The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-28

ferel by him on Yesterday, which was again
read as follows: ~.
Resoise,L Tet mttec be- arpo;ne,l 10 enquire.
inothe causes ol the capture OF this cty by the enemy,
tl nannern which the public buildings and property
We're destroyed, and also into the in valae OF the
property, public AID private, DESTROYED and that
ihcv have power Ia s-u,l TOR persons andpapcrs."
Mr.. Lesvis IF Va. expressed his regret at
the absence from the House of the gentleman
from Maryland Mr.. Goldsborough) at Whose
suggestion this resolution had yesterday been
laid ON the table. Mr.. Lewis said it was his
wish that the House should also enquire into
the manner and reasons of the capitalization of
Alexandria, and of the desertion of Fort War
burton. AS respected the town of Alexan-
dria, he knew that its conduct had been much
misunderstood, and by some misrepreseutetl.
He desired to know the facts on this subject.
Mr.. Johnson made IA few general observa-
tons on the natur2 of this enquiry. His OBJ
ject he declared to be, an enquiry into the pre-
parations made, and the measures authorized
and adopted by the administration for the de-
fence OF the District previous to It's invasion
andinto the collection and disposition of this
force by the commanding officers of the vari-
Gus descriptions of it. He advertetl to the va
rious opinions entertained not only at a dis
tance, bnt even IN this district, in respect 10
the merits of all to whom might attach praise
or censure in regard to the recent transact
ons. If there was blame, as even those who
defended all parties appeared to admit, he
wished to know with whom it rested. He
ha,- no inclination, having this single object in
view, to cucumber the enquiry with matters
nnconnected with his object, and was there
fore averse TO retaining the clause proposing
an enquiry into the amount of private proper
T. destroyed.
Mr.. Lewis said he was as DESTROYS as the
gentleman from Kentucky could possibly be
3, Tor full and early enquiry, but he did think
that every thing relating to the occurrence
within the District, would come fairly within
the enquiry. The town Of Alexandria was
an important part of the District. The whole
district is equally under the exclusive iurisdic-
ton OF Congress, and MIR. l.. said il was due to
all that the enquiry should be general. But,
as the gentleman was unwilling to accede 20
such an amendment as he wished to propose
he would wave it for the present, and clier it
lii the shape of a distinct resolution.
MIR. GroSpensr Of " Y. said he was sorry
he could not accord i'll the propriety of with
drawing the proposed amendment. The sub
ject of the capitalization of Alexandria and the
previous destruction OF Fort Warburton, was
closely connected with chat of the capture of
the city. This District under the exclusive
controul OF Congress, had been approached
BY the enemy in different directions, up the
Patuxent and the Potomac by two divisions
ot inc same force. 1t was premature now TO
give any opinion where the blame, ii any, Of
what had happened should rest. He hoped
1t would rest no where that the recent disas-
ter would be found TO be the result of the par
ncu'ar situation OF the country which preclu-
died any adequate defence. But, if there was
an enquiry, he hoped it would be a thorough
one one which would satisfy the nation where
the blame ought to rest. In this view, ne
Thought it would be idle to enquire why the
Capitol fell, distinguishing il from any other
part OF the district. Fort Warburton was one
OF its deiences the destruction of it Carries
Oh its face great cause of suspicion--and
ought therefore to be a particular subject of
enquiry; and, certainly, if any part OF the
subject was worthy of enquiry this was The
gentleman from Maryland being absent, he
would therefore propose an amendment in
the following words and mto the causes
7vhich induced The destructioa Of Fort Wu-
6urton and c0tiituiation If .Aie randria''
Mr. Johnson had no objection to including
Fort Warburton in the enquiry, but objected
to also including Alexandria
MIR. CASTOR If ". c. said he did not doubt
that the object of all those who Interested
themselves in this matter, was to have a full
Investigation of the subject in national
view. Instead, then, of enquiring into the
particular details, he should wish to have the
enquiry general, and couched iii the very
terms in which the President had brought il
before Congress, in his message, and he should
move to amend this motion accordingly. Mr.
q. then stated his proposed amendment.
MIR. GrosUenor withdrawing his proposed
amendment, Mr.. Johnson accepted Mr.. Gas
tons amendment to this motion, making it.
with further modification suggested by hAr.
Grosvenor, read as follows:
"Resofeed, That committee be appointed tn en-
Hife into the causes oi the Of the enemy in his
Iccelt enterprises against the Metropolis and the
neighborIg town of Alexandria aud into the manner in
which the public buildings and property were DESTROYED
end the amount thereof, and that they have power
tOscnd for persons and papers"
Mr.. U1ght Il 1tit. took occasion to state
hls opinion that 1T would have been more Par
Elementary to have enquired into the causes
of the future OF the L. States to defend the
district, than of the enemy'S success in his en-
terprize against it. But MIR. w. did not move
any amendment.
The motion as it now stands was agreed TO
without dissenting voice.
The House then proceeded to ballot for a
Chaplain when, after three baIlotings, the
Rev. Obadiah Brown, Of Lilis city, was declar.
ed duly elected.
And the House adjourned to Monday.
NATIONAL. INTELLIGENCE
EXTRA.
& IL Of