Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/01-1807/06 msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0159    Enlarge and print image (4M)

Jump to page

<< PREVIOUS   NEXT >>

Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/01-1807/06 msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0159    Enlarge and print image (4M)

Jump to page

<< PREVIOUS   NEXT >>

Congress of the United Stales. HOUSE OK REPRESENTATIVES, Friday, February 13. .[Taken tor the.FEDERAL GAZETTE.] Mr. Early from, tin; committee of corn- • merce. and manufactures, who wire directed to inquire wl;at alterations were necessary in. the act prohibiting .the importation of certain goods, wares arid merchandize, .pre- sented a bill supplementary to that act (which takes ofi the restrictions imposed on a nuui- Ler of the article/' specified therein). Read twice, and referred to a committee, of the ¦whole on Monday. The bill flora the senate, prohibiting set- tlements von lands' belonging to the United States, until authorised by law, was read twice." and referred .to the committee on pub- lic lands.' . -The bill ¦ from the senate to regulate the summons of'grand jurors,, was read twice and referred to, a'committee of the whole on .' Monday. . .. . Mr, J. Clay presented a petition and me- morial from the president and directors of .the'.Chesapeake Canal Company, stating ¦ *hat they had made considerable progress in the .work, but were unable to complete it, and praying Hie assistance of congress.— Ordered to he on the table. The engrossed bill to prohibit the.import- ation of slaves, was read a third time and passed—ayes 118, noes 5. 'A message was received from the senate, notifying that they had passed an act sup- plementary to the act establishing a mint aird fixing the coinage of the .United States. . The house went into committee of the whole, on the bill extending the time for locating Virginia military warrants, and for returning the Survey thereof to the secreta- ry of tire war department. The blanks were tilled up, (allowing three years for the first purpose, and five for the second) when the committee rose and reported the bill as amended, and it was ordered to have a third eeading to-morrow. The house went into committee of the whole on the " Bill respecting seizures made under the authority of the United States, and for other purposes." The com- mittee of the whole reported the bill with-, out atnendmeiiv, and it was ordered to have a third reading to-moitow. The house went into committee of the whole-on the bill making appropriations for finishing the south wing of the capitol. Air. Lewis moved to fill the first blank with a 25.000 dollars," for the purpose of .finishing the south wing. ¦ Carried-. Mr. Lewis moved to till the next blank with '; 30,000 dollars," for'the purpose of nmg tiie room for the accommodation of the house. Mr. Gregg inquired whether the building be in a situation to receive these ac- commodations before the next session of congress. They had been here seven years' already, and it was not yet completed : he did not know but it might take seven years, more to finish it. Mr, Van Coitland said that want of mo- in y had been the cause of the'dehy. Mr. Jackson did not know how much it would take to finish the house, but he tho't that 20,000 dollars was too much to appro- priate to furnish one room : In former times that sum would have been deemed sufficient to build and furnUli a house. Mr. Findloy said that nothing was so ea- sy as to find fault, especially with those who were not competent judges. For his pal't, he was no judge ; hut as so much had been already expended, he wished that we might enjoy the benefit of it. Mr. Masters observed, that the house had appropriated 20,000 dollars for the fortifica- tion of allthe forts & harbors in theU. States — and they were now .about to approp: the intne sum for their own accommodation. Mr. Macon did not know how much mo- ney it would 'require to furnish, the house ; hut lie judged from the si?e of the building. He believed that 20,000 dollars had been appropriated to furnish the president's house, besides the furniture of the old con- gress, lie wished the house to be furnished i.i a convenient man Mr. Lewis said it was immaterial to him whether any appropriation were made to furnish the house or not, as he did not Icnow whither he should ever have an op- portunity of sitting in it. The whole of the money, however, was not to be ex- | pended in furnishing one room : there were j a number of committee rooms also to be ' furnished. lie was perfectly willing to ap- propriate the sum mentioned, as it was to | be laid jiiit uncler the direction .of -the presi- ' dent