Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTarYyEs.
WEDNESDAY. Feb. IL

After the presentation and reference of several
petitions
Mr.. Eastcn presented suudry resolutions of the
Legislature of the Missouri territory, upon the
subject of land titles which was referred to the
committee on the public lands
MIR. ChdPpei, from the committee DIMENSIONS
and revolutionary claims, reported ihe bill from
the Senate, to increase the pension of Robert
White and Jacob WriGhier, with some amend
ments before the house had acted fully thereon
the Dbl and amendments were laid on the table !;
but subsequently on motion of Mr. Chappell. re.
committed TO tie same committee.
Mr.. LoTv'ides, from the committee of Wsys
ana Means. report ed bill Tor the relief of Hen
ry Malcolm: which was twice read and commit
ted
Dir. LcTgndes, from the same committee. made
an urtayorable report on the petition of the AS
sinees OF Abraham Picsch which was concur
red in by the house ..
Mr.. BH5seH moved the following resolution !.
KesotUed, That the Secretary of the treasure
be directs ed to inform the house whether, diserim-
mating duties are, at this time, levied in norris of
the United States, on British vessels ARRIVING.
from the West indies, and laden with West In.
Ola produce. =
Mr. BirsseH said he should not offer MANY re.
marks, to shew the propriety of this resolution .
ne was satisfied they would not he required
ihe petitions offered to the house had given much
importance to the subject, and he was convinced
they had taken view of IL not entirely correct =
The petitioners seemed to state, that thev have
to struggle against the implements thrown in
tielr way ny the British COLONIAL policy without
any countervaling advantages in our own rorts.
Mess ne misunderstood the provisions of the
i"te convention, an equality of tonnage duty and
ImPosts upon The carSoes, had been confined To
vessels coming from the British European pos
sessions, and goods the product of these posses.
iua-c r. -
trade and produce, were enforced against the
British colonial trade This seemed the natural
construction, and he had little doubt the instr,ic
TONS from the treasury department to the collsc-
tors were conformable to it ifthey are not. the
mouse should be informed. According to existing.
laws, all vessels coming from tue British WesI
indies, are subject, until the 29th of June To 10
per cent discriminating duty in favor of Amer
can vessels, and the tonnage duty OF two dollars
lau by that act alter that period to the same
| discrimination upon an advance upon the old du.
ties OF Al per cent. These, said Mr. H. are i'm
PoTtant advantages, and such as will operate f,-
VUFabiy IN competition with British navieation in
our own PORTSMOUTH, any other arrangements
| become necessary, they should be left with the
uesty MAKING power, to which it naturally be-
ionSed, and it was far to suppose il would Pc
ceiVe tie most proper attention. Under apv
Vicw oi the subject, tie House should know OIL.
cialiy the extent to which the laws in force one
rated, to estimate justly the additional proyisi-
ons required by the state of that trade.
Mr. Brdd6isy expressed his assent to the reso
luton, but wished il modified so as to en,brace
all the British colonies.
IL was replied By Mr. Bur1oeH. that the amend
TDent would be verbal and not substantial. as the
operation Of the convention on the existno. reve-
nue. laws upon the British West-Inda posses
Sions, would equally apply to all their colonies
After which the resolution was agreed 10.
On motion of Mr. FORSYTH,
Resotvsd, That the Naval Committee he IN.
structed 70 enquire into the expediency of max.
ms provision for those American seamen WHO
were wounded, and for the widows and families
OF those who were killed at Dartmoor prison. ON
the 9th ct April 1915.
On motion OF MIR. Stephenson the committee of
public lands were instructed TO enquire into the
eXpedtency OF reporin ing bill extending relief
and certain perInissons 10 the settlers on Inc pub.
llc lands embraced by the proclamation of the
President OF the United States in December Isst
upon such conditions as will not prejudice The
public interests; except such settlers as NAV
nave made resistance to the authority of the Uni
ted States.
The engrossed bill to reduce the amount Of ,,e
Direct Tax upon the United States and the ne.
triet OF Columbia, for the year 1916, The en-.
crossed bill making appropriations for ordnance
ordnance stores, &c. we're severally read the
thrd time and passed--tlle last neutioned bv
years and nays, 1O7 to As.
The house again resolved itself into a commit
tee OF the whole, afr. Coadict in the chair on The
bill 70 provide for the widows and orphans ~
the officers, pon-commssioned officers and pri.
Yates OF the volunteers and militia who have been
killed in battle, died in service, or of wounds re-
eeyed while in the United States, during the
| late war. ''N
The renander Of the day was oceur;sd b,, ,bs