Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-14
TwENTY.SEvENTH CONGRESS-.
THIRD SESSION.
TvSpAy. January. 10 lsl:


the following communications, viz;
l. From the Sutr Department, answer TO the resoln-
hon calling fo information N TO the operation OF he bank
rap, law.
T. From the Solicitor Of the Treasury, containing
port Of the U. & District Attorney Of the Eastern District OF
rennryvania, In relation TO the cloth cases
J. Prom the Navy Department with regnrd to the conn-
gen, expenditures for the ending September ~ leiZ
MEnoRIALS.
Mr. CHOATE presented memorial from Boston, asking
oS payment Of claims r French spcstons prior 10 ieoo
Mr.. CRITrENDEN presented four memorials from far
of Kentucky, and growers, OF hemp, asking Tor the
adoption Of for the encouragement oil the
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions offered yesterday were adopt
On motion of Mr.. HUNTINGTON, it was
Rssolred, That the Committee the Judiciary I've
to Inquire the cXpcdiency OF so modifying
tie exisng avs as that the Circuit United States
IN the district of Connecticut shall be held the ID Tues
day Of September and the 9TH Tuesday OF Ap IN each
yeur, instead Of the times provided by law
on motion OF Mr.. wooDBRlDGEit was
Resolved, That the Secretary OF War be directed to
communicate TO the such information bc IN
the possession OF the War Department and not heretofore
communicated relating To existing impedmenis to the
convenient navigation Lake ST. Clair and to the sucen
c the harbors and the safety oi the Commerce OF the up
per lakes.
On motion Of Mr.. BARROW, it was
Resolred That Secretary ut War be directed u in
form the Senate why the appropriation made by Congress
al the session Fort Livingston the State of bousi
ana has been withheld from the Off experimenting the
work. and also by virtue ut what law, q"
by whose authority said Appropriation was withheld and
whether the appropriation has been expended on any OF Tue
military defcnccs of the county and also that ne INFORM the
Senate whether the Of the Fort Livingston y not
ndsPensiby necessary to the military defence oil Ne"
Orleans.
On motion of Mr. CONRAD, it
Resolved, That the Committee Military Affairs be
directed inquire the eNpediency OF repeating so much
and for other purposes passed August ls2 as pro
vdes that second regiment OF Dragons shall from and
after the 4th day of March next be converted into reg
Of rifemen.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Several reports made from the standing committees
during the morning. aud among which were the following;
From the Judiciary Committee bill "for the relief OF
General Jackson with amendment TO pay the hne pm
cpa and interest consideration O; the distinguished mil
itary services OF Andrew Jackson"
Mr.. BERRIEN accompanied the bill with report, CIV
ing the circumstances only under which the subject had
been referred the committee
Mr.. WALKER, from the same Committee read the fol
lowing; which he submitted to the Senate as minority re-
port viz
ciary OF the United States, whom
the bill Indemnify Major General Andrew Jackson
damages sustained the discharge of his official duty
dsen the views OF the majority of the committee in
this The bill referred TO the committee contains no
OF the conduct motives OF Judge Hall, nor does
eXpcSs opinion the acts of the citizens OF New
Orleans IL leaves all those subjects untouched, 10 depend
upon Judgment OF the present and of poseriy The
bill, should become law, will be only expression Of
the legislative will that under all the circumstance the
case the money paid by Gen Jackson in discharge of his
fine and retained in the Treasury the United States
should be refunded. Such bill arragns and
pcaon, the opinion Of the Undersigned does arTagn
the conduct Of General Jackson this subverve of
Constitution OF the United States The does
necessarily involve IN, power OF military Commander
Establish Martial Law within the limits o. this free
Republic" This question, however, having been intro
duced by the Committee the undersigned submits that
time of war, and of imminent public danger,
be the duty OF the commander those regarded
irator SPIES muneer, within the limits OF his camp;
especially in where it obvious TO him that his
exercise such power would involve the disbandng
O his forces, the defeat Of his army and the surrender Of
that and Of the country which he bound 10 de-
iend. The alternative, he fully believed, make
the the abandonment of his counys standard and
