Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-05-03
!. CONGRESS-.
HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES
masnAY. April 2o.

HOUSE of REPREshN iAi2yES.
MONDAY, April %.
The following resolution, submitted
|bv Mr.. Robertson on Saturday, was tax
en- up and agreed to.
Reso.ved, That at the commencement
To-, each future: session OF congress, a
standing committee be appointed con-
'sisting Of five members, to be denoml-
mated !. the committee Of private land
claims, whose duty it shall be to take IN
to consideration all private claims to
land which may be referred TO them, or
shall or may come In question, and TO
report their opinion therenpon, together
with such propositions for relief therein,
as to them. shall seem eypedlent.
Mr.. Thomas Wilson, from the select
committee appointed at the request OF
General w. H. Harrison TO enquire INTO
the expenditures made for the use OF the
north western army while udder the
command of Gen. II. reported their pro-
qress therein, which iiom Che delay IN
waiting the production of evidence by
pers ons implicated, had been very ilfnit-
ed and ulosiag the reference Of all the
papers to the secretary of war to report
thereon TO the next session which was
agreed to, and the subject referred ac-
cordihgiy.
TIE Investigation.
Mr.. CalpeFper, after expressing his
desire that the house would go into CON
Isideration Of the subject and pronounce
sCme opinion upon it--moved that tie
committee OF the whole De discharged
from The consideration of the report OF
the committee of investigation into the
fiscal affairs Of the general post Office.
that tic same might be brought at once
lhefore the house.
Mr.. Root suggested the propriety Of
referring the subject to the President OF
the United States, VINO would investi-
/ gate the report, the evidence, &c and
ldo Justice to the parties concerned.
| MIR. CulpePper opposed this course
THE postmaster general had asked OF the
house the investigation, Which had Ill
part been acted on, and it was the daty
iof the house to prosecute the enquiry
1t was his misfortune to know good
Ideal of this affair. and he wished il ia {
en- up in this house. that;t might be as
ply developed and finally acted an, &c
Mr.. M'nee made fcw remarks or
the propriety of taking up the subject
unconnnected with the merits OF the
case. He adverted to fact which had
come to hi, knowledge-he dismissal
of some of the clerks OF the post-o..
flee; ard he should, be glad to learn
whether that bad been dsne in chrse
lquence of any facts they had disclosed
| or whether it Appeared to the committee
thai those ureH- possessed any evidence
which their dismissal might DC intended
Ito prevent, &c.
NIr. Wright saw no reason fer pres
sing this matter ON the eve Of the adj
Iiournment, ard after the members Of the
committee WHICH had investigated the
matter had eGne away. lie had mi
nutely examined tie report ard evi.
deuce, and he saw no foundation fer the
Ieacusations, which appeal ed to be per
fectly sloundless. He justified this dis
charge o; the clerks, etc.
Mr.. Grosyenor thought if the post
master genegal, after asking the inyestl-
cation, had discharged clerks with q
view TO prevent the remainder OF the
clerks from giving testimony, it was a
thigh contempt OF this hoase, and de-
served its severe anilnadyeision. He did
not know that such was the fact--he had
no evidence Of it but common report,
etc.
MIR. Johnson, of Ky. said, that this
was a subject in the estimation OF the
member from N. Carolina MIR. Culpep.
per- sufficiently important to arrest all
lother business before the house. 1t IS &
little astonishing, said Mir. ]. that a
member, impressed with this impo lance,
and which he would not deny, should
| make such motion ore day only preyl-
Gus 10 he close of the session, when the
ihoase had before it great number o!
bills, which it was Indispensable TO be
acted upon; not only this, but to make
the motion the day after the chairman Of
the committee had left congress, and NOT
the chairman only, but other members
-one om Virginia, Mr.. Barbour, who
was anxious to have the Subject before
the house, but which the house on seSe-
Iral occasions, had refused, or neglect
ed if you will, to take it into consldera-
ton. MIR. Johnson said, he was equal.