Delaware gazette and peninsula advertiser. [volume], December 10, 1817, Image 2

About Delaware gazette and peninsula advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1820

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HOUSE OP UEFHESENTATIVES.
t
CON 0 BBSS.
IN THE SENATE.
Jjcc.eiiii» e a.
Mr. Barbour, from a committee
,itcd on that subject, reported n
»ppm
resolution for the admission ol the
... Mississippi into the Union ;
which was read th'cc several times,
p ssoo, and sent to the House lor eon
*t .1.
cUi'iv- e.
And-lhe Senate adjourned.
WbUMtSDAV, one. 3.
laid before the
The SPbAKEH
House a letter from John Gardner.
Chief Clerk io the General Land Mi
lice, accompanied hy two copies ot «
map of the Bounty Laud in the 111»'«
ois territory, engraved for the use ol
the soldiers ofihe late army.
On motion ol Mr. Smith of Md.
the several standing committees (to
in ngmber) were ordered to he ap
pointed. 1 tie Speaker appoints the
and (hey will be announced lo-mor
row.
STATE OF THE UNION.
On motion of Mr. Tayuik, ol New
York the House resolved ilsell into a
mitten of the whole on the stale ol
com
the Union; Mr. Smith of Aid. being
called to the chair,
Tl ,0 President's Message was the
subject of consideration.
dir. Tavlok moved a series of re
solutions, embracing the following
references of various parts of tin
Message :
Resolved, That so much of the
Message ol Ute President of the Uni
ted Stales, as relates to the subject ol
t on ign Alt' irs, arm to our rummer
tie t intercourse with British Colonial
1 .* he referred to a select commit
tee.
Thai so much as rentes to >n un
and
the organization and
so mu. It as
{movement m
discipline of file militia;
li laics to natal affairs ; so much as
ri lat.es to the improvement of tin* in
dial, trines m the .iris of i ivilized lift* :
so ntuch as relates to roads canals, A
maries of learning ; so mu* It as
as relates to the illicit introduction o'
slaves from Amelia Islam! into l.ii
Cuite 1 Slates: so nmeli as relates t
llie puniii' buildings, am) to the erec
lion of new edifices for toe accumou.
dation of the lie ids of Departments
Attorney General ; so much
ivl . 1 rs to Ibc surviving ofti ersann
and s ddi.Ts
he severally referred to select
t
■
<
:
ll to tie- < oosiocratioit ollhe'laws
ll'o.se. was in • onsequen/ e of « eft in
■ coings which he had seen eepre- .
a tea) in tiie put tiie prints as having
t; ken place Indore certain ot our
C' nits ot Justice. Two or three e.,
s.-s nearing on die subject hail come
to iiis knowledge, which he wished to
state to the House. I c lit si hadl
oe iirr.'d at Fiiilaiielpliia, b. tore the
eireiiit »'««I'tof the I oiled Slates lieh
in that city. Ihe i ii'cuiusUtires of
the e'.-.se. for which however he dot
*"
ill: .i toe
as
f the Revolutionary ar
my ;
com litters, w ill leave to report by bill
or Otherwise.
I liai so much as relates to umti
ofaeiures, lie referred to tt»e commit
lee of commerce and manufactures ;
much as rela'es to ttie subject of
revenue, and a riqieal of the internal
tax-s, tie referred to the committee
et .V .ys and Me Os ; so mu -h as re
late* to purchases of lands from the
Ia.o • t # triites, to the eomuiittee on
{.ub.ic larcis.
