The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-05


insisted on these amendments; and it has
always oppeared 20 me, that on the adop-
tion of the amendments that those who were
called anti.tederaiists were really the fed
erals. the constitution being perfected by
the adoption of these amendments. The
fo,egoing amendments test its original in,
perfection, and trust will lead this House
. to temperate examination OF the amend
ment now propose to submit.
I The amendment, sir, is to place the ia
dietary of the u. D OIL the same foundation
that the British judiciary are placed by their
laws-by enabling the President on the JOINT
address of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States to remove
judge
! In England the judges held their commits
sions during the piearure OF the crown, till
the time of Charles the first, when the par
lament imposed upon the king the necessi-
ty OF granting them during good behavior !;
TIL then the crown. as the fount ain of JUS
tice, held the uncontrolled direction of the
commissions OF the judges. At the same
time, sir, the high commission Court and Star
Chamber were abolished In me thirteenth
year OF William the bird, the judges by sta
tute were to hold their commits sions during
good behavior, and by the same statute they
may be removed by the joint address of both
houses Of parliament and here lie, me re.
mark, that under that tenure and RESPONSE
blity, the British Judiciary hive attained a
celebrity in history Tor their judicial inte-
gritty and correctness highly honorable to
them, and which this amendment, fOndly
hope. in time, may correctly attach to the
Judiciary of the u. States. There are a
variety OF cases where the exercise of this
power may be necessary for the safety. of
the people. which ought to be the supreme
law his power, trust, will never be "a
Ibused by the American Congress. l d.
not recollect case under the British gov
ernment, where for fifty years it has been
exercised, and trust we Shall not ascribe to
yourselves an indisposition to the Correct lis
charge OF those functions, which have been
correctly exercised or rather not exercised
at all tor fifty years by the British govern
meht. IL IN England, where the crown is
hereditary, the Lords heredi airy and for
lite, and the Commons for seven years, his
tenure and responsibility has been found ne
cessary, l trust in this government where
the President is Tor four years, tn Sena e
forsix, and the House of Represent, ,ives for
two years, this judicial tenure ami respon.
siollity Will be thought expeden,. and that
this amendment will be adopted by Co gress.
particularly as 1t is but a preliminary deci..
sion las 1t must be submitted to he states.
and cannot go into operation but by the con
sent OF three fourths of the u. s. have
therefore thought fit To submit this resoluti
on, and hope the reasons assigned will i'm
Iduce you to believe that think it of such
Importance to the nation as to enttle it to
lyour attention
Mr.. w. then submitted a motion for A.
mendlng the constitution so as To make the
Judges OF the courts of the u. States renov
able from office on The request of two-thirds
OF both houses of Congress
The House refused to consider the motion
IS t. So.
Mr.. Ehhes. from the committee of foreign
relations, reported the following section as
a proper amendment to the bill "suooIe
mental 60 the act concerning he CONNER.
cial intercourse between he u States and
y. Britain and France and for other purpo
ses."
Strike out the 9th section and insert
.fnd be IL further enacted, That no vessel
owned wholly by cizen or Cit gems of the
Y. D, which shall have departed from a
British port prior to the second day of Fee
oruary next, and no merchandise owned
wholly by a citizen or citizens of the u.
imported IN such vessel shall be liable to sci
zure or forfeiture on account of any infrac
ton or presumed infraction of the provisi
ons OF this act or of the act TO which this
act is a supplement-.
The House took up the report of the com
mlttee OF the whole on the bill for re-incor
Porating the Bank of Alexandra.
Mr.. RISK moved 10 amend the bill so as
to limit its duration 10 10 years, instead O,
20, as proPosed.-Mo;ion lost.
Mr.. Montgomery moved to amend it by
inserting clause, providing that the dis
counts thereby made should " never exceed
twice the amount of it's capital stock paid
in. "--Agreed to.
Mr. Root said it had been perhaps cor
jrectly observed, that the avenues to the
capitol were Deset with petitioners from thi:
district, with bills and briefs ready dra wn IN
their hands. Who were these petitioners
The wealthy or the populace the body o.
the people of the district Not the latter
they did not attend levees and drawingrooms
or give dinners and parties They were
not represented on the floor He now rose
as their advocate. He was for doing the
same justice to them as to the patricians. -
Alter repeating the idea before expressed
by him, that all contracts should be recip
rocal, MI. p. proposed the following amend
nent To the bill:
And provided that the directors of the
Bank OF Alexandria, on the first Monday il
January in every year during the con inu-
, ance OF this act. pay to the Mayor and CON
monalty Of Alexandria one per cent. on the
amount of the capital stock of said Bank
to be applied to the support of free school.
for the instruction of children of every des
cription in the county of Alexandria"
This amendment, proposing at once to la,
a TX and make an apprOpr,a Ior, was on tht