Washington, 20th Feb. 1829. In compliance with a resolution of the senate, of the 10th instant, requesting copies of correspondence and communications from 30th October, 1816, to 24th November, 1817, received at the department of state, from the American commissioners under the fourth article of the treaty of Ghent, I transmit, herewith, a report from the secretary of state, with the copies of papers mention-inlet, made a report accompanied by a resolution, that it ed in the resolution. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, Feb. 19. The r. solution of Mr. Barringer on the subject of printing the documents of congress, coming up as the unfinished business of yester day, Mr. Ward, moved to amend it so as to limit the expense to $30,000, but on Mr. Hamilton, chairman of the committee on retrenchment, having stated that a report which he was about to make on the public printing would throw great light on the subject, the further consideration of it was postponed until Monday next.

Mr. Hamilton, from the committee of retrenchment, then made a report on the subject of the public printing,

accompanied with voluminous documents. He moved the honor of the United States, was highly commenda❤ that the consideration of the report be postponed until ble. He considered himself justified in resorting to any Monday next, and that, in the mean while, it be printed. means which are not unlawful, nor dishonorable, to obMr. Whipple moved the printing of the documents, tain the passage of his proposition. He put the supposiand supported the motion in a short speech. Mr. Lit- tion that there was a proposition in a British convention the inquired whether the documents were referred to into make the king an office to be given by election, and askthe report, to which Mr. Hamilton replying in the negative, the motion of Mr. Whipple was lost.

The house then resumed the consideration of the resolution offered by Mr. A. Smyth, amendatory of the constitution.

ed if the reasons he had assigned might not be pressed on the members of that convention.

Here the hour having expired, Mr. Smyth moved to suspend the rule, which was decided in the negativeAyes 65, noes 80.

The question being on the amendment offered by Mr. The bill for the preservation and repair of the CumJ. C. Wright to the amendment offered by Mr. Codict.berland road, was then read a third time and passed, by Mr. Wright resumed his observations. He went on yeas and nays, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Saml. Anderson, Armstrong, Noyes to argue in favor of a reduction of the term of service of senators of the United States, from six years to tour. Barber, Barker, Barlow, Barney, Bartlett, Bartley, Isaac He referred to the power which resided in the senate in C. Bates, Beecher, Blake, Brent, Burges, Butman, Carconsequence of their participation in the appomting pow-ter, Chambers, Chilton, James Clark, Condiet, Coulter, er of the government; and expressed his belief that if we Crockett, Crowninshield, John Davenport, Dickinson, look back to the history of the country for instances in Dorsey, Duncan, Dwight, Everett, Findlay, Fort, Forwhich members of congress have been corrupted, we ward, Gale, Green, Gurley, Hodges, Hunt, Ingersoll, shall not find them in this house; but that we shall find Jennings, Johnson, Kerr, Lawrence, Leffler, Letcher, that senators have been expelled for corruption, and for Little, Locke, Long, Lyon, Mallary, Martindale, Marvin, endeavoring to subvert the laws of the country. Unless, Maxwell, McDuffie, M'Hatton, M'Kean, McLean, Mer therefore, we shut our eyes against the light of history, cer, Mervin, Miller, Miner, John Mitchell, Muhlenberg, we shall endeavor to carry reform into that body. By Newton, Orr, Pierce, Pierson, Plant, Ramsay, James F. the abridgement of the term of service, we shall intro- Randolph, Reed, Richardson, Russell, Sawyer, Sergeant, duce a symmetry into our government, which it now wants. Sinnickson, Sloane, Oliver H. Smith, Sprague, Sprigg, He was about to refer to the resolutions of the state of Stanberry, James S. Stevenson, Stewart, Storrs, Strong, Swann, Swift, Sutherland, Tracy, Ebenezer Tucker, Mr. Weems here called the gentleman from Ohio to Vance, Van Rensselaer, Varnum, Vinton, Wales, Washorder, for reading authorities in support of an amendmentington, Whipple, Whittlesey, James Wilson, Ephraim K. which he did not wish to prevail. The speaker decided Wilson, Wingate, John Woods, Wolf, John C. Wright, that the gentleman from Ohio was in order. Mr. Weems Yancey.-103. then appealed from the decision of the chair, but withdrew his appeal.

