Mr. NICHOLSON did not know whether his remarks had been correctly understood. He did not know whether the document he alluded to could strictly be called the instrument of cession. He had drawn an amendment to this part of the resolution, which he would propose, if in order, to wit:
“Or other instrument showing that the Spanish Government had ordered the province of Louisiana to be delivered to France.”
The SPEAKER said, the House having agreed to insert the word “instrument,” it was not in order to receive a substitute.
Mr. HUGER moved to reconsider the vote of the House in favor of the insertion of the word “instrument.”
The question was then taken on the second member, as above stated, and lost--ayes 34.
The question was then taken on the third member, viz:
“Also, copies of such correspondence between the Government of the United States and the Government or Minister of Spain, (if any such correspondence has taken place,) as will show the assent or dissent of Spain to the purchase of Louisiana by the United States:”
The question was then taken on the last member of the motion, and lost, without a division, viz:
“Together with copies of such other documents as may be in the Department of State, or any other department of this Government, tending to ascertain whether the United States have, in fact, acquired any title to the province of Louisiana by the treaties with France of the 30th of April, 1803.”
The question recurring on the whole of the resolution, as amended,
Mr. NICHOLSON moved to amend the second member by adding to the end thereof;
“Together with a copy of any instrument in possession of the Executive, showing that the Spanish Government has ordered the province of Louisiana to be delivered to the Commissary or other agent of the French Government.”
The question was then taken by yeas and nays on the whole of the original motion, amended as follows:
“_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the House a copy of the treaty between the French Republic and Spain, of the 1st October, 1800, together with a copy of any instrument in possession of the Executive, showing that the Spanish Government has ordered the province of Louisiana to be delivered to the Commissary or other agent of the French Government:”