The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-17

tlltk'ds IL
was calculated TO prevent the agents of the de-
partments from turning over immense sums OF the
public money TT the rate Of three per cent. per
month. he wished to bave sorae department la
be amenabie for all the expenditures OF the gov.
eminent; and he would rather. in fact, lose the
appropriation bill. Titan agrce to strike out the
sections sent from this House.
The bill was then rejected. 81 TO 26. -
ALEXANDRIA TURNPIKE.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
blu from the Sena,e, Tor incorporating a company
To make a turnpike from Masoi.'s Cause way to
AleXsndria. Amuuon made Uy Mr. Lewis to re.
cummitit to a coxiHittee ofthe whole, " as Ira.
tved. Alter various amendments oiiered
negauyed, which occupied about three hours, the
bill was ordered to a third reading. :
FOREIGN LICENSES.
The House took up tor consiite, .rion the blu
ior dlsiranchising vessels oftie United States, ma.
vlgating ander foreign licenses, 53to "a.
The first section of the bill, wi,ch It will be
recoliected, calls home al vessels vh,eh went
out previous to the embargo, sc. had been
struck out the last time the bill was under consi-
Iteration.
Mr.. .Tacsson moved an amendment subiectinr
persons convicted of accepting, using or conn.
wing as the use of a foreign license 70 fine or i'm.
prisonment. This amendment was modified on
motion OF Mr.. NevOton so as to disqualify any per.
~ Sc sS%fiSted rom hoidirF; any office OF trust
- I'NAN NliNANA AE@ - o-I
MIR. BHTSreR observed that he should consider
tins more Us a paper law than an efectual one
Dut should feel himself bound by voting for the
Dill, to enter his solemn protest against SO shame
tui a practice. Mr.. B-obiected 10 the principle
OF expatriaion as = punishment, doubling whe-
ther congress had Il right to exercise it,. AS to
preventing Vessels from sailing under British H..
censes, he doubted the practi cability of preven-
ling It There were 10 duubt enough OF those
licenses IN the hands of her public or private a.
gents ard proof of the fact could scarcely ever
be obtained, from The privacy under which they
were procured, and the discretion with which
tsey would be used. He s.toaid however vote
ior SUCH a law as TINS, were ii only TO enter a re-
cord on their Journals against the practice. He
conceived however that before the next session
theofders III council rendering such licenses ne
cessary TO trade, would be better understood and
the people of the Union more strongly united a.
Saihst them and special laws against particular
cases under them would be unnecessary.
Mr.. =. G.. S4ckSon was not disposed lightly
TO commit tie House on the subject ef expatri-
alton; butthere was unfuestionIbiy Il difference
between repatriation and Disqualification for of
nee de produced precedent in support of the
amendment proposed. Mr.. J. regretted that this
Pra.tice could not be prevented, from the Protc-
us-iike character ofsome merchants and deplo-
red the necessity which would coH.pel them to
place a law Tor preventing this disgraceful prac-
tee on the statute book. He believed that there
was not a single member of the House, VINO was
not willing to punish those who violated the no.
hor OF the country by accepting foreign lcen-
SEES.
Mr.. Lyon said he could see no necessity for
such a law, because 1t would be impossible 10
carry 1t INTO effect and because it was am ex bost
Jdcto law, operating on persons now abroad, VINO
could have no knowledge ofsucii "a law, or of AN
intention to pass it.. 1t was lcgislaung to no other
purpose than to shew that they had the power to
legis!atc.
Mr.. @ainy suggested the propriety of postpo-
ning the consideration ofthis subject till the next
session, when the evil would be better u.der-
stood, and a remedy could be more easily proyi-
ded. 1t would be in the power of any person,
thus bill to the contrary Notwithstanding, by a
short residence in sUme foreign port to DEPRIVE
hmseif OF the characterof a citizen OF the u. S.
and thereby evade the law.
Mr.. i @ Jackson observed that no bill which
could be passed could sonstitutionally have a re-
prospective effect and therefore, if we were to
wait TIL the evil had extended, it would be too
late 70 provide a preventative.
Mr.. BacoH was Ivy no means certain that this
law woui'. prevent tie practice o. accepting 10.
reign licences to trade but he should vote for the
Dill principally as entering a protest against the
16ht OF any foreign nation to regulate or enbar-
rass our trade.
Mr.. Lyon spoke at some length against the
MT. Fisk replied 10 Mr.. Lyon. He had not
thought that there was an American who, ayow-
ing himself to be such, would content that orr
cuIzclis should disgrace themselves bt this prac-
tice. 1t was necessary To pass this Dill II it were
only toeNpress the sentiments of tie nation on ti,e
SUBJECT. Ii no notice we're to be taken Off. there
would appear to be AN acquiescence in the prac-
tee 10y tie u. 5.
Mr.. i. g.. 3acksoa's motion was carried 81
10 8
The bill was then ordered to a third reading SIS
To 6.
ARMY AND NAVY APPROPRIATIONS
The House took mp for consideration the A.
mendiHen's of the Senate to the bill which vver,
fr"in TINS House for amending TIC several acts for
the war and navy departments, and
To make appropriation for the support of thr
military and naval establishment Tor the wear
1909. -"
Ihe Senate had stricken out the sections ror
guarding the expenditure Of public money (l,a
wing passed .he bill on the subject which was ti6s
morning rejected in the House y and the aDpro.
Of one million of dollars for Eortiiicati.
ons.
The question on concurrence wit, the Senate
IN the first amendment, was negatiyed by Yeas (
Nays to 3.
The Ways we're Messrs. Masters, Nicholas and
1
The question on concurrence in the sec,,ti a +
ne;!drnent for striking ou3 the appropriate IN for
orIthcat'0os) was carried by Yeas and May
!