Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1803-02-19


Mr.. Griswo.d called Cor the reading VI
the first part of the petition, which, if nc
heard correctly, contained expressions
extremely disrespectful.
THE first part of the petition was read,
which comments with severity onthe prin-
ciples and measures OF the late admins
tra;ion.]
Mir. Bayard perfectly agreed with the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Davis,)
| that it would be treating the petition with
sufficient attention during the present SEES
sion to suffer it to lie OH the table. He did
not know that referring it to select COM
mittee would be treating it with respect;
| if it were, he did not know that he would
1 be disposed to vote fov it. 1t was allowed
| that it was impossible to attend to it this
| session.. During the last session the alien
law had been revised by the friends of The
4 petitioners, or by those, AT least. who cal
led themselves their friends. Their adj
mission to citizenship had been facilitated
By requiring a residence OF only five years.
! What more do they wish Do they wish
fto enjoy full political rights before they
can even read the constitution! BY going
too far in making them citizens, we should
take care lest we uncitizenise ourselves.
Already they enjoy the rights Of property
and every personal security, and the only
and ulterior right remaining is the right
of election. Mr.. Bayard said he had no
objection to extending this right afteracer-
tain period. But it was certainly false po-
Icy before they knew the principles of
our government and laws TO am igamate
them to the mass Of society. 10 do this
would be to introduce principles unfriend-
! ~ to true repubiicanism. He hoped, there
fore. the petition would be suffered to rest
on the table.
Mr.. Smile said there was one part of
the prayer of the petition which, he trus-
ted, would be granted. Tine other pro-
badly, would not be granted. He alluded
TO the prayer of those aliens, who were
obliged to signify their intention of becom
4 ing citizens two years before hand. He
thought these ought to be relieved. lie
hoped, therefore, the petition would be
referred. As it there should not be time
ia act upon itths session, it might lay be-
fore the committee. Mr.. Smile did rot
think this proper stage Of the business
TO go into discussion OF Tic merits OF
the petition, or into the policy of comply
ing with their request. The gentleman
from Delaware appeared 10 have serious
Z apprehensions respecting aliens. For
his part he had none. lie believed that
in the state in which he resided there
was as great proportion Of aliens as any
other; and yet no Inconvenience or evil
had been experienced. The gentleman
may, perhaps, think the politics of his
; own state not sound from the admission
of aliens.
Mr.. Smile concluded by observing that
though he thought ii probable the iegisla-
lure would not shorten the probationary
, period for citizenship, yet he thought il
would be best 10 refer the petition.
The question was then taken on refer
ring il 10 select committee, and lost
Ayes 32-Noes 49.
MIR. Helms reported from the commit
tee 10 whom a similar bill had been re-
committed, bill to make provision for
: persons who have received known wounds
in the revolutionary war.
An engrossed bill to prevent the impor-
tation OF certain persons whose admission
: is prohibited into certain states was read
a third time Jas follows:
Bel enacted, BY the Senate and House
of Representatives OF the United States OF
America, in Congress assembled, That
! from and after the first day of April next,
no master or captain OF any ship orvessel,
or any other person, shall impor; or bring,
OF cause to be imported or brought, any
/, negro, m,liatto, or other person Of color,
into any port.or place OF the United States,
{ which port or place shall be situated in a.
ny state which by law has prohibited or
shall prohibit the admission or importati.
on of such negro, mulatto, or other per-
son of color, under the penalty of one
thousand dollars for each and every negro,
nu!atto, or other person of color aforesaid,
imported or brought into the United States
as aforesaid, to be sued for and recover
cd by action of debt in any court of the u.
States, one half thereof 10 the use ofthe u.
States, and the other half to the use ofany
i person prosecuting for the same, and in
any action brought for the penalty aGore-
said, the person or persons sued shall be
held to special bail.
Sect. 2. Ind be il further eHacrcd, That
no ship or vessels arriving in any of the
said ports Of the United States situated as