The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-29

head or Department-and which was cal
culated to draw down odium on a part OF
the state which he represented. That let
ter tc which he had alluded contained
charge against certain persons in Connec-
ucut, not exactly of their having afforded
aid and comfort 10 the enemy, but of nav
ing afforded them intelligence by oeans of
those lights, which had the effect of aiding
the enemy in their operations. The motion
MIR. l.. was shout to make, was not, he
said, induced by any belief that the report
was correct; for he could not believe that
hrs native town contain d in its bosom men
SO abandoned as TO light those torches
i he conduct OF those people in protecting
the ships of war Of the II. States from those
OF the enemy during the last sumner. pre-.
fcluded the suspicion of such charge being
correct as to them. MIR. l.. took brief
view Of the manner IN which the state of
Connecticut had patriotically defended the
U. States squadron when the general gov,
eminent was unable to defend il from the
I6iockadiug squadron OF the enemy. In that
service the state troops or militia had re (,
manned until November, at which time tht
" States had collected, az was supposed
Sufhcient force to answer the purpose -
The y. States then having garrison in the
rt, 1t was presumed the commander or
hat force had kept up prcper guards and
patroes ABOUT the points in the neighbor-
mood & yet, in the month of Dec, on these.
very points these wickediights, these torches
II treason we're said to hive been exhibited,
he could not believe, VI der these circuml
stances, that these lights were exhibited al,
represented, but that some deluson musN
nave existed on the subject. 1t was FRO
per, he conceived, that the fact should be
lenquiredinto, and placed on its proper foot
ing, as it had been alluded to frequently in
this House. With this view he offered the
following resolution:
:" RESOLVED, That a committee be an
ipointed to enquire whether any reasonable
lcorres pondence has been held, or informa-
ION by means OF blue lights or signals by
hre gwen from the shores at or near the
ha Dor of New London in the state Of Con
necueut, TO the blockading squatlron of
that harbor, whereby the enemy ,aight'iearn
| ne state, condition or movements of the A :
mtrcan ships under the command of Com
modore Decatur now in that port and Ia AT
the commit eebe authorised TO take eri
0ence by deposition or otherwise as thew
ina} deem necessary, and report thereon to
this House."
M. NJ se'ey of Con. spoke in support of
thls motion, Which embraced an enquiry
CHat he conceived to be due to the eharac-
I Ter OF the state. l. was clear, he said. III at
unless there mad been some criminal def.
lc'ency IN their duty, on the part of the offi..
GERS commanding at New London, these
lights could not have been exhibited by INV
tprlvate citizen on shore. He adyerted 70
tEhe addition which this story had afforded
the stock of epithets about Bri ish roIr,
| 1id cries, Sccs CT which some Sentlemeo in
TINS house we're SO fond though he rad no
looJection Tor his part. if blue ligF,.- ...s.r-
spersed IN speech were conceived 20 rem
aef u more lucid or brilliant, that they
should be introduced. whether true or false.
he hoped = would be ascertai.ed. under
the antaority OF the Houses NhetLer these
blue 'gbis ever have been made and if SO,
u whom and III what manner.
W.T. Grundy Of Ten. said the sensibilitv
oisPAay ed by the gentlemen from Connec
t,c1i IN this suoject was MOS. honorable TO
thenIseiVes--et he certainly concurred With
them Ia the hope that upon ex examination IL
WOULD appear that no pos eicn of the people
OF mat state were capable of an act SO base
and dishonorable. So Ear, however, as his
mind had b en- impressed, he differed from
ne gentleman who appeared TO think there
was n Joun ion for the report. IL ought
to be re collected that the commander If fhe
AMERICAN squadron, whose authority could
not be questIoned, had stated what was hj.,
lmpre SION, derived from the Information of
the othcers and men under his Command
ne same impression WAS con affirmed II. the
mind OF Mr.. G. by the statements of news.
papers on the spot. Conducted by hose who
differed from him in politics, nsrrating the
circumstance which had been allu-ied to-
he should vote for the enquiry, but he did
not wish to see departure fvorn the regular
course he enquiry b longed properly to
tue naval committee, he conceived
cause 1t was the navy which was Intended
10 nave been Particularly injured by the ex
hlbiuon OF those lights. He moved to q.
mend the resolution so as to refer the sub
jcct 10 that committee.
MIR. Fisk OF N Y. said he was sorry 20
near wish expressed by the gentleman
from tennessee for the proposed enquiry.
wren he looked at the principle of this mo-.
'lon' ne trembled at the consequences of it's
adoption. What was the principle? IL was
hohinB more than proposition to exercise
'hrougn committee Of this house. the in :
qui itor'al power TO enquire whether trea-
Isoh mas been committed in a particular IN .
stance. lie hopedno such precedent won
receive he sanction Of the house.
Mr.. Eppes OF Va. remarked chat tb, a.
dopnon OF such resolution as this vyortl
! p ace The II use # Representatives in ~
sYhward sitaati1n' It was unaues, iouablv
the right OF the hOuse TO enquire into Ill
/ '1lngs connected with subjects Of lerisl,;io,,
---tnt' to justify this enquiry, it ought to be
Toy some specific object. He therefore nro-
p0,ed TO amend the mo .oa SO as to rrr,st;
tgte comm ittee 70 enquire into the exne
Hency OF prov ding by law for the pupish-
Hent OF persons who hold out blue liyhts ~,