A representation of the circumstances was immediately made to the authorities in Canada, by Governor Jenison of Vermont. Before this arrived in Montreal, however, the authorities there, finding that his seizure was illegal, gave him up on the 4th of October, to be conducted back to the frontier. BOSTON, Sept. 20. The Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, of articles of American manufacture, began. The Exhibition continued a fortnight. It consisted of an immense variety of beautiful and ingenious objects, and was visited by large numbers of spectators. ELECTIONS. ILLINOIS, Aug. 2. The election for members of Congress took place. The delegation is the same as in the last House: J. T. Stuart and Zadok Casey, Whigs; John Reynolds, Opposition. INDIANA, Aug. 3d. The election for the State Legislature took place. The new Senate consists of 25 Whigs, 21 Democrats, with one vacancy; the new House of 46 Whigs, 54 Democrats. A part of the Senate holds over from last year. KENTUCKY, Aug. 2, 3, and 4. The election for the Legislature took place. The new Senate will consist of 27 Whigs, 9 Democrats, and there are 2 vacancies. The new House of 77 Whigs and 23 Dem ocrats. TENNESSEE, Aug. 5. The general election for State officers closed. The result is stated unofficially, for Governor, Jones, Whig, 52,379; Polk, Democrat, 49,035. The new Senate consists of Whigs 12, Democrats 13; the House, Whigs 39, Democrats 36. ALABAMA, August. The election of State officers took place The result was the election of Mr. Fitzpatrick, Democratic, as Governor, by a very large majority, and a Democratic legislature. RHODE ISLAND, Aug. 31. The semiannual election for the choice of a State legislature took place. The new legisla ture will be strongly Whig. VERMONT, Sept. 7. The election for State officers took place. The result was the election of a Whig Senate and House of Representatives; but no choice for Governor; the votes for which office were divided between Mr. Paine, Whig, Mr. Smilie, Democratic, Judge Hutchinson, Abolition, and several other candidates. MAINE, Sept. 13. The election of State officers took place. The result was the election of Mr. Fairfield, Democratic, as Governor, by a large majority, and of a Democratic House and Senate. Last year the Whigs prevailed in all these branches of the government. At the same election, a proposition for holding biennial elections, and biennial sessions of the legislature, was submitted to the people, who, however, rejected it; yeas 8,993, nays 26,851. A proposition to fix the number of Representatives at 151, was agreed to, yeas 23,217; nays 5,615. GEORGIA, Oct. 4. The election for Governor took place. Mr. McDonald, (Democ.) was chosen over Mr. Dawson, (Whig.) The new legislature is Democratic. MARYLAND, Oct 11. The election of Governor and members of State Legislature took place. The result was the elec tion of Mr. F. J. Thomas. (Dem.) as Governor, by a majority of 621. Hon. W.C. Johnson was the Whig candidate. The new House of Delegates will consist of 42 Democrats and 36 Whigs; one vacancy. The Senate consists of 15 Whigs, 6 Democrats, a part holding over from last year. Last year the Whigs prevailed throughout the state. PENNSYLVANIA, Oct. 12. The election of Governor and members of the State Legislature took place. The result was the re-election of Governor Porter, (Democratic,) by a large majority over Judge Banks, (Whig.) The new Legislature will consist of 17 Whigs and 16 Democrats in the Senate, and 36 Whigs and 64 Democrats in the House. Last year the State was nearly equally divided. Оно, Oct. 12. An election for members of the legislature took place. The Democratic party prevailed in the new legislature. There will be a Democratic majority of two in both branches; the Senate being 19 Democrats to 17 Whigs, and the House 37 Democrats to 35 Whigs. The state was strongly whig last year. NEW JERSEY, Oct. 13. The election of members of the State legislature took place. The result was a Council of nine Whigs and nine Democrats, and an As-sider the bill, as required by the constitusembly of 35 Whigs and 23 Democrats. UNITED STATES CONGRESS. tion, and after a short debate the question was taken and decided as follows; yeas, 103, nays 80. Two-thirds being required to pass the bill against the President's veto, was lost. The bill to incorporate the Fiscal Corporation of the United States, which The revenue bill, which had passed the passed the House of Representatives Au- House of Representatives July 30, [see gust 23, [see Mon. Chron. p. 384,] was Monthly Chronicle, p. 333,] was in the referred in the Senate to a special com- Senate referred to the committee on mittee, who reported it without amend- finance. The prominent feature of the ment. The bill was debated two or three bill was to impose a uniform duty of 20 days in the Senate, being defended prin- per cent. ad valorem on articles which cipally by Mr. Berrien, chairman of the were previously free, or subject to lower special committee. A number of amend- rates, with certain exceptions, consisting ments, offered by the opposition, were mostly of raw materials for manufac rejected. The final vote was taken Sept. tures. These exceptions, although em3, and the bill passed by a vote of 27 to bracing a large variety of articles, consist 22, the whig members, with the excep- wholly of such as are imported only in tion