Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-15


consideration of the resolution yesterday
moved by Mr.. Holmes, as amended on
motion of Mr.. COBB, in the following
words:
Itesslrcd. That the Committee on military at
fairs be discharged from the further consider
slion OF 80 much OF the Presidents message as
relates to the trial of Arbuihuct aud Ambris.
ter. and the conduct of The var With the Semi
mole Indians aud that the same be- referred TO
tse committee Of foreign relations. with in
Struciions to enquitc whether, IN sand trials. the
constitution and laws OF the United States, or
the law OF nations. have been violated.
Mr.. PoINDuXTER moved 10 postpone
the further consideration OF iheresoiuiion
uu,il Monday alleging, as reason for
the motion, that Tie documents we're not
in possession of the memhers, not being
vet printed for the Use Of the house the
publication Of thSm III a newspaper was
not a proper ground Tor the house TO act
on. We're the resolution tor reference
merely OF the ~ui;jec; 10 THIS or that com
miitee, as originally proposed. lie should
have fell. .ie SAID, perfectly indifferent re-
spec;iua But, siuve the amendment
by way q! INSTRUCTION. 10 the ommi'tec,
an emphasis mad been given 10 the mo
ton, and Il bearing by Implication, which
made u necessary tnac, on IL cautiously,
ject lie Nas not prepared 10 pronounce
an opinion, even by way .! specific in
sirnction tn committee, nn,ii the docu-
meu,s on which that opinion must be
founded, were officially III his posse ssion.
II, however, the subject was moi posipon-
ed, he slluuld move additional instruc.
lions, rendered necessary by the amend
ment.
Mr.. CoBB said. as AN induccment TO
the house not TO postpone the considera-
ton Of the resolve, that, OH examining
further into the subject, lie had discover
ed that the amendment agreed to on his
suggestion did not 30 far enough, and
that further amendment had become ne
cessary. With this view, he had prepar-
ed some other amendments, which he
would move II the subject was now taken
up. Mr.. e.. added, that he saw no rea-
son for waiting for documents the pro
posed eRquiry related TO subjects refer
red TO in the Presidents message-and il
was theusual and common course 10 refer
The various subjects OF the message TO
committees, before the documents accom-
panying II were printed.
MIR. FLOYD moved 10 postpone the re-
solution indefinitely, under the impress
sion that the enquiry referred TO in IL was
already before the proper committees.
Il the constitution or law Of ualIons had
been violated by any of the officers of
the government, as iiat! been suggested,
he thought that would bea proper subject
Ia be referred 10 committee specially
raised TO investigate il.
Mr.. HOLMES said, that the committee
of foreign relations had thought the mat
ter Property within the pale OF their duty !;
but, having seen that ii was specially re-
rred TO another committee, he had tlo't
II proper To endeavOr TO obtain the sense
of the house whether The subjecr ought
10 be examined by the committee of TO
reign relations ornot. The truth is, said
Mr.. Holmes, we have had war without
The limits of The United States, which has
been carried Oh somewhat within The ter
rltorIes OF nation al peace with us. The
conduct OF the com Branding general was
subject into which IL might be proper
Tor The house 10 examine: so far as res
pecied lis military conduct. that part
OF the subject belonged TO the military
committee. SO as 30 Tie Seminole war
Whatever regarded That war, with refer
ence To MS military conduct, aud to the
relations of The officer and HE army TO
The country, belonged 10 The military com
mitiee. But, so far as related to the cas-
es of Arbu,liDOt and Ambrisier, these
men were foreigners they were said to
have claimed TO be British subjects, and
II was thought by some that they owed Il
temporary allegiance 10 Spain: ia this
case, then, tie investigation appeared 10
belong 10 the foreign relation committee,
as having direct connection with their
duties. The committee only wished the
Oh
or were not 10 examine The subject. If
tie house uegatived the resolve, the COM
n'litee OF foreign relations would consider
II as the wish OF the house that thew should
not examine Tie subject.
MT. SIMElNS spoke in favor of post
ponement: the motion and amendment,
he thought, were founded Oh documents
which had indeed appeared IN The news
papers, but were moi in possession of
the house which many gentlemen might
not even have seen, and could moi be
prepared 10 act upon. Before he gave a
vote for resolve containing an insiruc-
ton bearing against AN officer of very
high character, lie wished 10 examine the
grounds Of Tie proceeding.
Mr.. DEsHA was in favor ofposipone-
meIt. as the subject was of acomplicaied
character, ana ought TO be distributed
perhaps among several committees
Whatever related 10 alleged violations of
the constitution, or of tie laws of war. it
appeared 10 bin, belonged properly TO
The Judiciary committee.
Mr.. CoBB re-siated his intention, if
permitted, TO propose To- divide HE sub
Jeci aniong different committees.
MIR. RHEA said that the question pre-
scented Itself now ia shape invoIying cor
sideraii0ns O! far more Importance laI al
FIRST view II seemed to do. As lie wished
10 know fiie extent Ofthe views and OBJ
J"cis OF The gentleman from Georgia on
lIIc subject, he hoped The gentleman who
moved The pOsippDcmeni would withdraw
The motion, TO give Mr.. Cobb an Oppor-
inniiy OF Offering his amendments.