The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-04

ritory to Georgia than fuffer the fubjeSt to re-
main in its prefent fate. Should the compro-
mife be not agreed to, he would in proper
time lay proportion to this effect before the
Houte. He thought the intereft of the nation
required the igetting rid of the fubjeSt in this
way.
MIR. Jackfon withdrew his motion. He faid
his Object could be effected by poRponng the
refolution from time to time, till the queftion
of compromise fhould be firft decided. He was
indeed willing that both quefions lhould be de-
Cided at the fame time.
Mr.. CLARK was really concerned his colleague
had made this motion. The rcfolution of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania had been before
them two months, and not Il Jingle ftep taken
refpeeting it, and now we are told we not
to act upon It till apropodtion, not even before
us, ihail be decided upon. Whatever may be
before the other branch of the Legislature, we
are not at liberty to argue upon 1t. What
proipect then is there to get at this fub-
ljeet, when gentlemen fay their object is to
poitpone it from time to time, till propohti-
on in its embryo fhall be dec ided upon IF the
fubied were really con(idered rs competed of
fuch infamable materials as fome gentlemen
think, the fooner it is decided the better. Mr.
c. faid he was ready to go at once into the diff
cufion, and he thought the hotter the battle,
the earlier would be the peace that followed it.
He was ready to repeal the law. which in the
opinion of iome gentlemen, gave fanttion to
claims founded in fraud and corruption.
Mr.. Gregg faid he had no objection to the,
poitponemcnt moved by the gentleman from
Virginia, provided they could get at the buff
nefs contemplated by him. But if this could
not be done, he was rather for going into
consideration of the refoluton. As to the pro-
poiltion OF compromise, he knew nothing of it.
No propolition of this kind had been received
ny the Houfe from the claimants. To poftpone
therefore this refolution for a bulinefs they
knew nothing about, was very extraordinary.
| 1t he were fatished they could get at this buff
neis within the time mentioned, he would be
content to let it reft for the prefent. But as
that was uncertain, he hoped the refolution
would not prevail.
poftpone would prevail. Bulinefs of much
more Importance claimed prior attention.
He conceived that the refolu,ion, when inveiti-
gated, would be found to contain very curl
oas principle, which the Houfe would not be
| likely to adopt. 1t went not merely to decide
on the rights of others, but to "trip them of the
right of deciding upon thofe rights. He fhould
DC againft deciding on the refolution until they
had previoully decided the quetion of compro.
mife. As he did not think it neceGary, before
tins deciton was made, to deprive themfelves
OF the power OF allowing claims which might be
brought before them. The potponemcnt
would leave an opening TO Congrefs TO act on
theie claims as they may fee fit. For this rearou
and in order that buiinefs of greater moment
might be taken up in the tirt inftance, he fhould
be IN favor OF the pofponement.
| lhequettion was then taken an the poftpone.
ment, until the cd Monday of March, and Car.
ried-Aycs 7s-Nays SO.
| Mr.. Nicholfon, from the committee of WAYS
and means, in the abfence of the chairman, re
ported bill making appropriation for the fup.
port OF government for the year 800, which
was referred to committee of the whole on
Monday.
The Houfe refolved itfelf into committee
OF the whole-MR. GREGG in the chair-on
the bill from the Senate providing for the paw
ment of the witnelies on the trial of Samuel
Chafe.
| Mr.. John c. Smith gave a hiaory of the fate
OF iimiar bill at the cIofe ofthe Iaft FELTON, 4,
| advocated its adoption. ~
Mr.. Macon moved to amend the bill bv Ii.
m'fing the payment of witnefies to thofe fun
moned on the part of the U. S.
On this motion a debate arofe, which occu-
pied the remaining part of the fitting in
which Mefirs. Macon and Nicholfon fupport-
cd and Mefirs. Alton, Jackfon, and Early
oppoied the amendment.
a.
mittee rofe and obtained leave to fit again.
Monday, February "a.
Mr.. Gregg from the committee on public
lands reported on the petitions of Roger Enos
and Robert Fl. Stone.-Tke report in both cafes
is unfavourable TO the petitioners.
The Honfe took into confederation the bill.
received from the Senate, TO prohibit oommer.
cIal Intercourte with the illand of ST. Domin.
go.
a motion was made by Mr.. Nichollon fo TO
amend the bill aS.fo require bonds to be given
aOitb GNceiie5, The bill from the Senate only
required bond to be given by the matters and
owners, to prevent all trade to the ports of
that illand which are not in the pofeflion of the
French.
Mr.. Nicholfon Imported this amendment.
MIR. J. Clay oppoied it.
Mr.. Jackfon fpoke in favour of it.
Mr.. Nicholfon, for the purpofc of allowing
further time to examine the provifions of the
moved re %