Indiana Republican, Volume 4, Number 167, Madison, Jefferson County, 2 March 1820 — Page 2

Ccr.gr essiznal Proceedings. House cf Representatives. Friday, February 4. The speaker laid before the house a letter of the secretary the navy, covering anabstract of the contingent expenses of the navy during the year ending on the 30th Sept. last,rendered inobedience to law; which was referred to the committee of ways and means. Mr. Anderrcn from the select committee to whom the subject was referred, reported the resolution to authorise the publication of part of the secret journal of congress under the confederation, with an amendment, (directing the pub. lication of certain private documents connected with the secret journal,) which with the resolution, was ordered to lie on the table. On motion of Mr. Slocumh, it was Resolved, That the president cf the United State be requested to communicate to this house, it any, an J what, progress his been made in surveying certain parts of the com of North Carolina, and in ascertaining: the latitude and lonitu ic of the extreme points of Cape fiattc?a Cape Look Out, and Cape Fear, pursuant to a resolution approved January 19, 1819. Messrs. Slocumb and Burton were appointed the commit ice to present the resolution to the president. On motion of Mr. Steven,, it wn Resolved, t hat tlie committee of commerce be directed to report whether, in their opinion, it would be expedient to erect a light house on the south coast ot Lake Erie, at or near tiic confluence of its waters with those of Sanduskv Biv. MISSOURI BILL. The house agon resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Baldwin in the chair, on this bill. Mr. Htrdin, of Kentucky, took the floor ami spoke at consi ierablc length agiinst the rest i it tion. Mr. Cook, of Illinois, took the other -dvie ot t he ijnestioi , and spoke some time in tavor of the restiiction; before concluding he gave way for a motion for the committee to rie; whet '1 he committee rose, and The house adjourned.

Saturday, February c. After the presentment and rc(aacc$ as uual, of sundry Meigs, of New Yoik, lubmitted the following preamble and . esolfion tor consideration, which, bring read, were, on motion of Mr. Walker, ot N. C. ordered to lie on the ta. ble: Whereas slavery in the Unitcd States is an evil of great and inct eaingmagnitude; one which merits the greatest efforts cf this nation to remedy: Therefore, Res shed. That a committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of devoting the public lands as a fund tor the purpose of lit. Employing naral force competent to the annihilation cf the slave trade. ad. The amancipation of the ilaves in the United States; and 3d. Colonizing them in such way as shall be conducive to the ir comfort atul happiness in Africa, their mot he r country. MISSOURI BILL. Tlie House then again rcsolvrd itself into a committee of he whole, Mr. Baldwin in the chair, oat Jib bill.

Mr. Cook resumed the speech which he commenced csterday, in suppport of the Restriction, and in continuation occupied the floor about two hours. Mr. Hemphill, of Penn. rose, and spoke more than an hour in favor of the restriction; when he gave way for a motion for

the committee to rise; which prevailed; and The house adjourned. Monday, February 7. IN SENATE. Numerous petitions were presented and referred this morning; amongst therri several from merchant of Savannah, praying a remission of certain duties on merchandize imported, in consideration of the late destructive fire in tht city, by which the very goods are destroyed on which the duties accrued, which they pray to be remitted; also a memorial from tlie legislature of Indi?na, praying an extension of the time allowed for the payment of public lands in that State. The president laid before the Semte the annual report of the commissioners of the sinking fund (communicated to the other house on Saturday) which was hid on the table. Mr. Trimble laid before the 'senate certain resolutions of the 'Legislature of Ohio, desiring the appointment of commissioneri to view and mark i'road, as the continuation of the National f?oad from Wheeling, to the se?.t of government ot Ohio, thence to the seat of government of Indiana, thence, to tI1.1t cf Illinois, and thence to St. Charles, in Missouii. Mr. Walker, ot Geo. submitted the following resolution: P.e:clved, That the president cS the United States be requested to ciuic to be laid before tlie senareany information he may poess, (and of which the public interest does not, in his opinion, require concealment.) relative to the late treaty between the United States and Spain; u hether the same has yet heui r'tiiied on the part of Spain; and, particularly, that Ik- oe requeued to state whethei any information lias been received lioiti the court of Madrid iincc the date ot hij message to congress at the commencement ot the present session; whether lie still expects a minister from Spain; and at what period may fiis arrival be probibly expected. i he engrossed bills to continue in force the act ot 18 iS, regulating the collection of duties on imports and tonnage; to remit the duties on a tatue of General Washington, executed in Europe, for the state of North Carolina, were read the third time, passed, and sent to the other house tor concurrence. Mr. Trimble hid on the table a resolution, proposing a standing committee of five members, en the Subject of roads and canals. The senate then took up the Maine and Missouri bill; when Mr. Thomas for the purpose of modifying, or introducing it in another shape, withdrew the amendment which he offered on Thursday last; and then, on motion of Mr. Smith, the bill was postponed to to morrow. Ihuse cf Representatives. Mr. Mercer submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That, until the decision of the question now depending in this house, relative to the admission cf the state of Missouri into the union; the hetne rrili not adjourn any day

