Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-25
Monday, November 81.

done this day.
An engrosscd bin to enable the
members to transmit all public docu-
ments during the session on free of
postage, was passed.
Mr.. Love from the committee. APP
pointed on the petition of those men
who engaged in the Miranda expedite
on, and who are now confined in pri-
son and in irons in South America,
reported resolution, that the Presi-
dent of the United States might be re-
quested to adopt measures TO obtain
from the Spanish Vice-Roy the re-
basement of thu thirty-six American
citizens so held in confinement, and
that dollars be appropriated for
that purpose.
1t was urged tn 1t the house imme :.
diatelr agree to the report, but it was
dehnitively carried to submit it to a
committee of the whole house.
Mr.. Dana presented petition from
the state Of Connecticut, and Mr..
quincy one from Massachusetts, pray
ing for the repeal Of the embargo laws.
Referred to the committee Of the
whole to whom was committed that
subject.
The order of the day on the sub
ject ofthe embargo was then called for.
The question, shall the house go iu-
to committee thereon? was taken by
yeas and nays. It passed in the ne
gative-Yeas AZ, NAYS II.
Mr.. Dana, after few introductory
rem 'rks, proposed the following reso-
luton
Resolved, That it is expedient to
provide for regulating the conduct of
such merchant vessels, as, by agree
ment of the respective owners, may
sail IN concert for mutual assistance
and defence, in cases which may be al
lowed by law, and also for settling, &C
cording TO the course of proceeding in
courts of admiralty, the respective
rates of contributions to be made be-
tween them on account of any loss
or damage which may be thereby
| incurred.
Mr.. D. proposed to refer it to a Sc
lect committee, it being necessary
mercantile defence.
Mr.. Eppes opposed its reference to
select committee, because he suppo-
sed it TO be involved in the main prin-
ciple (of the embargo question) which
was now pending, and therefore no.
iped it would be referred to the commit
tee Of the whole on that subject.
Mr.. Dana opposed this reference.
He had no desire to change our rela-
tons, or to affect any particular sys-
tenn which might be adopted, but he
considered and desired that the reso-
luton should exist forever in our
statute book. II referred to the Bar
barian and Asiatic depredators on our
c pmmerce to enforce his argument
for permanent preparatory statute. (
Mr.. Eppes still conteuded for the
lpropriety of its reference to a commit.
tee of the whole honse, to which was
submitted the general subject of depre-
dation, because he considered it init
mately allied with the business now
pending, and because gentlemen would
have the most fair opportunity then OF
explaining, defending or opposing it.
He did not conceive it to be proper to
refer to the use OF which the armine
of our merchant vessels might eventu
ally be made, until it was determined
that they should be armed at all.
This subject remained still to be dis
cussed, then it would undoubtedly be-
come subject for decision, but not
before.
On a question for a reference to
committee Of the whole on thu
state Of the union, it was carried, So
to 50.
Mr.. Newton, from the committee
of commerce and manufactures, re-
ported bill to authorize the president
of the United States to employ an
additional number OF revenue cut
tiers.
On a motion to refer the bill to
committee of the whole, this day was
mentioned for its consideration, which
was lost, and it was determined to
be taken up tomorrow.
A business which was before the
house at the last session, and not ac-