Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-01


means of satisfaction Re was perfectly a,
loss as To the object the gentleman could
have IN hr'nsr'gt the matter up now Mr.
&. had alluded 10 the same paper: il was
the ONLY paper Of any Consequence in the
city, and the Presid nj " IS obliged to take
that course To- circulate official acts through
the Union. 1t h ld always been the Gus
tom FOR the President to publish his pro-
CARNATIONS, but in no instance had he laid
them before the House. The two extraor-
binary sessions of>ConSrcss had been held
BY proclamation published in the newspa-
pcrs, and the pro lamations for converting
them had not been laid before the House
Il having been done by another President
had no bearing OH the present case: no
law existed authorizing President Wash
ington To issue such a proclamation, as that
referred to; but the proclamation now re-
fcrred to, as well as that in the case of Mr.
Burr were issued under AN act of Congress.
Mr. G. had no particular objection TO the
call but he could not see the necessity for
1t. Ni,h respect To presidents IN other
countries, he wished them to have no in
hu>ncc ON the proceedings in this.
Mr. Burweil did not rise To oppose the
resolution; he was willing that the pro-
ciamation should be sent to them by the
President; but the gentleman had expires
Sod his surprize that he did not find that
proclamation contained in the report OIL
the committee The only reason was, that
they had supposed it was sufficiently Off
cial in the newspapers, and mad referred
to chem vixen occasion required, as they
would have done to any other authority
lie held it correct preceding, that was
the right Of any member of that House e
call for any information relative to any
subject; he should always favor such IN
application he therefore did uut rise &c
oppose the gentleman's motion, but to apo.
log2e for the committees not having re-
p0rtedit il.
MIR. ID Una said, that the observations ol
the gentleman from Virginia had been
made with his general candor he had nc
doubt but the committee considered such
reference as they had made correct; but
as no public prints were strictly official,
and ashley were called upon to deliberate
on the proclamation itself, he thought it re-
cessary they should have it before them
Were they not called together OF this SUBJ
jcct particularly, he might not sec the
sane necessity for having 1t but as il WAS
20 ljc the basis in some measure of their
proceedings, they ought to have an otlcial
COPY of it. Mr.. ID. also thought it was
more correct whenever Congress were Cal
led together by proclamation that they
SHOULD he specially notified. The gentle
man from Massachusetts was in an error
SO far rs related To the form of giving no
tice of extraordinary sittings he had rlal-
dcTstood the gentleman to say, that Con-
eress were called together by proclama-
ton published i'll newspaper, which was
official notice. This was not the correct
course. IL was true they were now all ga
thered together but their Journals would
not shew how. When an extraordinary
session had been called formerly letter.
had been addressed TO each member from
the secretary of state, enclosing the pro-
ciamation for the purpose and this was
capable of being done in every instance.
by transmitting these letters to the Exec
uivc Of eich state, who might notify them
Individually. This had been the course,
and he thought it more correct than the
other.
The question OF the resolution being ta-
kea, carried, 70 to 50; and Messrs Quin-
cy and Burwel. named committee to wait
ON the President for the purpose
Mr.. Quincy, from the committee appoin-
ted TO wait upon the President in confor-
rl,y to resolution passed this day, re-
ported, that they had executed that
duty, and that he would cause a copy of
the said proclamation, to be furnished to-
morrow morning