Tennessee.

NAYS. Messrs. Addams, Alexander, Samuel C. Allen, John Anderson, P. P. Barbour, Barringer, Bassett, Beiden, Bell, Blair, Brown, Bryan, Buchanan, Buck, Bunner, Cambreleng, Claiborne, John C. Clark, Conner, Culpeper, Daniel, Thomas Davenport, John Davis, De Graff, Desha, Drayton, Earll, Floyd of Geo. Fry, Gilmer, Gorham, Hallock, Hall, Hamilton, Harvey, Haynes, Hinds, Hobbie, Hoffman, Isacks, Johns, Keese, Kremer, Lecompte, Lea, Lumpkin, Magee, Marable,

Mr. Wright then resumed. He read an extract from the resolutions passed by the legislature of Tennessee in 1813, recommending an abridgement of the senatorial term to four years. He expressed his determination to perform his duty in spite of the efforts of the stage drivers, whippers in and smail fry of any party, in or out of the house. Here the speaker called the gentleman from Ohio, to order. Mr. Wright then recapitulated the al-Markell, Maynard, McCoy, M'Intire, Thomas R. Mitchell, Gabriel Moore, Nuckolls, O'Brien, Owen, Phelps, leged causes of complaint on the part of the people, in Polk, John Randolph, Rives, Roane, Shepperd, Alexanreference to the election of 1825; and asked if the gen- der Smyth, Stower, Taber, Taliaferro, Taylor, Thomptleman from Virginia proposed to apply a remedy to the son, Starling Tucker, Turner, Verplank, Weems, Wickevils complained of. He did not regard the propositionliffe, Wilde, Williams, John J. Wood, S. Wood, Wood as presenting a sufficient remedy; and therefore, although cock.-79. he himself did not desire to seethe constitution amend

The house refused Mr. Archer, who was without the ed, yet if it was to be done, he would desire to have it bar, when the yeas and nays were called, permission to done as effectually as possible. He disclaimed any in-record his name in opposition to the bill. tention to show disrespect to any member of the floor; The speaker laid before the house a letter from the secand would not follow the example of the gentleman retary of the treasury, transmitting the annual statement from Virginia, by moving the previous question in order of the commerce and navigation of the United States for to shut out all reply. He had laid the anonymous let-the year 1828, which letter and statement were laid on ters, which he had read, before the house, under a sense of duty. He asked that the question on his amendment the table, and six thousand copies thereof were ordered to be printed. may be taken separately, and by ayes and noes. The ayes and noes were then ordered.

The house then went into committee of the whole, and in succession, took up the general and military appropriaton bills, various amendments were offered and adopted, but on a motion that the committee rise and report the first named bill to the house, and ask leave to sit again on the second, it was discovered that a quorum was not present, various motions were now made for a call of the house, adjournment, &c. when finally, it being near five o'clock, the house adjourned.

Mr. A. Smyth then rose, and said he presumed it would not be necessary to go into the question of the authorship of certain letters. He then read the letters, and put the questions contained in them in the shape of an argument to the house. It had been charged that it was an attempt to corrupt the house. "What (said he) is the nature of my bribes?" It was merely an appeal to the honorable ambition of every member. It was merely holding out the probability of honor to men some 30 or 40 years hence, when, according to the course of nature, he should be no longer here. If he could succeed in stirring up one man to a life of virtue, he should not have lived in vain. If he could succeed in inducing many to do so, he should be a great public benefactor. He read various quotations to show how operative upon human action was the desire of promotion, and how legitimately distinction might be sought after in a democratic govern- Mr. Weems called upon the gentleman from Ohio ment. The situation of the first man in a republic could|(Mr. Wright) to explain whether, in speaking of “stage only be obtained by a life of virtue. It was said he had drivers, whippers in, and the small fry of the house," he used his arguments to political opponents as well as had had any personal allusion? Mr. W. said he would friends. He adduced this as a proof of his purity of in-yield the floor to the gentleman for the purpose of maktention. He stated that his object, being to preserve ing such explanation.

