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The principal question before the committee of the whole, was on an amendment proposed by general Harrison; which was to strike out the two first sections of the present bill, and insert in lieu thereof other sections, providing that every revolutionary officer and soldier, who formed a part of the military establishment of the United States at the close of the war, or who previously thereto served not less than three years and received an honourable discharge, shall receive a pension, if an officer, of half pay; if a private, of five dollars per month; but no officer's pension to exceed the half pay of a lieutenant colonel, &c.

The question on this motion was not taken before the committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. Tuesday, Dec. 23. On motion of Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts, it was

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for appointing Justices or Conservators of the Peace, or other Magistrates, authorized to enforce the execution of the Laws of the United States.

Mr. Trimble, of Ky. offered for consideration the following resolution:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House any information he may be able to communicate relative to the impressment and detention in confinement of Richard Cowles Meade, a citizen of the United States.

Mr. Trimble made some remarks on the case, which were calculated to stimulate an

inquiry into the conduct of the Spanish government towards Mr. Meade, as involving considerations in which the dignity of this country was implicated.

The motion was agreed to without opposi

tion.

The House having resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill concerning the surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war

The debate continued on the main subject, and on the proposed amendment of Mr. Harrison. In this debate Messrs. Bloomfield, S. Smith, Harrison, Colston, Baldwin, Clag; gett, Hopkinson, Rhea, Ross, Ingham, and Forsyth, bore part.

The amendment proposed by Mr. Harrison was ultimately rejected; as also was a previvious question for the rising of the committee, in order to postpone the subject.

The committee then went on further to amend the bill, on suggestion of various members. In the proposition and discussion of these amendments, Messrs. Peter, Bloomfield, Livermore, Parris, Rhea, Bennett, Beecher, Harrison, Terry, Forsyth, Smith of N. C. Taylor of N. Y. Tallmadge, Whitman, Claggett, Palmer, and Storrs, took part.

Among the successful motions was one by Mr. Parris, to include the "officers and mariners who served in the navy of either of the States, or of the United States," thus placing VOL. II.-No. IV.

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the revolutionary officers of the navy on the same footing as those of the army.

The committee of the whole rose, about 4 o'clock, and reported the bill as amended. The House took up the amendments reported by the committee; when various propositions were successively made and discussed to disagree to or to amend many of them. The House having at length gone through the amendments,

The bill was ordered to be engrossed, as amended, nem. con. and read a third time to

morrow.

Wednesday, Dec. 24. The bill providing for certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary army, was read a third time:

A motion was made by Mr. Lowndes to recommit the bill to a committee of the whole House, with instructions" to limit the benefits of the act to soldiers who were enlisted for a term of three years, or for the war, and who did not desert; and to officers who continued in the service of the United States to the conclusion of the war in 1783, or were left out of the service in consequence of disability, or in consequence of some derangement of the Army."

The question being stated on thus recommitting the bill, Mr. Edwards moved to amend the said instructions by striking out the words "three years" and to insert in lieu

thereof the words "one year."

And the question being taken thereon, it was decided in the affirmative.

After a considerable debate, in which Messrs. Johnson of Ky. Miller, Ogle, and Rhea, took part, a division of the question being required, it was taken on recommitting the bill, and decided in the negative, ayes, 57.

The question was then taken on the final passage of the bill, and decided in the affir

mative without a division. And the bill was sent to the Senate for concurrence.

On motion of Mr. Drake of Mass. it vas Resolved, That the committee of Commerce and Manufactures be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting bounties to manufacturers who manufacture a given number of yards of woollen and cotton cloths, of a certain width; and that a permanent fund be appropriated for that purpose.

The House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. A Smith in the chair, on the bill by which the right of citizenship may be relinquished,"

On suggestion of Mr. Lowndes, that this was a subject of too much importance to be acted on with so thin a house, Mr. Robertson, of I.. (the author of the bill) consented to its postponement, by the committee's rising and obtaining leave to sit again.

And the House adjourned to Monday.

Monday, Dec. 29. Mr. Pindall, from the committee to whom the subject had been referred, reported a bill to amend the act res pecting the recovery of fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters, [providing the means to be

pursued for the recovery of slaves escaping into another state, and affixing the penalties for harbouring such fugitives, or obstructing their recovery, &c.] The bill was twice read and committed.

