Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-01-03
Congrss Of tic United States.
IN SENATE,

IN SENATE,
MONDAY, December 81.
Mr.. TAYLOR attended and took the oath
prescribc d bv law.
The bill to incorporate the subscribers to
the Farmers Bank of Alexandria; and the
biliaushorising subscription on the part OF
the u. States 20 the stock of the Ohio Canal
Company, were read the second time.
The bill for the establishment ct a quarter
masters department was read the second
time, and referred 70 Ms.srs. LIB, Frank
lin, and Pickering.
WEST FLORIDA.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the bill extending the laws now in force in
Orleans territory TO the Prrd.do, &c.
Mr.. Pickering commencsd a speech, in
which he proce edct about an hour; when
he read, as an ,"ideuce IN support OF Ills
argument against the title OF the United
States to Louisiana or Florida between the
Mississippi and Pesdit!o, letter from
Charles Maurice Tali-yrand, the French
minister for foreign affairs, dated 2lst De-
eember, 1904, ~ Gen. Armstrong, our
minister At Paris, on the subject OF CERTAIN
ovsrtu,es which had been made BY our mi
nis,.rs IN Spain for the aid el France in pro-
curing crssion to the United States OF
one or both Floridas. The purport of
Tallryrsnd's letter appeared 10 be, denial
chat the United States had acquired, by the
treaty OF 1908, any ;i,le to Louisiana eass
OF the Mississippi, or some statement to
shai effect.
When Mr.. Pickering had concluded the
reading OF this litter,
Mr.. Smith, (Md.) said he wished to en-
quire whether the paper, which the gentle
man had lu.t read, had ever been publicly
communicated TO the Senate
Mr.. PICKERING aaid. it had been cnmrpn.
-,..,- 4 ,c.~:r.Seed as PuniIc paper Out
for wha, reason had it been communicated
conhdentially Because by arublcauoa
OF It at the time injury naight have been
done to Our ministsl or orr affairs abroad.
There was however now no reason Why
che whole truth should not he known.
They were about taking step which was
enc of peace or war, and 1t was important
shat every thing in relation to the subject
should be disclosed.
Mr.. Snish (Md. } said that whatever pa
per. wer- communicated TO the Senate
con6drntiallv. before they could be read
publicly in this body or any other It was
necessary that the permission ct sbr Senate
shsu!d be Obtained which do doubt 1t
asked IN this Gaze would have been grant
ed. But if this proceeding wer- permitted
% pass unno,iced, any individua! migHt
have the power to do the greatest injury to
The nation, as his humsur might move him.
He aprrehended the proceeding was wrong;
bu, gentlemen Older in the Senate than ne
was could perhaps better decide. =,
On the suggestion OF member. the gal
,er;., we're cleared. The Serate sat with
closed doors for an hour when we were
again admitted.
Mr.. Clan submitted the following reso-
lu,;on, which lies on the table Of course:
Resolved, That the public perusai inthe
Senate of certain papers with open gale
RE. by the gentleman from Massachusetts,
fMr. Piekerinr) in his SEA. without spe.
e;aI order of the Senate removing the ia.
iune,;on of secrecy. which papers had been
(. eop6d.rtislly communicated to the Senate
by the Presidsn, Of the United States, was
. paIpah.e siolstien Of the rules of this body.
The Senate chen adjourned 20 Wsdnes-
Gay.