Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-05
Tuesday. LHuary y, 1879.

Mr. Benton presented the petition Of Mary Helena
Antrlca Eespucc, ynurg ndy Of Florence, descend
ant OF tie celebrated Anercus VeSpuccus of the
! renowned navigalprs 81 he 18th century, and whose
name tbs Continent bears Tins petition said Mr. B.
The reason lcl las induced rather ConsiIan
I'd. ihis young lady 10 leave Ter country and 20
seek lam ~ the ) 1t also s'ass her reasons
for making the requests which the pehn contains Tor
.nr rights g" citizenship and grant al land }e w"n,d
pass the petition 10 tie table aud gs that it ipk be
| Iead bY tl.r s. crCtary.
! The petition then read by the Secretary
Mr. L. sud that the petition which had ut been read
rather translated by he Secretary for was in the
French language, entirely The Composition Of tie
petitioner hr self He had 1t IN the first draft! and
had recommended that nothing III point If form even,
should be altered and that the petitioner should
| her in her own language 1t was not pte.
cseIy IN the style Of petoTs dawn 10 by our own
cz rs; but lat 1t lacked IN parliamentary form IL
mig make up IN tie mere essential qualities Of pcc.
sion and simplicity. The ,oung lady had certainly pre-
sened h5 case dehcaely and powerfully. She touched
with brryi,y and with feeling the events and crcum.
which had thrown her upon THIS continent ord
Brought her TO solicit the AID Of the Congress Of the T.
States Political reasons had caused her 10 wi'htfaw
from her country and in that respect she stood on
f,oIrg with others who had heretofore received the
friendly aid nf this Government. She did % into
detail! 81 tGsse political reasons teICacy o. tr!Ing
aud the bTevy ct petition prev ming IT. but they
known 10 history and might be verified by those gEo
should be charged wi'h The inquiry She Was The de-
sceGdant &c of those renowned father
Mariners as she irci'ousy terms ihemwhuse courage
skill and ENTERPRISE illustrated aud illuminated the 18th
cep,urv and in the OF few years changed he
fco oC tho world She The dcsCr Eta and hnrp Tie
name r ha, one OF patriarche mariners no chris
,an.d hc rcw world with his own appellation md csus
5 NC IN bp "a He'd Americans She nhcriles The blood Of
Tho, Amecus Vespuccius hose name has rested for
,h,e. ceurps and hall upon this quarter Of The olbe
and which w. remain npnA it forever. She DOES not
cali him the dscoverrr, but the efscner nd bauser
oC the new world She is now without country with
oui pr lection without fnrns and she asks for cornsr
in that land which bears lie of her family and Tor
the night Of citizenship ne those no The title
ci Americans
Mr.. B. said il due 20 the young lady herself il
would GO lar towards presenting her in a proper point
of view before The Senate, that he should say that be-
fore her arrival in this city tefoe he had her or
heard any lhirg from her, her mentioned 10
him by The French Minister, Mons &c Pontos) who
stated that she might have request 10 make Of The
Government and askedif he (Mr b would take charge
Of her application readily agreed TO his rogue ST. con
WINGED that Minister Of France could ask nothing IF
ar American Senator which it would be unbecoming in
him 10 do Iagreed 10 present The petition Of The young
lady before her; do repent Of that undertake
ing She has been b his city for weeks she
has become acquainted with many besides myself md
nov after this appearance among and after opporu.
mites for know ledge ard time for forming opinions [
conplv with my Undertaking and present her petition
present, il, Of form, and in discharge
an obligation with good will and good w.hes fot
The petitioner.