GENERAL HISTORY. 



[153 



vernment ; proposes to subinit 

 the question of territory to nego- 

 ciation ; and denies any know- 

 ledge of the existence of such 

 troops as those stated , in Kentucky. 

 With respect to the exclusion of 

 the revolutionary flag, he affirms, 

 that the government of the United 

 States has by a general rule au- 

 thorized the admission into its 

 ports of all flags except those of 

 pirates, and therefore is not dis- 

 posed to prohibit the reception of 

 the flag of the colonies, which 

 have established independent 

 states. 



The Spanish minister had af- 

 teiwards an interview with the 

 President, the resiilt of which is 

 said to have been so little satis- 

 factory, that he left Washington, 

 declaring a resolution not to 

 return. 



The decline of the American 

 manufactures since the peace had 

 restored the commercial commu- 

 nication with Great Britain, caused 

 men)orials to be presen ed to the 

 House of Repi-esentatives from 

 the persons concerned in the 

 cotton fabrics, which were re- 

 ferred to a committee. In Feb- 

 ruary they gave in their report, 

 which was prolix and rhetorical, 

 but contained some facts and ob- 

 servations deserving of notice. 

 The increase of the cotton ma- 

 nufactory of the United States 

 within a few years is very strik- 

 ing. The number of bales ma- 

 nufactured in 1800 is stated at 

 no more than 500: in 1810 it 

 had risen to 10,000 ; and in 1815 

 to 90,000. This rapid advance 

 was obviously occasioned by the 

 want of competition ; for the 

 goods here fabricated could not 

 contend at an open market in 



cheapness with those impoited 

 from ivurope or India. " The 

 American manufacturers (says the 

 report) ex])ect to meet with all the 

 embarrassments which a jealous 

 and monopolizing ])o]icy can sug- 

 gest — and tliey have good reason 

 for tlieir a])prehensions. 'i'he 

 foreign manufacturers and nscr- 

 chants will employ all the powers 

 of ingenuity and art to prevent 

 tire American establishments from 

 taking root, and by the allowance 

 of bounties and drawbacks they 

 will be fvu-nished witli additional 

 means for carrying on the con- 

 test." [t is further stated, that 

 the balance due for British ma- 

 nufactures is more than 17 niil- 

 lions of dollars, a sum gieater 

 than the value of all the exports 

 from the United States to foreign 

 countries. 



In conclusion, the committee 

 piopose the following resolution : 

 " That from and aftei- the 30th 

 of June next, in lieu of the 

 duties now authorised by law, 

 there be levied on cotton goods 

 imported into the United States 

 from any foreign country what- 

 ever per centum valorem, be- 

 ing not less than cents per 



.square yard." 



In the summer, the American 

 government issued an official 

 notice, that no private bank paper 

 would be taken after Feb. 20tii 

 1817, ia payment for duties, 

 taxes, &c. due to government, 

 imlcss such bank was prepared to 

 pay its notes in cash when le- 

 quired, and unle-s it took the 

 treasury notes at par. Mr. Dallas, 

 secretary of the treasury, in a 

 circular docum.ent of ofliee dated 

 July 22d, addressed the state 

 banks for the purpose of facili- 

 tating 



