Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-04-04

lextrA sc ssiOn, they WOul0 MT. C' ss.'
be obliged to bring money in the a
pockets to defray their expences' q
they could receive no coapensatiol
until the end of the year.
Mr.. CASTOR thoughtit not ofmuct
}importanee which construction wa
adopted but stated the reasons tina
Induced him to believe the consHuc
ton given by the att0sle, genera
the true one. Mr.. g. compared the
terms of the several acts on this
subject to establish what ne heliev
ed the proper construction. and tt
shew that Mr.. Clay's could not be
sustained.
Mr.. Wright thought 1t entirely un
necessary to dispute about the con
lstruction Of the late law. Congress
had voted to its members certain
annual compensation, which nigh
be viewed 10 the light Of a contin
gent f.nd, and it was perfectly com
petent for congress to directiD wha'
way, and ia what proportions, tina
compensation should be drawn, &c
The committee then agreed to tht
amendment proposed by Mr.. Clay
and filed the blank in the bill accor
dinghy.
With the exception Of some objec
tons made by Mr.. levitt to an ap'
preparation for additional clerks for
one Of the departments. the com.
mittee met with no difficulty in its
progress through the bill until.
Mr.. Jackson moved to insert a
clause appropriating 100000 dollars
out of the fund set apart for thai
purpose. for carving on the great
western road from Cumberland t.
Ohio.
This amendment was earnestly
opposed by Mr.. CASTOR On the
ground that it was improper to in
troduce into an ordinary bill. an ap
preparation for an object which had
not been authorized by a previous
act. Ia support of his position Mr.
G. cited recent course pursued by
the committee Of ways and means.
who, although aware of the neces
sity of protecting an island whereoa
an important lighthouse vas placed
(Gull Is'snd) from the encroach
lnents cf the sea, did not think IL
proper TO resort to the slovenIy mode
of inserting an appropriation for
that purpose in the bill now under
consideration but instructed its
chairman to move that the commi;
tee Of commerce and manufactures
be previously directed 10 enquire in
to the propriety of the expenditure
and TO report thereon. Mr.. &
said the checks upon the disburse-
ments of the government were al
ready few enough, and they ought
not TO be further diminished by this
house, &c.
Msssrs. Jackson. Clay, Randolph,
Smith, Wright and Goldsboroagh
respectively advocated the amend
ment tie three gentlemen first nam,
ed being particularly jealous in its
support. 1t was argued that the
appropriation moved for. was ex
tremely interesting to the western
states, and more important TO the
people ofevegy section Of the country
than any other item 10 the bill, if
the union Of the states was TO be, as
| all expected it to be, the means of
public happiness, prosperity and safe
ty: That the appropriation was re
quired from a fund already set
part for the work by solemn com
pact: That If this house could be
called on to appropriate money to
carry into effect q convention with
a foreign government. it could sure
~ make an appropriation to execute
a contract with the states, double
compact too, it being between the
general government and the states
Of Ohio. Pennsylvania and Virginia,
as they were ali parties to it: That
the appropriation was, furthermore
sanctioned by former laws directing
the work to be prosecated, and that
Ioothing was wanting to iuIhi the
law but the present appropriation OF
money, for which there we're seve-
H. ITO es, o,fa c%,to