Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-03-19
Congressional Proceedings.
Eromthe National InteHigencer.
Friday, March l6.
IN SENATE.

/ t1S OL1N IN
The following sngrossed bills were 50
verally read third time. passed. snd
sent to the House of Representatives fol-
| concurrence, viz:
A bill to amend the charter Of the
Bank of the United States;
A billsupplemental to the act authori-
ling the disposal ofcertain lots Of public
ground in the city of New Orleans, and
town of Mobile;
A bill to define admiralty jurisdie-
ton; and
A bill for the relief Of James H. Clark.
MIR. Thomas from the Committee on
tho Public Lands, made an unfavorable
report on the petition of John Glider and
| others, on behalf of the East Florida
Coffee Land Association, (praying fer a
grant of rs, 600 acres of land, including
Key Largo, at Cape Florida, on such
terms as Congress might prescribe. for
the purpose Of erecting town and es
tablishing a colony for the cultivation
of vines. olives, almonds, coffee, cocoa,
and cochineal)
Mr.. Parrot presented memorial from
sundry merchants and ship-owners of
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, recon
mending to Congress an adherence to
the restrictive system until the effect in
tended thereby be produced in the pol
icy Of foreign nations; which memorial
was ordered to be printed and referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations,
A message was received from the Pre-
sident of the United States, transmitting
the information requested by resolu
ton of the Senate of the 10Th of Janua
ry, relative to the number of officers and
soldiers of Virginia, of the continental
line, in the revolutionary war, the guam
tity Of land allowed to each, &c. which
message was read.
A message was also received from the
President of the United States, trans
uniting a supplemental report from VIM.
Lambert, of observations made to ascer
tain the longitude of the capitol and for
the establishment of a first meredian for
the United States; which message was
read.
RESTRICTIVE SYSTEM.
Mr. King, of N. Y. from the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, to which had
been referred memorial from South
Carolina and one from Baltimore, pray.
ing repeal of the restrictions on tho
West India trade, made report vindi-
eating at considerable length the expe-
diency and policy of the restrictive sys
tenn, as regards the trade with the Bril-
fish West Indies. and recommending
that the committee be discharged from
the further consideration ofthe subject
lThereport shall be published at large
in our next
The Senate took up report of the
committee of claims on the petition of
Rebecca Hodgson, (praying payment for
a house used for the War Office when
the seat of government was removed to
Washington, which house was destroy
ed by fire while in the occupation of the
gevernment.) The report was original
ly unfavorable, and it had been recon.
mitted with instructions to report all
the evidence adduced in the case
Mr.. Van Dyke moved that the report
of the Committee of Claims be reversed
and that the committee be instructed to
report bill granting the prayer of the
petitioner.
This motion brought on long debate
on the merits af the claim, which were
involved in much u.,certainty, from the
conditions of the lease of the building
and the doubtful circumstances attend.
ing its destruction. The debate contin.
ued until 2 O'Clock; when,
The question being taken on Mr.. Van
Dykes motion, it was agreed to.
The Senate then went into the consid.
Grafton of Executive business. and so
continued until 4 o'clock; whsa
The Senate adjourned.