Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-25


,bp facts OF tie case, and Cenied fhat aay
anil had been ;rs.itused. or il any none
,bjch could Try The claim No sait could
no Instituted agsiost the United States,
wi,hou, law eli Congress expressly for
the purpose. Re knew the settlers per-
.onslIy. and he asserted that not one OF
,bpm held under any title derived from
the government OF the United States,they
held under titles from the Spanish govern
mept, and no suit against them c0ald set
,le the question OF Maison Ronge's claim.
IF Mr Cox "a ished to bring his claim be-
FIRE the Ccnrts of tie United States, his
proper course would be, not to oppose The
Interference Of this house, which alone
could enable him 10 accomplish that OBJ
;sct. but rather to invite il to act upon the
subject.
MFR. Rankin replied to Dir. Brent, and
detailed the history of the claim, as il had
been COR FIVE years successfully presented
% Congress, together with the different,
general acts of The government in their
application to the land in question. He
thought that the suits now instituted would
operate 10 try the question; inasmuch as
ibey would give TO hir. Cox an oppor'u
oily 10 prove his tile: and he deemed il
right of the present holder TO have his
claim fairly investigated By law, proyi>
ded that. in pursuing it, he interposed no
unnecessary delay.
The debate was further continued by
Messrs Brent, Rankin, Breck and Camp
he'll: hut as il turned chiefly on the minu-
fla of the land laws, we do not think il
necessary TO report il with particularly.
(Tbe lands involved are OF great extent
and value, Occupying almost the whole OF
the county Of Ouachita, IN Louisiana -
They remain unseltled--hsve never been
exposed 10 sale. on account OF the claim
Of the MARQUIS de hlsison Rouge The
tract Is 10 possession of Mr.. ID w: Coke,
of Philadelphia, who holds under the
Marquis ]
The hour devoted by The rules OF the
House 10 the consideration oil resolutions
having elapsed, the debate was cut short
by the Speakers calling the orders OF the
day; when
The bill from the Senate "msking pro-
vision for General Lafayette" was taken
ND and read FIRST time; and on motion of
Mir. Mallary, was laid for the present on
the table
SETTLEMENT OF THE OREGON.
The house then resumed the consdera.
tion of the the bill providing for the oGcu-
patton of the Columbia or Oregon River,
and the question being put on striking out
the third section of the bill, (which propo-
ses 10 grant land TO settlers in that :errito-
uli, was decided in the affirmative, ayes
lOl So the section was stricken out.
Il f0
BY inserting the following section;
BE 1t enacted &c. That, for the better
security asd protection of The rights OF per-
sons who may settle in or near the said
military post, or who may carry on trade
and commerce there, il shall be the duty
of the President of the United States to
prescribe such rules and regulations as be
shall deem it and proper, which rules and
regulations shall be by him submitted to
Congress, for their appreciation, at their
next session.
Mr. w, supported his motion by observ-
ing, that be did not contemplate, IN pro.
posing this amendment, TO cODcede any OF
the legislative powers of this House to the
President OF The United States. He would
reserve them in their full extent But, IL
any thing like settlement OF the country
ON the Oregon was seriously intended, we
must expect that there would soon De on
that river. something more than mere
ruard of soldiers-tbe number OF the set
tiers would greatly exceed that of any mil.
itary force that il might be necessary TO
post there but he conceived that we were
all, at present, too impesiectiY informed
as TO their situation and circumstances, TO
3 be in a situation to enact regulations tor
their government which should be suited
20 their condition and character. he
therefore thought il was proper to refer
the subject to the President and TO EN-
power him. as the person most TT, from
his situation for such . task, TO digest
system of rules and regulations tor the gov
eminent of this infant territory, which
should be submitted 10 the appreciation OF
Congress when it should next meet. As
an American citizen, he was indisposed to
subject the civil rights Of the settlers 10 the
caprice oil military rule and, though we
might not at present be in circumstances 10
establish territorial government on that
river, yet we might prepare the foundation.
Tor one, with which view be had offered
to add this feature to the bill
The question being put upon Mr. Wick.
liHe's amendment, it was lost by large
majority.
At the request Of Mr.. Hamilton, OF s G..
the bill was then read with the amend
ments adopted yesterday, and was ordered
to be engrossed tor third reading to-mor-
row.
GRATITUDE TO LAFAYETTE.
On motion of Mr.. Little, of Maryland,
toe House resumed the consideration OF