A message was received from the President of the United States by his Secretary, transmitting in compliance with the resolution of the House, a report from the Department of State, containing the names of those members of the House who had held offices under the United States, since the 4th of March last, &c. &c. as follows,

John Holmes. of Massachusetts, commissioner under the 4th article of the treaty of Ghent; appointed 16 h February, 1816; resigned 24th November, 1817.

Samuel Herrick, of Ohio, attorney of the United States; appointed 19th December, 1810; resigned 29th November, 1817.

Daniel Cruger, of New-York, post-master at Bath; appointed 1st December, 1815; resigned 29th June, 1817

Elias Earle, of South-Carolina, post-master at Centreville; appointed in April, 1816; Designe 12th June, 1817.

Thomas H. Hubbard, of New-York, postmaster at Hamilton; appointed 11th March, 1813; resigned 23d October, 1817.

Samuel C. Crafts, of Vermont, principal assessor for the sixth collection district; appointed 4th January, 1815; resigned 5th June, 1817.

George Robertson, of Kentucky, principal assessor for the seventh collection district; appointed 4th January, 1815; resigned 5th June, 1817.

George Mumford, of North-Carolina, principal assessor for the tenth collection district. No resignation has been received from Mr. Mumford.

Levi Barber, of Ohio, receiver of public monies at Marietta; appointed 3d March, 1807; resigned 1st December, 1817.

John F. Parrott, of New-Hampshire, naval officer for the district of Portsmouth; appointed 23d April, 1816; resigned 15th November, 1817.

The report was referred to the Committee of Elections.

Tuesday, Dec. 30. Mr. Miller, of South Carolina, submitted for consideration a reso. lution to appoint a committee to inquire into the expediency of amending the act regulating the neutral relations of the United States; which after some discussion was laid on the table, 79 to 50.

The house, on motion of Mr. Johnson, of Ky. resumed the consideration of the bill to commute the bounty lands of the soldiers of the late army-the question being on concur ring in the amendments reported to the house by the committe of the whole.

Mr. Robertson of Louisiana, proposed an ameudment to the bill, which on motion of Mr. Johnson of Ky. was ordered to be printed, and the whole subject was ordered to lie on the table.

Wednesday, Dec. 31. The house went into a committee of the whole, Mr. Wilkin in the

chair, on the bill to prescribe the effect certain records and judicial proceedings of the courts of each State shall have in every other State, and in the courts of the United States.

The bill received some amendments, and considerable discussions took place on its details, in which Messrs Pindall, Storrs, Strong, of Mass. H. Nelson, of Va. Edwards, Baldwin, Whitman, Livermore, Spencer, and Beecher joined. After the committee had spent some time on the subject

Mr. Clay (Speaker) rose, and observing that as, either from its being the last day of the year, or from some other cause, he knew not what, the house seemed less interested in this subject than its importance merited, moved, that the committee rise; which being agreed to

The committee rose, reported progress, obtained leave to sit again; and the house adjourned to Friday.

Friday, January 2. On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Ky. it was

Resolved, That the committee of claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for extending the provisions of an act entitled "An act providing for the payment of claims for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes."

The house again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Smith of Md. in the chair, on the bill to prescribe the effect of certain records and judicial proceedings.

After some debate, in which several amendments were proposed and discussed, the committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.

Monday, January 5. Mr. Taylor, of NewYork, from the committee on elections, to whom was referred the petition of C. Hammond, contesting the election of Mr. Herrick, a member of this house from the State of Ohio, on the ground of his having held an of fice under the United States, subsequent to the fourth day of March last, made an elaborate report thereon, terminating with a recommendation to the house to come to the following resolution: "Resolved, that Samuel Herrick is entitled to a seat in this house." The report was read, and referred to a committee of the whole.

Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts, from the select committee appointed to consider the subject. reported a bill allowing compensation to the members of the senate and house of representatives of the United States. [The bill fixes the compensation at the rate of nine dollars per diem, and nine dollars for every twenty miles travelling to and from Congress.] The bill was twice read and committed.

Mr. Floyd, of Virginia, from a select committee, reported a bill to extend the privilege of franking to the vaccine agents of States and Territories, which was twice read and committed.

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Smith, of Md. in the chair, on the bill to prescribe the effect of

certain records and judicial proceedings. An amendment proposed by Mr. Baldwin was under consideration. The bill and the amendment were opposed by Mr. Ross. Mr. Poindexter was opposed to the amendment, and Mr Strong thought the amendment preferable to the bill, though he was not satis. fied with either. Mr. Spencer defended the bill, and replied to the arguments of those who had oppugued it. Mr. Baldwin's amendment was lost.

