Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-27

Il
could be prepared.
| MIR Newton said that the fund hereto
fore derived from the tax on seamen,
had not been more than adequate to
their support. In the town in which
he lived, persons had not been admit
tied into the hospital who were &C
knowledged to be entitled to relief.
In consequence of the construction
IPut upon the law, great many Of the
very people who had paid 90 cents a
month out of their wages had been
thrown upon the community as pau
pers and supported by the community
at large.
Mr. ID. Il. Williams replied that the
result of the amendment which he con-
templated would be, that ifthere ne
yer was balance in the funds, the
monies appropriated would never be re-
paid.
Mr. Story deprecated the delay
which would result from the bill lying
upon the table. The means of sup
porting this fund were destroyed by
law of the u. S. and he thought that
the general government should, by
giving an aid TO it, supply the defci-
ency. He represented the peculiarly
of the seaman's general character !;
having no thought for tomorrow, when
deprived of his monthly pay he was
of course subjected to distress. In
the protection of the general RICH S
IT the community, the general govern
nent had been compelled to subject
the seamen to particu lar calamity.
De therefore thought that an addi-
ional aid for the support of the sick
and disabled should be afforded by
Congress.
Mr. d. r. Williams Withdrew his
motion for postponement, with view
Of moving an amendment.
Further debate took pla on this
subject, in which tessrs. Sloan, Alex
ander, Quincy, Story, Smile, Newton
and DR.. Williams advocated the prin-
ciple of the DILL, and Messrs. Holland
Boyd, GARDENER & Macon opposed it.
| Mr GARDENER started constitutions
al objection to the bill; he said that
there was no power given under tn
constitution, ny which either House of
Congress could be converted into an
almshouse it was assuming the ex-
ercise of the legislative powers of the
states, which had never even been pro-
posed to be given to the general 60
vernment.-He said he thought he saw
disposition in certain part of the
government to encroach upon the rights
Of the states; and ia however pleasing
forms those encroachments were dres-
sed, they ought to be guarded against.
To this. it was replied by Messrs.
Quincy and Story, that as under the
sanction of law of the u. States hos
pitals had been erected and they Ia.
boured under temporary embarrass
nent, it was in the power of the gem
eral government to afford them tenn
porary assistance. If the general go
vernnient had right to establish ma
rine hospitals (Which question had been
settled and acted upon for many years.
and the funds for their support should
!ail, it was in the power of Congress,
under the general clause of the consti-
tuition, to provide temporary funds for
their support.
The question on inserting 100000
dollars, was taken by Yeas and Nays,
and carried--Yeas 60.
Mr. ID. X. Williams moved to add
to the clause making the appropriation,
the following words: "and that the
same shall be refunded into the Trea-
Isury of the United States out Of such
lsums as say accrue to the fund for the
lrelief Of disabled scamen." This a.
amendment was modified, on the sug-
gestion of Mr. Quincy by adding to it
the words" AT such times and in
such manner as may not defeat the
general purposes for which such fund
was established" The amendment,
as modified, was agreed to.
Mr. Stedman moved to add to the
bill the following sentence, which he
conceived would make the bill conform
to the Secretary of the Treasury's let
ter on the subject: And shall be ex.
Ipended therein in proportion to the a.
mount collected in each (port) on &C
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