Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-11-15 00:00:00, page 2

'Congress of the United States
Ik Senate, Saturday, oct. 22.
, ' LOUISIANA. 1
The following Bill, introduced by Mr. Breckinridge, of
Kentucky passed to a second reading, viz.
“ Bait sna&d, % That the Prefideut of the Unjted
States be, and he is hereby authorized to-take peffeffion
of, and occupy the territories ceded by franco to the United
States by the Treaty concluded as Paris on the 30th day
of April last between the two nations ; and. that he may fcr
that purple, and in order to maintain in the said territories
the authority of th; United States, employ any part of the
army and navy of the United States, and of the force au
thorized by an ad t passed the 3d day of March bit, inti
tled "An aft deeding a detachment from the militia of
the United States, and for erecting certain arsenals," which
he may deem necessary : And so much of the sum appro
priated by the said a4 as may be necessary, is hereby ap
propriated for the purpose of carrying this ad into effect rfl
to be applied under the direction of the President of the
United States.
Sec.lt And be it further enaßeil, That until Congress
Shall have made provisions for the temporary government
of the said territories, all the military, civil, and judicial
powers exercised by the officers of the existing government
of the fame, Shall be veiled in such person or persons, and
Shall be exercised by and in such a manner as the present j
of the United States Shall dired.
= . i
>A motion was prefepted for altering the Cenflitutien rc
fpe&irrg the voting for President and Vice-President.
Mr. Dayton moved that it be referred to a felcd commit
tee. — He observed, the motion was too important, to be
hurried in the manner it then was.£
Mr. Hillhoufe also thought the fubjed important. If
this motion is carried, in case tho President Should die; the;
appointment of a perfen to Supply his place, will then fall|
upon the Senate. A man may thus be chosen who hray|
be extremely obnoxious to the profile. He added Several ;
other observations ; and hoped the fubjedl would be well ;
considered.
Mr. Butler offered the following motion, " That no per.
son, tubo Las twice been elected Pref&nt Jhall be eligible to serve
again, until after the expiration of four years, but that any
citizen, who may be eligible, may ferine for four years and no
long.#.''
A desultory conYerfation ensued, on the time when the
motions mould be ta±en—upon the reference of them, &c.
In the course of which
Mr. Jackson (of Georgia) said, he thought that the
House could not impute hurry—that the business might ea
. fily be got through, on Monday or Tuefday:—That he
was a great admirer of Mr. Jefferfon, in whom he believed,
all were happy ! But he said, we may not always have
a Jefferson at Our head. We know not who may
succeed him.—We may have a Buonaparte, or
some such man, who may he disapproved of. He, there
fore, pressed the House to proceed.
At the conclusion of the conversation, the fubjeft -was re
ferred to a feleEt Committee.
A motion was laid on the table, for coming to the
choice of a Secretary and other officers for the Senate.
The door^were then closed; and the Senate proceeded
upon Executive bufinefe.
to
House of Refertfentatfaes.
Friday, Oct. 21.
A number of petitions were received, and referred; which
Will.be mentioned when decided on.
Saturday, Oct. 22.
The following Message was received from the Presi
dent of the United States, by Mr; Harvle, his Secretary.
M ESSAGE.
To the Senate, &e. In my communication to you
of the 17th iuftanr, I informed you thatConven-
tions had been entered into, with the government
of France, for the cession of Louisiana, tothe U
cited Rates. These, with the advice and 6 tnfent
of the Senate, having now been refined and my rati
4 location exchanged for that of the First Consul ol
fiance in due form, they are fomrounicated to vou
for consideration in your legislative capacity. You
will observe that some important conditions cannot
be carried into execution, but with the aid ofthe le
gislature ; and that time psfles a decision on them
without delay.
The ulterior pfovifinns also suggested in the fame
communication, for the occupation and govern
Client of the country, will call for early attention.
Such information, relative to its government, as
time and dißance have permitted me to obtain,
Will be ready to be hid before you Within a fw
days. But as permanent arrangements for this ob
je& may require time and deliberation; it is for
your consideration whether you will not forthwith
make such temporary provisions for the preserva
tion, io the mean while r of order and tranquility in
the country, as the case may require.
TH: JEFFERSON.