Friday, Feb. 20. After the reception of reports, &c. the amendment to the constitution came up as the unfinished business of yesterday, when Mr. Smyth took the door, and concluded his remarks in reply to Mr. Wright, and in defence of the amendment generally, and more particularly of his own course in addressing anonymous letters to men.bers of the house, arguing to show that he could have had no bad motives, but a regard to the public good.

Mr. Wright said if he took the £oor, he should take it under no conditions imposed by the gentlemen from Maryland, but with all the privileges pertaining to the possession of it.

A resolution submitted by Mr. Marvin, authorising the clerk of the house to place fifty cords of the wood purchased for the use of the house, under the direction of the overseers of the poor of Washington, to be distriThe chair decided that If the gentleman from Mary-buted gratuitously among the destitute poor of the city, land yielded the floor he must yield it altogether. Mr. was agreed to. Weems having done so, Mr. Wright said he had no explanation for the gentleman, but would offer an amendment, viz.:

To insert in his second proposition to amend, after the words "free white male citizens," the words "of 21 years of age."

Before any decision was had, Mr. Storrs moved to lay the amendment of Mr. Smyth, together with those of Mr. Wright, on the table.

Which motion prevailed-Ayes 118. So the subject was laid on the table.

The speaker laid before the house a letter from the post master general, transmitting a statement of the contracts made by his department during the year 1828; which was read, and laid on the table.

The bill making appropriations for building light houses, and beacons, and placing buoys, and improving harbors, and directing surveys, was called up, zad, after agreeing to the amendments reported on Saturday from the committee of the whole, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The bill making appropriations for the erection of certain forts, barracks, and quarters, and for other purposes, was called up. The amendments of the committee of the whole, reported on Saturday last, were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.

The several appropriation bills which had been reported from the committee of the whole, were read a third time and passed.

Mr. Vinton renewed his motion to strike out that clause in the general appropriation bill which provides 75,000 dollars for the survey of the public lands; and on this motion a series or explanations took place between Mr. Vinton and Messrs. Gurley and Brent, in which the

The speaker laid before the house a letter from the secretary of the navy, transmitting the information called for by this house on the 3d inst in relation to the navy pension fund, which letter was read and laid on the table. On motion of Mr. McDuffie, the house went into committee of the whole, and took up the military appropra-latter gentlemen disclaimed all intention of reflecting on tion bill, Mr. Wickliffe in the chair. Mr. Forward opposed the appropriation for the armory at Harper's Ferry, and moved to strike it out of the bill, on the ground of mismanagement in the institution. A spirited debate then occurred between Messrs. Forward and Mc Coy, during which Mr. McDuffie protested agamst the course of discussion. Finally Mr. F's amendment was negalived without a count.

The fortification bill and the bill making appropriations for the Indian department, were next considered, and baving been discussed, the naval appropriation bill was taken up, and being amended, laid aside. The bill making appropriations for certain internal improvements, occupied the house for a considerable time, when the committee rose, and the house adjourned.

Saturday, Feb. 21. After the usual preparatory business, Mr. Woods, of Ohio, from the committee on roads and canals, made a favorable report on the Baltimore and Ohio rail road company, which was read and laid on the table.

The resolution offered by Mr. Barney on the 7th inst. relative to the "British customs amendment act," was taken up, considered and agreed to.

the character or motives of Mr. V., but had intended their remarks to apply to the effect only of the amendment which he had proposed. The question was then put, and the amendment rejected.

Mr. Barney moved to insert, in the bill for internal improvement, a clause for improving the entrance of Gennessee river, in New York.

The amendment was debated by Messrs. Barney, Whipple, Marvin, and Cumbreleng, when the yeas and nays being taken, it was decided in the affirmative, and the amendment was agreed to.

The bill to provide for taking the fifth census of the inhabitants of the United States was called up.

On this bill a debate of considerable extent arose. Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, moved to strike out that feature of the bill which proposes to fix the ratio of representation by dividing the population of each state by a certain number as a divisor, and declaring the quotient (throwing away fractions) to be the number of her

representatives.

and Storrs; and supported by Messrs. Williams, Burges, The motion was opposed by Messrs. Culpeper, Little, Ingersoll, Pearce, and Dwight.

On motion of Mr. Long, the house agreed to take a cated, was that it would secure a proper number of reThe ground on which the clause in the bill was advorecess from three till five o'clock on Monday, and to de-presentatives in the house, (being expected to give about vote the evening session to the consideration of a number of specified bills.

Mr. Sawyer moved the following resolution, which was read and laid on the table:

Resolved, That the secretary of the treasury be directed to report to this house at an early day of the next session, whether a moderate seignorage may not, with propriety, be retained at the mint, as the price of coinage on the precious metal deposited there, and whether such seignorage would, in any injurious degree, affect the value on the amount of the currency.

Several other resolutions were offered, which shall be noticed in their progress.

220), and would avoid the unpleasant contest which had census was taken, while the numbers remain unknown, hitherto always occurred in fixing the ratio after the the question could be settled with calmness; but so soon as each state became aware of the exact number of her population, a struggle must always ensue, from the desire, especially of the small states to fix the ratio in such a manner, that they should obtam the most influence, An opportunity was now afforded to avoid this sort of scramble, by settling the ratio beforehand. The grounds on which it was opposed, were, that this was anticipating the duty, and trenching upon the prerogatives of a subsequent congress-that it was fixing at random a rule by which the small states and the old states were almost certain to suffer, and Rhode Island in particular, was in dan

The amendment of the senate to the bill for the appointment of a surveyor for the Virginia military district, in the state of Ohio, was read and agreed to by the house.ger of losing halt her representation-that it did not beThis bill is therefore finally passed.

The appropriation bills were again considered; various amendments were offered, not necessary to specifythere was a "general scramble" for several bills, many of which were canvassed, when the committee rose, and the house adjourned.

long to congress to determine, a priori, of what number its own body should consist, nor was it right to settle a ratio of representation, the effect of which could only be known by experiment. The deb te was terminated by M. Bartlett, who demanded the previous question, the effect of which was to precinde tus item altogethe ", beMonday, Feb. 23. This being the day for the pre-cause it had been reported by the couteittee of the whole sentation of memorials, &c. upwards of seventy were presented and referred to the appropriate committees. Mr. Cambreleng, from the committee on commerce, to which was referred sundry memorials recommending cash payment of duties, warehouses, and other commercial regulations, made a report; which was laid on the

in the shape of an amendment to the bill, and the previons question cuts off all amendments.

The previous question being seconded, put, and carried, the main question was pu' as follows:

Shall this bill be engrossed, and read a third time? which being decided in the affirmative, the bill was ons dered to its third reading,

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the

Wednesday, Feb. 25. Mr. Bartlett from the comwhole on the state of the union, and took up the bill mak-mittee on naval affairs, reported the following resolution: ing appropriations for the public buildings. An ani- Resolved That the secretary of the navy be instrucmated discussion took place ou some of the items, but ted to require three of the medical officers of the navy, before a decision was had the committee rose at 3 o'clock, and the house took a recess until 5 o'clock.

