Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-01

IldIcu lltIlSCiA az dihSt tse
The house took into consideration re-
solution directing the post master general
10 cause the post Office of the city Of Wash
]ington TO be kept at or near the capitol /;
on which short and desulsory debate en-
sued, which tern,iaated in the indefinite
pcstponement Of the resolution.
Ayes SO.
On motion Of Mr.. I. Randolph, the
house resolved itself into committee OF
the whole, Mr.. ]. c. Smith in the chair,
on the following resolutions submitted
some tIn,e since by Mr.. J. Randolph.
1st. ResolUea, That a contractor under
the government Of tie United States i, an
officer within the purvlew anI meaning OF
the constitution, and, as such, is incapa-
bic of holding seat in this house.
I'd. ResolveR, That the union Of a plu-
rality of Offices in the. person Of single
individual, but more especially OF the mill
tary with the civil authority, isrepugoans
to the spirit Of the constitution Of the u.
States and tends to the introduction Of an
arbitrary government.
Sd. Rssofoed, That provision oueh. to
DC made, by law, 70 reodsr any officer, in
the army or navy of the United States In
capable of holding any civil office,uuder
the United States.
The question was taken en- these resolu.
tons without debate.
The first was agreed To- Ayes 3D.
Noes 81.
The sscond was agreed to- Ayes IS
and
The third was agreed to withou. diyi-
sion.
When the committee rose and reported
their agreement TO the resolutions
The house immediately considered the
report.
On concurring with the committee OF the
whole in their agreement to the first reso-
luton, debate of length and interest en-.
sued, which shall be given in course at
length.
Messrs. ]. Randolph and +. Clay, sup.
ported concurrenence in the report Of the
committee and Messrs. Fisk, Eppes, AL.
sson, Findley, 6. w. Campbell. r. Mel
'son, Early, Smile, Sloan, Bidwell, Rhea,
Cot. Tea.) Jackson. Kelly, Dawson, Ell.
mer and Southwark opposed it, when the
question was taken about 4 o'clock by yeas
and nays. Yeays s5. Nays Sc.
As we shall give this debate hereafter at
considerable length, We shall content our.
selves with taking as,his time. concise,
notice OF the most prominentfeatures Of the
debate.
The friends of the resolution advocated
i. on the ground that the constitution, BY
giving TO each house of Congress the pow.
er of judging of the returns and qualiG.
cations OF their members, authorised them
with reference to this point, ,ogive con-
structlon 20 the constitution (Which they
commended was the Just construetion) de-,
claring the place ct contractor ender the
government incompatible with q seas IN the
houses; and they insisted that the constr
luslonal provision, thar ono person hold.
ing any ofFce under the United States, shall
be member Of either House during his
continuance in Office included contractors
under the government.
On the other side 1t was generally con-.
ceded thatit was highly desirable that some;
provision, either constitutional or ltgis!a-.
tives should be adopted to exclude con
tractors frou the legislature. But that the
members Of the house were bound to sup.
port the constitution, and were not at IL
herty to give il cods,rsction WHICH il
would not bear. They declared contract.
and an Office TO be distinct thIags. They
disaPproved going into construction o..
theconstitution On abstract ground; but de-.
ciared their readiness to acl upon aoy par
ticular case which might be presented tc
them, and their opinion that this was the
most correct course to pursue. Seine gen.
tlemen likewise expressed their willingness
to unite in the passage of a law prohibiting
any officer of the United States, to enter