Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-02
lkr"a sae Natiosd InteHigeneer>
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr. EUsrIs, from the Committee on Nava
Ait.drs, reYu. strd 10 be discharged from tn,
farther Consideration of the petitions of Mar
'"s de oilers ;,nd Arnold Guillemard, Twin,
pray the interpretation of Congress to releas,
inc.n from prison, in Pensacola, where they
are confined by the Acting Governor of Yves,
FLORIDA j And moved also that the petition
together with The accompanying documents
be referred 10 lhe President of Tie u. States
Mr.. CucaE remarked, ih,l, from AN exam
iiaiun ol the petition and documents referred
10, there was reason to apprehend there had
been such an uaurpaiion and infringement up
GA the rights OF the petitioners required the
luirrpoSiiiDn OF this House. He therefore
moved that the petition he referred 10 IL COM
nittee Vf the Whole house on the State Of the
Union.
Mr. LowNDEs thought the petition afford
cd an additional reason for giving more
promptly IA government to Florida, yet he
WAS unwilling that sHch complaints should
.seach the Executive ear through the channel
of this House. Indeed he considered it alto
Sether probable that those complaints had al
rcady reached the Executive. He therefore
thought the reference proposed by the Com
inittee on Military Affairs unnecessary, and
iie proposition Or the gentleman from Ten
Sssee MIR. Cockel improper, and under these
Impressions, proposed that the same should
~ laid On the table.
MIR. TRiMBLE, rose to put question To the
chairman of the Military Committee. He
wanted to know whether the petitioners were
confined under military order, or in virtue
Of some civil Judicial process If the CON
'inemcnt was by military order, he Was salts
ned the President, as commander in chief of
the armies of the United States, could order
their discharge but, ii confined in virtue OF
civil process, then he did not suppose that the
president had any power to interfere The
ACT oil last session gave the President power
to appoint Governor in the Fiuriaas hut il
did not authorize him to reserve TO himself
any control over the judicial acts and pro-
ceedlnSs OF the Governor when appointed
There was no such reservation in the Govern
or's commission. The President had, ut was
sald,) given ample powers to the Governor.
lney were SAID to be the same or equal to
those vested in the Captain General of Cuba ;
and Mr.. i. could not vote the reference of n
petition 10 the President, AS an intimation To
him, to assunrIa sort Ofsupreme judicial pow
er over that territory, without being first salts
fled thata controlling power of iilat kind ought
to be vested i'll him, either directly or indirect
~.
Mr.. GOLDEN entered at some length into
an examination of the facts connected " III, the
tlIll.
10 discussion OF the merits of the commit
neDt of the petitioners TO prison; when "A
question of order arose, which resuitcd. in the
Speakers prOnOuncing that the first question,
and the only one of course now before the
House, was on discharglng the Military
Committee from the consideration ul the pc
tItiOD.
Mr.. EUsTIs explained the views of The
Committee In recommending the course thcy
bad thought il eXpedicDt to ADOPT, tie main
object of which was to procure the liberty oi
the petitioners, if they were entitled to il, ia
manner more cXpeditiously than they could
obtain it from the interpOsitiOn of this Housc
Mr. LowNDEs further explained his views
IN making The motion to lay the subject on
the table.
MIR. FLoYD could not conceive any powers
which the Captain General of Cuba could
have, or any Secretary OF the territory Of Flor
.da could have, TO violate the liberties Of those
Who should fall within their iurisdiclion---
Here were men lingering in confinement and
we were not now, he said. celebrating at the
Ppi1t orthe byOnct-but in peace and safe.
~ deciding whether or not to iay the petition
u1 TIC table. The man who could have the
lemerliy IN this house to lie by supincly on
such d subject, may wei trcmble should
he happen To- be- within the powers of another
government. He was opposed to any delay
aud thought il a subject that required the inn
Mediate interference Of the house.
Mr.. RANDOLPn thought this house could
not, without a gross violation of its duty, turn
deaf ear to any man who says be is in bond.
against law, and under our authority. It wa.
cot for us TO SIT here with stole apathy, under
circumstances like the present. II was worse
.hln mockery to turn over the subject to the
President of me United States, who is known
81 not to APPROVE, yet not to disapprovc, of the
conduct OF the Captain General OF Florida -