The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-13
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, Feb. S.


reported bill for the relief of Matthew
Smith and Darius Gates jointly and Darius
Gates separately, which was twice read and
referred to committee of the whole.
Mr.. Lyon laid ON the table the following
resolution:
" Rescued, That a committee of privi-
lcges be appointed with power to enquire
what measures if any are necessary to Sc
cure to the members OF the National Legis-
laturc the privileges appcrtaining to the,n
by the constitution, which committee shall
have power to report BY bill or otherwise
Mr.. Masters offered the following resou-
ton which the House agreed to consider SO
to 49.
Resohed, That a cumm,tte be appointed,
to enquire into the loss or gain to the 'Erea-
sury OF the United States, Prooid6d, the seat
of government should be removed from the.
City Of Washington.
Mr.. Lore opposed the motTcn, on account
OF the delay which the passage of it would
operate to the main question Of removal.
Mr.. Lyons supported it, from desire for
the enquiry the result of which he had no
doubt would do away many false estimates
on the subject.
Mr.. Dazpson had MODIFICATION fhc thought
the resolution would produce information );
but independently of its being out of the pew
there was now on the files of the House and
In the printed reports, an exact account OF
the expenccs OF removal from the city of
Philadelphia from which an estimate might
be formed of the eXpence of moving back.
Mr.. Masters said the gentleman had mis-
taken the object of the resolution it went
not to enquire into the expence of the renew
AL but into the comparative expcnce of GO
vernment 1t each place.
Mr.. Nicholas said the eXpence would not
be greater thaa here except in particular
points, into winch he trusted an enquiry
would not be made. They had already been
four days dcEberaring on the main question
and the mind of every gentleman must be
made up on the subject.
Mr.. RheG (T.) moved to postpone this re-
solution till tomorrow.
Mr.. Taylor said if any information for the
instruction of the House in deciding the main
question could be acquired by this resolution,
he should most willingly agree to adopt it
but even II this reso ution were to produce
information of saving of 100 or 100000
dollars (Which gentlemen had positively as
serted, and which he as positively denied)
he should not be Influenced by it. We are
now, said he, III the situation of Athens, when
Themistocies proposed to the assembly that
he had project most beneficial to the com
address them publicly; but e they would
appoint committee, or name person he
would tell his project to that committee, or
that person ; and upon his report the; Al
thenians might decide. They chose Aristi-
des. The two great men conferred toee-
ther-and what was the projects To seize
the Grecian fleet then in the farbor of
Athens, by which the Athenians might Sc
cure the performance overSthe GIecian
states. Ar.stides, in making his report to
his countrymcn, observed that indeed the
project might be beneficial to his country, but
that 1T was most unjust For this very deCi-
sion OF this great man he obtained the SIR
name of the Just. Although this title were
given to the individual, the honor and ere
dit was greater to the assembly which he ad-
dressed: that same inconsistent, wavering.
democratic society which we hear so ofte.,
denounced, at once gave decided negative
to the proposition. From the observations
made yesterday, from the observations adj
dressed 10 the feelings of members OH the
floor, from the anxious c0untenances by which
we have been and now are surrounded, we
have, at last, come to the single proposition,
VIII 1t be Just Will it be consistent with
good faith! II 1T will not be just, why make
the enquiry Why ask if the various state
ments which have been made are true?
hope the present proposition will not be {.
dopted that the subject will have an end.
with that deliberation and prompt decision
on 1T which j House owes o the coInmuni.
ty, to itself, TO the individuals awaiting our
decision, and to the major part of the peo-
pie of the u. States, whose feelings are sem
sibly alive to our proceedings
Mr.. Masters withdrew his resolution. as
he had not expected to cause discussion by
moving it,.
Mr.. Nevton from the committee of Com
merce and Manufactures reported resolu-
tion to authorize the disposition Of certain
charts of the coast of North Carolina which
was agreed 70.
The House having taken up for considera-
ton Mr.. SiGan's resolution for the removal
OF the seat OF government to Philadelphia.
Mr.. Sloan withdrew his resolution and
Mr.. Bionnt renewed the motion. He did
not renew it because he intended to vote for
1t, but because it was important, since it had
been agitated, that it should be decided and
because since yesterday another meeting
(caucus) had been held by the friends of the
measure to determine on the course proper
to be pursued. He had said Yesterday and
he would repeat it to-day that the adopti-
on of this resolution would be most fragrant
violation of the faith of the nation. If IL
should now be adopted, he would Immediate
ly lay upon the table q resolution to reDeaI|
the funding system--not to vote for il him
self, but to quiet the fears of the people
which would be excited by such a measure
lie was yesterday, and now deprived of say
ing much that he very much wish ed 70 co ~ ~,