The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1805-02-01 00:00:00, page 1

: THE ENQU: iER. '
- -* —---„■Mtiu..Jl^l^,^.,1.!
RICHMOND, (I'trgtm. J Published bv HITCHiK i? WORSDJ'.Y, opposite thf. 1 W-Ottice....At Five 1>oli.,\us ptr ,i,\si>5:.../«t;M/»i,i. ...... .
Number 82.] FRIO A F MORiV/RG, FEBRUARF 1, 1H05. ' 7T
mmSmSSS&ti * * nOl.tVH 1
Sbalca ac. Auction.
By Virtue of a Deed of Trufl, executed to the fitV
feribers by Mr. Bartlett Still, of the city of Rich
mond, for the purpofe of fevuriug the payment of hit
note to Meffrs. Lemuel Wells, St Co. of New
Yark, for fix thoufand three hundred and twenty
two Dollar* fcvcnteen Cents, with intereft at the
rate of fix per cent, per annum, from the 21ft day
of May ialt,
WILL BE SOLD, to raife theaforefaid fum and
intereft, together with the expences attending
the execution of laid truft, for ready money, on the
premi fe», on Saturday tile 2d day of February cabl
ing, between the hour*, of 11 and 1 o’clock, that
LOT OF GROUND on the north Ode of the Muin
ftreet, next above the Beil Tavern, with the Brkk
boildings thereon, at prefent in the occupancy of
Meflrs. St. John Sc Gwathmy and John Richard, F.ftj.
The huild'ngs are infured, and thu title to the pro
perty is beloved, to ’-e unexceptionable, A conveyance
with fpecial warranty will be made by the lubfcri
bers.
PROSSER ltd MONCURE, Frujtccs Sc V. M’s.
December 25. (tds.
Auction
—~v~■
THOMAS TAYLOR St Co.
T T TILL in fnturr fell at theJlore occupied ly M. Jfr.
* Har.t oci ltd (.». on Wedne/Jay's in each nveei ;
and at their office, on Fue/Jays and Fridays as ufual.
idee. 1, ISO*. eptf
BILLS ON NKW-YJlLt,
At Ten to Sixty Day' fight—For Sale by
M. W. HANCOCK & CO.
Dec. 22. tf
"TsURR Mi LI. STONES, or all stxrs; and '
JO PLATSTER OF PARIS, oi an excellent quality,
.'ox :.E, as vat At. , nr
WILLIAM DAVIDSON.
c*£r the Marker.
Dec. 4. [eptf.]
FOR RENT:
rr^HE Large White HOUSE at Rockett*, for
r marly occupied by Mr. William Fenwick, and
afterward* by Mr. Braxton Craddock. For terms,
aypiy to GALLEGO, RICHARD 1st CO.
January 11, (tf
FOR SALE,
INVE Hhds. and 10 qr. calks or LONDON PAR
TICULAR TKMERIFFE WINE of afuperior
quality, on a credit oi 120 dnv*—Negotiable notes.
Enquire of THOMAS NORVF.LI..
December 29. (tf.)
JOHN SPINDLER,
RESPECTFULLY informs the Ladies and
Gentlemen of Richmond, that he intends to
teach DRAWING, PAINTING in Oil Colours
and Crayons, and would instruct 6 or 8 pupils in
thofe branches, either by waiting on them, or ax
his boufe, oppojite Thomas IViljon s Efq. hack
Jireet.
V. B. Sign, Houfe, and Military Colours paint
ed by JeS. Orders from the country punctually
attended to. _ £e/2w.J
NOTICE.
F~B ^HOSF indebted to the late frm of Sbantr
1 M liar, either by Bond r.r open aceoi nt, are defired
to mmbe payment before 1JI of March. All failing to tom
ly, null', find tb:ir accounts in the bands of an attorney.
COLIN MACRAE.
Mancbrfer, January 15.—(plant. 4
A GREAT BARGAIN
TO BE SOI.f* IN A TRACT OF LAND,
IYTNO in the lower end ofl.ouifa county,pn the
-A Main-Ro.id leading from Louila Court-houfe to
Richmond ; containing by a late furvey, 383 acres.
The land lies well, and is not inferior to any in the
neighbourhood for the produ<9ion of Corn, Wheat,
Rye, or I chaeco.and is a fine healthy fituation, it has
*tolerable comfortable dwelling houfe, a large barn,
and a in tail orchard of apple and peach trees on it,
which has never been known to fail bearing’ fruit, in
Bo year Guce the trees have been large enough to
bear: it i» a good Rand for a public houfe or flore. I
am willing to take negroes in payment, and if myfelf
and the purchafer cannot agree in the price of the pro
perty, I am willing to refer it to difinterefted men,
fc will abide by their judgement. An undifputrd ti
tle and polfalfimt will he immediately given by the
iubferibet, wno tefides at James Burnley’s fen’r. at this
time.
