The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-10
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES


FRIDAY, Nov. z
Debate on the reference Of a memorial from
suhdry merchants and traders Of TIE cttv
Of PhiiadeLhhia, hraying for ret,eaL Of
Tie non-imhortation iazv.
(coN7INUED.
Mr.. W. .HiSton said he thought it at this
time extremely improper to refer the petit
on, as wasproposed. If any step were to be
taken in regard to the prayer of the petition
1T should be done in committee of the whole
House If the expcdency of repeating the
law alluded to in the petition was to be con-
sldered, 1t was plain question which would
present itself to every member of the House,
and could be decided without any previous
reference to any inferior committee. The
petition said something about instructions gil
ven to our ministers. If it were referred TO
the committee of Commerce and Manufac-
lures, they might think themselves authori-
zedto call upon the Secretary of State for
information it had therefore better be at
once brought before the House, and not TO go
to committee; for though he felt perfect
confidence lii that committee, lie was not will
ling at this crisis to entrust tilsm with the
power OF calling for information which it
might not be proper to communicate. In the
committee of the whole a resolution might
be brought forward which would determine
.h~ " iiiSiPiC dl ouSS ne therefore moved
that 1T be referred to the committee of the
whole House. -
The Sneaker said the motion made by MIR.
Aston would supercede the motion for refer
ence to the committee of Commerce & Ma
nufacturcs.
MIR. Bassett amended the motion so as to
refer 1T to committee of the whole On the
state of the union.
Mr.. Smile was sorry this motion was made,
for it was certainly giving the memorial more
Importance than was attached to it by the
motion OF his colleague, who had introduced
1t. He considered the matter i'll a serious
point OF view. That there was in this coun-
try party in favor of the British govern
ment, he had no doubt nor did he doubt but
that this memorial was intended to embar-
rass the operation of our government, and
strengthen the British government in their
measures. This was his opinion and if o.
ther gentlemen also thought so, they would
manifest it by their vote.
Mr.. RasSeH said it would be recollected by
the House, that, urged by the same feelings,
which had aCtuated the gentleman from Ken
lucky (Mr. Rowan) he had arisen to offer his
sentiments on the subject; but had been pre-
vented by the preference given to another
gentleman. He considered the subject in a
different light from the gentleman last up, &
b'o tOl NlSm IL lbCICiy IL tie ILt.tl-
oners. Their proceedings on this memorial
would so forward to the public, and shew TO
the world their opinions on tue subject
Should they not now rouse from the siusnJcr
into which the gentleman from Pennsylva-
MIA said they had fallen |? Should they not
shew that they would he reused when the &C
casion called for it He wished il referred TO
committee of the whole on the state of the
Union, because the nation was particularly
interested in it not to give peculiar conse-
quence to the petition, but because he wish
cd the full sense of the House to be obtained
on it. He had prepared a resolution before
the gentleman from n. &. made his motion,
declaring that the law ought not to be repeal
ed. He thought this would have been the
proper course but as the affair now stood it
was his wish to go into a committee of the
whole inStanter not out Of respect to the
petitioners, but tothe community, who had
been long waiting for an expression If their
sentiments What have we said, asked Mr..
Is That we will support the government q
rs measures! Mo- we have sdidnothing. He
was for giving to the world their opinion, tha
as those measures were correct and proper,
they would support them in their full extent.
This was his reason for wishing it referred to
the committee of the whole on the state OF
the Union.
hr CHdnGfer SAID nc could not say whe-
ther the subscribers to the petition we're A.
merican citizens or British subjects residing
Ia our cities. If he were TO Judge Of the Ian
gage and terms which il conveyed, he should
strCnSly suspect that they were of the latter
class OF people. If he were certain Of that.
he should wish the pctjtjonnot to he rot;ccd
ct all bat IS he was not perfectly convinced
o. it, he wi:hed it % lie on the table. IF it
were necessary 70 take up the subject they
sca.1 al any time soiLtas soumis.ce Of Ae