The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-12
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPngsEN71TygEy.
FRIDAY, January 1.

FRIpAY, January 1.
Mr.. Morro'2 (Va.) obtained leave of alb
sence for ten days from Monday next.
The House took up for consideration tho
bill supplementary to the embargo law MFR.
Nelson's motion for striking out the proyisi-
on exempting fishing vessels in the first sec
ton being yet under Consideration. After
Some debate, in which Messrs. Lyon. Rhca,'
len Macon, and Blaekledge, supported
the motion, & Messrs. Crownnshield, South
ard, Newton, Sloan, Dana, and Holland Old
posed 1.-THE question was taken BY yeas and
nays--ayes 4o--nays So.
Several verbal amendments were made to
the bill
Mr.. Rhea Cr.) moved that the House ad-
journ.
Mr.. Randolph called for the yeas and noes
on the question.
Mr.. Rhea:withdrew his motion.
After some further conversation on the de-
tails OF the bill, it was discovered that there
was not quorum present, on which the
House adjourned.
SATURDAY, Jan. 9.
Mr.. ~ Clay from the committee to whom
the subject was referred, presented bill to
amend the several acts more effectually to
provide for the national defence by oreaniz-
ing the militia of the u. States; which was
twice readIand referred to committee of the
whole on Wednesday.
The House took up the bill to amend the
law laying an embargo.
he motion for amendment under conside-
ration when the House yesterday adjourned
being withdrawing
The bill was ordered to third reading
on this day, and was afterwards passed, rs
to Is.
On motion of Mr.. Findl-y, the House went
into committee of the whule on the report of
the committee of elections ON the contested G.
lection OF John Culpepper. which declares his
seat t" be vacated OH the sole ground that
some OF the inspectors of election were not
sworn as required by the state act. After
on to postpone was negatived so to 2z) the
committee of the whole concurrcd in the re-
port without decision, and reported it to
the House
The House Immediately concurred in the
report without a division
On motion of Mr. Riouns, a resolution.
was passed, IS to IL, directing the Spc
to inform the governor of North Carolina of
TINS decision, in order that he may issue
writ tor new election. The minority in
TINS vote wished to enquire whether the per-
son contesting Duncan M'Farland) was en-
titled to the vacated seat of Mr.. Culpeppcr.
MONDAY, January 4.
M Psytsr presented memorial from surdrv
merchants OF the city of Philadelphia, stating
that several vessels in that port had already re-
ceived their cargoes and taken out clearances at
,nc Time OF the passage OF the law having an en-
barSo, and praying that such vessels, some of
which had already departed the port of Philadel-
PIMA, and were detained in tic river, be excepted
from the general embargo which was read, and
motion having been made to refer it TO the COM
mttee of Commerce and Manufactures
Azr. Ne'otoh said he was not who would e.
yer opJect to the right OF petitonng in decent and
respectful terms and should always be in favor
OF the reference of any petition, wien the House
were not i'll possession OF such information ilnme-
diateiy relating to the subject. as would enable
them to decide without reference But where
was the necessity forreferring this petition The
iiouse NAG passed law laying All embargo the
INK III which 1t was traced was scarcely cold.
whcn petition was presented from portion of
merchants to allow these vessels to depart Had
the House passed the law with deliberation or
not II they had, it became their duty to support
II. II they referred this petition, what might be
.he consequence An opinion might GO abroad
that they wavcred in opinion ON the propriety of
carrying into effect their own law; and if thev
granted the prayer of the petitioners, the same
indulgence must be extended to all in the same
situation. There was no po.t in the U. S. where
vessels had not ESen loadeI. 1T the time Of the.
P"S'"SC vi TIC embargo law, and yet had been
stopped IN consequence of that law, And what
did the petitioners state That their We sseJs werc
loaded and from the operation of the e,nparec
law were prevented from going What was the
object contemplated by the passage Of that act
10 Keep the vessels and property OF the citizens
OF the u. ). within their own Jurisdiction If
TINS petton were to be referred, it would seem az
II the House deiiberated on the repeal of that
law and wsuia encourage other petitions of the
same nature. He hoped reference would be r..
FUSED, and that the petition should lie on the ta
BILE ~ '
mr. Porter hoped the petition would be refer.
red Wkat injury could arise from allowing the
petition to take the usual course The House
was not pledged TO sny thing by conserving to the
reference iiley could re- eCt adopt the report
or modify it II they turned adeaf ear to appli
cations inst were raade to them by the people; If
the practice obtained Of rejecting petitions with
Out Designing 10 consider their subject matter
What ne asked, became Of the right secured to c.
very ctzen by the constitution Of pe,itioning The
government? Was it not RENDERING. the rinbt n
mere nnllity? The gentleman from Virerin;;, had
saio that would be proper to refer ths petit
ton, as by so doing it would discourage others
RON Peetioning the legislature ON the same sub.
yeGt Al the House were not disposed In giant re.
LEI to these petitioners, he thought even in that
case 1t would be better to have a report statiu,
the reasons OF their refusal. This would be more
satisfactory to the people than the mode pointed
Oft by the gentleman. The case OF the petitiop-
ers was peculiarly hard They had obtained re.
guar clearsnces from tic custom house before
tfl.2s sac IL r