The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-01-31
.CoNGREss.
House or REPRESENTATIVES,.
7Essdey, January Ia.
CONVERSATION LAW.
sKsTcu or TIE FIRST DAYS DEBATE.
CONCLUDED

IN ccInmiItee OF The whole, Mr. Brec
keati3ge in ;hc chair, on the bill 10 re-
pea. ne act rasscd at the last session OF
Congress TO change tic mode OF COM
pensatioa TO Senator'S Representatives
aed Delegates in Congress.
hir.- KiNt;, of Massachusetts, rose
immediately aiter MIR Randolph, and
observed, taat he felt uuder what disad
vantages, say genilensan rose after tho
honorabie gentleman CT Yirgiuia; bu.
inat he had, the satisfaction CT agreeing
with him, as to The course which the
House ought TO pursue on this occasion:
10 Wit, anQimmeGiate and absolute re
peal oil the compensated law oil the last
session; snd, il agreeable TO The hon-
cradle gentlemen, his opinion was, that
the repeal shosld relate back Ia the be-
ginhjl ( ot th;SNsessiop, on the ground
tbat the law OF Me last session had d
similar retrospective operation. MIR.
Chairman, / wasGn favor of the law Of
the last session u voted for its and
| took occasion them to remark, that
was,nct solicitoos A. to the impression
which that law might make on the pub
lie. Nor, sir, shall L ever be snlicit
Gus as 10 the reception Of law, pros
vided, at It's passage, deem il COR
/ eel and expedlcnt I never shall al
Tempt 10 iScilny way through Ibis on
ny other house OF iegislalion, by DC,
tore hand, feeling the public pulse. A.
Me same time, l acknowledge, tbay
such is the nature OF the government,
| after the passage OF any measure, il
becomes generally unpopular; il, by
| any means, II be rendered odious TO the
great body ct the people, that is suf-
accent groun, Of repeal. The inquiry
ibcnls is The compensation law ii the
last session unPol ular; is il odioas to
me great body OF the American people?
l think II has beCome so 10 decide
| THIS point, / shall no, rely upon tile in
Ssmperale reson es oil sell created c!u. S
or assemblies. ! shall not trouble you
win the Impotent presentment of grand
EJuries, however in biher respects hon
ofable. They had better confiBe their
acts TO the correction oil crimes inIheir
sIciniiyj than 10 extend their grataitous
labourst TO supposed national grievaH
ccs, which they Cannot correct; nor
sbsll l dwell upon the ebuIlititns o.
taciioGs prints, or fac,ious demaeogues,
belonging to either party bat l sbal,
rely on solemn Legislative resolves, aud
the decision OF the people themselves
in the election of members TO this
House Respecting these legisiativ-
resolves, cannot with some gentle
men, thinks them binding on the repre-
sentative Ia al. cases Whatever, nor with
others, esteem them OF trilling impor
lance, / shaltalwsys receive them with
great difference, as valuable and autheD
TIC sources OF information; and when
not against the common dictates of my
own mind. follow tnem And | ag
happy hat those which have rcciev
ID from the Legislature of Massachu-
SEES, point 10 course in this busine a.,
which l with pleasure adopt. Macy
other states have also instructed then
senator's, and requested their repre-
sentadVes to aid in the repeal OF this
Jaw But, Sir, the people have decid-
ed this point one half of the mem
bers OF this House felt the effects Of
that decision myself among the rest.
Not that they have taken f.o,n me any
hing which sought after--not that
hey have taken from me either proper
ty. or happiness, by depriving me of
seat here. No, Sir, they have by that
act restored me to both; TO my PROBES
sion, and 10 the Invaluable blessing OF
beloved family: Sir, is there any
thing in scat here, save the opporlu
nifty i, affords of aiding to advance the
interest Of, our countfyf Is there any
other consideration Is there any sum
which could induce a man 10 submit to
the privations, which members on this
floor submit to-priyaiions so eloquent
lydescribed by the hon. gentleman from
Virginia, (Mr. X. from the loss Of the
society Of family and friends, to that oil
life irselTl Sir 1 fave personally en-.
dured all but the closing scene here
nothing but the request of friends, and
an ardent desire to lend my feeble rid
to measures for the good Ct our coun
Try, would induce me to remain another
hour IN this place, But tits said that the
public sentiment is against the mode,
not The amount of compensation. DO
you suppose that the people cannot dis
tinguish between fern and substance
Do you suppose that oil this discomfort
would have been manifesto, If the
amount had nos been augmented Be