JOHN BURNLEY.
January 18.
I b'f-nd to fell publicly at Hanover Co«rt-H<>ufr,
on Wednefday thn ?7th of February next, on 12
months credit, of the aflat* of Paul Thilman dec’d
fv' • v- HP GROTS, to tv it, one Man, 4 Women, one
1 ' fTnll Boy md a Child, in order to difebarye
• b lance of r d.-bt due to Anthony Vl'a'e'i, ex’or^,
3i< per re- rtjtn ii t' tel’from the day of late, and fe
(jnrity tvi'i bo r qnired.
BhNJAMlV POLLARD, Tmpeeof
PAUL THILMAN, dec’d.
J tnrary *!?.—f\t.
ri”,'Tr- faring HOGS ft FAD of TOP ACM
rfi/f ri" ryitr Dymer't lV.trehf.uft unt*nine f, "will L
foilc - r /■ •> - to l/r~o.
’','f ’ -nrf, war# /. ft. AY 14.— Mft I
Grrf, IttO 1S31 N‘‘t.
tuomas itrrpsr,
wtf.f (A If MFRIUITH.
fa- ta-y If ’ FOf.—/cTStc.
I
CONDITIO N S.
I. The Enouirf.r. w:H appear twice a
week....Duringthe feflion of Cengrefs
and the Virginia Legiflahire, either a
third paper or a fuppleinentary balf
. (beet, during the week.
II. Terms of payment five dollars
per annum, in'advance.
III. Advertisements,from thofe who
do r.ot fubferibe to the paper, ihould
they not 'exceed a fquare in length,
fhall be inferted forfeventy-Jive cents
liie (irfi time, fifty cents for each time
during three weeks, and for every ad
ditional infection tbirty-tbree cents ;
long ones in the fame proportion.
IV. Subscribers fhall have their ad
vertifernents inferted for fifty cents
the firft time, and thirty-three cents
for every additional infertion.
PUBLIC NOTICE IS GIVEN, \
*'5 'HAT the Prefident and Common Council of i
* the City of Richmond, will, at their next
Monthly Meeting, to be held at the Court.houfe oil
the 3d Monday in February next, proceed to recom
mend to the Court of Huttings of laid city, one fit
and proper perfon to be appointed a CONSTABLE,
within the fame, in the r.-m of Jo*. Children, rc
Cgned. AND: S1EVENSON,C. C. C.
Jan. 29. dofa.
TO RENT,
AND POSSESION GIVEN IMMEDIATE: V,
\ 1 ENF.MEN I' on Shockoe Hiil, adjoining the
C v houfe now occupied by Mr. John M C’iedie,.
lately poffelTed by the Subfcriber. There is on it a
convenient Wooden Houfe with two room*, a clolet
and a palTage, on the firtt floor. Two room* and a
clolet above, a kitchen and three cellars be'mv with a
Smoke Houfe and Garden. Alfo a Wooden Houfe
with twoYooms, fire place, kitchen and cellar, ou the
Tenement whereon I now live, lately occupied by
Mr. Samuel Greenbow, on the lot formerly lieloiiging
to Mr. Beniamin Mofby. \Vm. LONG.
January, 17th 1805. eptf.
WANTED, ~
A MAN without a family, well qualified to teach
X * cor redly the Eugiiih and Latin languages. Such
an one who will come well recommended, will unset
w ith liberal encouragement, in \ private family. En
quire of the od.tor of the Enquirtr.
January 18.—(law 3w.
s RISH Lrrens and Sbttiinvs; Superfine C'olhs and
A CaJJimercs .
India, Italian end French Silks ;
Do Mu!I Mull P.IuJlins ;
Do. do. do. Hhdift.
Fancy Mujlin, Veils and Sh.trels ;
Colon a le Mujlin s ; Cmsnhrsck Disnities a? Callicoes ;
Laced Capt and Veils ;
Do. Hbdkfs ard Shards;
Do. G 'ones and Mitts ;
IVnJh Leather and Kid Gloves.
For Sale by
. BARTLETT STILL.
January 18. tf
TO PRINTERS.
HENRY OURAM—PRESS-MAKER,
South-east corner of Prune and Sixth-Greets :
> ) ESPECTFULLY informs the trad- , that he
* v undertakes to /apply Printing-Offices with
every thing in his line, having a consjfleat Prin
ter's Joiner, conjlantly employed in making the
wood part afPrefes, Furniture, Rules, ifr. ifr.
