The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-01-14 00:00:00, page 4

by law, for taking evidence in cases of
contested elections for members of the
House of Representatives; and that they
have leave to report by bill or other
wise.
On motion of Mr. Crowninshield, the
following resolutions were adopted.—
Resolved, i hat the committee of
commerce S< manufactures be instruct
ed to inquire into the expediency of al
lowing farther time lor obtaining the be
nefit ot drawback on goods, wares anti
merchandize, exported from the United
States, than there is at present allowed
by law.
Resolved, That the committee of
commerce and manufactures be in
structed to inquire into the expediency
of amending the act laying an Em
bargo on vessels in the ports of the U.
States, so as to impose a more effectual
restriction on the departure of such ves
sels, and the exportation of goods from
the U. States, and that they have leave
fo report by bill or otherwise.
1 he house resolved itself into a com
mittee of the whole, on the bill supple
mental to the act regulating grants of
lands, and providing for the disposal of
the lan.Is of the U. S. south oi Tennes
see, ‘ Ir. Pitkin in the chair. The bill
was reported to the house with some a
meudments. Concurred in, and order
ed to a third reading to-morrow.
1 his bill gives to each peson who ac
tually resided on an l cultivated a tract
land oi the U. States, on the third of
March 1807, the right of pre-emption
to such tra t at two dollars per annum—
provid- tl that such tract does not exccv. I
840 act': s—that the claimant files his
cl dm with the commissioners of the
proper distiict before the first of Octo
ber next, and make the frst payment by
the first of January, 1801).
1 he house rc solved itself into a com
mittee of the whole on the report of a
-select committee on the petition of An
drew J ■ s< ph Viilard. The petitioner
prayed for remuneration for certain im
provements which he has made in the
vconstruction of gun-carriages.
The select committee reported a r< -
ftoluaor. !oi nppropri iting
dohusto die said Viilard. It was mo
ved to fill tiic iilank with lsOOdoliai —
lost—a i • i 1200—lost—with 10'X) dol
lars—carried. The committee rose—
the report was concurred in, and a co n*
«i: i.e appointed to ring in a bill.
Decern!* .r 2'J.
J\lr. Macon called the attention of the
house to a subject of some importance,
which had been under their consideration
at the last session,but had not been acted
upon. He alluded to the subject of
state pensioners. In order again to bring
it beiore the house, he offered the fol
lowing resolution :
Resolved, That the committee of
claims be instructed to enquire into the
expediency of placing on the pension list
ol the U. States, such pensioners of each
! state as were placed on such pension list
in consequence of wounds received in !
the revolutionary war.
Adopted without a division.
Mr. Rib!)from the committee appoin
ted to enquire whether the representa
tive hall could be rendered more suita
ble lor the purposes of speaking and
hearing, reported the following resolu
tion, which was agreed to :
Resolved, That the committee of ac
counts be instructed to direct baize cur
tains to be hung between the columns, !
and that the expence thereof be paid !
out ot the contingent fund.
I he house resolved itself into a com
mittee ol the whole on the bill to fix
the salaries of certain officers of go
vernment. The committee reported the
bill without amendment. The consi
deration of the report was postponed bv
the house until Thursday, on account of
the absence of the chairman of the com
mittee of ways and means* The bill
continues the present salaries for three
years ionger.
i>ir. ixewton, irom the committee ol
commerce and manufactures, reported
a till supplementary to the embargo law,
which v. as tw ice read and made the or
der fer to-morrow.
Mr.Marion presented a petition from
a number of merchants and planters ol
South-Carolina. The petitioners state,
that they had, at great expense, fitted
out a number ol vessels, for procuring
slaves on the coast of Africa ; that these
vessels had sailed either before or im
m-diately after the passage of the law
ol the last session prohibiting the impor
tation of slaves after tin first day of Ja
nuary next; that they iiad sufficient time
to return before that day, but from
causes beyond their controul, they had
been detained, and would probably not
arrive until after that time. Thev tie ie
fore pray that a law may be passed au
thor’ziog them to land tin ir cargoes,
and di pose of ih • i, a wh. t \vr time
! such v< ss» Is sh ,!i rrriv .
Mr. Marion mut ed to refer the peti
tion to the committtee of commerce nn<J .
manufactures.
iNIr. Masters said there were some
petitions which it was improper to act
upon, and this he thought was one of
them. 1 he petitioners isked congress
to do an improper act. They had, for
nearly a year, known of the passage of
the prohibitory law, and they'might have
known for twenty years that the law
would pass. All who regarded the dic
tates of humanity, or the laws of God*
believed sucii a regulation would be a
uopted, the moment the constitutional
restriction ceased. He hoped the peti
tion would lie on the table.
i he quest .on on referring to the com
mittee of commerce and manufactures
was lost. It lies on the table of course.
Mr. W. Alston, from the committee
ol way s and means, (»the chairman being
absent) reported a bill, continuing in
force lor a further time the law creating
the Mediterranean fund. Head twice,
and made the order for to-morrow.
I he house resolved itself into com
mittee ol the whole on the bill supple*
mental to the embargo law.
Mr. Quincey moved to amend the
first .section, by adding to the end there
of a proviso as follows : “ Provided al
ways, that nothing contained in the act
to which this is a supplement, shall be
so construed as to prohibit the sailing of
any vessel duly rt gistered, enrolled, or
licensed, with her usual tackle, apparel
and furniture, on any whaling, or otliei
fishing voyage.”
-filter some discussion on the propri
ety oi tins amendment, Mr. Quincey, in
order, he said, to meet, as far ns possi
ble, tlu idi >s of gentlemen, moved the
following addition to the amendment he
had proposed: “And provided also,
that such ship or vessel shall not carry
1 on any commerce during such ..fishing
voyag-, hut shall return w ith In r fishing
| fares into some poit of th>. U. States.”
Alter some farther debate, the com
mittee rose, without coming to any de
cision, and had leave to sit again.
Mr. Basset offered three resolutions,
for preventing the officers of govern
ment from entering into any contrast
with rmmbi r.-> of congress, and declar
ing that if any person who has a con
tiact w iih the governin' nt shall be clect
! cd to congr >•>, such contiact shall cease
ami become void. Agreed to.
fit is supposed these resolutions are
particular!) intended to keep mail coa
ts a.tors out of congress.]