The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-09

nized by the articles of cession," D. and " so
much OF the residue of the five millions of
acres or of the nett proceeds thereof as
may he necessary for Lhat purpose are
thereby appropriated for the purpose of SAT-
lisfying, quieting and compromising for such
other claims to the lands of the United
States, south of the state of Tennessee, not
recognized in the aforementioned articles
OF agreement, and which are derived from
any act or pretended act of the state of
Georgia which Congress may hereafter
think Int to provide for" The language
made use of by the Legislature in appropria
ting the residue of the FIVE millions Of acres,
placed at their disposal, appears to be des-
criptivc of the claims in question.
C'ngieSs, then, in the opinion Of the COM
mittce IA, c at liberty, in conformity with the
articles of agreement and their own act,
eitherto apply the aforesaid lands, or any
part OF them, or the proceeds thereof. for
the purposes proposed By the bill u. der con
sideratioa, or to withheld them, as to them
may appear proper. How far it ould now
be tor the public interest to quiet claims
that may interfere with grants made, or to
be made BY the United States, is a consi-
derati ON OF eXpediency alone. The decisi-
ON must also rest 90 the opinion that may
De formed OF the equity, or want of equity
IN the Claims of the present claim ants -
The committee think proper to state, tn at
gentleman in the character of an agent
for many OF the present claims, produced
To them several powers of att orney and let
ters, which although they do not give posi-
tive assurance, yet give reasonable
ground OF expectation, that the present
claimants will generally consent to COM
promise their Claims on the terms propo.
sed by the report of the commissioners
In case the House shall think, proper to
authorize compromise of the claims in
question, by. passing the bill under consi-
Iteration, the committee would recommend
modification of the terms originally pro
posed by the commissioners, and assumed
AS the basis or compromise by the bill as
passed by the Senate.
According to the. agreement with Geor-
gia, five millions of acres constituted the
whole fund applicable to the satisfaction of
Claims not recognized by that agreement
1t has not been ascertained. (nor can it be
with prccisiOn) what quantity of those
lands have already been appropriated Inv
Congress. The residue. applicable to the
satisfaction, of the claims i'm question. is
eonJectural in quantity and value. And
IN the absence of other objections to the
com mutlng OF this residue for specific sum
IN money, that uncertainty would form one
OF considerable weight. 1t appears to the
committee that the alternative proposed to
the option of the claimants by the report
are not equal. that if the land should be
located In the manner provided, and be
Drought into market at the same tine with
other lands, the proceeds arising from the
sales would not discharge the interest. and
redeem the principal of 2,5OO,OoO dolls. to
which amount the certificates are proposed
to be issued. In making the compensation
proposed, Congress ought not to transcend
~ Lac fha.,-H r
purpose. If the estimate of the committee
be correct. the fund would be overdrawn
by the issue of certificates. If they should
be incorrect, and the. land be of equal value
then 1t should be equally acceptable to the
claimants as the certificates and in that
case no injury would arise in confning
sheIr compensation TO land alone. The
committee therefore recommend a modifi-
cation OF the terms, and will report an a.
mendmeDt accordingly.
The 9th section of the bill provides that
the United States shall sue for and recover
such parts of the original purchase money.
as have been improperly Withdrawn from
the treasury of Georgia (; which provision
the committee consider exCeptionable and
have proposed a substitute.
Thursday, Feb. 4.
Mr.. Hemfstead, moved that the Commit
fee ct Military Affairs he instructed 70 -:
CURE into the expectancy of authorising the
President of the u. S. to cause to be raised
ten companies of mounted rangers for the
defence of the frontiers of the territory of
Missouri.
Mr.. Bond, moved to amend the motion
by including i'll it also the Illinois territory
Agreed.
I'ir. u. II. Williams objected to a reso-
luton OF this kind including only particu-
lar territory. 1t adopted it ought to be-
more general In its scope. He therefore
moved to amend it so as to include tn.
whole western frontier
And IN this form the resolution was agreed
to,
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
he House again resolved itself into a
Committee of the whole on the bill regu.
lating the employment of foreign searnen in
the merchant service and in the armed yes
sells of the u. S,
Mr.. Sey6ert moved to strike out the
first section of the bill, with lew TO des
troy its principle. and spoke at length in
support of his motion.
Mr.. .4rcher spoke at considerable length
in reply to Mr.. Wright * MrSeybert, * in
favor Of the bill.
Mr.. Wrighs replied, also at some length
TO the observations Of his colleague, Mr..
Archer.
Mr.. U1dgery spoke against the motion to
strike out the first section. He had some
objection to the detail of the bill but though,
1t might be so amended as to make it accer-
table.
1ir. Wilson spoke for about an hour in