'Ine liest resolution having been
read For eon-nh ration. .Mr. Cuv
(the Speaker) moved to amenu the
sa.ne bv ...tiling to ihe end thereof llie
lull owing words :
•• And tho.1 the said committee he
insti io ted to enquire whether any, and
if any, what provision» of law are
necessary to ensure, to (he American
celonies of Spain a just ohsiTntnce of
the duties ooic. n to the oeullal re
lations in which tli" United States
slim!, in the existing war between
them ami Sp-iiu/'
so
Mr. < lvv said, that his presenting
-o . iriv a period of thr session.
at
i"
not pretend to vouch, having receive'
them through the channel already in
dicaied, were lurse ; if they were in
correctly staled, lie vus happy that a
gentleman h.-.d taken his seat tins
mot : in; from that city, who would
be a le to t orrez I him : that nine or
ten Bchisti disliauded officers had for
med in Europe tue resolution to unit/
themselves with the Spanish patriots
in the contest existing between then:
and Spain : that to «airy into effect
this b let/!ion, they had sailed fron
Europe, and in tli'-ir transit to Smith
Amen.'« had touched al the port of
l'lil, at Inkia ; that during I licit* resi
dence in Fittiadelphi/i, wearing per
Imps the
ntibi-ry ; ■* w tm M
their h.l'-.i'ion to
arms a«*! h Jbik.i nt , <>f
og no disguise of
participate in tin
ey tni/k passage in a ves.
of ttiis fa. l
slrn,gl
sel lu.,' . ' ' •nine port id Smith Vine
ri m j n -i i know)
having uoUiff to tin: ears o! (he public
authorities, or, perhaps at the inatiga-j
tion ol some agent of the Spanish
Government, si prosecution \va« coin*
« tenreil against these officers, who,:
f.oin their inohil ly to procure le.il.
were routined in prison. If. said .Mr.
C. the rirrumstaae.es attending this
transaction he eorrecll.v stated, it he
«•ornes an iniperioii* duly in the house
iiute 11m inquiry <'otitoinpJ'.U**<i
h> the amendment which l have pro
posed. I'li,it this was an cxlrutirdi
nary case was ... liy the
'act of the general sensation wliieii it ;
had excited on the subject, in
place where it had occurred. Filled;ours
s that respect.dile and populous city
is with men differing w idely on politi
cal topics ami entertaining various
views of publie Bffairs, hut one senti
lent, Mr. s id prevailed on this
suhject, which was favorable to the
persons thus arraigned. With re
gard to the conduct of the court on
this occasion, he would say nothing:
The respect which, whilst fie Indu
seat on this floor, he should always
shew to every department of the gov
.■ niaient ; the respect he enterrained
for the honorable judge who had pre
sided, forbade him from pronouncing
tiie decision of that court to have been
unwarranted hy law.--But he felt
himself perfectly sustained in saving.i
that if the proceeding was warranted |
• iy the existing law, it was the impr
emus duty of congress io alter the
law in this respect. For, what, he
asked, tiie. neutral obligation which
one nation owed to another engaged
in w.»r ? The essence of it is ibis ;
that the belligerent means of the neu
h al shall not be employed in the war
m favor of either of the parlies. That
is the whole of ihe obligation of a
• bird patty in a war between two o
I hers : it certainly does not require
of one nation to restrain the bell ger
•nt means of other nations. If those
i.itions choose to permit their means
to he employed iu liehalf of either
party, it is their business to look to it.
..nd not ours. Let the conduct of III
persons prosecuted lie regarded in it-/
most favorable light ; let it he consi !
.
e
persons
most favorable light ; let it he consi !
er*"l as the passage of troops through
our country ami there was nothing i*
our neutral obligations forbidding it.
The passage of troops through a n< u
country according to Ids impres
ions, was a question depending on the
ii.irtir'ul.-ir interest, quiet or repose ol
the eolintry traversed, and might In
granted or refused, at its discrétion,
without iu any degree affecting the
obligations of the neutral to either n!
the parties engaged in the controversy.
But sorely Mr, U. said, this was not
«case of (he passage of troops; the
persons apprehended not being i i suf
ficient a a m I -er. not organized, or e
quipped io sue!) a manner as, under
toy const ru* (ion, to constitute a mill
orps. Oo this case he would detain
the House no loti er« he said,; for he
was satisfied t!«'y meld not tint agree
with him, if the law justified the pro
ceding that iiad taken place, that law
ought, to he immediately amended.—
Oilier eases had ot (lined in which it
ippeared to him it became the Con
,re,s to interpose its authority. Per
sons sailing under (he flag of the
provinces had been arraigned in our
ourts. and tried for piracy ; in one
ease, alter having been arraigned,
Ined, and acquitted of piracy, the
same individual;,, on the instigation of
Spanish officer or agent, had been
(gain alTiigned lor the same offence.
