Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-11
GotllSre83.
no USE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, Nov. Z.

from a|udrV merchants end traders oil
the city Of Phitadeithid, hraying for al
reheat Of thc noH-imfiortafiOn ia5o.
(Continued.
Mr.. w. ALsToN said he thought il at
this time extremely improper TO refer tic
petition, as wasproposed. Ifany step were
to be taken in regard to the prayer of the
petition it should be done in committee of
the whole House. If the expediency of
repeating the law alluded TO in the petition
was 20 be considered, it was plain ques-
ton which would present itself to every
member of the House, and could be deci-
ded without any previous reference TO any
inferior committee. The petition said some-
thing about Instructions given to our minis
ters. If it were referred to the committee
of Commerce and Manufactures, they
might think themselves authorised to call
upon the Secretary of State for informati-
pa it had therefore better be at once
brought before the House, and not go to a
committee; for though he felt perfect con-
fdence III that committee, he was net will
ling AZ this crisis 20 entrust them with the
power of calling for information which it
might not he proper to communicate. In
the committee of the whole resolution
might be brought forward which would de-
tcrmine the principle at once; he there
fore moved that il be referred to the com
mittee OF the whole House.
The SPEAKER said the motion made by
Mr.. Aston would supersede the motion for
reference to the Committee OF Commerce
a"tl Manufactures
Mr.. BAssEr amended the motion so as
to refer it TO a com mitee of the whole on
the state o. the union.
Mr. SMILE was sorry this motion was
=
mortal more Importance tnau was attach
ed TO it by the motion of his colleague,
who had introduced it. He considered
the matter III Il serious point OF view.
That there was IL this country Z party n
favor Of the British government, he had
no boubt nor did he ,loujt but that this
memorial was intended to embarrAss
tie operations Of oar government, and
strengthen the British government in their
measures. This WAS his opinion and Is
other gentlemen also thought so, they would
manifest it by their votes.
Mr. BAssET said it would be recollected
by the House, that, urged Ivy the same feel
jrgs which had ac,uated the gentleman
from Kentucky (NIr. Rowan) he had arr
sen to offer his sentiments on the subject
bat had been prevented by the preference
given TO another gentleman. He consider
ed the subject in Il different light from the
gentleman last up, and did not view it
merely as it affected the petitioners Their
proceedings on this memorial would go
forward to the public, and shcw to the
world their opinions OH the subject. Should
they not now rouse from the slumber into
which the gentleman from Pennsylvania
had said they had fallen Should they not
shew that they would be reused when the
occasion called Gorit. He shed il referred
to Il committee OF the whole on the state o.
the union, because tine nation was particu-
larly interested in /; NOS to give peculiar
consequence tn the petition, but because
be wished the full sense OF the House to be
Obtained on it He had prepared rcso-
lGtion before the gentleman from n. G.
made his motion, declaring that the law
ought not TO lie repealed. He thought this
won d have been the proper course; but
IS tic affair now stood il was his wish 70
20 into a committee of the whole iRstau-
tcr not out Of respect to the petitions, but
10 the community, who had been long wal
ting Cor an expression of their sentiments.
What have we said, asked Mr. Is That
We viii support the government and it's
measures No; we have said nothing.
r. was for giving to the world their OPT
mon, that as far as those measures were
correct and proper, they would support
diem in t,cir full extent This was his
reason for wishing it referred to the com
Tnittec Of the whole OH the state Of the uni
on.
Mr. CHANDLER said he could not say
whether ;hc subscribers 10 the petition
we're American citizens or british subjects
residing in oar cities. II he were To Judge
from t,c Languages and terms which it con-
veycd, be should strongly suspect that they
wcrr " the latter class OF people. IT he
were certain Of that, he should wish The pc
tlton not to be noticed at ala hat as ne
YVES not perfectly convinced oi IT, he wish
cd It TO lie OH the table 1T It were ucces-
sdry 20 take uythe subject they could a; a.
ny time 80 into committee Of the whole
on the state Of the union, without the assis-
lance Of the petition.
Mr.. SoUTHhRD said that the language
of the petitioners was decent, bu, their
object, the time Of their application, and
the observations which they had made
he Thought extremely improper. The pc
titiCn con -4incd destinations that the Exec
u,iye had taken too high ground, and de-
nauded things that were improper ht
therefore th0ughtthe memorial was TO, en-
titled Co that countcnaucc from the House
which il would appear 60 receive by re-
fetcncc % committee %. the Whole. 1T,
differed IN opinion with the gentleman from
Virginia iIsJ sat down, who thought thi'
memorial should rouse their feelings hC
4houoitt N eboUtd etan0 IN tie own toeri+e