Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-05-19
SO the Din va. passed aud seal TO the

Ell through the usual forms, and was
read third lime aud finally passed as
also did the bill from the Senate, for al
tering The times Of holding the Court OF
the UHiied States tor the Western District
of Pennsylvania.
The bill from the Senate for the relief
of Thomas Leiper, passed through the
usual forms, being opposed by Mr.. Rhsc,
and supported by MIR. Sergeant and Mr.
!Naciay, and was read a third time and
finally passed.
TONNAGE DUTY ON FRENCH SHIPS.
The House then resolved itself into
committee OF whole, on The bill To i'm
nose new tonnage duty on French ships
and vessels.
The first section Of this bill provides, that,
in lieu of the tonnage duty now paid on French
Ships or vessels, there shall he paid duty OF
eighteen dollars per ton, on all French ships
or vessels which shall be entered in the Uni
ted States, any act To the contrary notwith-
standing: Prorided horerer, That nothing con.
tanned in this act shall BE- 40 construed as TO
prevent the extension of the provisions OF the
act entitled An act TO repeal so much of the
several acts imposing duties on the tonnage Of
ships and vessels, AMI on goods, wares, and
merchandise, imported into the United States,
rs imposes disc, iminating duty on tonnage
between foreign vessels, aud vessels OF the u.
States and between the goods Imported into
,hc United States" in foreign vessels, in yes"
sells ct tho U ). 10 French ships and vessels,
and the goods imported therein whenever the
government of France shall accede to the pro-
visions OF the act above referred 10.
Sec =. That tie tonnage duty. laid and di-
rected to be paid by this act shall be collect
ed and paid according TO the provisions OF
The act. entitled An act to regulate the COLI
lection of duties on iiGpOrts and tonnage" pas-
sed the second day OF March, Que thousaad
seven hundred aud ninety.niGe.
Sec 5 That this act shall CO mmence, aud be
ts,rt firm m al q hn fret Hay nf la,lp
one thousand eight hundred aud twenty.
MI. Merton, tie chairman Of The COM
miitee of Cummercc, gave a brief expo.
sition OF The causes whcn rendered ex.
pedieui The passage Of this bill. The doc
umen,s laid before Congress on the sub
jeci, he SAID. Showed that all attempts at
nego@iuinn ou II had failed The policy
ot the United States had been Just and
liberal I'VE had offered every thing tina,
could be offered, on terms of reciprocity,
20 iniuce France To abandon her policy,
so Injurious 10 our commercial and naVi-
gaiius interest. We had offered her the
same terms as iIah been accepted by Rus
aia, by the Netherlands. by the Hanseaiic
CITIES but we had offered il in vain.
He was very sorry, he said, that il be-
came his duly now 10 advocate a policy
which OF nil others, was most abhorrent
60 his mind-that al restrictions on com.
rDerce. lie WAS happy that our govern
meHt had shewni0 HE world the exam
pie OF placing commerce on The most lib.
eral footing but, as France had refused
20 reciprOcalc thai hberaliiy, il has now
become our ,mp,rious duty iocome back
III regard 10 France, 10 The policy which
she herself pursues. In consequence OF
her lliiberaiiiy in Ibis respect we are com.
PEELED iorcsort 10 the measure now under
consideration. She Is now in possession of
positive advantage over US, by herTeg
iatIons. WAL she voluntarily give il up!
Ii has been already shewn that she will
moi amt she will continue IL refuse 10
give II up. until she finds that by persist.
ing in il. she has subjected her own com
rcetO Inconvenience. In order there
fore, 10 enable Tie President OF the Uni
ted States, between this time and the next
session OF Congress, TO negotiate with
the French government 10 some effect, if
was necessary 10 pass This bill. There is
IN the bill provision that, il The French
government feels disposed TO enlarge its
policy IN regard TO US, all restrictions on
heT commerce IN our ports will be done
away, and her vessels will be placed on
Ghe same footing in HE ports Of the u.
States as those oil Grea, Britain now are,
81 we do moi resort 10 this measure, the
door Of negocia'ion will remain, as il nov
-, shut in our face. These cousidera-
tons being taken into view, he hoped the
committee would see the necessity OF
passing this bill.
Without further debate, the committee
rose snd reported the BILL and il was or
dered 80 be engrossed for third reading:
and was subsequently read third time,
passed. and sent 10 the Senate Tor con-
cuTTence.
TIE bill "to authorize the appoint.
meni o! Commissioners 10 lay out the
road therein mentioned" Orom Wheeling,
where The Cumberland road now ends, 10
abe East Bank OF the MississippD passed
through committee of the whole, and
was ordered I" be eDgr0ssed for third
reading, by Yeas and Nays, "a TO 50
aud Tie bill WAS read a third lime, passed,
and returned TO the Senate for concur
renee in an amendment thereto made in
1hIs House.
The Speaker laid before the House a
letter from George +. Stroller, resirning
His seat in this House as one OF the Re-
representatives. Tor The State of Virginia.
On motion OF Mr.. Nectoa. il was
feSolred, That the Secretary of lite Treasu-
~ he directed TO report to the House o Rep.
Ieseniatlves, at the next session OF Congress-
what alterations or notifications if any, aye
required, Ia the several acts of Congress, fix
Ing The fees and etnolmmsnis of The collectors
Prime customs. naval officers, and surveyors Of
'he customs and also plan tor compen-
sailing such officers according TO the services
respectively PERFORMED by them
MOnday, Nay l5.-SOon after meeting
This morning, the House on motion Of
Mr. Sergeant, resolved Itself iulo com.
miliee the whole, Mr. Nelson in HE
char on bill from the Senate, in ad,
70 4
Ger organization OF the Treasury Depart
meni.