Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-31
c. O N G II & S S.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, March Is.

THURSDAY, March Is.
The bill appropra'ing $4,000 dollars
for pro'; essing with the public buildings
ir the CITY Of Washington, after having
passed through d committee of the whole,
was ordered 10 a third reading tomorrow
Tn: house went into committee of the
whole on the bill providing rules for The
government of the army.
The 5;h article is in the words follow.
ing: .
Art. s. Whatsoever officer or soldier
shall presume t. use tr>iterous or dsr-s-
pectful words, q AGAINST the President of,he
United States, AGAINST The Vice-Piesident
thereof, against The Congress of the u
nited States, or against the chief magis-
tra'e Or iegis' ATTIRE of any OF the United
States in viii IL he may be qu2r.ersd, if
commissioned 81 r, he shall! BIZ cashier
ed, or otherwise puni, ed as d court-mar-
tiai shall dicect, if a non-coxnissioned of
6cer or soldier. he shall suSer such pun
ishment as shall ne Inflicted on him by the
sentence of Il court-Uartial.
Mir. Nicholson moved to strike out this
article.
Mr.. Varnum desired before the questi-
oa was pat, TO be INDUCED with an oppor-
tunity OF reading The article at present in
force, which would sli@w that in principle
Il was tbs same .i,h that in the bill.
MIR. V. read the rid article, which was
| found 20 correspond in principle with the
article under consideration, the only vari-
alton arising from the old provision apply
ing 20 the 4" Congress If the United States
! and the state legislatures"
Why gentlemen should now be inclined
to leaving ne army loose to calumniate
the gorernment he could no; say.
MIR. Nicholson Il is rot my wish to
fence ronnd the President, Vice-President
and CONGRESS, with a second sedition law.
If the officers of the army conduit them
selves improperly it IS in the power of the
XecutlEe to punish ,hem-rhcy can be
removed at the will of the president, or
b, a Court martial. Besides. do not un-
derstand The section. ] ask, what is the
meaning OF traiterous words used against
the President, Vice President and Con
grcss. | know Of no r.iterous words That
can be so used. Thers are none such TO
be found il the Constitution and am
10y ''' '"'.-N ~ any SNlLii iilDbt Ot
es'abAshin. by side-wey means, so danger
Gus d Construct n.
the question ,yas then taken on Mr..
Nichclaou's motion, aad carried :--Ayes
IS
After some farther consideration of the
b Il. the Committee rose and the house,
oy great majority, refused them leave
TO sit again. This is probably virtual
rebellion Of the bill for the present sessi-
on.
The house went into committee of
the whole on the bin FOR the government
OF Louisiana Mr.. Dawson in the chair.
The Substitute Of Nr. Early far the 4th
section OF The bill was, with some verbal
amendments. agreed to-Ayes 81.
The bill was reported to the house, who
concurred with the committee in striking
out Tie 4th section Of the bill (givinc the
President the power Of appointing the le
risia,lye council)-Yeas 74-Nays 2s-
end m their agreement to Mr. Early's
subs'itute--Yras 53-Nays II.
After considerable discussion Of various
features Of the bill, the house adjourned,
"i-hout closing ITS consideration.
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