Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-24

~" e,ho whole. MIR. Horsey in the chair
y NJ Smith spoke against the impolicy
I'D The bad tendency, though ne no
-, s"@ doubted its constitutionality, OF
Lar .rso,ing this privilege, which, if once
omitted, would extend to many other
Sa.es /: the probable injury and MUS
t;ce 10 the interest Of the q. States,
which would grow out of it; and gene
.rally against the policy of the prisi-
lsge. which though permitted in Eng
land. would be an unwise innovation IN
this country.
Nr. Hunter replied. that the land
con,nittee we're not the advocates OF
tbe pe,itioners, but had reported this
nm and recommended this course to
,,lieye themselves from the per ious re-
sponsibiIity of reporting against the u.
States. in case involving from one to
nerbaps three millions of dollars. He
argus,l at some length in support of the
equity and the good policy of thus per-
hitting claimant TO establish his
claim by petition OF right in court OF
;ustice, and against tie competency of
congress so far tn assume the Charac-
Ter Of Judges as to decide with justice,
aud with due investigation, claims of
such magnitude, &c.
Mr.. Vandyke argued. from the ma
tire Of thus case, that it was such an
one as might be decided by the courts
without tie Intervention of Congress-,
either by action or ejectment against
purchasers of any portion Of this land
nnder the United States; or by the
claimants themselves entering upon tue
possession and sustaining suit to sup
port it. Mr.. V. doubted the poEcy of
setting the example proposed by this
bill--he thought it dangerous expert
ment, and adduced facts and arguments
in support of his opinion.
The discussion of this bill enlarged
into debate of wide scope and very
considerable length turning principal
~ on the policy of the bill. unconnec.-
ed With the merits of the claim, though
the validity of the claim was occasion
ally touched or. The bill was advoCa-
ted much at length, by Messrs Hunter.
Mellen, Edwards, Williams, of Tenn.
and Johnson o. Louisiana; and was OF
posed earnestly by Messrs. Smith, Bar
bour, Lanmau, and Dickerson.
20 try the strength Of the bill by
a specific motion, Mir. Van Dyke mo-
yel to postpone it to day beyond the
session; which mntion was negatived
ayes l6, noes 10; and
The bill being reported to the Senate
it was ordered TO be cngrossed and read
a third time by The following vote.
YEAS, &c. NAYS, 10.
Mr.. Sanford laid upon the table the
following resolution
Resolved, That the Secretary of War
Gay before the Senate. at the commence
ment of the next session, statement OF
all annuities, payable by the U. States,
to Indians or Indian tribes, or under
treaties With Indians, distinguishing
the several annuiies, the periods dur
Ing which they are respectively paya-
bic, and exhibiting the capitals OF pre-
sent value of such annuities. computing
annual interest six per centam.
fhe bills and resolutions, Yesterday
oYilesed to be read third time, were
seveNi!y read a third time. and passed.
The Senate resumed the eonsidera-
ton Of the bill 10 provide, further for
tie relief of sick ant disabled seamen
Mr.. PARROTS amendments being yet
under consideration.
The amendment was so modified, on
motion of MIR. rlimblr, as to suit the
views he had previously expressed in
the discussion met Varying materially
however, from the original proposition;
and the amendment being then agreed
tn, the bill was ordered to be en3ros-
sed tor third reading.
The Senate next resumed the cOnSi-
deration OF the bill granting to the D,
cean stcam boat company of New York
certain privileges.
Some debate arose on the propriety
of granting some Of the proposed adj
,aatages to this company--that parti-
cularly of the drawback on foreign coal
Consumed by the steam vessel in which
Mr.. PARROT opposed it on principle,
and it was defended by Messrs. Dick
ePsnn, Kino. of n. Y. and Johnson. OF