Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-19

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tire.
The committee on the Judiciary, to whom
was referred the memorial of sundrv persons
inhabitants Of the counties Of Nelson aud Am.
nersi, III the state OF Virginia, complaining
that theact OF Congress, passed OH the 2ist
day OF January. 1908, entities" An act for the
reiief Ut Oliver Evans, has vested p0N,e or in
thesaid Evans, which has. been exercised in an
Oppressive manner Report--.Ihat they nm
derstand he validity OF the SAID Oliver Evans
patent, IN reationto the Hopper Boy. is IN
dersoms ajndical examination in the courts
OF The United States; that two verdicts aud
Juaginenis have beenreDdered against him, on
this subject, by the Circuit Court of the Uni
ted States held at Philadelphia for the District
at PENNSYLVANIA, in October last; for the
revision of which judg menis writs of error
nave been sued ont by the said Oliver Evans,
from the Supreme Court of the u States,
fetuinaDle TO the ensuing term of the said
Conit. The ccninttee is therefore, of opinion,
mai IT is inexpedient for Congress to act upu,
tie memorial aforementioned, until, at least
the decisions OF the Supreme Court shalt be
giieu III The case. The committee therefore
recommend the following resolution
kesoieed, That the committee on the Judicial.
ry bedischarged from ,hefurther consideration
vi ihe memorial above mentioned, aud that il
DE laid upon the table.
lie report was concured in.
Mr.. Somhard, from the committee on
Indian affairs, made report accompani-
eddy bill providing for the abolition OF
The existing Indian trading establish
menis of the United States, and proyid-
ing for the opening OF the trade with the
Indians 10 individuals and also a bill TO
authorize the President of the u. States
To select such tribes ofIndians AS he may
ihink best prepared for The change, and TO
adopt such means he may Judge eApedi-
emf i'll order TO civilize the same which
bills were twice read, &c.
MIR. Campbell, Of Ohio, submitted for
consideration TIE following resolutions:
Resoired, That The committee on theindiciary
De instructed 10 inquire into the expediency of
lnstlgatingthe indians TO hosilities, or fighting
with them against the United States.
MIR. Sforrs objected 10 this resolution,
that it .presented "a question. to be settled
by tile law of nations, and not by Con-
gress. 1t would be a proper question 10
be settled in Congress where all the
nations OF the earth were represented, but
II was one not 10 be taken into considera-
tion here. Our rules and articles of war
prescribed the mode of trial of spies, and
that was The only way in which Congress
could iegislate OH the subject.
Mr.. Campbell said, his object was to in
stltute AN enquiry into the proprieiy Of
the punishment Of while men found fight
ing with the Indians. Ii was well known
that two men-he knew not what coun-
irymen TO call Observation-Disclosures and AM
bnster by name, had been considered as
outlaws, being found in that stuaiion.-
On This subject he would not express an
OPINION; but II was necessary, even If he
were an Indian, that every person accused
Of crime should have some sort of tiial.
Ills sole object was to institute an enquiry
into The subject.
MIR. Nils said, ii was very seldom that
he should desire TO arrest the progress OF
any proposition for enquiry into any mat
ter; but this motion embraced a Dues
ton, respecting which ne enquiry could
be necessary. In addition 10 the remarks
OF the gentleman from New York, he stat
ed another objection: if we pass it, said
he, we could not object 10 other govern
menis, the British, Spanish, &c legislat-
ing on the subject. 1T vas well known
that III our wars with Great Britain, we
had employed Indians OH our side. This
legislation would, to use vulgar adage,
be game that tive could play at, and we
might, by passing laws on This matter.
subject ourselves to species of 'reialia-
ton which would not be at all agreeable.
Mr.. Nelson said, he considered This
questioiias already before the house: as.
on hearing II stated, the case of General
Jackson occurs TO every man. Under
that question, the power of The govern
ment and the law Of nations OH his sub
Jeci, would be fully discussed. To adopt
The proposition now before the house.
would be, IN fact, to pronounce an opin
ION without enquiry. H. was therefore.
opposed TO The resolution, because its
adoption would be to PREJUDICE case pre-
pared and sci apart for discussion.
On Tie question being taken, The reso-
lntlon was negalived by large majority.
Mr. Sergeant offered for consideration
the following resolution:
Resoieed, That the committee on The judiciary
he instructed to enquire into the expediency
OF enacting general ordinance, whereby the
Fundamental principles Of civil and religious
iiDerty shall he guaranteed 10 the inhabitants
OF the territories exterior to the original limits
of the United States, and made the basis of ali
ereaiterto be es,abshedtIerein
Mr.. Lowndes said lhat the resolution
was rather obscure in its terms, so iila, its
scope vas not easily understood. tie
thought, however, he could perceive what
the object of ii was. he wished. how
ever. that il might be- permitted TO lie on
the table for the present, 10 give all OPP
pOriunity to examine it.
Mr. Sergeant said he had no objection
TO the resolutions lying on the fable for
the present. if any gentleman desired il.
With respect TO the aIusion Of lie gen
ileman TO The object OF it, Mr.. s. said, the
gentleman was right. lie had particu-
lar object III view, which he did not mean
TO have concealed from Tie house. but
which he did not think il necessary 10 ex.
press more distinctly than he had done in
the resolution.
The resolution was ordered 10 lie upon
the table.
On motion Of Mr.. PndaH, a com miliee
was ordered 10 be appointed 10 enquire