Chafes of all fazes, Compelling Sticks, Brafs If
IVood Galleys, if. if. conjlantly on hand, or
made to order with difpatch and neatnefs.
Orders from any part of the Continent attend
ed to. Philad. Jan. 5. epdm.
FOR SALE,
Br WILLIAM ROSS, at the Eacle Tavern :
EIGH TY-four yards Fancy, Toilonet, CaflirHere
I and 3 war. (down Weflcouting,
2 cafes Britannias, 1 bale Ticklenburgs,
8 cafes and trunks Chintzes and Cailicoes,
1 cafe Cotton Shawls and Pocket Hhdkfs.
1 dr India Salt ins aflorted colour*,
1 bale Gurrak Mullins,
2 do. Bafta do.
3 do. Coifa do.
1 do. Jaannah Mamoody do.
1 do. do. Sannah do.
GO boxes Spanifk Sugars,
20 do. containing fetts of Tea China, 61 pieces each,
5 do. aflorted ditto.
80 rheam Medium Vellum Printing Paper,
6 do. Foolfcap Writing ditto.
rv l< I'rnn Tnh.r./. Kln..w f7l-- O.-J ...Ml V.
- — ~y - •»..««.«) « | * *ma-wvvu) nm uv
taken in payment as calk.
January II. (2awtf)
TO BE SOLD,
For ready money, purfuant to a decree of the Fede
ral Circuit Court, for thediftndt of Virginia in a
1'uit between Phineas Bond, Attorney for the
creditois of F.zckil Edwards Plaintiff, and David
Rols ar.d others defendants—
!, WO undivided parts, out of throe, offofty-two
t_ acres of LAND, in the county of Henrico,
upon Four-Mile Creek, with the Mills and Houfes
thereon, known by the name of the Norwich Mills,
ALSO—a Traci or Parcel of LAND, fituate in the
county of Henrico, about (even miles below the Ci
ty of Richmond, commonly called and known by the
name of the Seven Pines, thought to contain one thou
fand acres, but Mr. Rofu undertakes, that an accu
se furvey and plot Ihall be produced on the day of
Idle.
The Saie will pofitiVely takeplace at the Engle Ta
vern in the City oi Richmond on Thurfday the 2lft
day of February next.
BEN. MOSRY, d. m. for
JOSEPH COTT, m. v. D.
Jan. 8. (tds.)
At the fame time and place, I will difpofe of the
other undivided third part of the faicl Norwich Mills
and will aifo difpofe of a valuable trad of LAND
adjoining thereto, which contains about five hundred
acres,wirli various improvements—The whole is a va
luable rftate.—Mr. Hooten will (hew the Mills and
the land. The terms of payment for the said land
and the other third part of the Mills will be half rea
dy money, and twelve mouths credit lor the other
half.
_DAVID ROSS.
NEAL NELSON,
BOOT if SHOE MANUFACTURER,
MAIN-STREET, RICHMOND.
"oth Boot* or Shoe* a* well a* if they were on the
foot....A—the lont-'h ofthe'B'*ot C'—wind the
Calf.....TJ—the ;>jfth of ditto.D—round the • el and
inOep.. ..K-—round the Wiftrp.G—acrnf* the hall o!
t!ie foot. Fit the hr*l ayaioft a perpendicular, and
lick a knife »t the end of the yreattov—let down ir.
fu/’J- e* the number of inches and quarter*, mi the dif
ferent meafure*. June 30. epfm.
HUOII J. CRAWFORD,
"* T AS JoB Received, per the fli p AleTrod-'T. from
{ London; A yenerat AfT*ftment ot Gen trim
DRUGS * MEDICINES,which he will difpofe o'
on rmalerate f»rm*. »
Richmond, Dec. T.. (lawftn.
""jV/J ;'KES Coots St Shoes
l to any pattern or fafh
ion, equal in point of Ma
terials ami Workman*
ship to any in general uft.
*V Imported Boor sand
Shops, of the firlt quality
and neweft fafhion, for fale.
»*» Gentlemen at a dif
tance, who are difpofed to
forward me their me.dure
’by paying attention to the
annexed cut, c.m be fitted
CHOICE LANDS —FOR SJLE. \
\ DIVISION of the famousSauraTown Land* ha
** ving taken place between the l;eir* of Janies
Park Farley, r.iq. doc’d. and Col. John S. Farley and
h'» filler Mu Elizabeth Morion, the fubfcribers, Ro
bert Baylor of Norfolk, and Charles Duncan at Ros 1
In, re*r Pet* rfburg. are fully cm powered by the laid
l oi. Farley and Mrs. JVIorfou, pi difpofe ol their pro
portion, containing 12,83* acres, which are furveyed
and laid off in eight hits, containing from 500 to 2800
'acre*, agreeable to plot* in the pnffcflion of the laid
Duncan. I ho four iargefi lots are of excellent quality,
each containing a confiderahle proportion of the rich
| e'i ion ground*, which prodtue tobacco of the very
lir!) quai'ty, as ha* been experienced by one of the
iu.ncriliers, who {hipped it for a number of year*.