The house, after a recess, met at five o'clock; but there was no quorum, and various efforts were made, by calling yeas and nays on motions for adjournment, and moving a call of the house, to obtain one, but without success, until 35 minutes had elapsed, when the house went into a committee of the whole on the state of the the union, Mr. Owen, in the chair, and took up the following bills:

A bill for the relief of the surviving widows of certain commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the army of the revolution.

A bill for the relief of sundry revolutionary and other

officers and soldiers.

A bill to amend the act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war.

whom he shall designate, to report to him their opinions, separately, whether it is necessary or expedient that "distilled spirits" should constitute a part of the rations allowed to midshipmen; and also their opinions of the effect upon the morals and health of the individuals, and upon the discipline and character of the navy, should each midshipman use the quantity of the distilled spirits which now, by law constitutes a part of the daily ration; and that the secretary transmit such reports to this house at the next session of congress, together with his own opinion of the expediency of substituting some other article in the rations supplied by government.

Mr. Taliaferro, from the committee appointed on the memorial of citizens of Albemarle country, in the state of Virginia, praying congress to reconsider the claims of James Monroe late president of the United States, on the government, and to adjust them according to the principles of equity and justice, made a supple Various amendments were made to the pensioners' mental report thereon: which was read and committed bill, by adding some names, and striking out others.mitted the bill for the relief of James Monroe. to the committee of the whole house to which is comThey were then laid aside, and the committee proceeded to consider the "bill to amend the act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," on which a very spirited debate arose.

An attempt was marle to amend the bill by striking from it the provision for the militia; and the general arguments were urged which apply to that question, in relation to the comparative merits of militia and regular troops.

The following resolution moved by Mr. Marvin, was agreed to.

place at the disposal of the board of trustees of the poor Resolved, That the clerk of this house be directed to of Georgetown, twenty-five cords of wood, from the supply on hand procured for the use of this house: provided that on examination it be found that quantity can be safely parted with.

The house resumed the consideration of Mr. Barrin

concluded, the hour allotted to resolutions expired.

The amendment, however, was subsequently with-ger's resolution for printing certain deficient documents drawn, and the section suffered to stand. of the early congresses, when Mr. B. continued the obThe bill was modified in several other respects of mi-servations he commenced yesterday, but before he had nor importance; after which the committee rose, and reported the two first bills as amended. But before the last bill was reported, after various efforts to go into committee on new bills, the house adjourned at 8 o'clock. Tuesday, February 24. The resolution offered by Mr. Barringer on the subject of reprinting the deficient documents of congress, coming up as the unfinished business of yesterday morning,

The remainder of the session was almost exclusively occupied in the discussion of the bill to amend an act to provide for persons in the land and naval service of the United States, in the army of the revolution. A motion was made by Mr. M'Duffie, to recommit the bill with instructions to report as to the extent of the demand which the bill would create on the treasury, but the motion was rejected by a vote 95 to 89. The bill then passed by a vote of 111 to 67. The bill making appropriMr. Barringer took the floor in reply, and in vindica-ations for the public buildings was also passed. On motion of the resolution he had offered. He continued his tion of Mr. Kremer the house adjourned. remarks for some time, when the hour allotted to morning business expired. He made an attempt to have the rule on that subject suspended; but without success.

Mr. Wickliffe concluded his remarks in opposition to the resolution: when

The following engrossed bills were read the third time and passed.

To repeal the act to establish the district of Blakely,

in Alabama,

Making appropriations for building light-houses and beacons, for placing buoys, and for improving harbors and directing surveys.

For ascertaining the latitude of the southerly bend, or extreme of Lake Michigan, and of certam other points, for the purpose thereafter of fixing the true northern boundary lines of the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. For the relict of the surviving widows of certain commissioned and non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates of the revolutionary army.

For the relief of sundry revolutionary and other officers and soldiers.

Making appropriations for the erection and completion of certain forts, barracks, and quarters, and for other purposes.

