The said Message and the papers referred to therein, were read, and
ordered to lie on the table.
MONDAY, November 19.
_Sword to Decatur._
The House proceeded to consider the resolution reported, on the ninth
instant, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom was referred a
motion relative “to Captain Stephen Decatur, the officers, and crew, of
the United States ketch Intrepid;” and the said resolution being twice
read, and amended at the Clerk’s table, was agreed to by the House, as
follows:
_Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the
President of the United States be requested to present, in
the name of Congress, to Captain Stephen Decatur, a sword;
and to each of the officers and crew of the United States
ketch Intrepid, two months’ pay, as a testimony of the high
sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct,
and services of Captain Decatur, the officers, and crew, of
the said ketch, in attacking, in the harbor of Tripoli, and
destroying a Tripolitan frigate of forty-four guns.
_Ordered_, That the said resolution be engrossed, and read the third time
to-day.
TUESDAY, November 20.
Another member, to wit, GEORGE TIBBITS, from New York, appeared, and took
his seat in the House.
WEDNESDAY, November 21.
_Louisiana Lead Mines._
The engrossed resolution authorizing the President to appoint an
agent, who shall be instructed to collect all the material information
respecting the actual condition, occupancy, and title of the lead mines
in Louisiana, was taken up on its third reading.
Mr. LUCAS entertained a doubt as to the propriety of this measure;
indeed, the gentleman from New York (Mr. MITCHILL) seemed to admit
that it was superfluous, for he had said that the President, under
proper authority, had already appointed agents to explore generally
the Territory of Louisiana; that they have been some time engaged in
that service at the Missouri, Arkansas, Red River, and about Detroit,
and indeed Major Lewis had been some time in St. Louis, a post in the
neighborhood of these very lead mines, and from his known enterprise and
minute inquiries, there was good reason for believing that the subject
which was the object of the proposed resolution, would be narrated in his
general report of discoveries. But in addition to this expectation, the
document accompanying the President’s Message sheds considerable light.
The information as to the condition of the lead mines, their number,
names, and value, were explained, and as he had heard no gentleman
suggest a doubt as to the accuracy of the narrative, he was inclined to
give it full credit, from the general character of the gentleman who
made the communication, and the particular knowledge he must necessarily
have acquired by a long residence in the country. From this view of the
subject he was compelled to acknowledge that he had altered his idea of
the resolution, and could not now vote in its favor.
Mr. MITCHILL had hoped that the gentleman from Pennsylvania, after the
explanation of yesterday, would consent to the resolution; he would now
add but a few explanatory words. The object of the resolution was simply
to appoint an agent to inquire into the occupancy and titles of the
present holders and claimants; this required a civilian versed in the
municipal laws of the nations who had heretofore held that territory;
not a natural historian, or mineralogist, not one who was acquainted
with the art of mining, or smelting and testing ores. Neither did Mr. M.
believe it would be necessary to send the agent to the mines themselves,
but to the place where the deeds and conveyances constituting the
title-papers of the proprietors, or pretended claimants, are recorded or
preserved. Whether these were at New Orleans, or what other place, he
did not know. As to the expense, it was not likely to exceed $1,000 or
$2,000, even if the agent were sent from this city; but he imagined if
the business could be as well conducted by the appointment of an agent
in Louisiana, the President would instruct the Governor how to act. It
might be seen too, from the words of the resolution, that it was a mere
temporary employment, not likely to be of longer duration than three or
four months, for the report is instructed to be made before the next
meeting of Congress. Mr. M. concluded, that if Mr. LUCAS would reconcile
himself to vote for the present motion upon this explanation, and
should he hereafter desire a more extensive examination into the actual
circumstances of the newly-acquired Territory, he might rely upon his
earnest co-operation.
Mr. L. observed in reply, that Louisiana had been held alternately by
three or four nations: each of which in sequence had granted titles
to more or less of the lands in question. An examination into those
titles would at this time excite a high degree of sensibility among the
inhabitants, who, he thought, ought in their youthful state to be treated
by Congress with tenderness and delicacy. The titles were various,
some derived from the Governors of the country, some from commanders
of posts. Many of the latter he believed might be considered by the
agent illegal; especially as he had learned that the commander of St.
Louis, in North Louisiana, held paramount authority over the subordinate
posts, and that without his approbation the lands so granted would not
be allowed; yet these persons held under such title, and by occupancy
and improvement consider themselves the _bona fide_ proprietors of the
lands. He feared that the inquiry intended by the resolution might create
great dissatisfaction, while a postponement for the present could do no
possible evil.
Mr. EARLY said, if Mr. L. had made a correct statement of the condition
in which the titles in that country really stood, and he had no reason
to doubt it, it would operate as the strongest reason on his mind to
pass the resolution: though it would be perceived that the agency to
be given on the present occasion extended no farther than to the lead
mines. The gentleman, Mr. L., had yesterday mistaken his friend, Mr.
MITCHILL’s object, supposing a general agency was intended to be raised.
He had mistaken him again to-day, by thinking the agent was to go into
the Territory of Louisiana to decide upon the titles he might have an
opportunity of examining. This was not the case. He was merely to inquire
into the actual condition of the lead mines, the occupancy and title,
for the information of Congress. We are not going to send a Board of
Commissioners, or a Judiciary Establishment, for the purpose of hearing
and determining upon the claims set up, but to procure for ourselves that
information which will enable the Government to decide, without their
instrumentality. If the gentleman (Mr. L.) views the subject in this
point of light, he will find it freed from his objection.
The question was now put, and the resolution passed, 74 members voting in
its favor.
THURSDAY, November 22.
Two other members, to wit: PETERSON GOODWYN and EDWIN GRAY, from
Virginia, appeared and took their seats in the House.
MONDAY, November 26.
_Preservation of Peace._
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for
the more effectual preservation of peace in the ports and harbors of the
United States, and in waters under their jurisdiction.
The first section authorizes the President and other proper officers to
call in the aid of the militia, regular troops, or armed vessels, to
execute civil process upon offenders who take refuge on board foreign
armed vessels.
On motion of Mr. NICHOLSON, any commanding officer refusing to obey a
requisition to this effect was subjected to a fine not exceeding five
thousand dollars.
_Remission of Duties._
Mr. RANDOLPH called for the order of the day on the report of the
Committee of Ways and Means respecting the remission of duties on
books imported for the use of colleges and seminaries of learning--the
resolution declaring it to be inexpedient to allow the same.