The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-23
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THURSDAY. Feb. II.


MIR. Ne7uton presented memorial from
the inhabitants of Norfolk and its vicinity.
praying for grant of twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars to complete a canal con-.
Meeting the waters of Albemarle Sound in
N. c. with those of Elizabeth river, Va. Re-
tcrred to the committee of Commerce and
Manufactures.
Mr.. Merton said it had become necessary
to call the attention of the House to the act
laying the embargo, the restrictions of which
were not yet sufficiently strong; and it was
necessary in order to have effectual laws
that all cases arising under them should be
provided tor. Those states in the neighbour
hood OF the foreign states had taken advan-
tage OF the provision excepting vessels of
five tons burthen from the general restric
ton. To provide. against cases of that de-
scrfptIon and some others ne moved the fol-,
lowing resolution, in order that the operate.
ons OF The law should be equalized:
ReSotUea, That the committee of Com.
merce and Manufactures be- instructed to
enquire whether any, and if any, what fur:
ther restrictions in addition to those already
imposed by the actlaying an embargo on ali
shps and vessels IN the ports and l,arbors of
the United States, and BY the act supplement
tary to the last mentioned act, are necessa-t
ry 10 prevent the expectation OF goods, wares
and merchandise Of foreign or domestic
growth or manufacture to any foreign port
OF place, and that they have leave to report
ny bill or otherwise.
On this resolution a desultorv conversation
took place between Messrs Withcrei, New
tom Dana and Fisk, in which however no
objection vas made TO the resolution. twas
stated that foreign vessels we're not bv law
inhibited from going frsm port to port in the
United states with he products OF our coun
try and may go TO PassamaGuoddy from a.
ny southern port in the United States. and
thence transport their cargoes across the bay
by means OF boats under five tons burthen.
and thus foreigners may enjoy the benefit of
that traffic from which citizens OF the u.
States are piecluded that the citizens of
vermont ana other northern states also enoy
the DEMENT'S OF trade by means of these boats
across lakes Champlain, Erie, S.c and that
the embargo thus operates as mean of four
foid proht to some while it denies the COM
mon intercourse of commerce to others.
Inc resolution was adopted without obiec-
ton and Mr.. Newton, from the committee
oil commerce and Manufactures, reported
the bill to amend an act entitled " An act
supplementary TO an act entitled an act law
ing an embargo on all ships and vessels in the
ports and harbors Of the u. States % which
was twice read and referred to committees
OF the whole on Saturday.
Va ihOSiOi VI WIG ~. JiIOIleOnerH. the
committee ofthe whole was discharged from
the consideration of the bill concerning
courts martial and courts Of enquiry, as some
parts OF it had been thought excCpt:onable
and it was re-committed to the COMMITTEES
VINO reported it, So to II.
MT bacon presented the petition Of fl
mothy Wellman Of Salem, Mass. praying the
payment of two-tliirds Of the amount of Ger.
tam bills drawn in favor of Denton, Hail and
Nathan' by the minister plenipotentiary Of
the Y. D to France, which was referred tot the
secretary OF the Treasury.
MIR. BurgOeH called up his resolution of
tered few days ago relative to the procot-
ing certain arms. He wished il to be refer
req to the committee who might bring in a
Dill, which might pass or not as the sense Of
the House might then be.
The House agreed to consider the resoju
ton, Ayes 90; and it was then passed with
ont division.
On motion of Mr. Poinderfer,
ReSofved, That the committee on Public
Lands be instructed 10 enquire into the ex-
Pediency OF offering tor sale the lands lately