Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-09

move, and they were accordingly read at the CLERK 8 u
ble. And the question being on granting rave Wy w.
nimous consent, now to take up and consider 'n'S ieoo
luton,
Mr.. Adams therenpon asked that The rules Oh le
House be suspended 10 allow the resolution 10 DC ;"
considered. He said he made this mo'ion 10 consequ."r
! of iDformation contained in the public papers u ,"'S n',"
;no which went TO show that the peace oil Inc o"'te.
Staies was in the most imminent danger: anu Ivy
only from the acts Of our own citizens IN Vin!auhe o'
non ,-ali,v with a foreign Power al peace win lhis eonn'
try, but also from the acts OF BRUSH suoJecls ahu h'''''N
officers Of the same character.
Mr.. Prtrikin persia,ing in his objection
Mr.. Williams, of North Carolina, demanded that 'hr
question on suspcndIng the rule be taken by yeas ana
ma VS.; which was ordcred-lI2 10 81.
The yeas and nays were taken accordingly, and stood
as follows: Yeas 20, nays ll2.
So the House refused To suspend The rules.
The Speaker then laid before the House a message
from the President Of The United States, delivered by
the hands of Mr. A. Van Buren,, the Presidents private
Secretary. (See Senate proceedings
Mr.. Howard, chairman of The Committee on Foreign
Aniirs, moved the reference Of these papers IL that com
mi,lee, and that they be printed; which was agreed TO-
MIR. Fillmore, Of New York, stated 10 the House that
he had that morning received snch information from
Buffalo, in relation 10 the state OF things on our N"rIh'
eIn frontier, as rendered il his duty to ask leave To pre-.
sent the following resolution Calling On the frrsiaehl
for any Information in his possession, the commun'ca'
ton whereof will not be injurious 10 the public interest,
on the question whether the neutrality OF tins nAuoh Nau
been violated either by subjects oil Great Britain or ny
our own citizens
Objections being made from several quarters TO the OF:
feting of The resolution at this time. (Which could mol
be dune but by general consentO NJ. f. moved lor a sus-
pension of the rules.
MIR. Whiulesey inquired whether it would be in
order. after the reporls of committees had been gone
through with, to take up the resolution OF the chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. together wan 'ht
amendment thereto offered by The honorable gshlet'u"
from Massachusetts,!
Tho Clair ronIvinp in tho alternative
Mr.. Whiulessy appealed 10 MIR. Fillmore not 10 press
his motion al this time.
MIR. Fillmore said he could not but deem his resolution
important in its character; for he did not know but we
were on the eve "f q war with Great Britain, anu 'Ha'
was a matter Of some Importance. Bnt he would con-
sent 10 Withdraw his motion for the moment, TO a'io" o.
reports being made.
The committees were then called upon for reports,
and a number Of reports were made from dihefehl so'n'
mittees.
After the committees had all been called upon
MIR. Fillmore asked if it would now be in order to take
I'd and consider his resolution?
The Chair remarked that Mr.. Howard 8 proposition,
being n report Of Il committee, was first IN order
Mr. Fillmore then moved to suspend The rules, tor The
purpose Of enabling him 10 offer his resolution, Lost:
The resolution reported by Mr.. Howard, from The
Committee on Foreign Affairs, was then taken up, as ioi'
lows:
Rsso,rcd, That the President Of the United STATES be
requested TO communicate 10 this House, as lar as Tue
same may be consistent with the public interest. all the
Information in either Of the Departments respecting the
! capture, by The U. S. sloop of war Natclirz, OF The Mex.
can vessel Of war the General Urea, and its subsequent
restoration by the u. States TO The Mexican Government.
Mr.. Adams moved TO amend the resolution by aoulng
thereto the following:
"And also copies Of all instructions TO the officers OF
ithe Government Of tho United States: and all CORES.
