The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-23
|. The first resolution being kundcr ns;der.

person for his or their use ''-S'
W.T. 6ossef said he presumed that this pro-
position possessed sufficient intrinsic mer;,
NOT 20 require the aid of extensive talents or
iaoorious eXertions Of any gentleman TO adj.
socate 1t. ae assumed it as an axiom that
fundamental principles must rest for their
security on the purity of the Representative
OF this measure to its own Importance r.
he resolution was carried SO to Is
ne second resolution being under consi-
Iteration as follows:
TcSofVeo, hat every contract hereafter
TO be made on the part of the 90, .rnrnert ~
the U. States shall contain clause or con-
, u TO render the contract absolutely void
II the contractor should be elected a mem.
Der OF either House of Congress
Mr. foTodn objected to its passage, inas~
lhucil as It was adding qualification to Re-
pIeseh'auses' winch Congress had no right
to do. ard as it might operate as an ex~
post facto law, vacating contracts already
made.
Mr. Chcndfer objected to it, as it miehe
nave tendency to prevent the fulflment Of
contracts. A man might have made a con.
tract, received sum of money on account
OF 1t, and by being elected member of Con-
gress could evade the fulflment of his CON
tract; or might be deprived Of an ADVANTAGE
GUS Contract by being elected a member with
out his own consent.
tlemen contractors on this floor. This resni.
luton only went to effect contracts herearter
tooe made: Although no members of this or.
any luture congress might be affected By ex-
istlhg contracts, he wished to do away every
ihaucement whatever either 20 increase sa-
lailes or rcmunorate officers. As to the enn-
sutut'onai powero of adopting this measure
moments reflection world slew that it was
not intended to add a qualification to a mem.
Der OF congress If man nothing con-
tract became member of Congress, it was
INTENDED that his contract should thereafter
cease.
Mr. Key. Suppose contract made with
person not member; if this person be-
comes member, his contract is Absolutely
voiu Hwould operate as ~ encoura cement
tor violating contracts. Every person hold
ing contract on which he had received AID =.
vance or which he did net lie, might. bv be.
ing elected member, vacate MS contract !.
which could not be intended by the honoras
ole mover OF the resolution
Mr. BaSset said he was more sensible nos-
ehan heretofore OF an embarrassment in
speaking on 2 subject of so much irnnor-
lance, proceeding from his having been ga
little in the habit of addressing public bo-
oy which prevented him fronnSexpressine.
with ease those sentiments which occurred r"
MN. lie did feel, however, that there was
not principle contained in these resolutions
which was not perfectly consonant with the
constitution-nota position which did notbear
properly on the subject. Mr. 3. referred r.
TINS clause IN the constitution: "No Senator
or Representative shall, during the time
lot winch he was elected, be appoiutd TO
any civil Office under the authority of the,
O.,
created, or. the emolumcnts whereof shalI
have been increased during such time ard
no person holding any Office under the Unit
ca States, shall be member of either Iouser
during his continuance Ia Office" He fear
ed that even in reading this clause he could
not be heard by every gentleman but it
surely was not necessary to tell gentlemen
that 1t was fundamental principle that no
man should nave vote If. creating anv of.
nee IN which he would be interested. What
was the case in making contraclss Did thev
not vote almost dali large sans for contracts
and might they not become participates in
their profits And if this had no. been the.
case heretofore, how had they been restrain
ed by the disposition of the officers of eov-
eminent not to make CONT acts with members
and by the conviction of the rnembers
themselves, that it would be Contrary to the
spirit of the constitution. If this conviction,
hu not exist, the largest Contractors in the,
nation would be found in this House. IF it
were only to guard against this principle of
favortisn, he should perhaps have sup
ported the proposed measure but there
was constitutional ground On which he
wished to act. The Constitution had de-
clared that the REPRESENTATIVES of the
people should be pure. Was there NOT
door open here for undue influence bv
permitting a person to come here and
vote for contract, and 70 10 the public;
Offices and Immediately become parties to
the same contract? Hc thought there was, &c
this he wished oguaI~l against. He was not
surprised at objections made TO asy general
proposition; human nature was SO prone To
differ on general topics, that he supposed
gentlemen might differ with him in opinion.
But forthis he should have been much sur
priced at the objections made BY the gentle
man from Maryland for he being a profes
'ional man, must know that money advanced
on contract could be recovered by law on a.
breach OF that covenant and surely it was
in the power ofthe legislature to annex
condition to contracts. The objection taken
by the gentleman from Massachusetts, would
have weight if it were correct or princi-
pie; 1t could be rcnedied b. making Il neces-
s.ary Tor contractor to accept the Office be-
tore his coDtr act would be void MIR. r had
no idea of a mans having an office forced up
On him tohis prejudice or injury He thought
i better to let the propositions stand on the