Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-11-14

pert take measures TO ascertain the truth 1t
it were committed without the iuiisdic ion of
the II. S. it did not come within the province
of the committee who had the subject under
consideration and In order to make an en-
quiry, twas necessary TO give them further
powers The resolution now before the house
would prevent all difficulty en- the subject it
tells the committee that it is the subject to
which the house requires their particular at
tention; he thought it proper, therefore, in e.
very point OF view that this resolution should
pass. He hoped that there would bean unani-
nifty of vote on this subject; that the house
would proceed directly to the object for which
they were summoned together, and would act
as though they were engaged in one common
concern. To this end, said he, let us deter
mine to what committee the subject belongs;
they will soon report, and we shall have the
subject completely before us.
Mr.. Blount observed, that the gentleman
Just sat down had misrepresented him. That
gentleman had stated that he Mr.. b. had not
expressed an opinion to which of the COM
mittees the attack ON the Chesapeake was re-
ferred. He had expressly stated, that the
committee of which he was a member had
entered upon the subject, and that at the mo-
ment when this resolution was brought for
ward, he was in the act of writing note to
the secretary Of state for information, and
Which he read in his place. The committee,
nor any member Of il, ever entertained any
doubt on the subject. Il was the first bust
ness on which they proceeded lie believed
the members Of this committee felt as de-
sirous of pursuing this enquiry, and oflaying
all the information they could OBTAIN before
the public, as any gentleman who clamored
upon it. There was no inclination in this
committee to pass over this attack in silence,
nor could they be Justly charged with delay
in giving their attention to it.
Mr.. Quincy disclaimed any intention of
passing eensure upon the committee who
who were said to have this subject under
consideration, He had no doubt their views
were as pure and patriotic as his own. He
thought the house had not been sufficiently
explicit in their reference of this subject
He knew it was the general opinion of the
house that this business had been already re-
ferred, he had therefore modified his resolu-
ton to its present form. He saw no indeli-
cacy in this So far from it, a committee
oughtto consider it an honor to be instructed
by this house it was adding all the wisdom of
the house to the wisdom of the committee
He had no intention of making any clamor on
the subject, Or of offending that committee.
His own opinion was that The attack on the
Chesapeake was not referred at all; OF, if it
were referred, it was not referred to the com
lnittee, whom he proposed to instruct. It APP
pearcd that this committee and the committee
Of commerce aud manufacturers had them
selves entertained doubts On the subject; but
after holding a conference had determined
that the committee appointed on asgressions
within our ports and waters should take it up.
The confessions of gentlemen themselves ap-
peared to call for ,notionlke the present, and
he hoped it would be agreed to.
Mr. Fisk entertained no doubt, nor did the
committee who had taken up the subject APP
pear to have any, as to the reference of the
attack on the Chesapeake. He therefore
conceived it unnecessary to pass this resolu-
ton. The committee had already taken up
the subject, and would soen be ready to re-
port upon it. 1t would therefore be very im-
proper now to Ecome to resolution TO
direct their attentionto what they are already
engaged upon.
The question was called for, and taken by
yeas and nays, as follow:
YEAS-Nlessrs. Alexander, Champion,
Culpepper, Dana, Davenport, Desha, Elliot,
Ely, GARDENER, Jenkins, Lewis, Miner,
Moseley, Pitkin, Quincy, Rowan, Russell,
Stedman, Sturges, Taggart, Tallmage, Up.
ham, Van Allen, Van Renssclaer.-s4.
NAYS.-Messrs. w. Aston, Bacon, Bard,
Barker, Bassett, Bib, Blackledge, Blake,
Blount, Boyle, Brown, BurwelI, Butler, Cal
houn, C. w. Campbell, Carlton, Chandler,
NJ. Clay, Clopton, Cobb, Cook, Cuts, Oar
by, Dawson, Deane, Durell, Eppes, Find!ey,
Fisk, Franklin, Gardner, Garrett, Goodwin,
Gray, Green, Harris, Holmes, Howard, lis