before 4 o'clock in the afternoon. ...... Mr. Mercer, remarked that he had been himself in favor of a later hour, but he had proposed four, in conformity to the wishes of friends. He urged the propriety of greater deligencein bringing the discussion of the question concerning Missouri to a close, Mr. Liverfnorc wis opposed to to the resolution, as unnecessary. The house was at liberty to adjourn when it pleased, and could sit as late as it pleased, without tying itself by a resolution. Mr. Holmes moved that the further consideration of the resolution be postponed till 6 o'clock this evening ; but The chair deciding that as the resolution went to affect the standing rules and orders of the house it must lie on the table one day of course ; it was laid on the table accordingly. Mr. Pindill moved to change the daily hour of meeting from i! o'clock to 10 in the morning on which motion the House divided and negatived it by a large majority. MISSOURI DILL. The House resumed, as in committee of the whole, Mr. Baldwin in the chair, the consideration of this bill the Restrictive amendment being still under consideration. Mr. Hemphill, of Pennsylvania, resumed and concluded the speech which he commenced on Saturday, in favor ot the Restriction. Mr. M'Lane, cf Hclaware, followed, in opposition to the Restriction, and spoke nearly three hours. When he had concluded, Mr. Clay (Speaker) rose and expressed a wish to address the committee on the highly important question before it; but the lateness ot the hour prevented his asking its attention this afternoon; and he therefore moved that the committee rise. Tne committee then ro?c, obtained leave sit ag tin;' and Tlie house adjourned. Tuesday, Feb. E. The Speaker laid before the house a report from the secret ry of state, transmitting, in obedience to a resolution ot the house, a list of the printers appointed to promulgate the laws of the United Stages, which was ordered to lie on the tabic. Mr. Lowndes, from the committee on foreign relations, made an unfavorable report oil the claim of the owners of the Danish vessel Henrick, recommended to the attention ot congress, by the president of the U. States on the 24th Dec. lasr; which report was committed to a committee of the whole house. Mr. Nelson withdrew the motion which he offered yesterday to dispense with all' other business until the Missouri question was disposed of, with the avowal that he would offer it to-morrow not wishing at present to prevent the house from resuming the immediate consideration of th- Missouri question, for which it appeared prepared. The house then again went Into a committee of the whole, Mr. Baldwin iri the chair, on the Missouri bill the restrictive amendment being still under consideration. Mr. Speaker Clay rose and addressed the committee nearly four hours against the right and expediency of the proposed restiiction. The committee then rose on motion of Mr. Sergeant (who, according to usage, has priority of claim to the floor to-mor. row;)

