Abridgement of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.)

Indiana Territory.– Jonathan Jennings, Delegate.

12

Joseph Hamilton Davies, commanding the cavalry in the expedition to Tippecanoe, where he was killed in a night charge upon the Indians.

13

Where he became a member of the Canadian Parliament, and as zealous for King George as he had been in Congress for Mr. Jefferson after his sudden conversion to the Republican party and its offices. When Mr. Randolph would be taunted with his abandonment of Mr. Jefferson, he was accustomed to say that he left him when Barnabas Bidwell (for Barnabas was his name) joined him.

14

Non-importation, non-intercourse, embargo.

15

This allusion is supposed to be to Mr. Harper, then from South Carolina.

16

Witness Bonaparte.

17

The primitive name of the little stream that runs at the foot of the Capitol grounds, called the Tyber since the Capitol came to its banks, and up and down which members were accustomed to walk in that early day.

18

These salutary statutes, indispensable for the protection of the Treasury, as time was wearing out the evidence which would detect fraud, have since been disregarded by modern Congresses, carried away by a mistaken idea of justice, and the door opened to an endless succession of false claims, supported by fabricated evidence which there is no means to rebut, and plundering the Treasury for the benefit of agents who have grown up into a regular profession for the discovery, invention, and prosecution of claims.

19

The wildest supposition of the abuse of this question, indulged in by its opponents in this debate, falls short of the reality which has since occurred, and is continually occurring in the House of Representatives; for the Senate has, thus far, succeeded in keeping this gag out of that body. In the other branch, the previous question has become the regular engine of legislation, and is constantly used by party majorities, not only to prevent discussion on the most important measures, but to prevent things from being said which the House and the country ought to know; and which, being said, might be fatal to the measure, or its authors. The only safe way of terminating useless debate is that followed in the British House of Commons. It permits all that is useful, and suppresses all that is annoying. The plainest speaker is heard while he gives information: the best is silenced when he ceases to inform, and begins to annoy. The irregular power of the House, exerted in coughing and scraping, will put an end to the harangue of the most wilful speaker.

20

At the burning of the Theatre at Richmond.

21

Mr. Venable.

22

Mr. M. Clay's daughter.

23

The annual expense of our navy already (1856) costs fifteen millions of dollars per annum; and yet all that we have got is only the beginning – the mere commencement, if naval power is intended.

24

The events of the war of 1812, and the events of all the wars of the French Revolution, justify these opinions expressed by Colonel Daviess. These events prove that cruisers and privateers, to cut up commerce, and not fleets to fight battles, are the true American means of naval warfare.

25

This was quite an extemporaneous method of selling an estate. To render the transaction more intelligible, it may be known that Henry was paid $50,000 at that time by the American Government for his disclosures, and it may be supposed that this impromptu purchase of "St. Martial, the Crillon estate in Lebeur, near the frontier of Spain," was a method which the two romantic friends took to divide the money which they had earned.

26

"Mr. Calhoun has since stated to me, that the reasons given by Mr. Randolph for refusing to agree to the injunction of secrecy were, 1st. That he doubted the right of the committee to enjoin secrecy; 2d. That having just returned from Baltimore, he had heard, while in that city, that the intention to lay an embargo was already known in that city, and that the British Consul and a great mercantile house there were then acting on the information. J. Q."

27

The practice of pronouncing funeral eulogiums on deceased members had not, at this time, been introduced into Congress.

28

Chief Justice Marshall.

29

This debate, although arising on a subject which implied a limited discussion, soon passed beyond its apparent bounds, and instead of being confined to the simple military question of raising additional troops, expanded into a discussion of the whole policy, objects and causes of the war, and became the principal debate of the session. All the leading members of the House took part in it; and many new members, then young, and whose names have since become famous, then took their start.

30

The Chairman had risen to put the question, which would have cut Mr. C. off from the chance of speaking, by returning the bill to the House.

31

The well-known political writer, William Cobbett, publishing a gazette under the name of Peter Porcupine.

32

Mr. Barlow's journey to Wilna, where he only arrived to die.

33

The following is the act as passed:

Be it enacted, &c., That in all, and every case, wherein, during the present war between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, any violations of the laws and usages of war among civilized nations, shall be or have been done and perpetrated by those acting under authority of the British Government, on any of the citizens of the United States, or persons in the land or naval services of the United States, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be made, according to the laws and usages of war among civilized nations, for all and every such violation as aforesaid.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, in all cases where any outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity shall be or has been practised by any Indian or Indians, in alliance with the British Government, or in connection with those acting under the authority of the said Government, on citizens of the United States or those under its protection, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be done and executed on such British subjects, soldiers, seamen, or marines, or Indians, in alliance or connection with Great Britain, being prisoners of war, as if the same outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity had been done under the authority of the British Government.

Approved, March 3, 1813.