The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-08

Dir. Smuh reported the militia bill with
amendments.
The ameudatory naturalization law was
read second time.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Sundry petitions were presented and re-
terred to the standing committees.
On motion of mir. Robertson,
ReSoivea, lhas . committee be appoin.
ted to enquire into tie eApediency OF es-
tabiishing a district court The Mississippi
territory, and that the said committee have
leave to report by bill or otherwise.
STENOGkAPHERS.
The Hodse resumed the consideration of
the business yesterday left undecided, res
pectng the memorial of George Richards,
requesting admission into the House as "a
s,enographer.
The; dcsutory debate Yesterday COM
nenced was this day resumed.
After considerable debate. and the rejec-
ton of one or two proposed amendments,
mr.. Bi65 moved to- amend the original mo-
ton of Mr.. Grosvenor. by striking oft the
Whole thereof. and inserting i'll lieu thereof
the following :: ~
IS Resofusd, Tho, the prayer of the petit
toner ought not to be granted"
After further debate, in which it was said
by several gentlemen that co adopt any step
in consequence of the. petition of Mr.. Ri
chards would be to impugn the conduct of
the Sneaker in the execution of the duties
OF mis- station
The amendment of Mr. Bibb was agreed
to, by Yeas and Nays.
For the amendment IS
Against it IS
The resolution was then agreed to as a
mended, and Mr.. Richards petition was not
granted.
mr.. jackson of Va. laid on the table re-
solutions tor appointing a standing committee
to be composed OF seven members, whose
duty 1t should be to attend to al matters re-
lating to the Judiciary of theU. States.
Vedaeyday, June 9.
~ lew petitions of private nature were
presented aud referred. And the House
adjourned amer a few minutes sitting, no re-
ports having been prepared by the COM
nittees now engaged in digesting and III altar
ing business for the House.
Aud the House adjourned.
Thursday, June 8.
Several private petitions were presented,
principally such as have been here tofore
presented q hot finally acted on, &c referred
to the standing committees.
TREASURY REPORT.
The Speaker laid before the House a let
ter from WIN. Jones, Acting Secretary of the
treasury. transmitting report Oh the state
of the Treasury.
The report was read and referred to the
committee of Ways and Means.
The JUDICIARY.
Mr.. John q. jackson called up the reso-
luton which ne submitted for consideration
day ort%o ago, in the following words
" Resd8ed, That the following be added to the
standing rules and orders OF the House An additi.
onal standing committee shall be appointed, at
sh% commencement OF each session, viz. commit
tee ON the judiciary, TO consist OF seven members.
IL shall be the doty OF the said committee TO take in.
tn consideration all saeh petitions and matters or
things, touching judicial proceedings as shall be pre-
sented or may come In question and be referred to
them ~ The House, and to report their opinion
thereupou, together with such propositions relative
thereto as to theia shall seem expedient''
Mr.. Jackson said he had been induced to
submit this resolution, from the considera-
ton, that our laws are in many Instances de-
tectlve, and IL Is of the utmost importance
| that they should be amended; and that this
OBJECT could be best attained by the appoint
| ment OF standing committee, TO whom
should be referred all propositions for estab-
| fishing new courts and regulating their pow
| ers. He recollected two cases, falling with
| Ia his own observation, which had led him
! 10 conterr plate some such provision; & it was
not without some surprise that he found it
haa been passed over so long. AS long ago as
duripg tue existence OF the internal taxes,
one % those cases occurred. 1t would be
| fecoilected, he said, that prosecutions might
De commenced III state courts for the penal
| ties atteaGGnt on infraG&ions of those laws.
In pursua Gce of this provision prosecution
had been commenced III Virginia in an infe
rlor court ; judgment was rendered against
an individual, who it was manifest had net
conf rmed 70 the provisions If the law. The
case was carried 20 a higher court, however
and on the ground that the constitution had
| vested the Judicial power of the u. S. in the
supreme CouI and such other courts as Con
gress might establish, it was decided that il
was not in the power of Congress 70 confer
jurisdiction OH the state coarts. The often
der OF course escaped. Another case occur.
red in the course Of the last year, in which
a prosecution was Instituted against a post
rider, TOR having opened the public mail ira
yelling from Ohio 10 Kentucky The fact
was notorious. The same question occur
red again, and the same decision took place,
The individual was permitted 60 escape
without punishment. An amendment to our
laws was PROFESSIONALLY necessary in this
respect To consider such cases and the
various applications Foe altering the organi-
cation o. location of courts, Stc. he consider
led the appointment of standing committee
necessary. With this view, and also 20 rem
der the decisions OF the House more uniform
on these applications, az they would be if AL
were referred 20 the came commitieP, he had
Thought proper 10 PROPOSE inis ameBdIueni
to the rules