Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-12-17
.noy OUR CORRESPONDENT
Fho' AZ WASHINGTON.
Saturday, December Il.

Saturday, December IN.
IN was yesterday read twice and
Il "a committee for Monday, I"
""T .,ish an uniform system of bankrupt
NJ. Hopkinson, who introduced It
ale a very few bat pertinent ooserVs'
MS !, ne circumstances which render
.,o ce.sure necessary, and above all
.,,sd the expcdiency Of proceeding with
,...b in order that the commercial
world might at once be renewed from sus-
pense upon tie subject,
Mr.. Hardin, upon the ground that tro'''
~ p,esident's Message 1t appeared there
come millions excess in the treasury
fro. meeting every demand arisilg FROM
=. ,,,, and that after supporting the CT,
ii military, and naval establishments
and paying the interest OF the pubic NJ
Am there would be surplus of five mil
ron. If dollars. moved a resolution lead
inr TO repeat of the duties laid last ses-
sion upon home distilled spirits which os
dssire of MIR. II, himself, was laid on the
table.
AGAIN Mr. Forsyth called upon the
house to consider the motion to suspend
Che proceedings OF the commissioner OF
elaims-this motion produced the first
animated discussion have heard this ses-
sion. MIR. Forsyth was supported in his
motion BY MIR. Yancey, Mr.. Hubert Mr
Ross. aud Mr.. Barbour, and opposed BY
AR. Grosvenor, MIR. M'Kee, MIR. Hardin
Mr.. Taul, Mr.. Robertson, Mr.. Johnson
MIR. Webster, MIR. Pitkip, Mr.. Wright
Mr.. Randolph, Mr.. hopAinson and Mr.
Calhoun. By the forme- it was urged
that the commissioner had acted ilnprc-
perry 10 proceeding at all to decide on
claims, after the Presidents having al
yised Congress TO review and amend the
law, particularly as his OWL condoct vas
under examination before the committee
Of claims; that his erroneous decisions
were not confined to the clause, The exc
Cntisn Of which had been complained Of
by the President, but extended to othei
parts Of the act that he ought to be steps
at once from proceeding, because his de,
cisiOn upon claim was iyrevocabe, as thl
money was instantly paid under it at tht
treasury; aud that the power granted
him by the act was such as ought not tc
be vested in any subordinate ministerial
officer. On the other hand il was con
tended, that the coutuct Of the commis
siOner, even in the points alluded to b.
the President, was parl0aable d natural
as 1t grew cut OF mere inisconstruCtiol
at worst OF part OF tie act upon wlicl
there was diversity OF opinion even Ii
Hat aOuse; that vague rumor was
taAenup by soRe gentlemen against de
mehsta5is matters OF fact aud 0n this
part Mr., Johnson was very strong ant
pointed, yOuchng for the integrity OF thu
commissioner, and statias that he had
ever since the meeting of Congress, pu
oy all claims OF a doubtful nature, ant
dscded only on such as were uEdeniabte
Al was iarther urged, that if the proceed
mes were stOpt now, immense injustice
would be done TO hundreds who hat
CLAIMS, and who living at great distance
could not yet advance them: but TIN
Cn'ei opposiuon stood upon higher ground
N1F' Randolph, and in agreeing with hiu
Mr'EOpkinson g Mr.. Calhoun, treated
as formidable blow at the constitution
'ucn an attempt to grant to the Presiden
Oh 70 asarp in themselves, the po,cer o
sasp'nd'ng ta,cs: If wrong had bee
u0he Mr.. Randolph said) that was n
reason iOr adopting the first remedy tina
was proposed. The patient was sickly
ou' mat was no reason for his swalowin
uuc ufst nOstrum that was offered hin
Ae deprecated the Representatives ofth
p'ople stOOping to use THEN might to re
move petty officer, and above all, the
not.