Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-16
her they were cheated out of them by

that any such dividend actually belonged to
them. He was pleading the cause, he said, of
the poor and the friendless-the rich general
ly took care to keep their accounts in proper
order, at least on the debit side of the ledger,
and would know without being told, what was
due to them. But let the dividends belong
TO whom they might, It was but justice that
every opportunity Of recovery should be af-
forled to those who were entitled to them;
unless, as he hoped was not the case, the Uni
ted States were disposed to adopt maxim,
given by Shakespeare, that man who is rob-
bed without his knowledge and does not feel
the loss, has sustained no loss at all. His re.
solution, he maintained, was important in ano-
ther point of view. Many dividends had been
drawn by powers of attorney, and of these
some might have been fraudulently drawn
BY giving to the public the information re
quired. these frauds might be detected, and
the rightfiil owner put in possession of pro-
perry to which he never knew that he had
claim.
Mr.. WicklifIe said, that if the considera-
ton of the resolution was then pressed upon
the House. he should be compelled to vote a.
gainst it, urging as reason, nearly the same
objections that had been combated BY Mr..
livingston: he therefore moved that it be laid
on the table, which motion, after some oppo-
siton from Mr.. Livingston, was agreed to.
On motion of sIr. Buchanan the House pro-
ceeded to consider his resolution ofyesterday,
directing the Secretary ofthe Navy to lay be-
fore the House the proceedings of the late
Court of Enquiry and Court Martial, in rela-
ton to the case of Commodore Ports. 1t
was suggested by Mr.. Webster and others,
that similar call had been already made by
the Senate, and that the papers would be
printed and laid on the tables of the members
of both Houses. Mr.. Trimble, said he should
vote for the resolution, and requested the mo-
yer so to amend it, as to embrace the evil
dence rejected by the Court Martial'in the
case, which, being consented to BY Mr.. Bu-
chanan, was done, when a motion to lay the
resolution on the table prevailed.
On motion of Mr.. Francis Baylies. the Sc
cretary of the Navy was requested to inform
the House, whether the sloop Of war Boston,
about to be commissioned, or some other OF
the sloops of war now in commission, might
not be employed in exploring the North West
coast of America, its Rivers and Inlets between
the parallels of Latitude 420 and 490 North,
without dctriment to the Naval service OF the
United States; and whether the expense In
Cured in such service would exceed The ordi-
nary expenses Of such vessels while cruizlng'
And also, whether it would be practicable to
transport more cannon, and more OF the munk
tions of war in such vessel than would be ne
cessary for. the use of the vessel. According
70 rule this resolution lies on the table one day
On motion of Mr.. Lathrop, the Committee
on the District of Columbia were directed to
enquire into the expediency of prohibiting by
law the drawing Of any lottery within said Dis
trict. which is not authorised by a law of the
United States. And on motion of Mr.. Miner,
the Committee on Roads and Canals were in
structed to inquire int the utility of Railways
as mode of conveyance for the mail in car
riages, and as a means of transportation tor
heavy articles; and that they report to the
House the comparative cost of constructing
Railways and Canals, and the relative advanta'
ges of the two modes of conveyance when
formed; together with such facts and opinions
on the subject, as they may deem proper
Several resolutions, asking appropriations
for Roads and Canals, in various sections OF
the country, were adopted and referred to the
committee on these subjects.
The House then resolved itself into a CON-
mittee of the whole, On the joint resolution
offered by Mr.. Blair of Tennessee, on Tues
day last. and then twice read and committed,
requiring the President of the United States
N cause an examination of the waters oi East
Tennessee, with aview to the selection OF
site for the Western Arnory'
Mr.. Blair explained his motives for making
the demand, and was supported by Mr.. Cooke
in urging the adoption of the resolution Mr.
Stephenson ofPennsylvania, and Mr. Hamilton
of S. Carolina, opposed it. ntimatins a beliet'
that the object was to prevent a location OF the
arsenal being made by Congress- during 'he
present session, and contending that the Com
mis.ioners had already, by their report gwen
an implied opinion, that the waters OF len
nessce were not the most suitable for the Pur-
nose. A motion then prevailed for the COM
mi,tee to rise, report progress, and ask leave
to sit again, which was granted' ana the
House adjourned.
IN THE SENATE, Mr.. Johnson's resolutions
respecting The Judiciary, which will be i0uno
| in the proceedings of Wednesday, on the OPP
posite page, were called up, discussed at some
length, and finally adopted.
4 sc.t. ,loy xuoc consumed in