Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-04-21
CONGRESS.
....s............
IN SENATE;

The bill To authorize tho legal represen.
tatives Of Elisha Winter and William Win
ter 10 institute a bill in equity i'm the ma.
ture OF petition Of a right against the u.
| States.
This Is claim OF great magnitude, and
has been before Congress Tor MANY suc>
| cessive years. Ii is for no less than one
million OF acres of land in Arkansas, the
title OF which Is derived uader Spanish
| grant. Thelegaliiy OF The title, TO The extent
claimed, turns OH the construction of one
or Two words ct the grant, which rem
| dcred into English, are " one thousand
| arpens OF land square" upon which "a
| question arises, whether the grant intend.
cd TO convey thousand square acres, or,
as The claimants allege, thousand acres
| square which ofcourse is the difference
between one thousand and oHe million OF
acres.
Mr.. Roberts stated some objections 10
| tins report, 10 The course proposed by
the bill, and TO the validity Of The claim
set up 10 an extent OF territory, almost, he
| said, equal TO an empire.
MIR. Hmner replied at considerable
length; detailing the grounds on which
the committee founded their report: and
entering somewhat into the merits of The
| claim. After an elaborate and minute
| investigation OF the evidence adduced by
! the claimants, the committee would have
| felt themselves bound. had they been OBJ
| iiged 10 pronounce an opinien, la saw
that The claim was Il just and equitable
one: but as all the evidence was ex parie,
! II was thought best 10 refer il 10 Judi
era investigation, where tie United States
| could be able 10 adduce any couuteract.
Ing evidence which might be within their
| reach q nj tor of lao t.,I
required this course, as il was not posi-
bic that Congress could do justice TO The
public; they rarely had any thing 10
guide them but the interested statements
| aud ex parie testimony OF The petitioners
Congress was, from its constitution, moi
| III tribunal 10 decide such claims, aud
particularly claims of such enormous ex-
tent as the present one, &c.
Mr.. BrOun made some remarks on The
practice of the Spanish Governors in
Louisiana, i'll making grants of land, the
circumstances i'll which this grant origi-
mated, &e. 10 shew that this clai,n rested
on reasonable grounds. and had sufficient
evidence 10 establish lis Justice.
The bill was on motion Of Mr.. johnson,
OF Louisiana, who wished TO make similar
provision Tor other cases, postponed 10
Monday.
The Senate then resumed in committee
of The whole, MIR. Waller, of Alabama.
in the chair, the bill TO provide for clu-
thing the army i'll domestic Manufac-
tures--MT. Van DYKES motion 10 amend
the bill being under consideration.
10 give place 10 an amendment which
had been prepared b. MIR. Barbour, which
he was willing should supcrcede his own,
MIR. Van Dykc Withdrew his amend.
meni.
Mr.. Barbour then proposed 10 amend
the bill, by adding on such terms and
al such prices as will no. be injurious TO
the public Interest ;" thus leaving an op-
lion with the Secretary Of War, and
depriyiHg the bill of lis imperative cha
racter.
The object of this amendment, MIR.
B. observed, was to mitigate and render
less Objectionable measure which lie
conceived improl iden,, but which, from
the vote OF yesterday, seemed 10 have
gained for II, since the last session, when
similar proposition Was rejected, sufij-
Gent favor TO carry II through The Senate.
MIR. = then entered into a general areu.
meni against the expcdiency Of the bill,
which me opposed, not ouIy on account
OF its contemplated object and effect,
ted measure III a great sy stem which was
now before the other house, which, if
adopted, would merge the object of this
bill, &c.
Mr.. UicherSOH would have 10 objection
TO flIs amendment, if SO modified, as TO
read " not materially injurious" &c. aud
proceeded TO reply generally to the argu-
ments of MIR. Il.
Mr.. Barbour rejoined al some length,
and sustained his opinions by additional
arguments.
Mr.. johnson, of Kentucky, submitted
his views III favor OF the bill and was FOL.
lowed OF. the same side By MIR. RuggieS,
who preferred the bill as il was, without
the amendment.
MIR. Lioyd regretted that the amend
meni offered by Mr.. Van Dyke had been
Withdrawn, considering il preferable 10
the amendment proposed by Mr.. Barbour,
ia whose views I've coDcurred, but thought
that his amendment would fall short Of
IFS object. Mr.. l.. then went pretty large
Iy into an examination of The eHcci and
operation Of The bill, to shew lis inexpe.
diency.
Mr.. IjimJle entered into suvdrv details
relative 10 the mode Of Supplying The ar.
my With clothing, and the inc@nyenienees
sustained 10y the army IN consequence
thereof Ihe conduct Of the purchasing
department, &c. &c. and in support al
the bill IN lis original shape aud, with
tie view OF preparing amendments To
change The present system OF supplying
lie army, aud provide different mode,
concluded with motion 10 postpone tie
Till 10 Monday.
Mr.. LOwgie opposed tl,c prs'ronement.
byiuV iB favor at ;Lg itli and "a ittv, 81
10 pass promptly.