BY JOIirj CAMERON.
OXFORD, N.I C, MARCH 22, 1844.
"VOL. Ill NO. XX.
Dollars per
THE MERCURY
PriiUv si Three1
v iia w I"""' - - - - , I
j Annum, iwitWe m Jvancc J . 1 I
! Teraon forwarding fiv Bubecrilier, with the amount
f.. mnl number. hall receive a copy of ogr paper cra'4.
AnvERTHtMB nts. One dollar for every U lineiJ
! anl 25 ce'nU lor each iiicccetiing inscnion.
Court orders and Judicialadvertisemehts will be charj
i ed 25 per cent higher. ' ' , t
! A litwrat deduction will be made in favour of adei
j tuera by tb year. - , ' I . f '
I - j- All lttrr to tlie Editor must come trc of To
I aa to insure altetition. j I ,
PUBLIC LANDS.
il'OLlTICAL MEETING AT GKANV1LLR
The two parlies had meetings at Oxford ori
the 5th instant The democrats hid a Di
trlcl Convention, attended by delegates from
Franklin, Granville, Orange and Warrei
Halifax tnd Person, did not speak on the of
cation. The principal business of the Co
yention, we believe, was the appointment of
.U1rata la the Baltimore Convention. We
i don N.' Edwards, Esq. of Warren, was a
pointed." AVe were not admitted to their co
imitations, and can onlyspeak from report
It did seem to us, though,', that these demo
cralic delegates wandered about as though
they had little1 to do, and cared very lilt
j about what they were doing. There seemdd
to be a streak of despondency about them, as
; though perfectly conscious thai they weW
doing "a, vain thing," even in that litlle. lt
interesting wanderers. were, however, treat
I kindly ; and like the poor! babes in the woo
they will at l'ast, we hope, all safely arrive it
! their homes,! and find pleasure in recounting
their services and toils to the interesting li i
itcnersosily congregated j around their fin
sides. I I . i " .i
The Whigs had a spirited meeting. JoKr
C. Taylor, Esq. Chairman; J. P. H. Russ anjt
William Webb, Esq's. Secretaries. One hurt
tired delegates to the Young Men's Convert
ition were appointed. , Measure? were adopt
for calling, meetings in leach Captain's Di
trict, for the purposq of forming a stron
Whig ticket! for the approaching elections
and the meeting also passed a Resolution, o
motion of R. B. Gilliam, Esq. heartily ratifV
inir the nomination of Mr. Graham." Th;
ii i
meeting was handsomely addressed by C.I
Wileand R. B. Gilliam, :Esq'rs. explainin
the object of the meeting.
, Dr. Ja. A. Rusll on being called up, de
clined making a set speech then, as he w
not yet roused ; but let the battle begin.
continued the Dr. watming as he Went,
I am there, hi for the war and no mistake
We are about engaging in a great and gloriou
contest; let it come. Let it conie, Sir; an
when it comes at the fust volley of musket
ry, Dr, Russell will be found in the ihicke
of the fighU with the honored Flag of Harr
; Clay proudly i streaming above us. ; He w
ho candidate for public honors, and should
! not be : but his heart was' in the cause, and It
X From the Richmou4 Whig.
The N..in,l Inlellijencer of M.rch ie.b r?THp i:AR iPOPOSITION.-No. 2.
saysThe jllouse of Representatives did a J ; "r V ,
rare city's work on Wednesday last. ; j jco.NTiNukD. I -
: Without any of the needless formality.of The present Government of the United
debate or deliberation upon the meriU of the States dateSj its existence frorr the 4th of
. km I rr.rt.,! Uh in th ITnuse I March, 1789. M
, -i , ' r, ... mm , I alliance ceased a
from the Committee of Ways and Means for m nr ,i;i
repealing the wise and just law for distributing purpose to! go in
the proceeds of ihe sales of the Pubi c Lands U',st0fy 0f the country
among tne several niaies, ana, oy uie msvan- wnicn inierveneu petween the close ot the
taneous resort to the, Previous Question, was war; and I the adoption of the constitution.
