The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-24


supported bs evidence; that these persons
had engaged themselves in a foreign service
that they had become weary of the privi-
ieges OF 'freenen, and had entered into hos
tile expedition against a foreign country,
and in SO doing had been taken, condemned
fer piracy and immured as a punishment tor
that offence; that the British government
having been at the bottom OF this business,
was the proper power to release these per-
sons, and indeed had applied to the Spanish
Commander for the purpose that even were
the United States bound by the laws of rus
hce or humanity to intercede for these per-
sons, they knew not to whom to make appli-
cation, and would probably meet with a re-
tusal, perhaps rude one, if any Judgment
could be formed from the present situation
OF our affairs with Spain that if gentlemen
wished for objects, on which to exercise their
humanity, they might find them in the Lace
rated backs of our impressed ssamen. with
out extending 1t to criminals. In reply to an
observation of Mr. Lyon, that if we did not
get these men G. Britain would ret them,
and employ them I" extend her naval force |;
Mr.. Macon replied, il She did she was wei
come to keep them; but she was ia the ha-
bit OF supplying her navy with scamen from
our vessels without the trouble which the
acquisition OF these men might occasion her
In reply to these objections and in support
OF the resolution, the humanity Of the House
was strongly appealed to. 1t was urged that
the. government could in no wise be involved
by an appeal to the generosity of the provin-
cial government; that these men had not
wiifuiiy committed piracy, bat been deu-
ded under Narious pretences 70 Join the eX-
pedition; thatthey had joined it under be-
let that they were entering into the service
OF the United States; that. even admitting
them to have been indscreetly led to Join the
enterprise, knowing it to be destined for
foreign service-yett that they had been suf-
hclen.ly punished by the penalty they had
already undergone that it was wholly irriua-
teriai wnat inference any persons might
draw from the conduct OF the u. S in this
respect, as To their concern with the original
expedition; that such considerations should
have no weight with the House that if these
poor fellows were guilty, they had repented
OF 1t; and Mr.. Nelson quoted on this point
the scriptures, TO shew that there should be
more JOY over one sinner that repenteth, than
over ninety and nine who have no need of re-
pentahce. In reply to an ntimat;on that it
was not even ascertainod that they were A
merican citizens, MIR. Bacon observed, that
one OF them had been born in the same town
in which he was, and was ola reputable ia
mily.
The resolution was ncgatived by the com
mittee, 40 to 81.
The committee rose and reported the re-
solution. which report the House agreed now
to consider, ayes ST.
Mr. Lyon moved to adjourn. Ayes "a
Mr. Fisk called for the Yeas and NAYS
on concurrence with the committee.
Mr. Gardner moved TO adjourn. Ayes 81.
The question of concurrence with the COM
mittee in their disagreement to the resolution
was decided by Yeas and Nays as follow:
1EAs-Messrs. l. ]. Aston, w. Aston,
Bard, Barker, Bassett, Blackledge, Blount,
Boyd, Brown, Butler. Calhoun, Clay, Desha
EPpes, Findley, Gholson, G Goodwin, Holster,
Helms, Holland, Holmes, Howard, Jones,
Macon, Marion. D.. Montgomery, N r.
Moore, 1. Moore, Jr Morrow, j. Morrow,
Ncwbold, Newton, Nicholas, Porter, Rca,
% Rhea. (I) ]. Richards, NJ Richards,
Seaver, Shaw, Srnelt, Smile, j. X. Smith, S
Smith, Southland, Taylor, Whtehil, u. r.
Williams, a. Wilson and Wnn-5O
n AYS-Messrs. Bacon, Bib, Blake, Chit
tenden, Clopton, Culpepper, Elliot. Fisk,
Gardner, Green, Harris, Humphreys, IIsley.
X ,. Jackson, Jenkins kirkpatrick, Love,
Lyon Masters, McCreery, Minor. j. Mont
gomery, Mumford Pitken, Riker, Russell.
Say, Sloan, Sturges, Trigg, Upham, Van
a len, Van Horn. Wilbour, and Winn.-34.
And the House adjourned at quarter
TUESDAY, Nov. 90.
AIR. Joseph Story, elected from Massachu-
sets vice }. Crowninshicld deceased, appear
ed and took his seat.
NV Holland presented memorial from
sundry inhabitants ofthe county OF Lincoln, N.
I praying tor the repeal of the embargo
which was r ferred to the committee of the
whole on Mr.. Chittenden's resolution.
Mr. Lewis presented the memorial of the
President and Directors of the Bank of A.
leXandra, praying an extension of their
charter; which was referred to the commit
tee on the district of Columbia
Mr.. MOrro7U presented the petition of the
commissioners of the Land Office of the u.
. at Detroit, praying further compensation
winch was referred to the committee of
Public Lands I
TERRITORIAL COURTS.
Mr.. POindcrtcr after few predatory re-
marks, offered the following resolution
ReSolved, That tn select committee to
whon was referred a bill from the Senate
Further 70 amend the judicia 81 stem of the
y. . be instructed to enquire MO the cx-
diency of extending jrisdcriol To- The supe-
rlor courts of the several territories of the
y. y IN which district court has not been
established, for the trial OF treason and other
offences Commit ed against the laws Of the
y. ,. within the limits of the said territories,
ana toempower sad courts to pronounce ,