Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-03

cal an examination as under different CIR
cumstances il would have received: and
tins verbal inaccuracy bad been over
looked-ior he VAS satisfied, he SAID, that
The error itself had been one Of inadyer-
tence merely. In conclusion. Mir. r. OBJ
served he could say with confidence, that
IT tlie committee on Foreign Relations did
nothing else On the subject referred to
them, they would attend To- this suhiec, :
aud he therefore hoped the House would
not, by this resolution, take The subject
oui OF their hands
Mr.. MILLER said, that The reason
which the gentleman from Georgia had
offered, why the committee had mol re-
ported, was the very reason why lie had
proposed tins motion. That committee
had before 1t other matters requiring de-
liberation and further information but ii
was no reason for refusing to remedy u
particular error, that the committee wish
Ell 10 form system. II that argument
prevailed, and the President were 10 de-
lay until The last c!av of the session The
Information desired, there would be no
opportunity of correcting mere verbal
inaccuracy, seli-evident, requiring no in
formation, and of merely making Il parii-
cular act what Congress originally intend
Ell II should have been. incidentally re-
ierring to Cobbett's Letter on the subject
oil the act in question, in which this error
was alluded to, Mr.. NJ. said, he would a.
vail himself of any suggestion, from any
quarter, having Tor It's object 10 place the
l. States IL an entirely neutral position.
The moment he was placed in possession
OF The fact ofan inequality in any of our
laws on Tins head, that moment he was for
acting on II, without waiting for the re-
part OF system which had no necessary
connection with it.
Mr.. HOLMES, OF Mass. seeing that the
SUBJECT was already generally referred TO
Tie committee oil foreisnrelations, moved
TO amend the resolution, SO as TO refer il
Ia that committee instead of ID seleetcom-
nnttee.
Mr.. MILLER, regarding sucha reference
dis special charge TO that committee. ac-
cepied Mr.. Holmes amendment as part
oil his notion.
MIR. FORSYTH said, ifthe House indeed
thought 1t ail-lmportant that this error
should be immediately corrected ; thatit
was important to the interest OF the colo
MES and of the u. States, that the error
should be corrected the moment il was
pointed out by MIR. Goblet, or by any
body. this resolution might have some
claim tc the favor of the House. But
Mr.. f. said, no evil had arisen, nor would
arise, from the error, before it is correct
ed he would say, without fear of con
tradlctlon, that no Spanish vessel had
been armed, or had her armament in
creased, since the passage Of that act. or
would be now. AS this subject Was al
ready IN tile view ofthe committee, and
within the scope OF its duties, Mr.. L. no.
ped this special instruction would not be
given.
Mr. EDWARDS, of n. G. concurred in
opinion, that the proposed alteration of
the law ought TO be made; but he hadfull
confidence in the committee which was
already charged with the investigation of
the subject, and il was no more than or
binary courtesy, after the assurance re-
ceived from the chairman of that com
mittee, (Mr- Forsyth that this special in
slrucilon should not be given. He there
fore moved that the resolve lie ON the Ia
bic.
Mr.. MILLER said, in addition TO the
general proprIety OF his motion, he had
Just received information that vessels of
war were actually building in New York.
for the use of the Spanish government
But, he said, if no inconveniences have
resulted from the defect of the law, il does
not follow that they may not To rescue
tins House from the imputa,ion of a par
tIallty which IT had never been their in
iention to have manifested, he was desir-
Gus to have the subject immediately and
specially acted on.
Mr. FORSYTH said, if the gentleman's
information was correct, that armed yes-
sells were preparing for the use of Spain
I'D our ports, that was case amply provi-
ded tor already by the law. The gov
eminent OF the u. States is authorized 10
seize, ana lis courts 10 condemn, such
vessels, one-half TO the use of the inform.
er, Inc other halt to tie use of the Trea-
sury. HE section IN which the error had
Deen detected, referred only 10 an increase
81 The arHlament of foreign vessels airea-
ny armed former section of the same
ACT amply provided for the case the gen
tieman had cited.
lhe question to lay the resolution on
the table, was decided in the affirmative.
10 TO about so votes.
The bill from the Senate, for extending
Inc time tor locating Virginia Military
Land Warrants, was twice read and ON
hOtlOh OF Mr.. Mercer, was referred TO the
select committee TO whom correlalive
enquiry has been already referred.
Inc engrossed joint resolution inirodu-
ced by Mr.. Taylor, OF n. I. AUTHORIZING
The Commissioners OF the General Land
Oihce TO haveengrayed a copy Of the Sur
veyor Generals map ofthe military boun-
" lands ~ the territory of Illinois, and 10
.ause 70 be printed 600 copies ihereoi, was
read the third time.
MIR. Johnson, of Ky. said he had made
son Inquiries on this subject, and had
ascei, med that The expense would he
mucl. greater than had been supposed
That the maps would cost from two 10 three
dollarsa copy, and, If there was no obiec-
ton on that ground, he feared they could
not ne executed III time 10 be of service