Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-01-07
( CONGRESS.
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Frday, December T.


The house ha,ing resumed the oroer
e the dsy, it being the. consideration =,
ne report OF the committee OF ways ao'
means on the pelit.ons oil sahary 'he
chants, praying remission OF O"nu'
given Tor certain goods i'aPo'lea HUI"
Crest Britain- ~,
Mr.. CHEVES rose. He SAID ne nc
YER rose TO address the mouse VIZ" ~
much embarrassment as at TINS 'i'n:..
| feel anxious, SAID ne, on inc 'esj'~
now before yor for the interests oi.''oos
who present themselves as Pe'''roa ~
a, your bar for the principles 'l ites
government which I consider involved
in the question to be decided I; LOT .ne
fate Of that party connected WIN "n'en
I am associated !; and Tor the hohot =.
government, which would preserve
invio,atc. Ibelieve, sir, that no q'e''
ton has ever been presented to our Con-
.;dera,ion more extraordinary in ITS Ma
ture and more important III It's eo',' ~
ouepces. 1t has more Of those ma'hes
characteristics which have heretoiole
distinguished legislation. 1t - at once
LEGISLATION and avoiding legislation al
osce declining to express the oPi"''"
of the legislature, and in effect d7iesa'.
in, legislative power to decide Oh
question involving property TO the
mount of not less than forty millions a.
understand, said he, it will be conten'-
ed by the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
It is nj, an ordinary act OF legislation :
it is an experiment, new and before IN
heard of. 1t is an experiment on Tree
rovernnent-on tine ioibearance and at
,achment of large class OF the people.
It's question OF Legislation and yet It
is only reference to the secretary oil
the Treasury. The gentleman from
Kentucky SAYS, with his usual fairness
and canlor, it is to allow the Secretary
of the Treasury 10 exercise functions
on this important case, which he admits
were invested in him for minor purposes.
BIT is this power 10 be exercised ny the
Secretary according to his own Judg'
mcnt! No, sir, the gentleman tells you
without disguise, he has secured ms
opinion he knows the course he VIII
pursue, and is therefore in favor OF
reference of the subject to him. 1t is
then an act of legislation we are called
on to perform, and yet does not present
to the country the grounds on wAich we
act. Is it not new and extraordinary
proposition, to delegate to an individual
a great portion of Legislative power-to
nut into his hands the fate Of a great
portion of the capital Of our merchants !
Ha. such an act of legislation ever be-
fore characterized tree government! |
trembie Tor the consequences which vii!
follow is adoption. 1t will shake the
party with wnich l am connected, from
ei,aer extreme Of the Continent to Its
cenus. Ii will aiienate part OF them /:
it viii shew that u policy exists adverse
20 trcir interests, winch hrst made ITS
,,nearance ia exclusive double duties,
nnw in an exac,lon of par; q the p:o,
c.ed> oc honuroi,i~ entcrprize. and l
&. - .v;i, We followed by othe' acts nt a
;i..,a, >ind Sir. | repeat, / trem1le
FIR ,a- coa sequences Ger'lamen must
varGon n.e when say wc are h;sne 20
CTS which ..,ake ,he r..s@l ~eep."-
How otherwise can we 2ccouDt for the
c ar.s Of policy which now prevails -
IS il possible, Sir, tina, l, "ho represent
persons deeply interested liz tne COM
me: &c Of this country, can consent 10
mite in a decision Of this nature |
wish to expos,ulate with gentlemen-to
throw myself into their contidcnCe-ts
induce them TO believe am in earnest
am sir i'll hope for honor or repu-
,a,,on in public life, l must acquire il
with those who compose the ms lority
in this house. Rise with them I may !;
fall with them ! must. l am privileged
rbeu to expostulate with them, and to
saw that this is one of the most extraor-
binary acts ever presented 10 q lcsisla-
tive body for It's sanction.
What is the state Of the law in rela-
ton to the subject before US 1t is al
legged that the Secretary Of the Treasury
has full power ever the subject, and
that the Legislature has not, and there
fore it ought to be referred to his cor
s,dera,ion. Iii admitted that our pow.
ers extend to one moiety Of the penalty
hu: i, is suggested as doubtful whethe
they extend to the other. Bur, sir, |
have no doub, on the subject. hav.
examined il; and from The little know,
lsdce l possess of the rules OF eons,ruc
tioa, saw there is power IN The iegis-
la,ure to remi. The whole. | submit t.
those learned in tie law if This b: noi
the true construction. Ii is distinguish
ed fr-m those cases in which it is sait
the king has net the power TO remit. l.
is to he recovered For the United States
IT, the names OF their officers, aud it il
opl- in the event OF abs lutte recovery