Part 115

The final passage of the bill was opposed by Mr. GODDARD, Mr. ROOT, and Mr. NELSON, and defended by Mr. NEWTON, as a proper measure to prevent the oppression of malignant creditors.

Mr. EPPES desired Mr. BECKLEY to read that part of the Constitution of the United States relative to the extent of the Judiciary power, and that part of the law establishing the Judicial authority of the District of Columbia, with a view of showing that the bill was not essentially necessary.

Mr. EARLY moved a recommitment of the bill to a select committee.

Mr. BEDINGER wished that the bill might go to a select committee, because he considered the principle a valuable one. He imagined, however, that the details were not altogether perfect. He felt concerned on this subject, on account of several of his constituents who had been tricked out of notes and bonds for lands in Kentucky, which had been advertised, and were no longer available against the drawers in that State; but, should it so happen that business called them to Washington, they might be extremely harassed for want of bail.

The reference was opposed by Mr. R. GRISWOLD, as he was against the principle of the bill altogether.

On the question to recommit it, it passed in the negative--ayes 44, noes 59.

The question was then taken on the passage of the bill, and it was lost, there being but thirty members who voted in its favor.

WEDNESDAY, January 16.

Naval Appropriations.

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the bill making appropriations for the support of Government for the year one thousand eight hundred and five.

Mr. J. RANDOLPH moved to fill the blank, in the clause providing for the expense of intercourse with the Barbary Powers, with $63,500, instead of the sum of $113,000, stated in the estimate for the current year. The difference ($50,000) would make a part of additional appropriations, for which he should move a distinct clause.--Motion carried.

Mr. R. then moved to add the following words: “for the contingent expenses of intercourse with the Barbary Powers ---- dollars.” He said, that he should be obliged to ask $150,000, in addition to the sum reserved out of the preceding appropriation, and of course to fill the blank with the words $200,000. This was rendered necessary because the Mediterranean fund, heretofore liable to this charge, had been subjected, on the motion of a gentleman from Connecticut, to the whole expense of the support of the Navy. He supposed that no difference of opinion could exist on the subject of enabling the Executive to make peace with Tripoli. He had no objection to any restriction which might be thought necessary to limit the application of the additional sum of $150,000, which he required, to the object for which it was intended. But as the words ransom, or tribute, had never been introduced into our statutes heretofore, he hoped they would not be admitted on this occasion.

Mr. R. GRISWOLD had no objection to making the appropriation required, or even a larger sum; for he was well convinced that the President ought to have funds as well as the authority to accomplish any object connected with the present subject, which he might wish to accomplish.

FRIDAY, January 18.

Relief of Tax Collectors in New York.

A petition of John York, of Brookefield, in the county of Chenango, and State of New York, late collector of the taxes on lands, slaves, and dwelling-houses, for the eighty-third collection district within the said State, and now confined in the jail of said county, was presented to the House and read, praying relief in the case of a judgment awarded against the petitioner and execution issued thereon, for the sum of eight hundred dollars, including interest and cost of suit, for the payment of which the petitioner was compelled to apply a certain proportion of the proceeds of taxes collected by him in the capacity aforesaid.--Referred to Messrs. ROOT, GREGG, and HASTINGS; to examine and report their opinion thereupon to the House.

District of Columbia.

DIVORCES.

Mr. DAWSON, from the committee appointed on the petition of Marcella Stanton, and others, reported a bill, entitled an act to authorize the Court of the District of Columbia to decree divorces in certain cases; which was read twice, and referred to a Committee of the Whole on Tuesday next.

Mr. DAWSON prefaced his motion, on this subject, when he introduced it in the manner following:

He observed that, after the decision which had taken place a few days ago, he had resolved not to meddle any further with the affairs of the District of Columbia, but to leave the inhabitants in the enjoyment of the blessings of that government which they seem to have chosen, and the principles of which were sanctioned by this House.

There was, however, one class of persons who claimed, in all situations, our particular attention; who had not made a surrender of their political rights; and, if they had been defrauded out of their natural ones, were anxious to regain them.

It would be remembered that, at the last session, a gentleman from Maryland, who had been absent for some time, and whom he rejoiced now to see in his place, (Mr. NICHOLSON,) presented a petition from a person in this district, praying for a divorce, and he two others for the same relief. These were referred to a select committee, and a bill reported, which remained among the unfinished business; as he learned that the situations and wishes of these unfortunate persons were still the same, he thought the subject ought again to be renewed.

Emancipation in the District of Columbia.

Mr. SLOAN moved the following resolution:

Resolved, That, from and after the fourth of July, 1805, all blacks and people of color that shall be born within the District of Columbia, or whose mother shall be the property of any person residing within the said district, shall be free, the males at the age of ----, and the females at the age of ----.

The House proceeded to consider the said motion, and on the question that the same be referred to a Committee of the whole House, it passed in the negative--yeas 47, nays 65.

And then the main question being taken that the House do agree to the said motion as originally proposed, it passed in the negative--yeas 31, nays 77, as follows: