The above articles were exported principally to Great Britain, and the British, French and Spanish West-Indies, 24 7,246 1.238 9,919 41.7311691 585 21.080 40,236 16.44319,540 113.854 63482627 435 3,221 975408 868 28,700 3,699 1,328,2 North Carolina. Statement of Goods, Wares and Merchandize, of the growth, produce and manufacture of the United States, exported to foreign ports, from the stat The preceding table was politely communicated for the WEEKLY REGISTER. It is copied from a statement furnished for the treasury department. It would have added to its interest if it had shewn the value of articles shipped coastwise. The Fay. etteville Observer gives us $744,765 as the value of the articles so shipped from Wilmington for the year ending on the 30th September last, making a total export of $1,805,877; with the following re specting Fayetteville Statement of domestic produce shipped from Fayetteville, during the same period-viz. 2,337 bogsheads of tobacco, 8,292 bales of cotton, 11,813 bushels of wheat, 5,164 casks of flax seed, 29,761 gallons of spirits, . $400,550 621,900 17,719 10,341 . 77,460 23,808 129,620 Tallow, wax, bacon, fur, lard, feathers, &c. 50,000 In estimating the value, reference was bad to the valuation at the custom-house, and to the New-York prices current of the proper date-The statement is rather under than over-rated. "Masters of vessels, licensed for the coasting trade, bound from one district to another district, in the same or an adjoining state, having on board domestic produce only, or foreign goods not exceeding a cer. tain [small] amount, are not required by law to deliver any manifests of their cargoes at the port from whence they depart." Thus a considerable amount of goods and produce shipped to other parts of this state, and to the adjoining states, is not included in this estimate. Navigation of the United States. The important act passed at the last session of congress, entitled "an act concerning the navigation of the United States," [see WEEKLY REGISTER, Vol. XII. page 52] went into operation on the first inst. and has been called to the attention of the collectors by the following circularTREASURY DEPARTMENT, 29th Sept. 1817. SIR:-Inclosed you will receive a copy of the act of congress "concerning the navigation of the Unit ed States," passed the 1st day of March last, which is to take effect on the 1st day of October next. The first section of the act makes an important change in the commerce of such foreign nations with the United States, as have in force regulations of a similar nature. To secure uniformity in the execution of this measure, and to render the change imposed by it as convenient to those whose interests are to be affected, as the provisions of the act will admit, the term country, in the first section, is considered as embracing all the possessions of a foreign state however widely separated, which are subject to the same supreme executive and legislative authority, The production and manufactures of a foreign state, and of its colonies, may be imported into the Unit ed States in vessels owned by the citizens or subjects of such state, without regard to their place of residence within its possessions.Gold and sil ver coin, and bullion, are not considered goods, wares or merchandize, within the meaning of the act, and may, therefore, be imported into United States in foreign vessels, without regard to the place of production or coinage. A list of foreign states known to have in force re gulations which subject them to the operation of This act, is subjoined. To ensure uniformity in the execution of the 3d, that paramount moral obligation, that all are under 5th, and 6 sections of the act, it is expedient to defend their country in times of public danger. that, in all cases where proof is exhibited, on oath, Is it not of the essence of republican political equaaccording to their provisions, the witnesses should lity that all, whom the law deems capable of mili be cross-examined by the collector, whose duty it tary service, shall take the field against the public is to decide, for the purpose of avoiding imposition enemy, when called upon by the legitimate autho and detecting evasion. rities? Does not this law bear upon the whole body of the enrolled militia? Upon what principles, what ground, can an exception from this rule be claimed in favor of our seafaring brethren? What is there in our civil and political institutions that forbids the application of the same principle to them? Are not they too citizens? Do not they also participate in the choice of legislators and all the I have the honor to be your most obedient, and very humble servant, WM. H. CRAWFORD, Secretary of the treasury esq. collector of [Great Britain and Sweden, we learn, (says the National Intelligencer) are the only states known to have in force regulations of the nature embraced in the first section of the above act, and referred advantages of civil government? Why should they to in the Circular.] On Manning the Navy. be exempt from bearing a full share of its disad vantages? Are they not ransomed from captivity by exchange when made prisoners, even in merchant vessels pursuing their own interests? And is there The following, from the National Intelligencer, is any thing unjust that they in their turn should coninserted because it seems to have been