Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-05-07
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1.
IN GIN A'rL>

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1.
In SENATE.
The bill to repeal the act concerning Hdcci-
nation was taken up, Mr. Lloyd read an ex-
panatory letter from the late Agent, (Dr.
Smiih)-and then moved to recommit the bill
which was lOst.-A debate then came on upon
a motion to postpone the bill indefinitely,
which was also lost; and it was ordered for
81 reading, ayes 90, nays 6.
The bill vesting in the respective states the
right of the U. S. to all fines assessed on the
miiitiamen delinquent during the war was "a
mended SD as to limit it to Pennsylvania and
ordered to be engrossed
Messrs. Edwards, Southland and Van Dyke
We're permitted to record their votes in favor
OF the recognition of the South American
States.
The bill in addition to the acts concerning
navigation being taken up in committee of the
whole, Mr.. King of N. Y. moved to add the
following section.
Sec = ind De further enacted, That, in the e.
vent oil The signature of any treaty nton con
corning the navigation commerce between the u
States and France, the President of the u States be-
and he is he ely authorized, should he deem the same
espedeni' 10y proclamaton To suspend, until the end
OF the next session Of Congress- the operation of the
act, snhlcd An CT TO impose new tonnage dn,y
OF rfench SHIPS and vessels, and for other purpo-
ses and also to suspend, aforesaid, all other tiu
same, which may exceed The duties on American
vessels, aud on smllar goods imported in the same
Mr.. KING remark, d, that this section was
intended To enable the President of the United
States to meet France, in case that govern.
ment should, before the next session Of Con
gress, remove the existing commercial difficult
ties between the two countries, by repeating
what was usually termed her" eighteen dol.
lar act" He did not say what probability
her ,f 3 al. ~.
he could only say there WAS hope, anxious
hope, entertained for their renuval-and.
should that event happily occur, the section
now proposed would enable the President TO
meet promptly any steps which France might
take towards SD desirable an end
The amendment was adopted without OBJ
.Dectien, and the bill ordered Ia It's Sd reading
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr. +. Johnson, from The Post Office Com
miitee presented an additional report, (which
w be published hereafter.)
Mr.. Tucker of Va. from the Committee on
the Military Expenditures, presented a report,
which concludes with the following resolu-
tons:
Resoired, Thar the standing rules of this House
shall he so amended as that the Committee on the
accounts and Public Expenditures relative TO the
War Department, shall hereafter consist OF seven
members.
Reseired, That The Committee on the Judiciary
shall inquire into the expcdency Of cnargng the dl-
| ties of the Attorney General.
Ordered TO lie on the table.
On Mr.. Gorhams motion, 1000 additional
copies of the Report on the Suppression OF
the Slave Trade were ordered To be printed.
Mr.. Conkling submitted the following "a
mendment to- the constitution, which he said
ut was his intention to ask the House TO dis
| cuss at the next session:
''That no increase of the compensation OF
members OF Congress shall take eject during
the continuance of The Congress by which il
shall bave been made. And 10 law shall be-
passed hXiaS the pay of members of Congress
at greater sum than six dollars for each day
Attendance, and six dollars for every twenty
miles travel in coming to and returning from
the seat of government"
Mr.. G. said. the resolution was intended TO
prevent the recurrence of such, he would not
say dsgraceful, but humiliating scenes, as
he had Witnessed a few days past.-Resolu-
ton received and laid upon the table.
Nj. s.. johnson submitted the following re-
solutions, which he should call up on Satur-
day:
Resoired, That the practice which has obtained in
The public Offices in this city, (of not attending bu
siness until 9 or 10 O'Clock in Inc morning. and clos
'"g the Offices ut o'clock in the EVENING" is incou-
venlent those who have business TO tIausa ct I'm
them is not such reasonable attention to the public
service as should be given, such attention the
| salaries allowed by law entitled To command,
and that The said practice ought TO he abolished.
heSohsd, That the Pres dent of the Oniied States
e requested To the respective Seer etaries Oi
Stale, Of tie Treasury, of War, and OF the Navy,
and the Postmaster General, report this House
on the "a day of the next session of Congress, the
number Of active and well Qualified Clerks, and Ac.
couniants, that will be necessary perform the dl-
ties of their respective Offices and Departments, by
requiring reasonably constant, and diligent aIeD.
tiOU 10 business
ReSoired, That the number If officers AMI seame n
OF tie Navy of the u s. ought to be limited by law,
md that the number of neither should exceed so
many as can be actively and usefully employed in
the public service.
RcSoloed, That the President of the H. S. be re-
guestcd TO TO he laid before this House, on the
ID day the next Session of Congress- plan for a
peace establishment of Tie Navy of the u. States,
IN conformity TO the principles declared IN the fore
going resolutions.
The Post Office bin was takenup in the House
and underwent long discussioB.-Mr. +.
johnson proposed an amendment denying to
any postmaster the privilege of franking any
letter or newspaper, though he might receive
any letter To himself and one newspaper, free
.Negdtired "A motion To- strike out SO and in
sert 80 days as the period for The settlement Of
The accounts fall the deputy .pOstmasters, pre-
UGited-- MIR. +. Johnson moved TO amend the
9th section, by adding an TO the word post
master, so as to authorize allowances to be
more than one postmaster for clerkhire and
contingencies--Cd TTied.-At his instance also,
prOviso was added that nothing in the Sec
ton should affect the commission to be allow
ed to pOstmasters on newspapers, magazines
&c. and for opening mails in the night
Mr.. Alex. Smyth submitted the following a.
mendment:
find be further enacted, That, whensocver there
shall he vacancy in the Office Of Deputy Postmas.
ter, and The receipts OF the Office shall have exceeded
thousand dollars per annum for the last two years
The Postmaster General shall report the fact 10 the