I he gentleman from Massachusetts
would l oryect htm if he was wrong,
for the ease had occurred in the town
ol Boston. We admit the flag of these
•ulooies into our ports, said Mr. C. ;
we profess to be neutral; but if our
pronounce, that the moment the
properly and persons under that flag
mer mir ports, they shall he seized,
the one claimed hy the Spanish min
isie.r or consul as (he property of
Spain,and the other prosecuted as pi.
rales, that I. w ought to be altered i!
vie mean to perform our neutral pro
Zession». I have brought the subje t
irjbre this House thus promptly.'said
.M . U. Iieeause I trust that in this
/iottst'ihe cause will tiud justice ; that,
however treated
» Lew titre, nu this
no r viii! he found u guardian interest
«■lending to our pert. inianee of the
jtist obligations of neutrality. Hielt
> no, lie said, whatever mi.hi have
■ecu our intentions, our acts hud br.cn
all i*o t he oilier side.
I 1 '» uni the pro
ehiiii.iiion ol IS'lè, issued to tcriuiuale
an i ■ punition supjiosed to he orgau
»zi g in l.ouisiana, anexpcdiii .« exis
tii/g (zitiy io the mind ol the Chevalier
tic Hnis, iiowiilothe late act—wliethci
the measure. w,.s a propre one or not
ne di i not say ; his confidence in tin
Executive led him to suppose it was
adopted on sufficient grounds—down
io tue order lev suppressing, as k
w.*s culled, the establishments at A
luelia Island and G livestown—all tin
o is ol ihe government had beet) m
otic side ;■ they all luire against tin
POloaies. against the cause in whirl
•ne patriot» of South America wer/
ardently engagei!.
It became us, lie said, to look to
the other side hottest !y intending neu
jLraiity,ns l»e belioie»! vve t!i<K !j> l uh
recollect the condition oi the patriots;
no minister here to spur on our gov
enune* t, as was said in an interesting
and it appeared to him a very candid
work recently published in tins coun
try. respecting the progress il w
.'iouiU Àworicaii n*v«*luiion no IViiii
islet-here to lie rewarded by noble
honors inconsequence of the intlneiice
he is supposed to possess wait the
; American govern . eut No ; their tin
tie-tliirtimule case, Mr. said, was what
Filled;ours liadle-eithi the year 1778 nod
ITTSl-lheie Ministers,like «ut* I* rank
lias and days at that, day, were ska Ik
ing «hont Europe imploring inexoru
hie legitimacy one kind look— some
aid to terminate war afflicting to hu
inanity. Nay, their situation was
wot se than ours: lor we had one gt eat
apd magnanimous ally to reoogmze
us, hut no nation had stepped lorward
to ncktiow ledge any ol these provii,
res. Such disparity between the par
ties Mr. U. said, demanded a just ui
tenlioti to the interests o! the parts
which was unrepresented ; and if the
lacts which he had mentioned and
others whi- h had come to ins kiovvl
| trusted the House would give the
subject their attention, and shew that
here, in this place, the obligations id'
neutrality would he stri- lly regarded
in respect to Spanish America.
Mr. Sergeant rose, in consequen, e
of me gentleman having appeared to
him, not to enter into any dis- ussim
• f the question presented hy the a
memlinciit, hut to speak of the facts
which were within his knowledge,
The statement made hy the Spe -k r
was substantially correct : it was also
orrci-t that the circumstance had or
edge wen* correct, they loudly demon
Ideil the interposition f Congress. IB
;
a
it.
caslotted considerable sensation ant ing
li port irs in the city of Pliihi'"lp!iia.
