20th.  Dr.  Logan  gave  notice  on  Saturday  that  he  should
this  day  move  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  laying  a  duty  on

"John  Thompson  Mason,  at  this  time  a  lawyer  of  distinction,  had  been  retained
as  senior  counsel  in  the  case,  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Adams.
2q6  MEMOIRS   OF  JOHN  QU1NCY  ADAMS.  [February,

the  importation  of  negro  slaves  into  the  United  States.  This
morning  Mr.  Tracy  moved  to  expunge  from  the  Journals  the
record  of  this  notice — it  being  a  bill  to  raise  revenue,  which
therefore  cannot,  by  the  Constitution,  originate  in  the  Senate.
It  was  amusing  to  observe  the  perplexity  which  this  occasioned.
Some  were  for  expunging,  upon  the  principle,  that  notice  of  an
intention  to  bring  in  a  bill  ought  not  in  any  case  to  be  inserted
in  the  Journals.  Others  bravely  stood  to  it  that  it  would  not
be  a  bill  to  raise  revenue,  among  whom  was  Dr.  Logan  him-
self, who  said  he  would  show  it  when  the  bill  came  to  be
debated.  This  I  suppose  will  be  ad  Kalendas  Grsecas.  On  the
question  for  expunging,  the  Doctor  called  for  the  yeas  and
nays.  It  passed  in  the  negative — yeas  five,  nays  twenty-one.
But  the  Doctor  did  not  ask  leave  according  to  his  motion,  and
I  think  will  find  it  most  expedient  to  let  it  sleep.  I  was  in  Court
great  part  of  the  morning.
2  ist.  Attended  in  Senate.  Several  bills  passed,  almost  with-
out debate.  An  Act  for  the  relief  of  Samuel  Corp  was  debated,
but  no  question  taken.  The  Supreme  Court  did  not  sit  this
day,  Judge  Chase  being  ill.  Dined  at  Mr.  Duvall's.  Judge
Cushing  and  his  lady,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huger,  and  several  other
persons,  were  there.     In  the  evening  there  was  other  company.
