Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-01-22

for0earance. He did not know whether
conc. liatlon were practicable, bat he con-
sidered its attainment worthy of an ef-
fort He was DESTROYS that the question
should be settled in that spirit of amity
and brotherly love which carried US
through the perils of revolution, and
produced the adoption of our federal
constitution. If the resolution he was
about TO introduce, should be sanctioned
by the house, it was his purpose to move
a postponement of the Missouri bill to
future day, that this interesting subject,
in relation to the whole western terrific
ry, may be submitted to the considera-
ton OF committee. Mr.. I. then in
troduced the following resolution:
"Resoiued, That committee be an
pointed to inquire into the expediency
ofprohibiting by law the introduction of
slaves into the territories of the United
States west of the Mississippi"
Mr.. Strother made few remarks,
the purport of which was, that, although
the question was already before the
house, as involved in the bill for the adj
mission of the Missouri territory in the
Union; yet, when proposition was
made having for its object the compro-
mise Of conflicting opinions, it became
members to meet it in spirit of har-
mony. He proposed, however, that the
proposition should lie on the table till
tomorrow, to give time for reflection on
it.
Mr.. Taylor asserting to this course
The motion was ordered to lie on the
table.
MILITARY EXECUTIONS, &c.
Mr.. Wiihams, of South Carolina, Of
fered for consideration the following re-
solution:
Resolved, That the President Of the
United States be requested to cause to
be laid before this house any information
he may possess, respecting certain exc
cutions, or other punishments, which
may have been inflicted on the army Of
the United States, since the year 1915,
contrary to the laws and regulations pro-
vided for the government of the same"
In offering this resolution, MIR. Will
liams took occasion to refer to the re-
ports in general circulation, on which
his motion was founded, and particular
ly to one case reported as the most ag-
grayated. The report oft, he said, was
to this effect: Colonel King, who was
left by General Jackson in command of
Pensacola, issued an order, that if any
soldier deserted, and was overtaken or
apprehended, he should beput to instant
death. One soldier, who had deserted,
was overtaken, and put to death. When
unprecedented, he exclaimed that, as an
American citizen, he was entitled to a
trial, according to the laws of his coun.
try, and claimed his rights as such. But,
with cruelty and precipitance, his re.
quest was refused, and he was put to
instant death. Congress, Mr.. w. said,
sat here as guardians of the rights of the
people. But it was the weak more than
the strong, whose rights were the pecu-
liar care of this house. If the facts he
had stated on the authority Of common
report were confirmed, just punish
ment ought to await the offenders.
Mr.. Smith, of Maryland, said, he
hoped the gentleman from North Caro-
lima would, for the pres ent, let the reso-
luton lie on the table. He had heard,
he said, that Court Martial had been
ordered on Col. King on this very point.
If so, he would be tried for his illegal
misconduct by the proper test--the
rules and articles of war. Should he not
be punished for misconduct, if any had
been committed, it was then time enough
for this house to take it up.
Mr.. Uiiiiams said, he should be will
ling that the resolution should lie on the
table if any good purpose could be
answered by its taking that course. 1t
had been said that court martial had
been ordered in this case. That was
part of the very information, Mr.. w.
said, which he wished to obtain from
an authentic source. Ifassured official
ly that such was the fact, Mr.. w. said
he should be willing to stay all further
proceedings on this case. But the re-
port Of that fact was rumor, merely
vague surmise, and for aught he knew,
unfounded conjecture.
MIR. Smyth, of Virginia, expressed
his hope that this resolution would be
permitted to lie ON the table. Col. King
was at this moment under trial by
Court Martial, on charges connected
with the reports which had been spoken
of; and there would certainly be great
propriety in waiting the result of the
trial, before this house took up the sub