The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-12

too. He wished the petition to go to a COM
nittee of the whole, because when it once
got there, there W Id be no hopes of its re.
surrcction. The reference to tina, commit
tee would be pronouncing lite funeral Grafton
and dismissing il honorably.
Mr.. Pifkin sbserved that he had always
understood that a reference OF :, motion to
committee of the whole was for the pur-
pose OF discussion and not for the purpose of.
getting rid of it. He wished il to lie on the
table. II any motion were made on the sub.
Ject ct system OF bankruptcy. this petition
Gould be referred to the same committee to
whom 1t should be referred.
MIR. Uhitrida said he was not at all satisf-
ed that the subject ought not 10 be referred
10 select committee. The petitioners re
spectfutly prayed consideration Of the SUBJ
Ject, and it was a respect due 70 them to
refer their petition. Mr.. w. said that the
OBJECT OF reference to a select, committee
was, to collect information OH the subject, to
he submitted % the House. He was of opi-
olon that II such Information was before the
House ON this occasion, the minds of mem.
hers would be very differently affected ON
the question. At present the different states
mad different bankrupt laws. the citizers
or one state did not know what were the
lnsolvent laws of another state, and thus
TINS diihculty remedy might possibly be
touhd, Oh mature consideration of the sub
jecI.. ~.
Mr. Wilson said that if the petition pray
ed for particular benefit tn the petitioners,
itinight be proper to refer it for enquiry but
when they prayed for general law, to
which almost all appeared opposed. he could
not see the proprieey of referring it. For
ms part, his mind was made up against it !;
n .2sf.p. .,,tl
tuation. he could lot see why it should be
com mitted.
Mr.. Uhham spoke in Misrepresentation OF
general bankrupt SYSTEM, but in favor of
reference of the petition.
On the question of referring the petition
to committee of the whole, there were but
Is ayes. ,.,..
On the question of referring it to select
committee there were but IS ayes. So the
question was lost.
The petition lies ON thetable of course.
81 DANISH SPOCIATIONS.
Mr.. Huffman offered for the consideration
o; the House the following resolution:
Resoived, That the President of the u.
States be requested to cause to DC laid before
inns House such Information as he NAV have
received and may deem proper TO be com
Nunicated respecting seizures, captures and
cpndemnations of tho ships and merchandise
OF the Citizens of the ". 5 under the authori-
ty or the government cf Denmark and its de.
Tendencies
Mr. Nezyton hoped that the terms of the
resolution, If it were to be p ssed, would be
extended so far as to embrace also &C. Bri-
tam and France" and made "a mo,on for that
purpose.
MIR: Whitman said that his object was to
obtain information on this subject, that Con-
gress might be enabled as speedily as pos
slble to adopt some mode of liberating our
vessels, now detained, from the difficulties
OF the situation in which they are placed
lie had understood thai 4 great number Of
our ci.izcns were in situation which re.
CURED immediate relief 1t had been sug-
gested to MIN that if proper measures were
taken with regard to the property detained
in Norway, it might be rccovered; and that,
IT such measures were not taken. it might
be wholly lost sr in a great measure destroy
ed. With this view Of obtaining information
he had offered the resolution. and hoped that
1t would pass in its present fora.
Mr. NeTvton thought it important that an
extensive view Of this subject should be ia
ken, and that all the information attaiuabic
should be procured Although Denmark had
done US injury, the two nations which he had
mentioned had done us Infinitely more Ii the
House took any view of the subject, he wished
e"Sh' ~ ha'C tiiC Cl DatlOliS De-
fore them.
Mr.. Pifkin said he had no objection to
the addition OF the words moved by the gen.
tlenan from Virginia. but he thought the
House onght not to send so general a resolu-
ton to the President with respect to she two
last powers, because, their vexation of our
commerce having commenced from Is to 20
years back, 1t might give the President some
trouble to lay before the House all the infor-
nation accumulated in that time. He there
fore thought some limitation ought to be fix
ed as to the time which the motion should
embrace.
Mr.. Wezoton presumed that of course the
President would go no farther back than to
the last communications made by the Exc
cutive on the subject.
The amendment moved by Mr.. Newton.
to add Great Britain and France" was
adopted 81 to Is.
Mr.. Ironf said he could not conceive the
object of the original resolution. He hop ed
1t had no allasion to ndemnty for spoliati-
ons. After merchants had compelled the
repeal OF a salutary measure, and sent their
vessels to sea ia the face of the most mani
fest danger, 1t would be extraordinary indeed
II they were to call upon Congress for in
demnity.
Mr. Macon was of opinion, if the infor-
nation was called for. that sonic limitation
OF time ought to be expressed i'm the resolu.
ton ; though for himself he did not wan, the
information as to Great Britain add France.
Your tables (said he) have from time to
time been loaded with the nefarious proceed
ings OF those two governments. AS to the