Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-05

SCISSORS for the purpose of such apportion
ment in each state. The committee ros
without deciding on the proposition.
And the House adjourned.
/ THURSDAY, June %.
| Mr.. Ward Of Mass. presented a petition o
J. rockingham of Boston, merch wing
to be relieved from the penalties iut6rted by
him for importations of British goods from tn
/ British province oil Canada, subssauent to the
| declaration OF war.-Referred-
| MIR. Sherwood presented the petition of Eli
sha J. Winter, OF Ny. praying compensation
for pair OF horses, sleigh and harnes aorci
bly, taken from him by detachment of United
States' troops; which was referred to the com.
mitlse of claims.
MIR. Jennings presented the petition of Capt
VIM. Piatt, praying compensation for services
! rendered as Quarter Master 20 Gen. Harrison's
Army on the Wabash in 18ll-Referred to the
Secre tary OF War.
Mr. Fisk of N. Y. called up the resolutions
he yesterday submitted. directing the commit
tee of elections to enquire into the title OF Mr..
Bowers of New York 10 his seat 10 this house.
motion was made to postpone the further
consideration o.. these motions indefinitely
On this molten a discussion took place, in
which Messrs. Grosvenor, shpherd, Benson,
Piikin and Castor advocated the postponement
and Messrs. Fisk, Aston, and Burwe.i opposed
it.
The principal, nay, the only point really in
contr )versy on this discussion was, whether it
ought to be permitted to any member, on his
own mere motion, to institute enquiries into
the validity of the titles of other members 10
their seats
On the one hand it was commended that such
n course was contrary to all precedent that it
proved vexatious TO the sitting members, whose
elections ought to be presumed unquestionabie
until questioned by petition, on which tounda
ton alone ought enquiry to be institute d ; that
a contrary course would open wide the door TO
imposition and trasd. nthe other hand it WAS
contended that it was not only The right but the
duty of every member to enquire into and con-
test the validity of any election OF which he
has cause to doubt that the inability, apathy
or sickness OF an unsuccessful cand date ough;
not be suffered to preclude enquiry into that
lection, on the face of which it was at leas,
questionable whether or not it was legal. Mr.
Castor, who advocated postponement, admitted
the competency OIL ay member, or Of the house
to institute an enquiry in this case, but con-
tended that it was not expedient to resort 10 ii,
unless in extreme cases.
Some discussion also took place relative to
the evidence and grounds on which the motion
Tor enquiry was male, &c. and other Incidental
remarks were made not bearing on the decisi-
OH OF the principle in question.
The question of indefinite postponement vas
decided by Yeas and Nays.
Fer the motion 6S
Against il 98
A motion was made to lay the resolution on
the table, and negatived.
The question was then taken on Mr.. eros.
venor's motion TO incorporate in the first re
solve the names of John Lefferts and Ebeheze
Sage, and decided by Yeas and Nays as fol-
lows;
For the amendment 20
Against it 81
The question was then stated on the 1st re-
solution, as follows:
ResolVed, That he committee of Elections
be instructed to enquire whether John N Bow
ers, sitting member from the state of N. Y. is
entitled tn a seat in this house.
MIR. Benson then moved to amend the reso.
luton by adding thereto words 10 the follow
ing effect: Z" ard thar che committee be insfrucr
ted nor to suffer any person 10 appear Sefore
them as entitled TO question said election bur l.
saac Williams, JEnr. ia person, or By his agent
daJ constituted" THIS motion was negatIved,
without a division.
The question oil the adoption Of the first re-
solution was then decided in the affirmative,
ayes 81.
The question was then stated on the Cd reso-
luton III the following words
ReSoloed, That the same committee be in
structed 10 enquire whether Isaac Williams jr.
be not entitled 10 a seat in this housr, instead
of John IA. Bowers.
Mr.. Bradley moved to amend the resolution
so as to make the enquiry whether any, and il
any, what person is entitled to the seat now
occapied by Mr.. Bowers.
This modification was adopted by Mr.. Fisk
as part of his motion.
Mr.. CASTOR opposed the passage Of the reso'
ton as unnecessary and Irregular, as being toe
much like a9vertising for some person to claim
the seat now occupied by MIR bowers.
To this Mr. Aston replied that the course
was regular and was the practice of every day
in cases of contested elections.
The question on the passage OF the second
resolution was then decided by Yeas & Nays al
| follows;
For its passage 80
Against it GO
THE WAYS AND MEANS.
The House then Gabout . o'clock re SOLVED
itself into a committee of the whole, Mr.. Mel
son in the chair, on the tax bills.
The Direct Tax Bill being still under consi
| Iteration, considerable further discussion tooi
| place thereon but the committee rose with
out having gone through it aud obtained leave
| to sit again.
! A motion was then made by Mr.. Pickens e
discharge the committee ofthe whole from the
further consideration OF said bill, and recon-
NIT IT 60 che Committee of Ways aud Means
| which motion was negatiyed.
| Aud the House adjourned.
| FRIDAY, JUNE IS.
The Speaker laid before the House, the pc
| tition OF Daniel PettibonS, praying the adopt
| on in the public armories OF new mode whicl
| he has discovered Of manufacturing nipple
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