Wednesday, Feb. 9. 7i number of unfavorable reports on private petitions, wers received Mr. Foot offered the following resolutions forconsidera tion: Resolved By the senate and House of Representatives of the IT. S. America, in congress assembled, That there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the territories of the U. States, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: Provided, That this shall not be construed to alter the condition or civil rights of any person now held to service or labor' in said "territories, Resslved, That it be, and is hereby, recommended to the inhabitants of the several territories of the U. States, that, for the purpose of effectually preventing the further extension of slavery, each territory, when authorised bv congress to form a constitution and state government, shall, by express provision in their constitution prohibit involuntary servitude, or slavery, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes. Mr. Nebon, of Virginia, moved that the resolutions be Committed to the committee of the whole house, which was now considering the .Missouri bill. It was entitled to a serious consideration, as it effected the important question now Under discussion. He conceived this not the proper mode of bringing up the question; it should be in the umal form of 2n act, which shou'd go thro the several forms, while, as a resolution, introduced today to be decided to-morrow, it would not afford an opportunity of discussing its merirs. Mr. Foot observed, that a reference to a committee' of the whole would defeat the object, because the subject now 'before the committee would of course have the precedence. These resolution?, gentlemen would observe, by a little attention, were perfectly proper, and, indeed, the only form in which a decision could be made; particularly as it respected the second resolution, which contained a mere recommendation to tlie territories to prohibit slavery, without involving the question whether the congress had the power to impose this restriction. It wis admitted, by gentlemen on both $ides, that con'gress had the power to prohibit the extension cf silvery in the territories; and, if these resolutions should be adopted, congress would be relieved from the disagreeable necessity of deciding on their constitutional powers, respecting which great doubt appeared to exist and the excitement which tins question had produced would be allayed; then nothing would remain for their consideration bat the Question of expediency; the appeal would then be made to the proposed state of Missouri to restrict slavcrv, instead of an attempt to impose the restriction by congress. Mr. F. moved to commit the resolutions to a committee of the whole on the state of the union. Finally the resolutions were laid on the table. Mr. H. Nelson called for the Consideration of the resolution offered by him on Monday, in substance to suspend all other business of the house, pending the consideration of the question (now under discussion) concerning the admission of Missouri into the union, with or without restriction but the house refused, by a large majority, td consider the tcsoiu. tion.

The house then resumed committee of the whole V? ron-sider.ifinn nf thm ' lt

-y. v. aissoti ment proposed thereto. Mr. Sergeant, of Pennsvlva: commenced a speech in fay sPokt nearly three hours; when v gave way for a moment tor th committee to rise- which nr C vailed; and The house adjourned. MARCH 2, 18x20. On Wednesday evening iht 23d ult. after our paper was put to press, this place was visited by a very severe tempest. T he wind blew from the south west, unrooflfed several buildings and injured a few boats lying at the river, one of which was (r0ni Lawrehceburgh, owned by j gentleman by the name offfjys, loaded with horses, corn and bats; z tree was blown on it which killed one horse, crippled several ..others and sunk the boat. His loss, we have been informed, was about a thousand dollars. Several farrm in the vici'it'y liave also been muchir.. jured. FROM CALCUTA. Very interesting. The frflov. ing is a nummary of itiTcresttrg intelligence from Calcutta pi. pers received at the oiiice ot th. Boston Daily Advertiser. Private letters from Mochi mention tint the whole of the sea coast of Arabia is now under the control of the Paclu of Efivpt. . . Dreadful Earthquake An ar. tide dated Porebuuder, June 17, gives the particulars of an earthquake, experienced in tint town and port the day previous. The weather was close and u!. try, the thermometer at S5 with scarcely a breath of air, At about 7 o'clock in the evening a distant sound was heard in the west, like that of a can. nona le at sea. In a moment a stone pirapet was observed to be bending in and out with a quick wive-likc motion, and vibration of about a foot, to the distance of 50 yards ta length, with a hissing cracking nnTc. Two gentleir.en, who were within a few feet of the wall, thinking it impossible rot the works to stand, the wall being 17 feet high, immediately lied for eafety. The motion they experienced in their flight was something Minilar to running along an elevated and c lastic plank, the ends alone cf which are supported. Intf fled to the nearest rampart, which was ten feet thick and twenty-two in height, and yet it waved to and fro like the sea On reaching a spot ot comparative safety, their attention was directed to a cloud of black dust arising at 500 yards citancc, from the sea face of thf fort. The shock being over, curiosity prompted an approach, when it was found to proceed from the fall of nine tower?, 50 and 40 feet high, and ige parts of the Curtain, 22 3nd 25 feet high, leaving 21 breaches of 40 and 60 yards wide. er' few houses throughout the city but received injury; some i"u fallen and blocked up the streets. The earth opened, and water issued from the cavities, wlnca ran over an extensive plain U miles distant. The atiwxphf was strongly impregnated tfit. sulphur. The same day, J tween 10 A. M. and two I . l there were several other hocKj tfhich brought dovtn on

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