Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-02
CUN.BoATs.

ne House haQ heretofore, from calls made
on the Secretary of the Navy had infornia-
tion laid before them of the expense of bull
ding and repairing these frigates and other
armed vessels but never, to his recollec-
ton, had any statement from the Depart.
ment of the expense Of building the gun.
boats or any account of their actual expense
while in service been laid before them
Various estimates had been made of their
expense while in service (; but the House
never had before them any statement of the
actual expense. For the purpose of obtain.
ing this information he asked leave to move,
"rhatthe Secretary of the Navy be di.
rected to lay before the House a statement
Of the number of gun-boats which have
been built, and the expense of building the
same also of the number employed in &C.
tual service, the time they have been en-
ployed and their expence while in actual
service"
This motion, after some conversation be-
tween Messrs. Dawson, Dana, Pitkin, Ly-
on, Bacon and w. Aston, was agreed to
without a division.
VOTE OF APPRECIATION.
Mr.. Randolph, after some predatory re-
marks, which shall appear in course, Of
fered the following resolution
"Resolved, That the promptitude and
frankness with which the President of the
United States has met the overtures of the
government of Great Britain towards a
restoration of harmony and free CONNER
cial intercourse between the two nations,
meets the appreciation of this House."
The House agreed to consider the motion.
Mr.. Bacon moved to amend it by adding
at the end of il the words--and furnishes
I" an additional proof of the spirit of ac-
commodation on the part of the govern.
Z" ment of the u. States, which has at no
I" time been intermitted."
Mr.. Bacon then moved that the resoIuti-
on and amendment be referred to COM
mittee Of the whole.
Mr.. ]. G. Jackson made motion which
superseded MIR. Bacon's, to postpone it in
definitely.
To this motion Mr.. Randolph objected
at considerable length, and Messrs. Hol-
land, ]. G. Jackson, and Findley replied.
When, after debate of three hours or
upwards, motion was made to adjourn *
carried.
Saturday, May ~.
On motion of Mr.. Basset, a committee
was appointed to act with such a commit
tee as may be appointed by the Senate on
their part to enquire and report what bu-
siness was necessary to be done before the
close of the present session.
On motion of Mr. Burwell,
Resolved, That the President of the u :
nited States be requested to Cause the Sec
rotary of War to lay before the House an
estimate of the sum necessary to complete
the Notifications commenced and contem-
plated; and also the amount of deficiency
of appropriations heretofore made for this
object.
SWEDISH AND PORTUGUESE YES.
Sells.
On motion of Mr.. Newton, with the con-
sent of Mr.. Randolph, the unfinished bust
ness of yesterday (the resolution on the
subject Of the late negociationD was order.
ed to lie on the table /; and
The House resolved itself into commit.
tee of the whole, Mr.. Macon in the chair,
on the bill respecting the ships and vessel.
of subjects of foreign nations with whom
commercial intercourse is permitted which
having gone through the committee of the
whole was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading and afterwards passed with
out objection.
VOTE OF APPROPRIATION.
Mr.. Randolph called for the considerati.
on of the unfinished business of Yesterday .
and on the question, will the House resume
the consideration of the subject, the House
divided, 81 to 50; and the Speaker voting
IN the negative, the motion was lost.-Mr
NanuoiFh subsequently gave notice that he
should call 1t up every day during
the session IL he had an opportunity. and
require the yeas and nays each time, un.
less the House should agree to take 1t I'D
The House proceeded to the choice of a
chaplain on motion of Mr.. Southland. On
the first ballot, Mr.. Pick man reported tha
there for Mr.. Jesse Lee SIS, Obadiah
Brown 81, Mr.. Laurie Is, and for others s
On the second ballot the Rev. Jesse Lee
having 70 out Of ia votes, was declared te
be elected.
SEDITION LAW.
MIR. Stanford proposed the following re.
solution:
Resolved, That the committee appointed
to inquire into what prosecutions for libel.
at common law, have been instituted before
the courts Of the United States, be
instructed to enquire what prosecutions
for libeis have been instituted before the
courts of the United States under the go.
cond section of the act entitled an acs in
addition to the act entitled an act for the
punishment Of certain crimes against the
y. D passed the 18th day of July, 17ss, and
into the expediency of remuneratins the
sufferers under such prosecutions.
Mr.. sawyer moved to amend il by add
ing the words &C and that The -oco,o;,,oS