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CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tuesday, Decertify 23.
Mr. Elliot rose for the purpose of
offering the resolutions of which he had
given previous notice. He said he
should not on this occasion avail him
self of the ordinary indulgence of the
House so liberally accorded to mem
bers who made Jong speeches on short
resolutions. If the resolutions should
be seconded, he would briefly state
their general object, and then move
their reference to a committee of the
whole on the state of the union, and if
so referred, he would on a future day
(for the state of his health did not ad
mit of it on this day) assign at length
his reasons for them.
Mr. Elliot then offered the following
resolutions—
1. Resolved , That it is expedient to
make provision by law for the further
and more effectual protection of the
commerce, the seamen, the harbors,
the coasts, and the frontiers of the U
nited States.
2. Resolved , That for the great pur
poses of national protection and defence,
it is expedient to provide by law for re
pairing, manning, and supporting in
actual service the whole of the frigates
and smaller vessels of war belonging to
the United States.
3. Resolved , That it is expedient to
provide by law for defraying the ex
pense incident to building two new fri
gates to supply the places of the Phila
delphia, which was lost during the late
war with Tripoli, and the Gen. Greene,
which has been condemned as unfit for
service.
4. Resolved , That provision ought to
be made by law for preparing two or
more navy yards, and navy arsenals,
situated on or near the margin of the
ocean, for the reception of ships and
vessels of war, and for other naval pur
poses.
5. Resolved , That a committee be
appointed to enquire what provision it
may be necessary to make by law, in
relation to the location establishment,
and superintendance of navy yards and
naval arsenals; and that the said com
mittee report by bill or otherwise.
6. Resolved , That a committee be
appointed to enquire what further mea
sures are necessary for the protection
of American seamen, and for their re
lease and indemnification, when im-
JTCtfari. power's*;
and that the said committee report by
bill or otherwise.
7. Resolved , That a committee be
appointed to enquire into the situation
of the ports and harbors of the United
States ; into the practicability and pro
priety of a general system of fortifica
tion, and the expense with which it
would he attended ; and also into the
best method of fortifying the port of
New-York, and the other principal
ports which are now in a defenceless
state : and that the said committee re
port a statement of facts, with their
opinion thereon to the House.
8. Resolved , That a committee be
appointed to enquire into the expedi
ency of investing the President of the
United States by law with amplepporersw r
ers to cause every aggression and at
tack upon the rights, the honor, and
the interest of the United States, which
may be committed or commenced by
the officers, citizens, or subjects of any
foreign power within the ports and har
bors of the United States, within the
waters under their jurisdiction, and up
on the high seas, within certain dis
tances ot the coast, to be immediately
repelled and effectually chastised; and
that the said committee report by bill
or otherwise.
9. Resolved , That a committee be
appointed to revise the existing laws
respecting the militia; to devise means
for completely arming and equiping for
actual service, and for more effectually
organizing and disciplining the whole
of the militia of the United States, in
order to render it an efficient force for
the protection of the United States from
invasion by any foreign power; and that
the said committee report by bill’or
otherwise.
The clerk having read the resolu
tions, Mr. Elliot moved their reference
to a committee of the whole on the
state of the union.
It was suggested that most, if not all
the subjects embraced by these reso
lutions, had been already referred to
committees appointed on the several
members of the President’s message,
and that consequently a similar refer
ence to other committees would, with
out any good purpose being attained,
tend to complicate the proceedings of
the ITouse: and a question of order
was raised as to the regularity of com
mitting them.
The Speaker said that as the resolu
tions, though in some respects similar
to the subjects already referred, 'moth
er respects varied from them, he con
sidered the motion of reference in order.
Mr. Elliot said a few words to the
same effect, and stated his wish to be
afforded an opportunity on a future day,
should the resolutions be committed,
of offering his sentiments at length on
the interesting objects embraced Dy
them.
On referring the resolutions to the
committee of the whole on the state of
the union, the House divided—Only 32
members rising in the affirmative, the
reference was disagreed to, when the
resolutions were ordered to lie on the
table.
The consideration of the bill prohib
iting the importation of slaves into the
United States, was resumed in com
mittee of the whole—Mr. Varnum in
the chair.
Mr. Early moved to strike out that
part ot the bill which declares the im
portation of persons of color into the
United States felony, and punishes it
with death.
T his motion was supported by messrs.
Early and Holland, and opposed by
Mr. Srnilie, and agreed to—Ayes 60—
Noes 41.
Mr. Bidwell renewed the motion for
merly offered by him, so to amend the
bill as to prevent the forfeiture of per
sons of color imported.
On this amendment a debate of con
siderable length ensued, in which
Cook, Sloan, Fisk,
Bedingef, and Srnilie supported ; and
Messrs. Lloyd, Early, Elmer, Alston,
and Macon opposed it—When on mo
tion of Mr. Alexander, the committee,
without coming to a decision, rose, and
obtained leave to sit again.
RE-CAPTURE
OF BUENOS AYRES.
New-Yokk, January 7.