Thofe land* lie on Dan and Smith’* rivers, in Rock
i ingliam countv, on the borders of North Carolina,
about 170 miles from Peterfburg and Richmond. As
there are feldom fuch lands for file, they mull be an
objedl to thofe who \* ant to purchafe futh a* will pro
duce fine tobacco, hemp and fniall grain. One third of
the price mull he paid in ready money, one third in
twelve months, and the other third in two year*, the
purchafer giving bond with unexceptionable femrity
hearing iutereil from the date if not punctually paid.
Thofe who wtfh to purchafe will he (hewn the lands
by Dodlor John C. Cox, living at Lcekfville, near
Rockingham Court-Houfe, and the terni* made
known by
ROBERT TAYLOR, or
CHARLES DUNCAN.
Peterfburg, Nov. 2-J. ' eptf
IX f A
J3 ±
The following Blank*, printed on a har.dfome Serif t
Tyfe, may be had at the office of the Enquirer.
D. C.
k >• AKK Check*, (plain) - pr. quire 1
ditto. ditto, (ruled) - I 25
Negotiable Notes, - _ j
Ditto on fine paper, - - _ 1 25
Foreign Bill* of Exchange, - . 1 50
Bills of Lading, - I
Cr.tinty Court Clerk*’ Blanks, - - - 50
Sheriffs’ ditto. . _ _
Conftables’ Warrant*, - - - 50
Pxivtino generallv executed in an elegant
ftyle, ar.d on the (hortell notice.
HDrbufc,
IN THF. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Tuesday, yanuary a.
Debate on reerdinr the DidriJ of Columbia.
f CON riNUKD. 3
Mr. Southard—Mr. Chairman, I fhou'd
have contented myfelf with giving a filent vote
on this queftion, had it not been for the ftrong
in’prtfiions <<n my mind that more is intended
than expreffid in the refolutions now on the ta
ble. It is not t\jni year* fince two refolutions
were introduced to this Houfe fimilar to thofe
now under confederation, with this diftindtion,
that thev went to include the Citv of Washing
ton with the other pa,:s of .he <iili.it;. in the
trasfer to the ftates of Virginia and Maryland.
I believe it to be theobjedl of feme members
not only to recede the branches of the diftridt
contained in thrfe refolutions, hut likewife the
City. If the dodtrine, fo ftro: gly contended for,
that Congrefs has a right to transferor recede,
he once eftablilhed, take the firft ftrp, and you
as ealily take the fecond— I have no defire to
call in queftion the fincerity of rVi» merer c.f
tnefc monitions, nor of many who fupport
them, yet there are others who wifii a receflton
of the whole territory.
This lubjedt involves two queftions—jfl.
whether Congrefs ha* a conftitutional power to
make areirocdli >n of this diftridt to the ftates
of Virginia and Maryland—And 2 ’dly, Whe
ther it be good policy. As to the firft, Mr. S.
faid he had ftrong doubts on his mind, as to
the rightful power of Congrefs to recede or
transfer.
The members of the convention who framed
the confiitution of tl e United State* looked for
ward to a day when it would becomen ecefTarvto
fix on a place which ftiould become the perma
nent feat of the government. By reference to
the eighth fedtion of ‘he firft article of the con
ftitution, we fee it clearly expreffed that Con
gref* fiiall have nnv.< r “ to cxercife exclufive le
giflation tn all > *. s whatfoever,over fuch dif
tridt (not exceeding ten miles fquare) as may by
c< ffion of particular (late*, and the acceptance
of Congrefs, become the feat of the government
of the United Statee.”
This article, with all others contained in that
inftrument, after publication for the confidera
tion of the people of the United States, was a
<1opted, and became a part of the confiitution.
Tn pnrfuance of this objedl Congrefs, »u the 16th
of July 17bO, paffed an adl, entitled the cefiion
adl, in tbewords following:
“ That a diflridl of territory, not exceeding
ten miles fquare, to he located as hereafter <li
redled, on the river Potomac, at fome place be
tween the mouths of the Eaftern Branch and
Connogochegue, he, and the fame is hereby ac
cepted for the permanent feat of the govern
ment of the United States.”
