proper to suggest also, if this measure is adopted, that it be recommended to the States to include, in the amendment sought, a right in Congress to institute seminaries of learning for the important purpose of diffusing knowledge among our fellow-citizens throughout the United States."

The labor for completing this great public road, from the river Potomac, dividing Virginia and Maryland, to the Ohio river, was suspended for some time; but the construction was afterwards resumed, and vast sums of public money expended in rendering it fit for travel.

In this message, the President recommended the repeal of internal taxes: "The revenue," he said, "arising from impost and tonnage, and the sale of public lands, would be fully adequate to the support of civil government, of the military and naval establishments, for interest, and authorized instalments of the public debt."

Early in the session, Congress passed an act to abolish the internal duties imposed in the war of 1812-1815: these were duties on licenses to distillers, on refined sugar, licenses to retailers, sales at auction, on pleasure carriages, stamped vellum, parchment, and paper. Most of the measures recommended by the President were approved by a large majority of Congress; and there was much harmony among members of different political views. For there were still some differences of opinion; but much less of crimination or bitterness manifested in debate than had appeared for several preceding years.*

In conformity to the suggestion of the President, a law was passed at this session of Congress, granting pensions to the surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war, which included all who had served nine months in the continental army at one term of enlistment. The law was modified, and in some measure restricted, by an act two years after, which confined the pension to those who were in destitute circumstances. But, with this modification, the law afforded relief to a great number, not less than thirteen thousand, who had given their personal services and hazarded their lives for the liberties of the country, in the war

of the Revolution. It was considered an act of great generosity, or liberality, in the government; but it was in truth no more than equity and justice, to grant such support to those who defended the country in a period of danger; and who, through the inability of government, had never before received an adequate compensation for their invaluable services.

An additional act was passed at this session of the federal legislature, on the subject of importation of slaves into the United States; which modified, in some particulars, the law of 1807 on the same subject, but did not materially change its prohibitions or penalties. And a further law was enacted, forbidding the citizens of the United States to engage in any hostile enterprise against the subjects of a government, which was on terms of peace and amity with the United States. There were some attempts at that time to introduce slaves into the country, through the ports in the extreme south; and an expedition was apprehended to be in preparation to invade the Mexican territory with hostile views. The subject of internal improvements, at the expense of the federal government, was before Congress during this session. A committee, who had the subject under consideration, reported, "that the dividends of the United States stock, in the national bank, be appropriated to such objects; but there was a strong opposition to the measure; and after repeated debates, relating principally to the constitutionality of such appropriations, the subject was postponed to a future day. And yet a vote was taken in the House, at one stage of the bill, when there appeared a majority of fifteen in favor of appropriating the public funds for canals, and for military and post roads. The majority in both Houses of Congress on granting legislative encouragement to the domestic manufacture of cotton and woollen cloths, at this time, was very great. In the Senate, all but three, and in the House of Representatives, all but sixteen voted for a bill to continue, for seven years, the duty laid in 1816, on imported goods of these descriptions. The navigation act, passed at the same session of Congress, imposing additional duties on vessels coming from ports, which were interdicted to American vessels, and designed to favor the commerce of the United States, was adopted by equally large majorities in both branches of the national legislature.*

1

A motion was made in the House of Representatives, when in committee of the whole, by the Speaker-Mr. Clay, of Kentucky-for a mission to South America, to express the sympathy of the government of the United States, for the colonies there, which had declared their independence, with a view to enter into friendly political relations with them at a future day. The specific proposition was, to provide a support for a minister to Buenos Ayres and the provinces of La Plata, should the executive see fit to appoint one; thus previously giving an opinion in favor of such a measure. The proposition was rejected by a vote of one hundred and fifteen to forty-five. It was not the object of the mover to compromit the peace of the United States, or to authorize any connection which would necessarily produce a war with an European power. But the objections were, to moving at all in such a measure, as it might involve the United States in unforeseen difficulties; and it was contended, that no advantage would probably result from it. Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, opposed the projected measure with great ability and eloquence. Those members of the House, who had been usually denominated federalists, took little part in the debate. The inhabitants of South America, as well as of Mexico and Central America, had long been kept in a degraded condition, and unjustly oppressed. Their situation was commisserated by the citizens of the United States generally; and most were hoping that they would throw off the heavy yoke of European governments, and assert their independence. But the policy and propriety of a formal declaration in their favor, by the government at that period, and in their then unsettled state, was not admitted by the majority of the citizens.

