Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-02-08

THURSDAY, FEE. 3, 1875.
m SENATE.

m SENATE.
The President communicated to the
Senate the following report from the
Secretary Of State, on the memorial Of
James Ray and others; which was read:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washngton, End February, 1925.
The Secretary Of State, to whom, by
a resolution of the Senate ofthe United
States, was referred the memorial OF
James Ray and others, owners OF the
brig James Lawrence and cargo, cap
tured BY Spanish privateer, and car
ried into St. Johns, Island OF Porto
Rico, praying the interpretation on 60
yernment, with the documents accom-
panying the same, were referred, to
consider and report thereon, has the
honor of reporting: That the case OF
the James Lawrence is one OF those OF
fragrant outrage upon the property OF
the citizens of the United States, upon
which the Executive Government OF
the United States have, for the last
three years; constantly applied, near
the Spanish authorities, exertions for
reparation equally strenuous and una
vailiug;-that the capture, in the first
instance, was illegal, and that the pro-
ceedings Of the Court of Appeals, con-
demning the property, were irregular
cannot be doubted. A last appeal to
the Justice of His Catholic Majesty, at
Madrid, is all that remains practicable
in this case, short of measures which,
BY authorising reprisals. would assume
upon the United States themselves the
task Of dispensing to their citizens that
Justice which has hitherto been sought
from the Spanish authorities in vain.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
The President also communicated a
report from the Secretary OF the Navy,
Of unexpended appropriations for the
naval service on the LIST Of February,
1925.
Mr.. THOMAS presented the memorial
of the Legislature of the State of II
hnois, praying that the present laws
relating to the sale of the public lands
be so modified as to authorize the sale
of all such lands as have been offered
for sale FIVE years or more, at fifty cents
an acre; which memorial was, on mo-
ton of Mr.. L. ordered to be printed.
The appropriation bills, and other
bills brought yesterday from the House
of Representatives for concurrence,
were severally read the second time,
and referred to committees.
The engrossed bill to remit the du-
ties on books, maps, and charts, i'm.
ported for the Library of Congress,
was read the third time, passed, and
sent to the other House for concur.
renee.
SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY.
The Senate resumed the considera.
lion of the bill to suppress Piracy in
the West Indies-the amendment pro.
posed by Mr.. SMITH granting aid to
merchantmen to arm being still pend.
ing.
On this amendment, and various
propositions to modify it, in regard to
the kind and quantity of armament re-
required, the amount of premium, SC.
discussion took place, which con-
tinued about two hours. In this dis
cussion, Messrs. SMITH, HOLMES, Of
Maine, EATON, MILLS, LLOYD, of Mass.
D'WoLF, LLOYD, of Md. HAYNE, VAN
buren,, and FINDLAY, took part.
Finally, the Senate refused to fill the
blank for the premium with Sloo,
with S75, and with $50. On the lat
ter sum, the question was decided by
yeas and nays-yeas Is, nays 81.
The question was then taken on the
amendment itself, proposed by Mr..
SMITH, and negatived without divi-
sion.
Mr.. MACON then, for the purpose Of
ascertaining, as he said, whether the
Senate were disposed to act at all upon
this bill, on the subject of granting en-
couragement to the merchantmen to
arm, sc. moved to strike out the 4th
section Of the bill, which is as follows
Sec. 4. find be i. fsrthrr enacted, That the
commanders and crews of any armed merchant
vessel of the United States be, ard they are
hereby, authorised to recapture any vessel and
cargo taken by pirates upon the coast of the
Island of Cuba, or the other Islands aforesaid,
or on the adjoining seas; and such vessel, so
recaptured, being brought into any judicial
district of the United States, shall be adjudg.
cd to be restored by any Court of the United
States, having admiralty jurisdiction therein,
to the former owner or owners of the same,
he or they paying for salvage not less than one.
eight, nor more than one half of the true value
of the said vessel and cargo, at the discretion
OF the court, for the benefit of the recaptors,
and in such proportions as the Court shall di.
rect, winch payments of salvage shall be made
without any deduction whatsoever.
On this motion a debate arose, OF
considerable duration, in which Messrs,
MACON, Mills, TAzEwELL, BARBOUR,
and SMITH, took part. The debate
turned principally on the expediency Of
inserting in this bill, provisions alrea-