subject-It is dated at Maracaybo, Sept. 15, 1822, and signed Francisco Tomas Morales. DECREE. sess themselves of our territory, prevent our necessary transactions, so far as a large proportion of our citizens are affected. And whereas, exemption from such danger to the lives and exposure of the for. Art. 1. All foreigners taken or found in the ranks tunes of our citizens, can only be secured to us, by in any branch of administration of the enemythe liberal application of those means which the with printing presses, or acting as editors of newsgood people of these United States, have placed at papers, of works relative to the present war, to the the disposal of the government of the union, for the scenes of action in rebellious America, or the Ro. common defence and general welfare; and it is not man Catholic religion, or in any manner offensive only the soundest policy, but the best dictate of to the nation, its government or subjects, shall sufprudent economy, to use the period when a gene-fer death, after a short military trial, and their proral peace and the ordinary resources of our country perties forfeited to the public chest. afford opportunity to the government to provide for the defects in our system, which a state of war has disclosed, and to be prepared against a recurrence of injuries, which may be repeated at a moment, impossible by any political calculation to be anticipated. Art. 2. Foreigners who may be found, although not in the exercise or under the circumstances aforesaid, but having introduced themselves into the country during its occupation by the enemy, shall be doomed to serve in the public works for three years, and their properties forfeited to the national treasury. And whereas, it is at all times the duty of the citizens of a free government, to deliberate on the Art. 3. Those foreigners, who have been found policy and measures of those to whom they have in this capital and its environs, who, by an effect of confided the administration of their political con-national forbearance, have been exempted from the cerns, and on occasions when contrariety of opi-fate they deserved, both as regards their persons nion is entertained on matters itally affecting their and properties, owing to their political and reli. best interests with candor and firmness. gious conduct having been hitherto unknown, shall We the members of the senate, and house of quit all Spanish territory in the precise period of delegates, acting as the representatives of the peo-eight days, with their baggage, and other property ple of Maryland, and influenced by a belief, that it is highly expedient in the present situation of our political concerns to announce the opinions and wishes of the people of this state, in relation to such measures of the government of the United States, as have in view the better security of our country against the approaches of a hostile maritime force do therefore Resolve, That we cordially approve the efforts of the general government, to foster our navy and to cause a progressive increase of this means of defence, which experience has taught us to regard as necessary to our protection and to the main. tainance of that high and dignified character which has exalted our country amongst the nations of the earth. That we cordially approve of every effort of the general government to extend and perfect a system of defence by fortifications highly useful in other places, and essentially necessary to the waters of the Chesapeake and its tributary rivers. which may have been given over to them; and they are warned not to return again, under pain of death, unless it be under the conditions and circumstances prescribed for the carrying on a legitimate com. merce in the ports of Venezuela. PROTEST OF CAPT. SPENCE, U. S. NAVY. From the commander of the United States ship Cyane, and senior naval officer in the West Indies, to his excellency Francis Tomas Morales, general in chief of the Spanish royal forces on the Main. SIR-I have been presented with your excellen cy's public decree of the 15th Sept. last-a declaration of the most despotic and sanguinary nature, against all foreigners, whose love of glory, commercial pursuit, and lawful occupations, may enlist them in the service, or detain them in the territories possessed by the enemies of Spain recognized by the United States as independent govern And whereas, from the relative position of this state, and those vast sources of successful enter-ments. prize and wealth, the rivers Potomac and Susque- A manifesto so extraordinary, so hostile to the hanna, as well as from the relation of our largest rights of nations, so disparaging and prejudicial to city, to an extensive district of inland country. It the character of the era in which we live, cannot is of the utmost importance to our citizens that a system of internal improvement shall be vigorously pursued: Therefore, we do further resolve, That we will highly approbate and zealously co operate with the general government in the adoption of such measures as will afford to our country the facilities and advantages which nature has placed in our control, and which a wise policy should induce us to improve. fail to excite astonishment, and to attract the attention of all who wish to preserve civilization from the encroachments of barbarism, or have rights to protect from military misrule and invasion. As commander in chief of the royal forces, inef. fectually employed in Venezuela, you are accounta. ble to your king only for your proceedings against his subjects. But, for acts of rapacity, cruelty and Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing preamble oppression exercised against foreigners-for their and resolutions be forwarded by the executive to illegal imprisonment-for their seizure and the coneach of our senators and representatives in confiscation of their property-for their degradation ungress, with a request that they will co-operate in the promotion of the measures which in the sense of the legislature are best calculated for the interests of the union at large, and especially of this state. Decree of Morales. We have already noticed the following decree of the royal commander in Colombia, but shall repeat its insertion to give a nearer view of the der the aforesaid proclamation, you are answerable to the world, because, by such acts of hostility, you wage an indiscriminate war against all governments, and, by trampling on the sacred rights of man, place at defiance nations who hold the laws and humane usages of civilized society as rules of action. War, under the mildest aspect, is a calamity to be deplored; but when to its inseparable horrors are superadded cruelties, perpetrated without necessity, and men, pursuing peaceable avocations, are included in the most sanguinary proscriptions, the amity and good faith so happily preserved bewithout reference or respect to the nation which owes them protection, it becomes a demoniac scourge, a hydra curse, which policy and humanity are equally interested in arresting. tween her and the republic, to annul all such restrictions as lead to a violation of the laws of nations--as infringe the just rights of citizens of the United States-as deprive thein of the benefits of peace, and tend to augment to an alarming amount the account which hereafter must inevitably be I have the honor to be, &c. ROBERT TREAT SPENCE, Senior naval officer of the United States in the West Indies. Curracoa, 15th Nov. 1822. Against such a course of violence as you have proclaimed to the world, in behalf of my country. men, I protest, and do hereby premonish your ex-balanced between the two nations. cellency, that to enforce the penalty, punishment and ignominy, threatened in your manifesto, against the citizens of the United States, who are at present, or who may hereafter be found by your excellency in the independent territories to which you refer, prosecuting their commercial concerns under the guarantee of laws and usages, which no christian soldier, fighting either for glory, his monarch, or his country, can violate with impunity. The soldier, whose sword is stained with the blood of unoffending men, superfluously shed, wins not the wreath of the warrior, but the reputation of a recreant. PROTEST OF THE GOVERNOR OF CURRACOA. The rear admiral, governor of Curracoa and its dependencies, to his excellency the general in chief of the Spanish army on the Main. I had the honor, on the 4th inst. to receive your excellency's letter of the 18th October, together with an authentic copy of your excellency's decree, dated 15th September, ult. relative to the treatment which foreigners have to expect from your excellency, as expressed in the said decree, if they are found in the service or in the territories in possession of the enemies of the Spanish nation on the Main. The blockade declared by general Morillo, to which your excellency alludes, exists not, neither has it, at any anterior period, been enforced in conformity to rules prescribed by the accepted decisions of the highest authorities, rendered valid by time and general acquiescence. It, therefore, has hitherto been a mere pretext for the intercep tion of our lawful trade-for the seizure and de. I will not enter into the measures of policy and tention of our property-for the abuse and mal- safety which your excellency may think proper to treatment of our mariners--for purposes of plun-adopt, wherever you have lawful authority, with der and outrage—all of which evils it has produced. regard to the rights of nations and warfare. I feel For spoliations committed on the commerce of myself, however, in consequence of your excellenthe United States, under the sanction of that paper Cy's said decree, obliged to oppose those measures interdiction, restitution will be required--and to which may be made applicable to, or exercised on the dignity which characterizes the government of Dutch subjects, who may be found engaged in lawthe republic is Spain indebted for that magnani-ful trade, or in the peaceable prosecution of their mous forbearance from reprisal, justifiable on eveprofession. ry principle of self-preservation and defence. I refer myself to what I have already stated with regard to the blockade, namely: I will not acknowThe citizens of the U. States, from the peace-ledge any other than such as is declared in conforful and neutral course prescribed by their governmity to the laws of nations, and duly enforced. ment, are justly entitled to the respect of the bel- With respect to the threatened proceedings, I ligerent parties, and if their enterprize induces most solemnly deny the right your excellency pre them to reap the advantages of a lawful trade with-sumes to have, of putting them in force against pea. in territories alternately in the occupancy of either, ceable Dutchmen, subjects of the kingdom of the they are there as citizens of a truly neutral power--Netherlands, who may be found trafficking, or a power that has at no time afforded aid, or ex-in the prosecution of their business or interests, ercised influence of any kind, in the present unhap which are not prohibited by laws and customs gepy contest. nerally admitted and acknowledged by subjects of neutral powers, who do not