Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-02

fore, !, tu0st he in those by whom the govern
ment was OrGaaiZed. But, in reviewing the
various circumstances, he thought we ought
nut 1" countenaDce a course calculated 10 pro-
duee disirust in our own Executive, and to
lead tie Spanish government to believe that
we would not sustain our own administration.
Mr. REID, las well as he could be heard, J
spoke I" show there was an inpropriety IN
referring this petition to the Military Commit
tee, but that its proper course would have
been tO the Judiciary Committce-as well
from respect for the officers implicated, as to
shew to them that Il their conduct had been
improper it would receive no countenance in
this House. He knew nothing ofthe circum-
stances hut from hearing the paper read, but
he felt much interest in the transaction, and
me would not disguise that in this he had II
feeling growing out of an intimacy witt, one
! ofthe parties concerned in this Inquiry, of date
as early as boyhvOd. He advocated IA refer
ence of the petition To the committee and
let the censure fall where IL was nerited. He
was far from expressing any distrust of the
President Of the U, $. on this occasion, or in
his proceedings in relation to Florida, hut
there was certainly no pIopriety in referring
this matter to him. Where was the clause of
the constitution which referred such Il case TO
the Executive and excluded this house from
enquirng into il If both are co-eQual, on
what pretence will the house answer these
Spanish gentlemen that we cannot afford them
redress was 1t because II would produce
discussion /? Whatever Investigation of the
subject or discussion might take place here,
it would not deprive the Executive of the pow
er tn act and afford ultimate redress. How
we're these people attempting to throw fire.
brands in the public councils ? Had they not
been expelled from their liresidcs, from their
| nd
| this a case of wanton or causeless appeal TO
the House Mr. II. defended the act of last
session, which though passed in haste, was
not intended to give the tyrapnical powers
imputed To it-not to confer the powers of a
| Spanish captain general of Cuba; and the
first idea he had of such thing was when he
| heard of the exercise of those powers aud
heard of them, he said, with amazement. The
people who had just emerged from govern
ment of tyranny, were by this construction
of the act, thrown hack into it. This was an
effect never intended by Congress.
| Mr. RANDoLP!I made som: remarks in cx-
| PLANTATION of his reasons for calling Air. NrDuf-
| iie To order, which hr had done from Il mis-
apprehension OF that gentleman's meaning,
and his satisfaction with the explanation
given. He had not the least disposition to
carl, at words used in the heat Of debate-but
the words used Justified his construction of
| t'lrm. He ridicnled TIA: idea OF these poor
! Spaniards, under inck and key in Pensacola,
throwing the brand of discard ia the cabinet
it needed no Guy Faux tn execute such a
gun powd.r plot n shat. Ia reply to the re-
mark Ut the gentleman from South Carolina,
Mr.. M'Du!hr,) that he had not supported any
administration, he would merely say-thouSh
not To know that gentleman might argue him
self unlInown-yci he could say that for more
! ht.b had ard sI,,t 2. ,1c
name, he WAS Chair,nan ofihr Committee of
! Ways and Means OF this House, and gave his
| best support to the then administration. In
reference to the proceedings on the Florida
bill OF last session, he acting at the head of the
| Committee Of Foreign Relations in consc-
quence of the ndisposition OF the Chairman,
waited On the President and asked to know
the views of the Eyecutlse-ihe bill cores
pondcd with those views. He had never sup
ported the bill of the last session. He was
therefore exempt from any blame, personally,
for the passage of it. Mr.. X. went on at cons-
derabe length in reply to Mr.. M'Duiie, to
vindicate bis course on this and Oh various
| other ubjccts, connected with Ire part he
took in the public councils in years past. Mr..
IL. commended that it was perfectly competent
| Tor the House tn order the discharge of the pc
ttiOners, as ii had IN the case of American ci-
tizens SO he'll in Imprisonment by the public
officers, and between these persons and Anne
rican citizens there should be no difference.
Mr.. MDUFFiE replied ut some length to
Mr. Randolph, on those points Of his remarks
not particularly applicable 10 the question I'M
r consideration and concluded with an ar
gumeut to shcw that the Executive branch of
the government was the proper department
| 10 apply the petition for redress. in the present
case, which had been improperly addressed TO
! this House.
Mr.. HARDIN understood the import OF the
memorial to be, that The petitioners had been
long citizens of Pensacola, and officers under
the government of Spain that they departed
from the territory pursuant To treaty, and
ana returned as private individuals for the
purpose of revisiiing the land OF their nativity,
add to enjoy ther properly. He denied the
| bilrary powers which lhc gentleman from
South Carolina (aIr M'DiEit) contended the
territorial government possessed; and was
proceeding in his remarks, when he lit being
after o'clock, gave way for a motion to adj
lourn, which was agreed tn--ayes 81 ;and
thereupon the House adiournol.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY -.
~ SENAIE.