The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-19

A..
port OF the bill
When he concluded, the further conside
ration of the bill was postponed till to-mor
row-Ayes 20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY Feb. IL.
:, ORLEANS TERRITORY.
. Mr.. Lyon appeared and took his seat
The bill for erecting New Orleans into a
state was returned from the Senate with
mendments.
One of the amendments proposed to define
the Western boundary of the territory, SO
as to max the Sabine the boundary from
the ocean to the SOD degree of North lasi.
tude and thence due North till it ,ntersec,s
the Northern boundary line of Orleans ter
ritory
Mr.. Pifk,n said. although what he. had
q id on this subjec, appeared to have no
weight when the bill was before the House,
he hoped when the bill came from the ST.
nate, that those who we're friendly 10 the
bill would agree to the amendment. Even
as the boundary was not fixed, there was
small ract Of land on this side of the Sa-
bIne. which had been in dispute; but per-
n. ps the Western boundary might as well
be liked at the Sabine as any where.
Mr. bitchW said he had at first had some
hesitation in yielding his assent to this a.
I'M RdmeHt not because OF the extent of it,
Tor the United States might have a claim
"ta greater extent, and had color of title
To the ftio Br Va; but because the line had
Deen aliedyed to be small river little {.
tint Eas' ct the Sablne-and because il wa,
concluded by the 'ficers ofthe parties ON the
Sabine that the intervening territory should
not be occupied. But he did not believe that
these claims of Spain were to be consider.
cd OF any moment. In taking the Sabine as
the Western boundary, the United States
would undoubtedly exercise great modera
ton in the extension of their limits: and
TINS line would he far from including ali the
territory whch they might hereafter claim
and IN accedinsto this boundary, he wish
ed not to be understood as surrende,in p any
claim the u. States might have to a great
err extent
The amendment ofthe Senate was agreed
to without opposition.
Another amendment of the Senate bro
posed 10 amend that part of the bill de-
clarmg that the Convention should be chosen
by the tree male inhabitants by adding the
word " 4vhite." so as to exclude free neo-
pie ot mixed blood from voting
Mr. Sni1ie expressed his hope that the
| Hnnse would no! agree to this amendment.
he bill only provided for the election of a
convention TO form a constitution: after
which these people would permit whom thew
chose to vote for Congress. &c. He could
not help remarking, ,ha so delicate was
the convention which framed the cons,i tuti
on on this point. that it had used ony the
word persons" The amendment could
answer ho good purpose, and IN agreement
to it would not be very honorable to the
House
Mr. Poinderter said he had been impress-
a br Nuh RI
before the House, that the population other
chan white, formeda large proportion of the
population OF the territory bat he had since
understood that they were not now permit
ted to vote, and were excluded from tn.
militia. When Louisiana was FIRST acouired
by the Onited States, a corps had been
formed composed of this descrip ion of peo
pie; but, on an apprehension of insured
ton, theV were dismissed. and their COM
missions revoked &c. &c.
Mr.. AitchiR though The House had bet
ter rtJeci the amendn'ent. The act declar-
ed that all the people within certain ljmit.
should compose STAKE, and gave them a
r'gb, to make all regulations, &c. for their
government The most safe depositaYy of
this sort OF power would be the convention,
IN the hrst Instance, and the Legislature in
the second. He was therefore opupsed IN
the amendment, because the convention and
legislature wer better able to decide the
question than the House.
This amendment of the Senate was me-
gatived.--Yea ~, Nays6o
INTERPRETATION
On motion IF Mr. EJhes all the orders
OF the day were laid on the table--.and
The House resolved itself into Commit
tee OF the whole, Mr.. DEsHA i'm the chair.
on the bill supplementary h. the act concern
Ing Commercial intercourse, &c
Mr.. Enott's motion under Consideration
70 amend the bill so as 10 repeal the law Of
Nav last, &c.
Mr.. Rhea made motion supercedinp
that. viz. to strike out the whole ct the bill.
Mr.. EhfeS replied to sore of MIR. Emott's
remarks made on Wednesday.
MIR. Emon explained.
Mr. SsnrSeS supported Mr.. Rhea's mott
on, with view to move the insertion of a
provision for repeating all the laws on the
subject ct commercial intercourse &c. in
place OF the words to be stricken out. He took
the ground that the non Importation is not
now IN force. The law passed in 1909 hav-
ing provided non intercourse To commence
on the goth May next" viz. on the 90 h