into gross errors, to prevent emigration, retard the sippi and its tributary streams covered with hunincrease of population, and obstruct the establish-dreds of steam-boats. The sentiment, from the novelty of the idea, appeared extravagant at the time; ment of manufactures. truth. number 743 Cider-royal barrels 1,350 barrels His lordship takes frequent opportunity to assure but from what has happened and daily coming to his readers, "that settlers beyond the Alleghany moun- pass, it assumes probability, and may be verified in tains cannot become COMMERCIAL;" Well knowing that its fullest extent, at a very short period. The westo commerce (i. e. foreign commerce) his country-tern country is receiving an unprecedented increase men are apt to connect every idea of prosperity; of wealth and population; and the native obstructions for his lordship had heard there were rich and fer- to such navigation will be removed as the commerce tile lands to be had on very reasonable terms, in our of the waters rises to its ultimate importance We reserve to ourselves some more enlarged re"western country," but would prove them of little use, and that they never can be thickly populated, marks on this subject, the preceding being intended from the impossibility of finding a vent for their only to introduce the following interesting statement: Louisville, Ken.) May 21, 1811. produce. His lordship's lordly objects are distinctly The following is an estimate of the boats and their known; they furnish full proof of his loyalty, if they afford nothing in favor of his discernment or love of loading, which passed the falls of Ohio from October 5, 1810, to May 5, 1811. About 27 years have elapsed since lord Sheffield BOATS made his book. The state of Ohio was then a mere Flour wilderness, and, indeed, most of the present thickly Bacon populated places on the western waters, not much Whiskey barrels better. The many powerful streams which inter- Cider sect that delightful country bore on the bosom of Pork their waters only the solitary canoe of the Indian, Apples ditto stealing along their bank in quest of his game. But Oats Ohio, by the census last taken, was found to contain Corn 239,849 inhabitants; its waters are enlivened by the Merchandize barrels appearance of majestic ships, bound to the sea; the Cheese ditto yell of the savage had given place to the cheerful Beans feet note of the sailor; while hundreds of large boats, Plank holding their adverse courses, manifest the magni- Butter pounds tude of the commerce of the country, and assure to Live hogs number the husbandman a market for his productions, as And a number of articles too tedious to be calwell as a supply of those articles of foreign pro-culated. pounds ditto 129,483 Lard 604,810 Onions 9,477 Potatoes pounds 465,412 barrels 218 bushels 1,811 ditto 2,513 Hemp 13,562 Dry fruit crot. 630,562 barrels 263 2,513 Yarn & bushels 4,020 Cordage pounds 113,015 number 1,207,338 47,795 Fowls duce which bis want demands or luxury requires. A Mr. Bowman, a pilot at Jeffersonville, took 106 Twenty two years since there were not 100 white boats over the falls of Ohio, during the aforesaid persons in the country now forming the state of Ohio period, of whose cargoes no notice is taken in the it was an impenetrable forest; last year its inha- above. bitants manufactured two millions of yards of woolen, The foregoing is a return made by the regular piflaxen and cotton cloth, more than one millions of lots, who all agree in stating that during the high gallons of whiskey, upwards of thirteen millions of water at least one-third as many more passed withpounds of sugar with many other articles, forming out their assistance. The estimate, therefore, gives an aggregate value equal to two millions and a quar- the whole probable number of boats that passed the ter of dollars. About fifteen years ago the writer of Falls at 1200, wafting the rich produce of the wes this article recollects to have heard that celebrated tern parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, with those mechanic, Mr. Oliver Evans, give an opinion that of the state of Ohio and part of Kentucky, to the the man was then living who might see the Missis- 'markets on the sea-board. WHAT A PROSPECT! TOTAL EXPENSES, Of the War for Independence, with a Statement of all the troops in the Continental service. Population of England and Wales according to the Census of 1801. 