forced through all its readings in the House, We would recommend to our reader, how-
On that day the Federal
and the constitutional union
would- be foreign to our
o a review of the
the period
nrt Lont ih sna t -fnr rpieciion we trust, ever,' the attehtivei perusal of that portion of
ft 5. ..;. ih.t th notation of the law being "ur " penou lull o:
...... ... inUrt anHiivB n4lciillA.T l .1.
now suspended by the eflect of a clause in U upQnj mir of ! every ! plric
the last Tariff law, its repeal would he of n necessity; of a strong bond nf nnian hfivoon
present eflect, unless, so far as sucn action I the states which compose our glorious con
. L . . - - . i. . ' . I i ' ' :.,V - rrt, ' .;, i , .
can have any influence, to - throw
and
scorn upon the right of the
contempt federacy They will see' how utterly in
old States competent tne Government, as organized
severally to properly in the Public Lands ; a unoer artic.es 01 conieaeration, was, tor the
u. u- u u , u , t h fulfilment c its obligations. It had incurred
right which none but Ihose who deny to the , , r, . - '
,. 0 . . ,t r I heavy debts in the prosecution of the war,
original thirteen Slates the right of piopne- but t had n0 mea of makin paymenl5
torship in any ihing can deny. Look to it, and :ts' reQUisition oh the states wpr AUr.
New York and Pennsylvania, and New Hnmp- garded and jefespisedi The National credit
shire, arid Maryland, and Virginia, and ye was prostrated the soldiers who had
other States who are interested in this ques- pended heir fortunes, j and perilled their
.! J I T . J it ...111 1. lives for their couhtrv. knocked in -I vain at
nun : ijuun tu it iiuu vi j uu tint iuu iwu . 5 i j f : .
lare ' i i I I ! lne "d9rf ,otHn exh&usted Treasury -rand the
i - I nurpiiasp mnnpv nl 'mir iiiimn.l l.r 1
" P. S. It will be seen, on recurring tojihe ,1 -
Senate proceedings, that when the above bill One of tHe nrinciDal causes whinh rontri
yesterday came up for reference in that body, buted to the adoption of" the more perfect
o pause and examine what truth' there js in
he chsrge that this Bank; of 1791 was a
FEDERAL MEASURE, DiSSeC ty FEDERAL
votes'! ; '-'
Upon this noint. the firt witness we shall
call to the stand; ia Geore M'Duffie of S.
C. I -What avs - he on jthei subject in his
masterly report on ihe Bank. 13th April,
1830? In the first page of that document
he1; : affirms ; Thef constitutional power of
Congress to pass the act of incorporation,
was thoroughly investigated both in "the
executive, cabinet," jtjid in Congress, under
circumstances in alljrespe'cts propitious for
a dispassionate decision. There was, at that
time, no organization of political parties,
anfl the question was therefore1 decided by
those, who, from' tlteir j knowleilgc and ex-
perience, were peculiarly ciualihetl to decide
correctly, and who! were entirely free jfrom
ine innuence ot: tnai-party excitement ana
prejudice, which wc uld justly impair in the
estimation of posterity, the authority of a
legislative interpretation of the constitution."
But, not satisfied with the authority of
even the distinguished Senator from South
Carolina, we go to the record, to inspect the
ayes and noes ; anrj without pretending to
be able to class politically all who voted for
or against the Bank, we find the names of
L L
when the views and meaning of its framertN
were better understood than at any subsequ
ent time. -: : - ! 1
Secondly : Itas made, to a ereat extent.
by the vert mam who had framed! the con
stitution, and who must be presumed to
have understrod their own Weaning better
man any one else. j . : -;
By reference to the Senate journal, 1791, ;
page 234, it wilf be found that jthere were
eight members of that body who had; been '
members of the' convention which formed
the constitutlanf-viz : John Lnngdon, N.
H., Wm. S. Johnson, Con., Rufus King,,
N. Y-, Robert Morris Pa., Rich'd Bassett,
Dela., Geo;Reid, Dela., Pierce! Butler, S.
