The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-17

that without fu,h information the .a would he
Il dead letter, as in the indirect trade w.t. the
adjacent provinces of European powers, II
would be altogether imponilie tn render the
vefel or maaer importing them liable to be f,iz-
cd, from the inability of reaching them.
They alto contended that Congrefs did not
polirfs the right to fay that pe,fons of color
brought into the fou,hern Itatrs ihould not e
fold as naves, bscaufe as foon rs they became
the property of the u. S. by their forfeiture,
the u. S. in character of owner, became equally
iubjed with an individual to thofe laws, which
in ieveral of the tates directed their fa!e as
ilaves as foon as introduced into them, with
which laws consequently the propofed ?roviiion
directly ipterfered. They faid they were alto
oppoied to the amendment, becaufe the princi-
pie on which it was advocated went TO affect
nine-tenths fthe property ofthc fou,hern ftates,
and might in its effects ftrike at all the property
held in flaves that confequently it became
their duty to re6N it. The friends Of the
amendment claimed an equal refpee 70 their
feelings but this declaration came with a bad
grace from thofe who on former occalion had
Imported a motion to turn there people loofe
in fate of freedom in the fou,hern country.
This was difavowed by Meiirs. Smile aid
Sloan.
The queftion was taken on the amendment
oy yeas and nays, which were yeas 6o--nays
go. The Speaker having declared himfelf in
the negative, the amendment was loft.
On motion of MIR. Pi,kn, the authority
given in the Secretary of the Treaflry to re-
NIT fines and forfeitures was truck out-Ayes
"A.
Several other amendments were made in the
details of the bill. when it was ordered tn be
engroiIed for third reading to-morrow-Ayes,
"a.
Mr.. ]. Randolph, from the Committee of
Ways and Means, on 70 much of the mciIace
of the Preiident ofthe US. as relates tn the re-
pealing of the acts laying a duty on falt, and
TO the continuance of the act impoling certain
duties which conftitute the Mediterranean
fund, Preiented bill, repeating the acts lay
ing duty on faIt, and continuing for further
time the firft fiction of an act, entitled an act
" further to protect the commerce and fearneu
ofthc United States againft the Barhary pow
ers," which WAS referred TO a committee of the
whole on Friday.
Mr.. ]. Randolph likewife prefented bill
authorizing the PreGdent of the United States to
accept the fervice of number of volunteer
companies, not exceeding 10000 men, which
was referred to committee OF the whole on
Monday next.
THURSDAY, Jan. 8.
MIR. Early, from the committee of COM
merce and manufactures on the petition of Ed
mund Briggs, jun. made favorable report, in
which the Houfe concurred, and inhrueted the
committee of commerce and manufactures to
bring in bill.
On motion of Mr.. J. Clay the mcflage of
the Preiident, enclofng the laws of the Michi-
gan territory, was referred to a fclstt commit
tee.
Mr.. Mumford prefented memorial from the
Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of
New-York, praying for the more effettua for
LITIGATION of that port.
Referred to the committee on 70 much of the
mef1age of the Preiident as relates to fortifc att
ons.
The Speaker laid before the Houfe letter
from the Secretary of the Treafury, tranfmit.
ting ttatement exhibiting the amount of du-
ties and drawbacks on goods imported into aad
exported from the u. S. in the years 1903, 1904,
and 1905.
MIR. Wickes prefented petition from fun
dry inhabitants of Sag Harbor, praying for a
bounty on falt manufactured in the u. States in
cafe the duties on the importation of that art l.
Gle be repealed, which was referred to the COM
mittee of the whole to whom was committed
the bill for repeating the duty on falt.
MIR. Elliot offered the following refolution,
with the view of obtaining more concife and
plain ftatement of the progreis made in the
payment of the national debt, as well as of az
ce.taiHins whether the fcreiary of the Treafu-
ry had not made Il miflake in fome of his Rate |
ments.
Resofved, That the Secretary of the Trcafu.
ry be directed to lay before the Houfe of Repre-
fentatives ftstcment of the amount of the
debt ofthe U. S. on the n day of April, in the
year 1901, and on the # day of January in
each year fince that period respectively, dillin-
guifhing the REFLECTIVE amounts of foreign and
domeitic debt, and of each fpecies Of thofe def
criptionS Of the debt, and exhibiting diftinet
ftatements of the quarterly as we'll as annual
payments, 70 far rs the fame may be practical |
bic.
MIR. BurwelI fad that he approved of the re-
tolution, but wihed it extended 70 as to obtain
information of the relative fate of the debt
from the year 1891; and moved to amend it |
by inferting 1901 in lieu of 1901.
Mr.. Elliot and Mr.. J.. Clay fuggefed their
indifpoftion to the amendment on the ground
Of the delay it might location in acting on the
bill before the Houfe relative to the dfcbarge
of the debt.
Mr.. BurwelPs amendment was ygreed to
Ayes 81.
On motion Of Mr.. Alton the refolution was
further amended, 70 as only to require quarter
ly eatements from April 1901.
On motion of MIR. J. Clay it was farther a.
mended by adding after rcybeairely," " OH