habitants necessary to entitle them, under the ratio established by law, to a Representative in the Congress of the United States. On the subject of population, there exists no difficulty, whether the Territory be taken in connexion with West Florida or with its present limits. From the official returns of the census, taken during the summer of the past year, it appears that there were, in the Mississippi Territory, the number of forty thousand three hundred and fifty-two souls. This enumeration, it is alleged, fell considerably short of the actual population of the Territory at that time; and, without casting the most remote censure on the officers who were employed in that service, such a suggestion is strongly supported by the vast extent of country over which the settlements are dispersed. It also appears to your committee that the progressive emigration from the old States to this section of the Union, added to the length of time which it will require to form a constitution, and put the same in operation, afford satisfactory pledges that, anterior to the final admission of the Territory to the rights of State sovereignty, the number of its inhabitants will amount to at least sixty thousand, whereby they will possess the unqualified right, in conformity with articles of cession and agreement between the United States and Georgia, to be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States.

This view of the subject is presented without reference to the augmentation of population, which would result from the annexation of West Florida; in that event the number of souls in the Territory, exclusive of the county of Madison, which lies near the Great Bend of Tennessee river, may be estimated at about eighty thousand; and, from the geographical situation of the Territories belonging to the United States south of the State of Tennessee, and north of the Iberville and the lakes, your committee feel satisfied that an alteration of limits, so as to include the whole population between the Yazoo and the Iberville, where they unite with the river Mississippi, and from these points, respectively, east, to the boundary line of the State of Georgia, would greatly contribute to the future convenience and prosperity of the people who reside in that

country.

At a very early period after the treaty of 1763, between France and Great Britain, by which the latter became possessed of the Floridas, the jurisdiction of the province of West Florida was extended north, by a line drawn from the mouth of the Yazoo, due east, to the river Chatahouchy. The Government of Spain, also, when that Power succeeded to the possession of the country, by conquest, in the year 1781, continued to exercise authority over it in the same extent which the British Government had previously done, until, by the treaty concluded between the United States and Spain, on the 27th day of October, 1795, the southern boundary of the United States was declared to extend to the thirty-first degree of north latitude. The Government of the United States, by the treaty of 1803, with France, having acquired Louisiana in the extent that France then held it, and that it had in the hands of Spain, prior to the Treaty of St. Ildefonso, there does not seem to be a reasonable doubt as to the claim of the United States to the country east of the Mississippi, as far as the river Perdido, which lies between Mobile and Pensacola.

Your committee, therefore, conceive that, insomuch as the entire tract of country formerly possessed by Great Britain, under the name of West Florida, and

DECEMBER, 1811.

subsequently transferred to Spain, as forming a part of Louisiana, has fallen under the dominion of the United States, it ought, in strict propriety, to be restored to its ancient limits, as the measure corresponds with the wishes, and is calculated to promote the permanent welfare of the people whose interests are immediately concerned. It is assuredly the incumbent duty of the General Government to make such a partition of its Territories on the waters of the Mississippi, as will combine with local advantages a due regard to national policy. These essential objects cannot, in the opinion of your committee, be secured without a suitable division of the seacoast, acquired by the purchase of Louisiana. It must be obvious, that, to confer on the State to be formed of the Territory of Orleans, the whole extent of seaboard from the river Perdido to the Sabine bay, would give to it an influence over the commerce of the Western country which might be productive of the most mischievous consequences; for, although the legislative authority of the State could impose no tax or duty on articles exported from any other State, yet there are many important regulations which would materially affect the navigation of the numerous rivers flowing through this country into the Gulf of Mexico," falling within the legitimate range of State powers; among these may be enumerated the incorporation of navigation companies, and appropriations of the public revenue for the purpose of opening canals. Thus, by affording every facility to the trade passing down the river Mississippi to New Orleans, and by interposing vexatious obstructions to the commerce of those rivers emptying into the Bay of Mobile and the lakes, that city will become the emporium of all the bulky articles of agriculture, which constitute, in time of peace, the great export trade of the Western States and Territories. The direct tendency of such a monopoly, would be to raise the commercial importance of New Orleans, at the sacrifice of the best interests of those who inhabit the vast, fertile, and extensive region watered by the Tennessee, the Tombigbee, and Alabama rivers, and their tributary streams, besides many other important rivers, affording outlets through the Mississippi Territory into the Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain. To guard against these contingencies, and to unite a people whose language, manners, principles, and usages that tract of country, of which possession has been are assimilated, your committee recommend that all taken by virtue of the President's proclamation, bearing State to be formed of the Mississippi Territory, whendate the 27th day of October, 1810, be added to the ever the same shall be admitted into the Union as such.

