Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-03-11


shut"
The above entry on. the minutes Mr..
Clinton, Of New.York, moved 10 strike
out, and the motion was carried. y
A great number Of the ladies and gem
tlemen had attended in expectation Of
hearing the debate respecting the Mis-
sissippi continued. II. 5 .s
=: Il February is.
!. After some. of the ordinary Legislative
business Of the senate had been dispatch.
ed, MIR. Nicholas moved that the salle-
ries be cleared, and the doors of the Sc
nate were closed till O'Clock. They
were then opened and the senate adjourn-
led. = - r. II II Ats@'ss3s @5 q as5
February n. K :.
After the reading of two or three bills,
on which there was no debate, Mr.. Brock
enridge moved to have the galleries clear
ed, andthe doors closed, which was done
accordingly. = X ".
At one O'Clock, the doors of the senate
we're opened, and IN few minutes after
Mr.. Ross rose and said, That two days
ago he had the honor OF stating some Of
his opinions TO, the senate respecting the
alarming condition of our affairs upon the
Mississippi.-- That in very interesting
part of his enquiry he had been called to
order. That the Vice President had ex-
pressly determined him to have been in
order, and also declared that there was
no confidential information before the Sc
nate relating to the late aggressions upon
our rights in the Mississippi. Yet not
withstanding this declaration Of the Vice
President, as explicit rs Ii was correct,
Mr.. r. said, the doors were actually clos
sed and all further public discussion at
that time prohibited.-Yesterday the
doors were again clossd.-He said itwonld
be well recollected, that when this extra
ordinary measure was resorted to, he had
given notice that he would not proceed
further in the discussion, while the doors
were shut, and that he would resume it
whenever they should be opened. From
thar time to the presenthe had remained
silent, but now, when q majority Of the
senate had resolved that this discussion
should be public, he would proceed to e.
nish the remarks he had intended to make
and then offer his resolutions. He could
not, however, avoid expressing his ac-
Acknowledgements to the majority Of that boz,
Fdy, who had decided that this debate
should be public, for, although some Een-
demen might be DESTROYS to stifie, and
smother in secrecy, an enquiry like the.
present, he firmly believed, that there
would always be frmness md indepen.
dence enough in that house to meet in
public the investigation Of every subject
sproper for public deliberation. NJ
Mr.. r. said he would not return to 1 re-,
petition of what he had formerly stated,
it would besufieient 70 mention, that he
had urged the importance Of our rights in
the navigaticnof the Mississippi founded
in nature, and acknowledged BY compact
This was the greatand the only highway
OF commerce from the western country to
the oeean--That the Spaniarsls after
long execution of this treaty, have now
Ragrantly violated il, and shut us out from
all intercourse, and from the right of de-
posit--1 hat they have plnndsred our ci-
tizens upon the ocean--carried our YES.
sells into their ports and condemned them
without the semblance Of q trial--O Our
seamen have been cast into prison, and
our merchants ruined--T Thus assailsd
APon the ocean, and upon the land by q
long course Of oppression and hostility.
without provocation and without apology,
he knew but one course we could take
which promised complete redress of our
Wrongs-ExPerience had proved, that
compact was no security-the Spaniards
either eapnot, or viii not observe their
treaty. If they are ahderthe direction of
astronser powerwhowiil not permit them
70 adhere to their stiPulations, or If they
OF their own accord infict these indiani-
ties under a belief that we dare not resent
them, i was equally incumbent upon us
TO act without farther delay. The agRres-
n . = y