Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-11-24
{ To1he Eaytor If the Ricsnsond Enquirer.

! Tothe. Eagtor Of the Richmond Enqatfref'
SIR,
on "Wednesday the 18th of December,
Mr.. Nicholson moved that = SO mucn OF
the message of the president OF the Y nlsea
States. as related to the conduct OF TIE
belIIperent powers towards the y. States.
and 70 the unius,idablc construction lsseiy
given by some of them to the laws OF ma
tons as i, regards the rights OF neusrais,
be referred TO the committee OF ways ana
means. with instruction TO enquire 10 wnas
resrect and to what extent our neusfai
/ rights had been violated, and wha. isgisla'
tive measures the true interest OF the u.
| States required to counteract sucn Vi es
tons This reference was made, NOT
without per.inacious opposition on The part
Of Mr.. BidwelI, who moved to refer The
subject 10 select eommittee, OF which,
consequently, he would have been Inc
chairman. On the ensuing Saturday, the
CONS ittee of ways and meana TOOK the
mater into consideration, and instructed
their Chairman to address the following
letter 10 the secretary OF stare.
Committee Roam, Dec. 18th, 1905.
"SIR,
The Committee of Ways and
Means have instructed me- 10 request that
yoa vii! cause TO be LAID before them such
information 90 the subject Of the enclosed
resolution, as the department: OF state ean
furnish
The peculiar objects of our research
are--l. What new principles, or constrnc.
sious of the Law of Nations have beea
adopted by the belligerens powers Of Eu-
rope, to the preiudlce OF neura. rights
2, The governments asserting those pm.
cip,es or constructions 3. The extent 10
Shich the commerce Of the j. Safes has
been thereby injured?
II am with very great respect,
Sir,
"Yours,
"JoHN RANDOLPH"
A considerable ;ime having elapsed, snd
90 answer having been received. the chair.
mau waitca Oh the secretary Of state 10
knew when the committee might expect
one. He was informed BY 'ha: o.acer iaat
he had been so aauch occupied n pTSpsr-
log laborious repar. upon that SUBJECT. 10
BE laid b:fose the p.esideu', that ne had
net had tine to reply to he lotses Of the
committee and il was not nn'ii he 2ota
OF January (more than SIX weeks s1b9e
quent TO the requlsi;icn ot the comnautee)
hat the secretafY's comannlcaii2n was
made to them. / consisted Of a coy CT
his repore to The president, on .he new and
injurious principles iaterpo)alrd nlo the
laws Of nations by foreign powers, and
contained 90 answer whatsoever 10 some
Of the most Important poGte TO which the
committee had directed The attention, and
Oh which they requested the opinion OF The
secretary Of STATE. This communicable
was scarcely received, wheo Con tie 2oth
OF January the commi'tee were d'schaFg-
ed from all further consideration OF me
subiece, which, with hsr. Gregg. sesou
lien, brought forward on ha; dsy, w4s
referred 70 scomulitee Ct III. whole house
on he state Of he uoion. On this occa.
sion. insinuaiions Of hardness and neglcct
CT duty en- the part ct the committee CT
WAYS and means wee thrown out b. fense
members. The chairman was hcn absent
from iudisposi,ion. Ola he oezs day, how.
ever, he laid on :he ,his ala letter ,o,he
secretary Of state, w,sh the answer, the
dates OF which clearly excnipaved che com.
mit,ee from every imputsiioa Of re,riss
ness; rendering Il se,f-ev'dent that they
could not possibly have reported previous
to the syae Of their discharge.
The resolution of Mar Gregg begos a
brood Of others, of which il nol sny
purpose 10 notice any but the motion of
Mr.. Nicholsoa, whieh was introduced, not
SO mucb from q conviction on the m'nd OF
;.o o,,hor .ha, shs .;rn wss In itseif Il.