Other amendments were proposed to the bill, some of which were agreed to, and others rejected; in the proposition and discussion of which Messrs. Storrs, Orr, Terry, Beecher, Ross, Pindall, Strong, Forsyth, Spencer, and Livermore, bore part.

Mr. Hopkinson entered at large into the subject, and in an able and perspicuous speech supported the bill.

The committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.

Tuesday, January 6. The bill providing for the compensation of members of the Senate and House of Representatives, was taken up, and after considerable debate, the allowance was fixed at eight dollars per diem, and the same sum for every twenty miles travel.

Wednesday, January 7. Mr. Williams of North Carolina, rose and addressed the house in the following words.

"Mr. Speaker: I lay before the House a letter addressed and delivered to me by a person called Colonel John Anderson. That man has mistaken me much. Wherever I am known, at this place, and in the country from whence I came, no attempt of the kind would have been made. I feel it a duty to lay the letter and the statement thereon, My made by myself, before the House. feelings are too much excited, nor would it be my duty to make any remarks on the subject. It is for the House to determine what shall be done."

The papers handed by Mr. Williams to the clerk were then read as follows:

WASHINGTON, JAN. 6, 1818.

The Hon. Lewis Williams,

Honoured sir: I return you thanks for the attention I received to my claims to pass

so soon.

Mr. Lee will hand you some claims from the River Raisin, which will pass through your honourable committee; and I have a wish that the conduct of the British in that country may be related in full on the floor of Congress; which will give you some trouble in making out the report, and supporting the same. I have now to request that you will accept of the small sum of five hundred dollars, as part pay, for the extra frouble I give you; I will present it to you so soon as I receive some from government. This is confidential, that only you and me may know any thing about it; or, in other words, I give it to you as a man and a 'mason: and hope you belong to that society. Sir, should it happen that you will not accept of this small sum, I request you will excuse me; if you do not accept, I wish you to drop me a

few lines; if you accept, I wish no answer. I hope you will see my view on this subject; that it is for extra trouble.

I will make out a statement, and present the same to the committee, which will be sup ported by Gen. Harrison, Col. Johnson, Mr. Hulbard, Mr. Meigs, Post Master-General, Governor Cass's report as commissioner, and others. Relying on your honour in keeping this a secret, and your exertions in passing these claims as soon as possible. [ need not inform you, that we are as poor unfortunate orphan children, having no representation in Congress-so must look on your honourable body as our guardians. Pardon this liberty from a stranger.

I am, with high esteem, your most obe. dient and humble servant, JOHN ANDERSON.

MR. WILLIAMS'S STATEMENT. After breakfast this morning, George, a servant came into the dining room and told me that a gentleman was in my room, waitI stepped into my room, and ing to see me. Col. John Anderson was there. He handed me a letter, observing, at the same time, that he had prepared that letter for me, and that perhaps it would require some explanation. I read over the letter with attention; and having done so,observed to Col. Anderson that it was a very surprising communication. [ then started to Mr. Wilson's room, immeWhen in the act diately adjoining my own.. of opening my own door, he begged I would not show the letter. I made no reply to this, but stepped into Mr. Wilson's room, and asked him to do me the favour to walk in to This Mr. Wilson did, following my room. After we had on immediately behind me. got into my room, in the presence of Colonel Anderson I hauded the letter to Mr. Wilson, and observing that it was a very extraor dinary communication, requested him to read it. When Mr. Wilson had read, or was nearly done reading the letter, I told Col. Anderson that I repelled with indignation and contempt the offer he had made to me in the letter. Col. Anderson said, he asked my pardon; that it was designed only as a small compensation for the extra trouble he expected to give the committee of claims in examining the claims from the Michigan territory, and exposing the conduct of the British during the war; that it was foreign from his intention to attempt any thing like a bribe; and requested me to burn the letter, or to give it to him. I told him I should do nejther; that his offence was unpardonable, such as I could not forgive, and ordered him to leave the room instantly. Col. Anderson then begged pardon, and asked forgiveness with excessive earnestness. would listen to none of his apologies; that his offence was an attack upon the integrity of Congress generally, and upon mine personally; that no one should ever have my pardon or expect my forgiveness who should suppose me capable of such an influence as

