Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-07
TO THE PREsIDEST OF THE Y. ).
uor,prrgs CASTERS DIviSIoS,

"A Ivi IA y, "
S,cT have The honor to acknowledge your letter OF
N. 18Th ms, coveriuo resolution of the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. of the 9th, referred from The depart
mcnt of State to the Department OF war; lnfulFihS
..wbetber the Government OF Great Britain has eX-
pressed TO the Government OF the InIed states Ic
sire to annu the arrangement entered INTO between '
two Governments in the month OF April, 1917, respect
inc the naval force to be maintained upon the Amerl-
can lakes: and that if said arrangement be- not anhi-
ed lrhefhsr there has bsen any fio"ttoh % INC sumo ny
thc authorities Of Grcat Br'tdm.
Combining myself TO the latter clause of the resolu-
lion which have underseorcd, and which you nave
referred to me- report the facts within my knowledge
connected with that inquiry, presumng that 1 nave
no, had time TO verify my impressions by those OF
more than one officer (Col. WORTHY who has recently
held command under Inc on the frontiers OF the BRIT
ish North American Provinces
| do moi know. nor do believe that the British au
thorities have had single armed vessel of any descr
ton on the lakes oborr Detroit, in many years But
in the summer and autumn OF lbs, whilst l was aD
sent to the South, understood from our officers, on
my RETURN that the authorities in Upper Canada haG
empoycd one or more armed steamers, hired for the
purpose and manned with certain number OF troops
to cruise on Lake Erie against apprehended lnvasloh'
from our side on the part Of the people called CanadtaH
patriots. ,
The season of 1880 having been tranquil one dlc
moi, hear Of single armed British vessel on that lake
In the month of January, l-- al the time there was
Navy Island in the Niagara river, seeking to make
descent on the opposite Canadian shore, the British au
hortcs hired two three lake craft (schooners) and
armed and manned them for the purpose OF frustrating
that threatened INVASION but 1t is believed That thoSe
vessels were never Lake Erie whilst SO armed and
manned and that they discharged as soon as thai
particular danger had passed away.
Down to the burning of the British merchant steam
err the Sir Robert Peel, the st. Lawrence IN lo3S
cannot learn that the authorities OF the Canadas nat
any armed vessel of any Sort in acirHy (wateve they
might have had laid up in port either on Lake Onta
rio or on the river ST Lawrence but after that event
and up to the close of navigation in lS-, learn iron
Col Worth, who returned from the Cherokee country
to the Canadian frontier several months before my re
turn that those authorities had employed several ret
steamers besides barges, all armed and manned crus
ing against parties Of the patriots, principally OF
the St Lawrence and confined In their own waters
During the past season, (of 1892 and up to th'
close of navigation two steamers, owned or hired BY
the British auhorites,) one schooner, and n''mpe
Of barGcs were in like manner employed on the same
lake and river security against an apprehendcd re
newal of the troubles OF the preceding year.
have the honor 10 remain, Sir, with high respect,
Your most obedent servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon j. r. PorS,tTr, Secretary Of War
On motion of Mr.. CUSHING, the said Message am
documents were referred 10 the Committee on Foreign
| Affairs and ordered TO be printed.
| The House then resumed The consideration OF tn
bill under consideration yesterday TO secure the Free
dom Of Elections.
Mr. WATTERSON, who was entitled 10 The floor
addressed the House in opposition TO the bill, and u
reply To some Of The remarks Of Mr. Bell. Mr.. w
discussed the political character and principles OF h
late Harrisburg Convention, the Convention "t Coimm
bus in Ohio &c, and called 10 order three or on
times for irelcvancy debate, thus giving rise 10 SOM
discussion on points Of order No action was had II
any case except that Mr. w. was permitted 10 proceed
| nv general consent, Tor nearly SOL
In the course Of his remarks Mr.. W yielded tn
hoor of the purposes ofexpanaon, 10 his colleagues
Nlessrs BOND, MEDILL, and WELLER. Having
concluded Cat quarter 10 oclock)-
The Speaker gave The floor TO Mr. GENTRY, VIII
said that he had intended TO make any remarks OF
this subject and he had mol therefore, directed his at
ention particularly TO IL 1t was only since listening
to some Of the remark . colleague, (Mr. Waiter
son. that he (Alr CD had determined 10 say an
thing and as he had very seldom respassed lis lin
or courtesy he hoped it not asking too much Of I'll
House to indulge him by an adjournment.
| And the House adjourned.