The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-19


in quefton had been fold long before, though
not fettled, and he advifed them to inform their
people. They did 70, and put flop to this
michieyous bu6nefs. But after they had paid
the fTndlers and cleared the heavy beach weeds
to make a living, they were elected, and no
doubt after paying their money and fpendng
their labou1 were averie to giving up their re-
iidence, but he underitood by the newfpa-
pers that they were making overtures to the le-
gal owners for the purchafe ofthe titles.
The leafe of the Wyoming fetters from Con-
neeticut in Pennsylvania, which had given 70
much trouble to that fate, and to whole claims
he had been oppofed, and had afiifed in making
laws aganit them, he coniidered as proof of
the obfervation he had made, they had rafhly
conided in claim of the Connecticut govern
ment, to part of Pennfylvania, and before that
claim was decided had made purchafes, and re-
moved their families to the land they had pur-
chafed under that claim, they had defended it
againft the Indians, by whom many of them had
been butchered in mott knocking manner, and
they mad reiilted the laws of Pennfylvania, even
after Judgment was finally given aganlt the
claims cfConnetticut by a court appointed for
that purpofe, by the old Congrefs. They de-
feated even fome laws expressly made for their
advantage and continued to live in poverty and
uncertainty, long fince this conteit, they might
have taken lands in that fate agreeably to law,
on very eafy terms and have lived undilturbed.
In all this conteif during more than forty years,
they have given continued teitimony of iimPli-
city with refpect to claims and titles for land,
and ut the fame time however they have fet
notable example OF perseverance under the
greatett difficulties occaioned by favage war,
and fome times from an armed force from Penn
fylvania. The proprietary government, ofthat
fate never propofed TO quiet thefe fettlements
as had beendone withintrudcrs from otherttates,
it having previouily granted the land to others,
but their obtinate perseverance, has had its eff
feet. After trying various and fometimes incon-
fftent methods, Pennsylvania has found it beR
at laft to quiet their fettlements on moderate
terms, and for this purpofe, to purchafe the
rights of the original purchafers from the pro-
pretory government.
1t had been Objected to him by another of his
colleagues, that he had himfelf voted for the re-
peal of contract in the fate Legislature; from
his knowledge of that gentleman's candor, and
dilcernment (Mr. Gregg he knew he would not
have made this obfervaton, if he had examined
the cafe. Mr.. F. faid, in the Courfe of longer
life than common to many, at one time or
other, in all the various public bodies which in
tituted or conducted republican governments,
he had given fome votes which he regretted, and
many which he would not give again, if he had
the opportunity, and he would never admit that
q
pinion on better information for what pur-
pofe is all our painful ftudies and wearfome de-
bates but to inform our judgment and of what
uie is this information if we cannot take advan-
tagc of it for the public good, and if we have
voted wrong, if we cannot correct it by chang
ing our vote, we ought to prevent all difcufii-
ons, all reading and ftudy, and become mere
machines. But though he advocated this right,
he did not need it on this occaion, nor for his
vindication againft the charge of inconf(tency.
The bank of north America, the frft bank in
the United States, not chartered by the old Con-
grefs, which had no constitutional authority to
grant charters but the ituation of the United
States at that period, fulfilled an extraordinary
cxertion. Congrefshowever,w well knowingtheir
own want of power, recommended it to the
ftates, alto to grant charters to the bank. The
fate of Pcnnfyvania, granted charter, other
ftates refufed to doit. The bank was put in c.
peration. In 1884, new company applied for
a charter, the bank of north America, the only |
one, at that time in the United States oppoed it,
although parties were heard by council before
the legislature, but the declion on the queftion
was poftponed. In 1885, the quefion was Ia
ken up, the bank company was again heard by
council IN favour Of their executive monopoly
without limitation of time, the Incorporating
law was repealed and afterwards A new charter
was granted for limited time and with fuch re-
fri6tions of the monopoly as has permitted the
operation of other banks in the fate of Penn
fylvania, and other ftates. This however, was
acharter Of privileges which in free governments,
are always fubjea to the difcretion of the Iegif-
lature, no price is paid for them, and the privi-
lege may be always withdrawn, when the pub
lie good requires it. But the claim before the
Houfe is of quite different nature, it is tranf-
fer of property by 4 competent authority, for
which more valuable confederation had been
received by that fate, than, for any fae of lands
by that fate, before or Gnce that time, and the
prefent claimants, on the faith of government,
had their purchafe at lill much higher rate.
Much had been faid about the extent of the
purchafe by the original grantees, and the cor
ruption of the legislature, but that was not be-
fore the Houfe.-Thc condition of the conven-
ton between the United States, and Georgia
was that, not 10 35, nor 81 900 900 of acres
fhould be given to fatisfy thofe claims, but that
100000 of acres or fome part thereof lhould
be given, but 100000 of acres is by that con-
vention veited in the United States as depoft |
for that purpofe and if not 70 applied, the de-
poft is to be returned to the fate of Georgia |
thefe are the facts on record, and if the record
is true, the anertion 70 boldly made that thofe
who voted in favor the report of the commit
tee of claims, were putting their hand into the
public purie, that it was public robbery &c. was
not only unfounded, it was mere defamation.
He would not fay for what purpofe. 1t was not
the DrODertv mr. Dur{p of fhP limited Ctafee hat