Ga. 21,1803.,
The Treaty, &c. havfog been read, Mr. Ran
dolph moved a reference of the Message to the
Committee of the whole, for Monday next. Car
ried. He then moved the following Resolution, to
be then acted upon :
Retolyed, That povifan ought to be made for car
tying into effea, the said Treaty and Conventions.
AMENDMENT of CONSTITUTION.
Mr. Dawson, from the Committee on the propo
sition for amending the Constitution, made report :
RESOLVED, &c. (repeating the usual pream
ble.) In all future eleaions'of r/efrlent and Vice-
President, the electors (ball name in their ballots the
person voted for as Prefident,and in diftina ballots
the perfoo voted for as Vice Prefiden^of whom one
arleafl Shall not be an inhabitant of the fame state
witty themselves : The person having a majority of
all the electors appointed us President Shall be the
itatfident ; and if there fell be no such majority,
the President ffiall be chosen from the highest num
ber, not exceeding three, on the lift fur Prefident,by
the House of Rep/efentatives, in the manner di.
reßed by the constitution— the person haying the
greatest number of votes as Vice-President Shall be
the Vice-President, and in case of an equal number
of votes fortwo or more performs for Vice-Pfefident,
they being the highest on the lift, the Senate flrail
choose the Vice-President from those having such
equal number, in the manner direded by the con-
Ritution.
Referred to a Committee of the whole.
Oh motion of Mr. Leib, a committee of five
wat railed, to inquire if any alterations are necessary
in the a&s cßabliShiog a Marine Corps. [The
Committee, Messrs. Leib, Jackson, Cutts, L. Wis.
liams, and Olin.—Ayes 75.] *
■■—■■■■—■_
SECRET PROCEEDINGS. ?
Mr. Randolph called to the recolleaidri of the
House, a report made the last session on the futjea
of Louifyna. A.q injendion or secrecy was laid ,t
hat time^— As tending to, throw light on the fub^ 1
Tuesday, Oct. if
Tiie Houle went into committee ol the who'e,
onthe Message communicating the LOUISIANA
ITREATY.
i Mr. Randolph moved in addition to the propofi
j HOi,before fubnitted by him, declaring it expedient
I to pass the necessary laws for carrying the treatj in
to operat on,two additional propositions, the on| for
icferringtoa (ele& Committee .o much of the Nef
rage as relates to toe eftablifliment of a provisional
government over Lobifiana, and the other for re
ferring to the Commitueof Ways and Meads so
much of the Manage as relates to appropriating 60
unllions of francs, & making provision for the pay
ment of the demands of our citizens on the French
government.,
On agreeing to the tirft proportion of Mr. Ran
dolph, the debate on the conftitntionality and expe
diency 1)f the Treaty was commenced by MriG.
Griswold, of New-York,who questioned its coufti
rationality on the grounds, that the conftitufioq did
not authorife an extension of the territory of the
United dates, and that, in violation of the confftu
tion, the Treaty gave a preference to ships of
Spain and France entering the ports of Louisiana
over rhe Atlantic ports.
These were the principal grounds of objeain^
and were urged by Mtllrs. G. Gritwold, Joseph
Lewis, Griffin, Purviance, Thatcher, K. Griswold,
and Dana ; and opposed by Messrs. j. Randolph,
Elliot, Sanford, Jmilie, Crowninfliield, Nicholson,
Rodney, and'Mitcbil!. The debate did not clofeuntil
about 8 0 clock in the evening, when the question
was taken on the federal motions of Mr. Randolph,
and carried by great majorities. The committee
then rofeand reported th?relolutions ; which were
immediately cefofidered by the House.
On thejS/f refolutioD, being a declaration that it
Was expedient to pass the necessary laws to carry the
Treaty into operation, the yeas and nays were re
quired, and were Yeas 90— Nays %
The question was then put to the /another fefolu
tions ; as above dated, and carried without a divif
im>. T -- 4
9tofofe%+»s.@z%4,fo#^&^ft
Religion.
?The magnanimous Camp meeting bitt in
Wilkes county, by the Presbyterians & Methodius,
began on T^urfday the 281 b July, and closed on
Monday the fitft of Aqgutl ; the following is the
statement rendered of the assemblage, viz.—ift day
—3O waggons of burthen, § four wheel carriages,
18 two wheel do. 2 carts, and 1 truckle waggon
id day, 7, waggons of burthen, t§ four wheel car
riages, 49 two wheel do. § carts, 1 truckle waggon,
and 56 tents.—fl day, 116 waggons of burthen,32
four wheel carriages, betwo wheel do. 7 carts, 1
truckle waggon, and 73 tents.—4th day, 97 wag
gons of burthen, 17 rour wheel carriages, 73 two
wheel do. 8 carts, 1 truckle waggon, and 73 tents.
.The people assembled on this occasion if compu
ted at 8000; there were thirty preachers..--A
warm exercise enfued,' which continued night and
day during the meeting, and many became the hap
py fubjeds of awakening 1 regenerating grace, at
tended with filling to the ground, a loud noise, by
cries for mercy, and acclamations ofjoy."
I Georgia Advertifir.
je&,a,4 78 * very able compofcion of a gentleman,
not then in the House (Mr. Nicholson) he thought
it worthy of publication. He moved its reference.
The Speaker doubted whether the motion was in
iorder ; and Mr. Randolph withdrew it, to bring it
Iforward ata future time in a less objectionable
Shape.
After a loose cohyeffatlon, Mr. Griswold, alked
the speaker what was the quiftion before the
House? .-
The speaker said there was no question before
the House.;>
Mr. Griswold then pbferved, that the converfa.
tion was out of order.
Mr. Randolph. "There is no body out of order
but the gentleman himfelf. His colleague alks, if
there is any mention of the report on the public
journal. To answer his inquiry, the Clerk is now
fearchiag the journal. There is, therefore, a quef
, tion before the House; and any member has a right
to require the examination of the journals. Mr.
Griswold was forty to fee a difference between, 'he
speaker, and the gentleman from Virginia, The
speaker fays, there is no question before the House ;
the gentleman from Virginia, fays there is. Any
g- ntleman may inquire ofthe Clerk for information
respecting the journal; but he never knew before,
|that Uin made a motion.t
iMr. Matthew Lyon moved that the doors beflo
fed, for the purpose of taking off the mjunaici of
! Secrecy.|
Mr. RoJuey, ( >f Delaware)was opposed tgc'o
;fing the doors, on this occasion ; and on altoKa
(in>, excepting very important ones.
Mr. Smilic was also opposed to elofing the doors.
IThe motion for clofingthe doors prevailed. They
I remained doled for a Short time ; and the injunc
} tion of secrecy refpe&ing rhe report of the Secret
I Committee taken off, and the report ordered to be
printed.'
7 Monday, 0ct.24.
Loafana Treaty.
Mr. R. Griswold made the following motion :—
Refolded, Tint the Pre indent of the United States
be requelled to<aufe to be laid before this House, a
copy of the weary between the French republic and
Spain, of the firlt of October iB6O, together with a
copy of the deed of cession from Spain executed in
put,nance of the fiine treaty conveying Lotidiana
to France, (if any such deed exists ;) also copies of
firth correfpondtnee be ween the government of the
United flares and the government ot minister of
Spain (if any such corrtfpondence has taken place)
as will Show the assent or dissent of Spain to the
purchase of L uifiana by the United Slates, together
with copies of such other documents as may beln
thadepartment of gates or a "j other department of
this government tending to aftertain whether the
United dates have, ip fact, acquired any title to the
province of Louisiana by the treaties with France,
ofthe 30th of April, 1803.
On this motion a debate ensued which continued
until near 6 o'clock in the evening. Successive
questions were taken on the different members of the
motion, some of which were agreed to, and others
disagreed to ; when the final question was taken by
Yeas and Nays on the whole as amended, which was
bit—le^s §7 —Nays ty.
new-York, oct. to:
FIRES.
, The frequent fires which have lately happened in
Montreal, has led the inhabitants of that place to be
lieve they have been the effed of design and not of
accident. In confeqdeuceof which,the Lieut. Gov
ernor of Upper and lower Canada, has issued his
proclamation, enjoining and commanding all his
M^jefty's faithful fubjeds to use their utmost en
deavors in difeovering the incendiaries ; offering a
reward of SOO pounds to be paid on convi&ion—
alfo unconditional pardon,if the person or perlonsgiv
ing information fILII have been an accomplice or
accomplices.
The magistrates of Quebec; in their own names,
and that of their fellc'w citizens have offered a fur
ther reward of looe dollars for the conviction of the
offenders. And the magistrates of Montreal have
also offered a further reward of 2§o pounds for con
viaion of the laid offenders. The citizens in turn
patrol the Greets nightly with a view to deleft the
base incendiaries. The following ban account of
the buildings consumed and their occupants.
From Montreal Aeg. 8.
We are foiry again to announce to our readers
the devastation made during the last week in this
city, by that devouring element, Fire : On Mon
day morning last a little after one o'clock, the
the house of Mr. Langly the Hatters was pe revi
ved to be on fire, and notwithftartding very great
exertions were made to prevent the conflagrarion
fpreading & that house with his neighbor's Dr. Set
by, were entirely confirmed—'l he former being
absent from home, the greatest part of his etfe&s
were burnt. The following day, about 6 o'clock
A. M. a fire broke out in a Mr. Lagan's (table,
supposed to have been caused by some (parks that
might have lodged there from the fire the pfe
ceedirfg day ; it being in the day time and assis
tance ready, the buildings being pulled down &
every combuOible removed by the.uncommon
exertion of every individual, .the fire was extin
guished Without extending any farther, although—
much damage was occasioned by the hidden re
moval of effects, &c..&c. Agitated as the pub
lic mind natm ally was, the alarm of fire the suc
ceeding day dd not serve to appease it.
On Wednesday morning about 16 o'clock, #
nother fire was difeovered in a house occupied by
Mr. Hogar which communicated to the house of
Mr. Brackenridge, and although the house adjoin
ing was pulled down,the flames very soon caught
the store of Mr. Dunlop which alcho' considered
fire-proof, was with its contents, entirely, with
the other hotfe, reduced to affies. Mr. Dunlops
loss is to a very great amount. The Hospital,
Mr. Stanfield's, and Mr. Leofevre's houses were
on fire several times, but by the very wonderful
exertions of every denomination of persons, they
were saved —the loss to various individuals mnft
have-been very considerable. It was by exertion
only, the whole lower town was fav^d from the
merciless element. As various reports had been
circulated, and with some semblance of truth,
that the recent fires had not been accidental, de
tachments of the militia have since patroled the
ftreets,butuocertain difeovery has yet been mad&<
Foreign Article.
- CHE^BURGH, SEPT. 6.
The works in the road here are carried on with the
greatest activity, and are diretted by Mr. Gachin with
as much intelligence as zeal. The dike will procure the
means of faltering 50 (hips ofthe line, and will thus
form a port which has Jo long been wanting to oppose
the English in the Channel, and which will be superi
or to all those which nature has given to England.
This dikeftuate between Fort ^uerqueville and th~
if and Pelee, is composed of blocks offone, feme of them
forming cubes of 60 feet, and of 12,000 pounds in
weight.,
The coinmiffion appointed in the 1792, gave up the
projeflofthe 17 coves that had been placed in the port,
and which face the year 1757 had been found ineffi
cient to rtfft the force of the ocean. The remains of
the left butene are fill to be fan to the eafward. The
dike is already, 36 feet above the bottom of the road
and if 6feet under low abater mark which is 43 feet
from the bottom. .
But in the centre they are confruffing a part of 300
feet in length, which will be elevated 75 feet from the
bottom, and nine above high .fads, on which will be
planted 30 pieces of cannon, 12 mortars.' This part
is already advanced to 57 feet and will be finished by
next ferine. Forty boats are daily employed so carry
fones ; they carry from three to five toifes each. The
two forts which flank the road, added to this battery,
will guarantee Gherburgh from every. attack. To
finifo the dike, 270,000 cubic toifes offone are fill
wanting, they will cofl about 14 millions, but will be
finifhed in three years. Independently of this beauti
ful road there will be a port dug in the mountain
which will contain 25 flips of the line, and about
3000 workmen are slow employed on it.
Equo ne credite, Teucri
l@dquid id est, timeo Danaes et dona ferehtes.
But supposing even that Portugal, forgetting every
sentiment of honourand fafety,Should declare her
felf openly against France, let us examine whether
Spain will or will not, assist the operations of the
Frerich and we ihall find that (he is bound to do
it. The question has induced a French Jotirnal
ift to cite the Treaty, so well known under the
name of the Family Compafr, concluded between
Louis the 14th and his Grand son, tlie treaty
Concluded at St. Ildephonfo in 17^. They are
of a nature to remove „ety doubt, for they state
the number of men and of ships which each of the
contrasting parties are bound to futnilh, on the re
quisition of the other. Abetter offenfive and de
fenfive alliance could not be desired. Some Eng
lish writers have complained ofthe influence which
the French government exercises over Spain. It
has not fret, however, even made use of rights ;
but should it ever claim the accomplishment of
these solemn treaties it isevident, that there will be
neither violation of territory or any injury done
to the interests of Spain, and that the conduct of
France towards Portugal, will be no fort of at
tempt whatever against the independence and neu-'
trality of nations.
By the last Mails.
Since the above was prepared for the prefs,ire
lament that we have occasion to inform our rea
ders, that about 3 o'clock yefterda, afternoon,a
nother fire broke,out opposite to the Recolet Bar
racks, in an out house, which, with several others
and two dwelling houses, were consumed, several
other dwelling andout houses were pulled down, &
effectually prevented the conflagration, which
from the puculiar situation of the place where the <
fire was firft difeovered and ils vicinity to the Pow
der Magizine, gave every reason to apprehend.
Aug: 15. About fix o'clock on Saturday mor
ning a quantity of- live coals were found on a
Ihelfin the corner of an out-house at Mr. Lang
man's which had communicated and would in a
few minutes more (had not the interpofitioh of
Providence prevented) have laid waste that part
of the Town which escaped the former ravages of
that devouring element. The Mdgiftrates are
taking the necessary Heps to detect the perpetra ?
tor of this horid attempt.—We are at prefect.urt.
able to give onr readers the result of their enqu:,
ries, which, however, we cannot but hope, will
ultimately lead to a difeovery.
—.—b=~
tßoston, Nov. &
from Washington, oct. 29.
"Things go on swimmingly. The bills whipfl
the cession of Louisiana make necessary ; arid for
tinkering the Constitution, have passed toith the u
sual triumphant majorities. The Spanish Minis
ter's remonstrance is treated with,as much con
tempt as. Buonaparte would treat a rcmonftranc^
from the Laodamman of Switzerland.
"An altercation in the Senate had like to b<ve ruf.
fUd the Imooth current of proceeding.—ln a late
debate Gen. Dayton, of New-Jersey, observed tru
ly, that Mr. Clinton from New-York had of late
arraigned motives inllead of meeting arguments. —
In reply, Mr. Clinton denied the charge, and pro
nounced the assertion to be totally falfe. Gen.D;
took no notice of this Until the close of the debate,
because he said, his high refped for the Senate had
retrained him; but he would now tell the Mem
ber from New. York, there would.be a fitter time,
and titter place, for taking that notice of his rude
nets and indecency .which they merited. I since '
learn, that in the evening Mr. Clinton sent a very
humble apology to Gen. Dayton far his conduct,
which, he said, w^s attributable to the jarpulfe of
the moment, and not to an intension to impeach the
veracity of Gen. D. He then, lam told, resigned
his feat, and next morning went off post-haste for
New-York. When the Senate met the next day,
Gen. D, read the apology in his place."
"The Refutation for altering the Constitution;
was again taken up this day, and passed, Ayes 88,
—Noes 31. The bill from the Senate authorizing
the President to take poffedion of Louisiana also
passed.—Ayes 89. Noes 23.
"The bill making appropriations relative to Loui
siana, passed the House this day, 86 to 7. —It haM
also passed the Senate without opposition.
"Dr. Euftis, after a (bort eulogium on the death
of Judge Pendleton; of Virginia, moved, that the
Houle go into mourning for thirty days, which 1
was agreed to."
Tri&'fddf Qrdfl?4^
Go Monday tfc 51st uh. the Anni^rfvrv Birth
day. of the . Hon. JOHN ADAMS, Ut e ^W.k ?h
of the Utirted fetes, %s trelebr^i. (>..<.:y§d*