C, Wm. Few, Geo, , j I
Of these, the ix first named voted for tho
Bank, and the last two against it. i j
In the House of Representajires, there
were also, eight members! who jhad been
members of the convention-Uhey were;
Geo. Clymer, Pa., Th. Filzsimmons, Pa.,
Nicholas Gilman, N. H., Roger, Sherman.
Con;, Abraham Baldwin, Geo., Daniel Car
roll, Mil., James Madison, Vpreim'a, and
Hugh Williamson, N. C. . J ;
! The four first voted for the Bank, and the
four last against it . f j
it inus appears that of the 16 members of
it was very
t ii !"'''. I-.
properly consigned to the lab
union
which was provided fur by the con
lOn. WaS the necessittr nf mtLlnir enmn
We learn that, says the National Intelii- provision for; the preservation of the public
gencer, by one of the late decisions of the crean, ana e payment; ot Uie public debt;
Supreme Court of the United States, the del PjfS hfi revenue po wer in ; tlie hands
. f r i, . r xi 4 a ot 'he Ueneral Government. t I r
cision ' of the Circuit Court of the United a fto iK, r.u 5i 'J
i - j- . : rr , . Alter the organization of the newGovern
blatesfor the Eastern District of Pennsy lvania ment, one of befiret subiecta which encaced
relative to the claim of the United Stales Bank the attention pf Congress was the imposition
(ot. damages on the French Bill Case, has been of a larifif for thp purpose of protecting
revised, so that the Bank will reiain i the American Manufactures, and raising money
amount kerk back from this accounil This tlg" H P,scnarSe 311 1,8 obligations
. t ' . J t
enouffh. whose nolhical nrincinles are known I ms convention, wno were in the I wo house
to the ' nation, t6! answejr our 1 purpose, j Congress, i
Amonsr tnose wno voted lor the ; lianlc. we
find manv of trios who we!re afttewarda the VVe also know officially.
most ; distinffuishedl Renuhlicans: 1 Amonp Washington and Alexander Hamilton were
these is Ellridge Gerry, 4he man who was 1 J faor of 1 ? nd s we shall preseatly see
elected as vice president of Ihe United States that James Madison relinquished; his objee
on the same ticketl with James Madison ! on lo M. e find upon a proper classifies
We mav al&o mention the! names !of Peter llon that the members of the! convention
Muhlenburg, James Sch-jreman, Nicholas tand 13 for, t 5 against it, or nearly in
Gilman, Roger Sherman, Samuel Smith of the ratio of thre.e to one! :-;,..
Maryland,, and WfUiam mith! of S. Ci hjs faet being established, may we not
We hve the authority of Nathaniel Macon be permitted, tith all due deference to the
f s-ivinir that nf ho who vnfeflin th superior wisdon of our brethern of the
Bank of 1791, ilhthle subseiquent division of democracy, tcsueitj whether it i is': not
parties, eleven were Republicans, and cf asking rather. too much of us to .require that
me 2U wno VOICU a?ainsL thp liantAjrtirl "v ..... hv unci umtuun ui ino
Federalists! (See Doc Hist. Bank United meaning of the'eonstitution in ppo.sition to
States p. 298 V 'Hi i I I ii he solemnly recorded opinicjs of those
who made it t
tejc voted for the Bank, and
that George
case was, "The United States vs. the, United
Sta
es Bank'
PREDICTIONS FOR 1844.
When i we come to treat of the tariff, we
shall have occasion, moire particularly to
examine lliis subjec)t. We now barely ad
vert to it, as an evitjence of the desire on the
part of Congress to support the credit of the
I This y ear ;w ill be famous for a thousand dif- counlrV) and of the ineffiiency of that mea
irent things. From January to December sure of itself, to effect j that object The
ferent
the
days' will consist of twenty-four! hours first tariff bill was passed cn the 4th of July,
each, and there will be such a number of eclip. 1759. I he debt of the United States at that
ao- iht Lnv irle. nennle will be in the dark. l,me w 254, 1 24,4C4. -(See Alex. Hamil-
-J, i, !, u i i V i ton's report on public credit.)- On the 21sr
Those who losemoney will look sad. and Sepf r.. 1789, Congress passed a resolution
those wno are in me want oi casn wueii ipey requiring the, secretary of the treasury to
borrow, will want it more when they come to report to that- bod', at its next session. ' a
payj: J r plan for the stpport of the public credit."
