The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-03-08


the same, and also the accompanying do
cumeDts. -!
The resolution was concurred in.
Mr.. John Speed Smith, from the com.
mittee to whom was referred the reselu.
ton on the subject, reported bin to
abolish imprisonment for debt; which
was twice read and committed.
The house then proceeded to the con.
sidera,'on of the resolution proposed yes
terday by Mr.. Williams, of N. e. re.
curing information OF what authority is
invested with the military command in
Florida and the same was agreed H..
Mr.. Mercer submitted the following
resolution: That the committee OH pub.
lie buildings be instructed to INQUIRE
whether such an alteration can be effect.
ed Of the hall now occupied by The house.
as will fit it for the purposes of delibera-
tive assembly, and, if this be deemed i'm.
practicable, whether suitable apartment
can be provided in the centre building of
the capitol, tor the accommodation of the
house OF Representatives.
Mr.. Wood proposed to amend the re
solution by inserting, after the word SIRE
solved" the following:
"Ihat the committee on public build
ings be instructed 10 inquire into the ex
pediency of charging the position OF the
speakers chair. and of placing it in from,
ofthe present en,Ianc into the hall and,
also. Of arranging the seats of the mem
beers parallel with the diameter If the
hall, SO as TO front the chair in its new
position"
On this motion for amendment, some
debate tonk place; in which the proper
ties of sound the disadvantages of the
present arrangement of the hall for hear.
ing, the benefits likely to result from a
change of it, were discussed by Mr.
Wood.
The amendment was objected to by
Mr. Mercer as going 10 narrow the field
of inquiry, and as unnecessary withal, be
cause Itself included within the scope OF
the general inquiry. MIR Nj. dwelt much
and strongly on the importance of the OBJ
Ject proposed by his motion. on which he
considered the character of this body ma
terially to depend. MIR. Cooke, to put
an end TO debate which he considered
out OF place at this time, moved TO lay
the subject on the table. This motion
was negatived. Al lergth,
The question was taken on Mr. Woods
amendment and decided in the negative /;
And the resolve, as moved by Mr..
Mercer. was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Williamson it was
Resolved, That the committee of WAYS
and means, be instructed to consider the
expectancy Of extending, for a further
time, or making perpetual, the "act fur
ther to provide for the collection Of du-
ties on imports and tonnas e," passed
March SO, 1915, and another act, to CON
tinue in force the preceding one, passed
she Sd of March, 1917, which expired
the Sd of March, current.
On motion of Mir. Stewart Resolved,
That the committee on roads and canals,
be instructed to inquire into the cxpedi.
epcy of appointing commissioners to ex.
anime and report as 10 the practicability
and probable expense of connecting, by
a canal, the Potomac and Youghagany ri.
vers; uniting the eastern with the west
ern waters.
A joint resolution from the senate for
fixing the time Of adjournment. ofthe pre-
sent session of congress LIST Monday in
ApriD was received and read first time;
and, on motion of MIR Hill, was laid on
the table.
The house tqen proceeded to the or
ders OF the day; and, in pursuance there
Of, resolved Itself into commitle of the
whole, Mr. Taylor III the chair, on the
bill to establish an Uniform system of bank.
yuptcy.
Mr.. Lowndes concluded the argument
which he commenced when the house
was last in committee Of The whole on thi,
subject, against the principles of the bill
Mr.. Baldwin next spoke, and opposed
at considerable length the motion to strike
out the first section of the bill.
MIR. Fucker, of Va. took the floor ir
favor of the motion, to whom succeeded
Dir. Hill, of Maine, who occupied the
attention of the committee until half pas
8 O'Clock when the committee rose anc
reported, and obtained leave to sit again
The Speaker also presented commu
nication from The president of the Unitet
States on the subject of navy yards, ma
nal stations, sc. which, OH motion o
Mr.. Hill, was referred to the committed
on naval affairs.
The Speaker also presented commu
nication from the department of war, ex