Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-30

surveying d,iU Ot,Ssi!iss oil a road from DetrOl,
TO Chicago, in the State Of Illinois which was
twice read and committed.
On motion of Mr.. McLane, twas
I,esolrcd, That the Committee OH Military
Affairs be instructed to inquire into the cxpcdi-
cncy Of authorizing the purchase Of an addition
nj quantity of land, for the enlargement OF the
site of Fort Washington, and for completing
the title, in the United States, To part oil that
ON which the said fort is now erected.
On n,otio, of MIR. Livingston, it was
Recoiced, That She Committee on Private
Land Claims be directed to report whether the
claim of Dussuau della Croix TO certain lots in the
town of Mobile ought not TO be confirmed.
AIR. Allen, OF Mass. gave notice that on
Thursday next lie should move for the consdera-
ton of his motion 10 fix day for the adjourn
rnent of Congress.
An cngrosscd bill for the relief of David
CitIin and Joseph Hoag;" am engrossed bill
8 for the relief of the representatives of Joseph
Minis, ,lcceased;" an eugrossed bill 6 for the
relief of George ID. II. Cove" were severa!ly
read a third time, PASSED, and sent 10 the Sen
ate fer concurrence.
An engossed bill 6 for the relief oi William
Bla-royc,n was read third time. MIR. krc,ncr
opposed the passage of the bill ANA il WAS add
vocatel by Mr.. Harvey and MIR. Fuller. Mr..
IIremcr thcn moved to lay the bill on the table.
The motion was ncgs,tiyei, ayes 90, noes 70 ;
and, after some farther conversation, the bill
was PASSED, and sent to the Senate for concur
rCaCc.
The cngrossed bill for the relief of John
Thomas & Co. )" and an cngrossed bill :" for the
relief OF WIN. y. Eare,n were read a third time,
PASSED, and sent to the Senate for concurrence.
An engrossed ball g for the relief of Joseph
Wheaton," being read third time, .Nr. Cooke
asked for information, and spoke against the
passage OF the bill Mr.. Williams, of N. G.
called for the reading of letter from the Comp
troler of the Treasury, on the subject, which
was read and the bill was PASSED, and sent to
the Senate for concurrence.
An engrosscd bill g for the Tclicfof the cor
poration of the church of st. Anne, and TO au-
thorze the extension Of Larncd street, i'll the
town of Detroit IAN cngrosscd bin 8 autho:iz-
ing the release ofdebcntures to Bernard Thooet,"
were read third time, PASSED., and sent TO the
Senate for concurrence.
An engrossed bill g for the relief OF the OK
ecutors and legal representatives of John III.
Piatt," having been read Il third time, Mr. Tor
syth moved that the farther consideration Of the
bill be postponed TIL The second Monday in De-
cembcr next.
Mr.. Ross spoke in opposition to this motion,
and in favor of the passage of the bill. He
went atcor considerable length, into arecapitulation
of the circumstances OF this case, which have
been SO often presented to our readers, that it
Is hardly necessary for Us to say, that the clam
of Mr.. Piatts heirs grows out oflis relation as
n contractor for the supply of the army, ten
years ago.
MIR. Livermore took similar view ofthc case
and demonstrated against the postponement, in
speech of considerable extent.
Mr.. Forsyth shortly replied not in direct
denial Of the equity of the claim, but expressing
4 desire for better understanding of it.
Mr.. MCL.ane, of Del. spoke at length, in favor
of the bill, which, he contended, did not go to
the whole extent of what was Justly due 10 the
claimants. He gave history of what had been
done, read the opinion Of, Mr.. Pinkney on the
construction ofthe law under which the claim is
advanced, and argued, from the whole case, the
propriety of Immediately passing tlie bill.
MIR. Macarthur testified to many of the cir
cumstances ofthe case ofthis claimant, who had
been ruined by adheEing to his contract, and
strong euiogium ON his honesty, activity and pa
triotism.
Mr.. Dwight explained the facts on which the
claim rested, and advocated its equity.
Mr.. Wright bore witness to other facts, and
confirmed the views of his character and claim,
which had been already given.
Mr.. Mccoy advocated the passage of the bill
He had gone into an extensive examination OF
the case, and fully satisfied of the Justice of
the claim. The bill fell far short of appropratine
all that was due to the estate OF. Mr.. Piatt.
Mr.. FORSYTH replied-stated his views of the
law on which the claim was founded, and in
which he differed from the gentlemen who had
spoken on the other side. He nevertheless
withdrew his motion for postponemcnt.
Mr.. McE4anc farther dwelt on the nature OF
the law, defended the Interpretation given to it
by Mr.. Pinkncy, and by the end Auditor of the
Treasury, and urged the passage of the. bill.
lTr I'LL Lit
Piatt, IN which he refuses TO abandon disadyan-
tageous contract, and resolves to go on in sup
plying the army at Detroit trusting to the equi-
ty and hberal!ty ofhs government
Mr.. Longfellow called for the reading of the
contract-and spoke at length in opposition to
the passage OF the bill, occasionally referring to
the accounts in support of his views.
Nlr. Cuipcper spoke in favor of the bill. He
had been member of this House when the
claim was first presented, and his only doubt
about the bill was, whether it went to the extent
of what was due.
MIR. Mccoy explained number Of facts in
answer to ,ur. Longfcllow.
Mr.. Vance, of Ohio, went into the history oil
the contract, and Of the law which passed forthe
settlement of the accounts Of Mr.. Piatt, anl
cxPlaiDedthc reason of the discrepancy between
the settlement allowed by different accounting
officers of the Treasury and stated some of the
dying expressions of Mr. Piatt.
The question was then taken, and the bill was
passed with single dissenting voice.
an engrossed bill " for the relief Of Arthur II
Henley and
An cngrosscd bin "reIeasing the owners o.
the ship General Jackson from the payment o
ceratinduties," were read third time and pass
oi.
a bill 6 for the relief of John Donaldson
Stephen Hurd and othersn beng taken up
,1r. Cob, renewed the motion he had made OF
Saturday in committee oflhe whole, for inserting