Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-03-10

MASSACHUSETTS, MEMORIAL.
The Speaker laid before the house me-.
mortal received from the legislature of the
state OF Massachusetts, complaining of the
measures of the government, particularly
Of the embargo laws, and declaring their
. opinion that the last supplementary embar-
70 law rs Unconstitutional. On motion of
Mr.. Fisk, referred TO select committee,
Ayes go. The reason which he assigned
E for the motion was, that the memorial, CO.
ming from respectable state, deserved a
particular consideration. Mr.. Quincymo-
ved that the memorial be printed. On this
molion some debate took place. Nfr.Quin-
cy and other gentlemen observed that they
only wished the same respect to be paid by
the House to his memorial as was paid to
the resolutions of Pennsylvania and North
Carolina. Mr.. Durell and others observed
that this memorial was committed to COM
mittee and those resolutions were not and
t,,e-efore, was IRE .te1 with more attention.
MIR. Newton read the answer OF the iegis-
laturc of Massachusetts to the Virginia re-
solutions nm, the subject OF the alien and Sc.
ditiou laws, To shew how the sentiments of
a federal legislature then were warped by
a federal legislature now, to answer party
r.Irposrs-t,iis answer denies wholly the
right Of any state to-controvert the laws Of
the general government or IN declare them
unconstitutinnai Mr.. Quincy said that che
. right OF legislature to comment on the
measnres ofthe government could not be
questioned, when il was secured by the con-
I stitution tn every Individual; and that the
. sentiments contain in the memorial Just
presented, were not inconsistent with those
expressed in the paper read by Mr.. New.
ton. Mr. Troup sand he wou.d BE- willing
70 treat sais me moriai with respect, but nor
4, -.@ Nj
in which a memorial of the legislature Of
Georgia on the subject ola proposed infrae.
tion Of her territorial rights by the U. s.
: wa. neither referred or printed. Mr.. Lii.
vermore denied that. the Legislature Of
Massachusetts, had expressed any disorgan.
izing sentiments; they only supported the
rights OF the state, strengthening instead Of
weakening the whole machine by preserv.
ing n part in its proper operation. Mr. Ba-
con obserge,i that he should enrol his nay
in the vote for printing without the least
fear Of being accused OF disresDect for the
state which he represented for however
he might respect the legislature or the state
he could not shew his respect for it BY Civ
ing IT'S memorial course diffrrent from
that pursued in relation 20 petitions or me-
norals from other portions of the people
and il was already referred to a respecta-
bic committee cfthe House. Mr. Newton
observed that when the committee reported
on the memorial, he should be willing to
print the memorial and report on IL ;at the
same time he should move TO print the an.
swer of the same legislature to the Virginia
resnlu IONS on the subject OF the alien and
.edition laws, and then it would be the le-
gisiatere of Massachusetts castigating the
legislature Of Massachusetts,. Mr. Quincy
said this memorial contained the opinion Of
Ill II tIaJ
therefore to the attention OF the House if
not printed now, report would probably
not be made on it this session, and it would
not be printed. MIR Holland observed that
as to its containing information there was
not n new idea contained in the memorial,
not one which the gentleman himself had
NOT favored the House with during the ses-
sion and some OF them IN the very words
of the gentleman himself. Mr. Rowan con
ceyed that the remonstrance of a state was
entitled to M particular preference over
that Of any other memorial FROM any par
ticui,tr portion Of the people aid that the
proper course would be to let the remon.
STRANGE lie on the table, as the subject Of il
was now under consideration. lfan answert
was 10 be given 10 il, the legislature might
answer that answer, and there would be
end to the correspondence. Mr Rowan
moved to re consider the vote for the refe-
renee 10 a select committee. Mr. Quncyl
withdrew his motion for printing, to perm Il
the question to be taken on reccnsideriDg
the vote for reference. Messrs. Sayer, Ma
con, and Taylor advocated re-considerati-
or. The vote was re considerde, Ayes
81. Mr. Fisk again supported his motion
he wished not by silent disposition OF the
memorial to sanction its statements, wholly |
erroneous, or treat it with contempt. MrI
Rowan had no idea Of dong either but an
answer could only produce irritation which |
he was DESTROYS TO avoid it would be true
magnauimity, even il the House believed
il not to be correct, 10 pass IL over in s-
Ience. Motion TO commit, negatived, Ayes
20. NJ Quincy renewed MS motion that
the remonstrance printed For the mo.
tion ~, agains' IL So
ARMY AND NAVY APPROPRIATION
The bin for amending tic act for esta-
bIishing the war and navy departments,
and making appropriations Tor the SUPPORT
Of the military aud navsI establishment Of
the United States for the year 1909, was
read the third tine and passed.
NON -INTERCt.S rSE.
The bill from the senate for interdicting |
commercial intercourse between the United
states and Great Britain and France sod