Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-17
CONGRESS-.
IN SENATE.

The President communicated tn the Sen
ate a report from the Secretary of the
Treasury on the subject of a general tariff
OF duties on imports.
Mr.. Campbell laid before the Senate
the resolutions of the Legislature OF
Tennessee. rejecting the amendments to
the constitution of the u. States, pro-
posed by Massachusetts and Connecti-
cut.
Mr.. Campbell also laid before the Sc
| nate instructions from the Legislature of
Tennessee, to their Senators, to repre-
sent to the government the expedicncv of
delaying the collection OF the direct tax,
&c.
The President communicated resolutions
OF the Legislature of Ohio. respecting the
necessity of providing for the organization,
arming and disciplining the militia, &c.
which were referred to the committee on
the Militia.
Mr.. Barbour from select committee,
reported bill to ascertain and establish
the western boundary of the tract re-
served for satisfying the military bounties
allowed the officers and soldiers OF the
Virginia line on the continental establish
ment-which was passed to a second read
ing.
M. Barbour. from the same commit
tee, reported resolution for providing
by law for satisfying the claims for
land bounty of the officers and soldiers,
OF the SAID state on her own establish
mint.
Mr.. Barbour, from the Military commit
tee, made report on the Memorial of
the Kentucky Legislature, relative to pro-
vision tor the widows and orphans of mi
litia who died in service. &c. The report
e. f.sl fac &c \
ION on the subject, and was ordered to lie
On the table
The Senate resumed the consideration
of the bill to authorize the payment for pro-
perry in the service of the United States,
which was lost, captured or DESTROYED by
the enemy in the late war.
MIR. Mason of n. II. proposed to insert
IN the bill, the following amendment
That the President of the II. States
be, and he is hereby authorised to appoint
so many commissioners as he shall deem
necessary for the purposes hereinafter men
toned. who shall be respectively sworn
faithfully to perform their trusts. And all
testimony to be submitted in support of a.
ny claim against the United States, within
the provisions of this act. shall be taken on
oath, before some one of such commission
ers. And it shall be the duty of the said
commissioners carefully to examine all
witnesses produced before them on such
Interrogatories. and according to such in
structions as shall be prescribed by the
Secretary of the Treasury, touching the
following claims, to wit: -
Considerable discussion took place on
this amendment, in which MessrS. Barbour
and Talbot opposed, and Nj. Mason Of
n. II. supported the motion. Before the
m OH folr 81,
for the present on the table, and the Sc
nate proceeded to the consideration of Ex-
ecutive business
HOUSE OF REPRESEN NATIVES.
WedreS1iag, FEB. II.
Mr.. Burwell moved the following mott
Oh:
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be directed to inform the house
whether discriminating duties are, at this
time, levied in ports of the u. States, on
British vessels arriving from the West
Mr.. Burweli said he should not offer
many remarks TO shew the propriety of
this resolution he was satisfied they could
not be required. The petitions offered to
the House had given much Importance to
the subject, and he was convinced they had
taken view of it not entirely correct. The
petitioners seemed to state, that they have
to struggle against the impediments thrown
in their way by the British colonial policy.
without any conntervailing advantages in
our own ports. Unless he misunderstood
the provisions of the late convention, an e.
quality ct tonnage duty and imposts upon
the cargoes, had been confined to vessels
Coming from the British European posses
sions, and goods the product of those pos
sessions the existing laws, applicable to
toreigu trade and produce, were enforced
against the British colonial trade.
This seemed the natural construction.
and he had little doubt the Instructions
from the Treasury Department to the COL
lectors, were conformable to 1t; if they
are not, the House should be informed -
a, cording to existing laws. all vessels com
ing from the British West Indies, are sub
Ject, until the 3Oth Of June, to ] 0 per cent
discriminating duty 10 favor Of American
vessels, and the tonnage duty Of two dol.
lars. laid by that act /; after that period
to the same DISCRIMINATION upon an adj
vance upon the old duties Of ~ per cent.
These, said Mr.. Il. are import mt advsDta-
ges, and such as will operate fayorably in
competition with British navigation in our
own ports should any other arrange.
mentS become necessary, they should be
left with the treaty-making power, to
viii i nrtuF lily belonged, and it was fair
to suppose it would receive the most pro-
per attention. Under any view of the
subject, the House should know officially
the extent to which the laws in force op-
Grated, to estimate Justly the additio nal
provisions required by the state of that
fvado