The Wilmington Gazette

              the wilmington gazette published every tuesday by allmand hall at three dollars a payable in advance or four dollars if not paid within a year numbeii 571 - wilmington n c tu&dat decemuek 15 1807 iithyear.1 at one view the amount of the different dt nominations of the fund of the united stais which are held by and belong to the sine of north-carolina l)y a resolution of the last as«cmhly,i was made the dutjr of the public trcrsuvir to cause the state house to be painted ; l)t no direction was riven an to the colours top used in that work on enquiry it was fonp that a variety of opinion existed on this hel cveii among those who professed to be ski yd in the business <>[' painting i i did not m sidei myself competent to decide as to rpre fcrence and therefore thought it best t re ceive the proposals of those who offered to undertake ; to procure the priniipftl materials ; and to dofeb the work until the pleasure of the legislature in regard to colour c should be known this was ac cordingly done : proposal were received and filed ; and the necessary quantity of oil esti mated at eight barrels was purchased at the rate of one dollar per kitllon delivered near salem and was brought to and is now stored in this plhce ready to be u oil a the ge neral assembly may direct us soon a the proper season lor painting shall com mence treasurer's message to the honourable the un:iti al assembly of cfie st.ite of niirtli-carjlinat gk.mtlemen in making to you that statement which is annually required of the public treasurer by law i have the honor herewith to sub mit the following he port viz the receipts at the public treasury of n carolina from the lslday of november 8o5 to the 1st day of november iso including arrearages the public taxes of every d-es niption and the cot t in gin tax amount to twenty eight thousand one hundred and se venty-nine pounds twelve shillings and six pence 28,179 12 6 which uir bsinjj ad dud to the balance remaining in the lreu»ury on the first day of november 1806 to wit forty one thousand live hundred and thirty eight pounds thirteen shillings and six pence as reported to the last general assembly makes an aggregate amount of sixty nine thousand seven httndred and eighteen pound ix shilling (£. 69,781 0 from this sum total disbursements have been made within the period first above mentioned i.iy from november 1306 lo november 1807 to « mount of twenty eight tliouianj one hundred an'l ten pounds nine shillings and ilx pence 28,110 9 6 the voucher far all which re delivered over to the comptroller and passed to the treasurer's credit and urc by him held ready for the inspection of the com mittee of finance state relative to the infantry requiring the adjutant-general » to make from all the an " dual returni proper abstracts and to lay " the same with a jiepj}t o the general ittte " of tlie militia magazines and military ' stores and such improvements as he may u thin necessary for the advancement of ' discipline and benefit of the muitia wmuojgr befo:ct!ie general assembly or comman der in chief of the state ;" i do myself the honor of enclosing herewith abstracts from all the return i have received to this day although they do not present a full view r the real military force of the state yet hey certainly place north-carolina in a more re.iuectstble footing than any lisretofore a«4fl ; mid i am natiskcl that by a steady mj improved pursuit of the means which lave beeu used this year at an expence to he pnblio of less llian one hundred dollars nclujittg a ih t*tra printing and postage for he detachment returns our real number rill prove to be near 60,000 instead of only 4,936 according to a statement published rom tl)e last returns transmitted to the se retcry of war making a difference of lore than 15,000 by the abstracts now en loseh you will perceive notwithstanding wo general offtsen have railed to make heir returns that our militia consists of iniantry artillery cavalry tolal i 4m83 aa hra 9,ru y the cbstincts hboa only 39,660 o 446 40,106 i making a difference of about ten thousand fctween this and last yeav'n m the increase ot those most useful corpt ie artillery and cavalry mutt afford great atisfaction ; and it is hoped some metm will ie devised to make their proportion at least jqual to that mentioned in tlie late demand rom the var-o;vr:c viz i-i3tli of artillery ind t-ioth of cavalry the establishment nul increase of the rifle corps would also tc cry desirable : in common with every well wisher to his jountry i should leel much gratification par icularly at the present eventful crisis if thia jooimunicat'ion could be made equally agree ible throughout ; but sir by the returns ih at were specially formed to procure the post perfect intormation from all the coun ies i am authorised to