propitious than i he present to the accom
plishment of this object, beg leave to
press ihe subject again upon your atten
tion. Without some general and well defined
principles ascertaining' those objects ot
internal improvement to winch the means
of the nation may be constitutionally ap
plied, it is obvious that the exercise of
ihe power- can never be satisfactory.
Besides the danger to which it exposes
Congress of making hasty appropriations
to works of ihe character of which
cy may frequently be ignorant, it pro
motes a mischievous and corrupting in
fluence upon elections by holding out to
the people the fallacious hope that the
success of a certain candidate will make
navigable their neighboring creek or riv
er, bring commerce to their doors and in
ci ease the value of their property, it
thus favors combinations to squander the
treasure of the country upon a multitude
of local objects, as fatal to just legisla
tion as to the purity of public men.
If a system compatible with the Consti
tution can lie devised, which is (roe from
such tendencies, we should recollect that
that instrument provides within itself the
lion, it is a source of gratification to re
flect that the steps to be now adopted are
uninfluenced by the embarrassments en
tailed upon the country by (he wars thro
which it has passed. In regard to most
of our great interests, we may consider
ourselves as just starting in our career,
and, after a salutary experience, about to
fix upon a permanent basis the "policy
best calculated to promote the happiness
of the people and facilitate their progress
such anxious
freedom throughout the world, it is our
imperious duty to lay aside all selfish and
local considerations, and be guided by a
lofty spirit of devotion to the great princi
ples on which our institutions are founded.
That this Government may be so ad
ministered as to preserve its efficiency in
promoting and securing these general
objects should be ihe only aim of our am
bition; and we cannot, therefore, too care
fully examine its structure, in order that
we may not mistake its powers, or as
sume those which the people have reser
ved to themselves, or have preferred to
assign to other agents. We should bear
mode of its amendment; and that there constantly in mind the fort, that the con-
Saturday, 15th.
The Senate took up the bill to amend
the Judiciary system of the State, and af
ter discussion, Mr. Morris moved for its
indefinite postponement. Mr. Hinton
moved that the bill be laid upon the ta
ble, which motion having precedence,
was put and decided in the affirmative,
31 to 27. ,
Monday,! tth.
Mr. Wilson presented a petition from
Tarboro pray-
ass -s zsssssz r. -za
concern to me uumisw - ;- . -
is, therefore, no excuse for the assump
tion of doubtful powers by the General
Government. If those which are clearly
granted shall be found incompetent to the
ends of its creation, it can at any time
apply for their enlargement; and there is
no probability that such an application, if
founded on the public interest, will ever
be refused. If the propriety of the pro
posed grant be not sufficiently apparent
to command the assent of three-fourths
of the States, the best possible reason
why the power should not be assumed on
doubtful authority is afforded; for if more
than one-fourth of the Suites are unwil
ling to make the grant, its exercise will
be productive of discontents which will
far overbalance any advantages that
could be derived from it. All must ad
mit that there is nothing so worthy of the
constant solicitude of this government, as
the harmony and union of the people.
Being solemnly impressed with the
conviction, that the extension of the pow
er to make internal improvements be
yond the limit I have suggested, even if
it he deemed constitutional, is subversive
of the best interests of our countrv, I ear
nestly recommend to Congress to refrain
from its exercise, in doubtful cases, ex
cept in relation to improvements already
begun, unless they shall first procure from
the Slates such an amendment of the
Constitution as will define its character
and prescribe its bounds. If ihe Slates
feel themselves competent to these ob
jects, why should this Government wish
to assume the power! If they do not,
then they will not hesitate to make the
grant. Both Governments are Govern
ments of the people: improvements must
be made with the money of the people:
and if the money can be collected and
applied by those more simple and econo
mical political machines, the Stale Gov
ernments, it will unquestionably be safer
and hotter for the people, than to add to
the splendor, the patronage and the pow
er 01 mo General Government. But if
the people of the several Stales think
otherwise, they will amend the Constitu
tion, and in their decision all ought
cheerfully to acquiesce.
For a detailed and highly satisfactory
view of the operations of the War De
partment, I r(Jfer you to the accompany
ing report of the Secretary of W ar.