The house next proceeded to consider the bill to amend the act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States during the revolutionary war; a very desultory debate ensued, in which many members participated, when the bill was ordered to be engrossed. Ayes 120; noes 50.

The bill making appropriations for the public buildings was again taken up, and being amended by striking out the appropriation for the portico on the north front of the president's house, it was ordered to be engrossed, and the house adjourned.

THURSDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

In the senate-The vote on the passage of the bill for the rel ef of Thomas L. Winthrop and others, directors of an association called "the New England Mississippi land the question was taken on the passage of the bill and decompany, was reconsidered. After some discussion, cided in the negative, by the casting vote of the vice preIn the early part of the sitting, Mr. Seymour moved that the senate proceed to the consideration of executive business, which motion was negatived by a vote

sident.

of 21 to 22.

Five thousand copies of the document stating the amount of money expended by the government within the respective states, for the purposes of internal improvement, since the year 1789, was ordered to be printed.

In the house of repr sentatives, after various proceedings, a motion to lay the bill for printing certain documents on the table was rejected-85 to 67. It was agreed to reconsider the bill to repeal certain tonnage duties-101 to 75. Several bills were considered-the proceedings on which shall hereafter appear.

TURKEY, &c. It seems that the Russians and Turks are making great preparations for new efforts as early in the spring as the climate and state of the weather will permit. It appears probable that the Turks will suffer much from the blockade of the Dardanelles, because of the want of provisions. Some of the British papers shew much dissatisfaction at the occupancy of the Morea by France. It is believed that the Turks have nearly annihilated the Greek population of Candia, or Crete. If so, the slaughter must have been greater than that af Scio.

THIRD SERIES. No. 2-VOL. XII.] BALTIMORE, MARCH 7, 1829. [VOL. XXXVI. WHOLE No. 912

THE PAST THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE.

EDITED, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES & SON, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

The secretaries of state, treasury, war and navy, and the attorney general, resigned their commissions to the president on the 3rd. inst.

we ven

During the present week, one most distinguished citizen of the United States has ceased to be the chief magistrate of twelve millions of people, and another has taken his place. High and honorable men have retired from the great offices of state, and others have succeeded THE NEW CABINET. We have received some severe them. Many individuals are unhappily anxious because remarks on the manner in which the "new cabinet" was of the places which they possess,-very many more are announced in the Washington Telegraph of the 26th ult.. filled with trembling hopes of obtaining them, and a large and on the acceptance of the several offices by the gennumber will be sadly disappointed. But the nation is tlemen named, before the power even to nominate them tranquil, and remains unmoved. The friends of the new to the senate had existence: but shall not insert it: and administration promise much good to the people-those chiefly for the reason that no member of the new adminis of the last assert that they endeavored to render all prac-tration should be held responsible for the great carelesstical good to them-and are prepared, we hope, to judge ness or gross presumption of the editor of that paper, in their successors by the wisdom of the measures which his awkward promulgation of facts which the public was they shall adopt and pursue. It is a favorite saying of interested in understanding. The authority,' the new president, that "the tree is known by its fruit." ture to say, went only so far as to state, that gen. JackSuch ought to have been, and should be, the guide of son would nominate to the senate, certain individuals for the nation, interested only in a wholesome administra- the offices designated; and that they would serve theretion of the powers delegated. There is some seeming in, if appointed, as we suppose that they will be: bedissatisfaction with what is called the "new cabinet." lieving that a president should have his own selection of It was not to be supposed that the friends of the last ad- what is called "the cabinet," except in extreme cases, ministration would be consulted in the selection, or to on which it is the right and duty of the senate to deterbe hoped that they should be pleased with it; and, be- mine; having a co-ordinate or corresponding power, and cause of the different feelings, or interests, of the large being the constitutional advisers of the president on all majority which united for the support of gen. Jackson, such subjects. it was to have been expected that these feelings or inter- We take this opportunity to repeat, what we have ofests would be regarded in selections made. We lend not tentimes intimated, that this paper cannot be rendered ourselves to personal preferences or prejudices, know-an "arena" for political discussions-unless affecting ingly; but fear that the new administration may stand opposed to the encouragement of domestic industry and internal improvements. Let it not, however, be judged in advance. We shall have far more pleasure in supporting than opposing the operations of the executive, in the moderate manner to which we have been accustom-fallen off from the faith," and others are discouraged, ed-and, while indulging our own opinions, feel it a duty many valued friends have recently exhorted us to perseto respect those of other men. We think that such con- verance in the support of old doctrines. There is no duct is correspondent with the genius of our institutions, necessity for that. The altered views of politicians will and that, without a regard for it, republican principles not affect any change in the manner or matter of this are disrespected. The constitution and laws of our coun-work-which has always given an unhesitating support try do not rest on the point of mercenary bayonets-and freedom of sentiment makes up that moral power which is, at once, the envy and the wonder of the world.