Quadrupeds this year, will go upon four Yn Vne 9lhf oUanua, p90, the secretary
.-ni, oncrilltr nnrl hnm ivill he ,a"c ,,,s ceieoraieu report on that subiect.
. YV, 6 i i I i On he 9th of August, 1790, Congress, not
crooheu. . i ,i. .u. . , "
. . , ,. t , , ... ."CBuiiug uic previous repori anogetner satis
The celestial aspects indicate that political t.ctorv. .dbotedf another I rAnlnn;".
parties win iiui agree lur .umc wine iu buiiic. mg ;the secretaiT to report "such Other
but whoever is President, water will run down provisions' as mieht in his onininn he
ii i i J r - -- - w
II I I. Ml I A a ntAilU aa V a m a I rt tr fa ; 1 I nPPfGCirtr f ocf nklioU .Ll!-" 1i t
should have whatever aid; his hand or tongue , ;,L j ; j : ;j ia'answer to this resolution. ihkeArerarV 'iif
With these facts before lis, we appeal to
every candid man 16 say, whether the charge
that the Bank of 1791 was a Federal mea
sure is not wholly Without foundation; 'l
- waving uisposen oi inis collateral question
we now proceed 'with our r,eview.
. miiIiI nif -It. I We have not the deasure
vuuix fc"" " " , t 1
i the Doctor s acquaiwiance, dui ne seems to d
one of the; cleverest Whigs we know of. II
assurances of devotion to the cause, with a
eame.tneBS of manner about which there is,
no mistake, were truly cheering.
ti, TWhi-nnre S,.n will he nrinte.l urtih 1,1 asver to mis resolution, tne secretary: ot
Hack ink. and it Will be joneraHv red, MXWtt
will cause all; the large and small curs that tiyes, reccmending A BANKlOF THE
follow in its wake to growl and bark until thej United Slates as the agent best suited to ef-
get out of breath and credit.
feet that object.
Cabbage this year will be rather round than 0,i tne 23u of December, the secretary
' 111 ,
iii-' ... . . . . j iiimiik if h kq m o va rr rr vn . ina o r v i-.a
V n ReedFsa1 of Person, made a short ihree-cornered, and beets will be decidedly " T ' ' i f " I'
L. U. Keeu, l.sq. oi i erson, maue a snori , : . . ! was referred to a select committee, consist
speech In the very best taste and spi.it. IT'ej te& Coal will be as black as ever; cats will ing: 0fi Sjrong of Mass.f Morris of Pa
punished them1 with a tan-ta-ra. us they would love fish, but hate.to wet their feet, and 1I on Schyler of N. Y., Butler of S. C, and Ells-
i.Ae tt ahnut which we are too modest t
Iiui.
.... mnm ihintr nnf ticularl v comnlimentar
We were, however, satisfied inasmuch as inj
1
account of the late comet.
Whoever sells his house to buy moonshine
will hardly get his money's worth. Whoever
mediately thereafter, they adjourned to meet runs after the lainbovv, will get cut of bieaih
in Raleigh on the 13lh of Aprih ( i j (or hia pains, j qr all that, Eastern lands may
The richt spirit, is abroad in Granvilld. be; had for the buying. V
- ... L .-. t .... HI 1 I 1- i :l i' -..:.. ." : I , i. ; : f -
Noble Whigs are there. 1 here will be ah Locomotives and auctioneers' tongues run
army of them lln Raleigh to see Mr. Clay. faJt There will be a mortal war between
I'atierns iiiciu5ciu u, i-ti-...j, v calg ana raiSf as iweji as Deiween Aiuermen
for them a good share in the festivities of the? and roast turkeys. People will talk about the
end of the world, but it is ten to cne that the
solar system will not run against the dog-star
between now and next April. '? . ' .
