Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-23

buildings lie irsiiucisiio enquire i,io ihe
practicability OF making Surh alterations il
the present structure OF the Hall of the House
of Representatives. AS shall better adapt IL 20
the purposes oil Il dehberative assembly, aud
ii no such alteration can he effected. to ascer-
tain whether II he practicable to provide n
suitable Hall in the Centre building OF the
Capitol.
Mr.. NJ. briefly explained his object in
offering this resolve, which. il would be
observed, proposed AN enquiry merely.
II was, he said. utterly impossible, az
every gen,leman's experience must have
taught him, TO hear more than one hall OF
ihr members who address the House,
without changing sne's seal for The pur-
pose. For one, ke declared, that. owing
10 this circumstance, he felt himself vt
lerly Incapable of dischargiDg the duty
imposed ON him by his Constituents. He
had, he said, in anticipation OF such a
duty as he now proposed 10 devolve on
the committee ON the Public Buildings,
made il his business 70 exa,niae The Cen
tire Building. He had satisfied himself
that the room intended for the Library,
simpler in lis structure than the present
Hall. which was of q Ggure uniavorable
TO elaboration, would answer all the pur-
poses oi Representative Chamber. 1t
would be q room larger than that which
often accommodates five hundred mem
bers in the British House Of Commons ::
as large as that which has accommodated
a more numerous body IN MaSsdJhuscIlS ;:
and larger than that which is occupied
by mare numerous body than this in the
state of Virginia.
The resolve fer enquiry MAS adopted,
as above stated, but not without opposing
voices.
Mr.. THchc, submitted Tor considera-
ton Tie following resolutions, wbich, al
so, from their naiurc, lie on The table one
day al course: Cfhe next day they were
ad0plrh.)
Resciced, That The Secretary of the Treasury
he Instructed 20 state TO This house, so far as
lie has Information, tho number and tounaa e
OF The Fieuch Slips which arrived aud are eX
peCted t0 a'tive in the course of the present
wear, Ia the River 81 hIary'S since the LIST Jn-
" 'aS': whether their cargoCs are intended
.Gr the CONSUMPTION of tue u. States aud 10
he introduced withia the territories ct the
same in evasion of the revenue laws, and
wha' further provision he deems necessary to
be made 10y law for the move effectunl collec-
ton OF The revenue on the southern froniiet
ReSoICcd, That the Secretary of the ireasu-
~ he instructed TO prepare and lay before
this house a statement, shelving the number
and tonnage Ct American ard British vessels
whiri; have cleared iTum the ports al The Uni'
ted States, for amy port in the West Indies,
the Bahama Islands, aud Bermuda, in The
wears ISlG, 1877, 1878, 1919 aud 1920 distn.
gushing those in the last year which have
cleared before the 30th day of September, aud
those which have cleared since that date.
On Uoiion Of MIR. Phelps il vas
ReSOired That committee be appoinied %
Investigate the affairs Of the Post Office De-
paIln'ent. with power TO send FOR persons ami
papeIs.
On motion Of Mr. Fioyd, it was
ReS0'rcd. THAT committee be appointed 10
enquire into the situation OF the settlements
mpnn the Pacific Ocean, and the eXpedieucy
vt occupying the Columbia river.
NIr FIoy.t submitted for consideration
!hc following reso!Ve, which, from It's IA
tnre, lies on l!e table one day ofcourse {:
Rrsoirel, thai TIA" Secretary OF the Depart
nFf.t of War be required la iay beiOr. this
House a statement of The uunibe r. aud situation
OF al! ;he military posts ia the United States
al this lime, iOscl her with the distribution OF
The army, designating the member OF men. also
HE lumber and rank OF the officers at each
place.
On motion Of Mr. MomeH, ii was
ResDiUPd That the Committee on the pgblic
i-amds he instructed 10 enquire whether Any
ana 1t any, what regulations can be adopted
consistent with The Interest of the govern.
/ m'Hi, whereby the soldiers Of The late war
who have not receive their bouAty lands
can he better provided for than under exist
ing laws.