Слике страница
PDF
ePub

reports, was also a protest by Mr. Calhoun's friend, who attended the examination, complaining that the committee, in their proceedings, had not confined themselves to the strict rules which govern courts of law in the admission of testimony.

Duel. In this paper too, the proceedings of a committee of the house of representatives, in 1822, who had the Rip Rap contract under consideration, about which Mix's letter was conversant, was severely censured. Two of that com. mitteee being at Washington, published a reply in which they say, that "the misrepresentations, not to say intentional ones, contained in the protest, demand and shall receive correction." This expression gave offense. An explanation was demanded, and refused, and followed by a challenge. The defendant, according to the rules of this kind of warfare, having the right to choose the weapon, distance, and other circumstances, chose the rifle, at ninety feet. This arrangement in the relative condition of the parties, the one being feeble in body, and crippled in a former duel, the other an expert rifleman, put the life of the challenger entirely into the hands of his antagonist; a condition by no means to be desired. The terms were rejected. The broad-sword was then offered, and refused for the same reason. The affair terminated without bloodshed, each accusing the other of a violation of the laws regulating this species of homicide: the challenger complaining of the selection of unusual weapons, and the challenged charging his antagonist with having the courage to call him out, but not of meeting him in the field. This short session was disgraced by another challenge which terminated in a like harmless manner.

An apology may be deemed necessary for noticing these transactions. Since the commencement of the government, something like a score of duels have been projected, and terminated in various ways, some of them fatally, by members of the national legislature, and other officers in high stations. The scene is a sickening one; its record forms a dark page in the history of the country, which would gladly be left a blank, were it not that the example set by men in such stations, by committing the highest crime known to the laws, that of deliberate murder, is of the most pernicious tendency. Scenes of this nature are recorded only to be reprobated and avoided. Northeastern boundary. The boundary between the United S es and the Canadas, as defined by the treaty of

1783, is the highlands which divide the waters which fall into the St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean. It was then supposed that this natural boundary might be easily designated; this never having been done, the fifth article of the treaty of Ghent provided for the appointment of two commissioners, one on the part of each government, to ascertain and survey the boundary line from the source of the river St. Croix to the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, now New Brunswick, and from thence to the St. Lawrenoe or Iroquois in latitude forty-five north. As the geography of the country became known, it was found that the highlands from whence proceed the sources of the Madawasca, a branch of the St. Johns, bordered upon the St. Lawrence. From these highlands, to Mars hill, which divides the waters of the St. Johns from those of the Penobscot, is a distance of about one hundred and forty miles, embracing a tract of fertile land, watered by the Madawasca and Aristook rivers. The American commissioner fixed the northeastern boundary at the northernmost highlands, and the British, at Mars hill, and made their surveys and their reports to their respective governments accordingly.

Soon afterwards, the states of Massachusetts and Maine proceeded to survey, sell, and settle several tracts of land on the Madawasca and Aristook rivers, and to exercise jurisdiction over them as a part of the county of Penobscot. On the same tracts, likewise, were some old French Canadian settlements, commenced soon after the peace of 1783; and the province of New Brunswick also extended jurisdiction over them as a part of their county of York. The mail rout from New Brunswick to Quebec lay across this territory, and over the lands of a Mr. Baker, a purchaser under the state of Maine. He, with several of his neighbors, who were also purchasers under the same title, erected a pole in a conspicuous part of his purchase, to which a cloth was attached, marked with the American stars and stripes; and stopped the British mail on its way to Canada. Baker and his associates were arrested by the authorities of New Brunswick, and carried to Fredericton, on a prosecution for a riot. Baker was tried, convicted, and punished by fine and imprisonment; the others were discharged. These circumstances led to a correspondence between the British and American governments, the result of which was, that neither party should exercise jurisdiction over the disputed territory pending the contro

versy, and that the question of boundary should be submitted to the king of the Netherlands for his ultimate decision. Mr. Preble, a distinguished citizen of Maine, was appointed minister to that court, specially charged with the business. In the mean time, a battalion of United States troops were stationed on its southern border. Soon after their arrival, their position was reconnoitered by Sir Howard Douglass, lieutenant governor of New Brunswick, from a neighoring eminence. No further disturbances have taken place, and the question of right is in a progress of settle

ment.

