Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-27

hitting statement of the number Of acres
of land sold at the several Offices from their
institution to the 3Otb September. last; rem
dered in obedience to a resolution OF The
House of the 10th instant which report
was laid on the table and ordered to be print
ed.
The House then proceeded. on motion OF
Mr.. Archer, of Md. to consider The resolu-
tons submitted by him, on Thursday-Mr.
Whitman's motion to amend being the ques-
ton FIRST in order.
The amendment was opposed by Mr.. Ar
cher and supported by Mr.. Whitman. at some
length. 1t was inally disagreed to.
After some conversation between Mr.. Cobb
and Mr.. Archer, ia which the former sug-
eested. and the latter gentleman admitted,
that he had fallen into Misrepresentation,
in the remarks he had made on Thursday,
respecting the fees OF some OF the officers
alluded, to, and also that he was now sensl-
bic the per diem allowance to the Marshal
was not improper on account Of the other
wise uncompensated ate enhance OF that OFF,
Ger on the sitting Of the Supreme Court, &c.
and after some remarks from Mr.. Edwards,
of Con. to shew the improperly of the dis
elimination which had been made by the act
of 1914, in the per diem allowance to certain
marshals, and its withdrawal from others
the resolutions were all agreed to: the third
so modified, as not to apply to the marsha OF
the district, and the fourth, on motion OF Mr..
Ssuthard, so as to leave the sum OF which
the jurisdiction Of the justices shall be ex-
tended, blank, to be filed up hereafter.
The engrossed bill making appropriations
to supply the deficiency in the apProprla-
tons heretofore made for the completion OF
the repairs of the wings of the Capitol tor
finishing the Presidents House, and the e.
rection of two new Executive Offices, was
read third time, and the question stated on
its passage.
A debate of about an hour en:ued on this
bill--not so much the question whether 1t
ought or ought not TO pass, as on the clrcum-
stances which called for it.
Mr.. Johnson, Of Va. and Mr.. Randolph
argued against the practice of transferring d
of exceeding appropriations, for specific OBJ
jects, and against the responsibility assumed
by the President in this case, Of borrowing
money for the purpose Of completing the
public buildings. These gentlemen protest
ed warmly against the unconstitutionality OF
such unauthorized exercises Of power by the
Executive, their dangerous tendency, the
culpability of permitting them, &c. that no
executive officer had the power to pledge
Congress to make good sums which he should
raise and expend, without the authority Of
law, &c. &c.
Messrs. Cobb, Livermore. Taylor, Foot,
Clsget, and Rhea. although not at all differ
ing from the former gentlemen in the correct
ness of the doctrines they advanced, sup
ported this appropriation, and justified the
steps on the part of the Executive which had
called for it arguing that Congress had re-
CURED O. the Executive expressly to have
these buildings repaired and rebuilt that
they had felt and expressed dissatisfaction
because the Capitol was not in readiness at
the last session for the reception Of Congress,
that the President, consulting the convent
ence and accommodation Of the Legislature.
and finding the appropriations not sufficient
for the object, had diverted the fluids TO 1t
which had been appropriated TO other OBJ
let's in the city, and had directed the Com
missioner of the Public buildings to accept
an advance of money which had been ten.
dered by one of the city banks, to make up
the remaining deficiency, relying on Con-
gress to make it good that what he had
done was in pursuance of what he deemed
his duty in providing for the accommodation
of Congress and that, however just the OBJ
iections in the abstract, and TO ordinery ca
se., the President was in this ju.ti6able, &c.
The question was then taken on the pas
sage Of the bill, and carried, without count
and the bill was sent to the Senate for con-
currence.
The bill to establish district court in the
state of Alabama, and the bill to continue in
force the act TO provide for reports of the de-
csions of the Supreme Court, We're received
from the Senate, seyerally twice read and