Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-20

Mr. t. found still more TO which to object in the third
section nf the bill That section made II Inc GUY OF al
those officers designated in the first section, to sezr e
arms of my body Of men who have heen engaged III e'
of country with whom this Government was upon
friendly footing. e supposed case, I" illustrate the
applicaiiun OF this section. Suppose, said he, war
should occur between England aud another nation na'
tora slip Of the latter should put int" The port OF Ne"
York; in that ship is body Of armed men, (n the lan-
puase Of Ibis act) Suppose Russia TO he al war with
EnGIara and this Russian national vessel, this Co.
yernncn is certainly bound, by The laws OF nations, TO
rrnecI that vessel and the rig hts OF her owners while
npnn neutral ground Yet lh's law would make II ti'e
div of the cr-tr.n house officers OF that port IN srz"
Thai vessel and to hold her and all on boa!d I'LL bond
sLou! he uivrn in accordance With HE reqHsun3 vi
the third :cc;an at The h.!i
The bill lacks the great principle OF all penal la":
tie cause Of the seizure property winch the Ll! pro-
poses sUL be first maze pehaI offence oe!oe TIE sell
zu.c uuIrr il can he constitutional.
MIR l. r.rrcted to have Eel, himself obliged 10 occupy
the tim. Of The House upon thi; SUBJECT; bat he cnud
not suffer measure Important u pass Without oNef
inr the views which he had expressed.
Mir Shields, ofcnnessee hoped that more time would
he allowed for the examination of the bill, prior 10 Tie
final action Of the House upon it, He moved 10 post
ponc the consideration Of il until Monday next.
Mr. Mercer suggested Tuesday next
Mr. Shields then moved that II be mlGe The spcclai or
der for Tuesday next
MIR. Fillmore asked if it wond be in order to move
lis reference 10 the Committee vi The Whole On the
s.a:r Of The Union?
The Chair said that il would be in order to make the
motion but that the motion TO postpone TO day Ger.
tain las moved by Dir Selds) would have precedence
Nj Fillmore thought the bill to be one Of sufi:ien!
Importance TO he referred 10 Committee OF the W noe
for conss ration. IL measure OF deep interest To-
his constituents. Any member who wond read the bill
carefully, would that more dangerous authority 10
On individual never given by any legislative oouy
Than ,iu! which il proposes 10 vest IN The E1ecuuVe:-
he compared il with the /" lien and Sedon law, TO
n,Ian Of lafn md IuqS tnn
hat il was no less obnoxious measure than that lie
hoped that the House would consent TO reier The b 10
the Committee of the Whole the state Of the Union,
aud make it he special order for Tuesday next
hr. Shields accepted this motion as modification OF
his Ow.
The Chair suggested that il would require vote CT
twc.llrds in order TO make il the special order tor tn'
day, as that would work suspension OF The rules
MIR Canb.eleng hoped there would be no more spe-
cial orders especially such then proposed.
The House would fad it difficult wien once they had
made this the special order, to get up other important
public business, requiring as 1t would do vote G." Two
thirds 10 effect that end. lie willing TO agree that
il vas most important subject, and that it ought TO be
freely discussed Meantime however, there the
pressing need Of getting through the appropriation
bills inasmuch rs all the affairs of the Government
were suffering from the delays ntcposcd 10 the passage
Of these bills
The Chair The question is upon the motion to refer
the bill 10 the Committee Of The Whole OH The state oil
the Union.
Mr. Howard could not see why the bill could not as
we'll be discussed in the House as in Committee OF The
Whole. Two weeks nGo, he had iisen III his place, onu
called the attention of the House to this bill Gentle.
men had had abundant time 10 examine, and make up
their minds upon it, and he should vote against any COLL
milmcnt postponement
Mr. llulsey asked lift would then be in order 10 move
the reference Of The bill to the COMMITTEE on fo!eisn
Affairs!
The Chair replied in the affirmative; but said that the
motion of Mr.. Shields would have precedence, being
motion TO postpone until day certain.
Mr. Whir,lesey CT Ohio, thought the bill should be
discussed fully either in the House. in Committee Of
the Whole He was Indifferent to which. When,
on another occasion, The House had this subject brought
before them they suspended all other business and at
tenG-d exclusively 10 the discussion OF this topic. Now
there was more danger he thought of serious results
than before and he verify believed that, unless il were
speedily attended to- it would be impossible Tor this Co.
rcrnment keep out OF war with Great Britain ano
,her month He had hoped that other business might
have been attended TO to- day. being of The days
ally devoted private business but he was so impress
cd with the superior importance OF this subject that he
could not but hope that The House would determine to
sit until The bill was passed. Cries Of "AgFeed
Agreed!
Mr. Smith of Maine, agreed that this subject
which s!Ionld be acted upon promptly. 1t was indeed
time that steps taken to insure action upon it.
But the measure now proposed he considered as one oil
the most execabe propositions, 10 infringe and 10 VIC.
late the liberties and rights of the people, which had ever
been brought before the Congress OF the w. s. 1t was
now the duty Of The House decide whether they will
adop this measure, whether they vii! not and II not,
to turn to some other MIR B wanted 10 have an oppor'
lunity Of certifying by argument in the hearing OF the
House the position he had taken IN relation to The bill,
Of stating his objections il in full aud Of recording his
vote against it.
Mr. Cambreleng suggested to his colleague OR Fill
morc) TO Withdraw his proposition refer the bill 10 The
Committee of the Whole. The measure, proposed.
seemed 10 excite objections all Sides and the chair
man OF the Committee on Foreign AfllIs will doubt
less regard the clearly expressed opinions OF the House,
far 10 modify, in some degree, The bill now before
the House.
Mr. Fillmore convinced Of the importance of speedy
action on The subject withdrew his proposition to refer
the bill to the Committee of the Whole. lie desired at
the time, however, to give his views on the merits
Of the bill
The Chair. Does the gentleman from Tennessee (Alr.
Shieds) withdraw his motion To postpone the further
consideration of The bill until Tuesday?
AIR. Shields replied in lhe negative.
MIR. Cambreleng expressed tie hope that he would do
So and permi, the subject 10 be discussed at The
gentleman from Ohio (alr. WhittIescy) had reinquShcd
his claims upon this day, friday, and he hoped that
others would follow the example, and throw no obstacles
in the way of an immediate discussion OF the bill! now
under consideration.
Mr. Haynes said that the minds Of members must be
by this time made up all the leading merits of this
BILL and they ready now, doubtless, as they
could be Tuesday next or any other time, 10 come to
conclusion upon it, lie thought it better 10 take the
question postponement at once, (f not withdrawn
and then 10 70 directly into the discussion.
Mr.. McKim said that, viewing this question one in
volving The alternative Of peace with Great Bril-
lan he must csk for the yeas and nays the question
of pos poncment. Not ordered.
Mr. Iosey asked if that the proper time 10 offer
his motion 10 recommit 10 the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, with instructions?
The Chair responded in the negative.
The question then taken the motion Of Mr..
Shields, 10 postpone; which was lost
The Chair then said that the question upon
amendment proposed by the Committee on Foreign AT
fairs the provso in the second section Of the BILL and
suggested that the regular and convenient mode
would be 10 take the question upon that amendment and
thus open the whole bill 10 be discussed upon its merits
The amendment adopted.
The debate uhc remainder ofwhich wifbc given in
our nexD further continued by hlessTs. Fillmore,
Smith, and others: question being taken upont prior