Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-31

shuh.Hk; also, Ky the Speaker, the petitioner
~. ". boudet, portrait aad historical painter,
praying that he may be allowed 10 collect, M
"er snch restrictions as Congress may think
proper, the national trophies, presents, and
o,her articles OF curiosity, to be displayed IN
Museum which he has tor several years been
h,aSiny arrangements for establishing IN the
city of WASHINGTON.
The following Message was received FROM
the president of the United States; which was
read and referred to the Comm.tteeon Foreign
Relations
la ire Senate and House of Representatives. oj tis
T.. States.
IL ~ found that the existing laws have not
Tue eihcacy necessary to prevent violations of
Tue obligations of the u. States, rs nation at
peacc towards belliyereut parties, and other
unlawful acts ON the high seas, by armed yes
sells, equipped within the waters OF the U.
States.
WITH view to maintain more e!foctually the
respect due to the laws, to the character, and
to the neutral and pacific relations of the U. ).
recommend TO the consideration of Congress,
the eHpediency of such further legislative
provisions as may be requisite for OBTAINING
vessels, actually equipped, or in n course OF
equipment, with a warlike force, within the ju-
risdiction Of the L. States; or, as the case may
be, for obtaining from the owners or comman-
ders OF such vessels, adequate security against
the abuse OF their ornaments with the eNcep-
mons IN such provisions proper for the cases of
merchant vessels furnished with the defensive
ornaments, usual on distant and dangerous eN-
petitions; and OF a private commerce i'm mill.
tary stores, permitted by our laws, and which
the law of nations does rot require the q. s. 20
prohibit.
JAMES MADISON.
DECEMBER &c, 1916.
On Motion of Mr.. johnson, of Nv. the Com
mittee on Military Affairs were instructed 10
enquire into the eNpediencv OF anthorisinc the
president of the u. States TO establish manu-
factory of small arms at Newport, on Licking
river the state of Kentucky.
Mr.. Culpeper laid on the table resolution
for the meeting Of the House to take place at
III Instead of II o'clock.
On motion of Mr.. Harrison, the committee on
Roadsand Canals were directed 10 enquire in
to the expectancy OF granting sum OF money,
to he expended under the direction of the Pre-
Sident of the y. States inremoviny the obstruc-
ton to the navigation of the Ohio river. GREAT
dby the falls near Louisville, Ky.
Mr.. Dcsha offered the following resolution:
ReSoIred, As the lands south of Green river.
now withintle limits of the state OF Kentucky,
was, by the state of Virginia. set apart for the
purpose OF satisfying claims for revolutionary
services, ard Il portion Ofwhicli land has, since,
been by the general government, coded BY
treaty, to the Chickasaw tribe of Indians by
which cesson, many of the revolutionary pat
riots have been deprived ofthe benefits arising
from grants for meritorious services: flat the
President of the United States he requested to
','s>S iicCSSStIN 10 nave the Indian
tie TO the land lying within the limits of the
state OF Kentucky eXtinguishedas soon as prac-
ticable.
Gir. Calhoun thought, as the resolutien was on
a subject new and somewhat locaiin its nature.
IL would he better not to decide on il immedi
ately, and moved that it lie on the table.
Mr.. Hardin, also, joiuedin the hope that the
resolution should lie on the table, as it stated
iac,s WIN which he was before unacquanted
and which required some examination
Ina ton III
necessity ami propriety OF the resolution, ac-
guessed IN the motion 10 lay it AT present on
tie table and il was accordingly SO ordered.
On motion OF MIR. Taylor, ofN.Y the House
went mto committee of the whole, Mr. Bassett
in the chair, on the bill to provide for the regu
lar publication ofthe decisions of the Supreme
Court.
Mr.. Taylorof y. Y. moved to fill the blank
Tor llle salary OF the Reporter with the sum OF
$1,000 and supported his motion and the gene.
raj object of the bill by short speech.
MIR Hardin of Ky. moved tostrike out the II
section of the bill--in effect to relectit.
This motionand the preceding one, gave rise
10 debate of some length: Messrs. I'aylor. of
n. Y. II. Nelson and Root, in favor of the bin
and Messrs Robertson, Hardin Ross q Wright
In opposition TO Ii. Of this debate few lines
must suffice for a summary.
In support OF the measure proposed by the
Dill, was urged, the great Importance of having
correct and early reports of the decisions of a
court, whose DEGREES, ifnOt Jaw in themselves
are evidence of the law, and the advantage ola
Reporter of proper abilities, made responsible
Tor the proper exercise of his duties. This bill
it was urged, would tend to securea prompt
publication OF the reports, making the salary
contingent on the delivery of Il certain number
OF copies of the reports ofeacl term within q
months after the decisions Of the court were
pronounced land that ii would also secure filel.
lty III the Reporter, he being liable to removal
by the supreme court. for misconduct Without
an inducement like that proposed by the bill
fears were expressed that no reports would be
was quoted, who had deemed the publication
OF the decisions OF their supreme courts, so i'm.
pOrtant as TO give TO men properly qualified
even agreater compensation than was propoS
ed to be given 10 the Reporter of the decisions
OF higher court
On the other hand, the vaae of correct re-
ports Ofthe decisions of the supreme court was
generally admitted, though Mr. Robertson wa
opposed to any act which should sanction the i
dea of their having permanent effect over 9TH
or law, or make their construction ofIaws bind
ing on their successors and OH OtherauihOrties
1t was generally urged in opposition to the bill
thatno necessity existed for creating a salary
officer for this purpose that the reports had
been heretofore published without salary Il
would, ifpromptly published, afford emoIunient
enough to secure the attention of ADEQUATE IA
tents to that object; that to pass such a bill
would he 10 give monopoly of 4 privilege (that
ofrcporting the proceedings ofthe court) which
ought 10 be free TO all. As to the state courts.
II was said, salary reporter might be necesSa.
ry, since the demands for the reports. limited
to the state, would he necessarily small. tho
tlieir publication was highly important to cor.
rect administration ofJusticc; but that in re-
gard TO the decisions of the supreme court
whose effect peIVaded the union, the case was
otherwise, and there could be no doubt but the
publication would afford sufficient emoIument
unaided By a salary, from the extensive sale Of
the reports.
10 lie advancement IL ysns rcini.nI tI,n.