The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-06
CONGRESS,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Hc4aejaay, Jan. 60.

Mr.. Jackfoa called for confederation of the
Unfiniihci bufinefs Of yeiterday, viz. the mo-
,ou of Mr.. Smile to diicbarge the committee
of Ways and Means from the further couiidc-
ration of 70 much of the Preiident's metIage as
relates tothc invafion of neutral rights by fome
of the belligcrent powers.
On taking up this buinefS the HoUfe divi-
ded-Ayes 57-Carried.
The motion having been fubmitted from the
chsir-Nr. DAYTON oppoied 1t. lie faid the
with of the gentleman from Pennsylvania TO
bring this futje6t under the view of the COM
nittee of the whole on the fate of the union
might at any time be gratiied by going into that
committee and moving any reroiution he might
fee FIT, as the meiiage generally was referred to
the committee ofthe whole on the fate of the
union. He believed, however, that the floor
OF the fIoufe was not the proper place to make
declarations OF what is the law OF nations. He
believed that 4 volume of inch declarations
would be of no avail |; it was their duty to ACT
and no. TO declare on fuch iubjetts and when
ever the gentleman from Pennsylvania or any
other gentleman would bring forward meaiures
calculated to prevent an iflfraetion of our neu-
trail rights, they ihou!d receive his flpport. At
prsfent he mutt be againG adopting the reicu-
ton.
Mr.. Smile faid he did not expect any oppo-
ftion to the motion he had made. If the COM
mttee of Ways and Means f!lould be difcharg-
ed from the buiinefs. i would confcnnently
come before the committee of the whole on
the fate of the union without any motion, as
the metiage was generally before that commit
tee.
In reply 70 the remark that this motion would
be treating the committee Of Ways and Means
With dlirsipeGt, Mr.. Smile faid, he thought
the ground on which he had placed the buff
Hsis would have removed every idea OF the
kind. He did not fay the committee of WAYS
and Mcans were not as competent to the bun
nefs rs any other fclect or # ding committee :
but he had declared from the beginning that in
his opinion, in point of principle, the refer
ence ought to have been made to the committee
of the whole. This is the ninth week Of the
FELTON,, and gentlemen charge us with having
done nothing. Do not gentlemen fee, from the
cerapgcd tate of the committee of Wars and
Means, that this colIrie has become abCelutely
neceIary Shall buGnsfs, of the firft impor-
tance that can occur during the FELTON,, he neg
leetcd nthis account No. only thieves of all
America, bat likewiis of al Europe are looking
with anxiety on the Reps which we G,ail take
in this buinefs. Fer all the maritime powers
Of Europe are interefted in this great quehion
relative TO neutral rights. Are we, then, in
coniequence of the dcranged lituation of a fe-
leet committee, TO rtmain with our hands tied
no? For myfelf do think, that the iutc.efts
tteps. repeat it, that on iimilar cccaiion
with this, linilar courie was purified. Gen.
tlemen will remember, that in The third Cen
eref., when we before FILTERED from tie milf
conduct OF Great-Britan, certain refoiutions
which became the fubjcct of difcniiion oripina-
ted in a committee of the whole Houfe. What.
indeed, are we to expect from the commit. e
Of Ways and Means Are they in ipoheIiun
OF the general .cnft oftile IIoufr on this fubiet
lie, b.-i- ) 7 r,>IE
the cafe, as we have had no tlfcuGion of the
fatjeet and until it flail be r'ought under. a
view az a committee of the wloie Houfe, il is
impofhhle TO tell what the opinions of mem.
bers will centre.
Dir. Jackfon. fhave b,t Jingle obfarvation
10 make in addition to thot; which have fallen
from the gentleman from pennfylvania. So far
as relates to .nyftlf it is pot my Object To DIFF
cuffs in committee of flIe whole, the abfiraSt
queftiGl of the law Of nations, bnt to adopt
-ne2iures for the tfsttual rcliftance and pun
il,ment OF the infrastion OF thore laws, as far
as we can. If, according to the courfe pointed
cut by my colleague, any refelution fhould be
fubpittcd on this fubject in committee of the
whole, it will be obje 6ted that the fubiea is be.
fore Handing committee, and it will be fid
to be diirefpectful to ACT OIL it until they iball
have reported. 1fmy coIleagse, therefore, be
ofooinion, that we Ihoxld adopt any efficient
and prompt meafures, the better and ipeed,er
wsy will be for him 10 join in the motion.
i:ape that motion will prevail. In the name of
Heaven, & we 2re not dif, ,ofel 10 do any thing,
Jet patelI the people 10.
MIR. crewn.nGeld. From the beginning
was eppoled to referriAy this fibjeG to the
Committee Of WAYS and Means. flw no rea-
fon for its going to a Handing committee. With
ont meaning TO cat any cenfure on the Com
nit:ee of Ways and Means, am in favor of
the motion. We have been in feGon feyen or
eight weekS--the reference was made as early
rs the 9Th Of Dec. and we have vet no report.
The qneIton is perhaps rs intereitng one As
has been preented fnce the Establishment OF
our national government. What is our ftuati.
on Oar lhips are p!uat,ered in every fea, our
feamen are imprcf'td, 5000 of them are in the
fervice of one nati11. We are A neutral natl
on, aud it is not pioper that any belligerent na-
ton fhould employ them in this manner Like
the gentleman from Virginia, am ready to
ae-rf want no report to guide my dscifion
] am preparcd-not for war-melfures. BIN,
for r,on-in; ercourie act with Great Britain.
am willing to tufp"nd all intercourse with G.
Britain nuti ihe niah give back the flips fhe
his foien from gS, and the f,amen lhe forcibl,
detains. In,all not be more ready to take tbt