Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-20

communication from the same department
Transmitting information required by reso-
luton ofthis House, as 10 the progress which
has been made in the civilization Of the In
dians, &c.
These communications were ordered TO lie
on the table and be printed.
The engressed bill to alter the times OF
holding the courts in the western district OF
Virginia. was read the third time, passed,
and sent to the Senate for concurrence.
The House then, on motion of Mr.. Stro-
Their, proceeded to the consideration of the
resolutions submitted by him on friday
the question being on the amendments pro-
posed thereto by Mr.. Lowndes.
The FIRST amendment for striking out the
words without delay" was agreed to With
out division.
Mr.. Strotber opposed the second amend
ment, proposing to strike cut that part OF the
18th resolution which requires the opinion OF
the Secretary OF the Treasury whether, If
the price of stock is above par, it will pro-
badly continue so until the period at which
the stock issued in the late war becomes re-
deemabe, sc. He contended that the Sc.
cretary, from his superior information and
constant attention TO the subject, which no
member of this house was able to bestow on
it, would be able 10 give such opinions as
would enlighten the house on the subject,
and from such data as would enableit to ar
rive at more correct judgment in the impor-
tant measures which it would be necessary
10 adopt in relation to the fiscal concerns OF
the nation that, if the Secretary did not
choose to hazard an opinion IN the probable
price ofthe stocks four years hence, he might
safely do it as to the present and next year,
&c. Mr.. S. extended his arguments, and
the illustration of his opinions, 10 consdera-
BILE length, in support of the resolutions, in
the shape and to the extent in which he had
offered them.
Mr.. Smith of Nd. said it was customary to
ask of the Secretaries statement OF facts,
but very seldom their opinions, on public
matters On this subject, however, the Sc
cretary of the Treasury had fully commune
Gated his views, with the facts, in his annual
report. Mr.. S. went into an examination OF
the facts connected with the sinking fund,
and the price of stocks, to show that there
would be two millions and half of tine sink
ing fund unapplicable to naying the public
debt in the year 1921, and the sum oil five
millions the subsequent years, &c. until, in
1924, there would be surplus OF twenty
millions accruing TO this fund. Mr.. S. took
this view, and an examination Of the Secre-
tary's report, to support the opinion that 1t
would be greatly preferable to use this mo-
ney, otherwise lying dead in the Treasury,
instead of borrowing for the public exigen'
cies; arguing that the public debt had been
discharged more rapidly than was exFedl-
emf, and that il would be wise and prudent
TO abstract the surplus Of the next year at
least from the sinking fund for the national
use. He took, also, view OF various Cir
cumstances which affect the price Of stocks.
and make it extremely iuctuating, 10 shew
that there was no divining the price at any
particular period year hence, &c.
Mr. Strother rcjoincd, and further main
tanned his opinions, that the intelligent pub
lie agent, whose attention had been for y ears
applied to particular subject, would be "a
be to give opinions which might enlishten
the house in forming its d csions on that sub
ject
The question was thentaken on the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Lowndes, and agreed
to.
Mr.. Floyd moved to amend the first reso-
luton by striking out the words which require
the Secretary to state the actual balance " in
lhe hands Of the Treasurer, as agent of the
Navy Departmentand the War Departn ent,"
naSmuch as these balances, having been
drawn from the Treasury and placed in the
hands Of the Treasurer as agent for the other
were now beyond the control
Of the Secretary, sc.
Mr.. Strother opposed the motion, and spoke
to obviate the objections to it
The motion was lost and after some OBJ
ections by Mr.. Cobb, II the second resolu-
ton, which were answered by Alessrs. Lown-
DIES and Foot, the three first resolutions
were successfully agreed TO without divi-