Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-19
HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES..

y
March g.
Mr.. T9limadge presented memorial from
sundry manufacturers of iron wire in the town
OF Simsbury, Connecticut, praying that duties
may be laid on ali importations of that article
from abroad-Referred.
Mr.. Lewis presented the memorial of John
Mason, of Georgetown and also ofthe Corpo-
ration and Turnpike Road Company, of George
town, demonstrating against cutting channel
the Virginia shore.-Reserred to the District
Committee
On motion Of Mr.. Poindexter,
ResoIVed, That Allen q. Magrnder and Ele-
gius Fromentin, agents from the territory of
New-Orleans, be admitted within the Hall of the
House OF Representatives, any thing in the rules
and orders Of the House of Representatives to
the contrary notwithstanding
Mr.. Grundy observed, that the great pressure
of business of general nature, had heretofore
prevented him from calling the attention of the
House TO subject in which a large number OF
ms constituents, as well as portion of the CT
tIzens OF North Carolina, felt deep interest
that IN the act Commonly called the cession
act,) passed by N. Carolina, by which that state
vested the U. s. the western part OF that
state, which now forms the state of Tennessee
there was provision, that all the land claims
then existing against N. Carolina, should be sa-
tished by the general government Congress,
by accepting the cession, had bound the United
States to comply with the condition upon which
the cession was made Although the general
government have already done much towards
satisfying those claims, still much remains to
be done and the enquiry propose to institute
(Said MIR. CD is for the purpose ofshewing the
propriety of taking such steps as will procure
immediate satisfaction for claims which have
already remained too long unsatisfied 1t will
be proper to observe, that the U. States at this
time beid a treet of ooantrv in West Tennessee
to which the Indian title has been eXtinruished
SO tar as relates to it, there can be no doubt,
but Congress ought to act aud as this will pro-
duce an investigation into the amount of unsa-
tlsiied claims, when the committee report on
this subject, the necessity Of exting,lishing the
Indian title, fOrthe purpose of satisfying these
CLAIMS, viii be apparent to that department of
the government, within whose province it is 10
make treaties with the Indian tribes Mr.. G.
observed, that the second provision of his reso-
luton would be rendered more material, in case
the Indian title to lands in West-Tennessee,
should not be speedily extinguished and ali
who had any knowledge CT the origin Of claims
IN that part OF the country of which he was
speaking, would readily admit it. The state
OF Nofth-CaroliRa at an early period, aulhOri-
sed her citizens who had held claims of a pccn-
liar description against that state to locate lands
m that part OF the country, in satisfaction of
those clalms. Many entries were made; the
witnesses by whom the objects called for in
thosec'aims can be proved, are but few. and
the number rapidly diminishing; besides, even
the objects themselves, on which the validity
OF many titles may depend, may so change in
a long course OF years, that the witnesses, if a.
live, may not be able TO recognise them. wish
Congress TO sec plainly the true situation in
WHICH those claimants are placed, and no doubt
can be entertained, butthat suitable provision
n mad 10 A a..
prohibit any citizen from going into that part
OF the country, or doing any act whatever by
which the evidence Of his claim can be Drcser.
we'd These men, arc, then, placed in this con-
dition they have paid th-Csrolina for the
iands-thc U. States have pledged themselves
that they shall be satisfied, and Congress by
law have prohibited the claimants from Securing
those claims. This is certainly doing such IN
JustIccto fair purchasers, that am persuaded
this resolution will not only be adopted, but
that tue objects have in view will be attained
as speedily as the existing circumstances of the
country will admit.
The following is the resolution offered bv Mr..
Crundy, which was agreed to
p" RecolUed That the committee on Public
Lands be directed TO enquire, VIVA; further pro-
visions are necessarily he made for satisE.in,,
such claims 60 Lands within the state of Ten.
ncs5ee, as ARE recognised by the act of ce55ion.
from the state Of North-Carolina TO the United
States and ave not at this time located. and chat
they also enquire into the proper steps to be Ia
Ken for pcrPetaatins the testimony and estab.
fishing the claims 90 lands heretofore located
| lagreeablyto the laws Of Noith-Caro!ihq.) IN
mat part Of the state Of Tennessee TO which dc
indian title IS not distinguished, and that they
have leave toreport by bin or otherwise"
WEST FLORIDA.
Ar. johnson submitted the following reso1p-
ton:
Rese!vea' That committee be appointed IN
enquire into the situation Of THAT part Of West
! Florido, west Of the Pcrlido river, the posses
SIGN OF which was taken under tte Proclamsti.
on oi thc President OF the United States ON
the 9Th October, 1910, and dat tie commit.
tee have leave to report BY bill or otherwise.
ar: Ptkln cnqdiinS the particular object
| Of this motion
Mr.. Johnson replied, that BIZ tho Proclama.
ton OF the President Of the United States. tl,c
territory embraced by the resolution was attach.
| ed to tho Orleans territory. Il is well known.
that the constitution og that territory, I'm conlor
NIFTY to the law OF Congress, had rived. and
was now before the House. The territory in
| question, not being included within the Limit.