Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-10-22

gentleman OF the House an opportunity to bring
forward amendments.
Mr.. Fulam said he sought no advantage of
the friends Of this resolution, and he would be
prepared shortly with an amendment. He Oh.
iected that the preamble charged the Canadian
Government with committing this outrage,
whereas the fact was that, upon the requsitoD
of the Governor of this State, that Government
had repudiated the act, and released Groghan
Mr.. +. said he did not see any necessity for
hasty action on the matter. lie understood that
the Government atWashngton had directed the
district attorney for this State to repair to AL
burgh to investigate the facts, and also that the
Governor in his annual message would bring the
subject before the Legislature and in his OPT.
Mon proprcty would require the House to defer
any action for the present.
Mr.. Chandler of Pencham said this was me-
rely question of time-not question touching
the merits of case. He much mstook the
temper of the people Of Vermont if they would
suffer the matter to pass without notice or in
vestgaion He was n favor Of giving an op.
portunty for amendment.
Mr.. Davis said he would Withdraw the call
for the ayes and noes If the amendment could
be prepared in half an hour
Mr. Fulam-l can draw better resolution in
less than half that time.
Mr. Davis withdrew his call for the ayes and
noes, and the motion 10 lay upon the table was
agreed to.
On motion Of Mr.. Beach, his resolution rela-
tive to geological survey was reconsdered,
amended SO as to raise committee of one from
each county, and again adopted.
The Senate returned the resolution relative
to county appointments, non concurring in the
amendments of the House thereto whereupon
the House resolved to insist upon amendments
The Senate subsequently receded from its nom
concurrence, SO the resolution, as amended by
the House, 10 now the resolution of both
Houses.
Mr.. Fullam called up the resolution on the
Groghan affair, and moved the following SUBJ
stitute:
Resolred-Tbe Senate concurring therein,
that committee of five members of this House
be appointed to join such committee as shall be
appointedby the senate,t investigate the alleged
arrest OF James w. Groghan, an American cit
izen, within this state, by the authorities or citi-
zens of Canada, depriving him of his personal
liberty, committing acts of violence upon his
person, conveying him beyond the jurisdiction
of the United States, and incarceratinr him in
a dungeon in Montreal said committee to be
authorized to send for persons and papers, and
make report Of their doing, as soon as practi.
cable.
Mr.. Webster said he saw no great difference
in the resolution, bat he preferred the original:
the facts were already known, and were conss-
tent with the statements in the original reso-
luton.
Mr.. Fullam suggested that if the facts were
known now, there was no necessity for investi-
CATION.
Mr.. Villas insisted that the outrage had been
committed by British authorities, by persons in
British uniform, and belonging to the British
service this was already proved, and he would
state these facts, calmly and deliberately, to be
sure. He objected to s. piping over the matter,
or paIllatiny 1t, as was proposed by the amend
ment.
Mr.. Fullam said there would be no question
as to the rights of American citizens, nor as to
the atrocity OF this outrage. But it was said
the original resolution was in accordance with
the facts, as already known. If so, why in
vestigate ! Why not at once denounce the Bri.
fish authorities as villains lie, however, did
not know that the alleged facts were true, and
he wished to know the real state of the matter
lie thought it did not follow that the outrage
was committed by the British authorities, be-
cause the persons engaged in it wore the British
uniform as well might it be said the tea was
thrown into Bos on harhor, in oden time by
Indians. In his view it was absurd, cowardy,
to make charges, and then investigate.
Mr.. Villas thought the original preamble dis.
tinctly indicated the object of the investigation
it was not to elicit the facts-these were now
known-but the causes of the outrage. He saw
no propriety in comparing this outrage to the
old tea party ) in this instance it was known
that the outrage was committed by persons in
British uniform, and was countenanced by Bri.
fish officers
Mr.. Cuts said he did not consider the allc-
ged facts to be proved; the House had only
evidence. Ifproved, then he would
say that the original resolution was altogether
too tame and Instead of stopping to inquire into
the causes of the outrage he should be for sum.
marily denouncing and treating tue outrage it.
self as its atrocious character deserved.
Mr. Baker SAID there could be no question oho
committed the act The persons were well
known, and the facts proved by good evidence.
To be sure this evidence was given in the news
papers, bnt it was not therefore to be doubted,
any more than official documents were to be
doubted which came though the same source.
Mr.. Davis OF Norwich thought the original
preamble and resolution preferable. lie did not
consider that the people would look to that for
the facts, but to the report OF the committee.
In his opinion it was not sufficient that Groghan
had boon released; that neither healed his
wounds nor satisfied the outrage upon the coun-
try. Let us not cover beneath the British Lion,
said he, but lay the facts before the people.
They would not disagree much upon the matter.
Mr.; IIebard thought there was little necessity
Of working up war fever or talking about cow
,rlng before the British lion: though, by the
way, he feared the gentleman from Norwich
would cover as soon as any body. AS to the
lrocity Of the outrage there was no division,
but as to the manner of getting at the facts gen.
lemen might disagree. He preferred the ORR
yna resolution to the amendment, but suggest
ed after all whether the first step should not be
To ask the Governor to communicate the facts
in his possession. lie was anxious to know
al the facts. If half Of the statements were
rue, there is ample ground for strong feeling.
lie moved to lay the subject on the table, view
Of submitting the proposition he had alluded to.
Mr.. Villas objected-the House might as well
proceed with the original resolution.
Mr.. Dewey supported the moton--he wanted
the facts, and suggested that the House would
be placed in ridiculous attitude if the invest-
CATION should result in disputlng the assertions
in its resolutions.
The motion was carried, l20 to 81, when Mr..
lIebard offered resolution, calling upon the
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