The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-04

--Aye569. 81
On motion of Mr.. j. Randolph, the Houfe
reiolved itfelf into commitsee of the whole
Mr.. J. C.'SMirh in the chair, on the following
refouiions iubmitted fome time fnce by MIR. J.
Randolph. ..
government OF the u. S.. an officer within the
purview and meaning of the contribution, and.
as fuch, ia incapable Of holding feat in this
Houfe, =
end. Refolved, That the union nf a p,urality
of offices in the pcrfon of a Jingle Individual,
but more Especially of the military with the civil
authority, is repugnant 10 the tpirit of the con-
titution the u. S. and tends to the introduce
ing of an arbitrary government,
Sd. Refolved, That prorifion ought TO be
made, by law, to render any officer, in the army
or navy of the u. S. incapable OF holding any
civil office under the U. S.
The quetton was taken on thefe refolutions
without debate.
The hrit was agreed to-Ayes s4-Noes ST.
The !econd was agreed to-Ayes 75-srd
The third was agrsed to without divifion.
When the committee rofe and reported their
agreement to the refolutions.
The Houfe Immediately confidered the re-
port.
On concurring with the committee Of the
whole in their agreement to the firf reioution,
a debate of length and interee enfued, which
thall be given in courfe at length.
Meflfs, j. Randolph and ]. Clay fapported
concurrence in the report of the committee:
and Mefrs. Fix, Eppes, Alton, Findley, G.
w. Campbell, K. Melton, Early Smile, Sloan,
B,dwell, Rhea of Ten. J,ckfon, Kelly, Dawfoo,
Elmer, and Southland, oppofed it, when the
queftion was taken about O'Clock by yeas and
nays, Yeas a5-Nays So.
AS we fhall give this debatcyhe at con-
iiderable length, we fhali coutent ourfelves with
taking at this time concife notice of the mott
prominent features of the debate.
The friends of the reioutiou advocated it ON
the ground that the contribution, by giving to
each Houfe of Congrefs the power of judging
of the returns and qualifications of their mem.
bers, authorized them with j reference to this
point, To givea contribution to the contribution
(Which they commended was the juft conftrutfi-
on) declaring the place of contractor under ihe
government Incompatible with feat in the
Houie; and they United that the constitutional
provihon that s'no perfon holding any office un-
der the U. s. fhall br.a member of either Houfe
during his continuance in Office" included con-
tractors under the government.
! On the other fde it WIS generally conceded
that it was highly defirablethat fome provifion,
either constitutional or legislative, Mould be II
dopted 20 exclude contractors from the lesitla-
tnre. But that the members of the Houfe were
| bound to fuPportthe contribution, and were not
at liberty to give it contribution which it
would not bear. They declared contract and
an office to be daind things. They difapprov-
| ed going into contribution of the contribution
on abffratt ground but declared their readi-
NETS to act upon any particular cafe which might
be Preiented to them, ard their opinion that this
was the mott correct coprfe to puriae. Some
gentlemen likewife expreled their Willingness
to unite in the paffage Of law prohibiting any
officer of the u. S. 10 enter into contrast with
3 member of either Houfe.