intended tribute to the ransom of their fellow-citizens by proas a reply to an editorial article inserted in the curing the pledges for i? finaliy, have not they Weekly Register, on the manning of a great navy. too a country and its honor to defend? Would it The editor thanks the writer for his courtesy, be a republican political enquality for one descrip. but cannot subscribe to his sentiments. We are, tion of citizens to be left at liberty to stand idle, by no means, prepared to say that militia drafts, or to pursue their ordinary occupations in quest of for home defence, are inconsistent with the natu- fortune, whilst all other descriptions are obligated ral rights of man and society; but decidedly of by the laws to contribute their time and their laopinion that the power to make such drafts is bors and dangers to its defence? Ought not all alike wisely limited to certain specific objects, and to be bound to obey the call of their country, exthat when we march beyond these we may reach pressed through the constituted authorities, and the borders of despotism. In a qualified sense, a render their personal service in the way their hanavy for the United States, who have no colonies, bits of life lave best fitted them to? The whole bo. must be regarded as defensive-sometimes to act dy of the militia may be called out under the laws, offensively to defend: but the involuntary ser- or only a draught of a part, to perform a tour of vices of men in ships is, we think, a very different military duty for a longer or shorter term, accordaffair from such services on land-where, except ing to the exigencies of the case; and compulsory in extraordinary cases, indeed, the laws command, means may be resorted to in respect to those who instead of individuals, and any man may imme shrink from their duty; and there will be often diately appeal to them. found some. What solid reason can be advanced In a late discussion in some public prints upon why the same rule shall not apply to our sea-faring the necessary extent of an American navy, originat- brethren? All alike owe to their country the sa ing from a writer in the National Intelligencer, un-crifice of their time, their fortunes and their lives. der the signature of Cato, it was boldly advanced This doctrine, this patriotic devotion to the welfare by him, that it ought to be the fundamental policy of our country, ought to be inculcated, loudly reof the United States to progress in a navy until she iterated by all stations of men; and more particu had the most powerful one in the world. It cannot larly by all those to whom a kind Providence has of well be denied but that he has presented some fered the means and opportunities of acquiring a strong views and weighty considerations in favor of little superior intelligence. It is hoped the people his proposed course of policy. It is not, however, have selected men with abilities and energies commy intention to enter into the merits or demerits of petent to legislate properly for the good of the rehis proposition, but to throw out ideas of my own public; men who will not be beat out of a states. upon the subject of manning a navy. His oppo man-like course by factious clamor; men who will nents, and particularly the Baltimore Weekly Re- not be frightened by vain words,-such as "imgister, among other objections to his proposed sys pressment, conscription," &c. (no application is tem, found a great one, upon the difficulty that must, here intended to the Baltimore Weekly Register.) in his opinion, always exist in manning a great navy. The period is arrived when all patriotic men of The Register says "he believes it is the pratice in imposing character throughout the United States all other countries where there is a navy, to impress should speak out: when they should combine to seamen for it in time of war-but a man might as scout half-way measures, crawling systern, that inwell attempt to empty Lake Superior with a horn evitably lead to national discomfiture and disgrace; spoon as to introduce it here, in the present dispo- that present a semblance of strength, and there is no sition and state of the people." Assuredly it might strength. This very subject of prospectively manning be unpopular and impossible in our country to car- the navy ought profoundly to occupy the delibera ry into effect a system of impressment in the odious tions of congress, at their approaching session, sense in which the term is usually understood, or, or they must and will be stigmatized for fli. as arbitrarily practiced in other countries; and long grant supineness, for a dereliction, and shrinking may it continue to be so. But I will not believe from their bounden duties. Now, in a period of that our country is so destitute of talents, that it profound peace, is the proper season for it. It cannot produce statesmen capable to devise a sys is announced that we have, and in progress, 12 tem for manning a navy, that is perfectly congenial ships of the line, besides additional frigates build. to our national and social compacts; combining the ing. How are even this number to be manned, in greatest possible regard for the rights, liberty and case of a war, say a few years hence? and no man convenience of the citizen, that is compatible with can tell how soon. Will our national rulers be so feeble as to depend alone upon heavy