declare and witli nuch regret do keport that there are so t in any one of them eitlier magazines iiliiary stores cannon or field pieces he dgingto the state that the militia ex crave of a few volunteer corps are deflci et in all the requisites which would render rtn capable of honourable or offectual str v:e except strength courage and patriotism tiese excellent qualities however will en ade them when well armed and disciplined toachieve the most splendid victories over a njfoe that may dare to invade our free and h*py land s the law further requires " the adjutant " teneral from time to time to make a report 1 tt the legislature of what shall be done l ujr him in virtue of his appointment and to i.iccompan v the report with such remark as jmay by him be deemed necessary for ths better regulation and improvement of the military discipline throughout the state ;" i m endeavo.tr to perform that arduous dulf by respectfully offering my observations at urge during the pieient session to the legislature ; and therefore think it unnectt sarj to trouble you further herein than briehy to icm uk that those officers who are ip;no ran being taught their duty ; more frequent mutter heuvier fines for neglecting to at lund properly armed and accoutred and moie especially for not making returns due attention to rank without which an officer cantot possess the laudable military pride wtiich creates an enthusiasm that leads to grett and glorious actions ; and more fre quent reviews by the superior officers ; would in my humble opinion greatly ** be nefit the militia and promote the advance ment of discipline throughout the state but above all the establishment sf a select corps of ihe young and milling to be uniformly ar med by the state cloathed in regimentals at their own expence and obliged to muster more frequently than common these may retire after eight years service from their ex tra duty and mingling with the great mass of militia gradually introduce military spirit and discipline amongst the whole ,.. a detail of the measures pursued to com plete the requisition made by direction of tlie president of the united states for our quota of one hundred thousand militia will be more properly introduced to notice by a separate report which shall be made with out any avoidable delay ; but painful at the duty is i think it proper to take this oppor tunity of expressing my extreme mortifica tion that notwithstanding the strict orders issued ever since the 25th july subsequent letter soon followed urging dispatch and expressing my most earnest desire that n carolina should appear amongst the first slates to make her return notwithstanding my laborious exertions and supplying forms in the utmost abundance to every division for the detachment i have only received muster rolls of 1006 men including every de crip',ion j and in&peciiyn returns of 4?7 - there are just grounds however to belief that the quota will be supplied entirely of volunteers a noble ardor having pervaded our fellow-citizens in every part of the state to repel insult punish aggression and defend the just rights and real independence of the united slates of america i have the honur to remain with much consideration sir your excellency's very obedient benjamin smith adjutant-cc.::icl senate of the united states monday november 16 mr mitchell ro to call the attention of the senate o a motion he had made at the commencement of tht cession relative to additional mean of defence and further measures of security to the beaporu aiitl harbors of in nation this important suli jret had been introduced 6y him at an early ilay it h:id been printed and laid on the t.iule for consideration and it ma lii original intention to have suffered it to lie there until ttnj official intelligence alluded to in the nics a ot the president should arrive from o hpifain fto«:eni tint alarming incormsiion which had reached the seat af government sinew the risini of the senatc'cn friday lsi though llnitt'ared with rumor and tcs.iirj i>n the credibility of private communication liacl however altered li i'nu »■"■<• ' ..