Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-05


Some amendments of detail were propos-
ed 10 the bill, which some discussion took
place; after which the bill was ordered TO he
enSrossed for Il third reading and the Senate
adjournrd.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Among the petitions presented to-day was
sri'oasirahcc, presented by Mr.. WHITMAN,
ltuin s,,ndry merchants Of Portland, against
the repeat oi the act, intertlictiug commercial
inlct, curse with the British Colonies in Anne
RIGA. Also, II memorial, presented by Mr..
CoLpEN, from sundry inhabitants of New
York, praying that such measures may be IA
dopisd, as in ihe wisdom of Congress may be
deemed rxpcdient, To effect the complete and
fnai abolition of the Slave Trade.
Mr.. TuCkER, of Virginia, laid on the table
the following resolution:
Hesoired That tic Presi,cn, be requested TO
nunicaie 10 this House such information rs he may
ossess relative Ia ANY private CLAIM against the piece
oI land in the Delaware liver known 10y the name Of
The Pea Patch, and to state, any, what civil process
has hecn Instituted in behalf "f such claim
TRANSACTIONS IN FLORIDA.
Mr.. WHITMAN, of Maine, rose To address
the Huuse. He thought the period had ar
rived in which il had become proper tn take
into the serious consideration of this House
that part of the Presidents Message which re-
lated To the Transactions i'm Florida. In the
c",rse'hr had thought il his duty tn pursue in
relation To- the subject, he was actnated by no
personal hostility 10 either of the individuals
TO whose conduct the inquiry principally re-
lated. The further prosecution in this inves-
llgation was an irksomr flask, but he believed
It duty to perlurm il. That part of the do
cumcnis which seemed to be- recrrihle To the
Coinmitter OIL Foreign Relations, contained,
IN his opinion, facts which ought to- arrest the
attention of the people of this country. Would
il he said that this subject WAS an affair which
belonged to the Executive only, because
those officers were appointed by the Execu-
tive (? II, indeed, said Mr.. w. the Executive
only were affected by tllrse transactions, the
argument might he IA good one. But the
character of the nation was also involved
and IL could no; he the duty of the Representa-
tivcs nfihe people Ia sit still, when it was evil
dent that the Executive had no disposition to
interfere. MIR. W. could not admit that the
people were necessarily To he identified with
the Executive. Mr.. w. went on to say, that
he would not hc understood to- advocate the
cause of n foreign power tn the dis1aragement
oi our own government. But it appeared,
from the documents in this case, that Col.
Callava claimed to be Commissioner of the
Spanish nation, and by Il recurrence 10 the
documents (p. SOL would he seen that Gen
and treated with him in that capacity. But
Gen. Jackson subsequently denies to him such
powers wide 7. 7G and ~ This was a ne
ccssary assumption, in order to Justify his
preceding conduct in regard to that officer
hut, from the general te.or OF the documents
IT was'cvidrnt that Col. CaIllva was what he
claimed To be-a Commissioner for the purpose
delivering up the Fluridas pursuant to the
treaty, &c. What conduct, then, was it in
cumbcnt on the American Governor to have
pursued? Was il consistent with the dignity
or the American people to commit violence
upon tho person ola Spanish Commissioner !?
The papers that caused the controversy, Mr..
w. cHntcndcd, were regularly in the power Of
an authorized agent of Spain--and there is
evidence nf rrcciIitancy, at least, on the part
cfHcncr;ll Jackson To get possession of these
papers. BY ivha, law could he Justify such
violence? ~ the common the civil-tbe
AmcrIcan-or the Spanish las ? No-by no
Law ro;ild such a summary act Of violence he
justified bH by military lava law that can
not be recognized where the laws and con
situtinn of the country are IN force, unless in
time Of war, or in executing the laws Of the
country. Where was the inprIiur,S necessity
That required in this case, the immediate inter
position of military force There was none.
The papers in question were not necessary,
nor even important to the individual claiming
them But, admitting. it were otherwise ;
Were they concealed by Col. Caava? Not
at all hr w. WAS pursuing this course of ar
gumcnt, when
lie was called 10 order by Mr.. SANDERS,
on the gionnd that there was no question
now before the House.
The SPEAKER decided that, although the
practice of the House had been otherwise,
III tI,p e ~
strictly not in order To- discuss the merits of
proposition until it had been presented To the
House, and the question regularly stated there
on.
Mr.. w. therclpon handed to the Chair the
following resolutions
Resoired, THAI ,tch parts of the documents ac-
complaining the message of the President of the u
n'"d Snics Of the 28Ih january last, as comprise
ne orr esPondepce between Andrew Jackson, late
Cover u the Flordas his deputies and substitutes
and the officers nf His Catholic Majesty there rcsi.
dent, aud tive issuing Ivy the sad jackson Of his proc
lhmalion 81 lie 29h September 1921 he referred to
The Commit on FOREIGN Relations.
Rcsoirod That snch parts Of The documents
accompanying the message nf tie President
OF the United States, of the 2G:n Of January
last, as relate to the exercise of Judicial func-
tons OF the part of Andrew Jackson, hate
Governor Orthc F'lnridns, ard the c0Dtrover-
50 relative thereto, between him and Eligins
From"ntin Judge Of the Court therein, DC
referred TO The Committee on the Judiciary.
FeSoiUed, That snch parts of the documents
accompanying the message of the President
OF the United States, Of the 2Gth of January
last, as relate 10 the employment of the milf.
tary fierce Of the United States, in the execu-
ton OF thc order aud decree OF Andrew Jack
son, late Governor uf the FlpTi.lis, while
claiming TO act in Judicial capacity there and
10 eniorce'hs proclamation Of the Goth Sep
'euiher, 1891, hc referred TO Tie Committee
on Military Affairs.
me resolutions having been read
Mr.. WHr"AY RESUMED his remarks, and