Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-01-28

Mr.. Pleassnts thought the designation
Of soops of war would contine the scope
of the inquiry within too narrow limits,
particularly as he presumed smaller
class of vessels would be more suitable
for the object in view. lie should pre-.
fer an inquiry into the expectancy OF
building an additional number OF small
vessels of war, without designating the
size. Mr.. p. had an OBJECTION, also. to
the latter part Of the resolution, which
directs that part of the naval force be
employed in a particular service; be-
cause it would be interfering with the
proper action oil the Executive authori
ty, whose province it is to direct in what
manner the naval force shall be en-
ployed. Mr. p. moved to amend the
resolution conformably to the ideas he
had suggested.
Mr.. Johnson, of Louisiana, had no OBJ
lection to the first modification, to sub.
stitute .ssmall vessels for "sloops of
war;" but, as to the second proposition,
he was not SO certain Of it's propriety.
inasmuch as if it was deemed proper to
employ part of the naval force on this
special service, an appropriation would
be necessary to carry the object into
effect.
Mr. Peasants remarked that the Pre-.
sident Of the United States had the pow
er of employing the naval force in any
manner he might think proper; and if
an extraordinary service of any part of
the navy was deemed necessary, by any
gentleman, the proper time for the in
quiry would be when the annual appro
priation for the naval service comes I'm
der consideration.
Mr.. johnson said, as the Chairman of
the Naval Committee seemed to think
the object could be attained without en-
bracing it in the present inquiry, he
would assent to the mendments pro-
posed.
Mr.. Dwell observed, that FIVE or six
additional small vessels were certainly
very much wanted to protect the COM
MERGE ofthe nation on the coast of Gu
ba, and elsewhere among the islands,
but, as the expectancy of increasing the
navy by building additional vessels
might be doubted; and as sufficient
number of suitable vessels might, at
present, very probably be purchased !;
he suggested the propriety of changing
the inquiry into one for providing by
purchase an additional number of small
vessels.
Mr.. Otis suggested the propriety of
simplifying the resolution into an ia
quiry Of providing by purchase or other
wise, an additional number of small
vessels, for the better protection of the
commerce of the United States An
expression of the object in terms SO ge
neral as this, he thought would not
trench on the province of the Execu-
tive.
Mr. Johnson, for the purpose of &C
commodating the views of the different
gentlemen, while it would answer the
object he had in view, modified his mo-
ton to read as follows;
ReSolDed, That the committee on Ma
val Affairs be instructed to inquire into
the expediency of providing by law for
the building oripurchase ofan addition
ell number of small vessels of war, For
the protection of the commerce of the
u. States.
In this form the resolution was agreed
to.
A communication was laid before the
Senate by the President, from the Sc
cretary of State, transmitting the Pc
turns of the Census, in kershaw Dis
trict, in South Carolina.
The resolution proposing an amend
ment in relation to the election of Elec-
tors of President, &c. was, on motion of
Mr.. Dickerson, referred to select cem-
mittee, for the purpose Of considering
the amendment proposed thereto, when
last under consideration; and Messrs.
Dickerson, Lloyd, Benton, Brown, of
Ohio, and Holmes, of Maine, were ap-
pointed on the committee.
The Senate then again resumed the
consideration of the bill to grant 70 the
state of Louisiana the presumption right
to two tracts of land in the county of
Point Coupee, for the use Of the people
of said county-an amendment being
still pending, which had been heretofore
offered by Mr.. Van Dyke, to convey
the land to the state by gift instead of
sale.
Much debate again took place on this
subject, embracing chiefly the questions
heretofore stated, q the question wheth
er the land shonld ha uiuen or snld ia