Six o'clock, P. M.
The House was called to order, and resumed the unfinished business.
A motion was made by Mr. Randolph to postpone the subject to Friday next, and lost—ayes 36, noes 36.
A motion was then made by Mr. R. to postpone it until to-morrow.
On this motion a debate, which from its nature caused irritation, took place, in which Messrs. Randolph and Eppes were the principal speakers.
Much warmth was excited, and frequent calls to order made.
The question on postponement till to-morrow was decided by yeas and nays. For postponement, 44; against it, 74.
Mr. Pitkin spoke more than an hour against the bill generally, and in support of the particular proposition which he was about to make. He contended that the Emperor of France had not fulfilled his engagement to the United States, inasmuch as the decrees, if revoked, which he denied, had not been revoked on the day on which he had engaged to revoke them. He quoted the history of the connection of Spain with France as evidence of the perfidy of Bonaparte, from whom, he said, no compliance with his promises could be expected, &c. In supporting his amendment, Mr. P. contended for its beneficial effects to our merchants: and it would not, he said, be more a breach of our contract with France than the first section of the bill now before the House. The one was, in fact, as much a departure from the engagement with France as the other. The following was the amendment offered by Mr. Pitkin:
Provided, also, That nothing in this act, or the act to which this is a supplement, shall be construed to affect any vessels owned wholly by a citizen or citizens of the United States, or the cargoes of any such vessels which shall have cleared out from any port in the West Indies within —— days after the 2d of February, 1811.
The yeas and nays on the motion were, 46 yeas; 58 nays.