Congr'-fs accepted a ceifionof ten mile? fquare
for the expref* purpofe, and on the exprefs
condition of exrrcifing exclufive legiflation and
iurifdidtion, and this too agreeably to the fpe
rit and meaning of the co* ftitution and law,
thus forming a compsdt, which Congrefs h as no
right to vioiate. All the ftates in their legifta
live capacity, and the people of the United
State , inclndirg the inhabitants of this territo
ry, are bound by this eompadl, which conip.idt
is as ftrong as the confiitution itfelf.
But Mr. Chairman, we are told that there
can be no conftitutional objedlion to the refro
rrfTion. The gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Stanford)contends that this diftridt Hard-,
on the fame footing a? a plot of ’and purchxft-d
hr the government, for a navy-yard—fia*r of
North Carolina to the United States. Sir, there
i? no analogy in theft- cafes. In the purchafe of
land for a nary-yard, the gnv< rr.rrcrt bc<-om< s
ti e proprietor of the foil, and in fuch c.ift- jurif
di-ftion and foil are inf'p.arable—fo alfo in the
'•effion by North Carolina, the rights of foil pif
fed with the jur'fdidlion. The cafe under can.
fidfMtio*’ i* wide v different ; the right of foil
palled not with the jtirifdiiftion ; the right of !e
vllvien only being veiled in Congrefs. Congref*
cannot tlierefore, tr.tnsherth* Toil, nor the inhabi
tant •,to the Harrs of Virgin! a A Maryland.nor to
my other ftate or nation, without their con
fjr.t. ,
/ • '
Gentlemen complain that Congrefs are too
o.tc’i called upon tolegiflatcforihis dillri£l ; and
why? Is it not owing to the neglect to c .t
laws really neceflary to the internal regulation or
the City ? 5
'I he gentleman from Pennfylvania* (Mr. Smi
!ie) laments the degraded fituation of th people
ot this diftiitf, in being unreprelcnted, apd in a
ftate of abfolute defpotifin. Mr. S. laid he did
not view them in fuch a degraded fituation as
ftated by that gentleman ; he confidcred them
reprefented as the convention and as the people
of the United States intended they ffould be,
and as they tbemfelves txpcCltd to he. Were
the inhabitants of this turitorv in the degraded
date fo much lamented by gentlemen, or were
the pcop'e of the United Sates once perfuaded
that a pottion of their fellow-citizens were re. il
ly tht's opprrfl'ed, we Ihould have complar.ts
and memorials from every quarter of the Union.
Hut, Sir, we have no fuel) complaints—they aic
fatisfied, and I am entirely fo.
We are told, and the alarm is given, that
there is great danger of defpotifin fprin«ing up
in this diftrift—that the f eds of defpotifin are
already fown_-th.it the germ of arillocracy al
ready begins to appear—and they beg us to
4 refl.dt upon the certain condutf'ofa:, ambiti
ous leader.’
Sir, I apprehend no evil, dangerous to the
liberties of the country flowing from this fourcc.
Suppofe for the fake of argument that an ambi
tious leader, or a corrupt Prefident, fltould rife
up, could he, with a military force, confined
to the militia of the dill rich, give Jaws ted he Union :
Can the territory afford fuflenance to an army:
Hence the idea of danger, held up by the gen
tleman, is predicated on the Corruption of the
legifliture, anil a t< t.ni dereii lion from the prin
ciples of liberty. While the legislature Ihall re
main pure and uncorrupt, the liberties of the
people are fafe.—Without the aid of thelegifla
ture, the executive in tins cafe is impotent.
He can neither raife nor feed one foldicr. But
if tile dangers and difficulties pointed out by
the advocates of thefe resolutions, be real, why
do they not apply at once an effectual remedy?
Carry them into effeft, and the principal evil
will flill remain. It is lopping off the branche
while the ftock remains. You ftiil retain all,!
that in my opinion, can ever prove dangerous
t O the fibertire of trr\tTl,. . ,
• 1. - — ..I./. . .... gCmiCiiiett
concede that Congrefs mult Hill legiflate for the
City; this acknowledgement deflfovs one half
their argument ; for it will require nearly as
much time toenadt laws for five miks as lor ten
miks fquare.
The advocates of thefe refolutions call on ns
to prove the advantages derived by Congrefs
in excrcifing exclufive jurifditfion over this ter
ritory ? If they are diflatiftfied and wifh to
make innovations on the regulations efiabliflied
by the conflitution and the laws, the burthen
lies on them to prove that injury in done to
the citizens by our exerciling thisconftitntional
power. But, Sir, this is a talk too hard for
them to perform.
