Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-20

TIE ,se Virginia and South Carolina1 claim
ants. The latter conceived themselves equal
" entitled, and requested to be heard at the
bar of the house to shew that they should be
placed on the same footing with other clam
ants. They were heard; and in consequence
of the hearing an amendment was made TO
the law then under consideration, Mr. Al
then read oart of the address delivered on
this occasion by Alexander Moultrie, esq.
their agent.
MIR. Cook had yet heard nothing which con
vinced him of the impIoprietyof hearing the
claimants at the bar of the house, He he'd
never heard the subject illustrated before the
house, although it had been decided on since
he had been member. 1t was now brought
forward again, supported by the unanimous
voice of large and respectable state. The
claimants complained of many hardships, a.
mongst which, that they were not heard. He
expressed his surprise that gentlemen who
thought the yazoo claim so iniquitous, should
be unwilling that it should be heard. If it
were bad cause there could be no fear OF It's
overcoming their Judgment. If it were de-
testable, on full hearing Of it, they would
detestlt the more. He hoped the resolution
would prevail, as he wished to hear the real
merits of the case.
Z Mr.. Holland rose to express wish that the
motion would prevail. He thought different
ly with the gentleman from Georgia, who
thought such an admission and discussion
would irritate he house. He hopedno mem
berwould individually advocate or oppose the
claim; that every one would be ready to hear
it fairly explained and decided on. He hoped
if prepossessions existed on the minds of any
members, they would do all they could to
erase such prepossessions at least that they
would sit silently and hear what was said in
favor of the clsina. When persons had been
heard in behalf Of the Virginia and South
Carolina claimants. they had conducted them.
selves with SO much propriety that the whole
house had been s..-istied. He supposed that
the person admitted in behalf Of the present
claimants would probe the matter so easily as
not even TO diseompose the gentleman from
Georgia gentleman had said that this was
SO we'll known that all knew that it ought to
condemned. In saying this, the gentleman
was not correct; for commissioners appointed
by toe y S, to investigate the subject had
So 4 that equity and sound policy required a
settlements Not only this authority, bat more
than this !: this house had at one time taken
up the subject, and Oh the main question there
was large majority i'll favor Of tie principle,
Further authority still The Senate had at
one time passed bill for the settlement of
the claim. Therefore if the gentleman from
Virginia had said it ought not 10 be heard,
Mr.. II. did not agree with him. believe,
said he, that it ought to be heard have al
ways thought so, and believe it must be
heard Sound policy and justice accord in
requiring that it should be heard. We have
by a very late acquisition from the Choctaw
Indians acquired large tract of land, part of
the claim. Our public lands will lot be pur-
chased till the claim is settled. | hope the
consideration will expedite the BIZ ,iness !
conceige these claimants to have the same
right to be heard as others, and more perhaps,
because their claim has been ackrowleiei by
commissioners appointed by the United
States.
MrDdzvsofa expressed regret that this matter
should be 50 pertinaciously pressed upon the
house. 1t may be remembered by gentlemen
IN the house, said lie, that at a former ses-
sion of congress, when the subject Of claims
in general was under consideration, by verbal
information these claimants dec.;tsed being
heard at the bar of the house. They thea
had the power and right to support their
claim, AMI declined. | am now opposed to
hearing counsel in their behalf. remember
tne case of venerable Old mar, who fought
your battles, who headed your armies, whose
head was covered with grey hairs, and bowed
down by the inirmisies OF age, and who made
application 20 be heard at youi' 5af in support
of his claim. The house determined that &c
should not be heard, And shall preference be
given over him to persons. of this class! am
convinced that it would only aeitate the public
mind, and therefore hope it viii notbe grant