The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-06

Inc LAW or nations have been adopted bv the bel
iiserent powers of Europe, TO the prejudice of
neutral rights?
2. The governments ailtrting thoft principles
and contributions?
The extent to which the commerce Of the
U. S. has been thereby Injured
] am, with very great rcipe6t,
Sir,
Yours,
JOHN RANDOLPH.
2!bc Secretary Of State.
On Saturday night the 25th int. the Commit
tee of Ways and Means received "a anfwer to
this letter, which / will deliver to the clerk, in
order that 1t may 90 to the new committee, 10
which this buiinefs has been referred. 1t is un-
neceliary for mt TO add any thing more. The
Houie mutt be feniible that while the Commit
tee of Ways aud Means were in the dark taev
could not proceed in the eifcharge of the duties
aligned them. and that after receiving informa-
ton from the fecretary OF Gate 70 late in the
day, it was impofIible for them to have made
report by this day; and if am not maaken,
tie motion to diicharse the Committee OF WAYS
and Means was made before the anfwcr of the
iecretary of Rate was received.
The Clerk accordingly read the letter of the
Secretary of State, as follows:
ANSWER.
The Secretary OF State pretents his refpetfs
to MIR. Randolph, and has the honour to tranf-
init him copy OF report this day made to
the Preiident of the United States, rerpe6ling
interpretations by foreign powers, of new and
Injurious principles, in the law of nations This
report, with the communications made by the
PRECEDENT to Congrefs, particularly that of the
18th inf. will, it i'd hoped, afford the informant
on requeited, for the Committee of Ways and
Means, by Mr.. Randolph's letter Of the 18th
inf.
Department Of State,
Jaa. IS, 1906.
When on motion Of Mr.. 7. Randolph, the
papers laid by him on the table, were referred
10 committee OF the whole Oh the fate of the
union.
The Speaker laid before the Houfe the fol.
lowing letter from the iecretary of the navy al
dreied to the Houfe:
SIR,
"In obedience to the refolution of the Houfe
OF Representatives. of the 9th init. directing the
Secretary Of the Navy Z" to lay before the Houf.
a report on the condition of the fiigates, and
other public armed veilels, belonging 10 the u
S, diitinguiihing fuch as require repair, and the
FUN neceiiary for repairing each; and diftin.
guifhine alto fuch as it may be the intereit oil
the u. S. TO difpofe of rather than repair"
have the honour to fate,
| That the frigate Contribution is now in rate
of thorough repair, and in all refprets Prepared
for fervice.
That the frigate Chefapeaie has lately been
repaired and is fit for fervice
That the frigates Adams, ElIex, and John A.
dams are ALTO fit for fervice,
That the briggs Siren, Hornet, Argus, and
Vixen, the fchooners Nautilus and Enterprise
the bombs Spitfre aud Vengeance, and all the
gpn-boats are tit for feryice.
1 a.. 4. u
Congrefs, Conitt atio7, New-York, and Bof
ton, require to he repaired but it is utterly
ifnpoiiiblc tn form an accurate climate of the
FUN neceiiary for repairing EACH"
know OF no veficl belonging TO the navy
which coniider it would be "the intereft o,
the United States to difpofe of, rather than re.
pair"
On the motion of Mr.. J. Randolph, the Ist
asd sd fe6tions of the bill to repeal fo much OIL
an act as authorizes the evidences of the public
debt to be received in payment for public
lands, and for other purpofes, was referred to =
committee Of the whole Houfe.
The difcuGion which enfued on the details Of
this bill occupied nearly the whole of the ref
due of the day, of which We fhall hereafter take
! 4 more particular notice.
The committee having reported the bill
with fundry amendments, it was ordered TO
third reading Tomorrow,
MIR. Stanford reported bill for altering til,
tire for holding the circuit court for the difri6
of North Carolina, which was referred to com
mittee OF the whole tomorrow.
MIR. CrowninfhieId prefentfd an energetic 6
comprehensive memorial from the merchant
OF Salem, (Mafi.) representing the embarra1cC
fituation of trade; their deep anxiety at TIL
impeachment Of American feamen; the fever
injuries received from the recent primo piles al
fumed by Great-Bhtain, and plcdging thei
lives and property IN fupport of fucb meafure
as may he taken by the government TO defsnt
! and proteG their rights.
Referred to committee Of the whole on tn
fate Of the union.