Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-02-20

y 49, "Se'N ''~"- c>ieaf iort.c nave apphSu
asaifst repeaIiDg the bankrupt or The ex.
c.<e law, VI. any other law .enaescd under
c,.s,itu,ionai authority.
lie Sad that though mber of.the
ratIiying convention OF Pennsylvania, and
oi the legislature OF that state, and of con-
gress since ths, time, he did not RENE M
-bsr ever TO bear it suggested that congress
Mas not tested with the same disc, elton
IN this case as in others expressed IN siIni-
iss terms. He had indeed of la,e heard
sevetal members say that congress was
obliged 10 establish a permanent! seat &c
bot in taking. "A review OF the constitution
he found no such cxpression The wore
permanent was not in that instruments nor
any other expression that made 1t the du-
~ of congress 10 establish permanent
seat, more than to establish a permanent
excise direct tax, or bankrupt law. The |
word TerNapent however he found Ia an
aet Of congress, but certainly not author |
issd BY the constitution; and this present
congress had equal ppwer,o make retro
cession as that congress had to accept.
Iie said i, was not necessary to prove TO
the members OF his committee that laws
ia ts,r ,,agure were not permanent but
cbangcab.c with circumstances, and
,. al one congress had by the CONSTITUTION
cqeal powcra with any other congress
Tint from the express words of the con-
siiiuuon inves.icg this power in congress.
and from, lis analogy 10 the invesuture OF
other powers, no argument coul! be drawn
against the resolutions, that every argu-
rocnt OF that kind he had heard was not
taken ssoJn lhe words Of the constitution,
but from consuuc.ors given TO it, which
he Conceived tie words would not bear.
aud ~aich would have aruinous effect APP
Piled TO other powers expressed in similar
words. That he did not consider him self
bound BY what other gentlemen idncied
.tl.e constitution meant or intended, but by
VIVA il sad.
Mr. I. said the argument bad taken
didereRt turn from whathe had expeclcd-l
The resolutions did aoi propose TO remove
the SCAT ii government, lar from it none
Uf hose who have advocated the resoluti-
ons proposed 10 remove The seat of govern
ren;, thew a.l-agreed in declaring they
bad no such Intention; he also declared
ti,at Whatever lis ihconyeniencies were he
had ao sucl, inIen'ion nor did not know
= member who had. But he wished to
be candid, he was oil the opinion that con.
sress had authority 10 remove when and
where they pleased. The contribution
DID prescribe restr. ctions on the exercise
Oh sevefa, Legislative powers, but it pre-
sc:ihed no restrictions on thepower ofvx
crcIsiug eSclusiye jurisdiction over ter
ri;ory not exceeding ten m les square, or
ovcv lorts, arsena,s, Sc. OF several CT
ihsse he had no doubt cor gross Would
make 4 re recession. He had no doubt
bnta rirocession would be made OF What
evor OF that kind congress had received
from The stale OF Pennsylvania, al Pnts.
burg, MeadsyIlie, Presque-Isic, sc. when
tlicy ceased to be usefui 10 congress and
became iitconsenIent to that state. These
saojscts are oy the explicit language OF
the consiItaiion, language which cannot
by fair exposition, be perverted, vested
without restriction 10 he legislative dis
cfetIon ofcongress IN the same unquaIifi-
I'd terms as the power IN question. Mr..
+. said twelve amendments had already
teen made 10 tie Constitution, aud if il
was found that congress was imprisoned
in Situation they did no, approve, or
wherc they could not act freely, or safely, |
aud that t'ey were conss aimed by the
constitution 10 do so, another amendment
coald and would as easily be wade there
i0.c ever admitting, ;l,ough,ot granting,
Tie constitutional obligation, the properly |
or he residence Of congress is not perma.
neni. lis Continuance must depend on
the What Inc people osthe United - es. I
0tncr considerations are . greater secu-
r.ty- inthc city many have laid out large !
sums Of gaoney oW their confidence in go. !.
yerpment, AID the government has laid |
out very large sums OF rnousy 10 provide
accommodations and must lay out more
for that purpose. And notwithstanding
some present inconycnieneies, lie said Ire
believed it was nearly a. central and ca.
p..5le q being made as convenient stu.
atiop Tor the seat Of government 80 could
Be fund. From this il vas evident that
justice 20 the city and policy with respect
10 The United states conibincd in pra-
venting removal If the seat of go.
v,rnmsnt. Justice and policy, he SAID,
Ile thorgiii we're better security for the
citizens, than even the word permanent,
If i. had been in the constitution, which