6,679 127 15,775 18,031 9,766 2,614 19,228 33,806 6,315 479 15,393 16,240 14,346 4,204 11,864 13,449 371 31,439 35,878 32,862 4,343 8,304 129 19,586 21,935 12,808 4,234 17,342 12,621 4271 29,247 31,105 21,104 7,585 194 19,577 20,045 10,332 6,989 20,536 14,225 537 34,190 37,335 18,515 6,903 39,964 71,525 5,787 193 13,896 15,610 10,308 2,711 16,398 29,506 Public Papers. declarations of our humble opinion, respecting the and of the grievances under which they labor, by most essential rights and liberties of the colonists, reason of several late acts of parliament. At commencing the publication of state papers we are naturally led to those which immediately belong to the transformation of the "British colonies in America" into "free, sovereign and inde- owe the same allegiance to the crown of Great I. That his majesty's subjects in these colonies, pendent states," to be followed by the constitu- Britain that is owing from his subjects born within tion of the United States, and a complete analysis the realm, and all due subordination to that august of the several constitutions of the different states body, the parliament of Great Britain. -the importance of these articles, as matters of reference, is too manifest to demand a remark. lonies, are entitled to all the inherent rights and II. That his majesty's liege subjects in these coThe following circular letter from the speaker of liberties of his natural born subjects, within the the house of representatives of the "province of kingdom of Great Britain. Massachusetts Bay," addressed to the speakers of to the FIRST AMERICAN CONGRESS: the legislatures of the other provinces, gave rise of a people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, III. That it is inseparably essential to the freedom SIR,-The house of representatives of this pro- own consent, given personally or by their representhat no taxes be imposed on them but with their vince, in the present session of the general court,tatives. have unanimously agreed to propose a meeting, as soon as may be, of committees from the house of from their local circumstances, cannot be, repreIV. That the people of these colonies are not, and, representatives or burgesses of the several British sented in the house of commons in Great-Britain. colonies on this continent, to consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies, and the these colonies are persons chosen therein by themV. That the only representatives of the people of difficulties to which they are, and must be reduced, selves; and that no taxes ever have been, or can be by the operation of the acts of parliament for levy-constitutionally imposed on them, but by their re ing duties and taxes on the colonies; and to consi-spective legislatures. der of a general and united, dutiful, loyal and humble representation of their condition, to his majesty of the people, it is unreasonable and inconsistent VI. That all supplies to the crown being free gifts and the parliament, and to implore relief. house of representatives of this province have also tion, for the people of Great-Britain to grant to his The with the principles and spirit of the British constitu voted to propose, that such meeting be at the city majesty the property of these colonists. of New-York, in the province of New-York, on the first Tuesday in October next; and have appointed luable right of every British subject in these colonies. VII. That the trial by jury, is the inherent and inva a committee of three of their members to attend that service, with such as the other houses of repre- "an act for granting and applying certain stamp VIII. That the late act of parliament, entitled, sentatives, or burgesses, in the several colonies, duties, and other duties in the British colones and may think fit to appoint to meet them. And the plantations in America," &c. by imposing taxes on committee of the house of representatives of this the inhabitants of these colonies, and the sad act, province, are directed to repair to said New- and several other acts, by extending the juridiction York, on said first Tuesday in October next accord-of the courts of admiralty beyond its ancient limits, ingly. If, therefore, your honorable house should agree liberties of the colonists. have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and to this proposal, it would be acceptable that as early notice of it as possible, might be transmitted to the of parliament, from the peculiar circumstances of IX. That the duties imposed by several late acts speaker of the house of representatives of this pro- these colonies, will be extremely burdensome and vince. In consequence of the preceding circular, a meeting ment of them absolutely impracticable. grievous; and, from the scarcity of specie, the pay. of delegates from "Massachusetts-Bay, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Providence Plantations, nies ultimately centre in Great-Britain, to pay for X. That as the profits of the trade of these coloNew-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the govern- the manufactures which they are obliged to take ment of the counties of New-Castle, Kent and from thence, they eventually contribute very largely Sussex, upon Delaware, the province of Mary-to all supplies granted there to the crown. land and South-Carolina, was held at New-York; and, on the 19th of October, 1765, they agreed to acts of parliament on the trade of these colonies, XI. That the restrictions imposed by several late the following "declaration of the rights of the co-will render them unable to purchase the manufac lonists of America." [The number of delegates tures of Great-Britain. were only twenty-eight. Virginia, North-Carolina XII. That the increase, prosperity and happi and Georgia