Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-04-03 00:00:00, page 2

Xus agreed to, he should propose. The
amen dine nt proposes the appointment
of three commissioners, whose decisi
on on the title is to be reported to Con
gress, on or before the first day ot Ja
nuary Best, and to he valid and filial, <
unless reversed by Congress before i
the 4th duy of March succeeding.
Mr Sheft'ey supported his amend
ment by some remark*.
JMr \V. Alston and Mr Rhea spoke
generally against the bill.
A motion was then made by Mr.
Dawson to postpone the fuither consi
rlf ration of the bill to Monday next
and ca ried.
i he House resolved itself into a
committee of the whole-, Mr Desha in
the chair, on the bill authorising the
diecliarge of Phineas Varney from his
in prisonmenu
[This is a case ofimprisonment for
v’.' iaiioo of the embargo laws. The
petitioner was employed by Swantou
and Davis, of Bath, duting the embar
go, to go cn an unlawful voyage, which
lit concluded and paid the proceeds
i no .heir hands. lie was subsequent
ly prosecuted for a violation of the
embargo laws, fined 3000 dollars and
imprisoned because unable to pay it or
procure it to he paid.]
Alter considerable contest, Messrs.
Cook &nd Koct chiefly supporting the
bill, the committee reported it to the
House, and it was ordered to be en
grossed lor a third reading.
Match 24.
Mr Johnson reported a bill for the
relief ol John Minor, administrator ot
Reuben Aiinui. Tw ice read and com
mitted.
i 1 e engrossed bill ranking appro
priations lor carr\iug into eilect ce -
tain Indian treaties was read the third
time and passed.
The engrossed bill authorising ths
discharge of Phineas Varney from
imprisonment was read a third time,
aimJ, after an hour’s dsbate, passed, by
Yeas and Nays, 6U to 50.
TORPEDO EXPERIMENT.
The House resolved itself into a
committee of the whole on the bill ap
propriating a sum for making an expe
> i mint cu the practical utility of the
Torpedo or submarine erydovisen,
i\ir Deshu in the chair. i
Mr Lyon expressed a hope that the
bill would pas3. He wished that t*
tiial might be made of this invention
that promised so much. He hoped
the Hou'e would not be influt need a
gaiust it by laughter; they had got
over the worst of it now the bill had
been received from the Senate, and h
hoped after going so far that they
would go through with it.
Mr Livermore said that astlve non
intercourse law was yet in existence,
and as gentlemen declared they
would not repeal it without a substi
tute, as that substitute had not been
proposed in ti is House, this bill horn
the senate perhaps was the substitute.}
I* to, he should be very rtady to give
5000 dollars for so desirable an ob.
jeer; and although he had heretofore
opposed the bill, he lelt disposed un
der this belief to withdraw his opposi
tion.
Mr Quicccy said that if it was in
tended to make an experiment, he
wished ir might hr made in such a way
as to give satisfaction. No one doubt
ed that a visscl could be blown up
with gun-po'wer; but in all experi..
menu made, and to bu made, the ves
sel which was the subject of the ex„
perimtnt, was placed under the con*
trol of the inventor, and juBi where
He wished it. The vessel employed
for the purpose might be sea-wor
thy* a- 4 if so dip 1 lowiog her up
would be no proof that the same forct
applied to u ship ct the line would
hate the same efTrct, any more than
oi.e r* Id pi ove that he could blow up
a ship ct the line by I lowing up an ege
shell. Mr. Q. haul hi* odah wan, iJ
<. ongress were to go to the expense
|-!, pow.c, that they hlioult! Jo it like
rr * n who Understood the object propo
ned, and we.ie rfetdrous of a satisfac
tory experiment. He therefore mo
tl tetamend the bill by adding u aet -
tlon to thi* effect—-that the secretary
oi the N;»vy shall he authorised and
mjuiied'to superintead the experi
ment, See, lAid ti t ause all such obstruc
tion- to It int rpoteri an would or
«' d l/e inteiponed by a vessel aga nst
which an attempt with the torpedo was
abotr to be fffade, provided the life of
i o citizen be - vxiangcred by if.—the
purchase an<l preparation of rhe vessel]
< ti which the experiment is to ntr.di
not to f-t- under the control of the tor.
p< do favemor, who sh.ll be prohibited I
from all comimin cation with the *a;d
vessel cXc/ pt sucii as he could have in
case o* actual hostilities.
This amendment t as opposed hy
Messrs. M Kim. I.yon, mui Holland
on the ground that the obstacles to the.
rxperiirient would he interposed with
out giving the inventor an opportunity
•f reptlliag them ; that if vuch exten
sive means were made uc.e cf to inter*
pose obstacles, the same would be re
quisite to repel them, and a gr atcr
:xpense would he involved than this
ippropriation would cover.
Mr Quincey replied thut no force
iced be applied or -expense incurred
)Ut that ot boom cr ropes thrown over
the side to keep the torpedoes from
the vessel.
Mr Quincey’s amendment was ne
gatived 51 to 39*
Mr I.yon moved the following a
mendment, which wasagred to : “ Pro.
vided that the Secretary of the Navy
bo and he is hereby directed to report
to Congress die result of the experi
ment, with his opinion thereon.”
Mr Hale moved an amendment to
this effect; “ Provided, that the Secre
tary of the Navy be directed tc re
ceive a sufficient crew on board to de
fend said vessel from the effects of the
tofpedo experiment, if a sufficient
number of meu will volunteer for that
purpose.”
Mr Smilie declared if the gentle
man himakilf would take the command
of the vessel knd raise the volunteers,
that he would cot object to the amend
ment.
Mr Halt's amendment was lost, ayes
30.
The committee rose afcd reported
the bill.
Mr Quincy renewed the amendment
he had proposed in committee. He
said he wished to put it on record
tha^ he had done ail rte could to pre
vent the public money from being ex.
pended «u frivolous and unsatisfactory
experiments, merely to afford amuse
ment to those who wet© to witness
it.
Mr Gholson Said he had no object
tion to the amendment, for he thought
it included uo more than the Secretary )
of th* Nnvy would do of his own ac
cord, if the bill passed an it now stood.
MrJLyou made some observations j
against the Amendment. He said it it i
was agreed to he sheuld be for voting
a larger sum, and for voting annually
a sum, to be deducted from the expen
ses of the navy, till the utility or in
utility of the invention was ascertain
ed.
Mr Quincy’s motion was negatived
by Yens and Nays, 58 to 45.
The b 11 was then passed to a third
reading, Ayes 03, and was ordered to
be read a third time to-day.
The bill was then read a third time.
Mr Dana commenced a speech a
gainst the bill—
liefore he concluded, a motion was
made to adjourn and carried.
Letter front the Secretary of War, !
transmitting an account of sales of I
public arms, in obedience to an act
of April 2d, 1808, entitled “ an act j
authorising the sale of public arms.” I
Wak Department,
February 17th, 1810.
SIR,
I h tve the honor to transmit to Con
gress an account of sales of public arms,
u* authorised by the act of the 2d of
April, 1808, entitled “an act authori
sing the sale of public arms.”
And hove the honor to be,
very respectfully, sir,
your obedient servant,
W. E US ITS.
The honorable the Speaker
of the House of Representatives
withe United States.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
accountant's office,
Feb. 1 Gth, 1810.
Account of sales of public arms sold to
individual Matts, as amhotised by
the act oi the 2d of April, 1808, n»*;
titled “an act .authorising the sale 1
of public arms,” as far t*s the saarie
n:e entered on the Looks of this of*
fice.
Sold to the state of Georgia
nt.d charged to her account
on the books of this effcce,
31st May, 1R08, 4,000
stands, at 10 dollars, - - 40,000
Sold to the state of Maryland,
the money for which has
been paid into the treasu*
ry of tha l/'nited States,
24th Miy, 1309, 4,000
stands, at 10 dollar*, - - 40,000
Dollars, - - 80,000
WM. SIMMONS.
Note. There has also been sold and
charged tc the account of the state of
Georgia on the books of this office the
following articles, vir.
1>0 arm chest* Ik expenses
packing arms, *83 70
10O() cartouch boxes and
expenses packing, 6,049
Della:s, 6,332 70
w. s ]
March 25*
Mr Gannett who has been some t'mc
confined by severe indisposition, took h:s
»eat to day.
Ms PINK.NEY’3 LETTER.
Mr I ivermore offered the following re.
solution :
Krsolvtd, That the P evident of the Ig
nited States be requested to cause to bt
laid before 'bis House a copy oi'anv let
ters or dc'pa ches which may have been
received in ihe Ufpar mem oF3'a'v, and
do not require secrecy, ft .m Mr Pinkney,
our minister at the ccuri of London ince
his receipt of ike le. ci o', the 23 1 of N >
vetnber, Ib09, from ‘ho Sectary of State,
communicated >o this House by the Pro.
idem on the 29ih of said November.
Mr Stnd e said he saw vhat wat inten*
did by the move* of '.he reaolu ion- It was
wi Ind ha- the House would deny the call.
I' had already been denied in Massachu
nitts that sue!) a letter exis ed ; and if the
call was rtlutedj they vould produce the
refusal as p*oof of their assertion* If it
was proper to publish a ptivaie letie", he
said he wished to oee it, to put to silence
those people in Massachusetts.
* Mr Cook wished ihc resolution topas*.
He said it would be inferted from a iefu
sal to pass it that there had been no such
letter or that it * as net of the purport
which it was said to be. It might be an
unofficial without betng a confidential let
ter. Whether it was confidential or not,
some answer would be received.
Mr Livermote said that he had been
told by gen>l«rne<i in cot versetiun that in.
formation had been received by the Sr.
cretary ci State that the doings of th*
Btitiah minister here were disapproves
by his government, and that a new m n.
bter would be tent. If this was the fact,
it was very important that the House
Mi mid know it* The gentleman from
Pennsylvania seemed to suppose that the
move) wished the resolution not to be a.
dopttd. How in tire name of comm .n
-.. _ -1 . XT. r _ . i > *
□ u» VHUVIJI^ iui a hCii UL UiU
be supposed that vhe resolution was in
troduced for the purpose of being rtje£icd i
He said it gave him happiness that he
should make uiy motion. for me good of
his country which should Lc advcceted by
a gentleman who was to influential, from
the poweia of his eloquence, Iron, his
standing in hocie y, a id other consider
ations, as his colleague (Mr Cook.) Mr
said he had som* time ago expressed
the saii»£a6!ion he felt in aritisipiatug that
he should be in the majority oelore the
end of the pr-sent s-ssion a and ho should
ba gia.1 to find himseti in that predict*
meut in rtlaiicn to this resolution,
Mr Van Dyke said he ht.u heard it said
that a letter had been teceivcd by the se,
creiaiy of Sta.c going to th.s uojec. a rha'
nutwiinstanding the dismission ol Mr Jack,
son, the British government retained an
amicable disposition, that Mr Jackson’s
conduct was disapproved, that he wouln
be recalled, and that another minister
would be sen'. A motion had been sub
milted to ieduce jhe a;my end navy*
was it not proper, previous to a decisi
on enlh.s motion, to know what was the
situation of affairs? And if auch a letter
was in existence, ought net the repie.
*cr aoves of he people to have it for their
information ?
Mr M’K. m eaia h«e had not seen the let.
ter, but he had understood the purport ofu,
he believed correctly, and sa islattorily to
himself. Others might not hava had the j
ST>ine satisfactory a< count, and he had no
objection that it should goto he public. It
could not be got except called fur, being
an unofficial letter, because it would be
indecorous in the President to submit it to
the House without a call lor it.
Mr Dana was nui disposed to call wpon
the Pres dent to violate private confidence,
lie did not iiv.agine, where tho President
or becieiary cfbute in their private <u.
pacny receiv-d letters as priva e gentle,
mcr, that the House could call for them.
ttu' tl information from a public minister
a* to the manner in wh.ch he hau done
ins public duty had been rece.ved in a
letter at the L> p r mem of Suit, it was
•n nbuse c<f te ms to call it a privalu tetter.
And it such a letter had * been received,
he a as decidedly for calling for it.
Mr Bassett said he hi d at first view
been oppoved to the resduti m conceiving,
it to propose going a step further than
they had ever gore bdere. Bu; on to
(ledum ha cor.ee-reu that .he letter in
(juastion stood n.ucli in the same i elation
as other papers tha* had been heretofore
called for by the luu.c, sui sheu.d .here
fure *o e for the r«»>du ion.
Mr Murweil s« d he had net seen the
letter or any extract lr..rn it; bui as far
as he underlined its charafter, it was a
Idler intended more to give the govern
mem of tbe Untied b at** an idea of the
temper and deposit on of some cRiccu
ot the U. itikh government than to make
a y s aiena^m of lads. It stated a con.
veifaiMUi with a leading member of the
Hi Huh ininistryj in which he hsd expres.
ed himself di«jms«l to continue friendly
intercourse with this country., anti stated
that nothing which had occurred would
alter the existing relations. However
important this information, it loaned no
gruuncon which the houss. cou.d ad; and
he was then fore opposed to calling for it,
more especially when tbe next arrival
from Engiund would p «>bab y bring some
official act of thv British govcrnnimt
winch would decidedly indicate iia di».
position.
Mr Lyon said that this private letter,
which had been made so public, re min.
dot him of a sign he had sten of •* Bnvate
e»der*Vn>nr»»nl j’* so private. lha' it
advertised by a sign, lie was lor the
•solution*
t\»r Miinoford hoped the Hruse would
Cail for ih s information and ail other in.
icrostiog to the people. As they were to
Tjjht all and pay a \j he wished them to
know all. Kc proposed ;o -dd to he rc
s button an u u. r. in.tu, cn!l">n for an ac.
count of tl»e impretsmcf t of American
’•ameri, of whom at* had ituderstood six
jiuit'ored were now anaiully impressed.
Mr M. however waved this proposition
for the pruscnu
Mr Cook aa’d he felt more V'clined now
than at first to call for this leper lor se.
veal reasons, ons of which was his great
reliance on the under3:a.iding and great
powers of mind vf h.w colleague over the
; »ay (M*- Livuruioru) who had thought
proper to off;r tho motion* The geiltle*
j man was to successful and generally in.
i tSreilod ihe iioutejvo rnuoii, his co.idudf,
| was generally ©haradteiacil by so much
prupne.y, that he liopco hig mulion would
be adopted.
Mr Golrisborotigh proles ed against the
pra£Yce of attributing improper muiivtfi
to those wno made proposi iona ct this
kind} for a sulfici*nt motive to induce
the Mouse to pass th* resolution would
be found in the evident propriety of having
before them all accessible information
on the subject of our foreign ft la. ions.
After some funner conversation,
Mr Lyon moved to amend tire resolution !
oy adding, after the word “ S ite,” the words 1
“or Secretary thereot”—•Negatived, Ayes
30.
The resolution was passed—Yeas 109,
Nays 14.
Those who voted in the negative were
Messes. \V. Alston, ttoyri, But welt, Daw.
son, HolUndj Jouaton, J nns, M'Kee, Mil.
ler, N R, Moure, Morrow Nelsoiij J. Por
ter, Whitehill—14.
Mr Livermore and Mr Root were ap
pointed » committee to wall on the Presi
dent with the resolution.
TORPEDO EXPERIMENT.
j * uc uui 111., k.. rig an appropriation lor the
jpurpote of lurking an experiment on tne
^practital us^ of the torpedo or buomanne
explus.un nas again taken ap, opposed by
j Messrs Dana, Q.i ncey, Fisk and Tall.
rinatJgo and supported ny Messrs. Lyon,
■ M’lvlm and Hot:and.
A motion was made by Mr Fisk to re
commit the bill, and tier-lived—55 to
45.
; The bill was passed by Yeas and Nays
6i to 5d. 1 j
j Mr L vermore, from the committee ap.
J printed to watt on the President with the
resolution adorned to.day, reported that
they had performed that du*y .. id had re.
ceivud ter answer that Uib President wouui
r.ticmi to the request of tne House.
INVALID CORPS.
On motion of Mr NaUon, the bill for
the relief of th infirm, dissuled and su.
pdi dtin.usd oilicers ami soldiers of tat» re.
volution:'ry army and of the present aymy
of tl»« United £> ates, was passed through
a committee «>t the whole, Mi Fitkiu in
'.he chair, reported to toa House, and or.
dered to Dt. engrossed for & third reading
on Wedratbday.
On moiiou ol Mr Mutnlord, a resolution
wa* adopted requesting the Piesidcui of
the United Sea es to communicate mch in.
formution touching the impressment of A
.neric.m seamen, as hid been received
since the communication made to the bt„
uate in lb07.
Messrs. Mumford and Searer were ap.
punned a committee to w.ut on the Presi
dent with tne resolution.
The bill from the Senate to niter and a
mend the bin hxtng tno military peace
establishment ot the United otales was
twice rfeud and committed.
I A March 37.
Mr &w\g| npported a bill to alter the
times ofTioiainif the district courts ,n the
district of N»flh Carolina. ^Twice read.
Mr Morrow made sundry reports from
the committee of Public Linds, whicn were
1 disposed of.
Mr Morrow also reported a bill provi.
ding far the final adjustment of claims to
landb in th? territoi v ni brlpini _r.,
read and committed,
Mr (luincey from the committee appoin..
ted to acquire inlo the state of the *nci_
ent public records, made a report reemnZ
mending measures to be taxen for th^ir
better security; which was ordered to be
printed.
The-bill for the relief of Tristram Hus*
sey w4s read a third time and passed.
C'y*l.\|t’.ltClAL BILL.
Agreeably toJthe order of the day, the
House took up tlie bid concerning com nor*
cial intercourse, kc. with its several a*
nendments and mndificaiirns,
A motion was made by Mr Gholson that I
the further con sideration of the bill be'
postponed to ffonday next.
After a debate of two or three hours,
this motion was negatived—Vetts 74. Nays
54.
Mr Macon moved that the House adhere
to their disagreement to the Senate’s a*
mendoienls (which would total>y destroy
the hill.)
The motion was supported by Messrs.
M^on, Smil e* >l’K.ce, M’K.t n and Suit,
Messrs. Troup, Lyon ai.d
Tkr l isl^a* speaking when an adjourn
meot t'sok. place, at kbout halt p*n lour.
fA message Irom the President ot ir,e
United States was received, wtuio the bill
concerning commercial intercourse was
under consideration j but was not read, in
consequence of an adjournment, before «*
ny dtc.sioo was had on the but. VVe un
derstand that the message is in reply to
the cail for Mr Pinkney’* late letter, and
states that as that letter is not official and
contains t eay/ks of a delicate and person*
a* nature, iff communication Was not eoft.
side red as within the call of the House.]
March 23.
The following message yesterday recei* ’
veil from the President of the United States
was read i
To the House of Representatives of the U.
States.
In consequence ot your resolution of the
26th instant, an enquiry has been made in.
to the cortespondeuce of our minister ut
ths court of London with the Department
of State, from which it appears tuat 110 o .
ficial communication his been received
from him since his receipt of uie letter of
November 23d last, from tho Secretary of
State. A tetter of January 4th, 1810 has
been received Loin that minister by Mr
Smith, but being stated to be a private an
unofficial, and involving moreover person^*#
al considerations of a delicate nature ^
a copy is considered aspiot with in the pur
view of the cad of the House
JAMES MADISON
March 27, 1810.
Toe message was ordered to be priuted.
COMMERCIAL HILL.
The House resumed the consideration of
the unfinished business, being tho bill con.,
ccrniug commercial intercourse, fccc.
Mr Nelson moved to posrpono tho fur*
ther consideration of the subject till *ja
turday noxt.— Motion lost, fcas 57 Navs
66. 3
The question recurring on the motion
to adhere—
Messrs. Fisk, Hollard, Love and Mum
ford supported the motion, fc Mr Garland
opposed it.
rite House refused to adjourn (at 4 o’
ctock;) Yeas 63, Nays 6o. 1
Mr Eminot spoke at great length a*
gainst the bill as .t went from the House.
1 ho House then adjourned (at5 o’clock.)
Ayes 74. v '
March 29.
ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA.
Mr Clay, from the committee on that
part of .ne in- >sage of the President of the
Unit d htates, respecting the organ.am,,,,,
of the mituia of the United States, repor
ted that liie con .ittee \roro of opinion
that it wuuM ne improper at this time to
innovate on the present militia system oi
the United State*.
