Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-05-01
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
O 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
"wednesday, .HtirH "a.
Mr.. Huger from the committee appoint
ed to examine generally into unsettled ba-
lances, reported bill to establish the of
flee of accountant of the department of
state; which was twice read and commit
ted.
Mr.. Nelson Of Va. from select COM
mittee, exported bill establishing the pa
tent Office, providing the means of further
encouragement to authors and inventors,
and guarding more efftctua;iy against
frauds and impositions by patentees.
eMr. M'Kee, from the committee an.
pointed to enquire into the accounts rem
dered and settled of James Thomas, a de-
putty quarter-master general in the army
of the United States, and to examine into
the accounts connected thercwita, made a
report, embracing a statement Of facts and
many documents, but expressing no opini-
on on the subject, and recommending a
more mature ex animation into the matter
at the next session which report was or
dered to lie, and be printed.
The several bills yesterday ordered to
third reading, were read third time and
passed.
SPECIE PAYMENTS.
The House then took up the report of
the committee of the whole on the bill pro-
viding for the more effcctual collection of
the public revenues in the lawful money of
the country.
Mr.. Calhoun withdrew the amendments
which he proposed to the bill for the issue
of treasury notes.
Mr.. Bradbury then offered the following
proviso, to Come i'll at the end OF the first
section which was adopted by the House
by a large majority:
Pr0Uidcd nevertheless, That nothing
in this act contained, shall be construed as
an indemnity or justification to any officer
or agent of the government, for any neeli-
gence or misconduct in the past or future
collections and receipts of public MONEYS"
A motion was then made by Mr.. Ward
OF Mass. further to amend the same, by in
sorting the following section:
ind be IL further enacted, That in all
cases in which the revenue IF the United
States. in any section thereof, shall be re-
Ceived in the bills of the banks of any state.
which bills at the time of receiving them.
arc of less value than their nominal sum
in treasury Mates. it shall be the duty of the
officer who receives said bills to require
the person who pays the same, to make
discount thereon equal to such diff, renee
in value; and it shall be the duty of such
officer, to render his account under oath.
as to t c amount of such discount
This section, after much dis ussoH, was
rejected by yeas and nays-yeas 10, NAYS
100.
Mr.. Mason then moved the following:
Sec. IND be further enacted, That
to establish uniformity in the payment of
duties and taxes within the United States.
the Secretary of the Treasury shall forth
with cause to b. Published, in ore or more
newsp lpers III each state and TERRITORY.
list of all the banks within the u States.
the notes of which are thereafter to be re-
ceived in their respective districts, in paw
ment of duties, taxes, and other debts due
to the United States. And any debtor Of
the l ni,ed States may, until the said thirty
first day of December next, at his election
pay the amount of any duti, 8, taxes or o.
Their debts, due and payable to the United
States, in Treasury Notes, or in the notes
of any of the said banks, until notice shall
be given from the Treasury Department.
that su~h notes are not received in dis
charge of any debts due to tie United
States, within the districts, where such
b INKS are respectively situated Providcd
neUeJIheiess. That no collector or other
officer or receiver OF monies due to the Il.
States, shall receive in payment of any du-
e., tax, bond, obligation or other demand,
which, according to the terms thereof, or
the provisions OF law, shall not be due and
payable before the said thirty first day of
December next, the notes of ans bank or
banks. which at the time of such payment
shall not be payable and paid on demand. |
IN current gold and silver coin.
Tits was also discussed and rejected By !
yeas and nays-32 to So.
Mr.. Hardin then moved the indefinite |
of the bill. which, after a |
good deal Of debate, was lost By the follow
ing vote
For postponement ~
Against it 81
Mr.. Hall moved 70 recommit the bill TO |
a committee Of the whole for further a.
mendment and revision--rejccted
Mr.. Reynolds then moved to reconsider
the vote which adopted the proviso offered
by Mr.. Bradbury. This motion was re-
ected ny 4 large majority.
Mr.. lngham moved TO strike ont the S1st
Vt December next, the time fixed by the
MI after which the payment Of duties, tax
IS, debts, &c. owing 70 the U. States will