Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-10
Saturday, Feb. 4.

A report was received from the Sscre-
tary OF State designating the registered
seamen who are naturalsed citizens, &c.
n conformity with resolution offered By
Mr.. Dana--Ordrred to be printed.
Mr. Sawyer offered resolution instruct
ing tn committee of Commerce and Ma.
utactures II enquire whe her any and If
ny ~ha, additional compe nsation ought
be allowed to the Collector of the port
IF Edenton. Agreed to.
Mr.. Holmes reported bill for the relief
of John Nj. SEowdcn--Twice read aud re.
erred.
Mr. Livernore presented two petitions
from Massachusetts praying 70 repeal
of ih- embargo laws--Referrs d 10 the
commi'iee of the whole On MI Nicho,as's
resolution.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
The House took UP the resolution of
the Senate for appointing joint commit
tee to regulate the manner OF counting
the votes for Preridentl and Vice.Presi
dent aRd TO notify the persons having the
highest number OF votes of their election
- Agreed TO, and committee of five ap
pointed on the part of this House.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
A bill from the Senate for the incnrno-
ration OF religious societies in the Gis,rifi
of Columbia having been read, MFR w.
Aston Elosed 10 reject If. Tine motion
was supportedby NJ Aston and Mr. Rhea
10 on the ground that It bore the ap
p-arance of commencing an established
religion in this country, which was repug-
nant TO the principles of the constitution (;
and that the state should not iDiermeddie
vi n the church, he two, church and
state, being wholly distinct. The motion
was opposed by aSessrs, Davenport, Lew /.
is, Van Horn, Dana. J'allmadge, Gsrde.
nier, and Macon, For the reason that the
House had heretofore Incorporated turn.
pike and library companies, and il was
hoped tina, The House. would 10. shew so
much disrespe3 to religion as to reject it
on It's iest appearances in the House and
that even, were the bill pol pe6ect il
might be amended before il was passed !;
that it was but a decent attention to the
people of the district of Columbia to con-
slider the bill, for their petitions were too
much disregarded.
Mr. Aston finally withdrew his motion,
and the bill was read second time, and
ordered to be read y third tine.
SINKING FUND.
A report was received from the COM
mi-sioners of the Sinking Fuod on The
subject of the disbursements Of the public
debt tor the last year-Ordered TO be prin.
led.
DELAWARE CANAL.
A bill was received from The Senats for
au,horisipg the grant Of ccc,ain quantity
Of land 10 the Chesspeake and DclaS ave
Canal Company. II vice read and refer.
red to Committee Of the whole.
RMING VESSELS.
The house resolved itself mo commit
tee on the unfinished business ofy s,erday
which was substitute Offered BY Mr. Ra
doiph 10 the original motion TOR arming by
striking out what relates TO letters of
marque and reprlsal, and substituting a
PERMISSION Of merchant vessels, whose
owners are citizeus of the u. S ales, TO
arm and defend themselves against depre.
daiions whilst in pursuit of lawful com.
merce.
Messrs. Key and Minor spoke against
the resolution.
Mr. d. II. Williams, was in favor of the
resolution.
On a NATION for the committee 10 rise,
the question not having been taken, MI
GARDENER rose TO commence his observa-
tons. After proceeding for a short time,
The question Of order was euquired from
the chair, to wit whether il was in order
to- Commence a speech on the main cues.
lion. The chairman declared that he
should call the gentleman TO a s.rIet ad.
herence to the motion for the committee
10 rise.
Mr. GARDENER said he was proceeding
to shew why they should not rise. Ulu
ma,ely, finding his ideas were likely to ex
tend beyond the strict point Of order, he
sat down.
The committee rose, and on the cues |
ton for leave to sit again, there being 70
in the Affirmative, leave was given.