Mr. Gilbert Deblois, of Boston,
passenger in the schooner Adcfe, from
Cayenne, informs us, that he left the
port of Monteveido, in the Plate, on the
25th of October last, at 12 o’clock at
night, in a small French privateer
schooner called L’Osseau, captain Bi-
Dois, (the only vessel that had or would
have liberty to depart that port for some
months) and has handed us the follow
. wu uuuui-Amer
ca:
On the 27th of June last, the capital of
La Plata, the city of Buenos Ayres, was
taken by an expedition from the Cape
of Good Hope, under the command of
Sir Home Popham and Major-General
B. Beresford, consisting of about 1600
choice troops, and without any loss, and
a generous capitulation. They kept
possession of the city until the 12th of
August following when it was attacked
and taken by an expedition, of 2000
men, from Monteveido, by a French
gentleman of the name of Lenier, (for
merly anaval officer) who was accompa
nied by a number of the first merchants
in Monteveido, about 80 French gentle
men, as volunteers. The battle was
fought with great obstinacy, by the
British but headed by an intrepid offi
cer, the Spanish bore down all. The
loss of the British, in killed and wound
ed, and massacreed after they had sur
rendered, was, by the best accounts,
stated to be 420 men ; and the Spanish
about 250, in killed and wounded ; but
almost 7-Bths of their wounded expired
of their wounds, owing, (as they say)
to the British us ; ng poisoned balls; but
a well informed French officer, who
shared their dangers, told Mr. Debiois,
it was not the venemous balls of their
enemies, but the ignorance and unskil
fuiness of their own surgeons, that kill
ed the Spaniards.
The Spaniards retook their capital
by storm, and made prisoners of near
ly 1200 English ; but a serious dispute
had taken place between Gen. Beres
ford and Gen. Lenier—the English
General insisting, that a capitulation
was made and signed while the white
flag was flying on the fortress, and
which the Spanish commander abso
lutely denies: however, the prisoners
were sent away a distance of about 3 or
400 miles into the country, and it was
reported that Gen. Beresford and his
officers were coming to Monteveido, to
be sent to Europe; but it was after
wards thought more proper to order
them to Cordovir, only-about 350
leagues, or 1050 miles, from Buenos
Ayres. The common soldiers, com
posing the expedition from Montevei
do, robbed and plundered every English
abode at Buenos Ayres, and also every
Spanish house, where an Englishfnan
was seen to enter or reside. They al
so put into prison, among many others,
Mr. YV. P. White, (formerly of Bos
ton ;) Mr. Maloe, a Mr. Jackson, a Mr.
Mark Riley, and Mr. Hasellback. The
former, (Mr. White) was induced to
receive an office, such as a prize-agent
under the British government, for
which he was recompensed by being
put into close confinement for two
months, and part of that time incom
municable, and with the British officers,
was obliged to take a journey into the
interior. No stranger whatever was
permitted to go up to Buenos Ayres,
as they mean to exclude, without ex
ception, all from thence, especially
Americans.
The British, upon their becoming
masters of Buenos Ayres, found only
1,200,000 dolls, of public property, (al
tho’ there were six times that amount
in the place) which they sent to Eng
land in the frigate Narcissus.—They
had collected a considerable quantity of
copper and quicksilver, but as it was
not taken on board the transports, they
got off'only the money. Sir H. Pop
ham was in Buenos Ayrts when it was
retaken, and with great difficulty effect
ed his escape in a boat to his ships, af
ter which, with the exception of one
gun brig, left cruising between the Co
lonia and Buenos Ayres, he brought his
squadron (consisting of his own ship
Diadem, 64 guns, capt. King; Raison
able 64, capt. Rowley; Diomede 50,
capt. Phillips ; 1 frigate, 2 sloops of
war, and several armed transports)
down the river, and anchored in full
view of the harbor of Monteveido.—
Some days he would have every ship
under weigh ; at other times only 1 or
2, of easy draught of water, who would
stand in so close that the very inhabit
ants could discern the buttons on the
officers uniforms. Sir Home had sent
into Monteveido upwards of 30 flags of
truce, demanding Beresford and his
troops, a supply of provisions, and some
medicine for his sick and wounded.
1 he governor, tired of such business,
generously sent Sir H. P. a supply of
fresh provisions, and also 23 English
seamen, which were brought into Mon
teveido a few months previous, in an
English guineaman; and saying that
he should not respect any more flags of
truce from that time. Sir H. Popham
answered the governor’s civility, by ac
cepting the fresh supply of provisions,
and receiving the seamen ; but, contra
ry to the etiquette observed in time of
war about exchange of nrisnn#*rs. he
reiusea to deliver up the like number
ot Spaniards, which he might very ea
sily have done, as he had more than
90 in his possession, which were taken
from a small town on the south entrance
of the river. Several skirmishes had
taken place between the English ves
sels and Spanish gun-boats and forts,
and almost every day they saluted Mon
teveido with 12 and 181 b. shdt.
Upon the 12th July last, an embargo
was laid on all vessels in the port of
Monteveido, and continued with more
than usual rigor when Mr. Deblois sail
ed. The reasons assigned were, Ist.
that they were going to fit out an ex
pedition to retake Buenos Ayres ; 2d.
tiiat they were going to expedite 4 ves
sels with dispatches for Spain; and 3d.
that the British squadron were starving
for want of provisions, though every
b«dy knew to the contrary, as the Rai
sonabie, a man of war, had been dis
patched to and arrived from Rio Janei
ro, with so much of a supply, as to be
obliged to caulk in' her lower tier of
gun-ports.
