Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-03

Sideratiol. He did not mean the proposed
committee to enquire particularly into the
lattack on the Chesapeake. Such an enquI-
Try would be At present premature. When
the time arrived for taking up this subject,
ne should be rs ready rs the gentleman
from Massachusetts, or any other gentleman
70 enter upon it. Mr. ID. read that part of
the message of the President which has re-
ference 20 this affair, and asked the mem
bers Of the committee ifIt would not be AL
together premature to go into this subject
before the House received the information
which the President of the u. S has said,
he expects shortly to he able to lay before
them9 His object was Co make the ground
OF reference rs general as possible.
Mr. Quincy said, that the gentleman from
! y. Carolina had asked what washis object
III making this motion. He would answer
that it was tn have the whole detail of the
eftair respecting the Chesapeake laid upon
our tables. twas askcdifhe meant to JUST
y the British. He knew not why this ques-
/ ZION should be put. His motion was plain
tone. He wished to have the facts which
/ he called for before him, and he should not
| ;hen bc afraid to meet the gentleman from
=. Carolina, or any other. His pricniples
md feelings were as purely American as
those ofany gentleman. He wished to gain
4 tacts, and to obtain these he thought it best
tn FIX on single objects, and not to extend
| o'Ir views over the whole horizon. In re-
ference to what had fallen from the gen.
ticman from Virginia, what he had pro-
posed would have nothing to do with our
negotiations abroad. No expression of the
opinion ri this House IS required. All that
IS asked is, that the committee shall collect
detail of facts. The committee will not
make their report until they think proper
nut the ~ ought 70 be Instituted 6 ,p-
pose GUY dispute with G.. Britain should be
lamicablv settled. would not this enquiry be
! necessary? Would YOU not enquire into
The causes which led to the attack? He
c"NS'''c'cdb tho Dispute rs being net only
between ns and Britain, but between us and
France. At any rae he wanted the facts.
and when they were before the House, a
correct Judgment might he f,rmed of the
affair. The honor Of the nation was con-
ccrncd 70 know whether = proper degree
of resistance bad been made 10 repei the
attack Of the British, bv our officers if
not, the opinion of this House ought to lie
/ expressed on the occasion. p
| Mr. Eiliot felt equally anxious with a =
! gentleman from Mas 90 receive the in.or-
| nation required bv his proposed amend
rnent hut he could ro. CONSENT suppre. )
the original rec luton proposed by The cen
| tlcman from VirEinia lie did not rise -
appeal from the deci ion af the Chair, or
II question toe correctness ct its opinion
! but his own ideas Of TIE spirit Of the rules
ut ihis House would govern his vote on this
! occasion w"rc svery ether consideration out
| e view: This rule states thst " TT new
motion or pronosition shall be ADMITTED un-
der color NJ amendment, rs q substitute fr'
The moti0n or rronosition under debate"
| flFifhNr.e Il.
lthc CHAIR. he crud hot helm considering
the present motion tn be violation Of This
rule, AS Il was, in his opinion. under colcr,
a complete substitute for the orignallno-
tions tie thought Ope part of the uforma-
ton REQUIRED by this amendment was al
togethef unneceSsatv. He alluded to that
part WHICH asks for the manner in witch
tne attack Was rerclled Every man. wo-
man and child in the y. States knew that
10 resistance was made. Ifhe were To vote
for the resolution, he should wish the word
rcceIprd TO be used instead ofthe word re-
lpeIed; but as he had already stated, he
believed the motion was in conflict with
rule Of the House, and therefore he could
rot vote f-r it.
Mr. Smile said, there was one thing
which the gentleman from Massaschusets
himself, on rejecting, must think improper
that was, that part Of the motion which
relates to the manner in which the attack
was repealed. Re understood the ocmm&n-
der Of the CheSa peake was now on trial,
and he hoped this house would rot do any
act which might have an influence on that
trial. Whether That ofjiccracted pr6perlv
~ improperly viii be determined hy the
lproper tribunal before which it will he ri
ed. Indeed lie saw no necessity for this
amendment. The original resolution Fiveg
the committee full power IN this subject,
and it cannot he supposed that a ccrImit-
tee Of this house viii not 90 their duty.
lie had no doubt but that before this bus-
ness was got through, there would be com
pictc iDforDati0u before the II use We
should know whether the seaihtn taken
from the Chesapeake were ~ ily Brit ish
subjects or American citizens. The enquiry
will force itself upon us; and the resoluti-
> on rs it stands is sufficient Tor the purpose
. Mr. Quincy rose to explain The gen
tlCman from Pennsylvania lad said that lie
deemed it Improper TO pass this resolution
e NJ this time, because Of the effect it might
have on the trial now pending. If the OBJ
Jet Of this motion had been to obtain from
che House vote Of crnsure on one side
or the other, he should not now have pro.
! posed it: II was merely a direction to the
, committee in what manner they were q
@ proceed, and collect a statement Of the
? facts attending on this occurrence. IF the
d iprinciplc were correct, that this House