The Portland gazette., 1818-12-29

not be settled uatl every species Of proof on the
subject was in possession Of the House, because
he wished the decision should be such as, when
made, should be satisfactory to all parties.
Mr. TaRn,adge, Of New York, said, as be bad
been member of the committee who reported
this aai had voted to proceed IN the discus
sion ,h3r@ht it proper to rise on this occasion
last lent MS views be misconceived.
". to the CO rtasv due TO the gentle
men from Massachusetts, ana the state he rep
sented, Mr.. T. said, ~ E.i-sv reciprocated
the sentiments OF the AoDg,sblg psaker. But,
as, fthe report of tie c0g.ailt7e this case, If
not acted on at the p.~ ..r n, might, and
perhaps would, be aaduced after, as an ar
gument in favour Of the claim; and as he thought
it probable this subject would dnot again come be-
fore the House at the present session, he should
take this opportunity to state, that the report
made on this subject by the committee, was con-
sidered as statement of the case in behalf of
Massachusetts,, drawn up by herself, as it was in
fact by her agent The committee had thought
it liberalib due to state, appearing as petit
toner before this House, to leave it to her agent
or immediate repre- sentatives, to make state
ment of her own case, in her own way. On the
question in committee TO accept that report, Mr.
Il. said there was a minority ; and he, tor one,
took this occasion to say, that, had the discus
sion of this claim now gone on, and, if It should
recur at the present session, there was variety
of collateral documents relating to the history
merit Aof these Chains, Which he was ready and
felt it his duty to urge in argnmentin opposition
to allowing them. Desiring, however, to cuIti-
vate- harmony, in, the unon,' ,'by treating every
state in Il with due respect, he did not wish to
nress the discussion now. Taking this opportu-
nity then, as the only one he might ever have, to
protect against the report OF the committee &C
companying this bill being considered as the de-
hberate opinion of the committee3 or hereafter
brought in as an argument IN favouriof the claim,
being in fact the most favourable statement that
a party interested could make ofat, he was, for
the reason before assigned, in favour OF the COM
mittee's rising.
The question was then taken on the commit
tees rising. and decided in the affirmative. II
Mr.. Merton. of Virginia, in order to ensure to
This question consideration during the present
session, proposed that the committee should be
refused leave to sit again. and that the bill should
be referred 70 committee ofthe whole on the
state OF the Union, which, always having pref
erence Of other Orders Of the Day, would ensure
its being taken up whenever desired by the
friends of the claim.
MIR. Orr, of Massachusetts,, objected to this
course, as it would subject the House TO the same
inconvenience as they had just experienced ;
that of being called upon to act on the subject
before the delegation might be prepared to take
itup, &c.
MIR. Pitkin, of Connecticut, ohjectedtoi for a
different reason. If referred to a committee of
the whole on the stateo the Union, il would be
made the Order of the Day for every day, and
might be called up and decided when scarce
halfthe house was present, &c.
On the question, leave was given tothe com
mittee to sit again on the bill.