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

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was reported.
, This motion was supported by Messrs
stamford and Van Horne, and opposed by
Messrs Holland, w. Aston, C. ". Camp.
bell and Rnea, Cd ard was negatived
without div sion.
The bin was then ordered to a third
Ireading tomorrow, without division.
THURSDAY, Jan. {.
| The Speaker land before the House, a
letter from the Post Master General, in
closing the annual report on unprodut,ivc
routes, Sc Referred to the committee on
Post Office and Post Roads
| Mr. Southland laid before the House re-
solution passed by the legislature of New
Jersey, instiucting its representatives to
use their endeavors TO accomplish the OBJ
Iject included in the following resolution
(which MIR s. moved, and which was a.
greed to:
I Rescued, That a committee be appoint
led to enquire into the prcpriety OF esta-
5lishing by law Standard whereby all
weights and measures in the United 81 tes
may be fixed with uniformity and precise
on, with leave 10 report by bill or other
| wise.
Mr. Dana proposed for consideration the
| following resolution;
Rescued, That the committee of Com
merce and Manufactures be instructed 10
lenquire into the propriety OF allowing an
Iexension of credit during the continuance.
Iof the existing embargo, for duties secured
lon Imported goods or merchandise which
might otherwise be exported for the bene-
mt or drawback according 10 law. in case
Such'goodS or merchandise shall be demo-
sited with the collectors of the customs
respectively in pledge, for satisfying such
duties with charges Of safe keeping.
Mr.. ID. said 1t would be seen al once that
this resolution proposed to leave the reeu-
lar collection oi the ordinary revenue COM
pietely untouched, and only afst ct goods
not intended to remain in the country. If
merchants deposited their goods with the
collectors in pledge for the duties il was
certain that they could not be sold If thew
meant to sci! them they must be taken out
OF possession of the collectors, and therefore
their deposit would be full security that
they were not TO be sold. The duties lia-
bic to drawback IN one year amounted to
nine or ten millions of dollars and if the
merchants were compelled to pay these
duties TO the government without he uri>
viige of exporting the goods on which
these duties were paid, they were in fact
compelled to advance so much money wnb-
out receiving any interest.
Mr. Van Horne said, ifhe understood tho
tendency of the proposition now before the
house, ii would have the eject 20 lock no
in the warehouses of cur collectors GUAM,
tity OF produce that would otherwise he
brought into market. He would ask wbe-
ther at this time, when the produce ofthe
planters and farmers of this country cou,d
not be sold, it was proper to do any act
which would have the effect to ra,se tho
price OF imported articles Was it D-oDer
to suspend the payment of any sums of mo-
ney which might became due to the United
states from merchants, when tho planters
and farmers would be compelled by pro-
cess from cur courts to discharge the debts
Que by them. He did not wish 10 cvcrrate
the pressure Of the present crisis, but he
could say and believe thatit was generally
admitted, that the measures adopted called
upon the patriotism OF our citizens for.tbe,r
support. He did hope that the merchants
'oi this country would chccrfnly bear their
due proportion of The difficulty of the pre-
sent crisis. He did not pre- end TO UNDER
stand much of mercantile transactions. but
If the measure now proposed would have
a tendency To induce our merchants 10 hold
up for exploration (when the EMBARGO
should be taken ca) foreign produce which
would otherwise be brought nto market,
and the price of such articles thereby be
lessered, he was opposed 70 the measure.
Mr.. Marion said, il would be recollect-
ed that when the bill supplementary tothe
iact laying an embargo WIS befOr. this
Hcuse, proposition somewhat similar to
this had been submitted, but ON broader
gruund. II was then objected TO because
lit might embarrass our financial aR.irs,
and II was also said that il might be acted
on hereafter. The propcs sion now sub
mited was on a subject worthy of enquiry
and OF being granted, and would operate
no embarrassment on our finances. The
merchant who imported goods into this
lcountry for re-eXpoitation, depends upYn
the dcboniures for paying the duties upon
the articles emitted to drawback II gem
ltlemcn rccol ,cCted that m most cases the
duties am united 20 one fifth or mere Of tie
whole cost ard charges, they would per-
leo on 1.,lo b. t-f, Il