Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-31
MN U T E S.
THURSDAY, January "a.

Peaolped, That the committee on the pubic
lands be instructed to enquire into the eapedi-
ency of establishing an office for the sale OF
nablic lands, east OF the Red river, and west
of the Mississippi, in the territory OF VI.
leans; with leave to report by bGl OF DINER
wise.
Resolved, That the committee on the pnbhc
lands be instructed to enquire into the expe-
diency of granting rights OF prc-en.ptioh' ID
certain cases, to actual settlers, WITHIN the
territory of Orleans and that they haze leave
to report By bill or otherwise.
Ordered to lie on tie table.
On motion of Mr. RuuGoiAh, the committee
appointed on SO much OF the presidents mes.
sage as relates to the disposal OF the surplus
revenue of the United States. aud TO whom
was referred the petitions Of the ooseuetianna,
PHILADELPHIA, Burlington, and Erlndt vine
turnpike companies, was discharged from tic
consideration of said petitions.
They were then referred to a select coKi-
mittee.
MIR. Leqas from the committee on the al
flirs of the district Of Columbia, reported
bill respecting the courts holden In said dis
trct. Referred TO committee OF the wnoie
on Monday next.
Mr.. E1Quon from the committee &c whom
was referred, t?c petition Of tie company tor
opening the navigation OF the CatawDa FIrer,
praving the United states to subscribe por-
ton oe theirstccX to enable thcn to carry INTO
effect the object OF the Institution, reported
that twas inexpedientin the present 6iiuat!on
of the country, to grant tns prayer OF the
= /, raC TO he ar
the table.
The house then took up thc bill outhorlsins
the appointment ard employing all additional
number Of naval officers, seanien and maline3
TT will be recoiiccted that committee oil
conference had been appointed on this BILL,
aud that they were Unable 70 come TO any
compromise upoa jt the sc,iate insisting
upon their amendments J Some contersalion
easned as to the proper cousc OF p:ocet'ur@
on the occasion; Aud before tie au.lsc came
to any determination, motion was made ts!at
the bill Should tic on the table, and carried.
Mr. G. ~ Canfi5eS!, from eha committee
of ways and means, reported a bill naking
aspirations for the support Of gcvcrnmeni
during the ensuing year Referred to cclD
of the whole on Tuesday next.
On motion Of Mr. .NtlSoa, fhe house went
into committee Of the Whole on the b;ll .ro.1l
the senate, authorising the president 10 mar,
arm and equip fer immediate service al the
public ships of VA, vessels and gun boats
belonging to The United Statcs--Mr. Bsssett
in the chair.
On motion Of tdr Dawao', The FIRST scctiou !
was SO ainende. rs to apthorise the president !
to it out only fonr Of the iYigatcs. the United I
States, the Essex, the John Atlar1s, and the |
President; and to order them to stations upon !
the coast.
Some ether amendments were proposed I
ard agreed to- one of these limits the add
authorises the employment of 5000 abe be-
died scalnen, marines and boys.
The committee rose and reported the biili
with The amendments, which were all agreed
to By the house.
On the, motion of Mr.. BGssett, the t.
tie o; the Dill was altered SO as to read g y
Bill authorising the employment Of an add
tiona naval force y
Mr.. d. r. NfA5ams moved TO amend The
bill oy adding the following clause: Provided,
That this act Shall not be construed to aut ,or-
ise the president to employ any greater num-
Der of vessels than in his opinion the public
service shall at any time demand.
Mr.. WIS object in moving this amendment
was to leave it discretionary with the president
to employ any Of the vessels as long as the
public service required them, and to avoid the
of mourning an useless expeace.
1t had been fashionable during the session to
Iegislate upon Probabilities; some provisioa )
ought therefore to be made to discharge these .
vessels, should circumstances occur to render :
their services unnecessary.
Messrs. Gholson and Lyon spoke against
the amendment.
Mr.. Cook was surprised that motions should (,