Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-14
time for reflection, moved that the message lay
on the table, to be taken up hereafter.
This resolution was agreed TO.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The SPEAKER laid before the House a com-
muniCation from the Department of w ar, made
III pursuance OF the Secretary of War ''tc lay
before the House any information in his Depart
nent which may serve to shew the actual value
| OF such property as was occupied, or sup
posed TO have been occupied by the govcrn;ncnt
o! tho United States, and bestowed by the enc
my during the late wal, accompanied by letter
from Major Perrin Willis, and containing all
the information file in tliat Department.
n communication was also received from the
department oIthc Treasury, containing state
tnc,.. OF the amount paid as indemnity to the
claimants of property destroyed during the late
war, in virtue of the act ofthc 9th April, 1916,
| ana the subsequent acts aincndatory to the
| same.
And, from the sane Department, 4 connuni-
cation WAS received, transmitting an abstract OF
lands lots and dwelling houses, owned or pos.
Sessed on the LIST day OF a pril, 1878. within the
counties OF Magma and Erie, as exhibited in
the return of the Principal Assessor of said dis
| trict.
| communication was also received from The
Department of War, in conformity will, the 9Th
section Of The act of Congress ofthe 81 of March,
| 500, entitled ''an act to amend the several
acts for the establishment and regulation Of the
| Treasury, War, and Navy Departments" trans
uniting statement of the 9d Auditor of the
| Treasury, showing the expenditure OF the
moneys appropriated for the contingent ex penses
| OF the military establishment for the year 1924
The following Message was received from
the President ol the United States by Mr.. EVER
EFT, his private Secretary
| To the House IF Representatives.:
should hasten In communicate TO YOU the
documents called for BY resolution of the II.
OF H. OF the 4'h instant, relating TO the conduct
| OF the officers of the Navy OF the United States,
on the Pacific ocean, and of the public agents
! IN South America, If such a communication
might now be made, consistently with the pub
! lie interest, with Justice 10 the parties con
cerned. In consequence OF several charges
! which have been alleged agans; Com. Stewart
touching his conduct, while commanding the
squadron of the United States, on t.,at sea- il
has been deemed pr0per 10 suspend hi;n from
duty, and 10 subject bin to trial OH hose CHARGES
1t appearing also that some OF those CHARGES
have been communicated 10 the Depar tmeni.
by Mr.. Provost, political agent, at this time, OF
the United States ~ prrI, and heretofore ai
Bucnos A,res and Chiii, ana apparently with
ms sanction, and that charges have likewise
been male against HIM, by citizens of the Uni
ted States, engagcd IN commerce in that quar-
ter, II has been thought equally uIst and prorer
that he should attend here, as we'll to furnish,
the evidence in his possession, applicable To the
charges cXilh ted against Commodore Stewart
answer si'S'i is DGi.si exhibited
himself liz this stage. the publication of these
documents might tend to excite preiu;liccs
which might operate 10 the injury OF both. 1t is
important tlat the public servants, in every
station, should perform their duties with fidelity
according to the inlunctions of the law, and the
order vi the Executive in the fuIfilment thereof
1t IS peculiarly so that this should be done by
the commanders of our sIuadrons, especially on
distant seas, and By political agents who repre-
| lp Init, Al,
Tor reasons that are obvious, in both instances
| 1t is due to their right and TO the character of
! The government, that they he not censurcd
without ust cause which cannot be ascertain
cd, until, on n view of the charges thew are
heard iii their defence, and after j thorough
! and impartial investigation OF their conduct
Under these circumstances, il is thought that :,
communications nj this time, OF these documents
would not comrort with the public interest. nor
with what is due to the parties concerned.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, ION Jan. 1925
! The Message was read, and ordered TO lie on
the table.
PENAL LAWS or THE u. STATES.
! The House then, on motion of Mr. WEBSTER.
went into eorninitceofthe whoe-Mr. coSpIcr
in the chaiF-on the bill further to provide for
tie punishment OF crimes against the u. States
| MIR. =. Z. BARBOUR rose, for tie pur1ose of
! W HOiu)T6O!c Chairman OF thp
Committee on the Judiciary, the propriety of
modification of the bill now before the Commit
tel M LITIGATION which had respect to the
principle OF the bill and which, if alopic,. ,.oulJ
run through several OF lis parts. He ,ahly an
proved OF much that the bill contained and
thought that many OF the offences il ,ontenpla
ted were worthy of punishment; but the object
he wished to attain, IN the notification he now
suggested, was, that the federal courts should
of if,aS
was necessary, aud where the state courts have,
ITO jurisdiction, but dat 81 here the state courts
have jurisdiction, there none should be given 10
the United States. He w. FULLY aware that the
subject one attended with much and great
difficulty. If we look at the legislative de.
pariment Of the government, we find that the
constitution gives 1t power 10 define and punish
piracics and ieoI:ies committed on the high seas
and offences against the laws of nations: if we
look TO :be Judicial department, IS find the con-
siituiion giving it jurisdiction over all cases OF
admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. Conf;nno.
our attention only 10 the legislative power of the
government, it would seem to be at once limited
10 1.-The high seas" but If we go on TO the Judi
cai we fiud il under the words ''admiralty and
maritime jurisdictions" terms the precise, irUDor
OF which, there Is much difficulty in settling
Tho question arises, how far docs this admiralty,
jurisdiction extend? The difficulty of rnar<;p%
this line, with precision, none knew better Than
the gentleman from Massachusetts himself who
took very distinguished part in celebrated
case lately argued before the Supreme Court of
The United States, and which turned mainly on
tat question. In another case, where the same
question came up, Judge Story devoted seventy
i've pages 10 the discussion Of it. 1t is TIC opin
ion oi some, (and this distinguished urist is ono
Ut the numoer,) that maritime jurisdiction ex-
tends over "thC high seas and over the sea ne