided this session. Whether this abandonment proceeds from a hope that delay may enable the friends of the measure to repel the objections urged so strongly, and from sources so respectable, or is the result of a conviction of the inexpediency of the measure in the minds of those who first cherished it, I cannot decide. Our affairs with Tripoli remain as they were at the close of the last session of Congress; neither restrained by a regard to jus tice, nor intimidated by the apprehension of our force, those pirates continue to cruise against our ships engaged in the Mediterra nean trade. The public armed ships stationed there have proved sufficient to watch them so closely, that one merchant ship only has fallen into their hands, and this might have been re-taken, but for the danger of our large ships venturing near the shore to intercept the prize conducted by their small gallies. To render the protection to this trade more effectual, the House of Representatives, without a dissenting voice, passed a bill, appropriating 96,000 dollars for the building or purchasing four small vessels to carry sixteen guns each, which, in conjunction with our force already in the Mediterranean, will, it is not doubted, prevent these pirates from venturing into the sea. This bill was returned from the senate, with an amendment, appropriating 500,000 dollars for the building fifteen gunboats. When this amendment was under consideration in the house, information was asked for what purpose these gun-boats were intended? It was suggested that they were not necessary for the Mediterranean service, and not calculated to supply the place with revenue cutters. In reply, it was intimated they were to be employed, if necessary, on the Mississippi: upon this information the amendment was agreed to. Thus we see the gentleman, who in January manifested the amiable disposition of relying on decla rations of "sensibility," and the magnanimity of an aggressing neighbour for redress of injuries done us, who at that time refused peremptorily even to consider whether preparations for defence, if necessary, should not be adopted, seem now, so far as we all the lands in the territory to which the Indian title has been extinguished into townships of six miles square each, which shall be subdivided into sections of 640 acres, and half sections of 320 acres each; plats of which surveys shall be filed with the regis of the Treasury. That the President by proclamation shall appoint a day on which all the said land shall be offered for sale to the highest bidders, in lots of sections and half-sections; but no sale shall be made at less than two dollars per acre. The lands unsold at the expiration of three weeks shall be disposed of by the registers of the landoffice, at the same price (two dollars per acre) and in the same manner as the United States lands north west of the Ohio are disposed of. The terms of sale in both cases we can judge from this measure, to incline to the opinion, that as may be efficacious where words will fail: and that waiting with perfect confidence for negociation to "vindicate our injuries," may be beautiful in theory but dangerous in practice. At the last session of Congress the Presi-ters in the territory, and with the Secretary dent communicated the articles of agreement and cession entered into between the commissioners appointed on the part of the United States, and the commissioners on the part of the State of Georgia, by virtue of an act passed May 1800---for the amicable settlement of limits with the State of Georgia. By these articles, Georgia cedes to the United States all her right to the ju. risdiction and soil of the territory lying on the Mississippi, south of the State of Tennessee, north of the Spanish provinces of Florida, and west of a line beginning on the river Chatahouchie, where the Spanish boundary crosses the same, and runs up that river to the great bend thereof, next above the creek called "Uchee," then a straight line to Nickajack on Tennessee river, and with that river to the Tennessee line.---On the part of the United States it was stipulated that there should be paid to Georgia from the first sales of the lands thus ceded, 1,250,000 dollars, and that a land office for the disposition of the vacant land thus ceded, should be opened within one year after the assent of Georgia to the agreement. That actual settlers, under titles from the British government of West Florida, or the Spanish government, or an act of Georgia, called the Bourbon-act, should be confirmed in their titles---that the lands geded should be a common fund for the benefit of the United States, with the reservation of five millions of acres, which the United States might apply to the satisfaction of claims other than those before recognized. That the United States should extinguish the Indian title to the county of Tallissee, in the State of Georgia. That the territory thus ceded shall form a State when it shall contain 60,000 free inhabitants. The State of Georgia, by an act passed June 1802, have ratified the agreement of the commissioners, which has become obligatory also on the United States. In this session an act has passed the House of Representatives, and is now before the Senate, for opening a land-office in this territory. This bill prescribes, that a surveyor be ap. pointed by the President, who shall survey VOL. III. are: P That the purchaser shall pay at the rate of six dollars for every section he may pur. chase, for surveying expenses---he shall deposit one-twentieth part of the purchase money, to be forfeited, if within forty days he fail to pay one fourth part of the whole purchase money. One fourth part of the purchase money shall be paid within forty day's-one fourth within two years---one fourth within three years.