Mr. Chairman, I will now make one nSfer
vation an to the policy of the me ifure. I con
tider it asbad policy at any time to make unne
ctfTiry innovations upon eftahlifhed laws and
cuftoms. Why i.'i thi-, cafe T t*k, fct the go
vernment afloat ? Or why drflrov the conft
denceofthe citizens in their government >. Our
conftitucnts are happy in the enjoyment of
their freedom and liberties, the people of the
diftrift are alfo happy and fatisfled with their
prefent fituation, and I cannot, nor do t v.nll.
to agitate the public mind without a juft caul'..
Under the impreflion that to adopt thefe refo
«»JtiOT»5 WOUm iiiiHiucc much rv»i. ivjrHAijt i
ing any good, 1 fliall vote aginlt them, and hope
they will not paf«.
Mr. Findley ohf.-rved, that after what his col
league IMr. Smilie) ard others had faid in favour of
the resolutions ‘or a retr«cef!ion nf tre territory ex
clufivi- of rhe ci'y, he had not expeiSed to hear any
objc&ion to the refolutiors in arguments derived
from the conftitufinn ; the refnlurions for receding the
territory to the Ones wl o had made the original cef
f:on might, he thought, have been fairly combated 01
the ground of expediency, on this ground only did thr I
refolutionsbefore the committee reft. He ;*">ve credit
however, to the gentlemen oppofed to the refolutions
for their ingenuity in taking the me,ft tenable ground,
though not diredlly involved inthequeflion.bu-h* ack
nowledged it was indir.-drly conneifted with it. Jf
we had no? a right to retrocede, the Repri fenutives
of the United States undoubtedly might decline to e::
ercife jurifdi&ion, for whatever the rights of the p**o
pie were, the legislature muft be fre* to aift or nor to
vft. If this i« not the cafe it could not iie a fovrreign
legiflature. Cotigrefs itfelf in this cafe would aift b.
coinpulftcn.
A* the conrtitutionality of the o/jeftion bad been dif
fused by every member that had fpoken o* the fub
jed, he would endeaver to he very concife in his ob
ftrv.itionson that ground. The power verted in Con
grefs by the confutation to cxrrcife excitdive junfdir
tion ovrr a territory not exceeding fen miles future,
was evidently one of thofe power* left in ihe difcreii
on of Congress, fuch as the power to regulate weight*
and meafures, to make a bankrupt law, be. Congrefs
had emdled a bankrupt law and had repealed if again.
Thev bad attempted to regulate w eight*and meafures
and had dropped the fubjeifl afi.-r trial. Congrefs had
accepted of the fen miles fqtisrv, had found tiie ex.r
cife of the jurifdidlion inconvenient and were now |ao
pofing to make a reeertion thereof to the Dates from
which it had hern ceded. Mr. !•'. faid he knuw of no
well founded argument that would apply on fourtitti
tiorwl ground agamrt doing fo, hut what would with
equal force have applied again!! repealing the ha ab
rupt or the exrife, law or any other law i-Hb&cd under
conftitutional authority.
He faid that though a member of the ratifying c in
vention of t’ennfylvania, atul of the legifhture of t^at
Date, and of Congrefs firm that time, he ,Jjd not re
niemhpr ever to hear it fuggerted that Congrefs was
not verted with the fame d ife ret ion in this cafe as in
others expreffed in funilar terms. He b.id indeed of
l it- heard frver.it members fey that Congrefs was ob
liged to ertahitrti a permanent feat Acr. but in faking a
review of the conrtitufion he found no fuch rxprrfli
ons. The wordpermam if was not in that indrument,
no any other expreflion that made it the duty of Con
rrrfs to crtablith a permanent feat, more than to ef
fahliih a permanent excif, di ed fav, nr bankrupt law.
The word permanent however, lie found in an a<ft of
Congrefs, hut certainly not authorifud by the conrtitn
*'"ti; and this, prefent Cougrerti had equal power to
tnnhr a retr'serflion ?s that Congrefs had to accept.
