The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-18

Objectionable, there were, believed only ths locs
n militia present. and many OF them residents"
I That was precisely the here.
That British admiral committing acts Of the mos
haguous dssolation, should, when earnestly sxposuht
expense OF eandor and truth was he expected II wa
perfectly m character. Bat the committee think u sou
be erroneous 70 admit such authority TO establish the ae
puble occupancy. MIR Garet says that many OF IN
houses were alleged by the enemy be occupied for mill
lary purposes This would convey the idea tina
Mrs Seass house the strongest and that other
are considered eligible allowance even on slghter pre-
fences. Some, however, II is admitted, have been burn
/ wantonly
"Ihe whole transaction, the committee have no doubt
was OF The most awess character and they cannot adm
for moment that this hagousy ncendary act should b'
at all paiated by The admission of such evidence 10 sanction
1t as an act ofexcusabie warfare. +"
Thus that committee recognised my principle, that the
ofdesucon must have bean done by the enemy MT mere
ly IN consequence of the action of government but mus
be IN accordance with the usages OF civilized wariae The
| report proceeds; U
The committee believe this to be the first claim OF sim
nature for the decision Of Congress- and they
apprehend that the which like claims may be made
gives to the decision that may be had an Importance
that does not belong the value claimed While they
greet enemy styling themselves Christians, could com,
acts of such aggravated upude and that their fellow
citizens have been made the victims of such henous de-
pavy they cannot feel the obligation on the government
make indemnity, discover any practical principle of
justice that would allow it, They submit, respectfully the
following resolu.on--o wit ~ ta.
"Rssolved That the prayer Of the petitioner ought not 20
be granted"
Well then, Mr.. President, when look at this
nothing than the opinions Of the individual Wit
nessssfor the facts do not prove the satementhat the
British destroyed these warehouses; consequence Of their
occupation by the troops Of the United States There were
regular troops there but only the local mita, They
in fact occupied the warehouse but fred and retreat
and after they re,reated the British burnt the warehouse
at Magruders At Nottingham nothing of the kind oc-
CURED The British did not take Nottingham did not burn
the warehouse there's but two months Afterwards on then
retreat from Washington, they carried of all the tobacco
There is very important fact, which shall show
from the public records which think settles the mattel
conclusyey The whole question of whether thus tobacco
taken destroyed Of the warehouses hay-
ing been occupied the tobacco used by the America
troops rests in opinion the part Of the claimants The
witnesses say they think SO; but be II remembered thai
General Bscoe, who then major, expresses no such
opinion in his deposition. MIR Baden does but Mr. Ba
denis testimony to serious Objection perhaps
should say, there some circumstances winch derac
materially from the credit be attached TO IT, In the hrs
place Mr. Baden positively that the British burn
the warehouse Magrudtr's Immediately after the mis
retseaied but he states the breath that he himself
Nottingham at the time when tina, engagement oc
CURED, and, therefore, all that he could have known Of
must have been from hearsay Yet nc swears 10 as If
of personal knowledge The testimony Of witness
who in paris affidavit must be weighed will
degree of doubt and, without mpsachng HIS ses
of TRUTH his testimony is open to great objection as
its weight Again MIR. Baden swears-and so does tn
other Witness Jesse Seby,hat he believes the warehouse
was burnt in consequence of the company being there
do prove oceupaton but the contrary The troop
attempted defend It, and these gentlemen swear
have stated, but they only swear what their opinions
are Major Biscoe declines giving any opinion on tina
point Then the unwaranted opinions Of these gentlemen
the only evidence thai the warehouses were destroyed
by the enemy in consequence Of their occupation.
SIR has happened be my fortune within the last fort
night this formerly before the Senate, to
called upon by Major Bscoe reference 10 these claims
Ie has Claim of his own understood him, for thu
destruction of tobacco He gentleman of great urban
4 y Of manners, and Of evident intelligence and he mad
upon most favorable impression He told me that n
desired the character Of these claims arising undo
the treaty Of Ghent which ground taken by hon
orable friend from Maryland Mr. PRATT, which have pre-
viousy discussed He stated his whole under II;
will give the Senate substance and think, in his
very words almost all that part of The statement for neve
interrupted him the facts. lie stated TO me that a
Magruers warehouse the British up for the purpose
of carrying off the tobacco and then the militia came down
got behind the warehouse fired at them until their
milton exhausted and after that rereaed when th
British landed, burnt the warehouse and destroyed The TO
baceo it. He stated, also that at Nottingham he n
command and directed portion of the tobacco 10 be akeI
of the warehouse and formed into breas,work Their
number of British bargeshe slated the number, which
do recoIect precisely, but think II was either five
seven eleven)appeared in sight, and on their appear
ance the scaled OF " consequence of which
the British appeared to be alarmed and retreated wlthou
attempting land That the whole Of the conflict a
Nottingham, according 20 his statement TO me. then
asked hm What BECAME SIR, of the tobacco at Noting
4 ham ~ and he answered "The British removed then
retreat The city of Washington have doubt tina
his entirely correct throughout; and agrees
entirely with his testimony the case; and the only differ
that in making the statement to me- he mentioned
the fact in his narrative without single question from
me- that the approach Of the British for the purpose
destroying this very tobacco which the other Witnesses
destroyed in consequence Of occupation and BY
i the government of the United States.
i Mr. President have another piece OF testimony which
think conclusive this question. refer to the proceed
ngs which took place Alexandrn 10 be found IN tn
State Papers first volume of Military Affairs, pages 1871
1872 viii show by this, that by the deliberate &C, Of
British officer, when the Of Alexandra lying
his mercy with the guns Of his frgste pointed at IL hoss
there sembiance Of resistance he sent 10 10 III
officers OF he written propositions which he wou
agree to spae the houses and lives Of the inhabitants
will show you that by the terms Of those stpuations,
required all flour, and tobaccoto
delivered up Grea, Britain to be carried off; and yet
am told the tobacco destroy because II used
the warehouses occupied by the troops Of the Unite
States Herr is the act Of the officer Of Great Britain
VI HIS MAJksTYs sBIP SEA-HoRsE,
II OF Alexandra, August %, 1914
i GtsTLEMxS: In consequences OF depuiatioD yeserda
received from the city Of Alexandra, requesting favorab
terms for the safety OF their city, the aforementioned
RI the only conditions in my power 10 offer,
This Shove what the general orders to the British con
manders we're
Il The town Of Alexandria, with the exception Of publ
works shall not be destroyed, unless hosues con
menosd the part OF the Americans shall the nhal
limits moested In any whatever their dwell
ing houses entered IL the following articles compile
with
[of course, if they complied WITH the WI
: TO be destroyed
ARr. All naval and ordnance stores public and pr
| vae, must be Immediately delivered up.
81 be hid oh IN he