ITEMS from Washington-Andrew Jackson took the cath of office as president of the United States, on the 4th inst. His address on this occasion will be found in the present sheet.

broad and general principles-and that we are entirely indisposed to extend the range of subjects hitherto held up for examination and argument.

NOTE TO OLD FRIENDS. Because that some "have

Of

to the constitution, and labored to promote the good of the people of the United States, without regard for geographical lines, sectional interests, or allegiance to party. With the ins or the outs, we shall have nothing to doexcept in endeavoring to render justice to both. the last administration we never sought a personal favor to the value of a cent-nor is it probable that we shall seek one of the present. While health and strength Mr. Randolpb, who had been in his seat only a few days lasts, and the public remains friendly and faithful to us, in the session, addressed a letter to the speaker on the 2nd we shall not desire any other office than our own-a huminst. asking leave of absence until the end of it-next day.ble one indeed, full of toil and vexed with hopes "long The following was published on the 3rd inst. "The deferred," but still our own, and independent of exterior citizens of the District of Columbia, and others, friends dictation. We often have been, and frequently shall be, of Mr. Adams, who might be disposed, conformably to mistaken-but always ready to correct errors, and inthe usage heretofore, to pay him a friendly visit, after the capable, we hope, of wilfully mis-stating, or perverting, inauguration of the president elect on Wednesday the the truth. What was wrong in the east, we shall regard 4th inst. are requested by Mr. Adams to dispense with as wrong if committed in the south, no matter by whom, that formality, which the distance of his residence from or under what pretence-nor shall the fludson or the Pothe capitol would render inconvenient to them. He tomac, or the Alleghanies, be respected by us as a boun thanks them for all the kindness which they have con- dary between truth and error. We have thus far exertstantly extended to him; and prays them to accept the assurance of his best wishes for their health and happiness. The bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland road has passed the two houses in a modified form, the whole of the sections which provided for the erection of toll gates and the imposition of tolls, having been stricken out, and the appropriation being the main

section of the bill.

ed our best judgment to act on these principles, and, by the blessing of heaven, with the support of the people, still hope to maintain them, "in our own way;" with far less ability than zeal.

POLITICS OF 1808. Extract of a letter from John Quincy Adams to Wil[Additional papers.] liam Plumer, esq. dated at sea, 16th August, 1809. Several hundred thousand dollars have been approThe spirit of party has become so inveterate and so priated for various internal improvements, the particu-virulent.in our country; it has so totally absorbed the unlars of which will appear hereafter. derstanding, and the heart of almost all the distinguished A great many bills tell through, in both houses, by men among us, that I, who cannot cease not being acted upon-among them all the bills concern-all the individuals of both parties as my countrymen; to consider ing retrenchment, and for graduating the public lands, and who can neither approve nor disapprove, in a lump, the bill for entitling the militia of the revolution to pensions. either of the men or the measures of either party; who YOL XXXVI-No. 2.