INDIANA. The following are the returns for representatives to congress: First district for Ratliff Boon, 7345; for Mr. Blake, his competitor, 7254; second district, Jonathan Jennings; 6932 for Mr. Thompson, his competitor, 2521; third district, John Test, 6415; for Mr. M'Carty, his opponent, 4985. Of course Messrs. Boon, Jennings and Test were elected. The first district appears remarkable for the closeness of its votes. In 1823, the majority was 11; in 1824, 4; and in 1826, it was 21. December. The legislature convened on the 1st. The parties were nearly balanced. Isaac Howk was elected speaker of the house of representatives, by a majority of two votes, over S. Judah, Esq. On the 3d inst. governor Ray communicated his message to the legislature, speaking in very decided terms, in favour of what is called "the American system," and condemning the recent proceedings in the south, in opposition to it. He estimates the school lands in the state to amount to more than 600,000 acres, being a thirty-sixth part of all of the lands in the state; and that public land has been obtained for the construction of roads and canals, worth one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This land was granted for the construction of a canal to connect the navigable waters of the Wabash river, with those of Lake Erie; and for the construction of a turnpike road between Lake Michigan and Ohio river. The canal from the Wabash to lake Erie, he observes, has been demonstrated to be practicable by skilful engineers. The expense is estimated at a little above one million of dollars, which he thinks can be realized in time, from the lands granted by the general government, and recommends that a loan should be obtained for its present construction. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.-The following resolutions were passed by the senate: Whereas, the friends of general Jackson in the western states advocate his election to the presidency of the United States, on the ground of his being friendly to internal improvements, and the advocate of a judicious tariff, for the protection of American manufactures; and whereas, the friends of the same distinguished individual in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, advocate his claims to the first office in the nation, on account of his opposition to the above measures or system of policy-therefore, for the purpose of enabling the citizens of Indiana to ascertain what are the real sentiments of general Jackson, and to give them an opportunity to vote understandingly, at the next presidential election, in reference to these great interests: Resolved by the senate, that his excellency the governor, be requested to address a respectful letter to general Andrew Jackson, inviting him to state explicitly, whether he favours that construction of the constitution of the United States, which authorizes congress to appropriate money for the purpose of making internal improvements in the several states; and whether he is in favour of such a system of protective duties for the benefit of American manufactures, as will, in all cases where the raw material, and the ability to manufacture it exist in our country, secure the patronage of our own manufactures to the exclusion of those of foreign countries; and whether, if elected President of the United States, he will, in his pub 4 lic capacity, recommend, foster, and support the American system. Resolved, That his excellency the governor be requested, as soon as he receives the answer of general Jackson to the letter contemplated in the preceding resolution, to cause the same to be published, together with the resolutions, in the newspapers printed at Indianapolis. To the above resolutions, general Jackson made the following reply: Hermitage, Feb. 28, 1828. Sir: I have had the honour to receive your excellency's letter, of the 30th ultimo, enclosing resolutions of the senate of Indiana, adopted, as it appears, with a view of ascertaining my opinions on certain political topics. The respect which I entertain for the executive and senate of your state, excludes from my mind, the idea that an unfriendly disposition dictated the interrogatories which are proposed.-But I will confess my regret at being forced, by this sentiment, to depart, in the smallest degree, from that determination on which I have always acted. Not sir, that I would wish to conceal my opinions from the people upon any political, or national subjects; but as they were in various ways promulgated in 1824, I am apprehensive that my appearance before the public, at this time, may be attributed, as has already been the case, to improper motives. ofthis communication. The occasion, out of which it arose, was embraced with the hope of preventing any doubt, misconstruction, or necessity for further inquiry respecting my opinion on the subjects to which you refer; particularly in those states which you have designated as cherishing a policy at variance with your own. To preserve our invaluable constitution, and be prepared to repel the invasions of a foreign foe, by the practice of economy, and the cultivation within ourselves, of the means of national defence and independence, should be, it seems to me, the leading objects of any system which aspires to the name of "American," and of every prudent. administration of our