Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-04
fa,pkY, March 90.

Nn motion OK Hlr. J. Randolph, the
House resolved i,selfi,.fo committee az
The whole---Mr J. G.. Sn,,h inthe chair.
on the following resolutions submitted
some tune sioce by Mr.. ] Randolph
LIST. Resolved, That CONTRACTOR under
The government of the United States is
an othcer within the purview and mean.
ing OF ,he constitution, and, as such, is
incapable Of holding seat in this House.
I'd. Resolved, That the union of, plu.
rali'y OF Offices in The person Of eingie
individual, but more especially OF the
military with the civil authority, is re-
pugnsni 10 the spirit of The constitution
Of the United States and tends To the
Introducing of an arbitrary government !:
Sd. Resolved, Tha, provision ought to
be made, by law, to render any officer, in
the army or navy OF the United States
incapable of holding any civil Office un-
der the United States.
The question was taken on these reso.
lu.ions without debate.
HE first was agreed to-Ayes ST.
Noes ST.
The second was agreed to-Ayes IS
sand
The third was agreed to without, divi.
sion.
When the committee rose and report
ed their agreement to the resolutions.
The House immediately considered
the report.
On concurring with the committee of
the whole in their agreement TO The first
resolution, debate of length and in, crest
ensued, which shall be gwen in course
at length.
Messrs. J. Randolph ard J. Clay sup
ported concurrence in the report of
the committee; and Messrs. Fisk, Eppes,
Aston, Findly. G.. w. Campbell, r. Mel.
son, Early, Smile, Sloan, BIdweIl, Rhea
of Ten. Jackson, Kelly, Dawson, Elmer,
and Southland opposed it, when the sues-
ton was taken about 4 O'Clock by yeas
and nays, Yeas 25-Nays IS.
As we shall give this debate hereafter
at considerable length, we shall content
ourselves with taking at this time con
clse notice of the most prominent fea-
lures of the debate.
/ he'friends Of the resolution adveca.
led 1t on the ground that the constitution,
by giving 10 each House of Congress the
power Of Judging of the returns and quail
ihcations of their members, authorised
them with reference 10 this point, TO
give construction to the constitution
(which they commended was the lust con.
struetion) declaring the place of con.
tractor under the government incnrDati.
bic with seat in the House and they
insisted that the constitutional provision
that" no person holding any Office under
the United States shall be a member Of
either House during his continuance in
Office" Included contractors under the
government.
On the other side it was generally con.
coded that it was highly desirable that
some provision, either constitutional or
Legislative, should be adopted TO exclude
contractors from the legislature. But
that the members of the House were
bound to support the constitution, and
were not at liberty to give it cons true
ton which 1t could not bear. They de.
clared contract and an Office toabe dis
tinct things. They disapproved goiac
intca construction of the constitution ON
abstract ground; but declared their readi-
ness to ACT upon any particular case which
might be presented 10 them, and their
opinion that this was the most correct
course to pursue. Some gentlemen like.
wise expressed their Willingness to unite
in the passage OF law prohibiting any of.
icer Of the United States to enter Into a
contract with member of either Heuse,