The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-27
committee 0fcommercs and Manufactures.

M. Poinderter introduced several peti
tons respecting lands in the Mississippi ter .
ritory; which were referred to the commit
tee on public lands
Mr.. Soufhard introduced the following re .
solution, which was ageed to:
Resolvsd. That committee be appointed to
enquire into the propriety of passing a law to
prescribe tine mode OF taking evidence in con,es
ted elections, for members of the Hous.. Of Re
representatives. OF the Jd.lei States, All tn com
pei tue attendance OF witnesses, and tn1, the
committee have leave 10 report by bill or other
wise.
Mr.. Sey6crt presented the petition Of
sundry merchants of Philadelphia. pra, ing
relief from the operation of the non inter
course law. Referred to the committee ON
foreign relltons
CULTURE OF HEMP.
Mr.. ShcGey remarked that the INTERRUPT
ton OF commerce IN the Baltic had given a
sprlng,o the culture ofhemp in this country.
whica would be much relaxed if the com.
merce should be opeaed. He was, he said
one OF those who had always considered the
encouragement of agriculture as one of the
first objects OF a god government. He
therefore proposed, with a view to ascertain
noe FAR 1t was proper to encourage the cul.
lure ot hemp, 20 offer 4 resolution TO enquire
into the subject.
|. He did not know how far it would be pro.
per to adopt the measure which he CON.
templated he was not advised whether the
Culture IN the u S. was sufficient for the
consumption. 1t so, he should feel disposed
10 restrict the importation from abroad
The Committee of Commerce and Manu-
features would be best able 10 ascertain ho,v
tar 1t was proper to protect the culture of
our own raw material. He therefore sub.
united the following resolution:
Reso:Ued That the committee of Commerce.
and Manufactures be instructed to enquire in
the expediency Of enc ,,raging the c,,ltura -
hemp, ny protecting mpost dut les or prohibiting
the importation of that article into the u States
ana that the committee have leave to report bv
oil or Otherwise
Mr. H3:tchiN said he had no inclination to
oppose the passage of the resolution, it's OBJ
Ject oehS merely to enquire and resoluti-
ohs Tor enquiry, generally speaking, were
'hose which, OF all others, the House ought
20 pass. He would just mention, however.
MS perfect conviction that the resources for
the supply of this article were ample. and
that enough could be raised on the Genessee
hats aid Waikiki river in the S. ate of New
York, to supply the north, and IN the state of
kentucky, to supply the south. The inter
ruption OF commerce with the Baltic, crea
ted an extraordinary price, which was boun-
ty enough for the present. How far it night
be necessary to extend the principle during
tree commerce, he did not say.
The resolution was agreed to without
division
Mr.. pan Horn presented the memorial of
the United Wabash and Illinois Company,
stating, that they purchased certain lands
from the Indians in the year 177S. and pray
ing from the u, S. confirmation of their
title to such part Of the same as Congress
shall deem eXpedient. Mr.. Van Horn NOV
ed TO refer the memorial to the committee of
Public Lands
Mr.. Mkee objected to the reference on
the ground that it was a subject on which
Congress had frequently legislated, and had
she wn their indisposition to comply with the
wishes OF the meinorialists; and that it there
fore would be waste of time to refer
petition on the principle of which the House
had so frequently decided.
Mr.. Fan Horn replied, that the right of
petition was one which was secured 70 e
very clrizen hv th.a constitution and thar
the House was bound to listen to their pray
ers that this was subject Of great inpor
lance TO the petitioners, and their claim
was one which committee of Congress
had so far recognized in 1901, as to re
commend compromise of it. Besides the
reference OF every petition was matter of
course.
The reference proposed was agreed TO.
On motion of MIR Jennings, the House
took up for consideration the resolution of.
tered by him yesterday.
On the suggestion of Messrs. Quincu &
Pearson, the resolution was 80 varied az tn
refer the subject to a select committee, with
view to embrace an enquiry into the gen
eral state of the laws relative to fugitiyes
from Justice which it now stated, we're
very defective.
The resolution was so referred
The bill for the relief of George Arm.
royd & Co. was read third time and pas
sed
BANK OF ALEXANDRIA.
On motion of Mr.. Vau Horn. the House
resolved itself into a committee of the whole
a. 10 43, Mr.. DEsHA in the Chair, on the
bill to continue the charter of the Bank of
Alexandria. A desultory discussion arose
on the bill. it being objected to it that it
barely recited the title of tho law which it
was proposed to continue. without specify.
ing any OF its provisions and that a law
on such subject, giving exclusive privile.
ges TO corporate body, should be enacted
with the greatest precision and caution.
After an hours discussion, in which
Messrs. Love. Taylor, Minor, Van Horn,
Quincy, Tallmadge, Bacon, Smile & Lew
is partook ; on motion of Mr. Taylor. the
committee rose aud reported progress and
leave to sit again being refused, the bill was
re committed to the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia.
On motion of Mr. Ehhes the House re-
solved itself into "A committee of the whole. !
Mr. QUITS in the Chair, on the bill ma
king up the deficiency in he appropriation
of 1910, for the relief of distressed Ameri.