Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

CONGRESS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY, February 26.

Mr. Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the Secretary of War, enclosing a report on the petition, referred to him, of Samuel Lewis, an late a clerk in the War Office, and now imprisoned upon process for a breach of trust.

Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Brace called up for consideration, the resolution which he laid on the table, relative to the expediency of accepting the cession of a jurisdiction of territory, lying west of Pennsylvania, commonly called the Western Reserve of Connecticut—which was again read and agreed to by the House—and a committee of seven members appointed for that purpose.

On motion of Mr. Spaight, the House came to a resolution, instructing the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to enquire what regulations ought to be made in respect to vessels, goods, wares and merchandise, wrecked on the coasts of the United States, and also, in respect to such goods wares and merchandise, brought into the ports of the United States, wrecked as aforesaid.

The question taken yesterday, on referring the petition of Gilbert Dench, was re-considered; and on motion of Mr. Otis, the petition was referred to the Committee of Claims.

A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their secretary, informing the house, that the Senate had passed the bill entitled "An act further to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France," with two amendments, to which they requested the concurrence of this house.

The first amendment, to strike out that part of the 4th section, which enabled citizens of the United States resident in France, to repair to this country, with vessels and other property bona fide belonging to them, was concurred in by the house—ayes 50, noes 36.

Previous to taking the question on concurring in this amendment, Mr. Macon made a motion, which superseded it—viz. "that the amendments of the Senate be postponed until the first Monday in December next" which was negatived, only 30 members voting in favor of it.

The second amendment was to strike out the 10th section of the bill, by which it was enacted, that the Consul or Agent of the United States shall receive an annual salary of 2000 dollars, and be restricted from trade, &c. &c.

Mr. Otis moved that the House concur. Mr. Champlin hoped not—and proceeded to give his reasons, by stating that great complaints had been made of the conduct of our agent at Hispaniola—that it had been insinuated he had entered into trade with the planters of that island, previous to public notice having been given that the trade was opened, and had monopolized a large portion of the produce, previous to the American merchant's having an opportunity of becoming purchasers—Mr. C. also mentioned the circumstance of a vessel having been overhauled by an American cruizer, who showed a passport from Toussaint and one from Dr. Stevens, by which she was permitted to proceed—and thereby inferred that the vessel might have been employed in an illicit trade.

Mr. Smith also spoke in favor of continuing the section—It had been introduced upon the most mature consideration, to prevent what was considered a great evil, and was much cause of complaint. By the proclamation opening intercourse with St. Domingo, our vessels were restricted, Mr. S. said, from going to but two ports in that island, upon clearing out at our custom house—viz. Port Republican and Cape Francois. Upon their arrival at either of those ports, if the supercargo wishes to seek farther for a market, application must be made to our agent for permission; who may delay granting it, and in the mean time, send to the place for which it is requested, buy up all the produce, and compel the merchant to purchase of him at an exorbitant price—this he had been informed had been done—but in mentioning it, Mr. S. said, he did not wish to be understood as criminating the person who did it. The agent was allowed to trade—he had no compensation from the government—and it was what every merchant in a similar situation might and would do. He thought it a perfectly fair mercantile transaction. Hence arose the necessity of the section now under consideration.

But there was another transaction, Mr. S. said, the papers relating to which he had deposited with the proper executive officer. A passport had been granted by our agent at Hispaniola, permitting the vessel of his partner to trade direct from the United States to the city of St. Domingo—a trade which no other citizen in the United States could be permitted to enjoy, as it was expressly prohibited by the President's proclamation.

Suppose, said Mr. S. an agent was sent from this country to treat with the governor of Guadaloupe—They might very easily determine the day on which that intercourse should commence: buy up all the produce in the island, and compel the American merchant to a sacrifice, which would otherwise be avoided. It was this kind of conduct which had caused so many failures in the United States—and yet he could not blame the person who would be guilty of them—his speculations being all the compensation allowed for his expenses and trouble.

Mr. Gallatin was in favour of concurring with the Senate. If, said Mr. G. our agent has been guilty of the misconduct imputed to him, this section would not prevent him—All that could be done, would be to remove him, and this no doubt would be done upon a representation from the merchants to the executive.

Mr. Otis said, he concurred most heartily in the opinion of Mr. Gallatin. He did not know that our agent had been guilty of the facts alledged to him, but if he had, and the section was retained, there was nothing in it which restricted him from issuing passports—the same abuse might still occur—and the only remedy lay with the executive.

The question on concurring with the Senate was put and carried—ayes 60.