The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-11-24

waos-mr. BAssEr in the chair, on the laid
rSp,rt. A motion was made by MIR. Bib. to
amend the reIolution BY making it read fubftan.
TALLY as follows:
Relofved, That VIM. McCreery is duly eleet-
ed, agreeably to the laws of Maryland, and Is
entitled to hisefeat in this Houfe.
On this motion lengthy debate took place,
which was no, foley confined TO the amend
ment hut extended to the fuhjv6 generally.
The fpeakers were Mefrs. Bib, Quincy,
Howard, Gardner, GARDENER, Upham, Nell
fon, Findiey, Holland, Sloan and Key.
~ TUESDAY, Nov. II. :,
Mr.. BtouEr from the committee to whom
was referee. Ia much Of the meffage of the Pre-
iident as relates TO sggreflions, &c. made re.
port,
The report commences with an expreffion of
fen6bility at the outrage committed on the
Chesapeake, Rates the receipt ofinformatiop re-
latve thereto from the fate and navy depart
rnents, preients general view of the circum-
frances, obferses that it might be faid to have
heen ncopteftihly proved that VIM. Ware, ].
Strachan, and Daniel Martin are citizens of the
uuited States; but the committee add that they
conceive it unnecsfIary for them the Houfe,
TO go into any enquiry on that part of the fut-
iea, as in their opinion whether the men taken
from the Chefapeake were or were not citizens
of the u. States, and whether the Chefapeake
was or was not within the acknowledged limits
of the United States at the time they were ia
ken, the character of the act of taking them re-
mains The fame.
. From tn. foregoing facts it appears to your
committee that the outrage committed on the
frigate Chefapeake has been tamped with cir
cumtances of indignity ard niult of which there
is fcarcely TO be found a parallel in the hiltory
of civilized nations, and requires only the ianc-
ton of the government under color Of whole
authority it was perpefrated to make 1t juit
caufe of, if not an irrefftsSle call for, infant
and fevere retaliation. Whether it will receive
that fanetion or he difavowed and declared an
unauthorized aet of fubordinat officer remains
10 he determined by the anfwcr which (iail be
given to the demand ofexpIanation hat aulwsr,
now daily expected, will either fink the dtteita-
BILE act into piracy, or expand it to the magni-
rude of premetlta.cd hoAility acainit the t,ge-
reignty and indie prndence of this nation, and
until its character ihall be fixed and known,
your committee deem it cxpedient to decline
exprrfiing any opinion as 10 the meafures pro
perto he adopted IN relation to it. But az other
acts of aggrefiion bave been committed within
our ports and waters by Britth fhips Of war as
well anterior as poitefior to this, fure of them
manifehing the fame difregard OF national
rights, and fleming TO flow from the fame con-
tempt for the authority of Our laws, and etpe-
riaily as the Britiih fquadr' of which the Leo
pard was one. after being notified Of the Pieli-
dents proclamation ordering them to depart
from the waters Of the u. S. which they knew
had been puhIi!ird in conformity to an act of
Congrefs, anchored within the Capes of Chefa-
peake Bay, and in that ituatiou remained cap
turing American veflels even within our acknow-
lodged territorial n1iis, and Tending them to
Halifax for adjudic ation--ir Prefiing feamen on
board American veiies, firing on vciirs and
boats of all defcriptioas having occaiion to pats
near them in puriuit of their lawful trade, and
Cccahonay dcpourcing threats, calculated TO
alarm ADD irritats the good people OF the U. S.
particularly the inhabitants Of Norfolk. and
34ampton, all which fats are lubhantiated by
Tiie accompanying documents No. TO S, the
Committee of opiuion that il is expedient 70
provide cffectually Cor the protection of
our ports and horhoTS, but not being prepared
70 report specifically on thar fubject, they ak
fiji; thev indulgence of the Houtr, aud beg leave
TO fnhmit for their confederation the following
Tefoutinn.
Rejoiu.G, That the attack OF the Britiih hp
Of warLeopard on the u. S. friga,e Chefapeakc,
was atl,rrant violation ofthe juriideton OF the
limited States, and that the continuance of the
Britilh isuadron (of which the Leopard was
oue) 10 their waters, after being notified OF the
proclapatihn of the PRECEDENT of the United
states, ordering them then to depart the fame,
was farther violation thereof.
The report wsSreferred to a committee of the
VIII ole OH Monday.
We Gated femc time ince the detention of
MT. Macon IN N. Cerolina by frvere ndifpoiit-
ON. We are GOV happy to fate his having ia
ken his feat 10 the Houfe.
The dncGfEioD in the Houfe of prefentatives
the Conteited election of Mr. Mac Creery,
which was commenced on Thurfday Taft, and
which has been con:inurd fscr alnof wi'hou,
interUifipp, has excited an uuutua intercft. IL
rs not qaefion between A and r, or one that
is dependent on any ftatement Of faets-Sut
lusfion that duplicates principles of the highet
importance, and the conf'tu'ional Qnrtion. in
what degree, or whether AZ al, the fate k,gfls.
lures potieis the power of prefcrihing The gnai
fications requtite for members of the Houie Of
Representatives.. On the one hand, it is con
tended that the contribution of the u. S. con-
tains, onthis point, complete demarcation OF
power, as well in relation to the general govern
snent, as to the tate governments, and that,
Conieqnentiy the latter do not poffefs the power
Of requiring any qualifications which are not
preicribed 10 the fe.ieraI contribution, aud that
iuch requiGtions are unconfitutiona. On the
other de it 10 contended that the restrictions of
The contribution are only imperative to certain
extent, and onlv bind the ftates TO that extent
and that the lilence Of the contribution in other
refpetqs implies reGduary power in the itates
over them.
This text has been ramifed to 2 vaft extent