The President th?n gives a biicf tch of the
Trcent campaign against the S:jc and Fox Indi
ans sta'es that ihe present militia system is de
fective and recommends a classification of the
militia refers to the transfer of the Indians from
the eastern to the western side of the Mississip
pi, which has been steadily pursued, and is ap
proaching its consummation alludes to the He
Jprt of the Secretary of the Navy, and to the
transactions of our navy call the attention of
Congress to the views heretofore expressed in
reluion to the mode of choosing the President
and Vice Pi evident of the U. Slates, and to those
respecting the tenure of office generally to the
defects in the law for punishing official frauds
especially within the District oi" Columbia and
to the imperfections in the Judiciary system of
the U. S. The Message then closes as follows:
On many of the subjects to which your
attention is invited in this comtnunica-
sidenitious which induced the trainers of
the Constitution to withhold from the Ge
neral Government the power to regelate
the great mass and business of the con
cerns of the people, have; been fully jtisti
fled by experience; and thai it cannot now
be doubted that the genius of all our in
stitutions prescribes simplicity and eeon
omv as the characteristics of the reform
which is yuHo be effected in the present
and future execution of the functions be
stowed upon us by the Constitution.
Limited to a general superintending
power to maintain peace at home and a
broad, and to prescribe laws on a fewstib
jeets of general interest, not calculated to
restrict human liberty, but to enforce hu
man rights, this Government will find it
strength and its glory in the faithful dis
charge of these plain and simple duties.
Relieved by its prott i ti :i it shield from the
fear of war and the apprehension of op
pression, the free enterprize of our citi
zens, aided bv (he State sovereignties,
will work nut improvements and amelio
rations which cannot fail to demonstrate
the great truth, that the people can gov
ern themselves, is not only realized in
our example, but that it is done by a ma
chinery in government so simple and eco
nomical as scarcely to be felt. That the
Almighty Ruler of the universe may so
direct our deliberations, and overrule our
acts us to make us instrumental in secu
ring u result so dear to mankind, is my
most earnest and silicon prayer.
ANDREW JACKSON.
December 4ih, 1832.
General 3lssemi)vp.
Absti act of such f the proceedings of the Legisla
tuie us wc consider interesting to our readers.
SUN ATE.
Thursday, Dec. 13.
The Senate entered upon ihe eonsid
eration of the bill to establish the Hank
of North Carolina. It was recommitted
to a committee of the w hole Mouse, INI r.
Wilson the chair, and sundry amend
meats were proposed to it and carried.
On motion ot Mr. Martin, the committee
rose and recommended the passage of
the bill, the second tune, which was con
curred in by the Senate, 39 to 22. (Mr.
Wilson in the negative.)
Friday, 14th.
Mr. Hinton, from the committee ap
pointed on that part of the Governor's
message relating to the late James N.
Forsyth, made a report, which was con
curred in by the Senate, recommending
that the amount due him by the State be
deposited in the Public Treasury, unti
called for by his legal representatives.
The Senate then took up the Bank bill,
to which sundry amendments were made,
the most material of which was a reduc
tion of the capital from three millions to
one million eight hundred thousand dol
lars. Before any question was taken on
the passage of the bill at its third read
ing, it was on motion, referred to n se
lect committee for revision and correc-
i . :
ri, Aru.rnnr Miiou ui was received
from the House, read the first time and
made the order of the day for Thursday.
Tuesday, 18.
xMr. Wilson, from the committee of fi
nance, reported a bill to amend an act
passed in 1831, to increase the liability
of Sherifls, and to provide more effectu
ally for the collection of taxes. Read
the first time.
tisfacicnduvi on judgments obtained bo.
fore Justices of the Peace in the first in.
stance. Read the first time.
Mr. McLeod moved that a proposition
be sent to the Senate, to have printed for
each member, ten copies of the Preail
dent's Proclamation in relation to South
Carolina. Mr. Pierce remarked, as tiat
Proclamation set forth the doctrines
maintained by the General Government
it would only be proper that it should bo
accompanied by an exposition of t,e
grounds assumed by the States. Q
moved, therefore, ta amend the prop0sj.
tion by adding the proceedings of t,c
South Carolina Convention, recently
transmitted to this House by the Gover
nor. Mr. L. "Thompson moved to add
the 4th of July Oration of John Quincy
Adams. Mr. Craige moved to subjoin
the Alien and Sedition acts. And Mr,
Outlaw moved to add the letter of John
C. Calhoun recently addressed to Guv.
Hamilton. These amendments, together
with the original proposition, were re
jected.
resol-
whs not agreed to. Mr. Collins moved
that its further consideration be postpo
ned indefinitely, which was agreed to, 34
to 2G. (Mr. Wilson in the affirmative.)
Wednesday, 19th.
Mr. Williams, from the select commit
tee on the subject, reported the Bank
hill with sundry amendments, which were
read and agreed to, and made the order
of the day for Frit! ay next.
The bill to alter and amend the Judi
ciary system of the Suite, was taken up
md discussed. Messrs. Carson and
Hinton advocated the bill and Mr. Well
born opposed it. It was finally postpo
ned indefinitely, 31 to 21).