were prevented by their governors ness of these colonies, depend on the full and free from sending deputies to this congress, but after-enjoyment of their rights and liberties, and an interwards forwarded petitions to the king, lords and course with Great Britain, mutually affectionate and commons similar to those adopted by it. advantageous. Declaration of the rights of the colonists of America, XIII. That it is the right of the British subjects as agreed to by the first American congress at New in these colonies to petition the king, or either York, October 19, 1765. house of parliament. The members of this congress, sincerely devoted, with the warmest sentiments of affection and duty, colonies to the best of sovereigns, to the mother Lastly, That it is the indispensible duty of these to his majesty's person and government-inviolably country, and to themselves, to endeavor by a loyal attached to the present happy establishment of the and dutiful address to his majesty, and humble approtestant succession; and with minds deeply implication to both houses of parliament, to procure pressed by a sense of the present and impending the repeal of the act for granting and applying cermisfortunes of the British colonies on this contitain stamp duties, of all clauses of any other act of nent having considered, as maturely as time will parliament, whereby the jurisdiction of the admipermit, the circumstances of the said colonies, es- ralty is extended as aforesaid, and of the other late teem it our indispensible duty to make the following acts for the restriction of American commerce. After publishing this declaration and petitioning the are bona fide restrained to the regulation of our king, lords, and commons, separately, for a re- external commerce, for the purpose of securing the dress of grievances, and transacting such other commercial advantages of the whole Empire to the general business as the exigencies of the moment mother-country, and the commercial benefits of appeared to demand, the first congress dissolved its respective members, excluding every idea of itself. The stamp act was repealed; but a constant taxation, internal or external, for raising a reve disposition being manifested to "tax the colonies nue, on the subjects in America without their conwithout the consent of their immediate represen- sent. tatives," after a variety of incidents which belong Resolved, n. c. 5. That the respective Colonies to the history of our country, a more general are intitled to the common law of England, and meeting of deputies from the several colonies met more especially, to the great and inestimable priviat Philadelphia early in September 1774, consti-lege of being tried by their peers of the vicinage, tuted by fifty-one delegates, all the colonies being according to the course of that law. represented except Georgia, then willing but too Resolved, 6. That they are entitled to the benefit weak to take part in the events of the times. The of such of the English Statutes as existed at the first act of this congress was to approbate the op- time of their colonization, and which they have, by position made by the people of Massachusetts to experience, respectively found to be applicable to the British government; and, after recommend-their several local and other circumstances. ing supplies to the suffering inhabitants of Boston, Resolved, n. c. 7, That these his majesty's Coloand writing a spirited letter or remonstrance to nies, are likewise entitled to all the immunities and gen. Gage, the British commander in chief, they privileges, granted and confirmed to them by Royal published the following Charter, or secured by their several codes of Provincial laws. Declaration of Rights Resolved, n. c. 8. That they have a right peaceThe good people of the several Colonies of New-ably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode Island, and petition the king: and that all prosecutions, prohi Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, bitory proclamations, and commitments for the New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Newcastle, Kent, and same, are illegal. Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North- Resolved, n. c. 9. That the keeping a standing Carolina, and South-Carolina, alarmed at the arbi- army in these Colonies, in time of peace, without trary proceedings of the British parliament and ad- the consent of the legislature of that colony in which ministration, having severally elected deputies to such army is kept, is against law. meet and sit in general congress in the city of Phi- Resolved, n. c. 10. It is indispensibly necessary to ladelphia, and those deputies so chosen being assem-good government, and rendered essential by the bled on the 5th day of September, after settling se-English constitution, that the constituent branches veral necessary preliminaries, proceeded to take into of the legislature be independent of each other; their most serious consideration the best means of that therefore, the exercise of legislative power, obtaining the redress of grievances. In