The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-07-02
CO129feoS.
HOUSE OF REPKEsEN rATIVEs.


whose puo.o house destroyed at HSvre-de
Grace, by the British, aad psay ing IndeIuu,he, ion
therefor. ---Referred To the Consattee ut CLAIMS.
Mr.. iFoao reporteds bill" supplementary 20 de
sct an sdGitUn Go the entitled 10 RAISE al
additional rilitary force. aud for other purposes %
q also OIL supplementary to the act for ,is bat
Ter regulations OF tBs Ordnance departments -
which bills were twice read aud eoi.::..tssd
AN ELECTION CONTESTED.
Mr.. FisS Of N. Y. offered tor considerable the
following resolutions:
Resolved, Fist the committee of Elections be IN
strueted to enquire whether John NJ. Bowers, re-
turned "a u member from the state ol New York is
entitled to scat in tots uoiise.
Resolved, That ths came pmttee be instrue-
red TO enquire whether Isaac Williams is
titled TO seat IN ts House ia the phase vi said JOHN
nj. Bowers
Mr.. +. said he had before him, sud would SUB
init with the Tsso uuon, certified copy OF the
turn OF votes given IN at the late election in ts 18th
district ct the state % New York. Ivy which it sp
years that John M Bowers and Isaas Whlissss, jun
were The two candidates. The whole number OF
sso,es gwen IN was s.sl7 OF which there wers &c.
- asase Williams, ju0." 4iI9; for" Isssc Williams
&Si for" J. ~ Bowers 42S7 votes, and ia IS j.
Bowers" 10. by whieh statement Il appears thatH
lsans Williams, Jun. lad received the votes given TO
Assac Williams, lac would havs had sjJrity of
20S .vstcs over Mr.. Bowers sven allowing TO TIE
batter the votes TO have been given irom him, in
which part Of his name was omitted. The eunvss
tiers CT votes have not judicial powers, and they gave
rertihvsIte that the highest number of votes was
for suoh a ams In the state Of New-York, when
aouity OF this kind oesurred. although the cam
could rot settle the question: the Legislature
aisRys settled on invest gatsn because the mode
OF dominating candidates in New XorS left doubt
rs TO the idehty tic person intended to he voted
for. In several towns Mir. +. named, as many as
ST, iSS, y9, Sl votes lad been given FOR Isaac VII
1aras and nons for isasc Williams jun Il could not
be doubtod that all these intended for l.
aass Wbiisms jun.
Mr. Gros0enor expressed his surprze at this
mode ofbrnsos the election in question before the
House. III the Opposing candidate, knowing the
facts. had not thought proper TO come forwSrd aud
contest the eiset0n he surpr,zed that any one
else shoeid. Mr.. 6. wished the resolutions to lie On
the table ill Tomorrow.
Mar. FiSk said he never before had heard shSt
the inability or neglect of any candidate corae
forward and Contest an election which he was
concerned, precludsd Any member of this house
from dong it. MIR +. had no particular oolec.
ton TO the resolutions lying GA st,e table III. TO-
morrow.
Mr.. Grosyenor SAID that he had slwa,s considered
It Jhe bounden duty Of the Committee OF Elections
10 enquire into the validity ot the title OF each
her 10 seat in the House but he believed there
no example of tsis House entering OF IT'S own
accord, without petition or remonslrince, into y
scrutiny whether or not the sitting mber had the
greatest number of votes he would not al this
moment enter uto detail ot the consequence
which would Ssrtainy result from sucs q US
that proposed 90 be pursued.
Mr.. PitkSn si< Mr.. Hopkins opposed the We
% account OF the nOvslty OF the course, and Alr
Nelson took III opposix sic
A.r. Fisk said that the novelty of the was
no argument against IL lie had produced eviS.nce
20 support the mGion aud az dia not see Why IL
sio,,id be allowed the fortee as if present
'pd by = petitioner.
The me;ion today the resolves Ola the table vas
neSatved, So 10 30.
Mr.. GyosVenor to propose an amendment. -
We aai1 by the laws Uf Nsw York, Il was required
that the insrec ara Of ths polls should not open the
boxes until the eios- % the poll on the thiTd dsy
4ie hSel al ihvit that at of the secuan.
AZ congressional District the pals had bssn open
eli on the second day, grvAg ful, opportunity Tor
fraud though he coasi not say that the opportunity
had DC III seized By either party The sffdsyits lie
wosd take upon himself 60 furnish TO the COMMITTEE
OF eectieas the foundation Of his notoa. II ttis
procedure should be Illegal, would Attest tic t.ee
Ron OF the sen,eran returned from taat district
ffe Gas unTiendiy TO Tie present Inono of proceed
ing; but, il commented it cughS to extend AL
sea Ha, therefore, mrved 70 insert in the first
solve, after {" john VI. Bowers" the names Of john
Lofcrts ans EbsHe2sr Sage.
Some further conversation took place on this
subject between Messrs Pitkin, Fisk aud GIos-
Vsnor, as TO the sIaiisrity st the two cases &c.
Mr.. Fitkin again moved to 10y the resolution on
the table which was supported by IMr: Gastou aad
opposed by Mr.. Rhes
The motion prevailed. rs to II.
The WAYS AND MEANS.
The House sgain resolved Itself ln,s committee
OF tIs whole, Mr Nelson in the chair, on the sever.
al bills laying taHe2
The Dreot lax bill was further discussed and
ameiiied.
The question which excited most discussion was q
proP0Slton 10 5tIke out the appOrtiOnment OF the
Direct Taxes among the several counties in the
states, as fixed by ths BILL with view to the appoint
of ASSESSORS for the purpose OF such appOrtion
mem 10 each state. The Committee rose without
Cesidiug on the proposition.
And the House Adjourned
1hp,sday, Juse "a
.Tiy. FISH Of n. Y called up the resolutions he
yesterday submitted directing the committee o.
elections 20 enquire into the tile OF Mr. Bowers c
NJ Y. TO his seat ia this house.
motion made postpone the further con
s,6erstien Oh these motions indefinitely.
On this uot,on a discussion took place, in which
Lisssrs Grosssnor, Shphsrd, Benson, Pitkin and
Gsaon advocated the postpOneDent, and Icssrs
Fisk, AlsoR and Burwsll opposed IL.
The priueipal, nay, the only point really in con.
trOyersy this discussion was whether il ought 10
bs perUiitted 20 any member, his own mere mo-
Gon, TO institute enquiries into the validity Of Sle
titles Of other members 20 their seats.
On the hand j. was contested that such a
esuVse was contrary 10 all precedent; that Il would
prove vexa,i1us To the sitting hsrobers, waoss els
t0ns ought 10 b. presumed ungues,,pnpb.e, until
questioned by petition, on Which foundation alone
Ought enquiry 70 be Instituted tlat > contrary
course would open vide the Goyr 20 hayos,ton alil
fraud. On the other hand e vas conteuGca that Il
not Cnly the right but the dHty of every mem
her 10 enquire INTO end ccufAst the vtlety OF sry
eli ction Of which he has epuss % doabt; that the
inability, aVathy GCSuCss Of uuotecsssll carr