During the year 1818, and previously to the treaty with Spain, negotiations for which have been already noticed, very serious difficulties arose in Florida, on account of the invasion of the territory, then in possession of the Spanish government, by United States troops, under command of General Andrew Jackson, and of the forcible seizure of St. Marks and Pensacola. This conduct of the American General was deemed altogether unjustifiable; as negotiations with Spain for the territory were then pending; and the instructions of the President did not authorize an attack on the Spanish troops or forts. General Jackson had been directed to subdue the Indians, who were troublesome to the white population in Alabama and vicinity; but not to attack or invade the Spanish possessions. His plea for doing it was, that the hostile Indians fled to the Spanish com

manders for protection; that they were encouraged by them; and that the safety of the inhabitants in that part of the United States required such proceedings. The executive afterwards caused the instructions given General Jackson, on this occasion, to be laid before Congress; and he also gave orders immediately for the restoration of the forts and places to the Spanish authorities. General Jackson was also charged with undue severity, at this time, in the execution of two British subjects, whom he took in the territory. The punishment wassummary, and withoutlaw; but the justification he offered was, that they were instigating the Indians in their hostilities against the citizens of the United States, and were to be treated as spies, or outlaws. The plea was not satisfactory to the public. Outlaws are not known by the American government. And it was not for a military character to declare any one such, without a claim to legal trial. And they could not justly be treated as spies ; for there was no war then existing; and no enemy known, to whom improper information could be given. In disavowing and disapproving the conduct of General Jackson, in these acts, the executive found cause, however, to excuse them, on the consideration of the peculiar exigency of the The great popularity of the military commander was supposed to have furnished a reason for no further proceedings or inquiries into this affair. Two of the cabinet, as it afterwards appeared, were of opinion, that a public censure or reprimand was necessary, to vindicate the character of the administration.*

case.

In much later times, Florida has been a field for expense and suffering to the United States. It has become the cemetery for many a gallant and worthy young man, who belonged to the military of the nation. In many instances also, the native population have been destroyed in wanton cruelty, and not for necessary defence. It has been found impossible to remove, or to quiet them in all parts of the territory. Some of them, indeed, have relinquished their right and claim to the soil: but others have remained; and all efforts to subdue or to banish them, have proved unavailing. To gain and to keep possession of Florida, where there were only two or three thousand warriors, has cost the United States almost a sixth part of the expense of the eight years war for liberty and independence. The patriot and the philanthropist have often inquired, if just and kind treatment of the natives would not have made them friends of the government and of the people in their neighborhood; and thus have prevented the immense waste of blood and treasure, for a territory not necessary for the glory or prosperity of the republic; nor justly claimed, without the consent of the native tribes.

In his message to Congress, at the beginning of the session, in November, 1818, the President referred to the Convention, made with Great Britain in 1815, for regulating the commercial intercourse between the two countries, and which would expire in the following year: and stated that the American Envoy, at the court of London, had been instructed to call the attention of the British ministry to the subject; proposing a removal of the terms of the Convention, with some modifications, deemed more favorable to the navigation and commerce of the United States. The Envoy, then at the court of Paris, was authorized and directed to repair to England, and to assist in the negotiations. And the various subjects of impressments, of the fisheries, of boundaries, with a general regulation of all commercial intercourse in future, were to be discussed, and if possible adjusted in a satisfactory manner. Congress was informed that the British administration had met the proposition in a friendly spirit, and that negotiations had been already commenced.

The President gave a full statement of the proceedings in Florida, by United States officers, and of the capture of St. Marks and Pensacola, and of his disavowal of the attack on those places, and his restoration of them to the Spanish authorities. He suggested, that an apology might be found, for the acts committed without his authority, in the weakness of the Spanish forces there, or a neglect to keep Indians in submission and peace. They had perpetrated many deeds of cruelty, and the country was in a state of anarchy, as well as a place of resort for lawless and dangerous men.* The remedy, if severe and arbitrary, might