the first place, in several Colonies, by a council appointed during they, as Englishmen, (and as their ancestors in like pleasure by the crown, is unconstitutional, dangercases, have usually done, for asserting and vindicat-ous, and destructive to the freedom of the American ing their rights and liberties,) DECLARE, legislation. That the inhabitants of the English Colonies in North America, by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English Constitution, and the several Charters or Compacts, have the following RIGHTS: of either without their consent. All and each of which, the aforesaid Deputies, in behalf of themselves and their constituents, do claim, demand, and insist on, as their indubitable rights and liberties, which cannot be legally taken from them, altered or abridged by any power whatResolved, nem. con. 1. That they are entitled to ever, without their own consent, by their represen life, liberty, and property; and have never ceded tatives in their several provincial legislatures. to any sovereign power whatever, a right to dispose Resolved, n. c. That the following acts of parliament are infringements and violations of the Resolved, n. c. 2. That our ancestors were, at rights of the Colonists: and that the repeal of them the time of their emigration from the mother coun-is essentially necessary, in order to restore harmony try, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immu-between Great-Britain and the American colonies, nities, of free and natural born subjects within the viz. realm of England. The sevaral Acts of 4 Geo. III. ch. 15. and ch. 34. Resolved, n. c. 3. That, by such emigration, they-5 Geo. III. ch. 25.—6 Geo. III. ch. 52.—7 Geo. neither forfeited, surrendered, nor lost, any of those III. ch. 41. and ch. 46.-8 Geo. III. ch 22. which rights. impose duties for the purpose of raising a revenue Resolved, n. c. 4. That the foundation of English in America, extend the powers of the admiralty liberty, and of all free government, is a right in courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the the people to participate in their Legislative Coun American subject of trial by jury, authorise the cil; and as the English Colonists are not repre-judges' certificate to indemnify the prosecutor sented, and from their local and other circumstan- from damages that he might otherwise be liable to, ces, cannot properly be represented in the British requiring oppressive security from a claimant of parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclu-ships and goods seized, before he shall be allowed sive power of legislation, in their several Provincial to defend his property, and are subversive of AmeLegislatures, where their right of representation rican rights. can only be preserved, in all cases of taxation and Also 12 Geo. III. ch. 24. entitled, "An act for internal polity, subject only to the negative of their the better securing his majesty's dock-yards, maga Sovereign, in such manner as has been heretofore zines, ships, ammunition, and stores;" which deused and accustomed; but from the necessity of clares a new offence in America, and deprives Athe case, and a regard to the mutual interests of merican subjects of a constitutional trial by jury of both countries, we cheerfully consent to the opera- the vicinage, by authorising the trial of any person tion of such acts of the British parliament as charged with the committing any offence described n the said act out of the realm, to be indicted and tried for the same in any shire or county within the realm. Also the three acts passed in the last session of parliament, for stopping the port and blocking up the harbor of Boston, for altering the charter and government of Massachusetts-Bay, and that which is entitled, "An act for the better administration of justice, &c." Also the act passed in the same session for establishing the Roman Catholic religion in the Province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger, from so total a dissimilarity of religion, law, and government, of the neighboring British colonies, by the assistance of whose blood and treasure the said country was conquered from France. tion. Geography. [The chief object in this department of our work shall be to present our readers with faithful and comprehensive abstracts of new and approved publications on this useful and interesting subject; adapted to the wants of our readers, generally; in all cases sufficient to give a correct idea of the chief things treated of by the author under consideration, and also detail as full a description of the country as most persons require for common use. Many considerations have induced us to commence with the Baron Humboldi's account of Mexico or New-Spain-to whose relation, justly celebrated as it is, we have nevertheless added a few facts and remarks from several other authors. These additions are made in the form of notes, or enclosed in brackets.] MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. Also the act passed in the same session for the better providing suitable quarters for officers and