Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-31

tie path of duty he would not abandon,
by permitting the hill 10 pass unopposed
without the usual security that II would
not he perverted 10 purposes not contem-
plated III lis enactment.
MIR. Sergeant said, the gentlemanS re-
collection was, III one respect, erroneous
the bill 10 remit the duties OH certain
stereotype plates, imported by the Bible
Society, was not ne9aiived by the Presi-
dent; but by being sent late IN the ses-
sion, the President did not act ON II, anu
not being returned TO Congress, The bill
did not become a law. Mr.. y. repeated,
that the provision contended Tor WAS not
usual, and supported his opinion by some
examples. Amongst those who were ex-
empted from the duty of postage, tor
SEES in which the law did not provide
against an abuse of the privilege. This,
he said, wom.d be the first instance OF
such provision; it would appear invI-
diouS lie believed il was unnecessary,
and hoped il would not be inserted i'll the
bill.
Mr.. Ligham said, the bill contained
general provision 10 remit all duties
which had accrued OH the importation of
bibles, &c for the bible society but as il
was more usual for these societies 10 order
their books through some merchant than
10 their own order, the objection to provd
ing against the abuse of the privilege,
was not so strong as had been urged
MIR. |. adveried to the circumstance that
this bill had not gone through the usual
course, as Il reason, perhaps, why It's de-
tails were now investIgate,t-lt had been
ordered TO be engrossed for third read
ing, without gong through a COMMITTEE
of the whole house, " hich was the custo-
mary course. If this bill involved great
constitutional principle, II ought TO have
received the usual direction in its progress.
Certain II was, Mr.. |. sand, that the Pre-
sldent did suffer similar bill 10 expire by
retaining II until the adjournment of Con-
gresS it was no less certain that the OBJ
Iect OF this bill was TO grant money from
the public treasury, for the benefit Of an
association which may be fairly denomi-
mated Il religious establishment, and the
constitution expressly prohibited Con-
gress from egislating on the subject of
any religious establishment. And is it
come To this, said Mr.. L.? Are we so much
IN awe thai we must tremble when we APP
proach This subject, and dare not resist d
measure OF this character The question,
MIR. |. sad, had been justly called deli
cate one, but VIXEN looking TO the consii-
luiion, and exercising his honest convic-
tons, he should not feel its delicacy. As
this bill had passed through without the
ordinary forms, Mr. |. moved that it now
be laid on the table, with the view, if it
should afterwards be called up, TO move
for lis commitment
Mr.. Sergeant said, if this course had
been proposed when the bill was first tax
en- up, he should not have objected but
If gentlemen were not In theirplaces when
the bill had been considered, it was nm
fair now 10 complain ofthe course which
had been taken. He did not know
hat 1t involved any constitutional ques-
tion, and he was sorry to see any obsta-
Gle now thrown in its way, &c.
The question on laying the bill on the
table was then decided i'll the affirmative
ayes 81, noes O..
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideraton Of the bill respecting fugitive
slaves, &c. the consideration ofwhich &C
cupied the remainder Of the day and
the committee rose before the subject was
completed.