The Speaker laid before the House a letter from Wilson C. Nicholas, resigning his seat as one of the members of the House, for the State of Virginia. The letter was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Batture at New Orleans.
A motion was made by Mr. Sheffey, that the House do come to the following resolutions:
Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law to authorize the President of the United States to cause the several persons who were removed from the batture, in front of the suburb St. Mary, in the city of New Orleans, on the 25th January, 1808, to be restored to the possession thereof; to be held with the same right with which they respectively held the same, prior to such removal; any thing to the contrary notwithstanding.
Resolved, That it is expedient to authorize the President of the United States, if he shall be of opinion that the United States have such a claim to the batture, in front of the suburb of St. Mary, in the city of New Orleans, as will justify the expense of prosecuting the same, with the assent of the persons removed therefrom, on the 25th January, 1808, to name three persons, who shall have full power to hear, and finally determine, all right, title, claim, and demand, whatsoever, as well of the United States as the persons so removed, both in law and equity; and their decision, or a majority of them, shall be binding, as well on the United States as the said parties.
Resolved, That it is expedient to authorize the President of the United States, if he shall deem it most proper, to compromise the conflicting claims of the United States and the persons removed from the batture of the suburb of St. Mary, in the city of New Orleans, or cause the same to be tried in a court of the United States, in such a manner, and at such place, as will secure an impartial trial.
The said resolutions were read, and ordered to lie on the table.
British Minister—Mr. Jackson's Circular.
Mr. Quincy observed that he perceived that in the letter from Mr. Smith to Mr. Pinkney accompanying the Message from the President of the United States of the 29th November, 1809, an allusion was made to an important paper headed "Circular," which had not been communicated to Congress. He perceived, also, that by the resolution just received from the Senate, a specific declaration was required as to the contents of that very paper. It appeared to him extremely proper that the House should have that paper on its files, and within the reach of its members, before a declaration was made respecting it. Under this impression he offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to lay before the House a copy of a paper purporting to be a circular letter from Mr. Jackson to the British Consuls in the United States, referred to in the letter of the Secretary of State to Mr. Pinkney, accompanying the Message of the 29th November.