He faid it was not r«c»flary to prove to the members
of this committee that Jaws >n ‘heir nature wer<* not
permanent hut changeable wirh tirem dances, a'.dfh-o
'.•re Congrefs had by the cor.rtiflition equal powers
with any other Congrefs. That from the c>prefs v.-n-d*
of the conrtitufion inverting this power in Congrefs
and from its analogy to the iuve^irure of other pow
ers, no argument could he dm vn inft th" r Chi
tions, thn every .rgumeut o* tl. * kind he had heard
■vis not taken from the word* of he court hut .or, but
from courtriiC.ior.* given to .£, si hich hr conceived ti e
words would rot beer, and wh c- would !,j .- atan
ous effect applied to other ptversexp V.T-J i;. Lj *i
words. i ha. h«* did not confuiei M.i.htf L**und t>v
wu.it other gentlemen fanclej the couil.tutioa n.iai c
■or intended but by wl.tt iif-ud.
akit. F.faid tlie argument i.a j taken a different
turn from what he had expected, 1 he
did if it * ** >pofe to remove .lie ie.it «;f g .enimCi.t,
tar from it : none ofU.-.le who have ai.. ->c..ud ti e
refolurious propoted tr> remove the leat «;1 *overu
n.eut, tisey ali agreed in dectarir gthe/ liad no !o\'i
intention; lie alto declared that whatever its incon
veniences m« he hid no fuel, intention, nor did not
■'"*w .1 member who h id. but he with, J to re Ci...
did, lie v.ms of the opinion that Co lgrefi. had r.vv o
rity to remove when and where tiiey p’ealed. The
e.ijiliitijtion did prel'cribe reflriiftians on the exert da
• it Jeyeral legiflative powers, but it preferih d no re
Hnrtions 0:1 the power of exercifing exrlufive jurif.
didlioti over at rritory not exceeding ter tv' -£iu; te,
or over forts, arlcnals, &c. Of federal e'F theiu he l;;ij
no doubt Cong-efs would make a retrocefliou. He
l.iid no doubt but a retroceflinn WKirid he made of
'* ‘ * ’ver of that .t.itd Congrefs had received from
the Rate of IVnufylvania, af Pitrflvjrg, Mer.dfville,
iVtfque-Ule, &c. when they ceafed to be ufeful to*
Conyrefs and became inconvenient to tha* Hate.
Thele luhjecU arc by the explicit language i f the
roriHi-ution.a language which cannot by £<ir expo
:it:on be pvrverted, verted w.thojt reltricdion m t1 e
legiflativ^dircretion of Congrefs in rhe fame tr.vqua^
lifird term* as the power in qurftion. Mr. F'. iaid
twelve amendments had already been made to the
conftitution, and if it was f. ued that Congrefs was
nupriinned i-1 a lituaiion tr ey did not uiprovs, . r
where they c m Id-not tuft freely, or fafely, and due
rliey were contlrained by rhe conftitution to do fo,
another amendment could and would as ealilv be
'• efore even admitting, though not gmn j\g,
■lie cor.ltitutional obligation,the property ot rh« re
iideure at Congrefs is not p. rmaneut. It« cont u
mianc.: mu ft depend on the will of the people of the
C. Srcte Other confidemtiorsare a greater feenri
*7- In the city many have laid out large Ji.O ..f
money on their confidence ti government, & , hegnvei o
iia?laidout very large fumsof money to pro vide'.-.cspii'
modutior.g fc. mull lay out mrre for thrrpurpefe. And
notwirhfta.idiug fome prelert inconveniences, he
fs.d he believed it was nearly as central and c?p.,hla
ot being madras convenient a fituatinu f.>r tbr )3at
of government a s could be found. From this it was
evident that juftice to the city -and policy with i«f.
pctft to the United State* combined in prevent ip t x
removal of the feat of governmefi? J’lllice : m\
Iicy.he faid, he thought were a better fecui ity for
the citizens, than even the word permanent, it it had
in the conftitution, which all *vho would be at
fne pains to read, would find it did not contain.
Mr. F. faid that he had detained the commute:
longer in difcufEng the conftitutionnlity cf the refo
lutions than he had iiueudcd, and would endeavor to'
be (fiort op the quellicii «.f expediency, though be
thought it wason rhis ground only it ought to have
uprn conteited.— rie laid he had heard the members
who were in favour of the refoiurior.fi culL.! on to
prove tlie injury or inconvenience aiifiny fi-r ,c ol
lating for a teiritory of fuel) extent. This ws ilrre
as an evafio-’ of tile queftion ; on the other tide it v. rj .
required to ft <re the advantages <-f rejeifling the r.
rrocvjiion. Waving the enquiry on wii.ri- fub- of
the queftion the ^*;rthen of the proof !..v, Mr. F. I id
he would ftate fome of the difadvai.tages. £Vt t
'.eilion oft Cong refs f nee it fame t»r», I t fti 1 d t, ,d
(i>em a large proportion of their t'-.r.r in making
Law, for different nortinn* of th's t*»rrit, —and
from hi» own experience be knew thm ft..- cm; im
portant par: thereof (Alexandria) they i.rd n.adr a
la.v laft leffion. That tliey were told th'» ieft*on
they had beet! impnfed on, they h d repealed the 1 w
of laft lirflion and made another, and that was after
fed to liim, they had been impofed on again. He
laid lie could enumerate more inftaoces, but he would
only ftate that Congrefs now fat at the expert' of
above lOOO dollars a «lav. H.» f-.i'l. If me. her;
recollect how many days had been Ipent ete
ry fefli on legiflating for this territory without giving
fatisiaiflion, and conftder hr w many inure probably
may berpenr. they would not enquire fur the inton
veniences arifing from govarning the rerri'x.ry, but
would ho prepared to ft.,te the advantages -—nf
theft- he faid he knew nothing nor had heard no
thing.