I told him I

he had attempted to practise upon me. Again I told Col. Anderson to leave my room. He advanced to the door, where he stood for some time, endeavouring to obtain my pardon, as he said. I told him it was in vain to ask it: that as a member of Congress and of the committee of claims it was my duty to examine his claims, and if just, support them; that his offer was an attempt at bribery; was an attempt to influence my mind in opposition to my duty, and as such, could not be forgiven. He then desired me either to burn the letter or give it to him. I replied that I should do neither, and again ordered him to leave my room, whereupon he did leave the room. Mr. Wilson, after talking on the subject of the letter for some time, suggested to me the propriety.of calling in Mr. Wm. P. Maclay; but, as Mr. Wm. P. Maclay was not in, I asked Mr. Wm. Maclay, the room-mate of Mr. William P. Maclay, to come to my room. He complied with my request; and, shortly after he arrived in my room, Mr. Wm. P. Maclay also stepped in. These gentlemen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. William Maclay, and Mr. Wm. P. Maclay, were in my room at the time the servant called to Mr. Wilson, and said a gentleman was below waiting to see him. Mr. Wilson walked out of the room and was gone a few minutes. After he returned, he observed that Colonel Anderson was the person who had sent for him; that Colonel A's business was to obtain his interposition to put a stop to further proceedings on the subject of his letter to me. The precise conversation between Mr. Wilson and Col. Anderson can be related by the former with minuteness.

January 7th, 1818.

LEWIS WILLIAMS.

The papers having been read through, Mr. W. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, referred to in the above narrative, handed in a statement of the facts which fell under his observation, entirely corroborating those stated by Mr. Williams as far as they came under the observation of the former.

Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, moved that the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Speaker do issue his warrant, directed to the Sergeant-at-Arms attending the House, commanding him to take into custody, wherever to be found, the body of John Anderson, and the same in his custody to keep, subject to the further order and direction of this House.

Mr. Harrison, of Ohio, rose in consequence of his name having been referred to in Col. Anderson's letter. He had met with Col. Anderson, he said, in the course of his military service, and had always heard him regarded as a highly respectable man; and well knowing his services, and the sufferings of his family, during the war, he had felt a warm interest in his favour. In the course of this morning Col. Anderson had sent for him and his friend Col. Johnson, out of the House, and with all the agitation belonging to terror or to conscious guilt, had informed

them of his having done an act which he feared would be regarded, as Mr. H. was sure it would by every member, as calling for the severest animadversion. They had informed him, Mr. H. said, that they would not justify his conduct; nor, were it brought before the house, could they say any thing in extenuation of it.

Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, expressed his sincere regret on account of the occurrence which had just taken place, not on account of the individual implicated-though surely he was to be pitied-but on account of the gentleman from North Carolina, who on this Occasion had taken that course dictated by a just sense of his own honour and the dignity of his official station; and on account of the suffering inhabitants of Detroit and Michigan generally, that they should have misplaced their confidence in one, whom, until this day, Mr. J. said, he had himself held in the highest estimation. It must have been infamy of motive, or the grossest ignorance of the nature of the Representative character, that could have produced this unwarrantable conduct.

Mr. Terry, of Connecticut, inquired whether, according to our forms of proceedings, and so our constitutional provisions, a general warrant, as proposed, could be issued? Was it not opposed, in its nature, to the principles of civil liberty.

The Speaker observed, that in the prac tice of the house, happily, instances were estremely rare, where such a warrant became necessary; no such case had occurred within his observation. But, there could be no doubt, when an offence was committed against the privileges or dignity of the House, it was perfectly in its power to issue a warrant to apprehend the party offending.

Mr. Forsyth turned to a case on record, and he was sorry there was such a case on record-where this proceeding had taken place, in the year 1795, in which a bribe in land had been offered to one or more members. Mr. F. then conformed his motion to the terms of that precedent (as above stated) from which it had before a little varied

Mr. Livermore of New-Hampshire asked for information, merely whether the facts on which the warrant was to be issued, should not first be substantiated by oath. The statement came, he knew, from a most respectable source; but was not an oath necessary to justify such a warrant ?

The Speaker said, certainly not.

The question on Mr. Forsyth's motion was then decided in the affirmative, and ordered to be entered unanimously.

The warrant was forthwith issued.

The bill providing for the Compensation of members was taken up and passed as amended.

The bill to give effect to judicial records in certain cases was taken up in Committee of the whole-after much debate the Committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.

