Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-07

VAS no more IMAM what was Gone pN All
notions, and wlenilley did not do IT, Il
Vas only when their resources were mad
eGuate. The Emperor of Russia, when
the Nar in Europe was over, visited his
empire 10 repair the losses sustained by
his suhiects-and is it possible, said Mr.
CLAW, 60 imagine sovereign authority pla-
ced II Il more lovely attitude than that of
alternating the distresses OF those over
whom it Is called 10 rule Does not this
truth, he added, come home with great
er force, when the occasion upon which 1t
was exhibited, was war voluntarily wa
ged by the People themselves The Bril-
tisii government had taken measures TO
repair the lossessustained in Canada-
and what did the legislature OF New-York
do ? Moved by the sufierings OF It's pe0-
pie, it voted thirty t.oGsand dollars for
their relief-WhIle the enemy were heal
Ing the wounds of his suffering people by
benevoience CONTINUED he)--when we see
one ofyour own States doing the same
when we are thus moved by examples at
home and abroad-shall we be forgetful
of what we owe TO ourselves and luman-
ity--shali We deserve the cold-hearied
character assigned to US by the legislature
of a neighhoring State?
MIR. Clay advised the House TO take
measures 20 correct the abuses and OBJ
serving, that Mr.. Johnson's amendment
was Il powerful Correctlve-he eNhOrtcd
them TO debate, TO consider II, to debate
upon it-But, if they did not like that, he
besousht them not 10 carry the thing be-
yond the necessity of the case--not 10
strip the people of the indemnity promis-
ed TO them. Yes, repeated he, the indcm-
nifty YOU promised them, even directing
the mode-De not LET il be said, that
while man living here within the sound
OF our voices can get justice, one at five
hundred miles distance cannot obtain it.
They may petition, (sayS an honorable
gentleman)-Yes they may petition, and
go uuredrcssed-fIow often, when on the
favourable report of the committee of
claims comes before this House, is the
question upon 1t put, when not one mem
Der IN ten knows a word about il ?-How
often, not solitary aye or no upon the
subject ?-Yes, las the honorable gem
tleman has truly said, we want compe-
tency. The people have a right TO petit
t.on--a right to have their claims rejected.
Mr.. Clay concluded, by saving the IA .
was bound in honor, duty and policy, not
to repeal the law.
We are here obliged TO stop, and with
regret to leave the speeches, one OF Mr..
Randolph, and one of Mr.. Calhoun, who
were for the repeal, and one of Mr.. Gros-
venor, who was against it, as well as re-
ply of Mr.. Clay to Mr.. Randolph.
The committee rose, and obtained leave
TO sit tomorrow.
From the National InteNgeacer.l
Tuesday, December 81
Mr. Taylor of \. Y. from the committee
on elections, made favorable report on
the petition ofRufus Easton, contestng
the seat of John Scott, the sitting dele
gate from the Missouri Territory, conclu-
ding with resolution, declaring Mr.
Scott not entitled, and that Mr. Easton
is entitled TO a seat III this House. The
report and accompanying documents were
ordered to lie on the table, and be print
ed.
MIR. Williams of n. G.. from the select
committee appointed TO investigate the
decisions of Richard Bland Lee, commits
slonerofciaims for lost property, &c. made
report, stating, that the great mass Of
documents, connected with the evidence
III 500 decisions, render il impossible to
investigate The whole OF them, and presu-
ming that such examination was not con-
templated lby the House, concluded
with resolution that the committee be
discharged from the further consideration
of said decisions.
On the question of concurring with
the committee in their report, and conse-
quently to discharge them from the fur
ther consideration of the subject referred
to them, q warm debate ensued, of cha
racter nearly the same as that heretofore
reported ON this subject, which continued
nearly an hour a brief view of which will
embrace all the points argued or urged in
the debate
MIR. Forsyth rose first in opposition to
the report. As the committee had been
raised to enquire generally into the deci-
sions OF the commissioner, he thought
they ought to perform their duty, and re-
port some opinion TO The House. Such
an investigation was highly necessary, as
he thought it had been clearly established
that tile commissioner had departed vide
~ from correctness in his decisions he
wished not TODD injustice TO that officer.
but he believed he had grossly erred
the report of the commissioner himself
proved IT, as it was apparent that he had
substituted his own ideas of Justice for
the letter of the law, and he had no notion
this enquiry should he smOfhered under
a mass OF papers the laEour would be
less gigantic than the committee seemed
to think It, and the subject ought TO be
thoroughly slited for the benefit of the ma.
ton.
MIR. Fletcher Of Ky. would vote for the
report from a conviction that il was right.
SO far as he was acquainted with the de-
cfc1pf1e Of tho .s.tut.,iecfr,,o- a., 4