Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser
1807/01-1807/06

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Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser
1807/01-1807/06

msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0167

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'Conclusion of a report ma^e k> ^s Commission- ers appointed to lay out a road from Cum- berland to the stale of Ohio. \. The point which this route locates at the west foot of Laurel hill, having cleared the whole of, the Allegany rooantain, is sp situ- ated as to extend the'advantages of an easy way through the great barrier with move e- qnal Justice to the best part of the country between Laurel hill and the Ohio. Lines from this point to Pittsburg &-Morgantovn, diverging nearly at the same angle, open up- on equal terms to all parts of the western Icouutry that can make use of this portage : and which may include the settlements from Pittsburg, up Big; Beaver, to the Connecticut ¦ reserve, on lake Erie, as weil as those on the southern borders of the Ohio nver, and all the intermediate,country. Brownsville is nearly equidistant from Big Beaver and Fishing creek, and equally con- venient to all the crossing places on the O- liio between these extremes. As a port it is equal at least to an * on the Monongahela, ¦within the limits, ami holds superior advan- tages in furnishing supplies to emigrants, traders and other travellers by land or wa- ter. Not unmindful .of the claims of towns & their capacity inreciprocatingadvantages on . public roads, the commissionerswere not in- sensible of tiie disadvantage which Union- town must feel from the want of that ac- commodation which a more southwardly di- rection of the route would have afforded; but as that could not take place, without re- linquishment of the shortest passage, consi- derations of public benefit could not yield to feelings of minor import. Uniontown be- ing the seat or justice for Fayette county, Pennsylvania, is not without a share of pub- lic benefits, and may partake of the advanta- ges af this portage upon equal terms with the advantage of respectable water-works ad- joining in the manufactory of flour and iron.* After reaching the nearest navigation on the western waters, at a point best calculat- ed to diffuse the benefits of a grtathigh-way, in the greatest possible latitude east, of the Ohio, it was considered that to fulfil the objects of the law, it remained for the com- inissionerS t0 K»v« such a direction to the road, as would best secure a certainty of na- vigation on the Ohio at all seasons, combin- ing as far as possible, the inland accommoda- tion of remote points westwardly. It v as found that the obstructions in the Ohio, within the limits between Steubenville and Grave creek, lay principally above the town and mouth of Wheelen ; a circum- stance ascertained by the commissioners, in their examination of the channel, as well as by common usage, which has long given a decided preference to Wheelen, as a place of embarkation, and port of departure in dry seasons. It was also seen that Wheelen lay in a line from Brownsville to the centre of the sta'e of Ohio & post Vincennes. These circumstances favoring and corresponding ¦with the chief objects in view of this last direction of the route, and the ground from Wheelen westwardly, being known of equal fitness with any other way, out from the ri- ver; it was thought most proper, under these Several considerations, to locate the point mentioned below the mouth of Wheelen, public benefit; and convenience was consult- ed, inasmuch as the present crossing place over the Ohio, from the town, is so contriv- ed and confined as to subject passengers to • extraordinary ferriage & delay, by entering mid clearing a ferry boat on each side of Wheelen island, which lies before the town, and precludes the opportunity of fording, when the river is crossed in that way, above and below the island. From the point lo- cated, a safe crossing is afforded at the low- erporht of the island, by a ferry in high and jH good lord in low water. The face of the country within the limits prescribed, is generally very uneven, and in many pi ices broken by a succession of-high mountains and deep hollows, too formidable p >e reduced wthin five degrees ot the ho- rizon ; but by crossing them obliquely, a mode which although it imposes a heavy ti sic of hill-side digging, obviates generally the necessity of reducing hills and filling hollows, which on these grounds would.be an attempt truly Q-uixotic. This inequality of the surface is not confined to the Allega- ny mountain. The country between the Mouiongahela and Ohio rivers, altho' less elevated, is not better adapted for the bed of a road, being filled with impediments of hills and hollows, which present considera- ble difficulties, and wants that superabund- ance Ix convenience of stone which is found in the mountain. , The indirect course of the road now tra- velled, and the frequent elevations and de- pressions which occur, that exceed the li- fciits of the law, preclude the possibility of occupying it in any extent, without great sa- crifice of distance, and forbids the use of it in any one part for. more than, half a mile,. or more than two or three miles in the whole. The expense of rendering the road now in contemplation passable, may therefore a- inount to a larger sum than may have been supposed necessary, under an idea of