Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-26


'ere owneH or employed when their mas In
ers were no flied OF said act, to return to 4
aid districts with their freight or return |
.arsoes on board. en- such conditions as $
nay be constitutional. II
The House agareed " Yeas and Nays. to
consider this resolution. II
For consideration 90
Against it ~ 90
MIR. Macon of y. c. suggested the pro-
priety OF inserting he word eriisdiency in
stead OF the word right, in the resolution.
MIR King, appeared 20 decline acceding
to this suggestion.
Mr. Taylor of N Y saw no gond which !
could result from the insertion Of tie last |
clause of the resolution, referring to the con
sttutionality of any measures to toe adopted.
He therefore moved to strike il out.
Mr.. King objected to this crasurc. He
presumed the, House would take no uea-
sure on this head which was not consultations
al.
The motion of Mr.. Taylor was agreed
Mr. Potter OF r. I. moved to substitute the
word erhediency for the word right inthe
resolution.--Agreed to.
MIR, Fisk of n. Y. said he had voted for
the consideration of ihis resolution, out OF
respect to the class of persons to whom it
related. But to instruct a committee to en-
quirc into this subject so soon alter the the
passage of the law would seem to imply that
so~e deficiency in i. had escaped the com
mit.ee when they reported, and the House
when they passed the embargo bill. The
part OF the bill to which this resolution re
fers, had been adapted after much delibe :
ration ; and he thought it would be unbe
coming the dignity and stability which ougat
to characterize the proceeding of the House
SO soon TO enquire into the expectancy of
changing the principle Of the bill. The
House had not been unaware of the opera
ton oe the Embargo Law when 1T was pass
ed. They knew it would operate more Sc
verely on some parts.of the community than
on others. They had not been unmndful of
the interest of commerce but they had hop
ed there was patriotism enough in those at
fectcd by the measure to induce them tor
feet thatin a season of war and peril, when
system Of energy became necessary, the
interest of the few mast yield to the good of
the whole. Mr.. T. said he should be very
happy TO facilitate the return of those coast
ing vessels to their homes; as he should be
to adopt measures to enable the distressed
inhabitants OF the fronties to return 10 tier
habi,ations. Yet it was not in the power OF
the House to afford this relief: and he there.
fore did not belieye the adoption of the re-
solution. could answer any valuable purpose
whilst it might have an i'll tendency, by
creating suspsDse-and anxiety in the minds
of those whoyet remained with their vessels,
and would remain IN expectation of the "a
doption of the proposed measure.
Mr.. Troup of Geo. moved that the resolu-
ton lie on the table with view to take up
the order Of the day.-NesafiUed.
Mr. Pitkin of Cont. spoke IN favor Of the
resolution. He could not seebut relief might
be granted in perfect consistency with the
policy of the Embargo act; and as the re
solution only proposed enquiry, he hoped it
would be granted.
Mr.. Wright of Md said he had voted n
gainst the consideration of the resolution rs
FRS. proposed, because the modification sug-
gcsted was claimed as matter of right uL.
derlhe constitution, thereby duplicating the
cpnstitu;icnality of the embargo law. But,
rs the phraseology had been so varied as to
,rmove this objection, he shouid now vote for
the passage of the resolution.
MIR. Baylies OF Mass. stated the situation
of those whose cases we're contemplated by
this resolution, and the necessity of some.
thing being done for their relief. He should
have preferred resolution more extensive
in its scope, SO as 10 relieve large portion Oh
the community FROM the sudden interruption
Mr.. Ward of Mass. also spoke in favor
of the resolution, which it appeared to him
would be no more ,han pursuance of those
preceden,s which governed the House in like
cases. Wherever Legislature applied a
general rule, which operated with peculiar
severity on any particular case, the same LIE,
gislaturc frequently exercised the office Of
Chancellor, and miiigated the severity of the
rule. As to the suggestion that the pas sage
of the resolution would implicate the cor
rectness of those who passed the original
measure, he conceived there was not the
least foundation for it. The House was now
informed of facts which were not knows, and
of course could not be- acted on, at the time
that law passed. If these facts should not
prove to be as stated, the committee of course
would report and the House act accordingly
Mr.. w. stated the particular hardship of the
cases proposed to be reiieved.--He appeal
ed to the justice of the House, whether relief
ought rot be granted in cases where, by a
law iUstantaneously p ssed, indi, iduals were
caught three hundred miles from home, and
obliged 20 leave their vessels ON expenses at
the wharves, ard travel home on foot, &c.
besides being disappointed Of the expecta-
ton Of carrying with theV on their return
something for their families to eat lie
thought il would be no njoFe than Consistent
with justice and mercy to afford to persons
thus situated at least partial relief
Mr.. Wilson Of Mass. viewed this question
as very similar to that embraced by the bill
this day received from the Senate for the
relief of the people of Nantucket.-Therc
were many vessels caught by the Embargo in
the porss Iof Boston, Newburyport, Ports
mouth and elsewhere, and not permitted TO
return home, which belonged not only to diff.
IL. al N.~s.. a