The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-27
Gn1lDrea8.
OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TUESDAY. April, II.
CONTINUED

CONTINUED le
Mr.. Randolph said that during the pre-.
sent session memorial had been presented
to the House on behalf of the New England
and Mississippi Land Company. embracing
what was generally known by the appella
ton OF the Yazoo claim. which had been re-
terred to the committee of claims. From
that committee he had been in expectation
of report for some weeks past. He said
he was informed by the Chairman of that
committee that they had been discharged
from the further consideration of that memo.
rial, and that 1t was now on the table of the
house. Mr.. X. expressed his regret at the
Course this business had taken. He said he
did not wish that any thing should be done
directly or Indirectly, by any act of commits
sion or omission. that should give any the
slightest degree Of coun.enance to that
claim. The House must be apprized, he
said, that a judicial decision of no small i'm
portance had during the present session of
Congress taken place. Now he feared that
an Abandonment on the part of the House of
an examination of that question, particular.
ly at the present time when it was abandon
ed, would Wear the appearance abroad of
acquiesence IN that judicial decision on their
part. II 1t. was any ordinary claim. said ne,
should have no such apprehension; but I
have been acquainted with this claim from
the time ofits introduction into this house.
and surely never has any claim been pres
sed upon the public with such pertinacity,
with such art, with such audacity Not a.
single circumstance. however slight, has
risen IN either branch of the legislature. not
| single act have We done or failed to do in
| relation to this claim, that the petitioners
have not modestly addueed as an evidence
not merely of the justice of their claim, out
| OF disposition on our part to subscribe to it.
do therefore hope, as this claim. has rest
ed so long before the committee of Claims,
as that they must have made up their minds
on the subject so as to enable them to make
report on it, that they would indulge the
| House with report on it. Therefore move
that the petition be referred TO the commit
tee OF claims, with instructions to report
| thereon to the House.
| MIR. johnson objected to the reference on
account OF the lateness of the session, the
pressure of other business, and the impossi-
bility OF making report during the pre-.
sent session in time to be acted on by the
House. a
Mr.. LiUermore expressed his anxiety that
this question should In some shape or other
be brought before the House He said the
claimants felt strong in the justice of their
claim, and were anxious for a discussion and
fair investigation Of it.
Mr.. 1rouf advocated the reference. la
allusion TO the late decision, which the mind
OF every man attached to republican princi.
pies must revolt at, he said it was necessary,
if the House were not disposed to acauiesce
IN that decision, that some step should be ia
ken in relation to this petition.
Mr.. RandoLth. on the suggestion of Mr..
Johnson, that the committee ofcIaims would
nave no time to prepare and mature REF port,
withdrew his motion for reference of the
memorial to that committee, AID moved the
following resolution
Resolved, That the prayer of the petit
ton the New England Mississippi Land
Company is unreasonable, unjust, and ought
not to be granted"
The House refusedsto consider the motion
Yeas 48-Nays 81.
feated, and the House did not seem disposed
TO discuss that motion, lie should propose afo
Their. he moved that the petitioners have
leave to withdraw their petition.
lhls motion occasioned very desnltory
debate, ia which Messrs. Bib, Bacon, Key,
Quincy. Smile. Randolph, Livermore,
Iroup and Sneffey took part. The great OBJ.
lection to the motion was that it proposed
course which tho petitioners themselves had
not requested. and which was not usually
pursued. unless where, after an investigation
OF petition, it was deemed wholly improper
to act OF it.
Mr.. Quincy moved to postpone the motion
indefnitelya
After further debate,
On motion of MIR. Gholson. the further
consideration Of the whole subject was order
ed to lie on the table-54 to IS.
a letter from the Score airy of the Trea-
sury was laid before the House transmitting
particular statement OF the receipts. ex.
penditures, loans, &c. from the commence
ment OF the government, made out in con
formity to a resolution of the House, passed
few days ago, OH the suggestion of Mr.. Ran
do!ph.
The bill from the Senate for the es,ablish
ment OF quarter masters department, was
twice read and committed.
the House took up for consideration the a
mendments Of the Senate to the bill to cx-
anime into the title of the batture.
The first amendment requires the com
missioners appointed to collect testimony Tor
that purpose TO SO to N. Orleans.
This amendment was negatived. Mr..
Gholson opposing aud Mr.. Lyon supporting
it-hycs IL.
The second amendment goes to strike out
the cause requiring the commissioners ap
pointed to collect testimony to report to Con
gress their opinion ther cor, and to insert the
following together with the law. usage,
edictS or customs upon which the said title
Iaay depend, aud which they shall also coli
late ard arrange"
MIR. Potnderter opposed and Mr.. Lyon
supported the amendment; watch was neg-
atiyed57 to 10.