'•lr. S. recapitulated the principal
/'acts, adding, that the vessel in which
knien
these persons embarked was
■ ith munitions of war. As respected
the views ..mi intentions ol the persons
it-/
!
•apprehended Mr. S. said, he believed
they had neither any intention nor
any idea of violating the laws of the
United Stoles, aim that their conduct
had been perfectly decorous and cor
rt" t. 'L'hc Court had thought they
had offered against the A t of Con
gress on the lost session ; nr were so
ihr at least ol' tlmi opinion, that they
. bought it necessary to detain them.
I'lte bil l demanded was not high; but
tiiey were not able to procure it. and
were, thereforecom m ilieu in gaol. I*
was because of the correct d* pnr'meut
of these persons, that the senti lici t
in their favor had been so gem rol—
but no complaint was made of the
ourl, for which the same respect
was entertained with which the
Speaker hiiiiseifhad regarded it. He
had mentioned these facts only, that
ihr house might, when (he time eaun
tor acting on it, lie aware of the con
struct ion put on the existing law, so
far as any had been given.
The amendment moved hy Mr. Clay
to «he first resolution was agred to
without opposition.
The ( onimitlee oT the whole rose A
»(■ported their adoption of the seve
e il resolutions moved hy Mr. Taylor,
w ith the amendments which the house
agreed to, nein. con. ami the commit
lees were ordered to be app anted
accordingly
And the house adjourned.
IN SENATE.
December i
Mr. Campbell, from Tennessee, ap
pearrd and took his seat.
A letter was k id before the Senate
from David Holmes, Governor of the
state of Mississippi, enclosing the
Constitution ofthat state.
And the Senate adjourned, having
no business before them.
IN THE HOUSE OF HEURE
SENTATIVKS.
Thursday, Dee. L
Three other members appeared, viz.
from Virginia, Air. Johnson ; from
.Maryland, Mr. Hayly ;and fiomPemi
sylvani, Mr. Ita'dwin.
The. following eomniitt.ees were
announced, having been appointed hy
the Speaker, in pursuant)« ofihe order
of yesterday :
Committee of II ays and .Means -
Messrs. Lovviideü, Smith of Md Bur
well, Filkiti, Ahull, Sergeant and
Trimble.
Of Elections —Alcssrs. Taylor, Ty
ler, Merrill, Shaw, Boss, Whiteman
and Strong.
Of Commerce and .Manufactures —
Alcssrs. Newton, Seybert, Moseley.
Irving, AFLaue, Crawford and Kin
sey.
Of Claims —Messrs. Williams of
V. C. Rich. Bateman, AU Coy, Hun
tingdom. Schuyler and Walker of Ivy.
Ofihe District of Columbia — Mes
irs. Herbert, Aliller, Peter, Boden.
Strother, Claibo"ne, and Cobh.
On the publie Lands —Messrs. Ro
hc.rtson of Lou. AadersouofKy. Aler
Campbell, Hendricks, Terry and|
eer,
Mrr.
On Ihe Pont Ofice and Paul Roads
—Messrs, logic.in, Bimini. Barber of
Townsend, Nelson jüf .Mass
Ohio,
Colston and Terrell,
Un Pensions & Revolutionary Claims
—Messrs. Ultra, Wilkin, Buggies.
W. p. Maday, Sherwood, Ellicott A
Owen.
On public Expenditure—
Desha, .(^nleison ol' Pa
Cushman, Uulbrelh, limiter
Holmes of Con.
On the Judiciary —Messrs. Nelson
„r V«. ITopkioson, Spencer, Edwards.
Beecher, Livermore and Hale.
On Accounts —Messrs. Little, Ben
nett and Allen of Mass.
Of Revival and unfinished business
_-Messrs. Savage, Whiteside and
Westerlo.
On Private Lund Claims—Messrs.
Herrick, Heister, Piml.ill, Ilogguud
Tompkins.
Committees of investigation into
expenditures, Ac.
For the Department of Slate — Mes
srs. Forsyth, Hash muck and Scud
dur.
-Messrs.
Garnett,
am!
