The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, April Il

Mr.. FAIRFIELD and Mr.. McKENNAN, on
leave, presented sundry memorials on the subject Of
the late duel s....
THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
Mr.. NAYLOR asked leave to offer two rcso,u-
tionS OF inquiry in the following terms;
Whereas, resolution was passed this House on
the seventh OF December last, requesting the PreS
dent of the United States 10 furnish TO this House
(among other thingS copies of all letters documents
and communications which have passed between the
Secretary. of the Navy, the Commissioners Of the
Navy Board and the officers or persons relative 10
all matters connected with the preparation outfit, and
sailing of the exploring expedition !" and whereas
this House has not yet been furnished with the docu
mentS letters and communications called for, al
though upwards Of four months have elapsed since
the passage of the resolution, and the session is now
drawing towards a close: ~. ..'.
Therefore, RcSoired, That the President Of the
United States be request 10 inform this House
whether no, he intends to comply with the request
of this resolution. BY transmitting The copies Of the
documents letters, and papers called for, and why
they have not long since been furnished.
RcSoired That The President of The United States
be requested TO communicate at as early time as
practicable, whether The number of the scientific
corps appointed 10 the exploring expedition has been,
or is TO Be, reduced and il SO, to communicate The
names of those who are to be dismissed copies of
their appointments and the causes OF the reduction;
as also copies OF all letters and correspondence which
have passed between them, or either OF them, and
y. w
mssioners OF the Navy Board, or any other agent
officer Of the United States relative to the matters
connected with the Objects PREPARATION outfit, and
sailing OF the expedition
The House refused leave to Mr.. N,yLoR 10 offer
these resolutions at this Time. The vote on this re-
Quest disclosing the fact that no quorum was present,
Mr.. HAYNES moved call of The House.
On this m ,tion, Mr.. PETRIKlN demanded the
yeas and nays; which, being taken resulted as fol-
lows-yeaS So nays g. So the call was refused.
The following reports were received
MIR. UNDER WOOD, from the select committee,
appointed the 2Sth OF December last, reported
Joint resolution, recurring the Secretary of War TO
deliver to Frederick Hancock and Geo w. Wood
ward the flag carried by the enemy in the battle and
massacre Of Wyoming, in July, l71S to be deposited
in such place as the people Of Wyoming Valley may
designate, until the President OF the United States
may think proper 10 reclaim ii.
Mr.. u briefly explained the grounds Of the report,
and observed that since the application for this flag
had been made, il had been discovered that il was
not the flag borne by The American forces, but by
their enemies and cruel destroyerS. He also said he
had consulted the account Of the massacre, given
BY Potter in his History of the United States, but on
referring to gentlemen from the spot he had been
assured that the representations OF that historian
extremely inaccurate, and not at all 10 be relied
upon. He quoted, particularly, PouerS description
OF the massacre and said he had been informed that
nearly the whole was without foundation. As TO the
resolution itself he presumed there could be no OBJ
lection 10 i. IL merely gave permission which,
acted upon,
Mr.. PETRIKIN the representative from Wyom-
ing observed that but one person had been here cx-
aiming the flag in the first instance; since then,
others had seen it, and ascertaincd thai i, was the
dag Of the British party who Ia been engaged in
the massacre, and there was now no desire at Wyo-
ming 10 possess or TO look at it, He hoped the re-
solution would not pass and he moved TO lay il on
the table. lie withdrew the motion, however al the
request OF w..
MIR. POTTER, Of Pennsylvania, who addressed
the House in remarks of some length when
Mr.. PErRlKlN renewed his motion 10 lay the
resolution on the table; which was agreed TO. So
the resolution was laid on the table.
The House now pissed to the Orders of the Day,
and resumed the consideration of the bill 10 extend
.. THE CUMBERLAND ROAD
through Ohio Indiana, and Illinois; and the ques-
tion being upon the motion Of Mr.. Underwood, pro-
posing recommiment Of the bill with Instructions
10 ccde the road the States through which itpasSeS
together with an amendment thereto moved BY Mr..
Ewing, as follows:
Proridcd, AoCersr That the same sum per mile
Be, and is hereby, appropriated to finish and
plee the work yet unfinished 10 Jefferson City, IN
| the State Of Missouri, as has been expended per
mile on the portion Of said road already transferred