government. I trust, sir, that these general views, taken in connexion with the letter enclosed, and the votes referred to, will be received as a sufficient answer to the inquiries suggested by the resolutions of the senate. I will further observe to your excellency, that my views of constitutional power, and American policy, were imbibed in no small degree, in the times, and from the sages of the revolution, and that my experience has not disposed me to forget their lessons: and, in conclusion, I will repeat that my opinions remain as they existed in 1823 and '4, uninfluenced by the hope of personal aggrandizement, and that I am sure, they will never deprive me of the proud satisfaction of having always been a sincere and consistent republican. With these remarks, I pray you, sir, respectfully to state to the senate of Indiana, that my opinions, at present, are precisely what they were in 1823, and '24, when they were communicated, by letter, to doctor Coleman, of North Carolina, and when I voted for the present tariff and appropriations for internal improvement. As that letter was written at a time when the divisions of sentiment, on its subject, were strongly marked as they now are, in relation to the expediency and constitutionality of the system, it is enclosed herein, and I beg the favour of your excellency, to consider it a part Allowed to private claims, 277.274 VOL. III. 21* I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your most obt. servt. ANDREW JACKSON. LAND.-The following is a table showing the quantity of United States' land in the state of Indiana, and the manner of its appropriation: The whole number of acres within as the limits of the state of Indiana, to The whole number of acres to which the Indian title has not been extin- Disposed of as follows: 17,124,037 5,355,632 22,459,669 rous that people were not safe even in their beds at night. So great was the terror of the citizens, that few dared to venture out after dark, for fear of them. Last fall, a person living in the neighbourhood, discovered a cave in the bank of the creek, where it was supposed they had taken up their abode for the winter. Upon the information obtaining circulation, the citizens turned out en masse to destroy them. They commenced by digging and removing the earth and rocks, from the mouth of the den, until they came to them. They lay in coils in the crevices of the rocks.Wooden hooks were thrust in, and frequently three or four were drawn out. The first two days, they caught one hundred and forty-two-about one hundred were rattle snakes, and the remainder the copper-headed snake. They were in general, of the largest size. ILLINOIS. Janary, 1828.-POPULATION.-The editor of the "Pioneer," published at Rock Spring, Illinois, estimates that the annual increase of the population of that state, from emigration, has, for the last 3 or 4 years, not been less than 12,000 persons. It is also stated Missouri is receiving a large increase of inhabitants. September.-Joseph Duncan was re-elected representative to congress by a large majority over his opponent, Mr. Forquer. December.-John M'Lean has been chosen a senator of the United States, for six years from the third day March next, in room of Jesse B. Thomas. whose term of service will then expire, and who has recently removed from the state of Illinois into the state of Ohio. GALENA MINES.-The following is a statement of the number of permits granted to miners; the number of licenses granted to smelters; and the quantity of lead made at these 4,694 44 Lbs. of Lead. 383,930 1,560,534 6,824,389 12,957,100 789,034 22,519,987 Total, In the month of March, of the present year 626,236 lbs. of lead were made-making an aggregate amount of 23,141,223 Ïbs. April, 1829.-In the lead mine country, of which Galena is the centre, there are about 12,000 people, chiefly men, and it is probable that they will make from 9 to 10,000,000 lbs. of lead, in the current year. Between the 25th of February, and 26th December, 1828, there were 99 arrivals of steam-boats, and 75 of keel-boats, at the port of Galena, which even 6 or 7 years ago, was in the possession of the fierce Winnebagoes. January, 1829.-LEGISLATURE.The message of governor Edwards is very long. Much of it is devoted to the investigation of the right of the United States to the public lands within the limits of the state of Illinois. The sovereignty of the state is much spoken of; many propositions are quoted, and much argument used; and the conclusion arrived at, is-that "the United States have neither right of soil or jurisdiction over the public lands, but that they all belong to the states in which they lie," and he says that "the surrender of them is the only means of effectually quieting the public mind," &c. and this, he thinks, should be insisted on, but with "all the moderation and forbearance due to the most devoted attachment of the union." He suggests a petition to that effect, and to solicit the co-operation of all the states, having a common interest in the success of the measure. 4 MISSOURI. POPULATION.-There were in the state in 1828, as appeared from the census of the several counties, 92,801 whites, 19,124 slaves, and 484 free persons of colour, in all 112,409. ELECTION.-Mr. Pettis was elected representative to congress in 1828, by a majority of about 3000 over his competitor, Mr. Bates. LEAD MINES.