The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-05

sic on the table. he SUBJECT WAS not so
urgent, that one day would be a matter of
any great consequence.
Mr.. Elites said he had no objection to
the motion. ~
Mr.. Goidsb,rough made q motion to re-
fer it to a committee of the whole House
MIR. AIumford stated, that it was his in
tention. when the bill should come under
consideration, to move the following amend
rnent to it:
Provided, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed to affect the ,cargoes of
ships OF vessels wholly owned by a. citizen
or citizens of the United States, which had
cleared out for the Cape of Good Hope, or
for any port beyond the same, prior to the
10th of November, 1910.
He said, he had inserted the 10th of Nov.
60 allow time for the arrival of the procla-
nation at the different ports.
The motion for the bill to lie on the table
was negatived--53 to ~.
1t was referred to committee of the
%hole--52 to 5l-and made the order of he
day for tomorrow.
The bill, for the relief of John M'Namara
was read a Sd time. THE bill goes To re-
>ieve his person from penalty for bring
ing to the u STATES certain exiles from
Cuba and their slave.
Mr.. Randolph opposed the bill On the
ground of The danger of giving any the
least licence to the introduction of slaves
into this country, or of the maroons, bri
gapds, or cut-throats from St Domingc or
elsewhere. He alluded to the late warning
the House had received in the occurrences
IN the neighborhood of New-Orleans; which
he said ought to call on all orders of mo in
the state to discountenance any relaxation
of our laws on this subject.
Mr.. CheUeS entertained he same general
6p m nh hnt
a peculiar Case of hardship, where Cap
tain, ignorant of our laws, had, from the
mere impulse of humanity, without other
compensation than the era ihC alton of that
sentiment, brought number of these peo-
pie from Nassau.
Mr. Rhea opposed the passage of the
Bill on the same grounds as Mr.. Ran
dolph.
Mr. Newson stated the circumstances of
the case; that Law was already in exis-
rence which would have afforded relief,
bad the importation been direct from Gu
ba; but the slaves having been crcuitous-
iy brought from Cuba, via Nassau, this
case was taken out of the scope Of the
law.
MIR. CheUes moved to recommit the bill
with view to insert provision requiring
The transportation from the y. States of the
slaves thus introduced.
After debate, the motion was agreed to,
and the bill re-Committed.
EXERCISE OF The VETO.
The following message was received from
the President OF the u. )
To the House Of RehresentatiUes of the
United States.
Having examined and c. nsidered the bill
entitled An act Incorporating he protes-
tant episcopal church in the town of Alex
andria, in the district of Columbia" / now
return the bill to the House of Representa-
tives, in which it originated, with the fol-
lowing objections
Because the bill exceeds the rightful au =.
thority, to which governments are limited by
the essential distinction between civil and re
hgious functions, and violates, in particular
the article of the consti utiOn of the u. S.
which declares, that Congress shall make
no law respecting religious establishment. d
The bill enaCts into, and establishes by, law.
sundry rules and proce ;iings relative purely
to the organization and polity of the church
incorporated, and ccmprehending even the
election and removal of the minister of the
same so that no change could be made
therein by the particular sosiety. or by the
general church of which it is member and
whose authority it recognizes This par
ticular church, therefore, would so far be a
religious establishment by law; a lega! force
and sanction being given to certain articles
In its constitution and administration. No
can it be considered that the articles thus
established are to be taken as the descrp
tive Criteria, only, of the corporate identity
eff the society lnasmuch as this identity
must depend on other characteristics as
the regulations established are generally un
essential and alterable. according to the
principles and canons by which churches OF
khat denomination govern themselves; and
as the injunctions and prohibitions, contain
I'D in the regulations, would be enforced
by the penal consequences applicable tc
81 violation Ofthem according to the loca!
1aw
Because the bill vests in the said incorpo
rated church all authority to provide for the
support of the poor, and the education Of
Door children of the same an authority
which, being altogether superAuous if the
provision is TO be the result of pious charity
would be precedent for giving 10 reii-
eious societies, as such, legal agency
in carrying into effect public and civil du-
~.
February 81, 1911.
Mr.. BasSet suggested the reference of the
message to a select committee.
The Speaker conceived that the article on
The constitution on this subject required that
the House should proceed TO a reconsiderati-
on of the bill.
On motion of Mr.. Piikin, the House pro-
ceeded TO reconsider the bill.