Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-28
C O N G r E S S
OF The UNITED STATES.
HousE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
MONDAY, January "a.

Mr.. Wlitcncu Plciehteu d Heiio''0A
from the chamoef OF commerce OF New
York, againlt the repeal Of dlicrlmina'-
Ing duties.
Referred 20 the committee OF the whole
TO whom that fnbiect was referred.
The memorial, on the motion OF Mr.
Bayard, was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Mitchell rofe TO addreis the houie
on iubjett of commercial nature. he
alluded 10 the Expectations committed up
on the commerce Of the United States,
by French armed veGels during the late
war in Europe. The gentlemen OF the
houic would, he hoped, turn their atten-
ticn for few minutes 10 The numerous
memorials received from our merchants
during che lait felton,, praying eomPen-
iation Tor thefe loGes. Thoie papers were
numerous and reipettful, and came from
mott valuable portion of our fellow citi-
zens. Their grievances had not hitherto
been redreHed, nor even enquired into
with The minu,eneis which II appeared to
him to deterye. Itwas true committee,
numerous ard intelligent, had been ap-
pointed duripg tie Taft fehion, TO examine
the matter OF theie applications. 4 re-
port had been mace TO the houie. This
report was full of information concerning
the political and commercial connecuon
between the United States ard France
1t complied conciie and correct hiito'y
OF what had b cen done on both flacs isncc
the mntsal misunderstanding aroie. Il
was a valuable document, as Tar as II
went. But it did not conclude with any
recommendation Of mode ct rsiiet, or
even of investigation. 1t TOPPED ihort
with the hiftorical narrative, without pro-
pofng even mode of further enquiry.
Durirg he pressnt fefions nothing fur
Their had been done or attempted. Eaily
after TIE Ccrgreis aiemble5, he had him
felf given notice of an intention to revive
the fubief. II was confenedly, Of mag
nitude enough TO merit inveRigation.-
This notice, be remembered, was given
previous TO the receipt OF the meiiage
from the executive. But The multitude
of public buhnefs that had grown out of
that communications, added to other inb- /
ieeas, had 70 completely occupied bis mind,
that he had hitherto {ufered it TO pats on
without believing on 1t the confederation
which he owned that it delerved. He
was now ready 10 make amends Tor this
inadyertant or ncceAaiy, certainly not IN
ten.iouaI delay. He had heard with Ia
tisfaSfion the call of a gentleman from S.
Carolina mfr. Lowndes) for his (Mr.
,Mi;chell's promifed motion. He arknow-
lodged the hint of that gentleman 10 be
{eafonable, and felt himielf obliged to
him for acting the part OF a good promo
ter. To thew that gentleman he had
profted by the fuggeition made on Fri
day laR, he had now rifen with an IN
,ention 10 a lay refolve upon the table.
The objea of the seiulse was 70 cauie 40
enquiry 10 be entered upor, by ipeclal
committee of the konfe, what amount
Of property, or its value in current mo-
ney bad been taken from the Americans
during the late war BY the cruizers Of
France. The committee could devife
iome mode Of alcertaining the magnitude
of the fuferings complained of. That
he ccnfdered as the fire. fep that ought
to be taken, towards The procuring OF re-
drefs for tie petitioners. And Until tbs
was taken, lie believed thdt nothing was
likely 10 be done .Anorher objett of the
refc!ye he was about 70 Offer, was 10 IN
iirud the fAGe committee TO enquire into
the different claass Of captures and claims.
He did rot foppofe that all ne petitioners
were entitled 10 coRapeniatloo. Sone
oflhcm, he knew, were NOT Bat it was
eqoally clear that ione Of them were.
This complicated mats cf applications
could be examined BY a committee, who
~. a..