Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-17

After SIX DAYS flOff the COWfEeUCCNiSUN tI
second or subsequent session of any Con
gress, all legislative business which at the close
OF the next preceding session remained IN the
House where it originated, shall be resumed
and acted on in the same manner as II an ad-
journment had not taken place"
The engrosSed bill respecting The dis
trict courts of the United States within
the state of New York, was read The Sd
time and the question stated on lis pas
sage.
Mr.. Forsyth offered somr remarks on
the hasty progress oi the bill 10 lis present
stage, and objected at some iens,'. 10 Tie
object and some OF The provisions of the
bill: and
Mr.. Cob moved the rccommitmen, Of
The bill, Tor t!ie purpose Of investigation
and amendment.
Alter few remarks in renly by Messrs.
Spencer u ieglD', some in favor OF com
mitnleni hy Mr.. Sergeant auG some eN-
plGnaiory rs MIR. HusA Nelson,
The motion was ne.atlvCd, and the bill
was passed and sent 10 The Senate for
concurrence.
The House then resumed the unlnish-
Ell business ot yesierday--an again went
mic committee OF The whole OH the re-
solution reported 10y the select committee
on the subject oi
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
MIR. J0hnson of Virg. spoke more than
an hour against the resolution: and
Mr., Lo&ades occupied about the same
time i'll its support.
After Mr.. LOtCndes had concluded his
remarks, he rose again 10 revive the ID
mendmen! Which he had proposed TO the
resolution on Friday, but which he had
afterwards Withdrawn, that gentlemen
might tie left free TO debate t!,r whole sub
iect, mtrammelled by the question being
presented separately in It's different
branches. That the members of the
COMMITTEES might now have an opportuni-
~ OF voting tor>any one branch which
night be acceptable and against any
w'nchm sht be Objectionable, ue renewed
hS motion with some variation 10 divide
the proposition into three distinct resolu-
tons.
Theqocstion was then taken on strik-
ing ont all the original resolution after
ihe word Resolced," and inserting the
following, and decided in the affirmative
ayes IS, noes IS.
That Congress has power under the Con.
81 tuition Ia appropriate Money for the con-
StructiOn of Post Roads, Military and other
roads, and Of Canals, aud for the Improvement
% watei courses"
The question was then taken on tie Sc
cond resolution, offered as part of the
substitute by Mr.. LoicmdcS, ana agreed TO,
SNtS 10, nOC~ ~, DIS lOltOhS
ReSoired That Congress has power under
the constitution 10 construct Post Roads aus
Military roads, provided, that private proper
~ bs not taken for public use without just
compensation"
The third branch of lie substitute was
al o agreed 10, as follows, ayes 40. noes 90.
hesolced, That Congress has power under The
Constitution 10 construct roads and canals ne.
eessary tor commerce between the states pro
Vided, that private property be not taken for
nuillic without tio,,
MIR. Mercer proposed TO add another
resolution To those agreed 10, which, after
some discussion, was adopted, ayes rs,
noes 63, asffllow
n, I'd, That Congress has power under
the consultation, to construct canals for militia
~ purposes, provided thatnO private property
be taken for such purpose without Just com.
penSatIon being made therefor"
Mr.. LOWndeS then moved the adoption
Of an additional resolution, as follows:
ReSo,tsd, That ii IS eXpedieut that lie sum TO
be paid t. the United States under The 10Th sec
ton of the act TO incorporate Tie Subscribers
10 the Bank of the United States, and the ali
dends which shall arise from Their shares in it's
capital stock, be constituted ass fund Tor The
construction of roads and canals"
HE question OH this resolution was de-
clded III the negalive-ayes 70, noes 70.
Mr.. Forsyth then moved that the COM
miitee rise and report The resolutions to
she House.
This motion brought on desutory lie
bate ofau hours Continuance which
MIR. Hugh Nelson, in opposing the motion,
and asking That the opponents Of the reso-
iutions be allowed al least one day more
10 urge their objects To- them incden-
tally avowed his hostility to the rcsolu-
lions, as a dangerous and alarming as
sumption ofpower, and direct infringe
ment of the constitution and OF state
rights, &c.
MIR. Johnson, of Ky. in reply, also incl
dentally offered few remarks n favor og
tie resolutions.
Finally, Mr.. Fo,syth's motion was with
drawn, when the committee rose, report
ed progress, obtained leave TO sit again.
and, about 5 O'Clock
Tnc House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH II.
The Speaker presented the petition Of
VIncente Pazos, representing himself TO
be the agent of the republics of Venezue-
ia and Buenos AyreS, complaining OF the
capture of Amelia Island, stating that APP
plication had been made TO the Executive,
who had refused justice, as he says, and
PRAYING the :nterposition of Congress.
M. Forsyth moved that the petition be
not received. He stated that as the petit
toner was the agent Of a foreign power,
and applied 10 Congress as an appellate
power over lie Executive, he thought it
improper that he should be thus heard.
MIR. C0Lston remarked that in lis estl-
RIat0n the petition ought to be laid on
the table and printed, that the members
might know its contents before any dis
position was made of it. At all events