Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-01

o capt. Pike and his companions, fer theirI
'ervices in exploring the Mississippi river,
md for their lare expedition 20 the source |
'tthe Usage. Arkansas, & La Plate rivers,
ogc'her with their tour through New
spain; and that the committee have leave !
toreport by bill or otherwise.
, The house then proceeded to consider the |
notion made on 5 iturday by Mr.. ID. II. Will
Y,ams, to recommit the bill in add; ton to the
act supplementary to the act LAYING an elm.
barge.
lFORElGN INFLUENCED
Mr. Johnson rose to reDly TO the observa-
tons of Mr.. GARDENER on Saru rday, res.
pecting the embargo. He declared h,m-
self friend to freedom or debate, but said
that the charges made against the house
ought not to be excused 1t had been said
(ae obscrvedl that this house was guided by
an invisible hand that like the council of
five hundred, they waited 70: the ,hword of
cam nand * o>eyed 1t; thatIthe were uu-
der foreign influence that they were rivit-
ing the chains which were to bind us under
the dominion Of the French emperor: and
that they were mere automatic. Mr. ]. cen
sidered such assertions as base SANDER.
he said this upon the most mature consi-
Iteration, and should not re5ract it; and il
the feelings ofany gentleman were wound
ed by this declaration, he should not consi-
der himself guarded BY his privileges or by
thc canohy SUhich covered him.
Mr.. Rhea spoke also at length in reply
TO Mr.. GARDENER but his observations
could not be distinctly heard.
Mr.. Newton spoke in justification of the
embargo measure, declaring il the wsest
measure which could have been adopted.
The speaker observed, that the subject
before the house was, motion to recon-
nit the bill.
Mr.. G.. w. Campbell said that if the
charge made against the government, OF
being under fereign influence, was true, il
| ought to be proved and made public, in or
der that change might take place in the
| public councils; and If false, the author of
! it ought TO be consigned to that disgrace and,
nfamy which h deserved. The cuser
or accused must be guilty there was no
medium in the case and the nation ought
to know the truth He asserted tina: the
charge was an INFAMOUS FALSE
! HOOD. Mr.. c. dwelt at conside rable length
| on the embargo measure, which he highly
approved.
! Mr.. Bib said that although he had vo-
ted against the embargo, he disclaimed the
charge of French influence.
! Mr.. Montgomery said that the House had
X
lgentlemau from New York time to substan-
ttatc his charge. His failing to do il, was
Ia proof Of its falsehoud. Another method
I of proceeding had AT first suggested itself
to him but when he considered the fulfill
ty of the charge, and the source from which
it proceeded, he thought the best course for
the House TO pursue, would be to treat IL
with scornful contempt.
The question was then taken on recon-
hitting the bill to the committee of COM
merce and manu- actures, and it was agreed
Ito
The House went into committee of the
whole on the bill for the classification ofthe
militia (This bill has already undergone
u great deal of discussion in the House. !
| After some discussion, the committee rose,
again
GGEN WILKINSON ]
/ MIR. Rowan observed, that he Was not in
the House this morning when d resolution
had been offered To inquire into the proprie
~ of rewar6ing captain Pike, for his servi-
ces in exploring the western waters, &C.
| but that having since seen il, he considered
II his duty to state to the House that he had
some time back, received letter from a
| Mr. Bailinger, of New Orleans, inform ng
him that captain Pike, after his return
from his expedition, had expressed gre
1iss tisfac'ion AZ gen. Wilkinson, for having
I blown up Burr's projec', he (Pike) having
been concerned in il, and that he had beer
dispatched by Wilkinson to conciliate Ger
tain Indian tribes, and make arrangement
for it's execution. Mr. Rowan SAID he hao
not altogether coniled in this information
but that he had since seen colonel Ballinger
"a brother Of the former, very respecta-
b man, residing in Kcnrucky) who had de
clared to him that his brother bad stateu
Che same thing to him And could not, he
O served, reconcile it 10 h'mselftc withhold
! The information from the House.
! MIR. ]. Montgomery observed that he
1 could give the gentleman the most satisfac-
tory as ,urance that captain Pike had acted
under the orders of The war department
MIR. Rowan replied, that he was acquln-
ted with captain Pike, and respected HIM /;
but he had thought it his duty TO state this
information 70 the house.
! Mr. Quincy presented petition Of John
and Sal Derby, of Salem, and John Prince
Of Boston, praying that they may be allow
ed to dispatch a vessel IN Hast, under sue
restrictions US congress may think prope r.
| 90 prescribe, for the purpose Of conveying
to til, United States the Sch'r Hope, of Sa-
lem, which they siate bad arrived al S'etra
Leone W October last, with valuable car
! go of gold dust. ivory, gums, and bills NJ ex-
change Referred to the conmittt c Of com
4 =