**<,. i ire mvlnrbn 51 jsvatuna thecupiiul tion of copenhagen ant the capture of tl a dunif.'i fleet were events of the u'.most tnc nier to neutral powers nd taught th r.i llimt the yrsa'cst moderation prudence and forbeardnce wer of no avail in guarding a mild an unoffending rfnd peaceful peevln against t tie violence of its rapacious and stronger neighbor a visitation of a iniiu nalure might in the course of things uv t ■;• pactetf from ihe same quarter and the fairest of our commercial cities might bo wrapt iu flames or battered to ruins year after year had rolled away in fruitless negociatipn he doubted whether in the present posture of all'ain there would be any satisfactory adjustment of ihe points in dispute it did not indeed follow that the failure to effect a treaty would necessarily bring on a war hut the dominion of the ocean was so proudly usurped by britain nd the imitpction maintained by such a pro digious naval force that it would be calcu lating extravagantly upon our good fortune to expect that our rights would not be invad ed by them : and in an age of the world when it was fashionable for ruling statesmen to sweep away like cobwebs abstract prin ciples of riphtand written ir.ax:ms of pub lic kf.v it was surely a season when tha weaker powers ought to employ every prc taution for their safety it was not his intention to recommend the construction of a navy carrying metal e nough to dispute the empire of the high seas his only object wa to provide a force sufficient to protect our acknowledged terri tory and to preserve peace within our sea ports and harbors during the intervals of peace it was the duty of wise statesmen to prepare for war although the united states had been in the enjoyment of thai blessing with little interruption for mora than twenty years there had been too little done to guard against those evils which in the common course of events it was scarcely possible to avoid but although threatened with hostility from various quarters the na tion on the whole enjoyed a good share of tranquility there was yet time to prepare for the political tempest which would proba bly succeed the calm we had long expetien ■ ced the treasury was in a condition to furnish the necessary sums without imposing n cent of tax upon ourselves and with time and money at our disposal he conceived it to be a duty of the most imperitive obliga tion that congress should now retrieve by more than ordinary exertions the careless ness and neglect of preceding sessions during the last meeting of the rational legislature indeed a decent appropriation was made for the repair and erection of de fensive worka where they should appear to be most wanted out how inadequate was this provision ! exigencies had arisen dur ing the fy ess which had obliged the pre sident to contract debts on the national ac count to almost three fourth of a million of dollars and the bill on your table mr president has been brought in to make good this anticipated fund had congress mndu more arrive arrangements for the general afety had they taken effectual measures of defence nt an earlier day or had they made the legal provision for purchasing the stores and implements which the general welfare requires the executive would not have been compelled to take the step which he h.i done of pledging the national faith for u large amount of unappropriated money lint the secretary of the navy has acted wisely as well as boldly oil this emergency and the only sentiment to be uttered on the oc casion is that in consideration of the reluc tance manifested by congress to adopt a i have the honour to remain gentlemen very respectfully your obedient servant john iiaywood puuie treasurer raleigh 26th a'ovtmijr 1807 should the legislature deem it expedient that measures he taken with the stocks be longing to this statb or with uny part of them before the next assembly in conse quence of the act of congress supplemen tary to the act intituled " an act making provision for the redemption f the whole of the public debt of the united states pas sed last session they will of course direct accordingly j h a statement of the different specie of stocks af/onfin to north-carolina am standing to her credit on the books of\he loan office of the unit to si at us/or the siid state mount ot o)j mnani off lnouni ni ' afiount o r > six ptr cent p ctat dc l'n f t fcr cent stock err'd locv ct stock jtntk | dillinj cents pjllir.jcu dolujcti dow.jc>i 16,149 u i«90 m 39,033 9 t6,so h 1 i ■ 1 john hay wood public treasurer 26th november 1807 it will be remembered that the old six per cent stock is in part redeemed ; that is to say thirty-five dollars three cents g35 3 in eacl hundred dollars of the original stock have been paid up to the united states to wards he redemption of the said stock the six per cent deferred stock is also in pnrt redeemed say fourteen dollars forty two cents s 14 43 in each hundred dollars of that original stock have likewise been paid up j ii friday november 27 received from his excellency the gover nor the following message : gentlemen — having received from the ad jutant-general the annual return of the mi litia of this state 1 have the honor of sub mitting to your inspection together with a letter accompanying the same as containing observations worthy of legislative notice although the adjutant-general has done everything in his power to render this return complete yet it will be found to be otherwise and further it will be found as a fact much to be regretted that after such a considera