em- bracing in it a considerable part of the old r<«d ; but it is believed that the contrary to the policy of incurring this expense i; is nor. the province of the commissioners to declare, but they cannot, however,'with- hold assurances of a firm belief, that the purse of tire nation cannot be more season- ably opened or more happily applied, than in promoting thV.speedy and effectual estab- lishment of a great and easy road, on the way contemplated. In the discharge of all these duties the commissioners have been actuated by an ar- dent desire to render the institution as use- ful and commodious as possible, and impres- sed with a strong sense of the necessity which urges, the speedy establishment of the road, they have to regret the circum- stance which delays the completion of the part assigned them. They however in some measure content themselves with the re- flection that it wilj not retard the progress of the work, as the opening of the road eannot commence before Spring, and may then begin with the marking the way. The extra expence incident to the service from the neceseity (and propriety as relates to public economy) of employing men not .provided for by law, will, it is hoped, be recognized and provision made for the pay- ment of that and all similar expences, when in future it maybe indispensably incurred. The commissioners having engaged in a servi«e in which their zeal did not permit them to calculate the difference between their pay and the expense to which the ser vice subjected them, cannot suppose it the wish or intention of the government to ac- cept of their services for a mere indemnifi- cation of their expanse of subsistence, which will bo very much the case under the pre- sent allowance. They therefore allow them- selves to hope and expect that measures will he taken to provide such further compensa- tion as may under ail circumstances be tho't neither profuse nor parsimonious. The painful anxiety manifested by the inhabitants of the district explored, and their general desire to know the route deter- mined on, suggested the measure of promul- gation, which afier some deliberation was agreed on by way of circular letter, which has been forwarded to those persons to whom precaution was useful, and afterwards sent to one of the presses in that quarter for pub- lication, in the form of the document, No. 3, which accompanies this report. All which is with due deference submit- ted, this 30th day of December, X306. (Signed) ELI WILLIAMS, THOMAS MOORE, JOSEPH KEP.R. AN ACT Supplementary to the act intitled " An act making provision for the redemption of the •whole of the public debt of the United States." WHEREAS it is desirable to adapt the nature of the provision fo» the redempti- on of the public debt to the present cir- cumstances of the United States, which can only be done by a voluntary subscrip- tion on the part of the creditors— BH it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Ame- rica^ in Congress assembled, That a subscrip- tion to the full amount of the old six per cent, deferred and three per cent, stock be, and the same is hereby proposed ; for which purpose books shall be opened at the trea- sury of the United States, and by the se- veral commissioners of loans, on the first day of July next, to continue open until the seventeenth day of March next follow- ing, inclusively, the fourteen last days of each quarter excepted, for such part of the above-mentioned descriptions of stock, as shall, on the day of subscription, stand on the books of the treasury, and of the seve- ral commissioners of loans, respectively: which subscription shall be- effected by a transfer to the United States, in the manner provided for by law for such transfers of the credit or credits standing on the said books, and by a surrender o[ the certificates of the stock subscribed. Sect. 2. And be it further enacted, That for the whole or any part ot any sum which shall ihlis be subscribed, in old six per cent, or deferred stock, credits shall be entered to the respective subscribers, and the subscri- ber or subscribers shall be entitled to a cir. tificate or certificates, purporting that the United States owe to the holder or holders thereof, his, her or their assigns, a sum to be expressed therein, equal to the amount of principal of the stock thus subscribed, which shall remain unredeemed on the day of such subscription, bearing an interest of six per centum per annum, payable quarter-yearly, from the first day of the quarter, during which such subscription shall have been made, transferable in the same manner as is provided by law for the transfers of the stock subscribed, and sub- ject to redemption at the pleasure of the United States : Provided, That no single certificate shall be issued for an amount greater than ten thousand dollars : And provided further, That no reimbursement shall be made except for the whole amount of any such new certificate, nor till after at least six months previous public notice of such intended reinbursement. Sect. 3. And be it further enacted, That for the whole or any part of any sum which shall thus be subscribed in three per cent. stock, credits shall likewise be entered to the respective subscribers ; and the subscri- ber or subscribers, shall be intitled to a cer- tificate, purporting that the United States owe to the holder or holders thereof, his, her or their assigns, a sum to be expressed therein, equal to sixty-five per centum of the amount of principal of the stock thus subscribed, bearing an interest of six per centum per annum, payable quarter-yeariy, from the first day of the quarter, durino- which such subscription shall have been made, and transferable and subject to re- demption in the same manner, and under the same regulations and restrictions as the stock created by the preceding section of this act: Provided, That no part of the stock rtiiis create?! .shall he reiniW'sable, without the assent of the holder or holders of such stock until after the whole of the eight per cent, and four and a half percent, stocks, as well as all the six per cent, stock which may be created by virtue of the pre- ceding section, shall have been redeemed. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commissioners of the sinking fund shall be, and they are hereby authorised to ap- point an agent in London, andano- ther in Amsterdam, whose duty it shall be to receive subscriptions and transfers, and to issue new certificates in the manner and at the times above mentioned, and as the officers of the treasury department, or the commissioners of loans might do ; that is to say, the agent in London, in favor of such stockholders residing in the domini- ons of Great-Britain in Europe, and the a-r gent in Amsterdam, in favor of such stock- holders, residing in any other parts of Eu- rope, as may respectively become subscrib- ers : Provided, that the certificates issued by the said agent shall bear interest only from the first day of the quarter next succeeding that on which the subscription shall have taken place, and that in relation to subscrip- tions made on old six per cent, or deferred stocks, the sums expressed in such new cir- tificates shall be equal to the amount of the principal of the old six percent, or deferred stocks thus subscribed, which shall remain unredeemed after.payment of the dividend payable on such stock, on the day from which the interest on the new certificates shall commence. The foreign stock- holders thus subscribing with either of the said agents, shall be intitled to receive the dividend in the old six per cent, deferred or three per cent, stock subscribed by them respectively which shall be payable on that day, from which the interest and the' new cirtificates shall commence. And it shall be the duty of the said agents, res- pectively to transmit, before the end of each quarter, to the register of the treasury, and to the several commissioners of loans respec- tively, triplicate abstracts of the cirtificates of stock subscribed, and of the new certifi- cates issued by them during such quarter, in order that the proper credits may be entered on the books of the treasury, and of the commissioners of loans as the case may be to the holders of such; new certificates. And the said agents before they enter upon the execution of their several offices, shall res- pectively take an oath or affirmation for the diligent and faithful execution of their trust, and shall also become l\ound with one or more sureties to the satisfaction of the commissioners of the sinking fund, or of the secretary of the treausury, in the penal sum of twenty thousand dollars, with con- dition for their good behavior in their said offices. Sect. 5, And be it further enacted, That the holders of old sixper cent, deferred, or three per cent, stock, who may become sub- scribers, as aforesaid, either in the United States or in Europe, and who, on the first day of July next, and also on the day of the subscription, shall be resident in Europe, may, at their option, which must be made at the time of subscribing, receive the interest ac- cruing on the stock created by virtue of the preceding sections of this act, either in the United States, as other creditors, or at Lon- don, or Amsterdam, that is to say the stock- holders residing, at the time above mention- ed, in'the dominions of G. Britain in Europe, at London, and at the rate of four shillings and six pence, sterling, for each dollar ; and the stockholders residing, at the times above mentioned, in any other part of Europe, at Amsterdam, and at the rate of two guilders and a half guilder, current money of Holland, for each dollar ; in which last mentioned option the condition shall be expressed in the new cirtificates to be issued, and the credit or credits, to be given to the proprietors thereof shall be en- tered, and shall hereafter be transferable only on the books of the treasury : Provid- ed ho-we-ver, that the interest thus payable in London and Amsterdam shall not be pay- able until the expiration of six caliendar months from the day on which the same would be payable in the United States, and shall be subject to a deduction of one half of one per cent, on the amount payable, for commission to the bankers paying the same : And provided also, That every proprie- tor of such stock may, on surrendering his certificate receive another to the same a- mount, the interest whereof shall be paya- ble quarter-yearly in the United States, in the same manner as that accruing on the stock held by persons residing in the United States. Sect. 6. And be it further enacted, That the same funds which heretofore have been, and now are pledged by law, for the pay- ment of the interest, and for the redempti- on or reimbursement of the stock which may be subscribed by virtue of the provisi- ons of this act, shall remain pledged for the payment of interest accruing on the stock created by reason of