Mr. F. faid it had been frequently afkr-d what
more difficulty there was in legiflatir.g for ten miles
fquarge, than for the city alon-. In anfwer to this,
he afleed thele members to recoiled bow many ap
plications hr.d been made, how jr-uny laws leave hi ■ n
i puffed, how many days h ve been occupied m legif
latmg for other parr«of the diftrafl rha:«sthr c ty.
He would alk what the people would Uffe hv I cing
receded to the ftates to which th^y formerly be!onK -
ed and what they gain by the members of Con ..r ft
wl,o have no common inrerefl with trem, nor »•- en
acqaimance with them or their peculiar circumft .ri
ces, and liable to be impofed on by every one with
whom they converfa, legiflstiop for them.- He i; id
that it had rot beet made to appear that the p uyle
would fuffor any Infs by agreeing to the refoh.r oils
and that :t was indubitably evident rbai flu ml iic
would gain advantage, he bored they would he a
gre> d to. He h. -I early observed that tliere v -re
nearly a« many interfering intei-cfti in this ten miles
fquare, as in the whole United .S-. tes, toe nremh r»
of the romsnifee would rerolleift that ft-veral ,.f the
i moft tedious d-bores accompanied wirh the greateft
rrifati n ih.it had taken place th.s Jeiui.i. aroie trom
| ftirh fubieiSs,
lie liiicl thr (Gentleman from Maryland liar* allrctg*
e t that if C- nrreV had a pow r to .igrc • to th»* rr
loltitions on the table, ti.iv li.a] a power N.*t.incfpf jr
o the fmperor of Hayri; he rnu • »vil this t.I.fer
varion required very little reply, the qm •toil v.t.s a
hi’u* a recellion, a r-fbaation of what we I ■<!, rtnr
ah.nit making an o- igbai ttanafcr. Mr.?, laid he
wvs delighted with the gent eme.n’s (Air. Tfrrmi.-)
an'irfp2»intt nr the prof-erity ofriv* r>: •. that all
rl puts would he'om- on- r>r, a-d have hut one
interefl, tha* confeqoen-h the fubieftt of lepflatton
v/oufd he fewer and le!» difficult He a(V» in lnrti'
a cafe what would be the tonfequcnc *? In antici
o-'t ng thople-ftrg proerefs ot popui.-ionand wealth,
lie fupttofed that at feme period not far d/1 »> e
population wnuld fie equal to that of Piiilad iph H,
which with a linall dbt.jft around it at ptehrm h. -I
th eg me r her* or. thi; floor, and fupp./fcdat a mure
dift-nt p-ritfd it v.nnhl have .1 population equal to
London or Pari*, wh ci. if they could he rem . leiited,
would be intitled to from twenty to thirty tn-m
b"rv Ate veto prHiitue fh-it in ittch a cale the
peop'e would he confer .fed to have t o voi'.e fn th r
own government. I he people of all the f)r.t»* h «ve
conditution for th-h ..vt intrrnal gover-irrent, and
■' p • i* n n i .,
rhrfe they cn. fi Vr privd< rc» V.-biy * va-ta( *
e tv. lie would not fav what rights the pevpu- of
the M.drift in qtt- flirni did enj y, s»»t I - Was cr-fL
d*nt in fayingthnt they did n< odPcf- .-V • inv?.l;.a
hle r ehf. he hid ju* nrntionrd He knew rf no
’ good reason why tJ. Te people are not equally capa
ble of governing themf, Ives»« -he perqi e of he I—
veral Hate *, and he waa ti t prifed to t' !, rve te-rrai
I sr-rnbers who were h-it a few dayn f.nce re# u«
a .vrx-teafor .xt-tuli^ fvffr»ge to »*•«
i ner,p <•! ,V- 'f , .-rt even svfe o *r.e tva r .. y cf i •“
! »f »- « were r, t.:t< ;,i K ag.ui.n \\ut
" | l,f T i-.li 'ii e j< ret V* to
,-t e XFe..at!»n» a lie P -. i l.rr ,‘tv. rt Ida-yiai.d,&