of the United States. Mr..Smiiie ob: erved, that on a former oc- casion he had voted against granting any 'farther sum towards finishing tin:. expensive building, from a belief that it would be bet- ter to appropriate 150,000 dollars and build a good brick house for the accommodation of congress. He denied that 'die delay in the building was occasioned by the want tif iiioiia-j , which, he said, had teen grant- j cd.whenever called tor. The- motion to fiji the.blank with "£0,000 dollars" was lost. Several other sums were proposed,^but the blank was «v»ntuallyfill- ed with '; 17,OG0 dollars." Mr. Lewis moved to fill the next blank with 50,000 dollars, for the purpose of alter- ing and repairing-the east side of the north wing of the capitol. Mr. I>. It. Williams moved-to strike out the words " altering mid." Mr. Cliaudler inquired what alterations were to be made. Mr. Lewis replied that he believed the principal alteration was to be made in the se- nate chamber and court-room. Mr. Jackson said, that on recurring to the report of the superintendant, he found that 50,000 dollars were wanted towards altering the east side of the north wing. He was. .afraid that before we got through both sides it would cost a million. Mr. U. E. Williams really thought that this money was to be expended on the se- nate rooni for the purpose of making it par- liamentary : when the house got into the south wing, they would be some feet higher -than the senate; it was necessary, therefore, that the senate room should be raised, in or- der that their messages might be sent down to the house ; for his part, he would father see the phrase reversed, and that their mes- sages should be sent up to the house. The question was then taken on striking out the words " altering and," and carried. On motion of Mr. Jackson, the words " east side of," were also stricken out. The blank was then filled with 25,000 dollars. The committee of the whole rose, report- ed the bill amended, and it was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The bill for the relief of Stephen Sayre was read a third time and passed. Mr. Mumford, after some prefatory obser- vations, in which he urged the necessity of being prepared for war by fortifying the At- lantic ports, and calling the attention of the house to the present desolated state of Eu- rope, submitted the following resolutions : 1. Resolved, that it is expedient to appro- priate the sum of dollars, to enable the president of the U.S. more effectually to fortify the port and harbor of N. York. 2. Resolved, that it is expedient to appro. propriate the further sum of dollars to enable the president of the U. States to for- tify the port & harbor of Charleston (S. fc ) and the further sum of dollars'to enable the president of the U. States to fortify the port and harbor of Norfolk. 3. Resolved, that it is expedient to appro- priate the further surfr of dollars, to en- able the president of the U. States to fortify any, ports, other than those of New-York, Charleston and Norfolk, which he may think most conducive to the oublic welfare. The speaker said that the first resolution was not in order, as there was a resolution now on the table for the same purpose 'Sub. mined some clays ago by Mr. Varuum, pro- pos.ihg to appropriata 100,000 dollars for .the defi-'itce of N. York. ... Mr. Varnum withdrew his resolution. Mr. Dana spoke against making partial appropriations. Mr. Eppes observed, that the principle of being always prepared for war, had ruined every nation in Europe which had adopted it. Until the year 1794, the affairs of this nation went on peaceably : at that time this principle had obtruded itself into the nati- onal councils, and above fifty millions had been expended. Since the year 1798, up- wards of 19 millions had been expended on the navy ; and what (he asked) was it worth now : Considerable sums he said, had also been expended.on fortifications, and what were they good for I He referred particular- ly to the " famous fortification of Fort M'Henry, at Baltimore." He said he should vote for the first resolution,on account of the anxiety manifested by the people of N. Y. la.t in- would vote against the other two.