Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-21

pgVrlSSA q SSuSWHl VI LAC taf Cst tAs pUI
tant section tine 9tl} of that law. Az
this moment, Mr.. w said he felt him-
self entirely unprepared TO 60 into such
an examination this question as il
might require. He, therefore. hoped
the House would indulge him, and
others similarly situated. with forthe,
time for the consideration Of the sub'
ject. His object was not unnecessarily
| to delay the consideration of the subject,
but he thought il important TO have be.
fore the House. and in possession of ey.
cry member, the correspondence which
took place between Admiral Cochrane
and the Secretary OF State relative TO
the burning of property on the Niagara
| Frontier. There was another document,
also, which he wished the House to be
In possession ola document originally
brought here to carry these claims thro'
the House. but which, since the year
1918, he had never been able TO lay his
hands upon. When these claims first
appeared before the House, the claim
ants never pretended to rest them upon
the ground that the buildings were oc,
cupied by the military authority at the
time Of their destruction. They then
maintained that all these burnings took
place on the ground of retaliation by
the enemy, and, believing that ground
sufficient to sustain their claims, they
produced all the proof of it that they
could. But, as the House had refused
to allow the claims ON that ground, they
have now changed their position, and
placed their claimson different one.
Mr., w. wished for his part to examine
fully the pretext upon which q re-ensct-
ment of the pernicious law of 1916 was
claimed, and with these views he wish
ed the committee to rise, in order to
have the papers printed.
CIR. Caubreleng, of New York, said
he hoped that no delay would be inter
posed 10 bringing this subjec, before
the Hoase---but that they should be
called to act upon it Immediately be-
ing persuaded that they were as fully
prepared 60 do SO now, as they would be
at any future time. He expressed his
establishment that, of all the members
of the House, the Chairman of the
Committee Of Claims should profess
any want Of Information on this subject
since, from his official situation, as
we'll as the able and conspicuous share
he had in former discussions on this
matter, be should have Supposed him to
be better informed OF every circum-
stance relating to it, than any other per-
son. If permitted to proceed, Mr. G.
said, that be should contend that on the
ground first taken by the claimants, viz.
that the injury their property had sus-
tanned was inflicted by the enemy as
measure of retaliation, their claim was
just, inssmuch as 1t Vas In retaliation
of injuries frat inflicted upon the enc
nay blythe express order of this govern.
meat, through the late Secretary of
War, in the burning Of the village of
Newark On this ground the claim
was perfectly sus.aiDable as, also il
would be on the other ground assumed,
viz. that the injuries we're sustained In
consequences of the occupation or use of
the property by the United States If
either ground were established, these
elaine ought to be allowed.
Mr. Williams renewed bis motion that
the committee rise but once more
suspended it at she particular request
Of Mr. Tracy. who made some explana.
tion-in reply to what Mr.. w. had said,
as TO the disappearance OF the docu.
ment he had referred to. No public
paper on the subject had been with
drawn, but. on the contrary, all the
papers connected with the general sub.
ject had beer printed with the report of
the committee.
The committee then rose, reported
progress, and had leave to cit again
and, on motion of Mir. Williams, the
papers, referred TO whilst 10 committee
of the whole, were orderded to be
printed.
And than the House adjourned till
Monday.
PUBLIC LANDS.