The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
T'L,roIo,, Ia,,

Mr.. Ponderfer moved the following re-
solution, which was adopted:
Reso!vcd, that the committee on Pub
lie Lands be instructed TO enquire into the
expediency Of providing by law for the ds-
posal CT all such tracts OF land, lying south
of the state of Tennessee, and east of the ii
yer Mississippi, claimed by virtue of grants
Of the British government Of West Florida,
in cases where the conditions of the grant
have not been complied with, and the clai-
mants are not at this time citizens of the u /.
States"
Dfr. Bigciozv proposed the following re-
solution. for adoption, which was similar to
Gne which the House had refused to enter
into some days ago:
=" ResoLoed, that the President of the u
Ried States be requested TO cause to be
laid before this House, such information as
he may possess in relation to the seizure,
capture and condemnation of the ships and
merchandise of citizens of the United States,
mixer the authority Of the governments of
Europe, CT either of them, which has not
been heretofore communicated"
Objections were made to this resolution,
because the House had already decided a.
gainst it because it called for information
on subjects probably at present matters of
nc6Oclation and because similar resolu-
tion had been entered into at last session,
which was probably still before the Execu-
tive. 1t was urged in favor Of the resolu-
ton, that the information was necessary and
important, III order TO come TO a correct
decision OF questions which would come be-
fore Congress; that the President would
communicate such things only as were pro-
per to be known that though similar re-
solution had been passed { last session, and
considerable progress made in collecting the
Information required, yet, if not again called
for, no repars would be made as it was be-
Eeved TO be rule with the Executive and
the departments, when information was ask
ed ter at one SESSION, which could not. from
some circumstances or other, te furnished
during the session. not to communicate the
result of the enquiry at a future session, ex-
cept il was expressly stated in the resou-
lion calling for the information, that the re-
port might be made az the then present or
at succeeding session Of Congress After
an amendment, moved by Mr.. Bdckiedge,
to the following effect, the resolution was d
d1pted :" accomf3 ying the same Nth the
p. gutafi0u, order and decree, under which
The said caffRTcs z0rre nude, and Informal
fioH, as far Diay be, lar far tie said de-
cree, order or regulation, be G6andoned or
fersrOtred IN, by tie nation aiakiug such
eOhturc."
The House then entered upon the order
ct the day. viz. the Dill Classifying and ar
ming tho Militia Of the United States when
Dir Virgin hnishcd his observations in fa-
vrof the bill; ldessre. Sfosc, Mqcon, LiflLc &
IYilizms also spoke in favor Of the bill, and
Messrs. Ui1gery aud AhfchiH against il.
The question ON Mr.. lfifchA's motion to
srike Out the first section Of the bill, was
not tskcn.--Adjourned.
Friday Jan. 31.
Mr.. Gholson, from the committee Of
Cleins, reported bill for the relief Of Cap
tia Bethel, which was twice read and com
Hitied.
Mr. Bacon, from the committee of WAYS
sud Means, re sorted ILL msking apprs-