Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-05
ALEXANDRIA,:
SATURDAY,, DECEMBER s, 1918.
FROM our coaREspoKDEST AT WASHING
TON.

discussion of the old stale subject OF the
Beaumarchais claim, and the best consola-
ton have to offer you and your readers for
the absence Of, probably, some interesting
matter, which this hum-drum affair may
have for days excluded from your congress
sional article, is that the thing has nearly
spent itself, and that this day will dofor it,
what, with my good will, yesterday should
have done-that is, send it to its long home,
from whose bourne, travellers of that kind,
hope, will never return-yet there was
some sensible talk upon it, Mr.. Spencer
began the achievements Of the day by
long and earnest, and, indeed, an able
speech in maintenance Of the claim, which
would have appeared to rather greater adj
vantage as a specimen Of argumentative
eloquence, if it had been directed against
something oil less impregnable kind than
the logical adamant Of Hopkinson. Consi-
dering however the force he had to con-
tend with, Mr.. Spencer's display was very
creditable to his genius. He was answered
by Mr.. Storrs with very judlcious and
sound refutaton of the claims Of Beaumar-
chais; which was again in its turn attempt
Fed to be refuted by Mr.. Baldwin, who
drew largely on his acknowledged inge-
nuity for the Purpose. MIR. Pitkin then
rose and rejoined, and it was hoped that
his observations would close the debate for
ever. But Mr.. Bassett moved that the
chairman should report progress and ask
leave to sit again, which was granted. tho
the cry of question from all parts of the
house seemed plainly to say-the sense
was pretty general that there had been
enough said on that topic. If you like for
yourself, or wish to treat your readers TO
another repast upon the Beaumarchais
claim, think nay venture to recommend
il 10 you not ttedespair Of having one days
more enjoyment.
On motion Of Mr.. PdhAsester it was re-
solved that the secretary ot'the treasury he
directed to lay before the-house ofreprc-
sentatives a statement Of the sales CT the
public lands in the Alabama territory, at
public and prisstesale, specifying the date
Of such sales, and the period-at which the
last payment will become due, and also the
aggregate amount of money paid to the re-
ceiver of public monies at Huntsville in
said territory, and the description Ct bank
paper, il any, which Is recoverable there
in payment for the public lands.
On motion OF Mr.. Trimble it was re-
solved that the committee on public lands
be instructed to enquire whether any, and
il any, what provision ought 10 be made by
law to authorize the emanation Of patents
to soldiers o, furlough al the close oil the
war, and to whom discharges were moi is
sued in consequence of their not being r
dered TO join their respective regiments.
The following letter was received from
the President:
81 transmit 10 the house Of representa-
lives, such of the documents referred TO in
the message OF The 18th ul:. as have been
prepared since that period. They contain
copy Of the reports Of Mr.. Rodney and
Mr. Graham, two of the commissioners TO
South America who returned first from the
mission, and of the papers connected with
those rePorts--they also present full view
Of the operations our troops employed in
the Seminole war, who entered Florida
1t would have Geep gratifying to me to have
communicated, with The message, all the
documents referred to in it-but as two Of
our commissioners from. South America
made their reports few days only before
the meeting of Congress. and the third on
the day offs meeting, il was impossible to
transmit, at that time, more than one copy
Of the two reports first made.
The residue of the documents which are
very voluminous, will BIZ transmitted as
soon as they can be prepared"
lSigned) janis MADISON.
December Cd, 1918.
They were ordered 10 be laid upon the
table and printed.
Fromthe Detroit&Gnzettc, November 10.
TREMENDOUS GALE on LAKE MICHIGAN, AND
WRECK OF THE HERCULES.
The following letter, containing the melan-
choly information of the wreck of the Sch.
Hercules, Capt. Church, was received
few days since, by express through the in
teriorofthe territory.
SPORT Dearborn, Chicago, Ocf. 10.
"SIR-l have TO communicate the pain