bounties and since which, our citizens have enjoyed a remakable wages, exhausting the public treasury at the outset, share of good health. That scourge was followed and yet perhaps but partially succeeding in their by an unusual drought, in the suminer of the same object? What puerile legislation will it be, to year, which threatened a greater scarcity than bad build a number of ships and then say, we cannot been ever witnessed in the country. In this state man them, when there are a superabundance of sea of things the citizens resorted to the most rigid men in the country to do it, if there were laws un-rules of economy; and surely our thanks are due to der proper regulations, calling them into the pub- Providence for bringing us through those scenes of lic service. The necessity, expediency, and justice disease and threatened famine; and not less so for of the case must force itself upon every reflecting conferring on us at this time, the most propitious mind, that there must be an organization; a classi-season for the industrious husband-man, that has fication upon the best principles that human in- occurred since the first settling of this country, genuity can devise, to call out or draft suitable Our acknowledgements of gratitude are likewise portions of our sea faring citizens to perform their due, for the blessings we enjoy in religious, civil tour of duty in time of war, as the militia are bound and political liberty; for public peace and domestic to do. The analogy of the subjects leads me to happiness: for his magnanimous design in the unisay emphatically, that now also is the precious versal propogation of the gospel; for the present time, for the welfare of the republic, to deliberate prosperous situation of our state and country; for and legislate upon the formation of a regular war the increased state of literature and literary instiarmy in the spirit of the system submitted to the tutions; for the prosperous state of the liberal and public by the present president of the United and mechanic arts: domestic manufacture and interStates, during the late war; and regardless of the nal improvement. party slang of “Conscription." Has not experience In compliance with an act of the last general as. taught us the necessity of some such system? If sembly, authorizing the executive to appoint a comthe hands of the government had been strengthened missioner to attend the legislature of Kentucky, for by a few thousand regular soldiers more than could the purpose of adjusting the difference between the be procured by voluntary enlistment, we should not two states relative to Walker's line, Parry W. Humhave had an enemy's army marching to the Capitol, phreys, esquire, was appointed; and as I deem it to Baltimore or Orleans. The enemy would have necessary to lay the whole correspondence, with the found full employment to defend his own provinces. documents connected therewith, before your honorWhoever may hereafter be at the head of our go. able body, I will just remark, at this time, that the vernment, must be drivellers indeed, if they do not mission resulted in a total disagreement on the part always make the enemy's territories the seat of of Kentucky to the propositions made by the state war, if practicable. The necessity of legislation of Tennessee; and as the act, subsequently passed upon this point, becomes more cogent suce the by the legislature of that state, was not bottomed notable discovery and practical construction given on any of the provisions contained in the laws of to our federal constitution, that the governors of this state, I beg leave to refer your honorable bothe states are the judges when the contingency oc- dy, for explanation of the transaction to my circucurs, that authorizes the calling out of the militia, lar letter addressed to the members of the last gene. and not the president, as people of plain understand-ral assembly, which is prefixed to the laws of Kening had beretofore believed; and since the farther tucky. Much time has been consumed and considiscovery that the militia are not bound to obey derable expense incurred by endeavoring to adjust when ordered out of the limits of the United States. this matter, hitherto without effect. I cannot, howIn the present state of the world, and our relative ever, under present circumstances hesitate to say, condition in it, with the utmost moderation on our in my opinion, that the breach is lessened by the part, we cannot, we must not, expect to escape the provosition made by Kentucky: in which it is propo ordinary fate of nations. We ought, we must, hold sed that Walker's line shall be the established ourselves as liable to be driven into wars to defend boundary between the two states, from where it our national rights, or to seek redress for intoler-strikes Tennessee river to the mouth of Obed's riable injuries done us: and how can common sense ver. Hence, there appears little reason to doubt, expect to force the enemy to reasonable terms of that, if you should deen it expedient to close with peace, unless our government be authorized to wield the proposition of Kentucky and ask the adoption of the adequate physical force of the republic? PHOCION. Legislature of Tennessee. KNOXVILLE, September 15. This day at 12 o'clock, the governor communicated to both houses of the legislature, by the secretary of stale, WILLIAM ALEXANDER esg. the following MESSAGE. Fellow citizens of the senate, Walker's line from the mouth of Obed's river to Cumberland Gap, it would be acceded to; which would quiet the inhabitants of both states, who reside near the line. But if Kentucky should still adhere to her present proposition in extending the line from Tennessee river to the Mississippi, in the latitude of 36 degrees and 30 minutes, it will be for the legislature to say on that, as on all other points, how far it can be met on principles of justice. From the long standing and nature of this unhappy difference, I must suppose it it to be one of those cases, in which, to do justice to both parties, mutual concessions ought to be made. and of the house of representatives: Nearly two years have elapsed since the rise of the last session of the Legislature, the early part Conceiving it due to myself, and not wholly of which time was marked by the most afflicting and uninteresting to my fellow-citizens, I will take the melancholy dispensations of Divine Providence. The liberty of stating the course I have pursued in rela epidemic which raged with violence in different tion to the extinguishment of the Cherokee claim parts of the state, carrying with it frequently death, to land within the limits of the state. In December, was well calculated to produce distress and alarm; 1815, I empowered the senators from this state J. and some of the honorable members of the last le- Williams and G. W. Campbell, esqrs. to negociate gislature, I am sorry to say, are now no more. With a treaty with a Cherokee deputation then at Washthe approach of spring, the malady disappeared;ington city, for lands on the north of Tennesse river. The commissioners had an audience with nation, with no other object than to serve the the chiefs, explained the views of their government, Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians for a hunting but were answered that the powers they possessed did not authorise them to dispose of the land in question. Thus the negociation ended at that time; but was renewed by the president of the United States and instructions given to hold a treaty at the Cherokee agency on the 20th July, 1816. Anxious to avail my country of every opportunity to promote its interest, I called on col. John Williams, being more convenient to the agency than Mr. Campbell, to attend the treaty under his former ap. pointment in company with myself. The treaty continued fifteen days; in which time the views of the general government were fully explained and the claims of the state of Tennessee urged by every fair argument in our power, though at last unavailing. ground. The subject, however, to which I beg leave to invite your particular attention is the Chickasaw claim, which contains from five to seven millions of acres, bounded on the east by Tennessee river, on the west by the Mississippi, and includes all the land from north to south across the state; and from the best information I have been able to obtain, nearly one half of this land has been located and the greater part granted from thirty to forty years ago, and at a time when North-Carolina pos sessed the sovereign right, long antecedent to the act of cession made to the United States; and that she did possess the right to dispose of these lands is clear from the acceptance by the United States of that cession. The United States, as I am advised, have granted, in due form, 640 acres on which the I then determined on making a third attempt and town of Pulaski, the seat of justice of Giles county, obtained the favor of general Jackson to renew the is established, and in many other respects have proposition, which he did at Turkey Town, where acted as tho' they held those lands by regular title. the Indians, as if with a view to elude the subject, If then the United States possess a fee simple estate suggested the plan of exchanging lands. Thus the in the vacant land derived from North-Carolina, matter rested until the 20th June last, when a treaty it will follow, that the officers and soldiers of the was opened under the direction of the president of army have the most indisputable titles to those If the subject of right to the United States by gens. Jackson, Meriwether lands granted to them. settled down by existing treaties, made at a time when, perhaps, the measures were justified by ne. cessity and policy. But, if such was then the fact, no pretext seems now to exist. We are at peace both at home and abroad, and the weight of the American arm is competent to the protection of her citizens as well in person as property. I have brought this subject before your honorable body, conceiving it to be one of very great dignity and interest to the state; and I indulge the hope that it will receive that weight of character, in form of a remonstrance to congress, it so justly merits. I The con and myself. The object of this treaty was to carry dispose of those lands be conceded as being at the into effect certain propositions, made by Mr. Jeffer-time vested in North Carolina, no question can arise, son, while president of the United States, founded except as to the possession which appears to be on an application to him by a regular deputation of the Cherokee nation in January, 1809, the object of which was to give permission to as many of the Cherokees as