—• He therefore called for a division of the ques- tion. Mr. ftuincey also spoke against making specific appropriations in favor of one port to the exclusion of others. He also inquir- ed what had caused the change-in the opini- on of the gentleman (Mr. Varuum). For- merly that gentleman had been opposed to impropriations for the defence of ourharliors. lie then adverted to Mr. V's intimacy with the president, and the secretary at war3 which (he said) almost rendered that gen- tleman's opinions semi-official, and wished to know what had produced his sudden re- generation. He had heard it reported, and he mentioned it with regret, that the forti- fication of New-York-was made a party question : he did not know how true this might be, but of this he was certain, that the gentleman's hundred-thousand dollar-resolu- tion had been offered a few days after a cer- tain great change had taken place in Alba- ny. Mr. Varnum replied. He denied that bis opinion had ever been influenced by any e- veiits at Albany or elsewhere. He also ob- served, that it was a well known fact, that he had always contributed to the dejenije of the country whenever he thought it necessa- ry ; and had done so, while bis colleague ocking in the cradle, j The first resolution was then referred to j the cqmmittee of the whole, to whom hud Messrs. D. R. Williams, Marion & New- ton, spoke against the othertwo resolutions, when. Mr. Mumford consented to withdraw them. Mr. Randolph, from the committee of ways and means, presented a bill in addition to the act (passed a few days ago) supple- mentary to the act making provision for the redemption of the whole of the,public debt of the U. States ; which was referred to a committee of the whole on Tuesday. been referred a bill- on the tame, subject. Fort M'tiemy (Baltimore) Feb. 16, 1807. The editor of the Federal Gazette and Bal- timore Daily. Advertiser will please insert the following communication, letters & cer- tificates. W. C. M. On my arrival at WashingtonCity, which was on the night of the 21st ult. I immedi- ately went to the secretary at war, with my dispatches,from gen. Wilkinson (10 o'clock the next day being his hour for business) at the same time disclosed to him what follows in certificates ; it seems since that- time an application has come on from gen. Wilkin- son, for my arrest, and that a cerlaincaptahi Furgus, of the U. States artillery, has gone forward and made disclosures to gen. Wil- kinson, charging me with a connection with col. Burr. Here I must observe, I did at the time of judge Workman's remarks to me, mention the ^.ibject to capt. Furgus ; & I now affirm that gen. Wilkinson was as much known to me in the story as colonel Burr, or the U. States: I hope the court that tries me, will be so impartial as to have the entire proceedings published by virtue of their sentence. On the gth inst. general Dearborn sent for me—I went—he said he wanted an explanation relative to judge Workman on the subject which I had pro- mulged on my arrival, guarding, against a want of candor, by saying he had received depositions against me. I observed, I had said every thing in the first instance. 1 re- turned to my lodgings, and the next day a- bout 2 o'clock, carried general Dearborn the following letter, accompanied Ivy a copy of my letter to gen. Wilkinson, written a few days before the troops marched to wreathe themselves in laurels on the Sabine. Georgetown, February 10, 1807. General Dearborn, Sir, From circumstances, doubts have been created unfavorable to the patriotism and af- fection which I bear to my country, there- fore from respect to you and justice to my- self will make a few observations—not wish- ing in the least to prejudice fair and candid investigation. When I arrived here, I mentioned to you as correctly as I could, the manner in which judge W&fkman had deluded me, together with lieutenants Taylor and Sevier ; by the bye not apprehending in the least any avow- als that might be made. I acknowledge with frankness, that I mentioned to some officers, directly after leaving judge W's table, what had been dis- closed to me, which was to this effect, " we intend marching to Mexico so soon as our plan is sufficiently ripe, headed by col. Burr arid gen. Wilkinsonjourgovernnientknows of our arrangements and aids and assists us.'' Since then I conceived that the scheme was in oblivion. . (csa,>^) - . W- C. mean, n,,3;&,i "Second regt.'U. .§. army. - Sat'ehitoches, October 15, 1806. Gen«tal James Wilkinson, Sir, from the present dubious situation of our army, 1 presume to make one solicitati- on, it is, that I may be permitted to remain and do my duty with the army, instead of repairing to New-Orleans as ordered by ge- neral orders of the 14th ; & that I may be allowed one or two days to deliver over my public papers to lieutenant Buck. I trust my conduct has not been such as to invite a belief, that I wish to secede from those du- ties which my country claims of me as a soldier, by pleading fiscal arrangements. Love of country ought to be the first and only pride of a soldier—mean selfishness puarded by the unerring centinel of justice, wdiile patience and her distant relation obe- diece form the " military man." W. C. MEAD, Ensign Second reg. U.S. army. About eight or nine o'clock at night, I received the following notice : Washington City, F-ebruary lOlh, 1807. Sir, You will consider yourself under arrest on the following charges, viz. For mutinous and un-officer like conduct. You will therefore divest yourself of your side-arms and repair to Fort M'Henry, in the harbor of Baltimore, and confine your- self within the wails of that Fort. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) H. BURBECK, colonel Commanding artillery, Rnsi-gn William C. Mead, 2d reg. infantry. [CERTIFICATE.] « Fort Military, February hith, 1807. " I certify that ensign W. C. Mead, of the 2d regiment of United States' army, did, at the table of judge Workman, of New-Orleans, in reply to his observations relative to inarching to* Mexico—wherein he asserted that our government fostered the expedition ; but that this kind of poli- cy was observed to prevent suspicions from the Spaniards in general—though a number of Spanish officers were in the secret, and that general Wilkinson and colonel Burr perfectly understood each other, and were to have command—say (Mead) that he was too much of an American to think of ex- patriating himself—that if government did sanction a measure of that kind, he would glory in the enterprize—further, I do not believe that ensign Mead ever thought atry thing of the business, as we never had one single word on the subject, until I arrived at Washington City. • (Signed) G. W. SEVIER, lieut. Second regiment infantry." [CERTIFICATE.], . Fort M'Henry, February 12, 1807. I do certify, on the honor of a soldier, that ensign W. C. Mead, of the second re'gi- ment of the United States army, did on his way to Washington City, charged with Samuel Swartwcnt, as prisoner of the U. Stales, and acting unckr the eiders of Wilkinson, mention to me a certain conver- sation,-which he said took place at Judge Workman's table, in New-Orleans, and I believe to this effect : " That Judge Work- riiau observed to him, lieutenants Taylor and Sevier, that an expedition was on foot, to march to Mexico, under the sanc- tion and knowledge of our government -—that general Wilkinson and colonel Burr were the eonductors of this expedition : and that it was a glorious opportunity for laudable interprize ; that ensign Mead did say Workman had deluded him." (Signed) N. PINKNJfJY, Lieutenant of Infantry. Also mentioned the circumstance to Lieut. William WTilson, at Annapolis, on my way to Washington City with dispatches. Convinced of the evils which character labors under when the real cause is hidden, and to hint as much as my situation will admit, at the designs and machinations of men experienced in treachery, induces me to make this ingenuous appeal to that pri- mal source, from whence emanated the ho- nor I felt in bearing a commission in the U. States army. The celebrated fable of the fox and goat, is known to every school boy ; and I do not hesitate to say, that it is my firm belief, there are men high in the general confidence, tbat have taken the ladder from under the feet of their own deluded party. • When 1 entered the service, it was not to wear a shining e/uuilctte, or to be spangled with gold buttons, nor was it the poor, pitiful sum of twenty dollars per month ; it was the pleasing incentive, resulting from the happy idea of being known to my country, and devoting my life to the first passion of my soul. My object is not to solicit, favor, or make a partial impression on the mind of any person, but if I have committed mu- tiny, that my government will make a pro- per example of me—a lasting monument to future credulists. " For gold the merchant fiioughs the Main, The farmer [doughs the Manor ; . But gloiy is the soldier's gain, The soldier's 'Wealth is honor." \V. C. MEAD, ensign Second regiment U. S, army. Pert M'Henry, 16'/i Feb. ISO/. MESSAGE From the president of the U.S., transmitting a memorial of the French minister, on the subject of the claim of Ameiie Eugenie de Beauinarchais,heir and legal representative of the late Baron de Beaumarchais, Feb.6, 1807, read, and referred to the committee of claims. To the Senate (end House of Representatives, The government of France having examin- ed into the claim of M. De Beaumarchais, a- gaiuSt the U. States, and considering it as jus.t and legal, has instruc.ed its minister here to make representations on the subject to the government of the U. S. I now lay his memoir thereon before the legislature.the only authority competent to a final decision on the same. TH. JEFFERSON. Feb. 6,1807. TRANSLATION. "To Mr, Madison, Secretary of State. Sir—I have the honor to address to you enclosed