Gazette Of The United States

Philadelphia, September 24.

In the House of Representatives on Wednesday, after the petitions and reports were gone through, Mr. Wells said, that previously to entering on the order of the day, he would beg leave to solicit the attention of the House to an event which must interest the feelings of every member present; the very recital of which was sufficient to make the boldest heart to tremble—that it would readily be conceived he alluded to the recent intelligence received from the Island of Hispaniola, where with the most savage fury the Negroes and Mulattoes were committing an indiscriminate and horrid carnage. In this trying situation, the miserable surviving inhabitants have sent to the United States for relief—the Congress are not sitting—the President is in Virginia—and the Legislature of Pennsylvania is the only Body that can afford timely succour. Whilst therefore these savages are carrying the dagger to the breasts of the affrighted inhabitants, it is our duty, said he, to step forward—he therefore would submit the following motion:

"This House, taking into consideration the melancholy accounts received from the Island of Hispaniola, where a cruel and barbarous massacre of the white inhabitants had commenced on the 23d of August, and continued with unremitting fury on the 26th, when the vessel which brings the intelligence left the island—and feeling a deep sympathy for the distressed and dreadful situation of the wretched inhabitants of Cape-Francois, then closely besieged by an enraged and brutal multitude of Negroes and Mulattoes—as citizens of the world—as men enjoying the blessings of peace, and in duty bound to relieve our fellow creatures in an hour of such terror and misery, which will not admit of delay until the meeting of Congress, do enter into the following resolutions:

"Resolved, That the legislature will immediately draw forth a portion of those resources, with which the state is eminently blessed, to succour the unhappy inhabitants of Cape-Francois, besieged on the 23d of August last, by a murdering and desperate host of Negroes and Mulattoes.

"Resolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill to enable the governor immediately to charter two vessels, and load them with provisions, to be sent to the Island of Hispaniola, and disposed of in such manner as may most effectually contribute to the relief of the distressed inhabitants, and if required, the said vessels shall receive as many of them on board with their effects as can be accommodated, and proceed either to some of the neighboring Islands, or to such part of the continent of America as may be judged most expedient."

When the motion was laid on the table, every member present so fully felt an instantaneous impression of humanity, that it was called up for a second reading, in order to be carried into immediate effect; but it was thought necessary to possess the house with some more authentic documents than were then in their hands, it was determined to submit the motion to a committee of five members, viz. Messrs. Wells, Biles, Clymer, Gallatin and Evans, to make enquiry into the ground of the intelligence, and report to the house.

We are happy to inform the public, that the application made on the 21st instant to the government of the United States by the minister of France, for aid in money and certain supplies, to enable him to furnish the government of Hispaniola with such articles as are necessary for its support against the black insurgents, and for the relief of the inhabitants, was attended with immediate compliance, to the full extent of the request made. The powers vested by Congress in the chief magistrate, have been so arranged by him, as to admit of the prompt assistance which the circumstances of the case required, which must afford the highest satisfaction to every friend of good government in France, and to the respectability of that of the United States.

In consequence of the above information, a motion was made in the House of Representatives on Thursday, to suspend the resolution which had been agreed to, for sending two vessels loaded with provisions to Hispaniola.—The motion was laid on the table.