ble lapse of time and under the most ear nest and pressing instructions of the adjutant general that he has not been furnished with muster rolls for more than one thousand and six men including every description ; and inspectors returns for four hundred and ninety-seven of the detachment of seven thousand and three militia required from this state on this occasion it was expected that punctuality would be observed such re missness in the militia officers merits the severest reprobation and if nat already pun liable by our laws ought to be made so to carry this levy into execution wiilr punctuality and expedition nothing has bean wanting on the part of the adjutant-generil to facilitate the operation ; tor he haa at great personal labor and ytpqnvenience fun nished all the aid and jntbfmaticm that was necessary it would hjiyc proved a matter highly gratifying if on this occasion the state of north-carolina had by her alacrity and promtitude taken prominent rank with her sister states which she certainty was entitled to had justice been done to the zeal and patriotism of her citizens nathl alexandder raleigh nov 27 1807 his excellency the governor of the state of n carolina raleigh 23d nor is07 ' sir the act to revise the militia laws of tbtt ' this expenditure or these disbursements being taken from the aggregate amount a bore mentioned a balance of forty one thou sand six hundred and seven pounds sixteen shilling and tit nrnre (/" 11,607 lfiti is left in the public treasury on the said first d.iy of november 1807 yet to be accounted for tlie most worn of the bills forming this balance liavt and will be selected and held in readiness to be burnt in case the legislature bull so direct the receipts at the treasury for lands en tered and paid for amount from the first day of november 1806 to the first day of no vember 1807 to ihe sum of two thousand live hundred and fifteen pounds and one pen ny 2)5 15 o i these receipts however are fully and completely covered by certifi cate and othvr voucher and do therefor in no wise affect the public treasurer's ge neral account of the taxes sec the balance of which is as above stated pursuant to the directions of the legisla ture i purchased since the last session twelve dollars six cents of unredeemed six per cent stock at the rate of 93 per cent seven dollars seventy six cents of unredeem ed deferred six per cent stock at the same rate ; and seventeen dollars and forty cents of three per cent stork at the rate of 57 pet sent ; which is all the stock of the funds of the united states which has been offered to me for sale in this state warrants transferring to the books here two thousand three hundred dollars of eight per cent stock of the funds of the united states purchased with the remittance men tioned in the public treasurer's report to the last general assembly have been received during the recess ; as have likewise the war rants of transfer for the fifteen hundred other dollars of the like eight per cent stock men tioned in the same report as being contracted fur these purchases were made at the rate of 105 per cent ; and|this stock likewise has been placed on the books of the loan-office to the credit of north-carolina pursuant to the provisions of the act of assembly entituled " an act to relieve cer tain of the inhabitants of mecklenburg coun ty and other citizens of this state the trea surer of the university of north-carolina has transferred to me as public treasurer and in trust for the use of the state one hundred and forty four dollars sixty one cents six per cent stock ; the unredeemed part of which is equal at the price at which it was not long since purchased at philadelphia to the sum of hfty-one pounds eighteen shillings and ten pence north-carolina currency ; the amount of the claim which has been additionally re ported tome by the skid treasurer and which this stock was intended to cover it has not yet been in my power to eflect a further purchase of stocks in any of the north ern states owing to the impracticability of ob taining in this state either hank notes or bills from merchants or others which are current or can be negociuted there i have been a me to collect and exchange for with patt of the monies received as interest and reim bursement of principal of the stocks belong ing to this state between two and three thou sand dollars in bank notes and have now hope as the season for purchasing produce in the ports of this state advances of having it in my power in the courts of a few weeks to exchange the remainder of those monies for notes at fayetteville or wilmington as sunn a this can be effected measures thall without further delay be taken for inverting the amount in stocks as heretofore for the further information of the i.#tfisla fclirpi 1 jjefl-lo subjoin a statement shewing