Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY—DECEMBER 4.

Mr. Joseph Heister, from Pennsylvania (in the place of Mr. Ege) appeared and took his oath and seat.
Mr. Gregg, from Pennsylvania, Mr. Skinner, from Massachusetts, Messrs. Burgess and Bryan, from North-Carolina, Mr. Sumter, from South-Carolina, and Mr. Davis, from Kentucky, made their appearance to-day.

Mr. Coit, from the committee of Elections, reported on the memorial of Robert Rutherford, complaining of the undue election of General Morgan, that they had examined the proofs adduced, and that they were wholly insufficient to support the allegations contained in his memorial.
Mr. Coit moved that the house concur with the report; but upon the wishes of Messrs. J. Parker and T. Claiborne, it was committed to a committee of the whole for Thursday.

Mr. Livingston, from the committee of Commerce and Manufactures, made reports on the petitions of John C. Normand and Henry Sherriot, who prayed for the remission of duties on wine destroyed by fire. The report stated that there was no doubt of the fact being as set forth; but that the house had of late years rejected all such applications, not only as inequitable, but on the ground of its being impossible to guard against imposition, and therefore referring to former decisions, determined the prayer of the petitioner could not be granted.
Mr. L. also made a report on the petition of Frederick Cyrus, praying to have the management of a mining scheme, stating that, as the committee knew of no such plan, and the house had no power to make the appointment, the prayer of the petition could not be granted.
The house concurred in these reports.

Mr. Dwight Foster presented the petition of Thomas Carpenter, stating that he was editor of the American Senator, published during the last session of Congress ending in March last; that at the commencement of that session he presented a memorial to the house, praying its support of his work; that the house had declined supporting it as a body, but receiving individual assurances of support from many of the members, he had been induced to engage in the work; but the event had proved unfavourable to him; he hoped now, therefore, that he should be recompensed by the house engaging to take three copies for each member of the work he proposed to publish this session (provided he met with the support he prayed for) which, computing the session at eighteen weeks, he supposed would not amount to more than 2250 dollars.
Mr. D. Foster moved that this petition be referred to a select committee. Mr. Coit objected to a reference. The house, he said, had so often determined to have nothing to do with the publication of the debates, that he thought it time to have done with the object. He hoped, therefore, the petition might lie upon the table.
Mr. Foster and Mr. Thatcher spoke in favour of the committal; and the motion was put and carried, and a committee of three members appointed to report thereon.

Mr. Goodrich presented a petition from the Deputy Postmaster of Hartford, praying for additional compensation. Referred to a select committee.

Mr. W. Claiborne presented a petition from sundry citizens of the state of Virginia, complaining of being aggrieved by the act laying duty upon stills, and praying relief.
Mr. Claiborne was doubtful as to what committee this petition ought to go; he thought it best to go to the committee of ways and means; but on being informed no such committee was at present in existence, and Mr. Harrison wishing the subject to go to a select committee, he consented. Mr. New thought it would be best to appoint a committee to enquire what amendments were necessary to the act. Mr. J. Parker was in favour of a committee of ways and means; and Mr. Nicholas moved that a committee of ways and means be appointed.
A Committee of Ways and Means was accordingly appointed, and consisted of the following members, viz. Messrs. Harper, Gallatin, Griswold, Blount, Homer, Craik, Brent, A. Foster, Sewall, Morris, Davis, Sinnickson, W. C. Claiborne, Bayard, Champlin, and Baldwin.

Mr. Singreaves presented the petition of Abraham Jones, a brevet captain in the late war, praying for the pay of a captain, to which he states himself entitled. Referred to the committee of Claims.

Mr. Dwight Foster moved that the committee of claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of John Layman, which had already been more than once reported and decided upon. Agreed, and that he have leave to withdraw his petition.

Mr. W. C. Claiborne presented the remonstrance and petition of the Legislature of the state of Tennessee, complaining of the extension of the boundary of the United States into the Cherokee country; of the proclamation of col. Butler, requiring all persons settled upon the land included in the boundary, within a very short space, and at an inclement season, to remove therefrom, by which nearly 3000 persons had been greatly distressed; of the conduct of Mr. Hawkins, &c. praying relief.—Referred to a select committee.