--and one fourth within four years after the day of sale, with interest at six per cent. from the day of sale, on the three last payments. A discount of eight per cent. a year shall be allowed on any of the three last payments, if antici pated. By this bill, the titles of persons actually settled within the territory, under Spanish and British grants, and under the Georgia Bourbon act, are confirmed. A right of pre-emption is also given to persons, who, at the time of passing the act, shall be actually settled on lands of the United States without title. The claims other than those expressly provided for in the articles of agreement, and for the satisfactian of which the right to dispose of 5,000,000 acres of land were reserved, being very considerable in their amount, and extraordinary in their nature, a brief account of them may not be unacceptable. [Mr. S. here adverts to the claim of the South Carolina Yazoo Company, under an act of the State of Georgia of Dec. 1789This claim, it will be recollected, was attempted to be supported before the supreme court of the United States, in a suit against Ttt the missioners. Its fate I consider doubtful→→ my own impressions are, that the claimants under the act of 1795 have no equitable claim on the United States. This being also the opinion of the commissioners, I con. ceive it improper for the United States to sanction a fraud so vile. The claim under the act of 1789 has much equity, because by the same kind of testimony which proves the fraud in the act of 1795, there is strong reasons to believe the intention of the act of 1789 was to receive the evidences of the debt of the state in payment of the purchase money: Nor can I believe that the in the State of Georgia, but which was terminated by an amendment of the constitu. tion, relative to the sutability of States. The controversy was afterwards referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, as Commis. sioners on Georgia claims, who reported that "there was no equitable claim either for the land, or compensation from the United States." The other class of claimants consists of those companies which engaged in the celebrated Georgia speculation under the act of the legislature of that state, of 1795; but whose bright prospects were cut off by "the rescinding art" of the le-terest of the United States, the tranquility gislature in the subsequent year, and who of the future inhabitants, or equitable conreceived back the purchase money. These siderations," should induce a distinction in companies now apply to Congress for favour of the claimants under the fraudulent 8,500,000 dollars, for which they propose act of 1795, in preference to the honest but to relinquish all their claim. perhaps mistaken purchasers of 1789. I am the more satisfied in the decision to vote against this grant, because it is questionable whether Georgia ever had a right to grant this land; and if the claimants have a good title, they can support it in the courts of the United States. Upon these claims the Commissioners report, "that they feel no hesitation in declaring that the title of these claimants can. not be supported." But they add, "that the interest of the United States---the tranquility of future settlers, and various equitable considerations, render it expedient to enter into a compromise on reasonable terms. They therefore submit a plan of indennity to the claimants, viz. That the residue of the 5,000,000 acres reserved for this purpose, after satisfying the claims of settlers and others as recognized by the articles of agreement with Georgia, shall be granted the claimants under the act of Georgia of 1795, to be located on lands to which the Indian title is not yet extinguished--or that the said claimants shall receive certificates, bearing interest after the 1st of January 1804, for 2,500,000 dollars, or at their option, certificates for 5,000,000 without interest, to be paid out of the sales of the land, after the payment stipulated to be made to Georgia. Although it cannot be ascertained that the purchasers from the original companies had notice of the fraud in which the transaction was founded, yet there is strong reason to presume they were apprised that the title was questionable; because in the conveyance to them a special warrantee only is found against the acts of the granters, and a special covenant "that the granters shall not be liable to refund any money in consequence of any defect of title from the state of Geor gia.” A bill is before the House of Representatives, predicated on this project of the com 8 Early in the present session, a resolution. was submitted to abolish the mint: this has not been acted upon; but the disposition of the House I judge to be in favour of preserving the establishment, an appropriation having been made in the general appropriation bill as passed by the house, for the support of the mint, in the year 1803, and a bill being before the house for continuing the establishment at Philadelphia, two years longer. From the report of the director of the mint it appears that there was coined at the mint in the year 1802, sum of expenditure cannot render necessary the destruction of this institution. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. JOHN STANLEY. WASHINGTON, MARCH 1803. LIST OF ACTS passed during the second session of the Seventh Congress of the United States of America, beld at the city of Washington, from December 6, 1802, to March 4, 1803. 1. An act for the relief of Charles Hyde. 2. An act authorising the sale of a piece of land, parcel of the navy yard belonging to the United States, in Charlestown, in the state of Massachusetts, to the proprietors of the Salem turnpike road and Chelsea bridge corporation. 3. An act for the relief of Henry Messonnier. 4. An act for the relief of the sufferers by fire, in the town of Portsmouth. 5. An act to provide for the granting of clearances to ships or vessels owned by citizens of the United States, lying in the river Mississippi, south of the southern boundary of the United States; and therein to amend an act, intituled " an act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage;" and for other purposes. 6. An act in addition to an act, intituled" an act fixing the military peace establishment of the United States." 7. An act supplementary to the "act concerning consuls and vice-consuls," and for the further protection of American seamen. 8. An act to provide an additional armament for the protection of the seamen and commerce of the United States. 9. An act to prevent the importation of certain persons into certain states, where, by the laws thereof, their admission is prohibited. 10. An act in addition to an act, entituled "an act more effectually to provide for the national defence, by establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States." II. An act for continuing in force a law, intituled "an act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes." 12. An act for the relief of Moses White. 13. An act in addition to an act, intituled " an act concerning the registering and recording of ships and vessels of the United States," and to the act entituled "an act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage." 14. An act supplementary to the act, intituled "an act providing passports for ships and vessels of the United States.' 15. An act making an appropriation for the support of the navy of the United States for the year one thousand eight hundred and three. 16. An act making appropriations for the sup 18. An act concerning the salt springs on the waters of the Wabash river. 19. An act concerning the insurance of buildings, goods and furniture, in the county of Alexandria, in the territory of Columbia. 20. An act in addition to and in modification of the propositions contained in the act, intituled "an act to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory north-west of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states, and for other purposes." 21. An act to make Beaufort and Passamaquody ports .of entry and delivery; to make Easton and Tiverton ports of delivery; and to authorise the establishment of a new collection district on Lake Ontario. 22. An act more effectually to provide for the organization of the militia of the district of Colum bia. 23. An act for the relief of insolvent debtors within the district of Columbia. 24. An act to prolong the continuance of the mint at Philadelphia. 25. An act in addition to an act, intituled " an act to amend the judicial system of the United States." 26. An act making appropriations for the military establishment of the United States for the year one thousand eight hundred and three. 27. An act to revive and continue in force an act in addition to an act, intituled "an act in addition to an act regulating the grants of land appropriated for military services, and for the society of the United Brethren for propagating the gospel among the heathen ;" and for other purposes. 28. An act authorising the transfer of the duties of supervisor to any other office, 29. An act concerning the city of Washington. 30. An act for the relief of Joshua Havey, and others. 31. An act regulating the grants of land, and providing for the disposal of the lands of the United States, south of the state of Tennessee. 32. An act to provide for the due execution of the laws of the United States within the state of Ohio. 33. An act to alter the time of holding the court of the United States in Kentucky district. 34. An act to alter the time for the next meeting of Congress. 