Your committee cannot forbear to express their decided opinion, that, where no Constitutional difficulty occurs, the formation of new States on the southern extremity of the United States ought not to be delayed. To bind together every portion of the American people by the indissoluble cord of affection, and to perpetuate the integrity of the Union, are considerations paramount to all others which can be presented to the view of the National Legislature.

Let us, therefore, extend to every section of our beloved country a just equality of rights and privileges, that each may enjoy civil, political, and religious liberty, subject to the control of independent local authorities, while the fostering hand of the Federal Government shall protect them in the enjoyment of these blessings from domestic feuds and external violence.

Under these impressions, your committee submit the following resolution:

Resolved, That it is expedient to admit all that tract of country, bounded north by a line drawn due east from the river Yazoo, where it unites with the Mississippi, to the river Chatahouchy, and down said river to the thirty first degree of latitude; thence, along said degree of latitude, to a point opposite the river Perdido; thence to the confluence of said last mentioned river, with the Gulf of Mexico; and thence, in a direct line through the middle of the Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to the junction of the Iberville with the river Mississippi, and up said river to the above mentioned river Yazoo, into the Union of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States.

Mr. CHEVES, from the committee appointed on that part of the President's Message which relates to the naval force of the United States and to the defence of our maritime frontier, made the following report in part:

"The committee to whom was referred so much of the President's Message of the 5th of November, 1811, as relates to the defence of the maritimne frontier, report in part, that two communications from the Secretary of War, which accompany this report, which were made in reply to the queries propounded by the committee, contain the best information on the subject which they have been able to collect. That one of them contains an enumeration of the permanent fortifications which have been completed or commenced, with remarks on the troops necessary to garrison them. That, for the completion of works already commenced, no further appropriation is requisite. But that some additional works are deemed necessary, the precise extent of which cannot at present be determined; for which, and for contingent objects of defence on our maritime frontier, in the event of hostilities, the committee recommend an appropriation of one million of dollars; and the committee for that purpose beg leave to report a bill entitled a bill making further appropriation for the defence of our maritime frontier." Mr. CHEVES then presented a bill making a further appropriation for the defence of our maritime frontier; which was twice read and committed.

NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.

Mr. CHEVES, from the committee to whom was referred so much of the President's Message as relates to the Naval Establishment, made the following report:

That the subject referred to your committee in its several relations presents a question of the highest importance to the interests of the people of this country, inasmuch as it embraces one of the great and leading objects of their Government; that which, above all others, laid the foundation of the happy union of these States. Your committee need hardly say they mean the protection of maritime commerce; an interest which, though when superficially viewed, seems to affect only the Atlantic portions of the country, yet really extends as far as the utmost limits of its agriculture, and can only be separated from it, in the opinion of your committee, by a total blindness to the just policy of Government. The important engine of national strength and national security which is formed by a naval force, has hitherto, in the opinion of the committee, been treated with a neglect highly impolitic, or supported by a spirit so languid, as, while it has pre

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served the existence of the establishment, has had the effect of loading it with the imputations of wasteful expense and comparative inefficiency.

No system has hitherto been adopted, which, though limited by the dispensing security of the times, and the just economy of our Republican institutions, was yet calculated to enlarge itself gradually with the progress of the nation's growth in population, in wealth, and in commerce, or expand with an energy proportioned to a crisis of particular danger.

Such a course, impolitic under any circumstances, is the more so when it is demonstrably clear that this nation is inevitably destined to be a naval power, and that the virtue of economy, if no other motive could be found, would recommend a plan by which this force must be gradually increased, the necessary expenses diminished, and durability and permanency given to the strength which they may purchase.

That a naval protection is particularly secured to the interest of commerce by our great political compact, is proved by that part of the Constitution which maintain a navy," and is confirmed by the history of expressly gave to Congress the power "to provide and the times, and the particular circumstances which led to its institution; but it is alike secured by the fundamental nature of all Government, which extends to every interest under its authority a protection (if within the nation's means) which is adequate to its preservation; nor is this protection called for only by the partial interests of a particular description of men or of a particular tract of country. A navy is as necessary to protect the mouths of the Mississippi, the channel through which the produce of the agriculture of the Western States must pass to become valuable, as the bays of the Chesapeake and Delaware, and more necessary than on the shores of the Eastern or the South

ern States.

