Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-03-30
Congressional Proceedings.
From tie National Intelligence.
Wednesday, March 81.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
After reading bill or two the second
time, and disposing of some minor bust.
ness
The Senate took up, in COMMITTEES Of
the whole, the bill to provide for the col.
lection of duties on imports and tonnage
in Florida, and for other purposes: and
spent some time in reviewing and ma.
turing its details; after which the bin
and amendments were reported to the
Senate; and then to give time to have
the amendments printed, the bill wa,
postponed until tomorrow.
A message was received from the Pre-.
sident of the United States, by his pri.
vate Secretary, relative to fortifcations,
La similar message to that transmitted
to the House Of Representatives yester.
day. and published in this days paperl
The Message was read and ordered to bs
printed.
INDIAN TRADE.
The Senate resumed, in committee Of
theswhole. Mr.. Dickerson in the chair the
consideration of the bill to abolish the
present establishment of Indian trade.
and to provide for opening that tradets
licensed individuals-the amendments
offered by Mr.. Benton (going principal.
ly to discontinue the establishment in
June, 1922, instead of 1928; to take the
settlement Of its affairs out of the hands
of the present officers, and to confne tho
present bill to that abolition simply
being the question still pending.
MIR. Ruggles made few remarks in
reply to some former observations Of
Mr. Benton; and in support of the bill
as reported by the committee Mr..
Lanman also submitted his reasons for
preferring the bill as it was to the q.
mendments; Mr.. Van Buren, spoke at
some length to shew that the objections
urged against the existing establishment
of Indian trade applied more to the or,
ganization OF the system than to he sys
tenn itself; and to chew that, if it was
proper to abolish it, the winding up Of
its concerns ought to be confided to the
present officers, as proposed by the bill
rather than to other persons, as prspo.
sed by the amendments, &c. Mr. Low.
RE also added some remarks to the same
effect. Mr.. Benton replied to those gen.
tlemen who had adverted to his remarks,
and advocated, at considerable length,
not only the course he had proposedts
adopt on this subject, but the reasons
and facts he had urged in its support,
many of which he repeated and enfor'
ced. MIR. johnson. of Louisiana, re-
piled to Mr.. Benton, also at considers
BILE length, and supported the bill against
the objections made to it. MIR. Van b.
rem subjoined some further remarks a.
gainst the amendments. Mr.. Macon
spoke against any system Of govern
ment trade with the Indians, as unpIon
table to the nation, inexpedient, and e.
very way more Objectionable than 6
well regulated system of licensed pn'
vate trade-contending that the g.
vernment could not attend to all thu
minutie of Indian trade, and at the sans
time all the affairs Of Europe, and, in aa'
dition to these, all the affairs Of South
america, which were now taken in hana'
He was in favor Of the amendments
Mr.. King of Alabama, had no objection
to disseminating the factory system
though it had been productive of mucD
good; but he wished at the same tim'
to substitute some other more eligible
such as the bill provided, and spoke a.
gainst the amendment, for this, and a.
50 for the reason that it would not lea's
time enough to wind up the concerns ..
the system, if directed to be done "
June next. Mr.. Benton then, after ~
serving that acme time had elapsed . ..s
the amendment was first offered, sta!su
that he would modify the propos,'ss'aua,
by adding, after the first of june ION On
the words, "or as soon thereafter -
conveniently be DONE" ~ %.
The bill was then postponed un'"
morrow. ..en.
The bill from the House OF Repr.' cont.
tatives supplementary to the acts s.a"
ing revolutionary pensions, uas 1S''