Thursday, January 8.-The Speaker having stated to the House that the Sergeant-atArms had returned on the warrant issued to him yesterday, that he had executed the same on the body of John Anderson, therein named, and that he now held him in his custody subject to the further order and direction of the House:

Mr. Forsyth offered the following resolu

tion :

Resolved, That a committee of Privileges, to consist of seven members, be appointed, and that the said committee be instructed to report a mode of proceeding, in the case of John Anderson, who was taken into custody yesterday by order of the House; and the same committee have leave to sit immediately.

This motion gave rise to a debate of nearly two hours in length, not so much on the propriety of the particular proceeding proposed, as on the legality of proceeding at all in the case. This debate is one too interesting to be omitted, and was too long to be compressed within our present limits. It shall be presented to-morrow if possible. Mr. Beecher, Mr. Livermore, and Mr. Ball, took the ground that the proceeding of the House had been radically wrong, if not unconstitutional: Messrs. Forsyth, Tucker, Hopkinson, Pitkin, Sergeant, and Comstock took the opposite ground.

The resolution was finally agreed to; and Messrs. Forsyth, Hopkinson, Tucker, Sergeant, Johnson of Ky. Pitkin, and Taylor, appointed a committee accordingly.

The House then spent some time in committee of the whole, on the bill to prescribe the effect of certain records and judicial proceedings.

The question being still on striking out the second section of the bill; which was opposed by Mr. H. Nelson, and advocated by Mr. Barbour.

Mr. Spencer bad risen to defend the section, when, information having been given that the committee on the case of Col. John Anderson were ready to report—

The committee of the whole rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.

COL. ANDERSON'S CASE. Mr. Forsyth, from the committee appointed to-day, made a report, recommending that the House do come to the following resolution:

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Resolved, That John Anderson be brought to the bar of the House, and interrogated by the Speaker, on written interrogatories, touching the charge of writing and delivering a letter to a member of the House, offering him a bribe, which, with his answers thereto, shall be entered on the minutes of the House. And that every question proposed by a member be reduced to writing, and a motion made that the same be put by the Speaker; and the question and answer shall be entered on the minutes of the House. That, after such interrogatories are answered, if the House deem it necessary to make further inquiry on the subject, the same be conducted

by a committee to be appointed for that purpose.

Mr. Beecher made a motion to refer the report to a committee of the whole House.Negatived.

Mr. Beecher then earnestly protested against the adoption of the report for reasons which will appear in the sketch to be given of the debate.

The report was agreed to without a division.

Mr. Beecher moved that counsel be allow. ed to the accused.

Mr. Sergeant suggested that it would be time enough to do that when the prisoner asked for it.

Mr. Beecher said it was the right of this individual, placed in so novel a situation, to have his privilege pointed out to him, which otherwise he might not know,

Mr. Tucker read a resolution, that the Speaker be authorised to inform the accused that he might ask counsel, &c.

Which was superseded by an intimation from the Speaker, that he should consider it a duty, if no objection was made, to give the accused information on this head.

The Sergeant-at-Arms was then directed to bring his prisoner to the bar of the House. On his appearance, the Speaker directed a chair to be given to him, and addressed him to this effect.

"John Anderson-You are no doubt aware that you are brought before this House in consequence of having written and delivered to a gentleman, who is a member and chairman of a committee of this House, a letter, of the contents of which you are apprized. Before 1 proceed to propound to you any interrogatories on this subject, I will apprize you that, if you have any request to make of the House; if you wish for counsel, for reasonable time, for witnesses; for any of those privileges belonging to persons in similar situations, the House is disposed to grant it. If you do not wish for time, for counsel, or for witnesses, the Speaker will proceed to put to you such interrogatories as may seem proper."

To this the prisoner at the bar replied, in substance, although indistinctly, that, in his peculiar situation, he desired the assistance of counsel; he desired time until to-morrow, and the opportunity of summoning witnesses to testify to the character he had sustained through life.

Whereupon the Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to take the prisoner from the bar.

Some conversation took place as to the precise mode of proceeding, which resulted in drawing up a resolution that the Speaker be authorized to inform the accused, that the House comply with his requests.

Mr Herrick moved to amend the motion, so as that the accused be furnished previously with a copy of the written interrogatories to be put to him.

To this Mr. Forsyth objected, because it would be inconsistent with the object of this examination. The object was to ascer

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