For the. Treasury —Messrs. Lown
des, Allen, of Va. and Marchand.
For the Department, of D ar — Mes.
srs. .lolinsim, ofky. Tucker, of S. C.
and llai'kiiner.
For the Navy Department —Messrs
PI osants, Stores and Sampson.
For the General Post O jjice —Mes
srs I ogham, Hubbard ami limiting
do ui.
For Ihe Public buildings —Messrs.
Tucker, of Va. Drake and Ore.
On so much of the President's
M essageus relates to Foreign ./fairs
-.Messrs. Johnson, of Ky. Bloomfield,
Bred, T. Al. Nelson, Nesbitt, Fortej
and Gage.
On the militia Messrs. Harrison.
Smy tli. ol V.i. Quarles. Williams of
Coni. Jones, Linn and .Morton.
On Naval .[fairs —.Messrs. Pleas
ant's, Silshee, __ Wendrvcr, Parrott.
Ringgold, Savage and S. Imy h r.
O/t India Ajj'u
Williams, of X. Y. Murr- y.
•viocliumh. Butler, Richardsand Part.
O/t I nier nu l Improvement —Messrs
ticker of \ a. ralmailge, Ingham.
Stores, Claggel, Robertson ofky.am
Lewis.
Respecting Amelia Island —Messrs.
Messrs. South
it'll,
Respecting Amelia Island —Messrs.
Middleton. Smith, Upliam, Sawyel.
Ball, ilumford and Cook.
O/t the Public buildings —Messrs.
Parris, Bassett, Bellinger, Taylor,
Forsyth, Crolls and Foiger.
Respecting Ihe surviving Revolution
try Patriots —Messrs. Bloomfield,
Heed, Stuart, Rhea, Smith of Mil.
•\allaee and Hall,
A nimmer of petitions were pre
trilled ami referred, which shall li
published io the weekly list of peli
lions presented, which we intend t u
compin' for the information of those
interested iu tiiem.
On uiniiek of Mr. Comstock. Rest»!
veil that the. committee on Military
Affairs be instructed to enquire into
the expediency of making provision lr
law for the commutation into money
of the Military Bounty Lands graute*
by Congress.
The Speaker laid before the IIous
the Constitution adopted for thr new
slate of (Mississippi.
rhe resolution for the admission o
the stale of Mississippi into the Unim .
was received from the Senate, twic
read, and referred to a eommiltc ot
thr whole,
A resolution lor appointing Cliap
It-ius, and for appointing a Library
committee, were received from tin
Senate, and concurred in. The hallo
ting for the Chaplain, on the part ot
this House, was offered for to-mor
row at 14 o'clock, on motion of Mr.
Southard.
An effort was made, without suc
cess. to procure an adjournment ovci
to Monday.
Ami the House adjourned to to
morrow.
SENATE.
December 5.
Mr. Hr.rsey , from Delaware, ap
peared and took his scat.
Mr. Daggett offered a resolution, an
tie rising tiie distribution of eertai.
Ipublie documents printed hy T. B
Wait and Sims, of Boston ; whit h
passed to a second reading.
The Semite resumed the considéra
tion of the motion for tluvappointment
of standing committees of the Semite,
»nd having inserted Tuesday next, as
the day when they would proceed i>
. heir app. iutuient, the. motion was
agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Wilson, it was
resolved, that the Senate would pro
ceed on Monday next to the appoint
ment of a Chaplain ; and then
The Senate adjourned to Mon»ay
next.
UODSL OF «EfUESENTATIVES.
DECKMBBH n.
Mr. Dullard Smith, of Vi.'giuia,ap
peared uud took his seat
Sundry petitions, whh li will lie d. >
noticed, were received, and-sever ,;V
referred to various committees';
when
Mr. Robertson or Lou. offered the
following resolution for considérai i
Resolved. Timt the President of :!.e
United Stales he requested to lay he.
fore the House of Representative*
such information as he may puss>
and tliink proper to rotnmuirratc.
lative to the independence and politi
cal condition of the provinces uf
Spanish America.
