Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-20
D Q NJ E S TIC.
CONGREsS.
IN SENATE-March IL.


>Ir. Roberts presented the memorial of Ferd.
nando Fairfax, demonstrating against the renew.
al to his widow OF Mr.. Fnlton's patent for the IN
yention of the Steamboat, for various reasons
therein stated
: Mr. .Sfas..ss's prsseatei The petition OF VIM.
RadcliH and others, praying payment of certain
debentures, payment of which had been suspen.
ded which was referred to Messrs Stamford.
Brown, aid Dana.
Mr. Dagger presented the petition of the Pre-
sident and Directors of the Patriotic Bank, pray
ing for an act of incorporation which, on bis
motion was referred to the committee of finance.
lhe bill to incorporate the subscribers TO the
Washington female Orphan Asylum, was read
second time.
The bill from the house of represen tatives for
making further provision for military services
during the late war was taken up; and the cues
ton beng about to DO put whether it should be
read third time
Mr.. Wilson announced his intention TO move an
amendment to the bill, by introducing provision
which he understood had failed in the House of
representatives, but which, in his opinion. pub
lie justice, gratitude and feeling required 10 be
adopted He then read the Sketch of the new
section to allow donations of land, in proportjon
TO iheir rank, to the officers deranged by the lat
reduction of the army. To ascertain whether
the Senate would be willing to receive an amend
ment ofthis character, he moved to postpone the
b ii til tomorrow
The postponement was agreed to.
The Senate next took up the bill to l;sh
Law Library at the seat of government, for tl,e
use OF the supreme court otthe United States
ihere was some debate on this subject, and IN
| opposition to the provision of law books for the
purpose designated as well as for the use ofcon.
greSs, but on motion of Mr. Wilson IN amend
The bull by striking out SO much thereof as nro
| poses to place the law books to be purchased in
| an apartment separate from the general library
which was negatived Is to g.
The bill was ordered to third reading. rTbe
| Appropriation proposed in the bill to be applied
to ITS object at this time five thousand dollars
The bull for the rel cf ofJobn NJ Forbes. which
came from the Representative Ffaii yv.s na1,t
considered and after due expianatjon bv NJ
Hunt r of its object, Ito auihorise settlement
| OF Mr.. Forbes account for interest and differ.
ence OF exchange of money paid in, Europe for
the supper ofd,stressed seamen) the bill was ar.
dered TO be read 4 thrd time.
The bill concerning tie district of Columbia
Prospecting the introduction of slaves from adj
joining states) was on melton Of Mr.. Iacock
postponed to Friday
The engrossed blllto extend the time for de.
sions, &c. on the Yazoo Claims, was read a
third time. !"
The blank for the day to which lie time for e., /.
ing releases is extended, was on motion of NJ
Taylor filled with the frst Monday of December
| Eert.
The blank for the additional compensation r.
each of the commissioners appointed to adiust
these claims, and TO the Secretary to the Board
in consideration of the further services required
| OF them, was next 20 be filled.
| MIR. Taylor, after compliment to the talent
assiduity and integrity of the board, as calling for
| q compensation larger than they had hitherto
| been allowed, more adequate to the serv &c rem.
| dered by them, moved to I'LL the blank with IS.
! 900 dollars which was agreed 10 without a d.
| vision.
And thus amended, the bill was passed and
| sent to the house Of Represen, atiyes.
The bills from the House of Representatives.
for the relief of Gustavus Loommis. and 10 change
! the mode OF COMPENSATION of the members of
| Congress, were read and passed TO a second read
| ing
The bill for the benefit Of the widow and chi
| dren of Robert Fulton, decd. was next taken up.
Mr. King proposed TO postpone it to Wednes-
| day MIR. Roberts to re-commit it.
In the little debate which took place, Mr.. Ro.
| 6erfs referred TO the memorial this morning pre-
sented, as aflording reason why the bill should
not pass or at least receive reconsideration IN
committee he also incidentally remark ed that
there was no such evidence Of cost in perfecting
the invention or want Of profit from the use of Il,
as would support the claim for on extension oftbe
patent, &c. To which, Mr.. King replied that
the question Of the validity of the original patent
was one wholly OF judicial nature il was one
III regard to which Congress could neither take
away nor confer previleges--the bill could ex
tend no rights not vested by the patent, &c. and
all questions arising out of the priority of inven
ton, &c belonged and must remain with the
courts ofjustice Mr. Wilson favoured com
mitment, though favorable to the extension of the
patent.
Mr. King having withdrawn his motion for
Postponement, the bill was recommitted 60 Mess
King, Morrow, DAggett Chsee and Roberts.
The amendment proposed to the constitution
requiring tse election Of electors and Reprcsen
tstiyes Of Congress to be made in all the states
by districts, was taken up and the nuection qta-
ted on ordering it to a third reading.
Mr.. LdcOck expressed his surprise that pro-
position for amending the constitution should be
80 lightly treated as not to have had dav as
signed tor its discussion. lie thought it reouir-
ed more elaboration; and therefore moved to
PostPoneit and make it the order of the day for
Monday.
MIR. Dard protested his readiness TO vote on
the question at once, with the hope that the pro.
position would be rejected 1t seemed to him
TO be introducing sort of bed of Procrustres, to
declare that, because il was convenient for one
state to elect its Electors and Representatives by
Districts, all the other States convenient or not.
= l1ld De compelled TO do the same.
out further debate, the posfponemest was
providing FOR Tie publication of the
supreme court Of the United