The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-20

Mr.. DaiO was III favor. the resell htion'S 1
lying OH the table. He sa,i he had snppo- !
sed that qaatifg was quite as material ASH
qaaniify i'll Legislation. II was An II aordi-
nary thing that a legislature should .rve its
member as sometimes men serve their
horses or slaves, giving them acertain porti-
on of work to do within a:gven time & then
flashing S,em up to 1t. lie had no idea OF
,agislatins upon jompulsion.
The resolution was ordered to lie on the
table till Thursday ncXt-ayes 81.
| A bill from the Senate for extending the
benefit of drawback 20 goods transported by
land from the district of Newport t,t the
port of Boston, was twice read ;ind commit
ted.
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.
! Mr.. Cuts, from the committee on our ma
val establishment, reported bill concern
| ing the naval establsiment.-T1his bill au-
thorises the President of the United States,
in case OF a favorable turn in our foreign re-
,atons, to cause to be laid up i'm ordinary
such of the public armed vessels of the Uni
ted States as he may think proper. l-Twice
read and committed. -,
/ MI. Cuts, from the same committee, on
the resolution directing the committee to
enquire into the expedieAcy of selling any
part OF the public armed vessels, reported,
that 1t is moi expedient at this time to sell a
ny o! the public armed vessels.-Repors or
dcred to lie on the table.
| CONTESTED ELECTION.
! On motion of Mr.. Findley, the house re-
solved itself into a committee of the whole,
Mr.. Pitkin in the Chair, on the report of the
committee of elections on the petition OF
Charles Turner, jr contrasting the right of
William Rayiies to his seat. g.
On this report, the acceptance of which
by the House would postpone the decision of
the case till the next session, a debate arose
which continued till five o'clock; in which
Messrs. w. Aston, Bacon, Baylies, CLAW.
Dana, Findley, Fisk, Gannett, Gholson,
Gold, Holland, Livermore, Macon, Montyo-
merry, Pickman. Quincy, Randolph, Rhea,
Taylor, Narnum, Wheaton and Wilson took
part.
] 1t was commended by those in favor of post
ponement, that the dispositions taken on the
subject OF this election although the parties
might have had reasonable notice, were not
legal, having been taken under the authori-
ty, OF no existing law; that time had hereto
tore been allowed 81 similar cases on the
request OF the sitting members that the con-
stituted authority of Massachusetts having
decided the first election not to be valid, &
having ordered second, it was doubtful
whether Congress were not precluded from
acting on the subject. 1t was also said BY O.
Their gentlemen, that it was matter of cour-
II
behalf OF his constituents, to grant time for
procuring testimony.
On the other hand it was SAID that the de-
positions were taken under the same ,circum-
stances as those under which 4 member (Mr.
Cuipcpper) had during the last congress been
deprived ofhis seat that time suficienthad
been allowed previous to the meeting of con-
gress; that the returned member had not
stated any specific facts which he believed
he nnlh /, -,
constituted authority of Massachusetts had
no exclusive power of deciding on'the returns
OF MEMBERS, Congress being the sole Judges
Tor the returns of their own members. and
IhavlnS In various instances set aside elections
declared valid by the state authorities, as in
the case of Cowles Mead and John Culpep-
! per- 1t was also observed that some consi-
deration,was due to the gentleman contesting
the seat OF MIR: Baylies, whe had already at
tended the whole OF this session at consider
able eXpenCe and Inconvenience
A motion was made that the Committee
rise with view to recommit the report to
the committee of elections. The commit
tee did rise about o'clock and were refused
leave to sit again, 65 to SIS. A motion was
made to recommit the report; which was
| opposed by Mr.. Pitkiu. A motion was made
to adjourn and carried.
Previous to adjournment Mr. Newbold OBJ
tanned leave of absence for the remainder of
| the session.
| - TUESDAY, Juae 13.
Mr.. j. q. Jackson, from the committee
OF foreign relations, reported the bill to amend
and continue in force the nos- intercourse act.
with amendments. Twice read, referred to
| a committee of the whole house, and made
the order of the day for Thursday.
Mr.. Staniey reported bill for the relief
OF John Kerr "a sufferer by inadvertent viola
ton of embargo laws.) Twice read and
committed.
Mr.. Poindeacter presented memorial of
a number of citizens of the United States,
residing on Tombigbee river, stating that
they are subject to an enormous duty of ~
per cent. on all exports and imports at the
Mobile, to be paid to the Spanish govern
ment, and praying relief. Referred to the
committee of Ways and Means.
/ Mr.. LoUe reported bill for the impro,.
ment of the navigation of the river Potomac.
This bill contemplates giving power to raise
money by lottery &c. for the purpose men
tioned.] The bill having been read once, was
read second time, so to 48. Made the or
der for tomorrow week, So to %. (Presu-
med tobe equivalent to rejection) Refused
to be printed, ayes so.
CONTESTED ELECTION.
The House resumed the consideration Of
the unfinished business Of yesterday.
Mr.. Fndley gave his reasons in favor of
re-commtment.
MIR. Pfckman stated at length the grounds
he rs Il. 4