Now then, after this uniform opinion, entertained by Congress, by the States of Maryland and Virginia, and by every man who has expressed an opinion on the subject, until within a few years past, are we to be told that it is possible to give a different construction to the constitution? If any thing can fix a meaning to words, every thing which has occurred to this day, unites to decide this the permanent seat of the Government. These, said Mr. A., are my ideas. On the ground of expediency, if it were admitted as applicable to the present question, I would not undertake to say whether this is the most proper place for the residence of the Government. Nor will I say that Congress could not, consistently, remove in consequence of an act of God; that implies force, to which all human institutions must give way. But, say gentlemen, if we remove, we must indemnify the proprietors. But why indemnify if the constitution does not make this the permanent seat of Government, as it has been understood to be by every body until this day? Where is the propriety of indemnifying the holders of property here, if this is not the permanent seat, more than proprietors in Philadelphia or New York, where Congress formerly met? This very argument, urged by the advocates of the bill, shows that the constitution has made this the permanent seat. As to the idea of some gentlemen, of granting millions for an indemnity, the thing is impossible; it cannot be done; the people will not suffer it.
Mr. DAYTON replied to some of the remarks made in the course of the debate, principally for the purpose of explaining his previous observations.
When the question was taken, on ordering the bill to a third reading, and passed in the negative--yeas 9, nays 19, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Armstrong, Breckenridge, Bradley, Maclay, Plumer, Stone, Tracy, and Worthington.
NAYS.--Messrs. Adams, Baldwin, Cocke, Dayton, Franklin, Hillhouse, Jackson, Logan, Nicholas, Olcott, Pickering, I. Smith, S. Smith, J. Smith of Ohio, J. Smith of New York, Sumter, Venable, White, and Wright.
_Wreck and Capture of the Frigate Philadelphia._
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: