Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-12


LouiGana, 20 a committee of the whole on
the fate of the union.
(Debaie continued.
Mr.. Dana faid that he did not know,
nor had he heard from any quarter that
there was any negotiation depending ref
ipeeting the cefion Of Louiiana. The
PreGdeut has informed US Of the fact.
All the reiolution AXIS are official docu-
ments refpetaing the cetlion, with the ifipu-
lations, circumRances Sc conditions under
whichit is TO be delivered up. He could
not Gee the Improperly Of fuch rcqueit.
Bat if the PRECEDENT deem it improper 10
furniih the information, We do not aiiert
our right to demand it. There are two
views in which the information may be
important &; that which may throw light
on the boundaries of the province as ced-
ed and another, whether the province
is TO be ceded TO the-French In the oondi-
ton il fhall be in wheo actually delivered
up, or whether fubjett to the conditions
in which it was held according TO treaty
by Spain. This is important information
TO guide our deliberations information
not depending upon an exiting negocia-
ton, but upon negotiation decided.
Mr.. Griiwold called for the taking OF
the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Smile was in favor of the wideit
publicity in every cafe where il would
not prove injurious and there were, IN
his opinion, very few cafes in which It
ought not to take place. He could NOT,
however, withhold one remark that gen.
tlemen fhould Object to the mode now pro-
pofed, mode dmilar TO that adopted IN
like cafes, greatly iarpried him. He
here quoted the proceedings of the houle
IN call for papers in the cafe Of the BSl-
n treaty. That cafe furnilhed pre-
cedent, BY which it appears that a motion
for information was referred &c COM
mite of the whole for more full ditcni-
Gon.
Mr.. Davis obferved that as he lived
IN that diariea Of country moa materially
Affected by the fubjest before the toufe,
be shoughs it proper to express his opini-
on on the motion. He faid he did not
know what rcafon could be aligned for
the motion, but that exprehed by the
gentleman from Virginia 10 go into
committee of the whole IN private to pro-
poie certain relolusions that required ie-
crecy.
Mr.. Davis (aid il had been his pur-
pofe yeHerday to have iubmitted certain
refo.utions, which he fhould have done,
but for the motion of the gentleman from
Connecticut calling for information at
ter it was made he was willing 70 wait
until all information was obtained that
could be furniihed. Suppole we go into
a committee of the whole, what light
can we expect from their deliberations :
We can gain nothing. But let the call
for information prevail let Us draw from
the PreGdent fuch information as he may
think proper TO give; and let US then re-
fer that information to committee of
the whole, and they will be able to deli
berate w.fely. What ule can it be to
take a fep from which no benefit can
be derived AS to the call on the Pref
deni, he will not give US any thing that
is improper. How does the gentleman
from Virginia know what light this in
formation may throw on the fubjea Is
he prepared 70 FAY it will throw no light
on this fubjed Ifhe is, Mr.. D. laid
he himielf was not. He might have.
ways Of acquiring the iecre's Of the ca
binet; but for himfelf he had no fach OPP
portunities. MIR. Davis concluded by de-
claring himfslf againa the motion.
Mr.. Randolph was compelled again re-
lOaansly to ,reipaf on the indulgence of
the houie, to allure them and the gentle
man from Kentucky, that his motion did
NOR comnr4hend refafal 10 agree 70 the