The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-03

Mr.. Meigs reported bill granting a
right of pre-emplion to purchasers of public
lands in certain cases. Read and passed to
a second reading. Adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Friday, January 26.
The following is the amendment offered
yesterday, but subsequently, Withdrawn by
Mr.. If.oaf. =
:. BE IL further enacted, That fany YES.
sci, the property OF a citizen of the United
States, bound to port permitted by this act,
shall be captured on her voyage by the
armed vessels of Great Britain or France,
and condemned in virtue of the orders or
DEGREES of either, violating the neutral
rights CO the u. S. the President is hereby
authorised and required, on demand of the
owner or owners Of such vessel. forthwith
toissue letters of marque and reprisal to such
owner or owners, authorising the capturing
and bringing in for adjudication the ships or
vessels oil the power under whose order or
decree the said capture was made: Proyi-
ded nevertheless, it shall not be lawful for
the President to grant letters of marque and
reprisal in conformity with the above pro
vision, unless due aud satisfactory proof be
exhibited that the owner or oMaers entitled
to the same isa citizen oftiie ". S. trading
in conformity with the provisions OF this
act, and that the, capture aud condemnation
were made under the orders or DEGREES Of
the power making the same.,'
This day being, by a rule lately adopted,
devoted to the consideration of bills and re-
ports originating from petition. no business
of an important public nature was done.
The bill extending the right of suffrage
to the citizens OF Madison county, in the
Mississippi Territory, went through com
r,tit of he wi IL A ~
chair. having been amended. on motion et
Mr.. Poinde.rter, SO assto authorize the APP
pointment of an additional Judge for the
Mississippi Territory, to reside in Madison
county.
The bills for the relief of Jared Shattuck;
for the relief OF Joseph Joshua Oyster; and
for the relief of VIM. Hawkins, each passed
through a committee of the whole, Mr. w
ALsToN in the chair.
These several bills were ordered to be
read third time to morrow.
The bill for the relief of Isaac Briggs was
discussed la committee Of the whole, Mr..
w. ALsTofI in the chair but disagreed to;
and afterwards refused third reading by
the House.
On motion of Mr.. Morro7v.
Resolved, That it is expedient to autho-
rise the President of the u. States to en-
ploy person to compile diges: of such
u
gress under the confederation and procla-
nations as have relation to the public
lands, and to provide for the printing of
copies.
Saturday, Jan. 27.
On motion of Mr.. UAitnan, the message
of the President of tie u S. in answer to
the call of the House for information on the
subject of the capture of our vessels by Swe-
den, Denmark, etc. was referred to the
committee charged with the consideration
OF the subject of our foreign relations.
CALI. FOR PAPERS.
Mr.. IIoSeiey rose to Offer resolution
calling for information. He quoted the
message ofthc President of the u. S. at the
commencement of the session in relation to
our affairs with France. The President had
referred the House to the correspondence
laid before them to shew the state Of our af-
fairs with France. Now ,this correspond
encc consisted of a letter FROM Mr.. Cham
pagny, which Mr.. Armstrong, in an extract
of a letter from him, declares to be the def
nitive answer OF the Emperor of France to
the Professions made to him by the Ameri-
can government. What these propositions
were, was not any where stated. Being de-
sirous to obtain information on this subject.
he moved the following resolution:
ResokUed, That the President of the u.
States be requested to cause to be laid be-
fore this House copies OF the several COM
muDications made to the government of
France in pursuance of the authority vested
by Congress in the Executive. as mentioned
IN the President's message 10 Congress at
rte commencement Of Me session, ecceht
such fiarts thereof as may in his otinion
require secrecy.
Mr.. RheG, (T.) moved an amendment
calling for information as well as TO Great
Britain as 20 France.
Mr.. Dana remarked, that this amend
ment would involve AN absurdity; because
the President had in his message made no
such illusions to correspondence with Great
Britain, as the resolution stated him to have
made as to France.
Mr.. SheGey moved to add to the amend
ment the words " not already communica-
ted"
Mr.. Effies, presuming the object Of the
gentleman from Connecticut, was TO obtain
full statement of all the propositions made
to those governments, therefore moved to
strike out the words i'll Italic, and include
Great Britain as well as France in the call,
which would embrace all the information the
gentleman wanted.
Mr.. AIoseLy accepted the amendment as a
part of his motion.
Mr.. M'Kre moved that the resolution
should lie on the table for consideration
Agreed to by Yeas and Nays IS to SIS.
AMERICANS NAVIGATION BILL.
The engrossed bill concerning com
merciaI intercourse with Great britain aud