Mr. Leake, . from the joint select com
milieu on the subject of u Convention,; On motion of Mr. Daniel, it was resc
.... i . i 1 1 . r i i i . . . i
reported a bill providing tor uie can oi a vou uiai loo comiouiee uu me jnuicmry
Convention for fixing on a seat of gov- j be instructed to enquire into theexpedi
ernment for this Stale, which was readjency of repealing so much of an "net to
the first time. Mr. Wilson moved that j regulate retailers ot spiritous liquors1
the further consideration of the said bill j passed nt the last session, as authorizes
)o postponed until Thursday next, which the imprisonment of persons offending
against said act.
On motion of Mr. Courts, the bill re
jected yesterday, having for its object to
exempt Quakers, Sec. from the perform
ance of militia duty, was re-considered,
and on motion of Mr. G. A. Thompson,
laid upon the table.
Monday, 11th.
Mr. Parke presented a bill making
appropriations for public roads. (Pro
vides that $100,000 of the capital owned
by the State in the several Banks, shall,
when the affairs of said institutions are
wound up, be divided amongst the seve
ral counties pro rata, for the purpose of
improving the stage roads throughout the
Slate.) Mr. Murray, a bill making the
owners of dogs liable for the value of the
sheep they kill. These bills passed their
first reading.
Mr. Pearson, from the joint select
committee on Convention, to whom had
been referred sundry petitions and reso
lutions, made a detailed report upon the
subject, accompanied by a bill to provide
for taking the votes of the people for or
against certain amendments to the Constitution-
The said bill wag read the
first time, passed, and ordered to be prin
ted, together with the report and accom
panying documents.
Tuesday, 18th.
The Speaker laid before the House a
communication from Joseph Gales, com
missioner in relation to the collection of
the old laws and journals, covering a let
ter from Isaac T. Avery, Esq. of Burke
county, wherein Mr. A. tenders as a do
nation to the State a collection of rare
hoisk or com?,:os.
Thursday, Die. 13.
Mr. Burns submitted a series of reso
lutions, which were adopted, instructing
the committee on military affairs to en
quire 1st, As to the expediency of moun
ting a portion of the field pieces through
out the State, of the denomination of two,
four and six pounders, and of procuring
ammunition for the same, to be distribu
ted at such places as said committee
may recommend. 2d, To enquire into
the causes which have produced such a
diminution in the number of artillery
companies. 3d, To enquire into the ex
pediency of encouraging an augmenta
tion of cavalry corps. 4th, To enquire
into the expediency of encouraging uni
form companies of infantry, of placing
public arms in their possession, and of in
fusing more energy into the militia than
they now possess, by placing them on a
more efficient establishment. 5th, To
enquire into the expediency of immedi
ately procuring from the General Gov
ernment our quota of cartridge boxes
with belts for the same, with bayonet ca
ses, pistol holsters, &c. that they may be
ready for use wheu occasion requires
them.
The bill to repeal the act exempting
teachers of schools, &c. from mustering
and working on roads, was indefinitely
postponed.
The bill making an appropriation of
850,000 and appointing commissioners
to rebuild the Capitol on Union Squire
in the city of Raleigh, was read the sec
ond time and passed, 73 to 60. (Messrs.
Little and Potts in the affirmative.)
Friday, 14th.
Mr. Wiseman presented a bill to ex
empt from execution a certain portion of
the farming utensils and household and
kitchen furniture of the citizens of this
State. Passed its first reading.
The Appropriation bill was read the
third lime, passed, and ordered to be en
grossed. The bill to repeal the act to compel
Quakers, &c. to bear arms or pay a tax,
was indefinitely postponed, 70 to 59
(Messrs. Little&Potts in the affirmative.)
TVT hi, Saturday, 15th.
Mr. M Cleese presented a bill to pre
vent the issuing of writs of capias ad sa-
and valuable English authorities. The
communications were referred to the Li
brary committee.
On motion of Mr. Spruill, it was resol
ved, that the committee on internal im
provement be, and they are hereby in
structed, to enquire into the expediency
of draining the low lands belonging to
the State in the counties of Tyrrell,
Washington and Hyde: and further to
enquire what would be an equitable con
tribution on the part of individuals for
the privilege of draining their lands into
any canal or canals which may be cut by
the State.
The bill to erect out of a portion of the
counties of Burke and Buncombe, a sep
arate and distinct county by the name of
Yancy, was read the second time and
passed, 67 to 61. (Messrs. Little and
Potts in the negative.)
Wednesday, 19lk.
Mr. B arringer presented a bill to pre
vent the unlawful carrying away and re
moval of slaves from this State. Passed
its first reading.
Mr. Parke presented a resolution,
which was read and adopted, instructing
the committee on education to enquire in
to the expediency of establishing a Work
ing School in this State, upon the princi
ple of the Fellenburg School at Hofwy'
Germany, and that they have leave to G
port by bill or otherwise.