Part 188

Mr. SHEFFEY called for the ayes and noes.

The motion for the previous question was carried--ayes 66, noes 40.

The question was, Shall the bill be engrossed for a third reading?--Carried--ayes 71, noes 30.

The question was then, on what day shall it be read?

Mr. GRUNDY moved it be read immediately.

Mr. MACON proposed to-morrow.

Mr. QUINCY said (it then being half-past seven o'clock in the evening) he had not been able to take any part in the debate; that the measure which had been thus hurried, was extremely interesting to his immediate constituents, and he was very anxious to express his sentiments upon it--but he was so fatigued with the tedious sitting, that he was unable to do it this evening, and hoped the House would indulge him until to-morrow. He would not condescend to debate such a question in the present state of the House, and he asked for the ayes and noes on Mr. MACON'S motion, which were agreed to be taken.

Mr. D. R. WILLIAMS said he was desirous to grant the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts. It was in his opinion a very reasonable one. The deportment of the other side of the House had, during the whole of the session, been very gentlemanly towards the majority; and, sir, said he, will you now refuse to give them an opportunity to express their sentiments upon a measure which, in their view, is important? He said that policy on the part of the majority ought to dictate the indulgence asked for. The majority now stand on high ground--what will be said, and what will be the consequence of a refusal? We shall lose the ground on which we now stand.

Mr. MACON was of the same opinion; he thought the minority had acted with more propriety than he ever knew in a minority.

Mr. WRIGHT objected, although he was willing to acknowledge the minority had conducted with propriety.

Mr. NELSON said it appeared to him that according to the importance of subjects, so is our precipitancy. Is the minority thus to be dragooned into this measure? For one, he wished to reflect upon it. The first intimation he had of this measure, was the Message. If it is intended as a precautionary measure, as the precursor to war, as some gentlemen have treated it, it is a question of doubt in his mind. He thought it better to arm our merchantmen; to grant letters of marque and reprisal; and repeal our non-importation law. We have already suffered enough under our restrictive system. If we pass the bill to-night, it cannot be a law until the other branch act upon it. When we are going to war, it will be well known that we have the spontaneous support of more than one-half the community.

Mr. ALSTON said he would have voted on the motion, if the gentleman had not asked for the ayes and noes; but as he appears desirous to marshal one side of the House against the other, he was not disposed to gratify him in his request.

Mr. WIDGERY declared war to be inevitable, and it ought not to be delayed; on this account he was against postponing the bill until to-morrow. If we do it at all, it ought to be speedily. It is not to be believed that argument will change a single vote. The responsibility is on the majority.

The question on reading to-morrow was negatived--57 to 54.

It was then read a third time; and on the question, Shall the bill pass? it was carried--ayes 70, noes 41.

Ordered, That the title be, "An act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States for a limited time."

Mr. GRUNDY and Mr. WRIGHT were appointed a committee to carry the said bill to the Senate, and to inform them that the House of Representatives have passed the same, in confidence, and to desire their concurrence therein.

And the doors were then opened.

THURSDAY, April 2.

On motion of Mr. GRUNDY, the House was cleared of all persons except the members, Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Doorkeeper, and the doors were closed.

Mr. GRUNDY, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, presented a bill "in addition to the act, entitled 'An act to raise an additional military force, passed the eleventh of January,'" 1812, which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole to-day.

A question was made and taken, whether the provisions contained in the bill were of such a nature as to require secrecy in the discussion, and passed in the affirmative--yeas 71, nays 34.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the said bill; and, after some time spent therein, the bill was reported without amendment, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-day.

The said bill was accordingly engrossed, and read the third time; and, on the question that the same do pass, it was resolved in the affirmative--yeas 73, nays 20.

Ordered, That the title be, "An act in addition to the act, entitled 'An act to raise an additional military force, passed on the eleventh of January, 1812.'"

Messrs. CALHOUN and WILLIAMS were appointed a committee to carry the said bill to the Senate, and to inform them that the House of Representatives have passed the same, in confidence, and to desire their concurrence therein.

The doors were then opened.

FRIDAY, April 3.