It has, indeed, been urged, your committee are aware, that a Naval Establishment is forbidden by the great and burdensome expenditures of public money which, it is said, will be required to support it, and by the inability of the country, by any expenditure to maintain a navy which can protect its maritime rights against the power of Great Britain. The first objection appears to your committee to be founded on a mistaken assumption of the fact; for in their opinion a naval force within due limits and under proper regulations will constitute the cheapest defence of the nation.

The permanent fortifications necessary to the defence of the ports and harbors of the Union will cost, in the opinion of your committee, as much annually, if properly provided and garrisoned, as the naval force which, it is confidently believed, on the testimony of persons competent to decide, would be amply sufficient to prevent all attacks from reaching our shores. It will thus furnish the most appropriate, adequate, and cheap protection against a foreign enemy, and will at the same time be perfectly innoxious to the public liberty and the private morals of the country; dispense almost entirely with a standing army, so hostile to the genius of our free institutions, and remove the standing vices and evils of camps and garrisons from the cities on our seacoast; cherish a noble body of mariners, who in honorable peace will spread the sails of a prosperous and vivifying commerce on every sea, and in necessary war terribly avenge their country's wrongs.

The other objection your committee suppose to be founded on an imperfect examination of the subject; for those who are best able to form opinions on this matter, from congenial professional pursuits, as well

DECEMBER, 1811.

"And that if attacked by any British ship or vessel, it shall be lawful to capture and bring such ship or vessel into any port of the United States for adjudication."

Mr. FINDLEY moved to postpone the further consideration of the resolution and amendment to the first Monday in March next.

After debate on these motions, the House adjourned without coming to a decision on either.

WEDNESDAY, December 18.

Mr. RHEA presented petitions from Louisiana Territory, in favor of the second grade of Government.-Referred.

The consideration of the unfinished business of

yesterday, respecting arming merchantmen, &c., was called for; when it was, on motion of Mr. RANDOLPH, ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. PORTER, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whoni was committed the bill from the Senate, "completing the existing Military Establishment," reported the same without amendment. Committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow.

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3. The orders and authority vested in Governor Harrison by the United States, under which the late expedition against the Indians was carried on; and such other information relating to the subject, as, in the opinion of the President, may be proper to be communicated to this House.

The resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

APPORTIONMENT BILL.

The House resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of conference made on the 11th instant, together with the message from the Senate adhering to their amendments to the bill on this subject.

A motion was made by Mr. RANDOLPH, to refer the bill and report to a Committee of the Whole, and negatived.

A motion was then made by Mr. FISK, that this House do recede from their disagreement to the amendment of the Senate.

Mr. MACON, from the Committee of Ways and Means, presented a bill allowing additional compensation to the Postmaster General; which was read twice, and committed to the Committee of the Whole on the bill to continue in force, for a further time, the act fixing the salaries of certain officers of Government therein mentioned..

BATTLE ON. THE WABASH. Mr. ORMSBY moved the following resolution: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether any, and if any, what provision ought to be made by law for paying the officers and soldiers of the militia who served under Governor Harrison, in the late expedition against the Indians on the Wabash, to compensate them for the loss of horses, and for the relief of the widows and orphans of those who fell in the action of the seventh of November last; and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

The said resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. McKEE moved the following resolution:* Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House such information as may be in the possession of the Government, and proper to be communicated, on the following points:

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1. Any evidence tending to show whether any and what agency the subjects, either public or private, of any foreign Power, may have had in exciting the Indians on the Western frontier to hostility against the United States;

2. The evidence of hostility towards the United States, on the part of the Shawanee Prophet and his adherents, anterior to the commencement of the late campaign against them, under the command of Governor Harrison;

Davis, Samuel Dinsmoor, William Ely, James Emott, William Findley, James Fisk, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Isaiah L. Green, Bolling Hall, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, John M. Hyneman, Richard Jackson, junior, Joseph Kent, Philip B. Key, Lyman Law, Peter Little, Robert Le Roy Livingston, Aaron Lyle, Alexander McKim, Arunah Metcalf, James Milnor, Sam'l L. Mitchill, Jonathan O. Moseley, William Paulding, jr., William Piper, Timothy Pitkin, jr., Benj'n Pond, Peter B. Porter, Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel Ringgold, William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Thomas Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, Adam Seybert, Samuel Shaw, John Smilie, George Smith, Silas Stow, William Strong, Lewis B. Sturges, George Sullivan, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Peleg Tallman, Uri Tracy, Charles Turner, jr., Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, William Widgery, and Robert Wright.

