Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-30

The amendments reported by the COM
Mite of the winnie under cons,deration---
A cotton was made ny Mr. EivermorY TO
strike out several sections OF the bill.
The Speaker decided that such motion
could not be made, until the amendments
reported by the committee Of the whole
were decided on.
Mr. Livermore appealed from this deci-
sion (; which was reversed by the House.
81 to xS. s.''.-'
Mr. Livermore then moved to strike out
the fifth section.
Mr. Haven supported the motion which
was negatived by Yeas and Nayes, Gas gil
ven in our last) - to so. ~,
Several amendments made to the bill IN
committee of the whole were agreed tc.
Mr. Macon moved to strike ont of the
clause limiting the duration of the bill till
the end Of the next session of Congress the
word &c next" and insert the word s pre-
sent" so as to limit the bill to the end of
the present session. 49,
Mr. Pitkin expressed hrs astonishmen, az
such motion. Could any object be an
swercd by excluding foreign SHIPS, and 10
forth, tor two or tnree mon.hs We're
gentlemen afraid that The British rsrlia.
-Tent should dear of the bill and countex.
va'l its provisions by That time |? If thar
Mr. Rhea, CT) moved co strike out this
whole OF the clause oflmitation, He cou.a.
not see what reason taere could be for. liz
hitting the existence OF the law even to the
next session of Congress. He required the
Yeas and Nays on his motion. a.
MIR Livermore regretted exceedingly
that any opp ,sition should be made TO tie
motion ofthe gentleman from N. Carolina,
for certainly the sooner there was an end
to the bill the better.
Mr. Macon said that the bill had erpwn mn,
OF the present Situation of the u States, and
was on,y iniended TO meet that situation. IL
never was intended 10 make this nermanent
regulation tor after the present state of
things was done away there would be no
necessity for the bill. He could see no good
to be answered by striking out the limitation
because no ono had an idea of its remaining in
force after our disputes with he beliiee ems
were settled. Before the end of this session,
winch probably would be pretty long one,
congress would nave had experience of the
Dill. ifit WAS foual to be injnrious, it might
be suffered 70 ex ,ire if beneficial, il might be
re-enacted. Before the end of the session
also, we should hear from England and
France, and IL woall be known what course
they would take. If we were to have war
The b IL would be useless.
Mr. Shelley deserved that striking out this
clause would no con inue the law af. err the
beilgerents should have revoked their cdic,s
agains: our neu RAJ righ,s==tor there was an
express provision in The bill thaS whenever
thew were revoked the Psesiden' should re.
scind the law as To the powe relaxing its de.
crees. It was bill to be ia force until the re.
lations with the beaiserenIs were changed ei.
Their by actual war, by revocation OF their
edicts or by new Legislation. There could
o L c.. It, lt.,1,, ~. =.
the objecs Of gentlemen, he asked, tina this
bill should expire before one of these changes
took place. If gentlemen were not satisfied
that the bill was proper 10 be continued In
force Nh a change in our relations, his acting
ex,erirnen,aly was improper Now, Mr. s.
said, either England & France would continue.
their DEGREES Or they would not. IL they did
continue them this bill would opera C.
Would gentlemen give th.sm right freely 90
ener our waters as long as they continued
Their e.dics lie presumed not. Either Z r..
ispd would COIN eryaii the PROVISIONS of the
BIZ, Or she uld not. IF she did. il would
bs5ome new subject Of Legislation. TIE
COURSE hereafter to be pursued by us wo.,d
lepend on her own conduct Byl;nting the
oil as proposed they would ;hrow ont 20 the
world the idea that they were afraid of tue
exoerimen', and therefore had limited its du.
ration. IL would shsw that the whole bill was
a mere experment--and therefore Mr. S sad
he should voe for striking out the clause aiJo-
gether.
Mr. Quincy said that the observations made
by the gentleman fom Virginia, offered the bill
in a new shape. He did not recollsct that any
gentleman had before adyocaged this b IL as a
mode Of coercing Grsa Britain and France,
or that any gentleman had suggested even
that It would be an inducement 10 the bclliCe.
rents TO repeal their edicts.
M Shelley said hat the gentleman lad Ger.
tainly mistaken him. lie had not supported
the bill as measure Of coercion, but had bot.
toned his support of it on this=rhe United
5 .ates had received at he hands of the beilige-
rents nothing bu' iIlibcrality and inins ice.
Should we hen share our commerce with
them ? He had not supported itas measure
of coerc on bdt as "A measure Of exp.diency
and justice TO our own citizens.
M Quincy said he should know better how
to vote on the bill fgentlemen would explain
what they meant by the provisions OF l.. MIR
Quincy wen, into an argument Of some length
to shew that the bill could not operate as
measure ofcoee-ton, nor even as an induce.
ment to the beliigerents to rescind their de-
crees-n benefit TO the mercantile ia.
terests Of the ". 3.
Mr. Rhea (r) spoke in reply.
Mr. GARDENER spoke at some length in ex.
planation OF the reasons why he should vote for
the bill. Before he concluded his remarks
the House adjourned.