Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-15


not now in Il state, of hostility with an
Barbary power, and the naval force eu
| ployed by the United States in the Med
! terranean had been recalled. The dutie
proposed by this bill were not intended I
protect the commerce of the United State
against the Barbary powers. He there
lore submitted it to the sense of the CON
nttec, whether the law on the face of
should not speak the purpose it had i
we W whether it was proper to revive
law which had expired by the same title
when a different purpose was contempia
ted by it. Instead of Mediterranean fund
1t might be called the defensive or protec
tive fund for it did not really meet hi
idea OF consistency, that it should be Cal
led the Mediterranean Fund, when there
was no occasion for such fund. He wish
ed the bill to be so amended as to express
the purpose for which it was intended /; il
might read for the purpose OF providing
means of defence. 1t might seem, it the
bill passed N this way, that there WAS a
wish 80 conceal its real object not that
he believed himself that this was the case.
Mr.. G.. w. Campbell was not particu-
l;srly attached TO the words in reviving and
continuing these duties. The question now
proposed to the house had twice at former
sessions been before it. This section was
continued in 1896, by a law in nearly the
same words as that now before the house
At that time it had been objected that the
objects ofthe original law being answered,
1T was unnecessary to continue ii in the
same form. The house then did and per-
maps now would think proper to continue
the same phraseology in the law. Having
been twice before continued in tbs man
ner, he saw no reason why it should not
now be continued in the same form.
After some desultory debate on this mo-
ton, in which Mess $. Dana, Quincy, Up
nam and Lyon supported the motion, and
Messrs. w. Aston, Crowninshield and G.
w. Campbell opposed it.
Mr.. Smile observed that this was a long
debate ON very immaterial point; il re-
minded him OF passage in TrIstram Shan
dy. When the child was born, a long de-
bate was held whether 1t should be called
Tristram or Trisnegis,us.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Dana
was negatived.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Camp
bell was agreed to.
Mr. Clarke moved to amend the bill by
inserting after the words, g continued IN
force" the words g from and after the first
day of February next" The reason why
he made this motion was, that the news of
the passage of this bill could not arrive at
New-Orleans before that day. Cargoes
might have been received and sold and
bonds given for the amount of duties, and
alter having sold the cargoes, the import
ers would be called upon Tor two and half
per cent. duty. Ii would he unjust that
the law should affect one portion of the
- 1.
hoped day would be fixed on which the
law should go into operation in every part
of the y. States.
Mr. Quincy thought as the law ar present
stood, II had an cx post facto operation IN
those ports at distance from the seat OF
government. For from the expiration OF
the duty, consequent reduction III price
would be made by the importing merchant
and if he were afterwards called upon to
pay the two and a hall per cent. it would
be great loss to him.
MIR G.. w. Campbell said the gentleman
appeared TO have misunderstood the law
tor goods would not be liable to duty i'm
ported between the expiration OF the law,
and the time of revivinsit
After some observations from Mr. Dana
in favor of the amendment, aad Mar w.
Aston against it, it was negatived 80 to
IS.
Mr. Quincy moved to insert in place of
the amendment just negatived from the
time OF notice of thisact being gwen at the
respective custom houses tngCushCut me
United States"
MIR Crownlnshield advocated this amend.
mcnt and McssTs. Blackledge, Durell,
Van Horne and Pitkin opposed 1t.
Mr. Quincy withdrew his amendment,
and substituted "irom the last day of Ja-
nuary instant"
Messrs. Dana, Quincy and Crownin-
shield advocated this motion, and Messrs
Thomas, M'Creery, and G. w. Camp
bell opposed it; and it was negatlvcd ii
to 81.
The committee then rose and reported
the bill with the amendment, which was
lconcurred in by the House.
A motion, made that the bill be read n
third time tomorrow, was negatived-
Ayes 90.
The same motion for to-day was agreed
10 without division.
On motion of Mr. w. Aston, the House
took up Tor consideration the report Of the
com mittec ofthe whole on the hi for con-
tinmng in force for a limited time the act
hxing lie salaries OF certain officers Of the
United States.
Mr. Stanford moved tkat the bill should
be re-committed to committee, with in
structions To- report a general bill on the