-In 1823 and 1824, the amount of mineral ore obtained at the Red river mines was about, 200,000 pounds; in 1825, 672,000 pounds; 1826, 743,000 pounds; and in 1827, 5,080,000 pounds. The lands contiguous to the mines have already greatly increased in value; and there has accrued to the United States, for leases, during the last year, about 30,000 dollars. The revenue of the state had increased from 40 to 44,000 dollars per anuum, from 1821 to 1826, to from 55 to 60,000 dollars at present. The state debt was $140,331.48, exclusive of interest, on the 1st July, 1826-and was then estimated at only $75,000, without increased rates of taxation. The loan office paper issued to the amount of 181,783 dollars, had been reduced to the sum of 114,257. The state will sustain a great loss in this transaction, by the failure of payment in many to whom this paper was issued. that the lands granted by congress for He stated the support of seminaries of learning had been located, being 72 sections; and suggested that the United States ought to pay the cost of making the selection, the amount for which has been transmitted for payment. It appeared also that a grant has been made to the state of twelve salt springs, with six extra sections of land adjoining. It was stated that grants of lands have been made to nearly all the western states, to assist in the struction of roads and canals, except Missouri, and that such a grant should be sought for. The interruption of the trade with the internal province of Mexico by the Indians, was referred to; saying that protection had been asked and not granted. The fur trade in and beyond the Rocky Mountains, had also been interfered with by the British and Indians-10 citizens had con been murdered, and great robberies committed; it was suggested that British traders should be excluded from our territories. The reservations, by the general government, of lead mi nerel lands, and, partially, of iron ore lands, were subjects of complaint; and a bill made graduating the price of all public lands, it was suggested, should be asked of congress. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. JULY, 1828.-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. The anniversary of the declaration of the independence of the United States, was a proud day for the district of Columbia, for the states interested in an open navigation from the Chesapeake to the lakes, and to the waters of the Mississippi. On that day, which, by concurrent votes of the president and directors of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal company, and the corporations of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, had been fixed upon for breaking ground upon the canal, this interesting ceremony took place. Among the gentlemen composing the company thus assembled at :he invitation of the committee of arrangement, were, the president of the United States, the secretaries of the treasury, war, and navy departments, Mr. Rush, general Porter, and Mr. Southard; the post master general, Mr. M'Lean; senators of the United States, Mr. J. S. Johnston, and Mr. Bouligny-and Mr. Washington, rerepresentative in congress; Mr. Vaughan, the minister of Great Britain to the United States; Baron Krudener, the minister of Russia, and Baron Maltitz, secretary of legation from the same power; the chevalier Huygens, minister from the Netherlands; Baron Stackelberg, charge d'affaires from the king of Sweden; Mr. Lisboa, secretary of legation from the emperor of Brazil; Mr. Hersant, vice-consul general of France-comprising all the representatives of foreign powers then in the city, and able to attend. Among other invited guests were the commander of :he army, general Macomb, and general Stuart, and colonel Brooke, sur viving officers of the revolutionary army On landing from the boats, and reaching the ground, (one or two hundred yards east of the line of the present canal,) the procession moved around it, so as to leave a hollow space, in the midst of a mass of people, in the centre of which, was the spot marked out by judge Wright, the engineer of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal company, for the commencement of the work. Gen. Mercer, the president of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal company, addressed, as follows, the listening multitude: Fellow-citizens-There are mo ments in the progress of time, which are the counters of whole ages. There are events, the monuments of which, surviving every other memorial of human existence, eternize the nation to whose history they belong, after all other vestiges of its glory have disappeared from the globe. At such a moment have we now arrived. Such a monument we are now to found. Turning towards the president of the United States, who stood near him, Mr. M. proceeded : Mr. President: On a day hallowed by the fondest recollections, beneath this cheering (may we not humbly trust, auspicious) sky, surrounded by the many thousand spectators who look on us with joyous anticipation; in the presence of the representatives of the most polished nations of the old and new worlds, on a spot, where, little more than a century ago, the painted savage held his nightly orgies; at the request of the three cities of the district of Columbia, I present to the chief magistrate of the most pow |