Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-31

the Public Buildings, and sun y other do
cumen.s, exhibiting the present state OF
those buildings, and the expenditures there
on during the year ending The 3olh OF Sep
| tember last which message was read.
The Speaker laid before the House COM
munication from the Secretary of the Urea
sury, transmitting report from The Director
| Of the Mint, Of sundry assays OF foreign coins,
made in obedience to the act OF April 49,
1916 which was read and ordered to be
printed.
On motion OF Mr.. Hooks, it was
RESOLVED, That the committee on the Ju-
dietary be instructed to enquire into the tx-
| pediency of providing by law for perifctlng
titles for land sold for direct tax. where the
collector is dead or removed, without hav-
| ing made titles for such land.
RESTRICTION OF SLAVERY.
Mr.. Taylor, of n. Y. rose and stated, that
he was instructed by The committee to whom
had been referred the resolution OF the 10Th
inst. directing an enquiry into the expe-
diency of prohibiting he extension OF slave
ry in the territories of the United States, to
ask 10 be discharged from the further consl-
Iteration OF the subject. Mr.. T gave as a
reason for this motion, that the committee
had found that, after free interchange OF
opinions, they could not, consistently with
their ideas of public duty, come to any con-
cusion or agree on any report which could
promise 10 unite in any degree the conflict
ing views of the house on this question.
The question was taken on discharging the
committee from the further consideration OF
the su ,ject, and agreed to.
Mr.. Taylor then, as he observed, to bring
the question before the house, at proper
time and in distinct shape, and not with
view to invite discussion on it at this time,
moved the following resolution:
'Resolved, That committee be appoint
ed with instructions TO report bill prom :
bling the further admission of slaves into the
territories ofthe United States west OF the
river Mississippi
MIR. Lownties sale he would have no OBJ
lection TO the resolution, If its effects would
be nothing more than was stated by The mo-
YER but it surely ought no, to he expected
that the House would pass without discus
sion. resolution expressed III terms such as
the one before them. Before the House
should agree TO instruct a committee to
bring IN bill embracing a principle on
which there we're varying opinions, 1t would
certainly discuss the preliminary question.
He suggested, therefore, that the phrsseo!o'
gy be modified SC as not to express any oPI-
MON of The House in adopting it, II com
mittee could not agree, as had just been
stated, il certainly could not be expected
that the House would adopt such form OF
expression, W thout debate, as should midi
cate an agreement Of opinion on this sub
ject.
MIR. Taylor did not understand The reso'u-
ton in The same way as Mr.. Lowndes. lie
House could not get at The question unless
il was on bill and, in directing the coiu'
mittee to prepare bill, he did rot Int nd
to express any opinion on the principle oil
the bill. or intend that the House should &C.
eide on the abstract question. Had such
been his object, he would have stated IN the
resolution that It was expedIent, DC. lie
knew OF none, who doubted the constitution
al power of Congress 10 impose such re-
strction Oh the territories, and the Only ques-
ton which the bill could present. was one OF
eSpedency. The resolution would not
commit any member as 10 the abstract CUES
ten referred TO.
Mr. Nhea was opposed TO the resolution,
because he considered il not very fair way
of coming at the question. lie wished gen
,Iemeu would exercise little OF tue candor
th,v talked about so much, and not endea-
yer 10 force the discussion On The House un-
cx1eciedlv. The adoption OF such rcso-
luton by the House would have the effect to
sprcad an iniUn through the country, that
the House approved OF the bill they ordere
f. be bro't in, and that It would become
law and he wished no such opinion 10 g.
forth. The resolution was worried as II the
question OF eXpediency was settled, and took
every .hng Tor granted. This he was opPo-
sed,o. inere wa, great deal to be said
IN that question aud he would not agree to