■ The resolution having been read_
Mr. tlOBKKTHuN said, (but lie sup
posed there would he no objection to
the adoption of the resolution which
lie bad just, submitted to tile consid
eration of the House, Ho found,
from the late «message of the Presi
dent, that the attention of the Horse,
as well as of the nation, had been, in
a general way, directed to the situa
tion of the provinces of Spanish Ame
rica. The President had observed
too, and very truly that the citizens of
the Uniteil States sympathized in the
events which affected their neighbor .
Mr. R. said, that as far hack as the
year 1811, this subject had excited
considerable interest ; that a commit
tee had been raisedthe declara
tion of independence and the constitu
tion of Venezuela, with other infor
mation, laid b "ore it hy the then
President, auu a report on Them sub
mitted to'the House. The report,
among other things, expressed much
good will towards the Veneztieh ans,
and an intention to acknowledge their
independence whenever that iude.pcn
denre should be achieved. From that
time till the present, silence had been
observed in regard to live affairs of that
part of the continent. The reason
was obvious ; we were soon after en
gaged in a war with England, and
since the peace our own pressing con
cerns liait occupied our attention.
The president lias spoken, sir, of
the interest and the sympathy we feel
in the affairs of our southern neigh
hours. Perhaps it may he said with
truth, that no subject excites through
out the civilized world a stronger in
n :
'ss
ra
a stronger
terest tlmn the contest in which the
provinces of Spanish America arc en
gaged. Every wind viiat blows wafts
to our shores the schemes and spécu
lai ions of European statesmen and
politicians ; from the frozen regions
I'the north to the milder climes of
the peninsula, if elicits remark and
• mil mauds attention. Even Alexan
der, he who cmlitcs epistles about
peace and bilde societies, while lie
whets the sword of battle and pre
pares the,weapons of destruction, he,
it is s.,id, is about to furnish his Cos
sacks to add to the horrors of, as it is
already called, tic war of death. T he
thunders of the Pope too, the head of
the Christian church, began to he
heard, and no doubt we shall soon see
his anathemas giving up the prop! * of
South America, body and soul loThe
punishments due here and hereafter to
I lie crimes of rebellion and republican
ism. If. then, to governments across
die Atlanta, (he situation ol (his
people he thus interesting, surely it is
not a matter of surprize that the citi
zens ofihe United States should with
.nine solicitude turn their attention
towards them. Every republican in
the United Stales must lament their
disasters aim exult in their triumphs :
they do hut follow the example we
have set them ; we owe our glory and
>ur fame to resistance to sirbitrrry
tower, atpl the people of Spanish Ame
rica, and all others, groaning under
oppression must owe their elevation
.mil worth of character to the same
•ireunistanre. They do hut follow in
our footsteps ; it is in vain to deny or
disguise the f»i t; it is known through
out the world—whatever of injury »
despotism or priestcraft have sustain
'd, whether from the revolution of
France, or that which now, I hope,
flourishes in our hemisphere, is laid to
die account of our glorious revolution,
and the excellent principles of our
const tution.
It is to be regretted, Mr. Speaker,
il at our' a< (piaintmice with the peo
ple of Spanish America is not more
particular ami intimate than it is: we
entert, in but one sent iment about them
—our feelings arc all iu unison ; yet
tt'e differ and dispute on a variety of
points, which it is desirable should he
oo longer suffered to remain in denb .
Mexico, Pern, Chib. Buenos Ayres,
Venezuela. New Grenada, are they
independent ? Arc they struggling for
independence, or leave they yielded to
their European tyrant ? Have they
made known their situation to the
Executive Department? Have they
demanded to he recognized as inde
pendent sovereignties? do they govern
themselves ? elect their agents, legN
lature, executive and judiciary? lay
old collect taxes, raise and support
armies and natives ? It is possible that
these facts are in the possession ufihe
President ; it is very well known that
there have been agents, men of iiign
respectability, sent publicly IV mi the
governwuit* of Venezuela, N; w lire-