interfere in the disputes or wars of others. Between the United States and the sovereign of Spain there exists a treaty, recently made, and consecrated by the most formal observances, the ac. I thus protest against all and every act of vioknowledged basis of which is good will and a cor-lence or ill treatment, and against all injustice exdial spirit of conciliation. How, then, in the face ercised by your excellency on Dutch subjects, of this pledge of concord, do you, sir, undertake either in their persons or property, for which, and to threaten with forfeitures and ignominious pe- for the consequences thereof, I hold your excellennalties-with slavery and death-the citizens of a cy responsible, whilst I reserve to myself all such republic, who have a right to expect, under this measures and steps, which yor excellency's protoken of friendship, safety and exemption from mo- ceedings may render necessary for the maintenance lestation. of the dignity and rights of the Dutch nation, and for the protection of the persons and properties of her subjects. Wrongs and injuries that may accrue to citizens of the union from your unlawful decrees, whether visited on their persons or property, will be num. bered with the catalogue of outrages already sustained, and for which Spain must be answerable. Against all such wrongs and injuries I protest, and do hereby solemnly call upon your excellency to abstain from the adoption of measures fraught with most evil consequences-measures coercing a spirit of retaliation and reaction, the end and issue of which may be conceived, foreseen and prevented by your excellency. And I invite your excellency, as a lover of the character and honor of Spain, of I remain, with all consideration. 2. To make known the above-mentioned letter, with its annexed document, and our answer there. to, as given in the foregoing article, by publication in the usual manner, and through the medium of the Curracoa Gazette, in order that the said decree of the general in chief of the Spanish army on the Main, and our answer thereto, may come to the knowledge of all Dutch subjects. The said governor, Curracoa, 5th November, 1822. CANTZ'LAAR. Public lands, exclusive of Mississippi stock Arrears of interual duties and direct tax, dividend on stock in the bank, & Dolls. 1,681,592 24 Dolls. 14,745,408 75 12,648,933 15 1,298,484 56 other incidental receipts 391,871 76 Balances of appropria tions for the war and navy departments. re turned to the treasury and carried to the sur plus fund The actual receipts into the treasury, during the 4th quarter, are estimate ed at 406,119 28 5,000,000 00 Making the total estimated receipts into the treasury, during the year 1822 2. Of the public debt. The funded debt which was contracted before the year 1812, and which was unredeemed on the 1st October, 1821, amounted Dolls. 17,833,746 84 to And that which was contracted subsequently to the 1st of January, 1812, and was unredeemed on the 1st of October, 1821, amounted to Making the total amount of funded debt unredeemed on the 1st of October, 1821, In the fourth quarter of that year there was issued treasury note six per cent. stock, to the amount of Making an aggregate of In the same quarter there was paid the sum of deferred stock, Redemption of Louisiana stock Dolls. 257,180 60 75,852,458 18 93,686,205 02 390 40 93,686,595 42 262,738 75 The gross amount of duties on imports and tonnage which accrued from the 1st of January, to the 30th of September last, both days included, is estimated at $19,500,000 00, and that of the whole year at $23,000,00 000. It is estimated that the amount of debentures, issued during the same period, exceeds the amount issued during the corresponding period of the year 1821, by $86,000, and that the amount of debentures outstanding, on the 30th of September last, chargeable upon the revenue of 1823 is $234,000 Dolls. 21,427,000 99 more than was, on the same day in 1821, chargea. ble upon the revenue of 1822. 19,745,408 75 Dolls. 18,278,653 32 It is estimated the value of domestic articles exported from the United States in the year ending on the 30th of September last, has amounted to 49,874,079 00 dollars, and that foreign articles, exported during the same period, have amounted to $22,286,202. As the receipts from the customs in the year 1823 depend, 1st, upon the amount of duty bonds which become due within that year, after deducting the expenses of collection, and the amount of debentures chargeable upon them: and, 2d, upon such portion of the duties secured in the 1st and 2d quarters of that year as are payable within the year, it is manifest that an increase in the amount of debentures chargeable upon the revenue of the year 1823, or a diminution of the importations of foreign merchandise during the two first quarters of that year, must necessarily diminish the receipts into the treasury. As debentures can be issued at any time within twelve months after importation, | same sanctions to enforce a compliance with the rechargeable upon bonds given for the duties upon such importation, it is impossible to foresee the amount which may be chargeable upon the bonds The facts, that are payable during the year 1823. however, which have been stated, justify the conclusion, that the amount of debentures which will be issued and charged upon the revenue of 1823, will considerably exceed the amount which was chargeable upon that of 1822. From the same facts, it is also presumed that the importations of the two first quarters of the year 1823 will be less than the corresponding quarters of the present year. Giving due weight to all the facts connected with the subject, the receipts for the year 1823 $21,100,000 may be estimated at Customs Viz. Public lands Bank dividends Dolls. 