35. An act directing a detachment from the militia of the United States, and for erecting certain arsenals. American Official Documents, presented, at various times, to the Congress of the United States, concerning the Revenues, Expenditure, Public Debt, Trade, Tonnage, Seamen, and Fisheries, of those States. REPORT laid before the House of Representatives, on the 16th of December 1802, by the Secretary of the Treasury, concerning the Revenue and Expenditure of the United States. Act to establish the Treasury Department,” the Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits the following Report. In obedience to the directions of the act The permanent revenues of the United supplementary to the act, entituled, " An States, exclusively of fees, fines, and penal Ttt 2 ties, which, in a general view of the subject, may be omitted, consist of duties on mer. chandize and tonnage, proceeds of the sales of public lands, and duties on postage. and which exceeds, by twelve hundr land dollars, the aggregate heretof lected, in any one year, on account the impost and the internal duties, by an act of last session. This excess, which had not bee The duties on postage, which were, in the annual report of last year, estimated at 50,000 dollars, have, during the year end-lated upon, is considered alone as ing on the 30th day of September last, sufficient to cover any possible def yielded 50,500 dollars. The decrease of which might, during the next and ship letters, the extension of the establish. year, reduce that branch of the ment through unproductive roads, and the below last year's estimate, of nine acceleration of the progress of the mail, five hundred thousand dollars. Suc may, however, cause some defalcation in cation is not, however, apprehend the receipts of the ensuing year. although there are not yet sufficient d cisely to ascertain the effect of peace amount of duties, those which are Three hundred and twenty-six thousand and fifty-two dollars and eight cents have been received during the same year, on ac-possession of this department tend count of public lands, of which sum, 17,162 roborate the presumption, that that dollars and 50 cents were paid in the Trea- least (nine millions and a half,) will h sury, in evidences of the public debt, and be annually received. The stateme 179,575 dollars and 52 cents specie; the which exhibits a comparative view local situation of the land offices not having revenue for each quarter during the t yet rendered it practicable to draw the years, shews that the amount of dut balance from the receivers of public monies. crued, during the nine first months Three hundred and forty thousand acres present year, exceeds eleven million: of land have been sold for six hundred and hundred thousand dollars; and after c eighty thousand dollars, during the year ing three millions five hundred thousan ending on the 31st day of October last; of lars, amount of debentures issued which quantity near ninety-seven thousand the same period, on account of the acres were sold on account of pre-emptions portations of foreign goods, leaves fo claimed by purchasers under John Cleve three quarters a balance of more than Symmes, and two hundred and forty-three millions eight hundred thousand dollar thousand acres are the result of Current ject to no other deduction than the ex Sales. The annexed statement (A) de- of collection; and from the knowled signates the quantities respectively sold in ready obtained of the comportations the several districts, and the annual pay- the present quarter, as well as from th ments receivable on account of the balance dual diminution of re-exportations, no of nine hundred and sixty thousand remains that the net revenue, accruin dollars due on these and on the preceding ing the whole year, will exceed the est sales. From those several results it appears probable that the annual receipts under this head will not, on an average, fall short of the sum of four hundred thousand dollars, at which they have been estimated. Although it had been anticipated that the receipts in the treasury, on account of duties on merchandize and tonnage, could not, for the present year, be affected by the restoration of peace in Europe, yet the sum actually paid has exceeded the most sanguine expectations: twelve millions two hundred and eighty thousand dollars have been received during the course of the year ending on the 30th day of September last; a sum larger, by two millions of dollars, than the amount received for the same duties during the preceding or any other year, From present appearances, the wh the permanent REVENUES of the U STATES may therefore be reasonably puted at ten millions of dollars---of súm, seven millions three hundred th dollars are appropriated for the paym the principal and interest of the publi and two millions seven hundred the dollars are applicable to the current ex af government. According to the estimates for the 1803, those expences will, exclusive sum of 180,000 dollars, wanted to the navy deficiencies of the years 180 1802, but including sundry permane propriations, which make no part of t nual estimates, amount to 2,660,00 lars, to wit: |