NAYS-Willis Alston, jr., John Baker, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William Blackledge, Thomas Blount, James Breckenridge, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, Wm. Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condit, William Crawford, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Elias Earle, Meshack Franklin, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Edwin Gray, Felix Grundy, Aylett Hawes, Jacob Hufty, Richard M. Johnson, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lefever, Joseph Lewis, junior, William Lowndes, Nathaniel Macon, George C. Maxwell, Thos. Moore, Archibald McBryde, William McCoy, Samuel McKee, James Morgan, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newbold, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Joseph Pearson, Israel Pickens, James Pleasants, jr., John Randolph, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, John Sevier, Daniel Sheffey, John Smith, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, George M. Troup, Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, Thomas Wilson, and Richard Winn.

So the House agreed to recede from their disa

greement to the Senate's amendment, which of course prevails, and the ratio is fixed at 35,000.

THURSDAY, December 19.

Mr. BAKER presented two petitions of sundry inhabitants of the city and county of Washing. ton, praying that the act of the State of Maryland, laying a tax on marriage licenses of four dollars may be revived in Washington county, in the District of Columbia, and that the money thus collected may be applied to the use of schools. Referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a resolution of the Legislature of the State of Vermont, ratifying and confirming an amendment proposed by Congress to the Constitution of the United States, concerning the acceptance of titles of nobility from foreign Powers, by citizens of the United States.

Mr. POINDEXTER moved the following resolution:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the conduct of Harry Toulmin, Judge of the District of Washington, in the Mississippi Territory, and report whether, in their opinion, he has so acted, in his official capacity, as to require the interposition of the Constitutional powers of this House; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers. The resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. RHEA presented a resolution of the Legislature of the State of Tennessee, disapproving of the amendment proposed by Massachusetts to the Constitution of the United States, limiting the duration of any act laying an embargo, within the United States; disapproving of the amendmentproposed by Virginia to the said Constitution, respecting a removal from office of the Senators of the United States; disapproving of the amend ment proposed by Pennsylvania to the said Constitution, for the erection of a tribunal to determine controversies between the General and State Governments; and approving of the amendment proposed by Congress to the said Constitution, concerning the acceptance of titles of nobility by citizens of the United States from foreign Powers. A Message was received from the President of the United States, transmitting two letters received from Governor Harrison, of the Indiana Territory, reporting the particulars of the issue of the expedition under his command on the Wabash. The Message and letters were read, and referred to Mr. MCKEE, Mr. SEVIER, Mr. BRECKENRIDGE, Mr. MORROW, Mr. ALSTON, Mr. LEFEVER, and Mr. MAXWELL, to consider and report thereon to the House.

DECEMBER, 1811.

as the Commonwealth of Virginia may appoint, to ascertain, and finally determine and fix the Western boundary line of the Virginia military tract, according to the true intent and meaning of the condition of the deed of cession from Virginia to the United States, touching the military reservation between the rivers Scioto and Little Miami.

Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law to prevent the issuing of patents on surveys executed in virtue of Virginia military warrants, west of the boundary line designated by the act of Congress of the 23d March, one thousand eight hundred and four. Resolved, That, in the event of the said existing boundary line being found by the said commissioners to exclude lands belonging to the Virginia military tract, the said commissioners shall ascertain the quantity and quality of the land so excluded, and shall have power to locate other unappropriated lands equal in quantity and quality; which lands shall be liable to location under Virginia military land warrants, from and after the day of

Ordered, That a bill be brought in, pursuant to the said resolutions; and that the Committee on the Public lands do prepare and bring in the same. On motion by Mr. BURWELL,

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House, by the proper officers, a statement of the capital employed in the Indian trade; the amount of annual purchases, sales, and articles, received in payment; together with the number, names, and salaries, of agents employed, the places where stationed, and specifying, as far as practicable, the state of the trade at each place for the last four years.

Messrs. BURWELL and BLEECKER were appointed a committee to present the said resolution to the President.

FOREIGN RELATIONS.

The House resumed the consideration of the

sixth resolution, reported by the Committee of Foreign Relations, in the following words:

"6. That it is expedient to permit our merchant vessels, owned exclusively by resident citizens, to arm, under proper regulations, to be prescribed by law, in self-defence, against all unlawful proceedings towards them on the high seas.”

Mr. FINDLEY withdrew his motion to postpone the same to the first Monday in March.

Mr. WRIGHT withdrew the amendment he had proposed, and moved to strike out these words: "in self-defence against all unlawful proceedings against them on the high seas."

The House proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on the Public Lands, made the 26th ultimo; and the resolutions therein contained were specially concurred in by the House, as follows: