Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-12-01

previous to the repeal.
The committee then .ros. and reported the bill
with the above amendment, in which the EJuse
Immediately ccncuued and ordered, withouta di-
vision, the bill tobe engrossed fora third reading
ON Monday.
The bill is concise; and is confined to repeal
ing the Bankrupt Law, SWING cases IN which Com
missions have been taken OUT previously TO the
passage Of the att at which time the repeal takes
efset.
On motion of Mr.. Nicholson, the Housewent
into committee of the whole-Mf. dawson IN
the4eiyair-on the bill supplementary TO an act.
entitled all act to prescribe the mode in which
acts, records, and judicial proceedings ct the states
shall be So authenticated as to take effect IN each
stat.
After considerable discussion, developing muck
diversity CT opinion, the committee rose, and the
blli was recommited to select commute OF he
members.
Mr.. Eppes observed that when the bill fixing
the salaries Of certain officers was under the oon-
sideration of the House, ahusion bad been made
10 the expenses of the several departments OF the
government. As he thought it proper that the
legislature should meet all such subjects in fair
manner, he submitted the following resolution;
Resshved, That rhe committee of ways and
means be instructed TO enquire, whether any, and
if any, what reduction may be made, in the cx-
pences of the different departments of the govern
lnent, and that they report to this House such
arrangements as they may think calculated to.
promote economy, either by the reduction of conn.,
pensations or contingent expences many OF the
departments, or by the dscontinuance OF such Of.
fees, or such establishments as may be dispensed.
with without injury to the u. States. /
Mr.. 7. Randolph moved that. the relolation
flould lie on the table. He ob(erved that the
fame duties enjoined by it on the committee of
ways and means had been already devolved on
them by the aanding rules of the Houfe. The
reiolution leemcd to him, therefore, unnecef1ary.
He concluded by moving poaponement of the
further confederation ofis to the lf day of Jan.
next.
Mr. Epfes replied that, although the relolution,
he had offered, embraced fome fbjetts aligned
already by the rules of the Houfe to the com.
mittee OF ways and means yet if the wording of
it were attended to by the gentleman from Vir-
GINA, it would be found that it alto embraced
fubje6ts that did not belong more to that CON-
mitree, than TO any other committee. When
he bad propofed refolution a fhort time fpce,
the Object of which was to reduce efabliGl
meat in his opinion uftlefs, it had been fubmttcd
10 That committee. And in what confes the diff
ference between the nature of that relo.u.ion and
the one now ofereda That was for the reduftion
Of the Jingle expenfes of Jingle department; this
is for taking into confederation the fate and ex-
penfes of the whole departments of the govern
sment. When she fubjee of salaries was before
the houie, we were told that il did not become us
to make faving in the faares alone, but that it
was proper to take an enlarged view Of the whole
of The departments. What does this reloution
contemplate, An enquiry into the fate and ex-
pennies OF the whole OF the departments. Ii this
duty had been enjeined already on the committee
of ways and means--and they had either omitted
ornegleetcd to difchargeit the boufe was perfect
ly competent to lay an injunction on them TO at
tend TO il. For thele reasons Mr.. Eppes fail,
he aoald not content TO the refolution eltherlyiag
on the table, or being poRponed; but lhould de-
rnand either It's Immediate adoption or rejection.
Mr.. 7. Randolph. Far be it from me TO quef-
ton the power Of this houie 10 make fnch di.poli
ton of this refolu,ion as they fhalI fee fit. 1t is
apower to which lhall implicitly yield obedience.
But with that freedom which belongs to every
member OF the,houfe, and which / fhall always
exercile, without any confederation Of The quarter
from which motion comes, fhalI.ufe thar &c
gree Of understanding with which it has pleafed
God to.inyeG me, in forming Judgment Of the
cou.fe proper to be purified tins, as well as on
every other location. My colleague does not
take the diaintaion between a general and a ipe-
cihc re!olufion. 1t would be arrogating merit,
which do not deitrve, areri5 which d;(claIm
to aaume that my Judgment is more clear or
comprehensive than that OF my colleague And
yet my mind does perceive the widef difference
between the reference, to the committee Of was