Mr. Orris moved that the petition of Samuel Moore, of Boston, praying to be reimbursed a certain sum of money which he stated himself to have been robbed of, presented last session, be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury—Agreed.

Mr. Sitgreaves said, he was prepared to make a report from the committee appointed at the last session, to sit during the recess, for the purpose of collecting evidence and substantiating charges against William Blount a Senator of the United States, impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors; but as that committee was appointed and received its instructions with closed galleries he supposed, except the injunction of secrecy were taken off, it would be necessary that the galleries should be closed whilst the report was made, though the committee were of opinion there was not any thing in the report, which ought not to be made public. He therefore moved that the report should be received in the usual way.

The Speaker read the rule of the house on this subject, and said, he did not think any motion necessary, if the Committee were of opinion, secrecy was not necessary.

Mr. Thatcher thought it was necessary that the injunction of secrecy ought to be taken off before the report was made.

Mr. Sitgreaves made a motion to that effect which was carried. He then presented the report, which the clerk proceeded to read.

The Committee state that soon after their appointment, they received a trunk from J. Ross, Esq. containing sundry papers belonging to William Blount, which had been seized by order of the Senate. From these papers, they made a selection, and returned the remainder to W. Blount. A violent presumption arose from the perusal of the papers, that Nicholas Romayne of the city of New York, was intimately connected with Mr. Blount; the Committee conceived it to be their duty, therefore to prevent the escape of N. Romayne, by securing his person and papers, and issued a writ for that purpose, the execution of which they placed in the hands of the Secretary of State, who made Capt. W. Eaton, messenger on the occasion. On the 12th of July, the messenger returned with Nicholas Romayne, and a number of his papers (such of which as are material are reported.) Having finished his examination, N. Romayne gave security for his appearance before the Senate on the trial of W. Blount.

A letter signed James Grant, found amongst W. Blount's papers, and the letter from the latter to James Carey, made it necessary to secure their persons and papers. Major T. Lewis was employed to do the business. He was also to bring along with him John Rogers. In the interim, the Committee received the examination of James Carey, taken at Tellico Blockhouse. On the 25th September, Major Lewis arrived at Germantown, with Grant, Rogers and Carey. These persons were examined, and Major Grant gave bond for his appearance before the Senate,

To complete the series of correspondence between Mr. Blount and Mr. Romayne, the letter No. 9, seemed to be wanting. On the 13th of July, it was received by the Secretary of State, under an anonymous cover, in a foreign language.

Having heard of Capt. Chisholme having sailed from Philadelphia, in a vessel belonging to Mr. Wm. Davy, they sent for Mr. Davy, and examined him; his examination led to the examination of George Lesher, and others.

The committee mention that the Chevalier Yrujo, called upon them, and made a communication which implicated a person of the name of Mitchell. They immediately wrote to Major Lewis on the subject; he received their letter, but could not find the person. A second communication was made by the Chevalier on the subject.

After stating a number of other circumstances, which we were not able to collect, the Committee conclude their report, by regretting that they have not been able to obtain more complete information on the subject, but assure the house that nothing in their power has been wanting to obtain it.

The report being gone through, Mr. Sitgreaves said, the reading of the documents referred to would take up much time of the house, and as it was desirable that they should be printed for the use of the members as soon as possible, he should wish the reading might be dispensed with, and that the usual vote of printing might be agreed to.

Mr. Gallatin hoped the papers might be read, as the report consisted chiefly of a reference to them.

The reading of the documents was then entered upon as follows:

No. I. A letter from William Blount to Dr. Romayne.
2. do. From Dr. Romayne to William Blount.
3. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount.
4. do. W. Blount to Dr. Romayne.
5. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount.
6. do. from do. to ditto.
7. do. W. Blount to Dr. Romayne.
8. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount.
9. do. from do. to ditto.

Mr. Sitgreaves (who read this part of the papers) mentioned that the above was the letter enclosed to the Secretary of State, anonymously, in a Foreign language, signed "An Eternal Enemy to Foreign Influence."

Mr. Thatcher enquired in what language the anonymous letter was written.

Mr. Dawson thought it necessary to state lest because this letter was written in the Spanish language it should give rise to groundless suspicions, that the committee had the strongest proof that it was written by an American gentleman.

10. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount.
11. do. John Chisholme to W. Blount, from Chisholme to Col. M'Kev, and from Chisholme to John Rogers.
12. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount.
13. do. from do. to ditto.
14. do. W. Blount to James Carey, (which has been published in all the papers.)
15. do. W. Blount to John Rogers.
16. do. do. to Major Wiley.
17. do. do. to James Carey.
18. do. Robert Liston to Dr. Romayne
19. do. James Grant to William Blount
20. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount.
21. do. do. to do.
22. do. do. to do.
23. do. James Grant to W. Blount
24. do. W. Blount to Dr. Romayne
25. do. do. to do.
26. do. Dr. Romayne to W. Blount
27. A writing found among the papers of Dr. Romayne and acknowledged by him to be an unfinished letter to W. Blount
28. A paper endorsed by Judge Turner, containing an account of different military posts.
29. W. Blount's circular letter, after his impeachment (which has been published).
30. The deposition of Dr. Romayne before the committee. The deponent states, that he had been acquainted with Mr. Blount since 1787: that he became acquainted with Chisholme whilst in treaty with Mr. Blount in land speculations; sometime after the deponent intended going to London to sell land, but the falling in price of that property prevented him; as Governor Blount was to have procured a law passed in Tennessee to enable aliens to hold land, the deponent spoke of the different letters which had passed between W. Blount and himself on the subject of Louisiana, which the former regretted the English did not possess, and spoke of going to England on the business, he regretted the Floridas did not belong to the United States. It was understood between them that it was most favorable for Louisiana to belong to the Spaniards, but that the English had much better have it than the French; they agreed that it was necessary to sound certain persons in Philadelphia on the subject, as well as in Virginia and the southern states, spoke of his conversation to Blount about going to England; but that Mr. Blount neglecting to answer his letters, he gave up the project.

After this evidence, follows the cross examination of the committee. The letters which passed between W. Blount and N. Romayne bear date from Feb. to May, and are chiefly on the project of going to England, on the business of Louisiana. Mr R. frequently speaks with great confidence of success, and often introduces in his letters the critical situation of the European powers, and the improbability of peace.

31. Next follows the examination of Mr. William Davy of this city, which relates to the sailing of Chisholme in the brig John Henderson, which he chartered and which cleared out for Hamburg, but was bound for London on the 20th March; that his passage was taken and paid for by R. Liston, by means of Mr. Thornton; Mr. D. repeats conversation which took place betwixt them as to his business: that he was to command a squadron against Pensacola, and a variety of other circumstances; Mr D. also mentions several interviews with Mr. Liston on the business. He also produced a letter from his brother in London, mentioning Chisholme having endeavored to get money from him; but before he gave him any, he applied to Lord Grenville's office, to know if he had got money from thence, and finding they had supplied him largely he declined letting him have any.

32. Evidence of George Lesher relates to Chisholme's being at his house with a party of Indians; of his conversation about going to Europe, and of his business there: that whilst he was at his house he was arrested for 500 dollars, and that he told him he was obliged to sacrifice a note of Mr Bond's for 500 dollars at a loss of five or six dollars in the 100, to satisfy the demand.

33. The examination of William Bell refutes what is said above about sacrificing the note of 500 dollars, as he states how he gave Chisholme credit, from time to time, and that the note of 400 dollars was not paid at all.

34. A letter from the secretary of state to the committee, stating what had passed between him and the British minister, in which amongst other things, it is asserted that Mr. Liston gave Chisholme no money at all; that he only paid his passage to the owner, and gave him an order for 200l. on his banker in London.

35. A note from Mr. Liston to the secretary of state
36 Lord Grenville's note to Mr. Liston, in which the British government declines to accede to the proposal made to them respecting the Floridas, &c.
37. Evidence of Elisha B. Hopkins with respect to conversation held with Chisholme.
38. Dr. Charles Buxton's examination relates to conversation betwixt him and Dr. Romayne.
39. John Franklin was examined with respect to Chisholme being at Lesher's at the same time with him. Spoke of his conversation respecting Louisiana and Florida, W. Blount and the British minister.
40. James Carey's and John Rogers's evidence went to the same effect.

The reading of the papers having continued for more than two hours, and it being three o'clock, Mr. Dent said, as he observed there were several more papers to read, he should move for the house to adjourn. The motion was carried 39 to 31.