such subscripti- on, and for the redemption or reimburse- ment of the principal of the same. It shall be the duty of the commissioners of the sinking fund to cause to be applied, and paid out of the said fund yearly, and every year, such sum and sums as may be annually wanted to discharge the annual interest and charges accruing on the stock which may be created by virtue of this act. The said commissioners are hereby authorised to apr ply, from time to time, such sum and sums, out of the said fund, as they may think pro- per, towards redeeming, by purchase or by reimbursement, in conformity with the provisions of this act, the principal of the said stock. And the annual sum of eight millions of dollars, vested by law in the saiii comniissior.ei^ shall be, and ccnti.nus appropriated to the payment of ir#?resl and" redemption of the public debt, until the whole of the stock which may be created by the preceding sections.of the act, shall have been redeemed or reimbursed. Sect. 7. And be it further enacted, That .there shall be allowed tp each of the agents to be appointed by virtue of this act, in addition to the necessary expences incurred by them for printing, stationary and postage, a sum of three thousand dollars, as a full compensation for their services. The said agents, and the Commissioners of loans, shall also be allowed such additional sum as may be actually and necessarily expended for the clerk-hire requisite for carrying this act into effect. And for defraying the said compensations and allowances, and such other contingent charges-as maybe incurred for carrying this act into effect, a sum not exceeding sixteen thousand dollars, to be paid out of any monies in the treasury, not 'otherwise appropriated, is hereby ap- propriated. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That whensoever notice of reimbursement shall be given, as prescribed by the second and third sections of this act, the certificates in- tended to be reimbursed, shall be designated therein. In every reimbursement the prefer- ence shall be given to such holders of cer- tificates as previously to the said notice, shall have notified in writing to the treasury de- partment their wish to be reimbursed. If there should not be applications to the trea- sury sufficient to require the payment of the whole sum to be appl-ed to that purpose, the secretary of the treasury, after paying off all sums for the payment of which ap- plication shall have been made, shall deter- mine by lot what other certificates shall be reimbursed so as to make up the whole amount to be discharged—and in case the applications shall exceed the amount to be discharged the secretary of the treasury shall proceed to determine by lot what applica- tions shall be entitled to priority of payment. . Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the agents appointed by virtue of this act, and the several commissioners of loans, shall observe and perform such directions and re- gulations as shall be prescribed to them by the secretary of the treasury, touching the execution of this act. Sec. 10. Aid be it further enacted, That nothing in this act, contained, shall be con- strued, in any wise, to alter, abridge, or impair, the rights of those creditors of the United States who shall not subscribe to the loan created by virtue of this act. NATHANIEL MACON, " Speaker of the house. ofre/irosentatives. GEORGE CLINTON, Vice-president of the United States and pre- sident of the senate. February 11, 1307. Approved, -TH. JEFFERSON. he! r.ging to the English, or E glish tub* iacts in the city of Hamburg, its harbor, or territory, shall be confiscated. " IV". Np vessel coming from England or that may have touched there can enter the said port or approach, the said city. " V. Any vessel that by means of a false declaration, shall attempt to leave the said harbor and city to repair to England, shall be confiscated- " VI. No English courier, nor mail of English letters shall be received in lire city, harbor or territory ot Hamburg, nor even permitted to pass. " The undsrsignt-d has the honor to re- new to the senate, the assurances of his high consideration. " EOURRIENNE." [A similar note has been sent to the sp» nate of the cities of Bremen and Lu- beck.] POSEN, December 6. His majesty the emperor of the French attended' on Sunday last, the mass which was celebrated in the parochial chinch, at which the;, bishop of Guesen, assisted by the suffragan, bishop of Gnesen and Poseii, I officiated. The senator Radziminski, Vaivode of Po- I sen, has addressed an energetic proclama- tion to the inhabitants of the left bank of the Vistula, in which he calls them to —" If my advanced age (sjays he in it) al- lowed me, you should see me march at your head ; but, bent down under the weight of years, I am not happy.enough to fight with you ; I appoint, therefore, my lieutenant* general his excellency general Dombrowski, whose virtues, courage and military talents, have caused him to be distinguished by the invincible Napoleon. COPENHAGEN, December 7. The English envoy has demanded of our government whether the merchantmen of his nation would be permitted, as hereto- fore, to enter the harbors of Husum and Tonningen. We are ignorant of the an- swer made by the Danish ministry : but it is certain that the captains and masters of the English merchantmen now lying«rour road, have received orders to hold them- selves in readiness to put to sea on the firs%' notice, uri