Sea Serpents this year will be hard to catch,
and none but a conjurer, will be able. to get a
quart into a pint bottle. Those who have
wooden legs wilt suffer when they freeze their
toesil Wig9 are. expected to be fashionable
among the baldbut blind folks will have some
difficulty in seeing. ; j n
Divers steamboats will blow up this year,
yet it is hardly possible that any southern
slang-whanger will be able to set the Mississ
ippi on fire. . Apples will ripen in October,
sooner or later; but that is all one, provided
we have cider enough. Foxes will pay par
ticular attention to poultry; there will be very
few old birds taken with chaff, and wild geese
will not lay tame eggs. , 1
12ih. TFAfg Clarion, j j - 1 I
( 11 " ' ' ' ' M:
' i f. ' MUTINY. '
Ve learn from the Rhode Islander, that a
mutinv nrrm red on board brir Burr, while
j leaving the port of Warren, bound tj Matan
zas. The colors were set half masj- a boa
' from the Cutler weni on: board a genera
I fight going on among the "officers and crew
It was'soon quelled, and two men were pu
in irons. Afler a time, Capt. Watson con
.eluded to free one of ihe crew and proceed
to sea. The other was brought back by thd
I Cutter, and set adrift. The crew muslly in
toxicated of course! f ' '
' i . I .
The Louiiille Journal says that the rumor
of Judge Porter having left Mr. Clay a large
. legacy is etroncous. He left-him his breast
pin, but nothing more.
worth of Con., with instructions to report on
it. On the 3d of January. 1791. a Tt ini hill
was reported. It was immediately taken
up, and made the subject ot eafnest'delibera
tiori and discussion, until the 20th nf Janus rV
when it Was passed by the senate. Theaves
and! noes Were not taken on the passage of
inis oui ; put tney were recorded upon two
questions which f were! regarded 7 as i'eats.
viz . on limiting tne enarter to ten, instead
of twenty, years ; and on striking ' out the
clatase which prohibited the : establishment of
another bank during the continuance of the
contemplated charter. On the first of these
propositions, the vote, srood : Ayes 6, and
Noes 16 on the latter ayes 5, noes 18.
(See Registerxf pjebates vol., p 1791.)
The bill 'was immediately sent to the
House of Representatives, where, on the 21st
Janearyy tt passedjto-its third reading, with
out opposition." At this stage, it was strong
ly assailed by Mr.fMadisOn, MrGiles Mr.
Jackson, and Mr. Stone, and supported with
equal ability bv Mr; Amesi'Mrt Sedgwisk,
MrJ Smith ofS. a, Mr. LaWrence, Mr.
Boudinot M r. Gerry apd M ry Vining. 1 1
j On the 8th of February, after more than
two weeks discussion, both upon the con
stitutionality arid ex pedien cy of the- measure
the rote was taken, and resulted in the pass
age of the bill : Ayes 39, Noes 20or near
ly two'to one. - .
At this stage of our review,' it is proper
In confirmation of our own viftws we again -invoke
the authority of Mr. MDuffie.
. In his reporj( in April 183c8-fhejsayi--"
No persons can be more competent to gire
a just construction of the consiiutibn than
i On the 14th February, 1791, the bill was !nose wn? nad f principal agency inraming
submitted to President Wlashineton for his ,l. and no admtnistration can cjaiina more
sanction. The question beine one of the Per,ect exemption Jrom all thofc influences
novelty and importance, the President; with which sometimes pervert,. th judgment, f
tHat wisdom and prudence Which characteriz- CTen themost wise and -patriotic, than -ed
his conduct,1 both in the field and in the lhal of ,he Fatner of bis eountr during the
council-room, required his official advisers first term of his service." ' X '
to furnish him with lheir oplnionsin writing. W;.w'l frf add one tber sssge from !
