On motion of Mr. Bassett, the House went into Committee of the Whole on the resolutions submitted by him some days ago relative to the contractors.
The first resolution being under consideration, as follows:
Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law to prohibit the officers of Government from making any contract, on behalf of the United States, with any person being a member of either House of Congress, or with any other person for his or their use:
Mr. Bassett said he presumed that this proposition possessed sufficient intrinsic merit not to require the aid of extensive talents or laborious exertions of any gentleman to advocate it. He assumed it as an axiom, that fundamental principles must rest for their security on the purity of the Representative body. He should, however, trust the support of this measure to its own importance.
The resolution was carried—59 to 15.
Tuesday, January 19.
Naturalization Laws.
Mr. Burwell begged leave to offer a resolution to the consideration of the House, on the subject of which it was not his intention now to make any observations; it was upon the subject of the naturalization laws of the United States. Upon examination of the constitution, it would be found that Congress had now, since the 1st of January, 1808, full power to act on the subject, and dispose of it in such manner as the public good might require. It was now in their power to exclude foreigners from the country altogether, or admit them under such restrictions as might be deemed consistent with the public interest. He therefore hoped the resolution would be agreed to, and give him an opportunity of introducing such a bill as he contemplated, and on which the House might then decide. The resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of amending the act of Congress, passed the 14th of April, 1802, entitled “An act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject.”
The resolution was agreed to, and Messrs. Burwell, Quincy, Macon, G. W. Campbell, Smilie, Fisk, and J. Montgomery, were appointed the committee, with leave to report by bill, or otherwise.