The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-02-08
Dr1ate
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OF TIE UNITED STATES.
TUESDAY, Tanuay 6.
De5ateo o" recedi1s tie Difyi9 Of Columbia.


CoNriSUED.
MIR. Sloan. My friend from Maryland (AIr Mel
ion) has obierved that il is cuomsry for member.
TO exPrss their feutnents On tuble9s under difcus
lion in this Houie; not that he expected &c nale ore
protvite by his oSiervatous. perfectly agree with
hin, that there is 10 refou 70 believe that he has
for this plain Teaion she mas moi adduceJ finee
in iuPPort OF his argument but after exploding ali
coneiuiions drawn from implication or contraction
drew his own from nothing eIfc
But, MIR. Chairman, under function OF the afore-
laid cuitom and alto from fenfe Of duty, beg tie
attention of this committee iolne brief chfervSton.
on this important iubeta. conlider it as sorefF-
er improper, unfair ard unuf TO blend iahe6t NJ
der dicuhion with others not ever contemplated :
and to endeavor 70 inareace the minds CT members
with predictions OF certain events yet in the womb
OF iuturity, that may, may come 10 pals The
end contemplated by the preien reoutions neither
the removal of the feat of nor to prevent
Congress from exercfng executive uTiid6on over any
territory; but tn reduce the preient cuaIltum. Fur
lay the oppoiers of theie reputons the rropofed
eeion OF part Of the territory Intended as az OPEN
ing wedge preparatory to tctai tecefon aud reno.
val OF the feat of government.
Mr.. Chairman, do not pretend tie forekncw-
ledge Of any members thoughts before they are art
eulaied III words; tofe who have this foreEnowlcdy.
have great advantage other members who have
It not ;--But am free declare that my opinion is
quite the reverie believing that the receiion of that
part OF the territory contemplated by the reioutons
now under confederation, would have tendency TO
eonti!1re the ts.t ut se,oyernr,en. n iris p.ace
Blu, IT has been aderted that we have no right TO
make the propoied receiIon; and from the dictato-
rial lyle OF the reductions OF the Of Alexandra
and the Potive aertion thai we have heard OIL this
Hoor that it was unconstitutional, oppreTive and ty-
ranniea expected from the ufual accuracy and cor
recineis OF the member who made thofe attentions,
lNr Dennis) that he was IN pofeion of documents to
iubitantate the fact; but, to my furprfe, nlead of
iuch documents he has adduced and principally relied
on the contribution, in which there is not fncIe i'm
Perative fenence obligatory Congress either to re-
ceiVe ceion, or when received TO continue exclu-
i've JuThdetion over foot Of territory the plain
and unequyccal language OF the contribution leaving
perfectly optional whether receive ard if recei-
ed, whether to retain jurildelion or not. Hence
conceive that no Legislative body be july charged
with tyranny or opPrelon, for altering, or from e-
Perence 1t becomes ncceary, difannuling their own
acts "a contra-npnion confdes as altogether I'M
eongenialto Improvement. genuine liberty and the in
herent rights o. man. and as iuch hope will ever be
exploded III thefe United States
M Chairman, the confitutionaiity and right to re-
cede being ittled it turns foley on the principle Of
exPedieney.-tiere let me ak what advantage the u
mtsd States derives from exercifing executive urfdic
ton over thac p2r Of The territory propoed to be re-
coded ISnot he city jufiicient, even admitting the
ntty or neeeiity Of exclu'irs urifdi6on1 corceiy-
ed that no Poible advantage can be drawn from lar
Ear 1ianiun Of territory Hc- Jet ne call the atten-
ton OF the Houfe to The real and obvious di(adyauta
ees :-thee are, leat, the lois Of the time of I76
members of Coogeis. from twenty thirty days an
nusIy ipent in leglaiing FOR the dfria, at an ex-
pence OF, from thirty to forty ;ouand dolllrs This
enormous expence only be iuifed upon the prin-
Ciple fcr IL L.. 1.
that aPublic debt public bening :" and eonfe-
qnenty that the greater the debt the greater the be
ing.
Bat, MIR Chairman, ] do not eonider the .xpepce
as the greate evil; eonGder it incompatible with
the principle Of taxation and representation being M
eparabe, and countenaDciDg the juf pr ,ples Of E.
qnal rights let forth m our declaration or ipdepen
dence, 70 obtain which, the noble patriots of Antr
ca fought, bled and died 4xnd niai we whilh tbouc
ands are yet living, who at the if< of their lives oh
tanned for us The neanable bloIipg Of liberty evinee
to ;hs world that depife and reie4 this heavenly
gh this eeeita trsafure, by continuing in the centre
OF the DnioH at the feat Of govPru,neut thonfnds oil
our fellow citize1s deprived 9f the elective fsncbir,
exactly IN tnit degraded G;u1tien which the noble
patriots before mentioned chos rather to fuHr death
than continue in I hope we Hla not
Finally, Mr.. Chairman, eonfdering the principle Of
exeuiivc Juhd'cion over 20 large territory danger.
Gus IN rs tendency, and contrary in its nature to the
hberty and independence of hele United States a. ne
irIgid to the temperate zone ConIderng it as nurf
ing germ Of ariGosraey in our boiom--ssan ne..
Plca5ie paradox, Of liber,y fuppors,rg yranny-ant
as vultrre riding in the GENRE Of the Uroa to pre-,
upon the vitais Of liberty, conceive il duty o,ge
no; only to my conl;aents aud the preien generate.
on; but alio, FOR the fake Ut millions YET unborn n
call upon tine members Of this fIorf il nos now
sr at rreis", to deiroy this yet unaedgod oOoaer u
its infancy, lea9 to clip It's wrgs 70 clofe tnat
permitted TO 1--we 60 age, it will be unable to a.
upon its prey.