ARTICLE 1st. Articles of the growth, produce or manufacture of the United States, imported into France in vessels of the United States, shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding twenty francs per ton of me chandise over and above the duties paid on the like articles, also of the growth, produce or manu facture of the United States, when imported in French vessels. ARTICLE 2. Articles of the growth, produce or manufacture of France, imported into the United States in French vessels, shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding three dollars and seventy-five cents per ton of merchandise over and above the duties collected upon the like articles, also of the growth, produce or manufacture of France, when imported in vessels of the United States. ARTICLE 3. 'No discriminating duty shall be levied upon the productions of the soil or industry of France, im. ported in French bottoms into the ports of the United States for transit or re-exportation: nor shall any such duties be levied upon the productions of the soil or industry of the United States, imported in vessels of the United States into the ports of France for transit or re-exportation. ARTICLE 4. The following quantities shall be considered as forming the ton of merchandise for each of the articles herein after specified: proved), the delivery shall not be refused; and there shall be given all aid and assistance to the said consuls and vice-consuls for the search, seizure and arrest of said deserters, who shall even be detained and kept in the prisons of the country, at their re quest and expense, until they shall have found an opportunity of sending them back. But if they be not sent back within three months, to be counted from the day of their arrest, they shall be set at liberty, and shall be no more arrested for the same cause. ARTICLE 7. The present temporary convention shall be in force for two years from the first day of October next, and even after the expiration of that term, until the conclusion of a defiintive treaty, or until one of the parties shall have declared its intention to renounce it; which declaration shall be made at least six months before hand. And in case the present arrangement should remain without such declaration of its discontinuance by either party, the extra duties specified in the 1st and 2d articles, shall, from the expiration of the said two years, be, on both sides, diminished by onefourth of their whole amount, and, afterwards, by one-fourth of the said amount, from year to year, so long as neither party shall have declared the intention of renouncing it as above stated. ARTICLE 8. The present convention shall be ratified on both sides, and the ratifications shall be exchanged with Wines four 61 gallon hogsheads, or 244 gal. in one year from the date hereof, or sooner, if poslons of 231 cubic inches, American measure: sible. But the execution of the said convention Brandies, and all other liquids, 244 gallons: shall commence in both countries on the 1st of OcSilks and all other dry goods, and all other arti-tober next, and shall be effective, even in case of cles usually subject to measurement, forty-two non-ratification, for all such vessels as may have cubic feet, French, in France, and fifty cubic feet, sailed bona fide for the ports of either nation, in the American measure, in the United States. confidence of its being in force. Cotton 804 lb. avoirdupois, or 365 kilogrammes: Tobacco, 1,600 lb. avoirdupois, or 725 kilogram mes: Ashes, pot and pearl, 2,240 lb. avoirdupois, or 1,016 kilogrammes: Rice, 1,600 lb. avoirdupois, or 725 kilogrammes; and for all weighable articles, not specified, 2,240 lb. avoirdupois, or 1,016 kilogrammes. ARTICLE 5. The duties of tonnage, light money, pilotage, port charges, brokerage, and all other duties upon foreign shipping, over and above those paid by the national shipping in the two countries respectively, other than those specified in articles 1 and 2 of the present convention, shall not exceed in France, for vessels of the United States, five francs per ton of the vessel's American register: nor for vessels of France in the, United States, ninety-four cents per ton of the vessel's French passport. ARTICLE 6. The contracting parties, wishing to favor their mutual commerce, by affording in their ports every necessary assistance to their respective vessels, have agreed that the consuls and vice-consuls, may cause to be arrested the sailors, being part of the crews of the vessels of their respective nations, who shall have deserted from the said vessels, in order to send them back and transport them out of the country. For which purpose the said consuls and vice-consuls shall address themselves to the courts, judges and officers competent, and shall demand the said deserters in writing, proving, by an exhibition of the registers of the vessel, or ship's roll, or other official documents, that those men were part of the said crews; and on his demand, so proved, (saving however where the contrary is In faith whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention, and have thereto affixed their seals, at the city of Washington, this 24th day of June, A. D. 1822. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, [L. s.] SEPARATE ARTICLE. The extra duties levied on either side before the present day, by virtue of the act of congress of 15th May, 1820, and of the ordonnance of 26th July of the same year, and others confirmative thereof, and which have not already been paid back, shall be refunded. Signed and sealed as above, this 24th day of June, 1822. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. [L. S.] G. HYDE DENEUVILLE, [L. S.] Now, therefore, be it known, that I, JAMES MONROE, president of the United States, have caused the said convention and first separate article to be made public, to the end that the same, and every clause and article thereof, may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof. [L. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my s.] hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.. Done at the city of Washington, this twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, and of the independence of the United States the forty-seventh. Sinking Fund. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUND. House of representatives, February 6, 1823-Read, and ordered to lie on the table. The commissioners of the sinking fund respectfully report to congress:That the measures which have been authorized by the board, subsequent to the last report, of the 7th of February, 1822, as far as the same have been completed, are fully detailed in the report of the secretary of the treasury to this board, dated the 6th day of the present month, and in the statements therein referred to, which are herewith transmitted, and prayed to be received as a part of this report. Washington, 6th Feb. 1823. DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, vice-president of the United States. J. MARSHALL, chief justice of the United States. WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, secretary of the treasury. The secretary of the treasury respectfully reports to the commissioners of the sinking fund, That the balance of moneys advanced on account of the public debt, remaining unexpended at the close of the year 1820, and applicable to payments falling due after that year, which balance, as appears by the statement B, annexed to the last annual report, amounted to With the sums disbursed from the treasury during the year 1821, on account of the principal and interest of the public debt, amounting, as per the last annual report, to $1,880 89 8,367,093 62 And making, together, the sum of 8,368,974 51 Having been accounted for in the following manner, viz: There was applied, during the year 1821, towards the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt, as ascertained by accounts rendered to this department, as per the annexed statement A, the sum of In the reimbursement of the principal of the deferred stock In the redemption of the Louisiana stock Do. of treasury notes of Mississippi stock On account of the interest and charges Of this sum there was short provided, consisting of unclaimed dividends on the public debt, not applied for by the proprietors, as per the annexed statement B, the sum of That, during the year 1822, the following disbursements were made by the treasury on account of the principal and interest of the public debt: On account of the interest of the domestic debt, and reimbursement of the principal of the deferred stock On account of the redemption of the Louisiana stock Do. In payment of certain parts of Do. do. of Mississippi stock do. of treasury notes the domestic debt of the six per cent. stock of 1796 8,403,563 49 533,808 47 54 45 2,071,360 00 1,774 38 634,022 53 3,241,019 83 5,162,543 66 8,403,563 49 34,588 98 5,739,760 62 438 99 2,000,000 00 Making, together, as appears by the annexed statement C, the sum of Which disbursements were made from the appropriation of ten millions of dollars for the year 1822, and will be accounted for in the next annual report, in conformity to accounts which shall then have been rendered to this department. In the mean time, the manner in which the said sum has been applied is estimated as follows: There is estimated to have been applied to the payment of the deficiency at the end of 1821, as per statement B, -8,368,974 51 7,849,159 67 -87,849,159 67 A statement, F, is annexed, which exhibits the balance of the annual appropriation of $10,000,000, unexpended on the 1st of January, 1823. And a statement, marked G, of the funded debt on the 1st January, 1823. All which is respectfully submitted, WM. H. CRAWFORD, Secretary of the treasury. A. Statement of the application, during the year 1821, of the funds provided for the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt. I. Payments on account of principal. 1. Reimbursement of the deferred six per cent. stock of certain parts of domestic debt 533,808 47 2,071,360 00 II. Payments on account of interest and charges. 1. Interest for the year 1821, on the public debt, as settled at the treasury 2.. 3. 4. Do. Do. on Louisiana stock on temporary loans by bank of the United States Charge for advertising by the agents in London, credited in their settlement, per treasurer's report, No. 43,834 54 45 Treasury department, register's office, February 3, 1823. B. JOSEPH NOURSE, Register. Statement of the provision made before the 1st day of January, 1822, for the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt, due on that day. The demands to be satisfied on the 1st January, 1822, were as follows: 1. Dividends payable by the com. of loans, including dividends due on that day, and exclusive of dividends no longer demandable at their offices 2. Unclaimed dividends from the loan offices, payable at the treasury be. yond the amount advanced for their payment 3. Balance due the late agents in London, on the 31st December, 1821 per treasury settlement, No. 43,834 The funds provided to satisfy these demands, were as follows: 1. Cash due from commissioners of loans, deceased and out of office 2. Cash in the hands of com. of loans in office, and applicable to dividends Estimate of the application, in 1822, of the funds provided for the payment of the principal andinterest of the public debt, falling due in that year. E. Estimate of the funds provided, before the 1st January, 1823, for the payment of the principal and interest of $34,588 98 7,830,256 06 7,864,845 04 7,849,159 67 15,685 37 JOSEPH NOURSE, Register. Amount of warrants issued on account of the principal and interest of the public debt, during the year 1822, per statement C. Short provided on account of unclaimed dividends, F. Statement of the appropriation of ten millions of dollars by the second section of the "Act to provide for the redemption of the public debt," passed 3d March, 1817. Application, per statement G.which accompanied the report of the com. of the sinking fund, of the 7th February, 1822, viz: In 1817 $10,000,000 00 Do. in anticipation Appropriation of 1817 $10,000,000 00 $60,000,000 00 Treasury department, register's office, Feb. 3, 1823. JOSEPH NOURSE, Register. aIn addition to this amount, there was applied, in 1817, the sum of $9,000,000, appropriated by the 3d section of the act above recited, and accounted for in the report of the commissioners of the sinking fund, of the 7th February, 1818. G. Statement of the funded debt of the United States, on the 1st Jan. 1823, with its redemption for 1821 and 1822. Reimbursement of the deferred stock, Seventeenth Congress-2nd session. [ral acts reserving from public sale the lead mines IN THE SENATE. and salt springs belonging to the United States, and to authorize the president of the United States to cause the lead mines and the salt springs, and the lands contiguous thereto, to be exposed to pub lic sale. Mr. Benton delivered to the senate a speech of considerable length in explanation and support of the expediency of the proposed measure; embracing much historical information, in regard to the extensive mineral country west of the Mississippi, and concerning the mines of other countries, the course heretofore adopted by the government in relation to our mines, shewing how unproductive and in jurious the practice of leasing out the mines had been, the advantages which would arise from disposing of them entirely to the enterprise and industry of individuals, &c. &c. Messrs. Dickerson, Lowrie, Smith, of Md. Barton,' Van Buren, Taylor, of Va. Holmes, of Maine, Brown, of Ohio, King, of N. Y. and Johnson, of Ky, followed Mr. Benton, with their respective views of the expediency or inexpediency of this measure, and continued the debate until past 3 o'clock. In the end, the bill was, at the request of a member, laid over to Monday. February 14. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, rose to offer a resolution. He said he had been anxious to present to the senate a proposition to enjoin upon the judicial committee a thorough examina. tion into the organization of the courts of the United States, and to report such a change as would cure the evils resulting from the present system. He thought it was the duty of congress to take up the subject and give it a complete examination, and adopt some modifications which he was convinced ought to be made. But this session was a short one, and not the most favorable to the discharge of this duty. He thought that congress should turn their attention to the jurisdiction, as well as to the organization of the federal judiciary. The defining and limiting the jurisdiction of the courts depended upon a construction of the federal constitution, and required no other materials than those possessed by every member. But the organization of the courts was a matter of policy and expediency, and should be changed as time and experience might suggest. In order, therefore, that this subject might be before congress at an early period of the next session, with all the The following messages were received from the facts which could be obtained in addition to those in the possession of members, he had been induced president of the United States, and read: to offer to the house a resolution which might fur-To the senate of the United States: nish some useful information on the subject as to the organization of the courts. At present one half of the territory of the United States, if not half of the population, was under a district system, and the other half under a district and circuit system combined--and the circuit judges compose the supreme court of the United States. It was apparent, from this system, that, in the selection of these judges, we should consult, as much if not more, bodily powers than mental and legal acquirements; for the judges of the supreme court can only remain at this place something like 40 days annually, during which time, with the most inde fatigable industry, more than one hundred cases cannot be disposed of, while they represent 10,000,000 of people, and 24 independent states, and the dockets in every part of the union swell. ing and increasing in magnitude. The western country had in part only the benefits of the circuit system. He thought that the system should be uniform; that every part of the United States should have circuit courts, or confined to district, and enable the supreme court to remain in session at this point such a period as will be more adequate to the discharge of their duties as judges of the supreme court. His object was to produce uniformity, effi. ciency, and impartiality in respect to every portion of the community. Mr. J. concluded by offering the following resolution: In compliance with a resolution of the senate, of the 11th of this month, requesting the president to cause to be communicated to the senate an estimate of the amount of land in the state of Georgia, to which the Indian title has been extinguished by the United States, since the cession of a portion of the territory, of Georgia, to the United States, with a statement of the cost of such extinguishment, and also an estimate of the amount of land, within the said state, to which the Indian title still remains to be extinguished, and by what tribes claimed; I transmit a report from the secretary of war, which contains the information desired. JAMES MONROE. February 14, 1823. To the senate of the United States: In compliance with a resolution of the senate of February 3d, requesting a statement of the number and size of cannon, mortars and howitzers, necessary for the armament of the fortifications already built and intended to be built, with an estimate of the sum necessary for their construction, I transmit a report from the secretary of war, prepared in execution of instructions given him to that ef JAMES MONROE. fect. February 10. The senate adjourned. February 15. The senate did not sit this day-. Saturday. February 17. Several reports were received from different committees. The president communicated a report of the se Resolved, That the judges of the supreme court be requested to report, jointly, to this body, as early in the next session of congress as may be convenient, such facts and observations as their experience and reflections may suggest, relative to the present organization of the courts of the United States, pointing out its | defects and inconveniences, if any, and suggesting such changes and modifications as will, in their opinion, combine most effici-cretary of war, exhibiting a statement of the expen ditures at the national armories, and of the arms made and repaired therein during the year 1822; and the report was read. ency and economy in the administration of justice. The engrossed bill to extend the charter of the Mechanics' bank of Alexandria was passed and sent to the other house. The bill to regulate the duties on imports and tonnage, &c. was ordered to a third reading. A bill for the relief of Jos. Forrest was rejected Mr. Benton submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to en--19 to 17. Sundry bills were ordered to a third able the president of the United States to take and retain posses reading. sion of the territories of the United States on the North West coast of America. The senate proceeded to the consideration of On motion of Mr. Benton, the senate proceeded executive business, and, at about 4 o'clock, ad. to the consideration of the bill to repeal the sevejourned. |