The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, December eS.


De5afe or the report ot-a Ifle7 committee recon-
msndine lie amendment Of a report, brr4iouc
y mnde, jo05 to confer a GOLD MEDAL,
iaRead ofa SWORD on WILLIAM EATON,
Etquire.
The original refolution is in the following
words
RefoiVed by the Senate and Houfe of Repre-
fentatives of the u. States Of America in Congrefs
aaeinbed, That the PRECEDENT of the United
States be requefted to preftnt fword, in the
name Of Consrefs, to William Eaton, Efquire,
as tefimony ofthe high fenfe entertained of
his gailantry and good conduct in leading a
tna' band OF our tountrymen and others
through the deiert of Lydia on an exPe dition
againt Tripoli, in conjunction with the ex-
Balhaw of that regency defeating the Tripo-
Titan army at Derne, with the affiRance of a
inall part of the naval force of the United
States, and contributing thereby to a fuccefs-
full termination ofthe war, and the reftoration
Of our captive fellow-citzens to liberty and
their country.
The felect committee recommended amend
ing it by fubltitutiDg " gold medal with fni-
table devices" in lieu of ca E1pord''--and
Rrik;ng out the word "at," and infrrting in
its room, "taking the city Of"
On agreeing TO the GyR amendment.
Mr.. T. Gay faid he was far from winIing to
derogatc from the merits of Mr.. Eaton. On
the contrary, no man was more ready to beC-
tow the reward, his gallantry and good con-
dr&t mcrted. But when he couiulted the
Journals of Congref;, and found that only
three medals had been conferred during the
whole period of the revolutionary war, in
which our liberties and Independence had been
achieved, and con(idered the oocalions on
which they bad been given, he could not con-
hder the preient cafe as entitled to the fame
exprelion of national gratitude. He could net,
for inRance, conGder the taking Of Derne as e.
quail III importance to the capture of Cornwall
lis. In the more recent cafe of Capt. Decatur
Congrefs had only given fword, though that
officer had carried, captured and burt the fri
gate Philadelphia, and was Afterwards the fro
man, who took gun-boat from the enemy !;
which exploits we're accompanied by excrtions
fucl as have fcarcly been precedented in imi-
lar circumstances. For all this Congrefs con-
fsrrsd fword only. MIR. Clay faid he believ.
ed that there had, in this inRancc, been as
muth gallantry and gond conduit difpIayed as
in the cafe now before the consmittee. He
therefore thought the reward beloved in the
one cafe would he adequate to the other. For
thefe reafons he fhould be obliged to vote agaira
the amendment.
Mr.. J. Randolph rofc to express his coin
cidence Of opinion with the gentleman from
Pennsylvania. That rewards ihonId be pro-
portioned, not only 20 the exertions of thofe
claiming them, but TO the dignity and inpor.
lance Of the achievement which drew them
forth, was not lefs true than that merit fIould
I've encouraged wherever it might appear. ]
believe FIR, faid Mr.. r. that the gentleman
who is the Object Of this refoiution would in.
fnitely prefer--T have not the pIeafure Of hi'
aequaintarce-I judge Of his feelings By INV
own---I am psrfuaded that he would fet a far
greater value upon any tehimony, however
final, of the unanimous appreciation Of thi,
Houf, than on the highef token Of applauic
which 4 bare majority could give him. For
this reafsxk Iregret that the mover Of the re.