Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-21

"" pa't VI eillss wanna, complaining OF the
practice of opening the public mail on the
sabbath, and praying repeal of the law
| which requires it.-Referred.
| Mr. Newton, from the committee of Com-
| MERGE and Manufactures. reported bill flr
the relief OF Thomas ard John Clifford, OF
Philadelphia, and Charles Wingam, of Ball
tmore, lrcfundipg money paid for duty on
articles, which were not dutia5le. Twice
read and com lifted.
Mr. Talmadge, from the select committee
to whom was referred the petition of Abra-
ham Whpple, reported bill for his relief;
placing him on the pension ist.-Twice read
and committed.
1t was resolved that the report of the SeA
crctaiy of War, the Secretary and Comp
sroller or the Treasury, on the claim OF sun-.
dairy Refugees of Canada and Noya-ocotia;
! be referred to the Committee on Public,
Lands.
On motion of Mr. Geld, it was resolved,
that select committee be appointed To en-
qure into the expediency O: providing by law
tor the more Convenient taxing of recogni-
| zanccs, OF bail and affidavit in the respective
Courts OF the U. S. with leave - report by
| bill.
On motion of Mr.. Morrow, it was resolv-
ed, that the committee on public lands be in
struoted to enquire into the expedency OF
4 NlAS " SO hluCll OF lAG
9th section Of the act for the sale of public
lands III the territory of Orleans and Louisi-
| ana, as directs the land Offices 70 DC opened
| IN January 1872, and TO report by bill
| Tue speaker communicated TO the House
reution from Matthew Lyon, of Kentucky,
stating that he had beer prosecuted and con-
victed, under the Sedition Law that one
part of ms punishment was the payment of a
heavy fine, which he prays may be refunded,
SIc--
The petition beingread,
| Mr.. New moved that it be referred, with
the accompanying documents, to the commits
| tee of claims.
Mr.. Basset was opposed to this reference.
II the petitioner had any claim upon The u.
States; it must be on the ground tliat the law
under which he was Convicted was unconsti-
tutioaai. A claim of this Kind could not be
| recognized by that Committee. He thought,
thersFsre,i il would be more proper to refer
this petition to a select Committee. This was
| desirable also from the consideration that
the committee ct claims is generally over
| burthened with business.
Mr.. M'Kee could not distinctly hear the
! gentleman from Virginia; but he understood
hIinas recommending q reference of this PEI
titien to select committee, in preference to
| theicommittee of claims. He had no obiec-
top TO such disposition of 1t, though it APP
I peared to him, as a Claim, to be a DrcDer.
| subject Ter the comrnittec of claims Tho
Petiiioner does not ask for gratuity from
the government, but repayment OF money
| winch he states to have been improperly paid
INTO the Golfers OF the u. States in The form
OF a line. Whether the claim be well found
| ed, or otherwise, remains for the committee
| to decide.
MIR. New said, it having been represented
| to him, that it would be most proper to re-,
| ter the petition to select committee. ha.
would so change his motion.
Mr. Randolph had no doubt it would be
| recoileeted, that a. the first session of Com
gress under the administration OF the present
! President, the session which met in MAY.
10Y, committee was raised TO "eaouire
whether any, and whaeprusecutions hsdbeen
1 instituted before the courts of the u states
Tor h6els at common law, and to report such
provisions as in their opinion may be n.ces-
sary Tor securing the freedom of speech ind
OF the press" Congress adjourned after a
short session in June. The chairman of thar
committee was directed to address letters
20 the Clerks Of the several Courts in which
such prosecutions had been commenced. To
some OF these letters answers were received
alter the adjournment. Thfse ansyyers re.
ceived III the recess IAN except one, which
the Chairman had found amongst his t,ii sate
papers since the meeting of the present ses-
slon) were transmitted TO the Clerk of this
house, IN whose possession il is presumed
they now are. The Chairman Of that CON-
uittee, at the two succeeding sessions, was.
BY the visitation Of God, and from circam-
stances without his control, for the first time
Slnce ne had the honor of seat on this floor,
prevented from attending to his duty till the,
sessions had considerably advanced, other.
wise he would have felt it obligatory ON him
to lave called the attention Of Congress
to tins subject. II was his intention, at the
present session, without knowing any thing
OF this petition, to have called the atten-
! ton OF the house TO it, amongst others, at
an early day. He thought it beloved this
house, as the guardian OF the public purse
and public veal, to take care that the
stream Of public justice be preserved
|, pure aud free from pollution and whether
persons have suffered by prosecutions under
the oeditlon Law, or Under the common law
OF England--nOt the common law Ct The
States, as modified by ihe laws Of the United
States in their corporate capacty--he was
for affording them relief He wished to see
1t any of our citizens had received injury
from prosecutions of this kind, aud it they
had to redress the wrong by such a pros
pectiYe measure as may prevent a recurr
1