Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-12-28
Iourtfln;b G CongrrSs....2ad SESSION.

n MONDAY, DEC. I6. A bill for opening
a road and one for the relief Of VIM
Hatslett. was reported and committed.
On motion Of Mr.. CALHOUN,
A Committee was appointed to report
on the expediency of fet,ing apart the
b5nus, and the net annual proceeds Of the
National Bank, as permanent fund for
internal improvements
Mr.. CALHOUN remarked, that as the
National Bank subscriptions had been fiji
led under au!picious circumstances, and
the Bank was abou, to 60 ioto operation,
it was fit Time to give proper direc-
ton to the nations fhare of the profi's
of that Inftitution and he fugeefted
whether any object exceeded in import
ance that of Internal Improvements
which had annually been recommended
to the attention of Congrefs by the Exc
cuiive. We have now, be added, an
abundance of revenue and are in fate
of peace, and at leisure to examine fut.
iects come eted with domeliic affairs.
The motion was agreed to mem. esn.
lScveral private bills, of no interet to
northern readers. were aGed upon
The bill to modify the Tonnage Duty,
was ordered, nsm. con to be engrofed for
third reading, without debate.
BANK NOTES. ST AMPS.
On motion of Mr.. SMITH, of Md. a
Committee was directed to report on the
expediency of repeating the Law laying
ftamp duties on notes of Banks, Bank
ers, &c.
Mr. SMITH remarked, that the inius
tice of the operation of this duty to en-
terprizing men # buhnefs, from which
capitalifis and thofe belt able to bear
were wholly exempt, was fuliicient reaf-
on for dicuilion Of the fubject.
The motion was agreed to without op
petition. Adj
TUESDAY, DEC. II. Mr. YANcEY,fro
the Committee ofClaims, with leave to re.
por, on the fubject. fubmi.ted bill for
the repeal Ct the 9th. 10th. nth, ,2,h,
13,h and I4th fections of the act "to
authorize the payment for property loft,
captured. or delfroyed by the enemy,
while in the military fsrvice Of the U. S. .
paGed April 9. 1916.
This bill annuls the Office of Commits,
.Ecner 81 Cdim5--complaints having been
made that the officer who fills it had
made three incorrect deciions under the
law; in allowing large fun Of money
TO the owner OF three houfes deftroyed
by the B,i,iih troops in Warrington and
the additional accountant of the War
Department viii &C, in future on the
claims.
Read taice, and referred to commit
tee of the whole Houfe.
-RhVOLU1IONART INVALIDS
Mr.. JOHNSON, of K. from the commit.
tee on Military affairs, reported bill on
this fubj-ct; which was read twice.
CHOICE OF ELECTORS, DC.
The Houfe, in committee. difcuded
the propofed Amendment of the Coniti.
tu,ion, to Ffabiy6 an uu1arm mode sf
flseting Retyejsntat,ves and electors.
A debate enfued, which continued an
hour and an half.
Mr. FICKENS, VINO moved vac anSnu'
ment, remarked, that Of all the various
operations of government. there was
none that in found policy, more imperi'
ously demanded to be placed on fable
footing, and fecured from liability to
Auetuation, than the Rigbt Of &tfags )
for BY that means only could it reilit the
attacks Of the artful and ambitious, and
conftquently fecure the confidence of the
people and thus the certainty of its up.
Grafton would infure the purity of its ex.
ercife. Aware that innovation on the
Conaitutlon ought to be avoided he faid,
he fhould endeavour to fhew that this re-
folu,iop had no tendency to graft new
principle upon that inittun,ent, bu, bare
" prefcribc new mode of exerciiins
long eaabl,fbed right-a right that had
been often exe,cited in that very way be
fore Intrigue had tainted the purity of
election. One Of the great recommend
alton. of this new plan, he added, was
thar by making the mode of election uni
form in all parts of the Union. and equal