might choose to remove west of the Mississippi, who should receive a tract of country there proportioned to their numbers, with the whole Cherokee nation, for which they were to give an equal quantity of land to the United States out of the Cherokee country. This agreement has received the sanction of the Cherokee nation; as well those who have, as those who have not, removed. The census of the nation is, by positive stipulation, The subject of the memorial presented by the to be taken in June next, for the purpose of enabling the contracting parties to adjust the quantity of legislature of North-Carolina to congress at their land to be exchanged. A just proportion of the last session, will merit your attention. land, thus to be acquired, will fall within the state sideration of the subject was postponed by conof Tennessee, prior to the next stated meeting of the gress; the documents and proceedings on which, legislature, from which a question will naturally will, in due time, be laid before you. At present arise, whether the interest of the state would be will only express a hope, that the charges made most promoted by leaving the subject to form the in that memorial against this state may be met in necessity of a called session, with the expenses a spirit of amity and compromise, and yet with a incident thereto, or to enact laws in anticipation of due regard to the interest of the state of Tennesthe event at the present session. If you should see. In the course of the last winter, I attempted to prefer the latter, I earnestly recommend to the wisdom of your honorable body, the enacting of such procure a statement of the quantity of the circulatlaws as in their operation will best guard the poor ing and unsatisfied land warrants; and also the against the watchful speculator, and, at the same quantity of land, fit for cultivation, that remained time, act consistent with our engagements with unappropriated, by applying to the principal surthe United States and North Carolina. To effect veyors of the several districts throughout the state, this object, I would propose, after the lands are for a statement of the number of entries, with the disencumbered and liable to the disposition of the quantity contained therein, made in each year in state, that proclamation be made once-a-week by their respective offices, from the opening thereof the public printer for at least three months pre- up to that time. The commissioners of East and ceding the day-on which entries may be made; and West Tennessee were also called on for a report to declare, in positive terms, that all entries, which of the gross amount of warrants, issued by their re have been previously made, shall be null and void spective boards. And I owe it to those officers, with to all intents and purposes, besides inflicting such the exception of two, whose reports have not come penalties as you might think proper, on such per- to hand, to say, that these reports were furnished sons as should disregard or violate those provi-with dispatch and in strict conformity with the plan subinitted. These reports were forwarded sions. It has been with no inconsiderable concern that to James D. Reynolds, esq. at that time a member I have for many years witnessed the hardship and of congress from this state, with the view of having injustice of with-holding from a large portion of them laid before that body; but whether they our fellow-citizens, the possession of lands acquired reached him too late in the session to be acted ups equally as fairly and honorably as any others in the] on, or how they were disposed of, I have not been connection with other reasons, imperiously demand. advised. ed. As I intend to lay the correspondence be. Impressed with a consciousness of the difficulties fore you, I will forbear to make any comments, but of obtaining correct information, and sensible that would beg leave to recommend a review of the law many defects attend the course I have pursued, I organizing those banks; and let it be distinctly undeem it my duty to lay the subject before the le-derstood whether the executive, as the agent of the gislative guardians of the people, as one which, in state, is bound to make her a subscriber to each of a collateral point of view, may justly merit their those incorporated banks; and if this be his duty, attention, when taken in connection with our landed it will be necessary to create a fund from which relations with North-Carolina and the general go- the requisite resources can be drawn to meet those vernment. The documents in my possession as engagements for which the existing laws have made well as any information I may have on the subject, no provision. will, if required, be cheerfully furnished. I beg leave to invite your attention to an act en I will submit for your consideration the propriety titled "an act to provide for the payment of state of turning your attention to improving the naviga- and county taxes," passed November 13th, 1815.tion of our rivers, either by incorporating naviga-There are abundant reasons to believe that the motion companies for a definite number of years, with tives, which influenced the legislature in enacting the right to charge toll, or by such other means this law, were honorable and such as to them ap as your wisdom may suggest. Frequent attempts peared to be sanctioned by