Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-06
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, April IS, 1912.

COGYINUEO.t
Mr. Roberts said, as the house had SHOWN
a disposition to reject every amendments ana
to agree to the resolution forthwith as II now
stood, there was very little necessity OF saying
much on the principle which ought TO deter
mine the question and he should De listened TO
with very little patience were he to attempt IT.
The house had been repeatedly told, on their
meeting at the present session, that an import
{ ant crisis had occurred. They had gone on
from time to time, as if they believed It so
but had been repeatedly admonlshed by the
minority that all they had done was mere pa
rade, and that nothing serious was lntehdea.
In reviewing the transactions OF the sessions
S however, he believed it would be found that
they had fulfilled their duty. They had re-
Gently passed an embargo; the extension OF
which to 90 days was a matter OF compromise,
because it was understood that 90 days would
have been long enough. In the lntermeolate
time, many preparations must be made, va
ricty of incidents might arise to Call Tor tfle
serious consideration OF congress. Onder
these circumstances it must appear, II they
adjourned as proposed, that those who nave
been in the majority have been inslncere, or
that a mere desire of getting out OF an lrksomc
abandon il at a moment certainly not less Sc
rious than any which have preceded IT, lhese
considerations, Mr.. r. said, he might expatl-
ate on TO considerable length, and TO mucn
interest but he should forbear, and proceed
to the more immediate object OF his rising.
Believing that congress were ABOUT u
suspend their session for 58 days; and coming
himself from amongst people who WORKED
for their living, he thought there Wouia DC
an extreme improperly In members recurring
from their duty for 80 days, seeking pleasure
and recreation, and receiving the same pay as
If seduiously engaged in business which they
were so palpably negIecting. He therefore
moved a resolution Gas an amendment to that
now before the house) the object OF which was
that the accounting officers Of eachhouse should
NOR aiTozy TO the members thereof any mileage
or dahl nay during the time for zyhlch the house
shoald adjourn.
Mr.. Aston said as the house were about
: to adjourn for their mere personal convent
s ence and relaxation, he was decidedly OF Opt
mon that they should do it at their own ex.
pense. aud not that ofthe people. They should
stand IN this respect as if they had all obtained
leave of absence, in which case a members
pay ceases.
u Mr.. Widgery said he did not fear to meet
this question and he would no sooner vote
for the motion of the gentleman from Penn
sylyania than for any other thing which he
believed to be absolutely wrong. He had no
idea that his constituents were unwilling to
nav him his travel home and back or for
Saving here. He had his reasons for voting
for a recess, which were strong and forcible !;
a. ~, >vn
/. it by any such proposition, the object OF which
was only to defeal the main question. When
he saw such disposition prevailing to thwart
the views of both houses, it only made 2hlM
the more determined to persevere. lie would
sit till midnight but he would obtain vote on
the real question before the house.
Mr. Gruntly said, he did not at hrst very
well like the proposition OF the gentleman
from PENNSYLVANIA but as he believed, so tar
from promoting the public good, that an adj
;ournment for so long a time would be one of
the most :uiaous steps the house could take,
he should support the amendment on the
Ground that the adjournment would be detri-
,nentalto the public service. Gentlemen had
= sid. congress would sit here doing nothing.
Mr.. G said, they had enough and more than
enough To do to keep them fully employed
He feared the effect OF a recess, on the public
mind :not because he doubted the Intelligence
of the people, but because they did not pos
= sess the necessary information to enable them
70 JUDGE with certainty of the course congress
were determined to pursue. There was ano-
ther consideration which on his mind was
conclusive. The proposed recess would take
! away from themselves So days in advance
Ills only exchanging one day now for two days
after The recess because it seemed to him
the very lassitude adverted to by the gentle
man from Georgia qualified them for, business
as the house would do mere now In one day
than in three in the beginning of the session,