Mr Clay moved to re-commit the re
port with inscracii n* to report a bill for
classing tnc militia according to are. an.l
providing to ai m men of them as may be
called into public service. 1
t -Mi I iilctn made a motion which sup***
ceded this motion, viz. to commit the re
port to a com.mtte* of th* whole.
The latter moi.on was agreed to, and a
preposit'on^ offered by Mr Dawson/n.clu
tlm*, Mr Clay's plan was referred to the
name committee.
CO.M.ViTBCl AI. INTERCOURSE,
l'hc bill CO'iCarniDg intercourse was a
gain tiken up. Mr Boyd spoke i.« f*V(.r
oi adherent.?', and Mr Ghoison at great
leagtn on me same side.
Mr Cook then moved to postpone th? fur
ther consideration of the subject till l0a
morrow, alleging a# a reason that a re
port was current that cm, despactu vessel
John A.ntmi tiar. arrived at Norfolk
This motion v;.., carrnM by ljar votes—
Yca» bo, Nays 61,
IN S£KAfl.
March 2ft.
On motion of Mr Eay,.id it was agreed
thnt th«* bid idr the establish meat of a
National Bank be the cider of mo day irn*
Wednesday next.
jf Msrcn 29,
Mi/Gygg, from th* joint committee ap
point*: tfixcnaider and report business ne
cessary loCie uacr.l c/i cunn * toe p»cje»t
session, ^dd whti^ .t may be expo :i«,u to
close the sMtnv, made a report recommen
ding an. aaguurujftcut on tue 23J of uoxt"
hi oath. \ \
20 Dollars Keward.
R ANA WAY from the subscriber in
flick* gham county, a bright MU*
LAfTO WOMAN, named CHAK.
LO T I E. about 5 feet h g!i aiuLabout
33 years old; she has a large Jcaimtm h#r
neck; on* of her for* teoih|brdfe|,* j*
chunky made and vary iondnffpirts.—.
She can ad with her a gre«%g^rfy fine
clothes, too ledioui to mcation It is pre.
suiueil she will aiismot to pass as a (ree
woman, hivifig. I suspect, a free pass.—.
Ck. ..... !— kr . ( it. a
awviiuiw a iu will no
doub» try o gel there again, as she has a
t ster m that place.
YViliiam Anderson.
March SI. wStp.'
---- ~T~ __. — " i m 4 •
V ’ r | R i /\ l
it h Svp-ri**r court of Chancery holden at
the Capitol 1n Richmond, Feb. 10, 1«10.
krtoti 5k Fisher merchants aoJ partners.
Plus.
A© AlltST,
Charles Conway, Henry' Randolph; Ed
ward Billing and Robert Bolling, ex’rs.
of John Bolling, deceased. Win. Friend,
Alex’Oder lilmms^ PeierheUl Farrar ex
ecutor, of John Karrer deceased, Harry
lleth, W'gton King, John Kinehoft, Bol
ling Branch, William Fleming, Mat
thew Cheatham, Archibald Campbell*
Alexander I*«ng, Brstt Randolph, Cleo.
Bailey, James Pepper, Thomas Bi-ooUeo,
William Pmchbsck, Frauds Cmw*y»
WUsher Binns, William Brook*, l>uvid
Meade and Thomas Choatnam,
Hefts.
Tills suit abates as to ths defendant Charles
Cunway by Ms death, snd ilic defendant Iran*
cis Conway^ not hiving eiuctfrd lu£ »p<»«acai*c*
a id given scctttity accor ur.g lo the act ot a*,
wrnbly, and the rule* of Hus cuu.t and it »p*
pea.ing ta the •ttl'.fsetiofl of the comi, ?htt he
it not sn mWseuam of this country, oh m non
uf the p aini.d.^ of counts), ii >* ordered iitat ilia
».tiii defend vit do appear her* on the tirst d .» of
the next term a'til answer the bill »»f the pl» »•
■ tilt, and that a copy of this o.drr be fottnw.tft
inserted in some news paper published in rWk
city of R*ch non.I far two montns sitccatsive /,
*n 1 pasted at the front door of r»e c-puul in me
said city.
A ' Jopy—Tere
Teter Tinsley, c. c.
wSt j?.