Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-20
Presidents House
General expenses

fTcSlQenC s House 1899
General expenses 9o5O
14,425 O6 IA
The message and documents were refer
red to the committee of Ways and Means.
The House took up for consideration the
amendments of the Senate to the bill autho
rising detachment of the militia ofthe L.
States The amendments are all matters
of detail, excepting a new provision for a
polishing corporal punishment All the A.
mendments of the Senate were agreed to. a
slight verbal amendment, however, having
been made to one of them, which required
the sending the bill again to the Senate.
A letter was received from Mr.. Rounsa
veil, the witness who yesterday refused to
answer at the bar of the House, explanatory
OF his motives, &c. for refusing to answer.
Much desultory conversation, and some
warm discussion, took place, which result
ed In Mr.. Rounsavell's being again called to
the bar; and having answered in the affir-
native to question whether he was willing
to answer such interrogatories as should be
propounded to him by the Speaker and it
having in the mean time appeared to the
House, that there was no occasion to cues
ton him farther Mr. Rounsavell was de-
clared to have purged himselffrom the con-
tempt offered to the House by now submit
ting to answer, and was accordingly releas-
ed from the custody of the sergeant at arms.
.dfirR 8.
Mr.. Fisk asked, through the Speaker,
leave of absence to the end of the session.
Refused.
MIR. Brigham asked the same leave. Gran
ted-42 to 40.
Mr.. Lacock, one of the majority on the
former vote, moved to reconsider the ques-
tion OF leave TO Mr.. Fisk as leave had been
given to another member. The vote was
re-considercd, and the required leave Civ
EN-.
The Speaker laid before the House a me-
mortal from Edward Clarke, stating that he
has invented a mode of defending ports and
harbors by means of floating forts or bate
res, &c. which he prays the House to cause
20 be examined. &c. The memorial was re-
ferred to the committee ON military affairs
The House then proceeded to reconsider
the bill to provide for cases of disability or
absence of the judges of the district courts
OF the United States, together with the mes
sage of the President of the United States,
stating his reasons for refusing his signature
thereto.
Mr.. Gold spoke at considerable length in
explanation of the objections made by the
President to the bill, and exhibiting the rea-
sons upon which he founded the opinion,
that these objections were not such as ought
to defeat the passage of the bill
The question was then put Shall the
bill pass, the objections Of the President not 1.
withstanding?
The following was the state of the vote on
this question
YEAS-Messrs. Aston, Blocker, Bur-
well, Butler, Chittenden, Davenport, Ely,
Emott, Fitch, Gold, Kent, Lewis, Macon,
Moseley, Nelson, Pearson, Pitkin, Pond,
Potter, Rodman, Stewart, Sturges, Tag
CART, Tallmadge, Tracy, White-26.
NAYS-Messrs. Anderson, Bacon, Ba-
ker, Bard, Bib, Blackedge, Boyd, Breck-
enridge, Brigham, Brown, Calhoun, Cheves,
Clopton, Crawford, Davis, Dawson, Desha,
Dinsmoor, Earle, Findley, Gholson, Good
wyn, Green. Grundy, b. Hall, o. Hall,
Halves, Hufty, Hyneman, Johnson, King,
Lacock, Little, Lowndes, Lyle, M'Bride,
M'Coy, M'Kee, M'Kim, Metcalf, New,
Newbold, Ormsby, Piper, Peasants, Qun-
cy, Randolph, Ringgold, Rhea, Roane, Ro-
berts, Sage, Seaver, Sewer, Seybert, Shaw,
Sieffey, Smile, G.. Smith, J. Smith, Stan
ford STOW, Strong, Troup, Wheaton,
WhItehill, Williams, Whgery, Wilson,
Winnie.
So the bill is lost.
Mr.. Calhoun then stated that it had be-
come his duty TO call fer the consideration
OF business of a confidential nature and IN.
on his motion, the galleries were cleared
and strangers excluded, and so remained
until the House adjourned.
Ahri. 9.
The doors were closed Immediately after
prayers. and so continued till about one
o'clock.-The Speaker read letter from
an impressed seaman--referred to a Com
mittee of FIVE.
Mr.. Archer had leave of absence for ten
days.
Mr.. Bib offered a resolution for the ap-
Pointment of a committee to Join such com
mittee as the Senate may appoint, to consi.
der and report what business dem IDS the
immediate attention of Cong, -, and whe.
ther recess be compatible with the pub
lie interest, and the term of sgcb recess.