The President of the United States sent a message to
the Hciuse of Representatives on the 17th of February, acquainting them with the necessity of providing tire means of meeting the engagements of the general government. Unless about five millions of dollars are raised by loan, it would seem that the President must stop payment, as his treasury is nearly empty, and the demands of the current year ex-
: --
eeed the estimated receipts. Some attention has been excited by the two following resolutions rel.: tire to time American trade with China, agreed to without a division 41.2,,.‘ the House of Representatives- " Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested (if in his opinion it be not incompatible with the public interest to do so) to communi- cate to this House any information in his possession respecting the condition of the citizens of the United States doing business during the past year in China ; the state of the American trade with that country, and the interests of the people and commerce of the United States, as affected by the recent measures of the Chinese Government for the suppression of the contraband or forcible introduction of opium into China; also, whether the British Go- vernment has given notice to that of the United States of a purpose to blockade the port of China, or of other hostile intentions towards that Government ; and any other information possessed by the Executive in relation to the above matters.
" Resolved, That the Secretary to the Treasury be directed to transmit to this Rouse a statement of the commerce and navigation between the United States and China from 1824 to 1839 inclusive, exhibiting for each year the amount of specie, the value and description of manufactured articles, the value and description of other merchandise, and the total amount exported ; the quantity and value of teas, the value of silk goods, the value of other mer- chandise, and the total amount imported ; the number of ships, the amount of tonnage, and the number of seamen employed."
Previous page