The cabinet consisted of Thomas1 Jefferson, M-T' ?1cDuffie f report upon another point:
Edmund RandolphV Alexander Hamilton; Such were the circumsfcesj under
and Gen. Knox. Jefferson and Randolph which all the branches of tbp National
were opposed to the law, and Hamilton and LeSs,aure solemnly tletermiftjd that the '
Knox in favor of it. Their respective Power of creating a National Bank was i -opinions
were sustained oy. written aigu- Wdv in ..Congress, by the Constitution,
menu; which have' .literally exhausted the The Bank u created continud its operas .
suhiect. General Washington delaved hi, for twenty.y ears the perfd for whieh
decision to the last moment, giving to the charter was granted durii) which time
views ot nis secretaries tne most profound 1 1"". y crcun werc j iiiseu uom a j
consideration aiidkienRi!h,. being satisfied P'ostte to very elevated ecr dilibn, and
that the measure was warranted by the con l,,c ",,an':cs jne nation were iacetl on tho
ititution and callefd Ifor! by ihe necessities' of most aU foundation. ; .m.
tne country, signed tne pill, and thereby w mi. mcuui ub susiain-
gave it the sanctiortlof a name which, in the oy facis anu we eonndentr appeal to '
Estimation of all well balanied minds, would 3,1 cctemporaneous authority &f itsjtrulh
r ' . ' t T: : . ' . I j. . . . lliAn mil roartor will .n U r.i . I
iar outweign ;ine; autnonty oi an nundred .v-. .,., ,tD . penecuy u .
hair splitting, refijcing' Abstractionists PV nsweredthe end for which it was intended,
j ucic is uue passage in ins written opinion . ' ".v..vvi,miivcWUujrrcM C1
l . . . .-r ir- M i v. ;.-,.) . r I mU A t trim : . . !' v7 . .
ot Mr. Jetlerson which We beg leave to r"'" f"31.' tv?
commend to the esoecirl attention of our PUD,,C cremt.
lii'-j i. !. iv' ; ' .
reaaers. , Alter eniorcing pis oojections to
the bill with all
which his vast
viz: "
to Establish the
.? e -1 1 :
In eur next number we willleontinue to
ill tlje power and ingenuity trace lhc histoiy of the BankfaiB incidental
intellect cotild bring to bear not'ce theobjecliontoifscbntutionalily.
nrp-pd for. and avainsl (helhill i tnlrahtt
clear, that it is1 unauthorized by the constM AV?AGE M05TAU' 1
itution , ii ine rao nu cow pang so even as i t . - .
v-kinp.-:5iH
k . 1 3 I
to balance his judgment, a I just respect for . ne popuiauon oi me nhofe earth has
the wisdom of the Legislature would natural- been variously estimated a( between eight
iy oeciue tne oaiance in iavpr oi tneir opin- " r.. iuun ;oi sou is.
inn. It ii chiefftyiinr pafiP!tvhPr. ihv. Accor Jing to the ' English drvL" if M
'":""; TT-r : J I r. . ; . , ."
clearly misled by error, ambilion or interest, I UPW1 mrmeaiaie numbtr, lay 946.
that the constitution has placed a check in 080,000, and fassign thirty yiari for the
the negative of the president." How much connusnce oj each gefieratiq, (we shall
' 1 -i ..ii- ' ' . .. . .rl find that lh 'k.l,1 .J A t-l. ' -
eyii wcuiu our couniry nave.oeen spared, ii i "w ""i cii .come in ana
tose in authorityjwho profess the prinei S ut ?r,tat pe. loHowufg Vgrager-
ules ot Jetlersoni had made their conduct c r 1CCU I11
jconform to his precepts ''I -hi
; i v e now nave a view ot the; tacts and
circumstances attending the incorporation of
the hrst liank, under the constitution. But
there are other considerations - connected
with this eveni; which, in our judgment, !are
entitled to very; great weight, and give to
this legislative and executive exposition of
the constitution ah extraordinary authority.
i s . i I-? - f rt -r - -k , t
ii was maae w rmn less itnan. two years
iafter the cpnstitujfoh of the United States
was formed, aiid, I of course, at I a period
'minute ?
houH .- .j 4:;
day 4 hours'
weel( 7 daya
montji SO daya
rjycar65ilaya
9
I
90
73.00
86,400
04,800
13,592,000
2,6,000
& h
96,088,000
; ou. years
Ii thus appears !hat every Aroke of the
penddlum ushers': human befifg into dist
ance, and heralda'tha dtpartur of another
iu - ma uuuruo trutn wucuce-no: iravctier
returns.
11
:.t !'
f
If
tl'
.
a
Si
t;
s jr.--r
1 f
!:!!'