'~pondencc with them, with the Governors OF any OF The
States, and with the Governments and officers OF Mex
.ico and of Great Britain, concerning The preservation
of the neutrality Of the United States, in the civil wars
'and instructions in Mexico and in any of the British
Provinces North of the u. States, since the year Icy.
sand particularly of 4 letter from the late President Of
:the United States to The Secretary of The Territory Of
Arkansas, dated on or about the 10Th December, 1856.
Mr.. Fillmore then moved to amend the amendment
by adding thereto the following:
Sand that the President be requested TO communicate
TO this House, any additional information in his posses
sion, Of acts endanGering the amicable relations between
this Government and that Of Great Britain, either by
rhe subjects Of Great Britain, or by our own citizens,
ION the Canadian frontier, and what measures have been
adopted by the Executive 10 preserve our neutrality
with said Kingdom"
Mi. Fillmore, in support of this amendment, remarked
that the House were probably aware That there had been.
aud now was, a great excitement existing on the Niagara
frontier, and that there had been movements in Buffalo
in reference TO the revolution now raging IN Canada -
They were also probably aware that an rmanent had
been fitted out, mostly by American citizens, which had
made 4 stand upon Navy Island, which IS within BRUSH
territory, in Niagara river, twenty miles from Buffalo,
anu two or three miles above the Falls; the lowest polnt
at which u crossing can be effected, safely from the main
shore. The line between the two countries passes be-
tween Navy Island, which is well fortified, and Grand
Island, which is in the territory Of The United States.
Mr.. Fillmore understood from letters and papers OF
very late dates, then before him, that there were upon
Navy Island some 800 men, who are undergoing d
course of military discipline. He had letters 10 lie
3Ulh ali. advising him that a small steamboat called the
Caroline had been taken down the river from Buffalo, TO
run as q ferry boat from the American shore to Navy
Island. 1t seemed that on The 29lh an armed force came
from the British side, III Canada, aud attacked this
. I'll l-I Inan ,nnIp fhrnnnI h. n
and which was then lying within the U. S. lines, killing
some and w~oundlng Others, then setting The boat on fire,
and sending it over the falls, and, as some accounts aHeg.
ed, with the wounded still remaining on board. And
here MIR. Fillmore read extracts from the letters, which
he averred were from the very highest and most respon-
sible sources, confirming his statements as TO these Incl.
denis. Having done which, he observed that his object
now was TO ascertain if the Executive had any inlormo'
ton upon the subject.
Mr.. Howard said that this resolution had been re-
ported by a committee. it was not in his power 10 ac-
cept or assent 10 uny amendment; a remark which he
would make in relation as well TO the amendment offered
by Mr.. Adams, as To that proposed by MIR. Fillmore
The fact is indisputably true, that the position Of affairs
upon the Canada frontier was full Of interest, and even
OF jeopardy, to the relations existing between this Gov
eminent and lhul Of Great Britain. This he should not
cnnlravert.
But the remark had been made by Mr.. Fillmore, and,
Mr.. Howard belle we'd, also by MIR. Adams, IN Offering
their respective amendments that this nation was on the
eve Of war with Great Britain. He had regretted to hear
this remark. He trusted il was not correct. So far as
documents go TO show the intentions, and, indeed, the
Efforts Of both Governments, they had Geen, and still
were, directed TO The preservation Of peace and the secu.
rily Of neutrality. lie trusted that those intentions would
mol be changed, and that those efforts would be CONT.
nued; and that If there we're no laws now in existence 10
prevent breaches Of neutrality, on the part of our citi.
Gems, that such laws would be enacted. lie hoped we
were on the eve Of no such war. lie believed we
were not; but that on the contrary, the country was still
preserving, and inclined 10 preserve, The most lofty
grounds ia the preservation OF neutrality. lie knew OF
no differences existing between this Government and
Great Britain, excepting only that arising out Of the po-
silion of the North eastern boundary question. Perhaps,
said Mr.. H., this may be thought, by soue, 10 be a favor.
able opportunity 10 press that subject upon Great Britain;
but it was mol so, in his judgment.