Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-11
RKPoRTED FOR THE NATIONAL INrELLIGEscEK.
Eighteenth Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONnAy h.v
MONpAY. h.v 9

! on motiop of Dir. Lelchsr, If Ken. the
House resolved itself into a committee of the
whole, on the state of the Union. Mr.. Dwight
in tho chair, on the remonsirance addressed tn
the Congress of The United States. nv the
state of Kentucky, on the subject of the deei
sion OF the Supreme Court, in the case of
Green Va. Biddle, involving The constituionali-
~ OF the occupying claimant laws of Ken
lucky, AS they are usually called.
MrfLetcher then submitted proposition,
IN the following words:
solved That provision ought TO be made
ny law, requiring, in any cause decided in tn.
supreme Court, In which shah be drawn in
question the validity OF any port Of the Con-
shtutlon of State, or of any act passed by
The Legislature ola State, that - JUS
tees shall concur in pronouncins such part OF
| the SAID constitution or act To be invalid and
tna', without the concurrence of that number
Oh saiu JUSTICES, the part of the constitution
or act OF the Legislature, las the case may be- J
ST. drawn in question, shall not be deemed. or
holden, invalid.
Resolved, That the Justices aforesaid, in
pronouncing their Judgment in any such cause,
as aforesaid, ought Ia be required nv law, To
give their opinions, with their respective r-a-
sons therefor, separately and distinctly, IL the
Judgment of the Court be against the, validity
oithe part of the constitution mr act drawn i'm
question as aforesaid.
Resolved, That the COMMITTEE on the Ju-
dietary he instructed 10 report IA BlI in con-
forniiy TO the preceding resolutions"
Mr.. Letcher proceeded at considerable
length to deliver his sentiments in support of
the resolutions he had proposed; when IA de
oate arose, which continued I'LL half past four
O'Clock. without being concluded
Mr.. Forsyth offered the following amend
ment, as substitute TO the first OF the above
resolutions:
Resolved, That quorum of the Supreme
Court, tn transact the business of that tribunal
should consist of such IA number of The Jusij
ces composing II, that majority of the quo
rum shall be- majority OF the whole court,
including The Chief Justice.
MIR. f. supported his motion in a short
speech; and Messrs. WickliHr. CLAY, For
| syth, Webster, Mercer, T. r. Barbour, Ran
dolph aud Trmhlr, having, respectively, spo-
Ken at considerable length on The question.
the committee rose, on motion Of Mr.. McKim
of Maryland.
And then the House adjourned.
!, TUESDAY, Maya.
Mr.. Webster offered the following rcsolu-
lion:
" Resolved, That provision ought 10 be
, made by law, that, IN all suits now pending.
or which may hereafter he prGding, in the
Supreme Court of the United Statrs, where
Y.
: or statute Df the United States, or /, here il
drawn in question the validity ofany statute Oi
state or the constitution thereof, or st any
authority exercised under any STATE, on
inc ground al rcpugbancy tu the constitution
treaties, or laws, of the United States no
Judgment shall be pronnuncrd ur rendered
until majority of all the Justices of said
court, legally competent 10 sit in the cause
shall concur in the opinion either in favor o.
or against the validity thereof aud until such
concurrence, such suit shall be continued under
Amusement Provided however, That said
Court should not, hy such provision, be pre-
vented from rendering Judgment in any such
suit when.t should be'of opinion that the final
adjudication of the merits thereof did not re.
quire the decision of such Continuance on lega
, question as aforesaid.
: The resolution was referred to a committe,
OF the whole on the State Of the Union.
On motion of Mr.. Johnson the previous or
ders Of the day were dispensed with, lave.
rs noes $50 and the House went into a com
mttee of the whole, Mr.. Tomnsnn in IN,
chair, on the bill reducing into one, the scve.
raj acts for establishing and regulating the
Post Office Department"
MI Long offered an amendment, inserting
alter the words military post" the word.
"or towns" rhich was not agreed To.
Mr.. Tucker, of Vir. moved that lie com
, mlttee rise, with view of taking up the sub
Iect of the Beaunarchais claim; which wa
negatiyed-only ~ rising in its favor.
Il Mr.. Little moved to strike out the word
one fourth" in the first erciiun Of the Pos
Office bill, and inserting "nne sixth" hut
on suggestion of MIR. Johnson, modified the
! motion 10 a" one fifth"
MIR. Randolph opposed the amendment,
and moved To strike out the whole clause,
from the 18th 10 the 2JtI line, viz And
I where route has been in operation Us q years,
and does not produce one-fourh nj the cX-
: pense incident To the same, he shall dscon-
} tinue the transportation al The mail ON such
route, except it be- the only route that leads
To the seat of Justice Of any County, Il place
, where land Office is established, Or an i'm
pOrlant military post, and report the same to
the next session Of Congress.
Hr advocated his motion by a short spercb
Mr. Nla!iary took the same side. and Mr.
Ross and Mr.. LirermOre further a,i, urated
the motion.
Mr.. Little then Withdrew his aro.ndrnen, IN
favor ofihst otthr grni!rman from Virginia.
Mr. j. Johnson opp0sed thu amendment,
and ADJ oc"ted the retaining % this clause Of IN.
bill, when lie insisted was III. elv 10 produce =
great savinBto government, without ans seriou,
Incon'enience 20 the people.
| hr' Hamilton advOcated the amendment.
ana conteudea that the saving contemplated
"Ouiu he bad and narrow economy.
| MI NlckliRr spoke 10 reply and stated facts
| 10 snow that the provision in Tie section would
be wise aud salutary.
MI Saunders and Mr.. LiysriDoro followed
1 in opposition.
Mr.. +. Johnson offered SO 70 amend the