Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

fNDSudD, REQ. u.
After some introductory remarks, on the IL
tllity OF the object he desired to have enqui-
red into, Mr.. Smith Va. offered the following
resolution, which was agreed to. viz.
hesottea, That the committee Roads and
Canals be instructed to enoujre into the exne
diency OF appointing commissioners 10 view
and mark out road from the highest noint of
navigation on the James River, 10 that Of the
tireat hanawha, ard from thence to Point
Pleasant, on the Ohio, in Virginia.
The following balls from the Senate IN wit
the bill providing for the division of certain
quarter sections in future sales of the public
lands the dill in addition to the act for the re-
lief OF George T. Ross and Daniel T. Pattor
son. and the officers 8, men lately under their
command; the bill to repeal the second sec
tIon OF the act concerning the pay of officers
seamcn and marines IN the navy of the United
States the bill making appropriations for tho
payment of certain claims for militia services
TO the state of Georgia the bill to appoint
additional pension agents {; the bill &c amend
and explain an act giving pensions to the or
nianS ana widows % persons slain ia the pub
hc or private armed vessels Of the T. States
the bill! for the relief of the widow and children
Of Arnold u. Dohrman and the bin granting
Il pension TO Com. Richard TAYLOR: were sew
orally read the first and second times, and re-
ferred.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The House then took up the amendments
reported by the committee of the whole. 10
me bill TO SCI apart and pledged as fund Tor
Internal Improvement, the Bonus and United
states share Of the dividends Of the National
Bank.
Mr. Pickering stated some notifications If
the amendments which he wished to pronose
h'it not now being in order, he reserved fhem
for the present.
precisely the mode Of appoItiOning the fnnd a.
mong the different states, by inserting The
words " according to the House of Represen-
tativcs in Congress"
nT. psrl-,,
well as TO the amendment OF the committee of
the whole, as leaving the objects of improve
ment still too wayne and indefinite.
Mr. Smith of Nd. opposed it because the
present representation might he reduced, but
coudnOt be increased, aud that p state would
now receive anodcun OF the fund which minht
hereafter become almost nothing-and there
fore he wished il should be apportioned ac-
cording TO the present rcpresentation-n be
subject to the great changes which ehonId
hereafter take place in the relative represeu.
tation of the states in Congress.
MIR. Taylor supported his motion after
which, the motion was agreed to, and the mes
ton REQUIRED on the amendment as amended;
If. Smith ofMd moved so to amend the a
Insndment as TO aDpOrtiOn the fund which |
shall accrue, according 10 the present repre- !
sentation in Congress which he supported on |
The ground that many states, Ncw-fiampshire. |
Connecticut Maryland, sc. would never have |
an increase of members, whilst others womb |
greatly iucfease-aud five are to he taxed |
'dndhe viewed this as tax for internal iu |
he wished the states To eniov The !
benefit according TO the tax they are about 10 |
pay, as il was % be frittcrcd away among the |
several states, to be wasted on little objects. in
stead OF being applied TO some great national |
object, sc.
The motion was opposed By Mr.. Calhoun /
because the incorporation Of such IL pr;ucjple |
would destroy the hill-thc great principle o
TIC government being a community ofinferest.
iHd established for the general benefit. the q,
mendment would be hehly improprr, ~
well as prejudicial, to the great object 10 |
view.
aig. Hardin also opposed tho motion and ar-
gued against distributing the fund at all a-
moug the states which. in time, when iba re-
presentation Of some Of the new states ehonfJ
he doubled, would cmbarrrass. if moi enfircIv
defeat tlc execution Of the object.
The motion was also opposed bricGy bv NJ
Harrison and Mr.. kiiDOurn. and NJ some iaurfh
by Mr.. Sharp-fhe latter gentlemen aroeir~
iiat the fund was not . temporary bui pr
uanent one, and formed part Of The common
property Of tic nation, that if was tho sa1ir e,e
TIE proceeds Of the dircCttdX or sales Of a..
public iaHds, which though drawn froin the I
W csiefn country, was still common tovcure.
iHd conid no more be- Appropriated D, Tho rrie
proposed, than could The lGad now Under com
iideraiion, &c. tl,at tie proposition .yaeir fact
me ~ inequdlit. and Injustice as IL iooicdfo