Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-05-08

nat IL would take three mouths TO fuf-
l,sh these state me nts, as they had been
in as many days.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr. Pitkin offered the following re.
solution:
Resolved, That the President of
the United States be requested to
cause to be laid before this House,
copies of any communications made
on the part of the United States,
in answer to the official note of the
22d of August, 1909, from the French
minister to General Armstrong; and
of any communications that may
have been made to our minister at
London, on the part of the British go
vcrnment, in answer to any note pre-
sented by him, in pursuance of in.
structions given on the Esd of Novem-
Der 1909. Also, of the answers which
may have been given to any PROPOSE
tions or overtures made on the pare
of the United Safes to the govern
meh:s of Great Britain and France, re.
speeding any of the orders and DEGREES,
affecting neutral commerce, and which
have not heretofore been rommunica.
ted % Congress, and do not require Sc
crecy."
This resolution, after short debate,
was agreed to, Ayes So, Nays SO.
Oa motion of Mr. Lewis the unfi-
nished business Ohe reduction of the
navy was ordered to lie on the table,
Sc to 81.
On motion of Mr. Quincy the House
resumed the consideration of the bill
from the Senate, providing for the G.
rection of certain light houses, buoys,
&c.Swhich was ordered to be engross-
ed for third reading.
COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE.
The House took up the amend
nients OF the Senate to the bill con
corning commercial intercourse with
Great Britain and France, &c.
The first amendment is to substi.
tute In lieu of the section reviving the
two first sections of the non-inter-
course act, section prohibiting the
entrance of British and French armed
vessels into our waters. The amend
mcnr is only a change of words, being
the same provision fully recited as was
by the original bill reinforced.
This amendment was agreed to
without division.
The next amendment is new sec
ton providing details for carrying the
section last mentioned into effect. 1t
interdicts all pacific intercourse with
such armed vessels entering our wa.
ters, &c.
MIR Key moved to strike out the
word "paci6c." The motion was lost,
Ayes 90.
The section was agreed to without
amendment.
The next amendment proposed to
strike out the third and fourth secti-
ons of the bill and insert the follow
ing:
=" That the President of the u. S.
be, and hereby is authorised to en-
Ploy the public armed vessels, in pro-
tectIng the commerce of the u. S.
and to issue instructions which shall
be conformable to the laws and usages
OF nations, for the government of the
shlPsswhlch may be employed in that
service"
Messrs. Macon, Burwell, I. G.
Jack on, Boyd, Taylor, Southard and
Gholson opposed the amendment.
The amendment was opposed not
so much on the principle Of convoy
as ON the vagueness of the terms in
which 1t was couched and the alledged
impractability of carrying it into eff
feet in any manner advantageously to
the interest of the merchants or of the
u. So
MIR Gholsoa moved to strike out the
whole OF the Senate's amendment, and
insert several sections, including a
system of convoy, the same as that
several weeks ago reported by Mr.
Eppes.
The Speaker decided that az a bill
containing precisely the same provi-
sIons as the proposed amendment,
was com mitted TO a committee Of the
whole House, the amendment was no,
in order according to the practice of
the House.
Mr. Gholson Appealed from the decision