Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-20
ed abill for the relief of Richard Ridgely and
others which was twice al and ro,,a.,,:.tad

Jaw, TOT making Inc gold COINS OF England,
France, Portugal and Spain, and the crowns of
France the legal currency of the u States, CORES
pondng with the intrinsic value of said coins,
respectively, and that the committee ON the IA.
tional currency be instructed to report bill nc.
cordingly. 80,
The Speaker laid before the House a letter
from General William Fl. Harrison, soliciting an
enquiry into the expenditure of public money
within the 9th military district, while under his
command; which was read.
On proposition of Mr.. .ULean to refer the
letter to select committee, short discussion
arose, in which Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Wright sup.
ported the propriety oflaying il on the table, on
the ground that it would be impossible now for
committee to discharge such duty faithfully
and Mr.. MIean maintained his own motion. Af
ter which the letter was referred to the commit.
tee on public expenditures.
The Speaker also laid before the House let
ter from William Simmons, late accosntant of
the War Department, stating certain defalcations
and Interpretations of public monies by colonel
James Thomas, late quarter-mastsr general in
the army; also certain alleged improper reduc
tlons by the treasury officers, Of the amount due
by col. Z. to the government; and belief that
all was not fair, which had prevented the prompt
communication of the information called for BY
the House from the President on the 10th ult
MIR. M Nee moved that the letter be referred
10 select committee, with power to send for
persons and papers.
This motion produced debate of considerable
scope& duration: Mr. Forsyth moved that .,e letter
be laid on the table, IN which he was supported by
Messrs. Wright, of Md. and Alexander; and OBJ
posed by Messrs. M'Kee, Shelley, Stanford, eros.
vesnor, Pitkin and Hubert.
The debate was confined chiefly to the charac
ter and motives of Mr. Simmons, the character
of colonel Thomas, &c. 1t was argued, in favor of
laying the letter the table, that information on
Al, Ill.
proper department bya resolution of this House,
which was hourly expected and then could be
properly acted that the letter itself was cou-
ched in indecorous and insolent terms, and was
not entitled to any respect that il was improper
no countenauee individuals in bringing their pri.
Vate quarrelS and venting their spleen before
Congress that from the character of the writer
his statement ought not to be ecsved as true on
his single evidence; and the reference to q COM
mttee of such statements so introduced would
invite repetition of such communications and
that the power to send for persons and papers
was too great to be lightly granted, &C.
In favor ofrrferring the letter to select COM
Snttee, for the purpose of enquiry, it was argued
that every person who came before the House
ON public concern, was entitled to hearing
that an enquiry at former session had disclosed
fraud in the individual accused by Mr. Summons
and gave color to the charges now made in the
letter, that every thing calculat ed to awaken the
attention of the house to a subject so important
was salutary and ought to be listened to; that
The letter contained nothing offensive to decorum;
that the character OF Mr.. Simmons merited no
disrespect, and that the character of colonel Tho
mas himself required the reference &c. &c
On these points the debateswas very diffuse,
and Fer il had continued about two hours.
On motion of Mr.. .1'Kee, a resolution was
greed to, creating committee of five members
to enquire into the state of the accounts render
ed and settled by James Thomas, late a deputy
quarter. master. and also to exsrnne all accounts
connected Herewith, & that sad committee have
power TO send for persons and papers.
The Speaker laid before the House two COM
munications from the President of the United
States, one transmitting the amount of expences
incurred for public buildings, &c. in Washing
ton; and the other statement of the militia Of
the States, according to the latest returns at
the war department.
The bill from the Senate for the relief Off r.
VerjOn and Robert S Stobie, was read the third
time and passed,
The bill from the Senate supplementary to the
act providing for the indemnfcation Of the clal-
mants to certain lands (Yazoo) in the Mississippi
territory, was twice read and committed.
NATIONAL BANK.
The house then resumed the consideration of
the bank bill.
The house SUCCESSFULLY concurred in the A.
mendments Of the committee of the whole, with
out objection, until 1t reached that which sub
etituted the sum of ffteen dollars as the second
cash Instalmentto the Bank. instead of fue.
Mr.. Calhoun repeated the objections that he
made IN the committee to this amendment, and
moved that the house disagree thereto, with the
view hereafter of making the sum ten dollars
After few remarks from Mr. Smith of Md. in
justification of The amendment;
1t was disagreed to by he house.
The house then proceeded to that amendment
of the comm ttee which restrained the GOVERN.
ment from appointing more than three of its d..
Fectors from any one sta e.
This amendment was objected to in few words
BY Mr. TeLfair, and opposed also by Mr.. Robert
son at some length, who wished the clause resto
red TO its original state.
After few remarks from Mr. Smith of Md.
IN favor II he amendment, it was concurred in.
The next amendment considered, was that
VII ch added the word "nntiUe" to clause of the
bni, aud thereby excluded from the Direction ma
tura zed citizens.
Mr. Calhoun opposed the adoption Of this a.
mendment, on the ground formerly stated /; and
Mr.. Randolph again advocated il in a short
speech when
rhe decision of the committee was reversed.
and the word ''native" rejected-ayes a., noes
e.
On motion Of MIR. Webster, the bill was then
so amended, after short discussion. in which
MIR. smith OF Md. opposed the motion, as to-
make 1t equally compulsory and penal on the
bank to pay ats deposits in specie, as its notes or
bills.
When the house arrived at the amendmen
providing sanctions for compelling the bank to
perform rs engagements
Mr. Wright made motion substantiallv 10
strike ont the clause which makes the charter
forfeitable, in case Of the non-payment of specie.
and thereby leave only the penalty of paving 10
per cent on their notes if not so paid
debate commenced on this motion. which
todt INF me Z -