CHAPTER XXII.

First session of the 20th congress-Choice of a speaker-Revision of the tariff -Report of the secretary of the treasury-Committee on manufacturesTheir proceedings-Motion to authorize them to summon witnessesSubstance of testimony given before them-Their reports-Proceedings in the house of representatives-Tariff bill passed both houses-Chilton's resolutions on retrenchment-Referred to a select committee-Their proceedings and report-Reasons of the minority against it-Correspondence on the navigation of the St. Lawrence-Death of General Brown, and appointment of a successor-Excitement, and proceedings in the south respecting the tariff-British views, and debates in parliament on the American tariff-Proceedings of the British parliament, on the subject of fortifying the Canadas.

Meeting of the twentieth congress. On the 4th of December, 1827, the day designated by the constitution for the first meeting of the twentieth congress, every senator except two, and two hundred and seven out of two hundred and thirteen members of the house of representatives, appeared in their places. In the house, on the first ballot, Mr. Stephenson of Virginia, the Jackson candidate, had 104 votes, and was chosen speaker. His opponent, Mr. Taylor of New York, had 94. Mr. Stephenson's votes, with the addition of four for Mr. Barbour, being 108 against 97, determined the strength of parties, there being that majority against the administration. The revision of the tariff, with a view to afford adequate protection to American manufactures, was by far the most interesting subject, which presented itself to the deliberations of the legislature at this session. The period had arrived when an impost comparatively light with the other national resources, would be sufficient for the ordinary purposes of government, and the extinguishment of the remnant of the public debt. Two important questions now presented themselves; has the constitution given to congress the power to lay an impost for the protection of American manufactures, when not needed for the proper expenditures of the government? If they have the power, is it expedient now to exercise it? The subject of a tariff or rate of duties upon importations, is found to be the most difficult to adjust, of any within the compass of legislation. It addresses itself to the interests

and feelings of the whole population. Every person who consumes a dutied article, and there are none who do not, pays the duty. Peculiar difficulties attend the subject in the United States. No nation in Europe, Russia perhaps excepted, possesses an equal extent of territory. None where the climate, soil, and productions are so varied. None where the interests, employments, and manners of the population are more diverse. The difficulties attending a just and proper arrangement of a tariff, multiply with the increase of these diversities. No article, except perhaps a few of universal use, and which cannot be produced at home, can be made the subject of a duty, but what the imposition will bear harder upon some sections of the country than others. Every citizen, through his representative in congress, is to be heard, and his claims adjusted on this subject. At home, he has a state legislature, ever ready to listen to his complaints, and to become his champion, when there is a real or supposed grievance.

Report of the secretary of the treasury. The secretary of the treasury, in his annual report to the house at the commencement of the session, after the usual statements in relation to the finances, entered into a labored discussion in which he maintained that a system of protecting duties was essential to the prosperity and independence of the nation; that it will not have an injurious effect upon commerce or revenue; that it will ultimately benefit the consumer, by creating a domestic competition, shortly producing a better and cheaper article than the foreign; and that it will greatly increase the wealth and resources of the country.

Committee on manufactures. The subject would in the first instance, of course come before the committee on manufactures. Mr. Mallary of Vermont, an able and zealous advocate for the protecting system, was appointed chairman. In the selection of the other members of that committee, the usual and correct practice of appointing a majority, known to be favorable to the object, was departed from, four out of the seven, of whom the committee consisted, were unfriendly to the principles of protection, and the chairman found himself in the minority on most of the important questions submitted to their consideration. A majority of the committee against the opinion of the chairman, directed application to be made to the house, to summon witnesses to give information on the subjects before them. The motion was strenuously opposed, as well on account of the delay

« ПретходнаНастави »