Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-10
ALEXANDRIA,:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1918.
FROM our coaarspoNpEsr At WASHING

FROM Our CORRESPONDENT 1T WASHING
TON.
Wednesday, December 8.
A bill was yesterday, imthe house OF rep
resentatiees, reported from the committee
of ways and means, by Gen. Smith, pi Bal
timore, to reduce the duties on wines. The
nation is certainly indebted 10 the person,
be he whom he may, with whom that mea-
sure originated. The bill also declares
books printed in foreign languages, free OF
duty. This, too, is most laudable mea'
sure.
Beside that, know Of nothing thatpas
ed worthy Of being particularised in our
concise summary, with the exception of
some resolutions, and amendments upon
them, respecting the late erecutios Of Ar
buthnot and Ambrister, and the conduct OF
the war with The Seminole Indians. II COM
menced with proposition Of Mr.. Holmes
to discharge the military committee from
the further consideration Of so much OF the
presidents message as related to those SUBJ
iects, and to refer them to the committee
on foreign affairs. Mr.. Poindexter, how
ever, did not like the word execution, and
therefore proposed SO strike it out, and SUBJ
stitute the word trial in its place-while
Gen. Harrison submitted il TO the house
whether both the words ''trial" and "exe-
cution" ought not to be retained, be concei-
wing them both. to have been right. The
question was then taken on Mr.. Poindex-
ter's amendment, which was carried by &c
to "A. On which Gen. Harrison rose and
said that if it was in order, he would now
move to include the word execution, so as
to make the resolution read, the trial and
execution was concurred in; tho
in direct contradiction to the decision on
Mr.. Poindexter's amendment.
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, then rose, and,
adverting 10 those resolutions, said he con-
sidered the whole OF the proceedings too
premature, and presumed that the gentle
men were acting in them chiefly on what
they had seen stated in the newspapers, as
the documents had not yet been officially
received in the house. He observed that
the affair involved matter belonging TO f.
reign relations, and ought to be touched up
on considerably and cautiously: how it had
happened that these two officers, not being
Americans, but subjects Of foreign power,
had beea tried, condemned 10 death, and
executed, was in his view Of the subject
pretty important consideration, and one that
tended deeply 10 affect the moral charac-
ter and reputation, for virtue and justice, Of
this country. The whole proceeding, in
fact, established new principle, which, he
confessed, he did not understand. On these
grounds, he moved the following amend
ment-after the words COMMITTEE on TO-
reign AFFAIRS" to insert with Instructions
to inquire whether, in said trial, the con.
stitution and laws OF the United States, or
the law of nations had been violated" This
was concurred in and affixed to the resolu-
ton, which was then ordered to lie on the
table, I'presume to await the production of
all the documents.
The house at three o'clock adjourned 10
this day, at the usual hour.
OCCUPATION OF FLORIDA.
In senate Of The United States, Deem
Der Z, Mr.. johnson, Of Lou. laid upon the
table the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on militia.
~ affairs be instructed to enquire into the
expediency Of passing law authorizing
the President of the United States to take
provisional possession Of East Florida, or
Of such parts Of it as he may deem essen
tial, now or hereafter, to controul the In
dams, and to prevent them from commit
ting hostilities against the citizens Of the
United States.
BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.
There was yesterday laid before the Sc
nate of the United States, by the Secretary
Of the Treasury, in pursuance of a resolu-
ton Of that body at the last session, letter
from the President of the Bank Of the Uni
ted States, transmitting sundry statements
relative to the proceedings, state, and con-
dition Of the Bank. On looking over the
documents communicated, the most impor-