Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-27
lNonday, December 10.

MoHdly, December 10.
A bill from the Senate authoriZ-
ing the President of the u. States to
arm, man, and 6t out for service, all
the public ships of war, vessels and
gun boats Of the u. S. was twice read
and referred to the committee of the
whole, to whom was referred the re-
port of the committee on our military
and naval establishments.
On motion Of Mr. Lewis, a memo
rial of the city council of Washington,
presented at the last session, was refer
red to the committee ON the district
Of Columbia.
Mr. Dana presented letter from
the Society Of United Brethren for
propagating the gospel, accompanying
donation Of their works, which was
read,
On motion Of Mr. Marion, the House
resolved itselfinto a committee of the
whole, Mr. Trigg in the chair, on the
bill from the Senate further to amend
! the judicial system Of the us. At
ter some discussion the committee rose
and was refused leave to sit again
and, on motion of Mr. Gholson, the
bill was recommitted to select COM
nittee for the purpose of amending It's
ietails.
MIRANDA'S EXPEDITION.
Mr. Love called for the order Of
the day on the report of the commit
tee on the subject of the 36 persons
confined in Curthagena, South Amer
lea. The following is the resolution
reported by the COMMITTEE:
! Re 4olved, That the pr sident of the
u. States be requested TO adapt the
mast immediate and ebfcacious means
in his pouver, to obtain from the Vice
Roy of Grenada, in S. America, or
other proper authority the liberation
of tolriy-six American citizens, con-
demned on charge of piracy, and
now held in slavery in the vaults of
St. Clara, in Carihagena, and that the
sum of dollars be appropriated to
chat purpose.
] Mr. D. R. Williams moved to post
pue the consideration Of the subject
indie hnitely. Neeatived, so to So.
The House then went into COM
mittee of the whole on the subject,
Mr. frigg in the chair, SO to SO.
Mr. Love moved 70 amend the reso-
luton BY striking out the words in I.al-
| ic, and inserting authorized to re-
quest" Carried, AYES 81.
Those gentle nenwho supported this
resolution in the debate were Messrs
Love Lyon, Bacon, Nelson, Sloan and
Wilbour. Those who opposed it were
Messrs. D. r. Williams, Taylor, Smi-
lie Macon, and Southland.
The gentlemen who opposed the reso.
luton, amongst other objections, commended
that an agreement to the resolution would
but involve the government in difficulty
without answering any good purpose that
II would in fact be aiding the attempt Of a
certain arty to prove that the general go
lvernment had some connection with this
expedition originally, which it certainly
had not; that the facts set forth in tile
petition were wholly unsupported by evi
dence ; that these persons had engaged
themselves ina foreign service that they
had. become weary Of the privileges Of
| freemen, and had entered into hostile
expedition against foreign country, and
in so doing, had been taken, condemned
for piracy, and immured as a punishment
for that offence; that the British govern
ment having been at the bottom Of this bu
siness, was the proper power TO release
these persons, and indeed had applied to
the Spanish commander for the purpose /;
that even were the United States bound by
the laws of justice or humanity to inter.
Icede for these persons, they knew not 70
whom to make application, and would pro.
Ibabiy meet with a refusal, perhaps rude
one, if any judgment could be formed from
he present situation of our affairs with
jSpain that If gentlemen wished for oh.
ljects on which To exercise their humanity,
they might find them in the lacerated backs
Of our impressed seamen, without extend
ling it TO criminals In reply 10 an obser-
walton Of Mr.. Lyon, that If we did not get
lthese men, G. Britain would get them, S.
lemplpy them to extend her naval force.
Mr. Macon replied, if she did, she was
welcome to keep them but she wasin the
habit Of supplying her navy with ssamen
from our vessels without the trouble which
the acquisition Of these men might occasion
lher.
In reply to these objections and in sup
port OF the resolution, the humsny Of The
House was strongly appealed to. Il was
urged that the government could in no wise
be involved by an aDDeal 10 the reueroeitv