of Mr. Rives, voting in the affirma- small amount. The committee reported tive. On the following day, the bill was the bill to the Senate without important laid before the President, and on the 9th amendments, except one, the effect of he returned it to the House of Represen- which was to extend the 20 per cent. duty tatives, with his veto. In his Message, to a class of luxuries which had been specifying his reasons for disapproving heretofore taxed low on account of their the bill, he rests his objections on the liability to be smuggled, namely, watches, general ground, that it creates " a nation- gold, silver, silk and thread laces, jewelry, al bank, to operate per se over the precious stones, &c. After debate, the Union." Although established in the Senate adopted this amendment. Many District of Columbia, the amount of cap- other amendments were proposed, and ital, the manner in which the stock is to debated at length. An amendment was be subscribed and held, the number and adopted, subjecting rail-road iron to a powers of the directors, and agencies, and duty of 20 per cent., but extending the other features of the institution, charac- exemption under the present law in faterize it as a national bank, operating vor of rail-roads already commenced, to throughout the Union, by the authority March 3, 1843. Another amendment, of Congress. To grant such powers to a adding tea and coffee to the list of free bank, he considers transcending the au- articles, was adopted, yeas 39, nays 10. thority of Congress. He makes other A motion to exempt salt from duty was objections, founded on some of the de- negatived, yeas 20, nays 24. An amendtails of the bill. By its unlimited power ment was adopted, by which the bill of dealing in bills of exchange, drawn in should take effect from Sept. 30, and on one state, and payable in another, he the 7th it passed, yeas 33, nays 11. The thinks it might adopt the practice of dis- bill, being returned to the House, most counting in the most objectionable form, of the amendments of the Senate were accommodation paper. He objects, also, concurred in. The amendment to add that there is no restriction in the rate at tea and coffee to the list of free articles which it may deal in bills of exchange. being under consideration, a motion to He expresses a strong desire to meet the amend it by adding to it "salt" was wishes of Congress, in the adoption of a agreed to, yeas 94, nays 88. A motion fiscal agent which shall avoid constitu- to add "sugar' was agreed to, yeas 105, tional objections, and harmonize conflict- nays 75, and "cotton," yeas 105, nays ing opinions. He expresses a desire for 75. But on the following day, the votes time to reflect on this difficult subject, on these amendments of the House were and a hope that at a more favorable time reconsidered, and the motions to insert the executive and congress may unite salt, sugar, and cotton in the list of free in a measure of finance, which shall meet articles, were withdrawn. The amendthe wants of the country. The message ment of the Senate adding tea and coffee was entered on the journal, and printed to the free list, was concurred in by a for the use of the House. On the follow-vote of 178 to 7. The other amendments ing day, the House proceeded to recon- of the Senate were concurred in, with the exception of an unimportant one, which in case that event should happen, it was subsequently agreed to by both would be followed by a resignation of a branches, as modified by report of a com- part, or all of the members of the Cabi'mittee of conference, and the bill receiv-net. These rumors seem to have been ed the signature of the President on the founded on the supposition, that those 11th. This law was entitled an act re- gentlemen would not be inclined to conlating to duties and drawbacks. The law tinue in the post of official advisers of went into effect from and after the 30th the President, after this proof of his unof September. Several vessels arrived willingness to act in conformity with at New York a day or two before, with a their views on so important a measure. large amount of silk goods, which thus The first veto, however, was not regardavoided the new duties imposed by the ed by either of them as a sufficient reason bill. for abandoning their situations. But the Several other bills of some interest, in rejection of the second bill was regarded addition to those which have been par-by five of them in a different light, and ticularly noticed above, were passed on the day after the Message was subduring the session. Among these were, mitted to the House, Messrs. Ewing, an act providing for the fitting out of a Secretary of the Treasury, Bell, Secrehome squadron, and making the necessa-tary of War, Badger, Secretary of the ry appropriation therefor; one making Navy, and Crittenden, Attorney-Gene provision for the maintenance of pauper ral, for reasons stated in their letters, lunatics in the District of Columbia; published in another part of this number, extending the charters of banks in [pp. 423-444] sent to the President their the District of Columbia; providing resignation of their respective offices, for the payment of navy pensions; which was immediately accepted. Their making appropriations for various for- example was followed, on the next day, tifications, for ordnance, and for the by Mr. Granger, the