an answer to the objections made by the secretary of the treasury to a corn, plete settlement with the heirs oi M. Beau- marchais! This answer is annexed to the note which I have the honor to address to you on this subject.' Accept, sir, a new assurance of my high consideration. TURRE'AU. Washington, Jan. 14, 1807. Fa;t'..fiilly translated. JACOB" WaGNER, Chief Clerk, Department of Mate. TRANSLATION. Note of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France to the Secretary of State. The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary of his imperial and royal maj. sty, to his ex- celleucy the president of the U. States of A- merica, has the honor to remind the secreta- ry of state, that at the beginning of last year and during the session of congress, M. Clie- vallie, attorney in fact of the heirs of M. de Beaumarchais, took various steps with the secretary of the treasury to obtain a liquida- tion of the debt contracted by the U. S. with the said Beaumarchais. At the request of the attorney in fact, to whom the treasury opposed a receipt of M. de Beaumarchais in order to place to the debt of his heirs a million of tivres tournois, the undersigned addressed, on the 1st January 1806, to the secretary of the treasury, an of- ficial note, which left no doubt of the desti- nation of the million in dispute, the employ- ment of which, agreeably to the orders of the king, was consecrated to a special and secret service, and consequently, which had not and could not have any connexion with the transactions, bargains, supplies, and ge- nerally with any mercantile operations which M. de Beaumarchais might have been concerned in with the government of the U. States of America. ! This note, or rather this official declara- tion of the minister plenipotentiary of France, ought to have removed the only obstacle which was opposed to the entire liquidation with the hens of Mr. de Beau- marchais, because the justice of their claim is demonstrated to conviction ; and they were far from expecting that the secretary of the treasury would still retain doubts up- on the legitimacy of their credit. The heirs of Mr. de Beaumarchais now confide their interests to the protection of the French government as well as to the justice of the federal government ; and the undersigned, jn declaring to the secre- tary of state, that this affair, on being ex- amined in France with the most scrupu- lous attention, has presented .to the judg- ment of the most enlightened and impar- tial men nothing but an iiicontestible con- clusion in favor of the heirs of Mr. de Beaumarchais, will add, that it is no longer to Mr. Chevaliie, it is no longer to a more attorney in fact, that the said heirs have recourse to obtain a justice too long refused ; but to the French government itstlf, which culls with confidence and through the organ of its minister plenipotentiary, the attenti- on of the secretary of state to interests no less sacred than the cause whicWproduced them. When the French government raises its ill favor of the unfortunate heirs of ¦ Beaumarchaisj the undersigned thinks it useless to roc, 1! to vi-w the oatmv and tiie importance of the services, whicjb author rendered, to tii cause of indepejidf ence. It .won!,! be to tun) the iuin;! back towards a period ,,.j:ialiy glorious lor die two nations, but thai Prance, always genei rous, knows how to forget, because tile u. State- remember it. After the ministerial declaration respect- ing the employment of the million, a itecf.i a- tion, vvhtch.doubtless (and as a cottsequ of those mutual sjentiuiciits of respect and confidence, wdiich goveiiunents ought to have for communications oi' this nanus) would have been sufficient for the secretary of the treasury, if his powers had not bec-n so limited ; it is the duty or' the'undersigu- ed, agreeably to the formal and repeated in- structions, which he has receivt'j. ni this respect, to address himself directly and in. the name of his government to tiiatoi' lite United States, and to request from the se- cretary of state, that at leiigrh justice should be done to the claim of the heirs of Mr. de Beaumarchnis ; a claim wdiich the French government would not have honored with its support, if it were not founded upon tha immutable principles of reason and of right, The undersigned s--i-.es with eagerness this occasion of -offering to the sccivtmv. of state the homage of his high considera- tion. (Signed) TURREAU. Washington, the \'ith Jan. 1£)07, Faithfully translated, JACOB WACXi: Chief clerk, department t.f s;.ie.. Translation. Claim of Mr. Beaumarchais, to a million against the United States, as payment for, supplies wdiich he furnished themi. Objections