The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-05-09
Congressional Proceedings.
From the National Intethigencer.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY. MAY 2

THURSDAY, MAY 2
Mr.. Warfeld delivered in the follow
ing report:
The committee to whom was refer
red the resolution instructing them to
report the best mode, in their opinion,
of giving to the puDllc full and correct
statement of the Debates and Proceed
ings of this House, report, that they
have taken the same into consideration,
and are Of opinion that the government
of the United States being a government
which essentially depends upon public
opinion, it is consideration Of the first
Importance that the course pursued by
the immediate Representatives OF the
people in Congress should be impartial
" presented TO the public view. Whe>
Their it will be practicable to give a mi-
mute account of the debates and procee.
dings OF Congress on all the various sub
jects that may arise, your committee
will not undertake to decide. But they
consider a rigid adherence to fact in
whatever is published of the Procee-
dings Of Congress as indispensable, that
whenever part OF Debate is publish.
ed. the whole should be published, a.
we'll the arguments on the one side Of
the question as the arguments on the
other side, and the proceedings faithful
" given to the Public. Your commit.
tee therefore submit the following reso.
luton:
Resolved, That the Speaker be re-
quested to receive, during the approach.
ing recess ofCongress, proposals for re-
porting and publishing from day to day
a correct account of the Debates and
Proceedings of the House OF Represen.
tatives, to submit the same to the con
sideration of the house at the com.
mencement of he next session.
MIR. Little moved to lay the the reso.
luton on the table-The motion was ne
gatived.
The question being then stated on a.
greeting to the report
Mr.. Little said he was averse to any
measure, not indispensable. which ne,
cessarily involved any considerable exc
pense to the government. Such, ne
conceived, would be the effect OF adopt
ing this resolution. What, he asked,
would be the expense which resort to
the measure proposed by this resolution
would involve /? We had sample the
other day, said he, of report OF one
days proceedings in this house, and that
not full report, which may give an idea
of the extent which must be given to re-
ports of our proceedings. if every thing
is 10 be reported. Mr.. L. said he was
disposed, for his part, to leave this mat.
ter as it now stands-that thole who
are admitted to seats in this house shall
90 on and take such parts ofthe procee-
dings as may be acceptable to the pub
lie. 1t was known, that in case OF long
arguments on any question before the
House, gentlemen sometimes prepare
their speeches for publication. II they
chose to do so, they had right to do it,
and they will always find access to the
press, without reference to the wishes OF
this house upon the subject. Mr. l..
said he did not believe that the country
would be disposed to 60 to the expense
Of twenty or thirty thousand dollars per
year for the publication of the Debates
at large. No benefit certainly would q
rise from it, and it would be waste q
the public money and. Mr.. !. said, be
was not disposed to lend his name to .
resolution which would at least give to
the Speaker considerable trouble in in.
viting and receiving proposals; and ITO
the house trouble in considering them.
Mr.. l.. then moved to postpone the re.
port to Monday next. s
Mr.. Warfield hoped the consideration
of the report would not be postponed.
As to the idea that the proposed publ
cation of Debates would be expensive,
it was certain that the committee had
no such idea in contemplation. A waste
of public money! Did the gentleman
Speaker here remarked,
that the question of postponement did
not admit of Debate on the merits OF
the report Il
Mr.. Campbell. Of Ohio, again moved
to lay the report on the table. a
/. And tie report was then ordered to
lie on the table--ayes IL.
Mr.. Williams, of n. G. moved that
the Committee Of Claims be discharged
from the further consideration ofallre.
ports and other matters before them;
which was agreed to.
Mr.. Fuller submitted the following
Joint resolution: