Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-21

II IN the experienced members OF inc house 10
decide on the nature Of the committee most like
ly to answer the proposed end.
The Memorial was then ordered to be referred
to Select Committee OF seven members.
Mr.. Arnold presented the petition of Samuel
Martin, of Campbell's Station, in the State Of
Tennessee. The petition, Mr.. A. remarked,
presented several new and interesting questions.
which would, no doubt at some period not tar
distant, call forth the action of this House. He
therefore moved that the petition be read: which
was ordered by the house, and it was read accor-
dinglv.
Mr.. A. then resumed, and assured the House
that he did not intend to trouble them with
speech but he felt bound to make passing re-
mark. 1t might seem to some gentlemen on TINS
A or. that the propositions contained in the petit
tion were wild and visionary He confessed that,
when he FIST received the petition, the holiness
OF some Of the measures petItiODed for startled
him; bnt, upon reading it second time, and alter
a moments reflection, he was convinced that all
the propositions contained IN the petition were
worthy of consideration, aud that some Of them,
he honestly believed, deserved the highest consi-
deration. All its propositions have the same ten
dencv They tend to open up the fountains or
information to the whole people; and 1t, AS he
thought all must admit was the fact, the stability
and permanence of this government, with all us
bossted institutions of freedom, depended upon
the virtue of the people; and IT the virtue VI the
people depended upon their intelligence, then nc
was certain that he had not attached 100 muCh I'M
portance to this petition.
Mr.. A. asked. what docs the petition propose:
1t contained five distinct propositions
Ist That, to all actual subscribers, newspa.
pers and pamphlets, not exceeding one sheet,
| should pass throu.h the mail free OF postage.
Cd That all owners of printing presses and
types, and all persons actually working and EN-.
ployed as printers. should be permitted to receive
| their letters free Of postage.
| Sal. That the two cents at present allowed to
posr,asters for delivering free letters be dsPens'
ed With.
4th That, so soon as the national debt shall be
paid oil. the whole expense Of the Post Office De
partment be betrayed out of the general fund
| This proposition, he presumed, would meet the
views OF Gentlemen who are so much alarmed tC
know what shall be done with the accruins and
| increasing revenue.
9TH. The fifth proposition he considered yer,
important une il was, that all the newspapers
within the United States should be permitted Il
publish the Laws of the United STATES, and the
Advertisements uf the Post Office Department
and that each should receive one hundred dollars
per annum tor such publication. Every man II
! ihrs country was presumed to know the law; aud
| he was held amenable to the law, "a Knowing IT.
Such being the fact, he thought that much PAIN:
should be taken to let those who are subject t.
| the laws know what the laws were. As at pre-
sent promulgated, there was not, he would ven
ture to say, one man in a thousand who ever saw
the laws that were there enacted.
Mr. A. concluded by moving that the petition
be laid on the table and printed; which motor
was agreed to by the House.
Mr.. Dearborn moved the following resolution
Resolrei That the Committee of Ways ant
Means b. instructed to inquire into the expcdien
cy of cxempting from entry Teas, Coffee, w ines
| Pepper, Spices, Indigo and Wool, the curren
market value of which in the United States a
the time of Importation, shall DOT exceed twelve
cents per pound
Mr. d. accompanied the resolution with sun'
remarks explanatory of his object, and some re
frrenccs to the present state Of the markets, sc.
which in his view made the proposed inquiry ex
pedieut.
/ CUpun this resolution discussion arose as t.
what committee this subject oug int to be referred
in which Mr.. Everett. Mr.. Adams, Mr.. Nc
Duffie, Mr.. Cambreleng, Mr.. Wayne. Mr.
Archer and Mr Hoffman. participated; the tw'
Rrst contending that as The whoie subject OF th'
modification of the tariff had been. by resolu
ton of the House. referred to the Committee or
Manufactures. this proposition for particula
modification of should 80 to the same commit
tee; and the other gentlemen maintaining tina
q proposition for such a reduction Of duties a
the resolution contemplaies. having no reference
to the protection OF manufactures. but bein!
purely question of TAXATION and finance, shoul'
be referred properly to the Committee of Way
and Means.
Before the debate terminated. the hour allot
ted for the discussion of resolutions expired, AM
4 the House proceeded 10 other business; Mr.
Dearborn first, however, cOnsentlng to modlt
his resolution, bv substituting the Committee OF
MANUFACTURES, for the Committee of Ways an'
Means.