sound policy. In is have been made in former years to commence this operation it has had the effect of burthening the highly important work, which were generally met treasury with a description of notes, some of which by the negative voice of those, who appeared to were not even at par with current notes or silver in think that they represented the farming interest any section of the union. By this law, the crippled exclusively, urging that none were to be benefited credit of those notes was supported to the manifest but the mercantile class of our citizens. This ob- prejudice of our citizens, who held honest claims jection must, at this time, be unavailing, for by against the state. From these remarks, gentlemen, recurring to facts, it will be seen that the farmers, I refer you to the before recited act, to say how far particularly in the western part of the states, it is entitled to a place in the revenue laws of your participate largely in the advantage at present de-state. rived from the navigation of our rivers in the ex- A number of vacancies have occurred in the dif portation of our surplus produce to market. The ferent offices in the state since the adjournment of growth and prosperity of our country, I have ever the last general assembly, which have been filled believed, materially depend on a safe outlet for our by temporary appointments that will expire with surplus produce, and an easy commercial inter- the end of the present session. The vacancy occa course with our neighboring states. Every facility sioned by the resignation of judge Overton, one of then ought to be afforded that would tend to the the judges of the supreme court of errors and ap furtherance of these objects. To shew the increas-peals, has been filled by the appointment of Robert ing importance of this subject, I will submit a state- Whyte, esq. The vacancy occasioned by the death ment of the gross amount of produce, so far as ac- of judge Cook in the same court has been filled by curate information has been obtained, exported John Harwood, esq. The vacancy occasioned by the from the state during the present season. I feel resignation of William Kelly, esq. judge of the first great satisfaction in exhibiting this statement, not circuit, is filled by Thomas Emmerson, esq. The that I am inconscious of its bearing very little com- vacancy occasioned by the resignation of James C. parison with that of many other states in the union; but when we attach to its importance these facts, that we are yet an infant people, composed of from two to three hundred thousand souls, and that these products are the labors of our fellow-citizens in the year next succeeding the termination of the war with Great Britain and who were amongst the last retiring from the field. Mitchell, esq. solicitor general of the second circuit, is filled by John Wilkinson, esq. In the third circuit, William B. Martin, esq. is appointed solicitor general, vice John Catron, esq resigned.William C. Mynatt, esq. has been appointed commissioner for East Tennessee, vice Robert H. Adams, esq. resigned. The vacancy occasioned by the expiration of col. Williams' term of service as senator The object of improving rivers and public roads in congress, was filled by the re-appointment of that ought not to be considered exclusively in a pecunia-gentleman in the called session of the senate in ry point of view; for in addition to commercial fa- March last. The vacancy occasioned by the insanicilities, they, by a concurrence of interesting cir-ty of George Poyzer, notary public for West Tencumstances, invite us to associate with each other, nessee, is filled by Washington Perkins. The va by which we become more intimately acquainted, our interests cemented, and our social ties every way strengthened. cancy occasioned by the death of John McCormick, notary public for East Tennessee, is filled by James Kenedy, sen'r. In pursuance of the act of the last session authoI am well aware that those offices are considered rising the executive to borrow money, in case it of the highest dignity and interest to the state, and I became necessary to meet the instalments due from assure you they were filled under that solemn impres the state to the bank, I have directed the sum of se- sion, and with a full view of the great responsibili ven thousand five hundred dollars to be borrowed ty which could not fail to attach to the exercise of at three different times, which could not be reim-a power that, under all other circumstances, is conbursed by the treasury for want of funds until Fri- fided to the collected wisdom of the state. And day last. while I indulge in expressing my thankfulness to The directors of the banks, chartered at Jones- the Divine Benefactor for his benign interposition, borough and Franklin, have given notice that their I am not unmindful of the great obligation I am respective banks are about to commence operations, under to my fellow citizens for their apparent apand desired to know whether the state would take probation. And I also derive much satisfaction the stock reserved for her in the charter. My an- from learning that the different officers, in discharge swer to the directors at Jonesborough was such as of their duties, have realized the highest expecta conceived the existing state of the treasury; in 'tions of many of my fellow-citizens. |