The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-18

get rid OF the enquiry. after the gauntlet had
been thrown by he majority.
The motion for postponement was reject
ed by Yeas aud Nays,
For the postponement 81
Against it QS
Mr.. Bayly stated at some length the rea.
sons why he preferred the original motion of
Mr.. Roberts to the amendment proposed by
MIR. Webster.
Mr.. Roberts. in opposing the proposed
amendment, took occasion 70 state more de-
hnitely the object OF his motion, duty he
conceived he owed to the House. He did not
say what were the facts-he did not apply
reproachful terms to any member but as
great deal had been said about common
lame, he would state that common fame did
report some dishonorable circumstances Of
the manner in which the paper so often men
tened had been obtained, not from the files
OF the Office of state, where it was not, but
from the private files of a member of the
government. His intention was. as the pa
per was before the house, to place hi its pro.
per light the production of it, and 10 exhibit
in proper view the conduct of the gentle
man who produced it. And he shoul6 not
rest in his enquiry till nc had obtained a
complete disclosure of all the circumstau-
Ces.
Mr.. Grosvenor supported the amendment.
Mr.. Bigelow of Mass. supported the "a
mendment, and took view of the contents
of Turreau's letter.
Mr.. Shipherd, of n. Y. followed on the
same side, and in discussing the contents of
the letter. depressed into view of the con-
ciusion Of our last campaign-for which he
was called to order. He was anxious for
enquiry, which he considered the honor of
the country to require.
Mr.. Barnett, with view 20 check the un-
necessary consumption of time, moved the
previous question; which was refused.
For the previous question 81
Against Sc
Mr.. Webster advocated the amendmene
which he had proposed, at some length
The question was then taken on his pro-
posed amendment by yeas and NAYS, and
negatived by majority of 80 or 30 votes.
MT. Hanson. then, after some remarks. stat
ing the mode OF enquiry now proposed as not
iikeiy to lead to any practical result, moved
20 amend 1t so as TO read nearly as follows.
which would answer every object the gentle
man professed to have in view.
" RcsofUed, That this house will, on the
day of next, receive ev;dence a.
the bar OF the house, of the manner in which
and time when certain paper, &c. &c. was
Withdrawn, &c. and how and in what man
ner 1t came into the possession Of a member
OF this House, &c "
Mr. Stockton, of N. ]. warmly supported
this proposed amendment, and entered into
discussion OF the merits of the Letter and
US mode OF reception, &c. which ne thour-ht
derogatory to the honor Of the government
&c.
Mr.. Roberts replied. He could not CON
sent, he said, to admit more credit to be
due to the statements already before the
house CT ailedged facts in relation to that
paper paragraph.
MIR. GrosveHor spoke at length in support
OF this motion to amend, and expatiatcd en-
the fairness and honorable readiness disDiav
| ed by his friend MIR. Hanson to meet the
charge insInuated against him of impropri-
ETY. of conduct in obtaining the letter.
Mr.. Sharp, OF Ky. again called on gentle
men IN opposition to state the manner in
which they obtained this letter, and the an
thority on which their a!edged facts rest ::
and replied to Messrs. Stockton and eros
tvenor.
| Mr.. Stockton }rejoined.
The question on Mr.. Hanson's motion vas
decided in the negative BY Yeas and NAYS
by majority of so or 40 votes.
! Mr.. CASTOR, after expatating on the VA.
lue OF correct information on the suhiect of
this letter 10 intelligent legislation on foreign
anaits' exc. moved to amend the motion by
| OoN Nii' WupiSS substituting there
tor a motion TO enquire of the President
whether the following letter There insert the
whole of the alledged lie, ter, as published in
all the papers last summerl had been re
ceived by the government &c.
Mr.. Pitkin supported this motion, and
warmly entered into a view Of the conduct
OF government as connected with the con
tents of that letter, which he considered IT
important to verify or falsify.
The question on MIR. Gaston's motion IN
amend, was decided in the negative by Yeas
and Nays
For the amendment IS
Against it OK
And the original motion of Mr.. Roberts
was agreed to by large majority.
bill from the Senate "to arshorize the
President of the u. S. to cause certain reri
ments therein mentioned to be recruited fnr
hive years or during the war, was twice read
and committed"
On motion of Mr.. IngersoIl Of Pen. the
petition of Danl. Pettibone relating to irnIs-
ments Of war, presented on the 25th June.
was referred to the Committee on Militsrv
Affairs.
Mr.. NJ 'Kee also made a report unFavors.
bic to the petition of sundry inhabitants re
siding on the frontiers OF the state Of Ohio
(praying grant of land for alleged priva.
tons by war)-which was read and concur
rcd In.