soldiers in his majesty's service in North America. From the vast importance this country is daily Resolved, That this congress do approve of the acquiring in the eyes of the politician, and from a opposition made by the inhabitants of the Massa- want of information as to its wealth, strength and chusetts Bay, to the execution of the said late acts resources, the public, with uncommon avidity, reof parliament; and if the same shall be attempted ceived an account of it from the pen of so celebrated to be carried into execution by force, in such case, a traveller and nice observer of things, as the Baron Of his work entitled a "Political all America ought to support them in their opposi-de Humboldt. Essay on the kingdom of New Spain," the followResolved, That the removal of the people of ing is an analysis. it is by no means our present inBoston into the country, would not be only ex- tention to go into a detail of the original, discovery tremely difficult in the execution, but so important and conquest of Mexico which would lead to a rein its consequences, as to require the utmost deli-cital of cruelties and crimes disgraceful to human beration before it is adopted. But in case the nature; sufficient it is to say, it was made a province Provincial meeting of that colony shall judge it of Spain by the daring intrepidity of Hernando absolutely necessary, it is the opinion of this con- Cortez, very early in the 16th century, under the gress, that all America ought to contribute towards reign of Charles V. Mexico, the capital of the emrecompensing them for the injury they may thereby pire, was at that time a large, populous and powerful city, and had the state been governed by a prince Resolved, That this congress do recommend to less weak and pusillanimous than Montezuma, it the inhabitants of Massachusetts-Bay, to submit to might have withstood an army of Spaniards twenty a suspens on of the administration of justice, where times more numerous than the little band Cortez it cannot be procured in a legal and peaceable man- brought against it, though assisted as he was by ner, under the rules of the charter, and the laws large bodies of allies, natives of the country, impafounded thereon, until the effects of our application tient under the yoke of the emperor, and regarding for the repeal of the acts by which their charter-the Europeans as Gods.t rights are infringed, is known. sustain. The country now called Mexico or New Spain, Resolved unanimously, That every person who includes a much greater extent of territory than the shall take, accept, or act under any commission or former empire of Montezuma, which, according to authority, in any wise derived from the act passed the Abbe Clavigero (a native of the country) was in the last session of parliament, changing the form bounded on the eastern coast by the rivers Guaof government, and violating the charter of the Pro- sacualco and Tuspon, and on the west by the plains of vince of Massachusetts-Bay, ought to be held in Soconusco and the port of Zacatula, including only detestation, and considered as the wicked tool of the present intendancies of Vera Cruz, Oaxacs, la that despotism which is preparing to destroy those Puebla, Mexico and Valladolid, the area of which is rights which God, nature and compact, hath given estimated at about 5,000 square leagues. to America. When we contemplate the situation, uncommon Resolved unanimously, That the people of Boston fertility, and rich mineral productions of this extenand the province of Massachusetts-Bay be advised sive and delightful region of the earth, we must cease to conduct themselves peaceably towards his excel- to be surprized that the bold and comprehensive lency general Gage, and his majesty's troops now views of a citizen of the United States pointed it stationed in the town of Boston, as far as can pos-out as a proper field for the exercise of his daring sibly consist with their immediate safety and the ambition; that the fascinating picture he was so fulsecurity of the town; avoiding and discountenancing ly able to draw of the country, could induce many every violation of his majesty's property, or any spirits, "above the dull pursuits of civil life," to insult to his troops; and that they peaceably and embark in this enterprize, however problematical of firmly persevere in the line in which they are now final success-for the strength of Mexico is much conducting themselves on the defensive. greater, and its means of defence far more powerful, Resolved, That the seizing, or attempting to than we have been accustomed to esteem it, as will seize, any person in America, in order to transport such person beyond the sea, for trial of offences, The Creoles-Spanish Americans-i. e. the de committed within the body of a county in America, scendants of Spaniards, born in the country, frebeing against law, will justify, and ought to meet quently give this appellation to European Spaniards rith resistance and reprisal. with great contempt, from their arrogant assump. tions and intolerable pride. Documents to be continued.) |