Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-05
VIRGTV{4 ARGUS.
TUESDAY. MAxcn 5, 1911.
r 1 C.H NJ O N d,

~ The only intelligence from Wash.
ington City, received BY us since Saturday
last IS contained in tue following extracts
iroIi the National Intclligencer.
WAsnrscros Crib Feb. 90.
Joel BARLOW, Esq. has ID d appointed
by the President of the Ukited States
by and with the advice am consent of
the Senate, Minister PieNipotentiary
and Envoy Extraordinary to France,
vice General Armstrong, resigned.
Nats Intel.
When this DAYS paper went to press
& O'Clock this morning) lie House Of
Representatives were still in session
on the bill respecti - commercial in.
tsrceurse. From appearances, we be.
heve it wall pass ete House before they
adjccrn. The proceedings up TO ~
o clock, will be found under their pro-
per head. Id.
Az We stop the press to announce
the passage of the biil--5 o'ciock.--ib.
The sitting of the Hous. of Repre-
sentatives, which commenced on Tues
day morning at ten O'Clock, was per.
haps one OF the mos. extraordinsrv
ever Witnessed in Legislative BODY.
Under the present rules of the House
OF Representatives. it is in the power
OF minority OF the House, nay, of Ten
me m5ers, to defeat or at least greatly
Iprocraslnate any measure, by mere
strength oflungs. This expedient has
hatore been Intellectually re.orted TO ; by
perseverance, the majority have always
been able to get the question, though
they have sometimes had to sit ill dav-
light for the purpose. On thi. occa-
SION, however, a minority completely
succeeded in arresting toe progress. of
public business, and defeating fun
damentsl principle of Republican CO.
We nmert, that the majority shall 90.
Iveru. After repeated unsuccessful mo.
tions to adjourn on Tuesday, about
ten O'Clock al night, body of perhaps
twenty members withdrawing at once
lEft the House without quorum
Upon counting the members, however,
a bare quorom was kept till one O'Clock
or about that time, when it became
impossible 20 make up the nunlber of
II. The last yeas and naTs in the
proceedings will shew who were the
absentees, and also who, 10 defiance
Of fatigue and sickness, remained at
their posts. Two hours were spent
intellectually in attempting to obtain a
quorum the membafs we're sent for.
but generally pleaded indispositiou.
At length, when every prospect failed
OF prosecuting the imperious national
concerns under discussion TO a conclu-
slon, the House were compelled to ad-
journ. This singular session confiuu-
ed eighteen hours, aud could have az
forded no qualification to any one, WHO
witne ssed it throughout. IT was not
among the Lease painful considerations,
that men whose locks were bleach
ed by the hand of time, whose con-
stitutions were undermined by the
services OF the revolution, but who ne
Ver yet shrunk from their duy, rallied
and attended the whole of this night
az the call of their'c6uptry, whilst time
was consumed in debate aud otherwise
by those WHO should have felt more
respect for the proofs of devotion TO
che public service afforded by men go
much their elders in years as well as
public life.
Thus much we have felt ourselves
bound TO say. As measures, not msu
or manners are the test of principle :;
and as we disdain to avail ourselves Of
personality to aid cause which needs
no such support; we will spare roun-
ments, which did we follow the exam
pie OF our opponents, might well be M
dulged 10. The proceedings of the
evening would have afforded wide
field FOR such retnars.--ib.