Postmaster-General. expenses of Indian hostilities; providing Mr. Webster, the Secretary of State, refor placing Greenough's statue of Wash-mained at his post. On the 11th, the ington in the rotunda of the capitol; President, who must have been prepared granting the franking privilege to the for the event, sent to the Senate the widow of President Harrison; making following nominations to the vacant of appropriations for ordnance and ordnance fices, which were severally confirmed, stores; and making appropriations for viz.: outfits and salaries of diplomatic agents. A resolution was reported in the Senate on the 9th, from Mr. Bayard, from a select committee, providing that the Secretary of the Senate be authorized to employ a corps of reporters, not exceeding five in number, at the commencement of each session of Congress, to report the proceedings and debates of the Senate, who shall be sworn to discharge their duties faithfully, and be paid not exceeding $60 a week to the principal reporter, and $50 per week to the others; a report of each day's proceedings and debate to be placed in the hands of the printer, within three hours from the adjournment, and proof slips to be furnished to any publishers in the District of Columbia, who should agree to publish the same entire. After a short debate, the resolution passed to be engrossed by a vote of 28 to 11, but on the 13th it was laid on the table, by a vote of 21 to 16. CHANGE IN THE CABINET. When the expectation became general, that the first bank bill would be vetoed by the President, rumors were circulated, that Walter Forward, of Pennsylvania, War. A. P. Upshur, of Virginia, Secretary of the Navy." Hugh S. Legare, of South Carolina, Attorney-General, and Charles A. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, Postmaster-General. Judge McLean declined the appointment of Secretary of War, and John C. Spencer, of New York, was appointed in his place. The two Houses, September 13, adjourned sine die. The following diplomatic appointments were confirmed by the Senate before adjournment: Charles S. Todd of Kentucky, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia. Daniel Jenifer of Maryland, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Austria. Edward Everett of Massachusetts, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain. THE MONTHLY CHRONICLE. NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1841. ARTICLE XV. RAILROADS OF BELGIUM. In a former Number, [Mon. Chron. Vol. I. p. 89,] we gave a brief notice of the system of railroads established in Belgium, entirely at the charge and under the direction of the central government of the country. The expenses are all defrayed from appropriations from the public treasury, and all the income is of course for the benefit of the treasury. That article gave some account of the origin and cost of the work, and a notice of its operations for the first nine months of the year 1839. We shall now give a more full description of the system of works, with a history of its operation to the beginning of the present year. The Minister of public works, Mr. Charles Rogier, under whose superintendence these great improvements are carried on, is entitled to the fullest credit, for having laid before the public, in his report to the legislative chambers, a most clear and intelligible account of the extent and cost of the work, the dimensions and character of the different constructions, the character and cost of the materiel, the rates of fare and freight, the expenses of operation, and the receipts, in all the varieties of detail, that can be desired. Our difficulty will be to present in the condensed view, which only we can give, so much of the information as will satisfy the reader, in a form which will be intelligible. The system of works authorized by law is yet incomplete. When completed, the whole length of the several lines of railroad will be 113 leagues, of 5,000 French metres, of 350 English miles; and the present estimated cost of the roads, stations, and materiel, is 125,664,707 francs, or $23,877,054. The length of roads already completed, so far as to be already in operation, and producing an income at the commencement of the year, was 67 leagues, or 208 miles. This length of line embraces 14 sections, which have been successively opened from 1835 to 1840. The length of lines and parts of lines yet to be opened is 46 leagues, or 142 miles. The cost of 208 miles of road already incurred, amounts to 62,144,584 francs, under the following heads of expenditure, viz. : The expenditures already incurred may be more particularly classified under the following heads: For purchase of lands and compensation for damages, including 198,688 francs for cost of legal proceedings, For works of excavation and embankment, works of masonry and other constructions, and laying foundations of railway, chiefly expended in compensation of labor among the laboring class of the population, Wood, for the foundation of the railroad, furnished principally by For 49,000,000 kilograms [48,243 tons] of iron for rails, and their Various machines, cranes, weighing scales, pumps, &c. 15,044,363 fres. 24,267,345 2,723,592 17,314,710 3,109,371 807,212 10,979,160 807,212 The amount expended on account of construction in the year 1840, was 11,915,076 francs. These railroads lead from Brussels, the capital of the kingdom, by |