The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-13

ed this morning before our doors were opened,
we are now told that TO reject this bill at it's fri
reading, will be 10 depart from the ufilal courfe
OF proceeding in this Houfe, and an attempt
Ia made to enliif the feelings of members 10 tar
at leaf as to permit the bin 70 proprsfs one
tsp farther, thu. we may avoid violating that
decorum which ousht'to be ohferved between
the two Houies. | do not, however, con
tder the fuhjea in this i.ht. | conceive,
on the contrary, 1t is as competent to us to re.
lect the bill on its frf as on any other reading.
well recolett that about eight years ago an
important bill was imugged through the Houit
by this faftidious mode of proceeding. Cen
tIeuien were ALFRED from their honsit opinions
and hnaly by fnsie and management the bill
was carried through the Houfe. I underfand
tEat this courte ie purfued by the other branch
OF the legif4ture on bills carried from this
Houie; and believe it will be found that with
regard to the pai.age of bills between tie. two
Houies, the courfe of proce dure on the part
OF tins H"uie Is more liberal than that purified
IN the other. For do no, recollett Jingle in
itance IN which the veto of ineie member can
Hop the paflage of bill in this fioufe received
RON the other branch or The iesifIature. /,
therefore, feel no ftiupes on this fcore. /
think 1t jutt as well 20 fay, tia. we will permit
this Dill TO patSto teccnd or third reading, as
TO lay that though we are oppofed to the prin-
cipe contained in refolution which may orr
g'nate IN this Houfe, we will nevertheless per-
mt committee to bring in bill to carry it
INTO effect, becaufe we may deitroy the bill at
IT'S lait tage This appears 10 me to be ftranee
courfe of reafoning. 1t is like permitting
yonrielves TO be bound in chains that you may
be looted again, or going into prfon that you
may afterwards come on. Gentlemen talk of
the Proprlety of diicufiing this fubiett, but
when iuhjett is 70 clear that every man has
m nd xhar - A. e
difcuiiion If it is not 70 clear, will any gep-
tleman lay that the difcuflion now bad, in which
every member has right to fpeak twice, which
Is once more IN my opinion than is neceTary,
Will not be fufiicient to deveope all the merits
and dement's of the bill? Will gentlemen I'M
der:ake to fay, if every member ihal give The
mature, or as it may be, crude fuggeitons of
MS mind, that the fubject will not be fuficient-
iy dIicufled, and lead to the formation of cor
rect Judgment? believe it will. And there
fore on this ground, bill may as well de dc.
clded in its prefent ftage as before committee
of the whole
Some gentlemen to whom have liltcned with
comfortable qualification, tell us that out of
relPect to the other branch, we ought not at
this time to reject the bill. l, however, feel no
iuch reipect on this location, and f1an exprefs
none On the contrary, am free to declare,
that when meaftre tending to impofc bur.
then on the people, or to detraa from the pri-
vlIeges OF the citizen, comes from that quarter,
mall always view it with jea!oufy. The ine-
quality OF the representation in that branch, the
long tenure of Office, and the cuftom to which
they are 10 familiar of conducting their pro.
ceedlngs in conclave.-(The Houfe will recol.
lect how long it was after the adoption of the
contribution before the public could get admit
non even into their two-penny gallerv)-render
all their proceedings, touching the public bur-
thens or the liberties of the people, highly fuf-
Picious. And to lay the truth, l am not at all
furPrized that they did clofe their doors on this
occaiion, that they might not be under the in
ing the bill on the table. / fay TO, Gecaufe
am willing TO abide by the good old principle,
otJudgng all men by myieIf, and if had in.
troduced fuch bill, lhould have been glad nv
Name did not appear on the journals, that the
public might not know to whom they were in
debted for fuch precedent.
L have another objection to the bill, befdes
that OF the quarter from which it originated, or
the manner in which it has been pTsiented TO
the Houie. 1t appears to my mind like az oh.
ilque attempt to cover a certain departure from
an eitabliihed law of the land, and A certain vi
olation of the coofitution of the u. S. which
we are told have been committed in this coun.
try Sir, recoile6t that Congrefs met on the
hrit OF December-that the Prefdent had in
formation OF the ineipient ftage of this confpi-
racy about the laft of Superintendent the pro
clamation iiiusd before Congrefs met, aud vet
that no fuggeftion either from the Executive.
or from either branch of the Legislature has
traniprcd, touching the propriety of fufpend
Ingthe writ of Habeas Corpus until this violation
has taken place. | will never agree in this (ide
way to cover up fuch a violation, by a proceed.
ing highly dangerous to the liberty OF the coun-
try, or to agree that this invaluable privilege
ihall be fufpended, becauie it has been alrcadv
violated, & fufpended too, after the caufe, if anv
there was, for it has ccafed to exit. No.
with to be true to thofe principles which have
conftantIy maintained and God willing, ever
will maintain 70 long as / have a feat on this
Hoor, or have life. 1t has heretofore been the
glory OF thoie with whom ] have acted, that in
al our battles we have combatted for the prin-
ciples of the contribution and the laws of nnr
country IN the perlons of thofe in which tbev
nave been attempted to be violated, bo,vevcr
infamous and contemplate. When thof. pr;n.
ciples were proltrated uader the fcdition law
what did we fay! That the character of tbe
man accufed could not change the laws of tbe
land, or impair his rights-that he would fun.
port the conftltutional rights of the citizen. IN
the perion OF the ncanea reptile, as well "a in
the perions Of thofc who occupy the higbea
tdtIons IN iocieiy. We have done fo-let ne
continue to do so, regardless of popular clarnor
or odiun, and We hall It'll continue TO God
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