19,000,000 00 Arrears of internal duties and direct 1,600,000 00 350,000 00 150,000 00 Remaining in the treasury after satisfying the baJances of appropriations chargeable upon the re venue of 1822, which makes the entire means of the year 1823 amount to gulations which have been prescribed for that purpose. To ascertain the relative value of imports and exports, it is necessary-1st. That the same additions should be made to the invoice value of the latter as are required by law to be made to the former. 2d. The freight of domestic articles exported in American vessels should be added to their value, after deducting from it the freight of foreign_articles imported in foreign vessels. 3d. The value of foreign articles imported in vessels engaged in the trade of the North West Coast and Pacific Ocean, the proceeds of the labor and enterprize of those by whom they are navigated, should be added to the domestic exports. 4th. It is impossible to ascertain what addition should be made to the value of the domectic exports, on account of the omission of the exporters to state correctly the value of articles exported by them; but, after making a liberal allowance for foreign articles illicitly introduced, or inaccurately invoiced, 1,916,135 56 it is believed that a considerable addition should be made. 23,016,135 55 The expenditure of the year 1823, is estimated at 15,059,597 22 Viz. Civil, diplomatic and miscellaneous Military service, including fortifications, ordnance, Indian department, revolu tionary and military pensions, arming the militia, and arrearages prior to the 1st of January, 1817 1,599,317 35 5,134,292 75 Naval service, including the gradual increase of the navy 2,723,937 12 Public debt 5,602,000 00 Which, being deducted from the above sum, will leave in the treasury, on the 1st day of January, 1824, after satisfying the current demands of the year 1823, a sum estimated at If, then, to the amount of domestic articles exported during the year ending on the 30th of Sep. tember last, already estimated at 49,874,079, dolls. the additions should be made which the preceding facts and considerations appear to authorize, the value of our domestic exports during that period may be estimated at nearly $60,000,000. Although no calculation has been completed, shewing the average rate of duty upon the value of foreign articles imported into the U. States, it is presumed that an importation of 60,000,000 dolls. of foreign merchandise will not produce a less revenue than $17,000,000. As the receipts from the Dolls. 7,956,538 34 customs during the year 1823 have been estimated Although the facts already disclosed justify the at $19,000,000, it is probable that the receipts from conclusion that the importations of the present the same source, in 1824, which will depend upon year exceed the value of domestic articles export- the importations of 1823, will not exceed 15,000,000. Under the most unfavorable circumstances, it is beed during the year, yet there are no means of as certaining the extent of that excess. If the cus-lieved that the receipts of that year will be suffi tom-house documents were to be considered conclusive evidence upon this subject, it would be apparent that the nation has, through the whole period of its existence, imported more in value than it has exported. But the fact is incontestible that the United States have enjoyed a more uninterrupted prosperity, and have increased their capital to a greater relative extent, than any of the nations with whom they have maintained commercial inter course. To shew that the custom-house documents cannot be considered conclusive evidence in this case, it is proper to observe-1st, That the value of articles paying duties ad valorem, imported into the United States, is ascertained by adding to the invoice value 20 per cent. if from beyond the Cape of Good Hope, and 10 per cent. from all other places; whilst the value of domestic articles export. ed is ascertained at the port of shipment without any such addition. 2d. The greatest portion of the importations and exportations are made in vessels of the United States. 3d. The capital em. ployed in the trade of the North West Coast and the Pacific Ocean consists almost exclusively of the labor and enterprize of those engaged in it. reign articles, the proceeds of those enterprizes, imported into the United States, are, therefore, only equivalent to the labor and enterprize by which they were procured. 4th. The value of domestic articles exported is more imperfectly ascertained than of foreign articles imported; because it has not been considered necessary to resort to the And leaving a deficit of about In the estimate, the receipts and expenditures of the year 1824 are estimated to be nearly equal. It is probable however, that the receipts may exceed, Fo-to a small extent, the expenditures; but there it at least an equal probability that the receipts for the year 1825 are estimated too high, In the year 1826, the expenditure, assuming the current appropriations to be the same as in the year 1823, may be estimated at 19,457,000 dollars, and the receipts at 19,000,000. As the appropriation of 500,000 dollars for the gradual increase of the navy expires in that year, the annual expenditure may, for sub-pital, for the prosecution of commercial enterprizes sequent years, be estimated at 10,000,000 dollars, unless it shall be considered expedient to make further provision for the increase of that essential means of national