Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-12-22

which amount 10 paftlal OF totdi ~ oi
bition be repealed; which memorial was
read and referred TO the Committee on
Commerce and Manufactures.
The resolution introduced by Mr.
Barbour, to amend the Constitution, by
establishing maximum nuisbe for the
House OF Representatives, was read the
second time, and then, on motion OF Mr..
Barbour, postponed to the third Non
day in January next.
The resolution offered yesterday, by
Mr.. Williams, of Ten. was, on his mo-
ton postponed untilto-morrow; and
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
After the presentation and reference
of petitions
Mr.. Moore, of Pa. requested to be
excused from serving on the committee
OH Indian Affairs, in consideration of
his beinga member Of the committee
on Claims, the duties of which are
known to be very laborious; adding,
that he was not present yesterday at the
moment whom the committee on Indian
Affairs was announced, and did not
learn that he was appointed member
of it, until too late to make the request
now submitted to the Heuse.
The question being taken, Mr. Moore
was discharged accordingly.
Mr.. Sloan, from the committee on
Elections, reported a resolution unfa-
! vorable to the petition of Mathew Ly
on, contesting the right of James
Woodson Bates to seat in the House
of Representatives as Delegate from the
Territory Of Arkansas.
The resolution was adopted, and
leave given to the petitioner to withdraw
his petition.
Mr.. Williams, of N. G. from the com.
mittes of Claims, made report upon
the petition of Joseph Wheaton. that
the prayer of the said petition ought not
to be granted.
On motion of Mr.. II. Nelson, the re-
port was ordered to lie on the table
ayes 81, nays 40.
Mr.. Baldwin submitted the following
joint resolution:
Resolped, by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled,
That the President of the Senate and
Speaker Of the House of Representa-
tives be directed to adjourn their re-
spective Houses from Saturday the 22d
inst. until Wednesday the Cd day Of
January next,
On motion Of Mr.. II. Nelson, the
rule of the House requiring the resolu-
ton to lie on the table one day previ-
Gus to its being acted upon, was dispen-
sed with, and the resolution was twice
read; and, on the question of engrossing
the same for third reading
Mr.. Baldwin observed, that expert
ence had shewn, for the last four years,
that very little business was done in
Congress during what are termed, in
common parlance, the Christmas Holt
| days. Some members were absent on
business, and others availed themselves
of that opportunity to visit their fami-
lies: so that it had been uniformly
found impracticable to carry on, to any
considerable extent, the business Of leg
islation during that period. He was,
! therefore, in favor of doing that in form
which had been uniformly done in prac-
tice. In the mean time, the committees
might meet, and arrange and prepare
the business before them; and he be-
lieved that the resolution would rather
facilitate the public business than re-
tard it.
Mr.. Rhea opposed the resolution. He
thought the proper course was, If gen.
tlemen wished to absent themselves, to
ask leave ofthe House. For his part,
he came here to do business, and there
was much to do-and he hoped the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr.
Baldwin, would not insist upon the
committees staying here to make up
reports, while the other members were
gene upon excursions Of pleasure into
the country. He should not 60 into the
country--for he had no where to 60 TO.
/ The operation Of the resolution, Mr.. II.
contended. would be unequal; fol-, whilst
those whose residence was near this
! city, would be accommodated by it, 9TH
ers would not. If indeed, he could 60
| home, he should be in favor of 1t too.
But, as there was plenty Of business be-
fore the house, he thought the resolu-
ton ought not to be adopted. He, there
fore, moved that it be indefinitely post
poned, and thas the question of post
pouement be taken by ayes and noes
The latter motion was ayr eed to.
Mr.. Golden remarked that the reso-