Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-31

sion 10 ore man, sent privately TO obtain
information, as to those three commits.
s.oners, and with the same effect and va
lidity! As 10 the object Of the commits
sion, Mr.. &. sgain asked, how these gen
ilemen we're 10 acquire this information
respy ctSng the Independence vi The South
American provinces2 The fact Of their IN
dependence was not TO be established bv
dedimus potesiaiefH sent ont 10 take de-
positions. TIE independence of some of
these states wSs matter of history, was
too notorlous 10 require the evidence of
those commissioners; and Mr.. &. referred
10 the condition Oi some of The s. Ameri-
can states, on vhich the knowledge vas
complete, a1d coD,en6ed that they had
been seni 10 parts with regard To which
Ven, z,e,a and Bueu"s ANies for exam.
pie) our iDiorma!ion was most perfect, and
were not 10 visi, al all those parts (Mexi-
CO and New Grenada) from which we
most wanted II. MIR. e. again adverted
10 the manner III which the commissioners
had been appointed, which being done not
according Ia law, Was the more Improper
as they had not sailed ill after the meet
ing OF Congress, whcn IL would have been
scarcely amy detention 10 have waited the
concurrence OF the Senate. which was in
session when they departed.
AIR. H0phta'Sna rose, not TO make anp
enquiry or objection, but merely 10 ex-
press his dissent to this appropriations, be-
cause these commissioners had not been
submitted to the Senate according TO law.
We had better, he said. take care of our
own constitution, than be sending agents
TO look after the constitutions of oihergo-
vernments and il was certainly not pro.
per to send off ministers Of Ibis kind. on
the eve OF the meeting Ofthe Srn;ite, with
out laying their appointment before that
body, whose concurrence the constitution
required.
On the suggestion of Mr.. LowndeS, this
appropriation was passed by, for the pre-
sent, that III the mean time, the additional
information which had been asked for by
the Speaker, might be obtained from the
department OF state.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25.
On motion of MIR. Mari il was
Resoiced, That the committee ON pubic lands
be instructed 10 enquire whether any, aud, if
any, what further provisions Of law are neces-
sary, for preventing waste and trespass on that
portion of the public lands which has been or
may hereafter be reservedf for the use OF schools.
The engrossed bill 'in addition 10 the
act for the punishment of certain crimes
against the United States, and 10 repeal
the acts therein mentioned" was read
the third time, passed, and sent to fhe
Senate for concurrence as also was the
engrossed bin 10 establish the flag OF the
United States.
INDEPENDENCE OF THE SOUTH.
The House having again resolved it
self into committee of the whole, Mr.
Deshd IN The char, Oil the annual general
appropriation bill aud Mr.. Clay's propo-
s!tion 10 amend the bill by Inserting d
clause for appropria,ing 1900 dollars for
The onttii amt Years salary OF Minister
10 Buenos ASres, yet pending
MIR. Clay concluded, i'll speech Of
three hours III length, the observations lie
yesterday commenced in Support of his
proposition.
Air. Forsyth then took the floor in OPP
position TO the molten, and in reply to
Mr. Clay.
When Mr.. Forsyth concluded his
speech, WHICH occupied two hours in the
| delivery
The committee rose, reported pro-
gress, and obtained leave to sit again, on
the intimaiIon of Mr. Lowndes, that he
proposed 10 deliver his views OF the sub
iect.
The following Message was received
from the President Of Inc United States
To the Senate and House of RepyrselfGIires The
USitea States.
now lay before Congress, all the informa-
ton in the possession Ui The Executive, respect.
ing the war with Tie SeminOles, and the meal
sureS, which ii has been thought proper to d
dept, for the safety of our ieiow citizens, en-
the frontier exposed TO their rayageS The
enclosed documents shew that the hOstiiitieY
OF this tribe we've unprOvoked, the offspring of
a spirit long cherished, and often manifested
towards the United States and that in the pre-.
| sen; instance, 1T was extending itself TO other
tribes, and daily assuming more serious as
| pect. AS soon as the nature and object of this
combination were perceived the Major Gene
raj commanding the Southern division of the
| troops of the United States, was ordered To the
| theatre OF action, charged with the manage
| Inent Of the war and vested with the powers
necessary to give il effect. The season of the
! year being UntavOTable TO active operations,
and the recesSGs Of the country atfording shell
| Ter 20 these sayaSeS, III case of Ietfeat may
| prevent Il PROMPT termination of the war;
| but it may fairly be presumed, that II will nor
| bc long before this tribe and ITS associates re-
| ceiye the punishment which they have pToyok-
| ed and justly nerited
| As almost the whole of this tribe inhabits
| the country Within the limits of Florida, spain
was bound, by the treaty of l701, TO restrain
! tllem from committing hostjlities against the
| United States. Welaye seen. with regret that
| her government has altogether failed to fulfil
/ this obligation, nor are aware that il made
| any effort TO that effect. When we consider
! her utter inability 20 check even ia the slight
est degree, the movements of thus tribe, by her
very small aud incompetent force, in Florida,
| we are not disposed 10 aScribe the failure to
! any other cause. The inability, however, of
! spain 10 maintain her authority over the terri
| tory aud IUdiaBs, within her limits. and IN con-
| sequence 10 fulfil the treaty, ought not TO
! pose lie United States IL other and greater in-
juries. Where the authority OfSpaiD ceases t.
/ exist there the United States have right To
/ pursue their enemy, on "A principle ofself-de.
| fence. Iu this instance, the right IS more
| COMPLETE and obViOUs because shall ppr~