defence. It is probable that the annual revenue will be equal to that sum. To provide for the estimated deficit of the years 1825 and 1826, as well as to meet any extraordinary demands upon the treasury, which unforeseen exigencies may require, it is bebelieved to be expedient that the revenue should be increased. This may be conveniently effected by a judicious revision of the tariff; which, while it will not prove onerous to the consumer, will simplify the labors of the officers of the revenue. At present, articles composed of wool, cotton, flax, and hemp, pay different rates of duty. Difficulties frequently occur in determining the duties to which such articles are subject. The provision in the tariff, that the duty upon articles composed of various materials shall be regulated by the material of chief value of which it is composed, is productive of frequent embarrassment and much inconvenience. It is, therefore, respectfully submit. ted, that all articles composed of wool, cotton, fllax, hemp, or silk, or of which any of these materials is a component part, be subject to a duty of twentyfive per cent ad valorem. The duties upon glass and paper, upon iron and lead, and upon all articles composed of the two latter materials, may also be increased with a view to the augmentation of the revenue. In all these cases, except articles composed of silk, it is probable that the effect of the proposed augmentation of duties, will gradually lead to an ample supply of those articles from our domestic manufactories. It is, however, presumed, that the revenue will continue to be augmented by the proposed alterations in the tariff until the public debt shall have been redeemed; after which the public expenditure, in time of peace, will be diminished to the extent of the sinking fund, which is, at present, 10,000,000 dollars. But if, contrary to present anticipations, the proposed augmentation of duties should, before the public debt be redeemed, produce a dimi. nution of the revenue arising from the importation of those articles, a corresponding, if not a greater, augmentation may be confidently expected upon other articles imported into the United States. This supposition rests upon the two-fold conviction, that foreign articles, nearly equal to the value of the domestic exports, will be imported and consumed, and that the substitution of particular classes of domestic articles for those of foreign nations not only does not necessarily diminish the value of domestic exports, but usually tends to increase that value. during the present year, and rise in the rate of All which is respectfully submitted. Treasury department, Public Documents Accompanying the message of the precident of the Department of war, November 27, 1822. SIR: In compliance with your directions, I here. with transmit statements from the major general of the army, and the several subordinate branches of this department, which give in detail the information requested. In order to render the military organization more complete, the major general, after the late reduction of the army, under the act of 2d March, 1821, was stationed at the seat of government, thus bringing the military administration of the army, as well as its pecuniary, through the several subordinate branches, under the immediate inspection and control of the government. There is reason to believe that the arrangement will be highly useful. The report of the major general, herewith transmitted, marked A, exhibits the present organization, strength, and distribution of the army. In the distribution, both in relation to the positions occupied, and the number at each post, regard has been had to the protection of important points, and the discipline of the troops. The artillery, with the exception of four companies on the lakes, and the one at West Point, has been assigned to the garrisoning of the various fortresses along the line of the sea coast, and the important ordnance depots in the interior; while the infantry, with the excep. tion of a regiment at Pensocla, has been stationed at the important points in the interior, principally on the upper lakes, and the western frontier. The duties upon various other articles, not in any degree connected with our domestic industry, may, likewise, be increased with a view to the augmentation of the public revenue. If the existing ta No change has been made in the course of the riff shall, during the present session of congress, year in the distribution of troops, with the excepbe judiciously revised for the purpose of augment- tion of transferring one company of artillery from ing the revenue, it is confidently believed that it | Fernandina to Charleston harbor, one battalion of will not only be amply sufficient to defray all the the 2d regiment of infantry from Sackett's Harbor demands upon the treasury at present authorized to the Sault of St. Marie, at the outlet of lake Supeby law, but that there will remain an annual surplus,rior, and the whole of the 7th regiment from fort subject to such disposition, for the promotion of Scott and bay of St. Louis to the Arkansaw and the public welfare, as the wisdom of congress may Red rivers, to each of which one battalion has been direct. assigned. Under the act of the 20th April last, authorizing the exchange of certain portions of the public debt for five per cent. stock, 56,704 77 dollars only have "been exchanged. The increased demand for ca The inspector generals, (one of whom has been assigned to the artillery and the other to the infantry) have, in the performance of their duty, visited all of the posts and military depots in the course |