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

"Sut, 81 tndS ~ was appheU tor 'ue Oencnt OF
the great mass OF the community He had
understood that this bank had divided about
| 9 per cent per annum; and renewing the
charter would therefore be a boon to the
stockholders OF from 80 20 40 per cent on
the amount of capital. The wealthy of the
district were about to have SUN of money
bestowed on them: and surely they might
relinqnish bird of the gift ~ one per cent
tor the general benefit MIR. X. said. as ne
| was not pertinaCi us asto the amount of tax,
he would modify his motion SD as TO leave the
amount blank.
Mr.. Yan Horn read statement of he di.
vidends by this bank, shew ng its average
dividend to have been about seven and an half
per cent. per annum, not as much as any of
the banks IN Baltimore and yet the state of
Maryland had never asked a premium Tor
chartcring bank. And were the people of
this dis riot. to whom the gentleman was de.
sirous OF being so kind. and keeping them
from their own W yrst enemies tn I'm selves, to
be s'udiously treated worse than those of che
neighboring states9 The bill was already
now more restric' ed than any charter he had
ever cen or heard Of
Mr.. M'Kim said he never would consent
to g. ant a charter which was mt bottomed
or the public good. Ii they granted char
ter for the public good with one hand, why
should they press it down 18th a tax ON the
other! The House certainly acted from it.
Own free will the body now petitionine
could not compel Congress to grant char
ter. And If it was 6 ranted from free will,
why accompany it with tax
Mr.. Sfanley could see no more propriety
IN taxing this than other corporations in Tire
district, which had been granted by Congress
without requiring any consideration therefor.
Mr.. >. also replied to Mr.. Roots remarks on
the subject OF the operation of banks which
MT .. SAID was more beneficial to men of
small capital than to men of weighty capitals,
whose immense wealth would enable them
II no banks existed, to control the whole com
merce of the district.
| Inc question on agreeing to Mr.. Roots
motion tor amendment was decided Yeas
22-Nays SO.
MIR Cheves expressed a doubt. as Con.
gress were IN this case legislatng in the ca
pacity OF Legislature OF the ter TORY, and
not as the Congress ofthe u. States. whe-
ther they Could pass a law in relation to the
territory which should have operation in the
SAFES. He therefore moved to amend the
section for pun ,hing countefelters so as to
make them amenable to - any court in the
district Of Columbia" instead of :. any court
OF the w. States" having criminal jurisdicti-
on &c.
Messrs. Sawyer Love and Key opposed
the motion. and MIR. Randolph support ed it.
| Before a question was taken on the motion.
the House adjourned.
i WEDNESDAY, ian. 80.
MIR Seybcrf presen' ed the petition of sun
dry merchants OF Philadelphia praying to be
exempted from he payment # duties on cop
per which they had Imported for certain
purposes Referred to the committee of
Commerce and Manufactures.
1 ~ H.
James Smith of Baltimore, stating that he
had succeeded in procuring Vaccine Mat
tei and praying permission to disseminate
1t within the district of Columbia, and ask
ing such compensation as Congress may
think proper
Mr.. Jennings reported, that the commit.
tee aPpointe'', had considered the PRAYER of
the Legislature OF the Indiana territory for
an ex ensien of the right of suffrage therein.
and that the, deemed it improper TO grant
the same.-Referredt to a committee Of the
whole.
Mr.. MorroW reported at length on the me
mortal of the United Wabash and Illinois
Land Company. The report conceives a
purchase from Indian.t tribes within the pro
lection of the u Sta es, unauthorized by the
government, as invalid; and recommends a
rejection of their prayer.-Referred to a
committee ofthe whole.
| A'A'' DUoocf iCPdtCu II Dill making an al
ditional appropriation for the Navy of the
U. States. ihis bill contemrlates the re.
pairing of he frigates Constitution, C. onste LA
ton, Adams, SSc.-Twce read and referred
TO a committee Of the whole
Mr. Cold reported a bill providing for the
warming and ventlating the Hall of the
House OF Representatives, by one of Petit
bones rarifying air stoves, Twice read and
referred to committee ct the whole
Mr. SeaUer reported a bill authorizing a
subscription on the part of the United States
to the stock of the Middlesex Canal Compa-
nv ; which was twice read and referred to a
committee of the whole.
Mr.. Poindreter presented the petition OF
Peter Casso, stating that from motives of hu-
manity he had furnished the troops of the u
States, whilst at Terre au Beuf, with many
articles that the deaths of many had pre-
Guided remuneration therefor, and praying
governmental satisfaction. Referred to a Sc
lect committee.
The House resumed the consideration oil
the bill respecting the Bank of Alexan.
dria.
MIR. Leaois moved to strike out the whole
section OF the bill respecting furnishing coun
terfeiters Of the bills of the bank which ol
course superseded the motion, pending when
the House adjourned last evening, TO amend
the standardization agreed to without op
position.
MIR. Smile stated that four bills on the
subject of banks in the district had already