Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-17

To Spain, on one side, aud 10 The South
American Patriots, on the otter; and IL
WAS proper 10 enquire into the fact whe-
Their The seizure of Amelia Island was
compatible with this neutrality. To reject
this petition, Mr.. L. con,ruded, would
hold out 10 the South AmerIcan govern
ments an improper rule q: action; The
reasons would not be known Ia them,
and Il would give thcm erroneous leaS of
our motives OF proceeding ia iiIS matter.
MIR. JokaS0u, OF Kentucky obServeH,
that II Mas not his purpose, either Ia VIA
dlraie or abuse the people mho had been
mentioned nor should he reject The pc
Iiliou because it was hkeaed 10 Il partisan
new srapcr publication; neither would he
oppose /; from a fear iaaI ~ might be CON
sidcred a an act OF opposition 10 the Pre-
Sidcni; the character OF that venerable
and respected citizen MAS not implicated
III this manner, and tie ceilings enterijin-
eel towards the President were moi.
Therefore, lIN Owed IN this question, tho
he WAS ",;;il to find HAT it had brought
t"rvard Il ,iudiCatiOn Of the Executive
conduct in The case alluded 10. When
ever that coudu, should be brought be-
fore the House III a proper manner, Mir.
| J. said, lie should enter into The enquiry
n!hOut regard 10 any considerations bui
ihosr of truth and justice. The present
petition, Mr.. ]. said, was claim Tor pro-
pcrlN alleged Ia he unjustly seized Ly the
troops of the United States. How was
Tins aphlippic against the President? He
cared not whether such an application
game from Old Spain 0r New Spain, from
patriots or others such petition was
entitled 10 attention. II this application
had been made toihe Rouse before IL had
,i,t
have voted against it, as II might then
have appeared dsrespectlul to The ENecu-
ti'e. I'm thiScasc he took the broad ground,
Hat, if The property was given up, we
ought 20 pay for ii, whether the people
from whom ii is taken be patriots or not.
lie did not contest The right Of the Exec
niIve 10 suppress those establishments
| the present Was ii contest about property,
and how could The President pay for IL
without the interference ofCvngrcSs Ia
thc case OF Bcaumarchais, il was thought
proper TO send message recommending
II TO the considerations Of Cong, SIS, ai;d
this after several of the Secretaries and
other officers OF tie government had de
clared that the claim was unfounded but
| IN this case, where property is held by The
troops of the United States, and d per-
son comes forward for redress, il is
called philippe against the President
Instead nf viewing il in this light, MIR. J.
SAID he acted i'll this matter on the prin-
clple OF friendship 10 the President. He
denied that there was any ground TO say,
that this petition was tissue of false
hoods-ali petitions bore prima iacie evi
dence at being true, until enquiry should
prove lii; III 10 be otherw Use; this had not
vet been investigated & ought To be con
IL A H., /
he should be glad 10 see ANY difference
pointed ont between this petition and the
claim OF braumarchaiS. the petition ofthe
lrIsh em,gfarfs, o. HAT of the Swiss emf
| grants, none ct whom had even pretend
ed ihatwc had injured them, or had their
property ~ our possession. Why this
ieNeriSh feeling in the present case, Mr..
), asked For his part he wished the
| President had gone OH, and from Amelia
/ passed nn to all Florida. Tie receiving
tins petition involved no hostility TO The
conduct of the Executive in that mea-
sure, &c.
The remainder of the ske1ck of this
Debate we are compelled to defer TO orr
next. The result of the whole proceed
| ing was, that the House determined. after
debate of nearly three hours, by vote
OF III TO %, that the paper SHOULD
| NOT BE RECEIVED.
The House then proceeded TO the otbcr
| business of ihe day.
| MIR. Khea, from The committee Of pen
sionS reported bill for the relief fitch
| ard hing, which was twice read and COM
! united.
MIR. Williams, of North Carolina. from
Tie committee of claims, who were in
sirucied TO inquire into the expediency of
continuing III force the act of April 8,
1910, and The supplementary act passed
III 1917, Tor UNDERWRITING those vino have
sustained losses of property while IN the
military service of the United States.
! made report, concluding with tlIe fnl
loving resolutions, the latter of which. it
will be perceived, have reference to GER
tam combinations TO commit frauds on
The Once OF Claims, which have been de
tected.
| L. ReSoired, That it is ineXpedient to can't.
| nue. longer than the 9th OfAprii, 1916 the act
| ehtlueu an act to authorize the payment for
| property lost captured or ,lestroI Ell ,yhil. i'm
| military service the United States and far
DINER purposes" passed the OH Of April 1916
| ana tie act IN amendment thereof, passed sd
| OF March, 1917.
z. RGsolrcd, That all claims which shall not
have been acted on in the Office OF the commis
| sloner on the 9th of a priI next be transferred
| Tor adjudication TO the Office of the Sd auditor
OF the treasury department, aud the said audi.
dItor IN making up his decisions shall be Co
Verned III all respects by the same rules. re.
eulati0ns and restrictions as lave been pre-.
scfIDod to the commissioners Of claims
Sd. ReSolcCd, That the committee of claims
be directed to report bill purSuantly to the
| foregoing resolution.
4th. HeSOlred, That the attorney general be
directed To cause to he instituted in tile courts
OF the United States for the state of New York
amy suit or suits which may be necessary "a
recover from individuals the money they have
fraudneHtly obtained from the government OF