Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-22
( ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 90, 1918.
FROM our CORRESPONDENT AT WASHING

Yesterdays house Of representatives was
so barren Of business, that many people
were at loss how to account, except in
that perversity Of feeling which the early
fabulist 1--WE believe it was Esop) has so
'pointedly exemplifed and elucidated in his
story of "the dog in the manger," fo- the
opposition given to Mr.. Poindexter's mo-
ton to adjourn from Monday next to the
98th OF December. When Judge in Ire
land, who was known TO be fonder of the
doctrines of Rousseau and Tom. Payne,
than Of the principles or sayings of the dis
ciples and their master Jesus Christ, Pc
remptorily refused to adjourn over Good
Friday, an honest old Brosueanisr coun-
seIlor of the name of Kelly, boldly told him
then my lord, l venture to affirm that you
are the only judge, who, since the coming
of our Lord, ever sat on that day-ercept
Pon,,us Plate" We are grown miracu-
lousIy Observation-Disclosures political
Systematically rdtional-and love tn show
how little we think Of the old trappings OF
christianity, 10 which, for the love OF the
thing itself, however old fashioned, oer ia
theirs were strongly attached. But say
what we will-nay, swear 1t though we
should, we must grow Indifferent to the
thing before we can discard even its trap
pings. I.would be no disgrace TO even the
house of representatives Of the United States
TO pay the respect Of two or three days 10
the festival OF Christ, which though perhaps
of Popish origin. or even worse. as some
may think, of EpiscopaIian observance, has
been held sacred by people who loved free
dom as well as we debut loved christiani-
,y and every thing that related to it Also
The few days refused TO Christmas may be
worse spent. You'll srcuse me cousins!"
says Sir John Trolley, in the farce, when
he tells his super-fashionable family some
plain truths.
The long pending Massachusetts, claim
for her militia expenses during the war, was
among the orders OF the Gay Of yesterday,
and as such was called over by the speaker
but, to the surprise OF every body, twas
postponed, on the suggestion OF Mr.. Mason,
the Chairman of the committee, who re-
ported it, and others of its advocates from
Massachusetts, in order that the house in
considering it might have the advantage Of
certain documents which related TO the
claim, expected TO be furnished by the le-
gislature OF that state and the motion for
the house to form Itself into committee on
the claim was accordingly opposed, but car
ried cy 73 to 50, so that the committee was
formed, and Mr.. Smith of Maryland took
the chair, on which Mr.. Clay, the speakeN
made motion that the committee should
rise.-He thought thai what had been said
by Mr.. Mason should have induced the
house 10 exercise the courtesy usually shown
to every chairman of committee, who re-
ports bill, Of chusing his own time for call
Ing it up, and that il ought not to be urged
forward against his wishes-He professed
to be, SO far as lie at present saw, adverse
to tue claim, but was DESTROYS to have full
and impartial discussion OF the question; in
which il should not be left in the power of
the claimants 10 say they had been takenb by
surprise. Mr.. Campbell and Mr.. Tall
madse both spoke to the same ultimate in
tent-and the motion for the committee 10
rise was carried. Mr.. Newton then moved
that he committee should not have leave to
sit again; but that, in order to insure the
question consideration during the present
session, it should be referred 10 commit
tee OF the whole on the state of the union.
Leave however was, on hearing few words
from Mr.. Orr and Mr.. Ptkin, given to the
committee to SIT again.
A private claim of Mr.. Mayhev', Of N.
Orleans, for losses sustained by the attack
and defence of that place, was then called
on. The committee of claims had only re-
ported in the bill, now before the house,
1898 dollars, under the restrictions Of the
act-but Mr.. Butler moved to amend the
bill, by allowing the whole amount OF the
claim, which, | understand, was S15, 900.
Whatever The amount was, it was agreed
to, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed
for third reading.
Mr.. Poindexter moved 10 adjourn for a
week from Monday, but his motion was
rejected" Christmas holidays indeed =
Fogh! quite vu!gar--fit only for the canaiIle
or the old square-toes Of the last century.