The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-15

ken IN American armed SHIPS
And n committee was appointed to wal,
on the President and lay the resolution be
fore him.
Thursday. l0th Dec.
Mr.. BursveN has taken his seat.
On motion of Mr.. HARPER.
Resofved, That the committee on Militia
ny Affairs be instructed to enquire into the
expedency of adopting the elementary trea-
tise for the discipline of the Army and Mi
litia of the U. States.
The House again resolved itself into a
committee of the whole on the report of the
committee of Ways and Means OH the SUBJ
jcct of the Merchants Bonds.
Mr.. Boyd, Mr.. Grundy, Mr.. Rhea and
Gay spoke in opposition to total remission
of the bonds-each however advocating a
partial remission of certain description of
the bonds. 80
When the committee rose, reported pro-
gress and obtained leave to sit again.
Friday, December II.
Mr.. Poinderter presented petitions of the
Legislature of the Mississippi territory pray
ing that further time may be granted to COM
plete the payments tor public lands that
the Indian title to certain lands in that ter
ritory may be eXtinguished and that di-
vision of that territory may not take place.
The FIRST was referred to a committee of the
whole, the second to the Secretary of War
aHQ Tue t.ilTu OTueTcu 10 lie on the table.
Mr.. Bdssct, from the committee appoin-
ted to wait on the President of the United
States with the resolution adopted the day
before yesterday, reported that they had
performed that service, and received for
answer that due attention should be paid
thereto.
- On motion of Mr.. Pitkin,
" ReSoiued, That the committee of Com
nerce and Manufactures be instructed to
info he Of
vision by law for placing beacons and buoys
on two rocks IN or near the harbor of New
Haven in Connecticut.
rs MERCHANTS BONDS.
The House again in committee Of the
whole on this SUBJECT.
After some debate
The question was taken on the adoption
of the report of the resolution recommended
by the committee of WAYS and Means, in
the following words:
Resolved, That it is inexpedicnt to le-
gislate upon the subject, and that the petit
ton, with the accompanying documents, be
referred to che Secretary of the Treasury"
4 And NEGATIvED. ="
For the resolution 49
Against it so
Severa. motions were then offered by DIFF
ferent gentlemen, in accordance with the l.
IDEAS advanced by them in debate, and mega
lived. -
Mr.. ChcUes proposed the following resolu-
ton to the ComrNittee
a. ResoiUed, on viewing all the facts which
have been presented, and considering them
in connexion with the proper policy of just.
free, enlightened, and consequently lenent
government. under the circumstances of this
country at this crisis, that, in all fair cases
OF bona tide American property, the penal
ties and forfeitures incurred by the late i'm
porters of British Manufactures be uncon-
dtionally RENTED"
This motion was negatived by maj ority
of eight votes.
Mr.. II. Clay then proposed the following
resolve:
- (" Resofued, That so far as respects the
case of citizens of the u. States who purchas-
ed goods, wares and merchandise, The growth,
production manufacture of G.. Britain pri-
or to the I'd Feb 1911, and of citizens of The
u States who shipped similar goods, be-
tween the Esd day of June and first OF Au-
gust 1912, on board OF vessels which actual
~ cleared out of British ports prior to the
said first day of August, the petitioners
ought TO be relieved by remission of the
forfeitures and penalties which they have
Incurred. upon payment of legal costs; and
that in all ether cases of the petitioners a
recovery of the forfeitures and penalties in
Cured ought to be enforced"
Mr.. Rhea moved to amend the same by
striking out all the resolve, after the words
" hrior TO-" and inserting the following
words in place thereof, viz.
7" TO the second day of March. 1811-the
petitioners, ought to be relieved, by a re-
mission of the forfetures and penalties
which they have incurred, upon payment of
legal costs, and that on all other cases of the
petitioners a recovery of the forfeitures and
penalties ought to be enforced"
Mr.. Rhea's amendment, and afterwards
Mr.. Clay's motion, were negatived by large
maiorities.
Mr.. Hall then offered resolution deClar-
ing that the law ought to be rigidly enforced;
which motion also was negatived, II Mem
bers only rising in favor of it.
The committee then rose and reported
their disagreement to the report of the com
mittee OF Ways and Means, without having
come TO any other determination.
BRILLIANT NAVAL EXPLOITS
The following faessagS was received from
the President of the u. 5. by Mr.. Coles his
Seer etary:
To Ire Senate and House
of Representations o/fhe u. S.
transmit to Congress copies of letter to
the Secretary of the Navy. from Captain
Decatur, of the frigate " United States"
reporting his combat and Capture of the
British frigate Macedonian. Too much
praise cannot be bestowed on that officer 9.
his companions on board for the cOnsummate
skill and conspicuous valor by which this
trophy has been added to the naval arms
of the u. States