It was reported for truth, before Mr.
Deblois sailed, that Sir Home Popham
had received a reinforcement of 3,500
men, from the Cape of Good Hope,
and which he is much inclined to sup
pose is true ; as he himself counted 35
sail at anchor 5 miles from Monteveido,
between Point Carettas, and the island
of Flores, the same evening he sailed ;
and it was known that there were 18
sail more arrived off Maldonado, a city
at the N. entrance of Rio Plata, as the
governor of Monteveido had, the 23d
of October, received a letter from the
commandant at Maldonado, who wrote
to that effect. If this force has arrived,
that Sir Home Popham will be able to
take possession, even with 5000 men, is
very uncertain, as the Spaniards have
nearly 10,000 ready at a moment’s war
ning, and all those men in high spirits
and confident of victory. Among the
35 sail at anchor off Flores Island, some
were Spaniards, some Portuguese, and
some Americans, detained or captured.
Sir Home Popham, about the 29th Sep
tember, sent in a flag of truce to the
governor of Monteveido, declaring the
port in a state of blockade ; but also
mentioned that all neutrals might have
leave to pass his squadron, provided
they did it within 7 days, and in ballast
only, as he should after that, keep up
rigorous- hlockakc, and should take ev
ery vessel that came out even in ballast,
and should certainly make prizes of all
those that came out wifi) a cargo, being
the produce of the Spanish colonies in
Soutb-America. This extraordinary
determination was notified to all neu
trals by the governor. After 2 days
out of the 7 had elapsed, some few ships,
Portuguese and Danish, endeavored to
avail themselves of the opportunity, and
go out in ballast; but when all ready,
were stopped by the Spanish govern
ment —the Americans, as some could
not, and as others would not get ready
to go in 5 days, came to a resolution to
send in a petition, or remonstrance to
the governor.
' Mr. Deblois could not obtain in time
the governor’s answer verbatim, but be
informs that its meaning or tenor, was
as follows—“ That he was perfectly
aware and sensible of the damages and
ill consequences, that would inevitably
accrue to the American vessels and their*
cargoes, and also coincided with them
in opinion, that the English commodore
could have no legal pretence for mak
ing them prizes, as it ivas supposed
their papers were regular; but notwith
standing he knew that Sir Home Pop
ham was in want of provisions, and
should he allow neutrals to go out they
must without doubt fall into'his hands,
and of course would afford some sup
ply ; and also, that he did not conceive
j the treaty mentioned by them to extend
to the Spanish colonies in South Amer
ica ; and should he raise the embargo,
he presumed it would he highly preju
dicial to the interest of his 'master the
King of Spain.”
Mr. Deblois also reports, that the
Americans in La Plata are considered
by the lower class of people the same
as the English, because they speak the
same language ; and that the govern
ment there does not by any means ap* •
pear to be friendly to Americans, of •* -
which it may be given as a proof that
the Spanish merchants have drawn up
a representation to the Royal Audianre,
requesting that the Royal Order, per- •
mining American vessels to go to the
River Plate, may not be carried into ef
fect ; and it is thought their request
will be complied with.
The following is a LIST of LETTERS
remaining in the Post-Office at Colum
bia Court-house; which if not taken
away by the first day of April next ,
will be returned to the General Post-
Office as dead letters.... V1Z....
B Lewis Loyd
MESSRS. Thaddi- M
us St Elias Beall Jas. M‘Kay, Esq.
Geo. Baswell Maj. Thos. Moore
Charles Barhane Dr.Thos.M‘Combs
C o
George Cruse William Oliver
Francis Cook p
D Thomas Phelan
Ben. Dailey 2 Henry Peak
Nathaniel Denham S
George Dent Baily Stuart
Hannah Dannelly Andrew Sturges
T. hos. Dent, Esq. Reuben Sanders
John Davis Michael Smally
G James Shields
Philip Green t
W m. Griffin John Tankersley
H W 7
Messrs. Hargraves Ensign W.F. Ware
& Dunnington David Walker
L Y
Charles Leath William Young.
Miss Nancy Lyon
John Lamar , D. P. M.
January 17, 1807. 26
Boat Hands.
IF applied to soon, the sub- v
sc liber will hire for the ensuing year,
Several Good Boat Hands ,
long accustomed to the river.
JOHN B. BARNES
January 3. 42.
JUST PUBLISHED^
And For Sale at this Office.
God's Revenge against Murder;
OR,
THE DROWN’D WIFE,
(Os Stephen's Creek , South Carolina. )
A TRAGEDY,
As it was lately performed, with un
bounded applause,
(of the devil and his coi-rtl
BY NED FINDLEY, ESQ.
ONE OF THE
Grand Company of Tragedians,
IN THE SERVICE OF THE
BLACK PRINCE.
BY M. L. WEEMS.
Price 2.) Cents.
January 3.