Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-23

the Secretary of the Treasury were to come
to this House to take part in its deliberate.
ons, < was to be answered in any thing he
might say by the members of the House. I,
would be better at once to make him a
member of the House as in mona rchical
governments. When the law constituting
the Treasury Department had been pass
ed the Secretary ofthe Treasury had beer
every thing in finance, there being then NO
committee OF Ways and Means. II ap.
peared at that time to be the wish of the
party who supported him that he should 50
continue; and after a long struggle, when
the republicans had carried the QUESTION for
havin committee of Ways Sc Means, they
had thought it great point gained. - The
right OF the Secretary to appear in person
IN person here was consistent with the
views OF party, but certainly never with
the views OF the republicans. It never had
been approved by the republican party, & it
was hoped that the vo,e on this question
would shew that it was not vet.
The resolution was supported by Messvs Da.
ma and Randolph-by the former on the ground
that the House ought to know more on this sub.
Ject than was officially known, and that they
snou'o nave the same information which appear.
ed to be possessed by particular members on the
subject of the operations of the commissioners of
the sinking fund and of the treasury department.
In reply to Messrs. Findl.y and Smile IL. w.,
sad by Mr.. Randolph that the constitution had
denied the power to make the heads of de ,art
ments members of the House, but not t,,e mover
now proposed TO be exercised. MANY questions
had been Stirred during the debate-and from
Whom could the House with greater p opriety
u ''I 'niorma ION as to the present and past
state of the funds of the commissioner &c Oh
sinking fund, and as to what were deemed To he
their resources, than from the Secretary of the
treasury And in what manner could this in
formation be more conveniently received ,ha, Inv
oral ties imony IL was not proposed 70 onIa,pe
or decrease his sphere of action Indeed If he
mad seat on the floor, the House would derive
no shgnt oenehS from his intelligence. The ere.
anon OF the committee OF Ways aud Means did
not an & this questi o.--Ther. was no occas; m
TO look back TO the feuds and marty b;cke,;,os
OF former tSnes tn decide Of the paiue,t cues
tons in the word. Was il of M uonen, 70 nave
the opinion on doubtful case OF ths man who
was TO decide II, who was % carry the law into
execution when passed AS to the mode Of re
ceivng his opinion. the Secretary cou,d p;ve
more information orally in one hour than bv
writing IN hive. The Secretary was certainly nor
man who need be ashamed to shew his fae.
on the hoor-N was an honor TO him to be called
on. and appearing here in person would be even
to him saving of time and labor.
Mr. Raudolph's motion was nega,ived nv yeas
and nays, as follows
fRAs-Messrs. Bav les, Blaisdell. Brecken.
ridge, Campbcil, Chamberin. Cbamn;on or,
tenden. Clay, Cobo, Dana, Davennor,. EIv. Z.
mott, Goldsborough. Gold, Hale, Hubbard. r .
'aeSson, AuicKeroacker, Lewis. Livermore. Ii
v,ng'ton' Lyon, MATTHEW'S, M'Bryde, M'Ree.
M'se'y Nicn'ison- Pearson, Pickman. Potter
Randolph, Sammons. S. smith st,nlsv. St.
pheu.on, Swoope. Tallmadse, Uph,m. Van
Dyke, Van Rensselaer-4I
NAYs-nessrs. l.. ]. Alss n, w. Aston An.
dcrson' Bacon Bard. Bassett, Dibb payd. 7.
Brown, x Brown, Rurwell. But'er. Calhonn-
Cochran, Cox. Crawford. Crist, Cu.ts. Dawson
Desha, Epoes, FindIey, Fisk, franklin. G,nns,t.
Gmdner, Ghol'on, GOODWIN fIei,rer, Helms.
Holland, Howard, Hufy. J. C. Jacks m Zen.
k'"s' J2nnson' Jones' Ksuan. Renneay, Love,
Lyle, Macon Marion. M'Km. Miller, Minor
N. II. Moore, It. Moore, Moro Munford
Newton, Nicholas, Pitkin, ] Porter. Quincy.
Rea OF Pen. Hhea of Ten Richards. Roane.
Nont. Ross, Sage, Sawyer, Saw. Seaver. Shaw.
Shelley, Smile, G. Smith, ]. Smith. S,uthard.
stanford, faggart, Taylor, Thompson. Tracy,
Iroup. Van Horn, Weskey, Wheaton, White.
NIL, VIM, Witherspoon--
Inc House having agreed 70 take no the re.
port OF tne committee of the whole on the ia.
be
Mr.. Dana moved thar the bill lie on the ,ab,e
to give him an opportunity to move that the se
cretary OF the treasury be required to lay before
the House certain information
The motion was negatived SO to 80.
mr.. Dana moved TO am-nd the bill by
inserting provision restricting its opera
ton TO 3 case n which the products of du
les on imports and tonnage Sc. g shall b,
insufficient to discharge he sum of eirh
millions annually pledged for the paymen
OF the public debt"
mr.. Ltuermore moved to ADJOURN
Ayes ~, noes S.
Mr. j. g. Jackson moved that that bill
lie on the table AYES 81, nos 81.
Mr. Pi;kfn commenced speech aesns
the Dill, bu' having ga, down to permit ex
Pianation by Mr. J. e.. Jackson
a motion was made by Mr. ]. G.. Jack.
son to ADJOURN (wi,h Mr. P.'s consent) ant
csrried--near five o'clock.
sAa