of the Treasury of the United States. " It was afterwards discovered that only two millions out of the three granted as a gratuitous gift, before thejtreaty of February, 1778, had neen thus received by the United States.; and to an application made to count de Vergennes in 1786, for the pur- pose of ascertaining when, and to whom, the other million had been paid, an aaswer was returned that the said million was paid on the 10th day of June, 1770 ; but a copy of the receipt was refused, and the minister did not think proper to disclose the name of the person, who had received the money. on a subsequent application made to the French government, the minister of foreign relations gave it as the result of his inqui- ries that M.de Beaumarchais was the person to whom the said million had been advanced, and accordingly furnished the ministers of the United States with a copy of M. de Ikaumaiohais receipt for that sum." " Nodaubt remains, that the advance of one million made by the French gO'/ernun-r.t, on the 10th June, 1776, for the use of tha United States, and the payment of one mil- lion on the same day, by order of the mins- ter of foreign affairs to M. Beauniarcli.ii=, W'ere but one and the same transaction." Ans'wer. Before answering the objections of tha treasury of the United States, it is of impor-- ta»ce correctly to state the question which forms the subject of the present claim, be- cause by this means all suppositions foreign to it will be avoided. Did Mr. Beaumarchais receive from the mment of France a million on account of his supplies to the Uniteu States '. This is the question. The identity of the date given by Mr. de Vergennes, and of the receipt of Mr. de Heaamarcliais, communicated by Mr. Buchot, h.s until now been the cause of a delay of justice on the part of the treasury of the. United States, to the heirs of Mr. tie Beau- marchais, and of the prejudices wdiich th« treasury has conceived against this claim. In Mr. de Beaumarcnais, we are Jo per- ceive and recognize two characters ; otte tin; secret agent, of the French government ; and the other a furnisher of supplies to the United States. As secret agent of the government of France, he received a million on the 10th June, 1776. In the same year Mr. de Ver- gennes, who had caused it to be given to him, and who had imposed upon him the obligation of rendering an account to him- self for it, presented that account to the king, who approved of it, and gave a dis- charge to Mr. de Beaumarchaisj If M. Bu- chot, in communicating this receipt, had in- timated at the same time, that in the same file, and annexed to the receipt itself, were the account rendered to the king, and the approbation in the margin signed by tin- King himself, certainly the treasury would not have pretended a right to charge to the account of supplies by Mr. de Beaumarchais. a million for' which he had accounted, and from which he had been discharged by the autbjOrity which had given it to him. As a furnisher of supplies to the United; States, he did not receive the said million, and consequently he is a creditor, and will- reiuein a creditor of the United States for this sum, until it is paid to him. Anion;:; the nine millions given as a. free gift by lin- king, three were stated by the convention oi' 1788, as having been before 1778. Of these three the United States had the i. only two ; and it is of that which is want- ing that they require an account from M. ut; Bi aumarchais. Although the nine millions in qui have been formerly acknowledged to have been received by the convention of Bflth Fe-< brvavy., 1783, signed by the American com- missioners and fatiSed by congress, an though this public apt discharges ;"d. de Beau marcliaisfroin all accountability; nevertheless the government of France, in order to full \ the claims of justice, as well as the desire of the United States to know what has bicome of this million, causes its minister pljr.ipo, tentiary to declare: 1st. That the French government has al? ways remained a stranger to all the mercan- tile transactions of M. de Beauinarchais,, with tire United States. 2d, That the million given on the ICth of June, 1776, to the saffi Siviir do B^aamar- chais was for a secret political service, ot* which the king reserved to himself the know- ledge. 8d. That the account of the employment of tin: safd million waa presented at the close of 1776 to the king, and approvirj by hi;,], 4th. That Wl. de Reaumaicbais- Iras beeu discharged from it by his majesty lijms.¦).;. 6th. And lastly, that the said uiilhoj, vv.,si not given on account of his supplies. This declaration coitfirms those wjijcij have been made on. divers oc.asiei;:; L-y j\;.