{"newspaper_name": "The Portland gazette.", "edition": "01", "page": "p2", "byline": ""}
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length BY the Speaker, Mr. CLAT.


Mr.. NswToN, in the courfe of his re-
marks or The bill, read the following let
ter on the fubjrct from the Secretary
of State - .


Dpartment Of State, sd Jan. 1918.
TEo's. NEwToN, Efq, Chairman, 5c'


Su-In anfwer to the enquiries in you
letter of the a5th ultimo.. with referenee
TO the fubject of the refolution enclose
in it, have the honor to fate, that in ali
the maritime States of Europe, ~;lh
which have been perlonaily conver ants
there are magiirases invelted with au-
tthor:ty to arrett seamen, deserters from
foreign merchant veaels in their ports, &
to rcnore them to the matters of the vef
fcls TO which they belong, consormably
TO their contracts in the fhipping papers
The procefs in fuch cafes, is, as by their
nature it NUT be, to prove ehcacious,
immediate snd fummary; and the MAT.
ters of american yeaels have the henc-
6f of 1t, in common with others. In
the city of London, the authority is ves
ted in he Lord Mayor and at other pla-
ces in G. Britain, III the ordinary police
magistrates, co not recollect having ev-
er known an instance in which masters
of American vessels were denied the ben
eft OF such processes, unless in cases
when, by the laws of the country, the
deserting seamen was, on other accounts,
liable to be detained. The practice is.
so tar as have known, the same in every
part of the European continent


am. with great respect. sir, your very
humble and obedient servant


/ JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.


Mr. CLAy's objection to the bill was
that the provisions of il infrineed on per-
sonal liberty, and thar cases might occur
where seamen absconded from the ser.
vice Of tyrannieal masters, which the bill!
made no provision for, SC.


The Committee rose, reported pro
grcss, and had leave TO sit again. adj.


TUESDAY, pEc. g. Il bill to reduce the
duties on certain NIinsss and to declare
free of duty BAks printed in foreign Ian
guages, was read twice.


ARBUTHNOT IND AJfBRISTER..


Another debate ensued on the amend
ed motion Of MIR. HOLMES, that the sub
ject of the trial and execution Of the
bove persons be referred to the Commit
tee of Foreign Relations In the course
of the debate, the conducr of Gen JACK
son during the war was alluded to, and
several of the members declared their
readiness, at proper tinse to vote Tor an
inquiry into the conduct of any officer,
however elevated his character or sta
ton.


A motion, however, for the indefinite
fpostponement of the resolution, was car
ried by large majority.


The bill to allow certain widows and
orphans of deceased soldiers FIVE years
half pay pensions, was read a third time,
< its pafage was opposed. on the ground
that on this subject the government had
already gone far enough /; but the claims
OF humanity prevailed, and rhe bill pas
sed-Yeas 81. Nays o3.


THURSDAY, pEcIo. On motion of
MIR. ]. ). SMITH, it was Re,ofusd, Tha:
the Secretary of the Treasury be instruc
ted to lay before the House statement
Of the progrefs that has been made under
an act OF Congrefs of the sd of March,
i2i7, entislet al act to set apart, and
dispose of certain public lands, for the
encouragement of the cultivation of the
vine and the olive !" whether four town
ships, of six miles square each, have been
laid of and reserved for the purpose
foresaid & whether any agent OF agents,
acting for the French emigrants, have
contracted for said lands, and on what
terms and wether such agens or agents
are now residing on said land togeth
er with the number of French emigrants
that have made settlements on said seser-
ysIion, and the progress that has been
made in the culture Of the vine and oil
I'VE.


On motion of Mr.. SToRRs, il was


Rssoiusd, That the President Of the u
States be requested to lay before this
Houfe copies of any correspondence be-
tween the Governor of the State of Geor-
sia and Major Gen. Andrew Jackson.
relative to the arrest or other proceed
ings against Captain Obed Wright, which