Friday, December 6.
Army Rules, &c.
Mr. Varnum said it would be recollected that the rules and regulations for the government of the Army had never been revised since the era of the present Government; and that consequently the rules and regulations established during the Revolutionary war still continued in force, though our circumstances had materially changed. From the present aspect of affairs, he thought it became necessary that a revision should take place, that they might be adapted to the provisions under the present Government. An attempt to this effect had been made during the two last sessions; and in this House a bill had passed, which had been rejected in the Senate. He was of the opinion that it became the House, by again attending to the subject, to do their duty; and if neglect should attach any where, it should be at the proper door. He, therefore, moved the following resolution:
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare rules and regulations for the government of the Army of the United States, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.
Agreed to, and a committee of seven members appointed.
Yazoo Claims.
Mr. Gregg said he wished to submit to the House a resolution on a subject of considerable importance, which had engaged the House at several of its previous sessions, and which was generally known by the name of the Yazoo claims. The discussions on this subject had occupied much time, and had excited greater irritation than any other subject within these walls. He supposed there was no probability that the subject would be permitted, by the claimants, to sleep, while the act appropriating five millions was permitted to remain in force. His object was, to repeal that act. By this step the claimants would not be placed in a worse situation, as the courts of justice would be open to them. Mr. G. said he did not expect the House immediately to act on this resolution, though he was prepared, at once, to go into it. But as it was important, and related to a subject on which the papers were voluminous, he would be satisfied that it should lie for some time on the table, the more especially that new members might become acquainted with it. He then offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That so much of an act, entitled “An act regulating the grants of land, and providing for the disposal of the lands of the United States south of the State of Tennessee,” as appropriates any portion of the said lands for the purpose of satisfying, quieting, or compensating any claims to the said lands, derived from any act, or pretended act of the State of Georgia, and neither recognized by the articles of agreement and cession between the United States and the State of Georgia, nor embraced by the two first sections of the above-mentioned act, be repealed.
Ordered to lie on the table.
Executive Documents.
A Message was delivered from the President of the United States, by Mr. Coles, his Secretary, as follows:
“Mr. Speaker: I am directed by the President of the United States to deliver you a Message in writing.”
The Speaker having received and opened a packet of considerable size, observed that the Message was confidential, and thereupon ordered the galleries to be cleared.
In about one hour and a half, the doors were opened, when it appeared that part of the communications made by the President were confidential, and that the members of the House remained under an injunction of secrecy with regard to them; and that another part was not confidential. This part embraces, among others, the following documents:
1. A letter from Governor Claiborne to the Secretary of State, dated October 24, 1805, in which, after stating the preparations making by the Spaniards at Pensacola and other places, he says: “I flatter myself that hostilities between the United States and Spain may be avoided, and that an honorable adjustment of our differences may ensue. But I am inclined to think that the Spanish agents calculate on a speedy rupture, and are making all the preparations that their means permit to commence the war in this quarter.”
2. Statements respecting the detention of the American gunboats.
3. Correspondence between Governor Claiborne and the Marquis de Casa Calvo, on exempting the Spanish officers from municipal taxes.
4. Correspondence between Governor Williams, of the Mississippi Territory, and Governor Grandpre, with sundry communications to the Secretary of State on outrages committed in the Mississippi Territory.
5. Documents to show that the settlement of Bayou Pierre, on the Red River, at which a principal aggression took place, was originally made by France while possessing Louisiana, and came to the possession of Spain only by the general delivery of Louisiana to her, and as a part of it.
6. Extract of a letter from C. Pinckney, dated August 1805, as well as one dated September 22, 1805, respecting Spanish spoliations.
7. Communications from Gov. Claiborne, dated October 24, 1805, respecting obstructions on the Mobile.
8. Copy of a letter from the commandant of the ship Huntress to the Secretary of the Navy.