The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-28
WEDNESDAY, Mov. IL.

a memorial and petition from the truilees of New
Jerfey College, praying the reingulhment of duties
on books lately imported for the ue Of that nittut-
on, TO the of 4l5 dollar, 81 Gents referred TO
the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures
Mr.. Speaker laid before the houle letter and Re-
port from the Secretary of the Trealury in obedience
20 the aet of Congrefs eRabihing the Treaiury de-
Partment, the fame ordered be printed and re-
Ierredto the Committee of Ways and Means.
The engroiied refolution authorizing the PRECEDENT
to appoint an agent, who lha be nfrutted to collect
all the material information reseeting the actual con-
dition, occupancy and title hs Lead Mines in Loni-
J t,ana, was upon its third readiue.
Mr. I'M entertained doubt a. to the proprie,v
of th. lneafure, indeed shs from Nsw.Yqrt
Or. MitohilD leened to admit that it was fuperfu-
| GUS For he had fad tina. the PRECEDENT under pro-
per authority had already appointed agents explore
generally the territory of Louiana that they had been
Tome time engaged in that fervice at the Miilouri
Arkanfas, Red river and about Detroit and indeed
Major Lewis had been iome time at St. Louis, pof
in the neighbourhood of thefi very Lead Mines and
from his known enterprise and minute enquiries there
was good reafon Tor believing that the fubeS which
wa, the Object of the propofed Refoution, would be
narrated in his general report of dfcoveries-But in
addition to this expectation, the document accompany
ing the Preident's Mehdge lhed comfortable light
the information as to the condition of the Lead
Mines, their number names ard value were explain
ed, and as he had heard no Gentlemen fuggeh doubt
to the accuracy OF the narrative, he was inclined TO
give it full credit from the general character of the
Gentleman who made the communication and the
particular knowledge he muR neceharlv have acqnr-
ed by long relidence in the country. From this
view of the iube6t he compelled to acknowledge
that he had altered his idea of the Reolution and could
rot now vote in its favor.
DR.. 14itebW had hoped that the Gentleman from
Pennsylvania after the explanation of yeerday would
content to the Refolution, he would now add but
few explanatory words. The object of the Refoluti-
on fimpy appoint agent to enquire into the
occupancy and titles OF the preient holders and claim
ants; thi, required civilian, vered in the municipal
laws of the nations who had heretofore held that ter
ritory, not a natural Hitorian MineralogiR, one
who was acquainted with the of mining or fnelt-
ing and letting Neither did the Doctor believe
il would be neceiary feni the agent to the mines
themleves but to the place where the deeds and con-
veyances conhtuting the title papers Of the proprie
pretended Claimants recorded or preferv-
ed whether tllefe at New-Orleans or what o.
ther place, he did not know.-As to the expenee it
not likely to exceed 1000 1000 dollars even if
the agent fsnt from this City, but he imagined
the bulne could be as we'll conducted by the appo;r
Of an agent il Louiiana the PRECEDENT would in
lfru9 the Governor how to ad it might be feen too
from the words Of the Relolution that it was mere
temporary employment not likely to be Of longer du-
to be made before the next meeting of Congress.
The Doctor concluded, that If Mr.. l.. would recon-
Gle himfef for the prelent motion upon this
explanation, aud he hould hereafter defre more ex.
tenlive examination into the actual circumstances of
the newly acquired territory, he might rely upon his
garrett cooperation
Mr.. Lucas obicrved in reply, that Louifana
had been held alternately by three or four natl
ons: each of which in confcquenee had gran
ted titles to more or lefs of the lands in queai-
on.-An examination into thofe titles would at
this time excite a high degree of fenibility a.
mong the inhabitants, who, he thought, ought
in their youthful fate to be treated by Congrefs
with tenderness and delicacy. The titles were
varions.-Some derived from the governors of
the country, fome from commanders Of potts.
Many Of the latter he believed might be conf
dercd by the agent Illegal Especially as he had
learned that the commander Of St. Louis, in
". Louifana, held paramount authority over
the Unfortunate potts, ard that without his ap-
probation the lands 70 granted would not be al
lowed; yet thefe perfon, who held under ftIch
title, aud by occupancy and improvement con-
iidcr themfelves the bona. fde proprietors Of the
lands. Tie feared that E,e enquiry intended by
the reiolutlon might creafe great diGatisfs5tion,
while pcitPonement for the prefent could do
no poiiible evil.