The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-12

time, the act, entitled +" An act for relief of
the refugees from the British provinces of Ca
NADIA and Nova Scotia. j,
Mr.. Jones, from thc committee to whom
a resolution Oh the sublectof the memorial of
Sir James Jay Was referred. reported bill
to appropriate sum Of money for the purpc-
ses therein mentioned, which was read twice
and referred to u committee of the whole
House.
Mr.. Chi;tenden moved the following resoIu-
ton, which was agreed to-:
ResotI,ed, That committee be appoint
ed to enquire whether any, and if any, what
alterations ought to be made in the several
acts regulating the holding of circuit courts
in the U States and that they have leave to re-
port by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Biosnt said, that for the purpose of
entering OH the subject of defence, he would
move that the unfinished business of yester-
day (Mlr. Randolph's resolutions) be postpo-
ned til Monday next. -
Mr.. Raadoihh said, except the pentlemst
from North Carotina could demonstrate that
the fortif:ing our ports andharboIs and build-.
ing gam boats, were measures III greater ina
portance, aud more deserving the atsenti:iI
OF the House, than the ;rnIiiig of our militia.
he could not consent to the postponemcnt.
Mr. Blunt said, he should not take ND tbs:
time Of the House in an enquiry whether ic
was or more or less Importance. He consi-
|dered 1t his duty TO make the molten and
the decision Of the Housc OH the question
would be satisfactory 20 him, be it what it
might.
The motion was egativcd-Ayes "a, Noes
60.
a message was received from the Senate.
by MIR. Otis, their Secretary, informing the
House that they had passed bill making an
appropriation for the more csIccfual defence
OF the ports and harbors of the u. S.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, on Mr.. RaIdolph's resolutions, as sta
ted Ill our last.
FRIDAY, December 4.
The Speaker laid before the House let
ter from the Secretary OF the Treasury, in
Guiding IN estimate OF the appropriations ne
cessary for the service OF the year 1908, an
account of the receipts and expenditures for
the year past, and an account of the balances
OF former appropriations remaining unexpen-
ded which was referred TO the com mittee
of Ways and Means.
The bill frogn the Senate, making an ap-
preparation for the more eiFectual defence of
the ports and harbors Of the u. 5. was read
twice and referred to the same committee of
the whole to whom was referred the bill for
terrifying our ports and harGors and building
gun boats.
Mr.. Chandler presented the petition of
sundry Inhabitants of Bengal, in the district
of Maine, prayin.. for the erection of port
OF entry which WAS referred t. the commit
tee Of Commerce and Manufactures
The unfinished Business of YESTERDAY, on
Mr. Randolph's resolutions, was then taken
lup.
The yeas andnays being about to be call
| ed as agreed 10 yesterday OF the SECOND rcso.
luton,
Mr. Ehfes moved to amend it by striking
out the words, "the whole body Of the mill
tia OF the y s." and insert e thousand
of the militia of the u. States and for arm
ing annually hereafter thousand,
until the who.e body of the militia of the u.
| 5. shall be armed"
| The yeas and nays were agreed to be ia
ken on this amendment
| a debate ensued Gb which Messrs. Chand-
Ter, Bacon, Wetherell and Southard took
fpart) on the principles of the resolution.
Mr. RandoLih, 10 prevent more delay ia
king place rom the consideration of amend
ments, and to eXpcd te the business, that the
bill Tor the defence OF the Sea-ports might be
taken up, moved for the previous question On
| the amendment
| Mr.. SPEAKER said, that the previous ques-
ton could not be taken on an amendment,
the question being i'll this form, " shall the
nlaiA question he now putt"
| Mr. RandoLhh contended that the amend
ment under consideration was the main CUES
/ ton.
Mr., Stanford, with all Difference to the
Speakers decision, made an appeal to the
House from his decision, in order that the
principle might be now fixed.
n considerable debate took place on this
motion.
Mr.. Elites, who protested against the prin-
cipie supported b. the advocates Of dec;si-
on contrary to that made By the Speaker as
tending to destroy the rights of a minority in
Congress by excluding the debate on any
| question, called for the yeas and nays.
The question was then put by yeas g nays,
is the decision of the Speaker correct J" &
carliedin the affirmative Yeas III, lJars 16.
Mr. Randoihh asked for division OF the
question on the amendment, so as to take The
question first on striking out the words pro-
posed tobe exPunged, and called for the yeas
and nays.
The question was taken ~ Yeas and NAYS
on striking out, and lost--Yeas 4S-Nays 78.
Mr.. EfteS said since his purpose had been
defeated by division Of the que ton, and
as he should vote against the original reso-
luton, and wished 10 shew by his vote to
what extent he would SO, he would submit an
amendment, ON which ne wished no debate,
and called for the Yeas and Nays upon it. He
then moved to insert at thc end of the reso-
L L. IL. IL 49,