Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

taxing the question, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
On motion OF Mr.. Floyd, of Va. twas
ReSoived, That the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads be instructed TO inquire into the
expectancy OF establishing Post Route from
Saonton, by Bellevillc, in Rockbridge county, and
Covingion, in Allegany county, 10 Lewisburg
also, from Fincastle, By New Castle, and the head
OF Sinking Creek, 10 Giles Court House. in Viz
ginia.
Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, asked the House TO take
up tie resolution offered by him some time since,
proposing an alteration in the existing law in relation
to the slave trade. 10 obvate the necessity of
afording support to an agency on the coast of
Africa, &c. but the House declined taking up the
subject at this time.
REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Mr.. Whipple, of New Hampshire, offered the
following:
" ResolUed, That the Committee on Military
Pensions be Instructed TO inquire whether any, and
II any, what further legal provisions are necessary
TO secure the more equitable operation the
laws providing for persons engaged in the land and
naval service oil the United States during the Re
evolutionary war"
Aiter some conversation between Messrs. Little
and Whpple, the resolution was adopted. A bin
from The Senate, &C 10 amend the several acts esta-
oishinga Territorial Government in Florida - was
twice read, and referred 10 tie Committee on the
Territories
The bill from the Senate, " authorizing the SUBJ
scrlp'ion or purchase of stock on the part of the
United States, In the Louisville and Portland Canal
Company was read third time, PASSED. and re.
turned to the Senate.
CASE OF MRS. DECATUR.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole, Mr. Backner, of Kentucky, in the chair,
or the bill to compensate Mra. Susan Decatur,
widow and representative of Captain Stephen
Decatur. and others.''
The bill provides that - dollars be appro-
priated as a full compensation and remuneration 10
Susan Decatur, widow and representative OF the
late captain Stephen Decatur, commander and TO
Inc ohcers and crew, of the schooner Intrepid for
the capture and destruction of the frigate Philadel
Phid, before TTipol; TO be divided among the said
Susan Decatur, the officers and crew aforesaid, or
thelr representatives, i'll such manner that each
individual shall receive such proportion thereof
according to his grade, was paid 10 the captors
Of The Iuerrlere, Macedonian, and Java, of the
same grade, OF the compensation appropriated TO
them.
The report of the Committee on Naval Affairs
was read, together with sundry documents relative
TO this case.
Mr.. Holcombe, of N. j; from the Committee on
Naval Affairs explained the nature of the bill. and
went at considerable length into an argument to
shew the propriety of its passage.
tlewas followed by Mr.. Tucker, of ~ ]. who
look the same side OF the question, and concluded
his speech by moving to ill the blank Tor the
appropriation with the sum of $500, 900.
The question being taken on this motion, il was
decided in the negative
Mr. Holcombe then moved 10 fill the blank with
the sum OF SlOO, 900, which was carried, ayes sc.
noes SIS.
a debate now arose upon the principle of the
bill, which occupied the House ill three O'Clock,
and IN which Messrs. Whipple, Forsyth, HoI-
combe, Weems, MaliaTy, Powell, Francis John
son, Webster, Storrs, Dwight, Whttlesey, Nc
Lane, OF Delaware, Hamilton, and dayton took
part.
The grounds on which the bill was Advocated
were principally these; that it appeared from the
circumstances OF the case, that the attempt Of Lieut
Decatur to get possession of the Frigate PhiladeJ
phia, while lying under the battleuents in the
Harbor OF TripoIi, having succeeded, il would
have been IN his power to have brought the frjgae
out, had not his orders from Commodore PEBBLE
been peremptory to destroy her, in which case, by
the law of lSO0 which regulates the distribution Of
prize money, right would have vested in him and
his crew, TO the full value of the frigate thus
recapiured
Besides this ground Of legal claim, the bill was
advocated as act Of gratitude richly merjted Inv
the vaor Of the atcbievment--by its effect upon the
naval Character oi the country, and on our subsc-
quent negotiation with the Bsrbary Powers; and
"J' O' 'he 5IOunu OF poIicy, as being calculated
TO encourage spirit of daring enterprise among the
officers of The Navy, &C.
The bill was opposed on the ground that no legal
claim could have vested, because the Prize Law
requires that the vessel should be eondemed AZ
lawful prize, and Sold before any distribution oil
prize money can take place.
The irigste Philadelphia was never condemned
nor sold, nor could she have BEEN even &c she had
been brought ont Of the harbor, because She was
an American rigate, and not a vessel OF the enc
my, SC.
The bill was advocated by Messrs. TIofco,,,o
Tucker, Dwight, McLane, Hamilton. and Dr,y'
.o-. ~ nrr...L b. III. W.