the surrender OF Of her greatest cities, powerful
enemy, whose OF victory ndscrmnac plum
der and liceltous Under such circumstances,
should lac mako the and the country To this
question there will he but response from the heart OF
every American patriot. That General Jackson, aud
those united with him in the defence of New Orleans full
iy believed this emergency exist beyond all doubt
controversy. IT, them this the state OF the
the duty General Jackson have made the land
the merely eXcusable, but jusuinble. IL
demanded by great and oveing necessity; and had he
failed this responsibility, and the consequences
which he anticipated had occurred, he would have
ned and received universal execraon. Such being the
facts, Gen' Jackson bound berae the prisoner, I'M
iedaiely upon the mandate of the Federal Judge of uGt
district Ii Gen Jackson believed the danger still
iumnent-that the liberation that time OF prisoner
wond overthrow his power and bring his authority
mander into contempt-that would surely produce
petition Of similar of mutny and treason, and demon
his inability restrain much less 20 punish them
that it would lead the depOpuaon defeat OF his
army, and the surrender of the city he bound Defend
the overriding necessity which justified the arrest,
would require the detention of the prisoner until the
gency had passed. and he could be surrendered with safety
into the hands OF the civil authority. The law which JUS
thed tne act, the great law Of necessity IL the
law Of sefdefence. This great law of necessity-o de-
fence of self OF home, and of cOunt-neyer design
cd be abTOgated by any statute, by any constitution
This the law which justified the and detention
the prisoner and however the may assaied II
has long received the cordial APPRECIATION of the Anne
people. That Gen. Jackson desired 10 elevate
military above the civil authority, proved by his conduct
during the trial. and after the imposition Of the fine
When the magistrate assembled to the bench-acng for no
c)ntemptn the presence of the CONTRACTING his
prosecutor witness, accuser and judge when the Gen
erals answer was refused TO be heard and he was denied
al by jury, when victorious amy, and rescued and
grateful people, thronged the court the terrified Judge
about adjourn without inicng the sentence
General Jackson rose; he Quoted the threatened unuIt
requested the Judge proceed; the mpD-ed
he bowed, a calm and dgnhed submission to the man.
date Of the law and paid once the penalty inflicted
saving the country. And when upon retiring from the
conr he surrounded by grateful and indignant peo-
pie, his brief but glorious address appeal all who
heard him 10 respect the civil tribunals, and maintain the
supremacy at the law And now the question j., shall
penalty, incurred discharge Of solemn duty and
thus paid paid refunded The title is "A bin 10 in
demny Major General Andrew Jackson damages sus-
tanned the discharge OF his official duty" The tle IS
conformity with the facts Of the case and in the
opinion Of the undersigned should be retained The
mttee however propose to reject IT, and TO substitute
title, "A bill for the relief Of General Andrew Jackson"
General Jackson has solicited, will he
ceiye relief lie is mendicant; he asks aims
pension bounty. from his country: but that county
itse demands that this money shall be refunded
Of justice. Il penalty incurred for saving the country
and the country requires that shall be restored Nor Is
the undersigned prepared give the assgned IN the
bill for reiundng this money. The bill places reltora-
non Of the penalty mainly upon the "consideraon Of the
Distinguished military services ct General Jackson."-
This bill s not payment for services, however great
mentorious. These services being paid in she
appreciation Of MS and OF hs cOHntry In the go
Hous result Of his immortal victories on frontier saved
from savage fury and indiscrmnac massacre In tine
Of New Orleans and the oconquest louisiana and
Of he noble river paid n closing evenu struggle
with glory and ronown paid IN the highest honos and offices
which grateful people could bestow; and through ages IL
come, postony will continue payment gratitude and
praise re-echood by countless millions throug tins grs
republic and every country and In every land whore our
principles shall 60 on c0uqucnug and conquer striking
down the thrones Of dcspo and erecting upon their ruins
the glorious fabrics Of the peoples will And are these the
aeTaces which b pop1.ed % cnmpcn.nie tn my