The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-13
slled until the third reading of the bill.

Aheo until the tntrd reading OF the bill.
The committee then role, and reported their
agreement to the bill without amendment.
Mr.. DAYTON, to try the fenfe of the Houfe
on the point difcuiIed in com,nittee, offered
the following amendment:
Provided, that nothing herein contained f,nall
be conftrued to affect the right or claim of any
perfon, to any part of any fine, penalty, or for
feiture, incurred by the breach of the ACT afore-
laid, which fuch perfon fhall or NAV be entitled
TO, by virtue of the faid law, in cafes where a
pro'ecution has been commenced or informat-
on has been given, before the pafIing of this
act the amount of which right and claim ihall
he afleifed and valued by a proper judge or
court IN fummary manner.
The argument, commenced in committee,
was returned by the fame gentlemen.
When the queGion was taken, and the amend
ment difagreed to-Ayes l2.
Mr.. J. Randolph faid, after what had pai7ed,
the Houfe would not afcribe to him with to
PrecIpitate the deci6on on filling the blank in
the hrit fiction. He had indeed no fuch intcn-
ton. When in committee he had avoided fav-
ing any thing as TO the principle or expediency
OF the meafure nor fhould he touch thofe
points, 1t at all, till the queltion whether the
b'ii fhould pats or not was fairly before the
Houie. But he would appeal to gentlemen
whether the interefts of the u. S. could be ma
eN''""y "uS~tCd ny du duCiltOI0l luIpenOn Tor
three days, three weeks or three month ?
The fnbjea had been very fully debated the
iat feriion, and gentlemen could furely make
up their minds whether it were bcft for the fui-
Penton to operate to the end of the felton,, or
10 the Soth OF June, or to later period. This
was one OF thofe minor auctions that did not
require much time for confederation, and having
decided that the fufpeniion fhoud not be ex-
tended to the SIT of December, there could be
little difficulty in fixing an intermediate day.
He fhould therefore move to fill the blaak with
the soth OF June, although he did not mean to
preis the motion. He underfood that was the
quarter day at the Treafury.
Mr.. Alton faid, when heivoted in committee
againf filing the blank with the SIT CID ecem-
Der, 1t was not becaufc he was abfoutely ayainf
that day, but becauEe his mind was not made
up with refpe9 to the moft proper day at which
to limit the fufpenfion. He had heard nothing
hnce to iatisfy his mind on this head. He hop
ed, therefore, that the blank would not be filled
until the third reading Of the bill.
Mr.. ]. Clay remarked that when he feconded
the motion ofthe gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
}. Randolph) it was with perfect know led &c
that Ut would be competent to the Houfe to gill
the blank on the third reading of the bill. But
he would ak, whether there would not exit a
difficulty in fixing the period of fufpenfion at
any day hort OF the commencement OF the next
tefion of Congrefs? And if there were, whe-
ther there would not ariie necefiity of placing
tomewhere a difpeniing power? He hoped,
from al! he could collect, that all differences
between the two governments would before that
day be removed. We'll, fuppofe treaty, in
all retpeets perfectly satisfactory, ihould be con-
Guided, and the prohibitory a6t only fufpended
until the 3oth of June, without any power cx-
itting to diipenfe with it. The bill mua again
H,4rf pAf,- ~. III Il
which gave rife to it have ceaEed. He believed
1t was not competent to amend a bill on its
third reading, unlefs by unanimous content.
For this reaion he wifhed that the blank might
then DE filled with the 3oth of June, and an
amendment introduced, authorizing further
hyperion, 10 cafe our differences ihould be adj
luited. If this courfe were adopted, he De-
heved every gentleman would be iatisiied.
Mr.. Smile moved to pohpone the further
confederation of the bill to Monday.
MIR. ]. Randolph hoped that if the conlider-
ation OF the bill were poitponed, it would not
ne till Monday. He con6dered the bill of fomc
importance to two clafles of perfons, to the
merchants, and hill more 70 to the fouthern
planters. I: was conlidered by thofe who I'm.
derttood its operation, az of material impor-
lance to the cotton planters. He filppofed be-
tween this day & tomorrow, every gentleman
would be able to make up his mind whether il
would be expedient to iufpend the prohihitory
law tor three, iX or nine months. The period
appeared to him comparatively an unimportant
queition; whereas that of the bill coming foon
INTO operation was of great importance to the
planters. If pafed, il would have confder.
able effect on orders abroad and projects at
home. ia pofponement took place, he hoped
the Houfe would adjourn till tomorrow, and
ITS confederation be then returned. As the O.
Their Houfe were generally more tardy in their
proceedings, it could fcarcely he expected to
get into operation in efs than eight or ten DAYS
and that period would be taken from the period
oftn'penfion, fhort as it might be.
The motion 10 pohpone the bill to Monday
wac difagreed to-Ayes 20.
Mr.. Smile then moved poltponenent till
tomorrow. which was carried-Ayes co.
In the courfe Of the debate MIR. r.. Melton
remarked, as an indncement to the prompt paf-
i7ge OF the bill that he was informed that Mr..
Merry, the late Britifh minifier, about to fail
tor England, w7swan.iig to learn the fate of it.
The Speaker laid before the Houfc letter
from the Secretary of the Treafury tranimittino
= report made in obedience to the acf to era
bIili The Treafury Department, which was re-
ferred to The Committee of Ways aud Means.
Adjourned.
SATURDAY, Dec. 6.
Mr. Fix preiented the petition of - Ken
nard, which was referred to- the Committee of
elaine -