Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-11
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT At WASHING
TON.
Thursday, December 10.

Thursday, December III.
In the house Of representatives, yester-.
day. the speaker laid before the house a let.
fer from the secretary of the treasury, con-
tanning report Of the director Of the mint,
giving the result OF a variety ofassays OF TO-
reign coin. 1t was read and ordered to be
laid upon the table.
A resolution leading to the establishment
Of post road from Lewisburgh, in Frank
lin county, North Carolina, by Hayesvilie
and Heathseatt to Oxford, in Granville coun.
ty, was passed on motion Of Mr.. Edwards.
A writing purporting to be remon,
STRANGE Of sundry inhabitants of the state OF
Illinois, in opposition to the petition OF the
general assembly of that state for dona'
ton of four sections Of land to be laid Oft as
town for the seat of their government tor
twenty years, was presented by the speak
or, and referred to the committee on public
lands.
In a committee of the whole, cohversa-
ton arose upon the bill for granting pen
sjons 10 WIDOWS of officers and soldiers,
which resulted in its being ordered to be
engrossed for third reading.
Mr.. Holiness motion Of the day before,
respecting the execution Of Arbuthnot and
Ambrister, with the amendment OF Mr..
Cobb, was then brought up, and occasloned
a considerable debate. Mr.. Poindexter
moved 10 postpone the consideration OF it
to Monday, in order to have the benefit OF
the documents, and said that if it was not
postponed he should move for additional in
stuctions. Mr.. Cobb said he thought his
amendment did not 60 or enough, and had
therefore prepared some further amend
ments which he meant to propose but MIR.
Floyd moved to postpone the resolution in
definitely, as the inquiry was already be-
fore the proper committee. Mr.. Holmes IN.
sisted that il belonged to the committee OF
foreign relations. Mr.. simkins, Mr.. Desha,
Mr.. Walker, and Mr.. Baldwin were in ia
vor of po.tponemcnt. Mr.. Rhea consider
ed the question too important 10 be blink
ed by an indefinite postponemeht, and Mr..
johnson of Ky. said that since so much had
been said on the subject, it should not be
postponed, in Which case he proposed to
offer reference, which should be satisiac-
tory to all. Here the speaker said that the
proposition. being one Of mere reference,
did not authorize the extent into which gen.
t,emen were running.
Mr.. Cobb agreed with the Speaker, but
said that since motion for indefinite post
ponement, which attacked the principle of
the resolution, was made, he would state
why he opposed il. He then went into an
argument to show that the subject belonged
entirely to our foreign relations-and he
said that If the doctrine were once tolera-
ted, that under the cloak of prosecuting
war against an Indian tribe, military OH
Ger might attack 4 foreign, il would amount
10 a declaration that war might be made
without the assent Of congress, and that
part O; the constitution would be nugatory
that protected the nation from being inrolv-
ed in war without the consent of congress.
Mr.. Edwards did not think that IFS in
volving a high officer should deter the house
from an inquiry and voted against the
postponement.
Mr.. Taylor made some animadversions
on the conduct Of committees, for which
be received sharp but delicate cut from
Mr.. Hopkinson.
The postponement was carried.
The half pay pension bill to widows
and orphans of officers and soldiers, was
carried by 81 to 63.
The following Memorial is now circula-
ting in this county for signatures. The i'm
portance of the subject is ready apology
for IFS appearing in our columns; and as
eyery citizen is more or less interested in
its fate, il cannot fail of claiming his atteh.
ton.
The memorial of the undersigned, citizens
of the United States, and residents OF the
county of Alexandria, in the district o.
Columbia,
To the honorable the Senate aud House o
Representatives Of The United Scfe''
The President of the United States ha'
wing called the attention Of Congress TO the
situation Of this district, and the subject ha
ring been submitted by both houses to spe
cial committees, it seems To your memorial
ISIS to present suitable occasion for thu
cypression of public opinion thereupon, ant