Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-20

ihis suggestion. 1T such were tie fact, and
whenever snch question was pre- entcd TO
man, he would not, lay the rejection of the
memorial, screen any functonary from CEN
sure: no respect for individual character
should stand in the way of his pursuit of cor.
rect principles. MIR. =. wished for time TO
examine the subject, and the powers of this
house. He wished TO examine whether the
house were not darting madly from It's sphere
on TINS occasion, untcr the influence of feel
ings excited by cause which was, he ackn0w
lodged, entitled To attention. 1t the petition
were from an individual for relief from injus.
ice suhercd under anact of our government,
which some bad so much reprobated (iustly or
not he would not Row say he would administer
relief, because this was the only body To whom
application cOuld he made for il. Bnt if it
were memorial from professed Agent of a
foreign government, ii was a delicate enquiry
how Far, by receiving il, the House would
overstep its duty, violate treaties existing with
other governments or commit the pracs of our
own: il was an enquiry TO be proceeded in
with deliberations, with slow but certain step
He had heard something insinuated about
some Influence bearing this question-it
was the idle wind which passed him BY, and
he needed II not; ii was thing much talked
OF, bnt not tclt-a spectre exhibited to alarm
the House, bu; existing only in the imagination
of those Who called il foi tn. We NAV deciaim
on other topics, said he: but. rest assured. the
step you are asked row to take may hazard tie
peace and prosperity OF our country so much
loved. Rely on it, said he, there is n germ in
this proceeding which, if fosiered, will spring
up like Ike Upas tree, and poison all around it..
A. AN iuhabi,ant of Amelia Island if the peii-
houer asked decentralization tor loss sustained
b? our act. blr. S. said me felt towards him a
paiernai soctnde and desired to see Justice
done him. On the other hand. AS rcmon.
STRANGE from a foreign government to this
House against the conduct of the Executive,
he regarded the question of receiving the pc
titiOn with an awful interest. and desired time
To consider it. He therefore meved that the
memorial he laid on the table
The SPEAKER having decided this motion
not TO he in order, pending the preliminary
question on the motion for refusing tile recep-
ton Of the Memorial
Mr.. BAssETr moved to lay that preliminary
question on the table; which molten having
been received by the Chair
air. ROBERTSON, of Lou. said, that he was
prepared 10 act on the Memorial at once. He
thought that il ought 10 be received aud 10
pursue the conrSe OF other memorials. Many
topics had been introduced on this occasion,
he said, that had no relation TO this question,
which involved no implication of the Execu-
tive, The true question he took to be, whe-
Their there was matter contained in the memo,
rial. on which the House couid act in its con
stitntional sphere; whether il presented an
application respecting property, which, after
the usual investigation. this House might coun
tenance or reject. What are the facts. The
United States had taken ossessiOn of Amelia
islaud-in respect to GaiVezton, in regard to
sion 10 state, that nothing had been done by
the government in regard 20 that position.-
suppose the government 10 have been right in
occupying Amelia Island, they had not gone so
far as TO denOupCe ds pirates those whom they
dispossessed, but had considered them as nm
authorised individuals for, If they had been
regarded az pirates, the government would
not have given mp TO them their vessels 10
pursue tkcir piratical course on the ocean, but
would have treated them as such. Bnt, MIR.
X. said. the government had not considered
them as pirates nor were they pirates
Wheu the government of the United States
took possession Of Amelia Island, IL was in
possession of AIRY, Gual, PazOs, and others /;
the occupants had formed a government, and
elected Legislature and other oiAcers, of
whom the individual presenting this petition
was one. With another OF them, M. Gual, Mr..
x. said, that lie was acquainted and more
honorable man lie never had kR0wn, from what
he saw of him during his residence some time
az IN this city. The decorum of his coudnct
IN the best societies had procured him univer-
sal respect that gentleman, he believed, did
not merit the appelIatiOn of pirate. He was a
gentleman of education. Of good family, whose
respectable father died in tile service OF his
country, and his son came to this country 10
endeasOr to Obtain aid in the same great cause
OF liberty. Finding that he was not ackrOw-
lodged AS an agent. he had joined with Others
IN the taking possession of Amelia Island. with
better view than that of pratug on the COM
merce of the United States or smuggling. A
very little attentions, Mr.. Il. thought, would
shew That that position promised benefits to
the patriot cause of the South, by affOrdiug Il
naval depot, &c. which no other could have
afforded, and that ii was not proper 10 apply
the term piracy 10 those who capturedit. But
the Executive of the United States had con
ceived that possession of that Island by these
authorities was Incompatible with our rights,
and led to violation OF our laws with respect
TO the introduction of sIaves-thOugh ii ought
to be recOllected that tAey never had been
81 10. lie
and Portuguese alone having been engaged in
that nefdrlous traffic. But, the government
having taken possession of that Island, and Of
the property of these individuals, what means
OF redress was left for them Could they 90
into court Of justice Had the government
of the United States established a government
~ Amelia! In what situation were the PEG.
PIE OF mat country We're they in possession
of the rights of American citizens. or were
ibey subject to military government? IT So
~ "hat way were questions of property to be
trIed there or how otherwise adiudicafed
than by authority of an act Of Congress? The
innlviduais, who formed The enierprize against
Amelia Island, Mr.. II. added. were not pirates
they ere authorised AS during our Re yoluuon
our agents III France aud elsewhere were au-
thoTHcd, To grant commissions To privateers--
me governments they Represented having
ike ours 40 that Time, declare i,dependeure
OWiii@ GCbiS ~ this country aud deprived nv
ihe act of our government of the means of
paying, them, they had submitted this psipt TO
Coneiess. Gould not Congress take into con.
sideratinn the propriety Of apprOpfiating TO
iheir rsr That property which nur government
had wrcsicd from themi This, Mr. r. said
YVES ilic question; whether the individual
petitionirg Should or should not be recognised
as az agent OF these authorities was \ question,
nor now to be decided, but after the petition
should be received and considered.
Mr.. COLsTON rose merely 10 obyiale an i'm.
preston which might have been made by the
course he had already taken in this discussion.
ne had asked for The reading Of this memorial,
Only Tor TIE purpose Of obtaining information
and ln order To be able 10 vote with a full nd.
defstanding OF the questions because the pc.
tiuon might have been from an individual Tor
IlIn restoration nriaafn