Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-02-27
Congress Of the United States.
SEVENTEENTH coNGREss-2D SESSION.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY2+, 1928.
IN SENATE,

Mr. Johnson, oil Lou. laid before the
Senate resolution Of the legislature
of Louisiana, relative to post route
from Washington City to New Orleans,
MIR. Barton oubmittsd the following
motion for consideration:
Rssolred, That the President Of the United
State, DE requested to procure, ard lay before
the ,euate, a. the next session OF Congress, the
ORIGINALS or copies of all the contracts for sur
yeying the publit lands, made by the survey
mr. General Of Illinois, Missouri, and Arkan
sas, since the LIST day OF January, 1919.
The Senate then resumed the con-
alteration OF the bill TO extend the Ju-
rIsdictiou of the justices OF the peace,
within the District of Columbia, to hi
" dollars, Sc the question being on
the amendment offered by Mr. john
son. OF Kentucky. to exempt the debtor
from Imprisonment, for any SUN no, a.
boye twenty dollars, exclusive OF costs.
Much debate followed On!thls amend.
ment; in the course OF which, various
notifications and substitutes were Of
fered for it and it was finally agreed
to, substantially, as stated above.
An amendment was also adopted on
motion of Mr.. Holmes, Of Maine, ex-
.mp,ing from Imprisonment, under any
process, issued by virt,Ne Of this act,
the persons of all females whatsoever,
and all males over 70 years OF age. In
support Of this amendment. Mr.. II adj
.duced the example of the Napoleon
Code.
Various other amendments we're Of
fered. some OF which were agreed to,
and Others lost Amongst those which
we O unsuccess nj Vas oLe offered by
SIR. Southland, whieh proposed 10 strike
out all Of the till allowing u jury trial
before Justice OF the peace, and sub
stisuting sections, providing that where
the parties to a debt ABOVE twenty dol
lars did not consent to wave a jury tri-
al then the case should bs referred to
the court cf the county ihis amend
ment was lost by two votes.
In the end, the bill was ordered 10
be read a third time, as amended
The Seeste then took NJ the bill to
divorce John Whee,wrlght. OF Aisxan-
srIa. aad Caroline Eliza Wheeiwrlght.
HE wife,
IHr. w. petitions for divorce on
the ground OF the insanity OF his wife at
tie ilms ofhis marriage, (thouGh then
20 hia nsnown); Of the increase Of
the maiady until j. became entirely
settled and conirned; of lis having
now continued for several years. aUi
the belief, (in which he has the opinion
of the physicians in whose cere she has
teeu icns placed, that the insanity is
iovurah,e.l
\ lon., and feeling debate took place
on this bill ch,eay the points: Whe
thsr the insanity actually existed at the
time Of marriage, SO as 10 render the
eontraet VOID; whe: her al affection OF
this character ought to dissolve the
marriage contract whether, if it was
entitled to relief, the tribunal appoint.
ed Tor the purpose of granting such re-
LEI ia the state of Massachnset'
(whers- the marriage was contracted
was not the proper Llacs for the petit
toner to seek it; whether it WAS ri ght
for Congress to grant divorces at all,
Gi has never YET granted one,) sc. sc.
Ii was agreed on ell hands, the fac.s oe-
ing generally admitted, that 1t was a
case OF great hardship. Messrs. Bar
bvur and Southard advocated the oil
with much earnestpess. II WAS oppo
posed by Messrs. King, OF n. ! Benz
ton, Mills, Holmes, OF Name, and Chan
der. Mr.. Lloyd, of Riass. without ia
king sides on the bill spoke IN corrobor'
alton Of the facts set forth by the peti
toner, and asso the great respectable.
~ of the connections of the lady resi-
ding in Bost n.
The question being taken on ORDER
ing tue bill TO be engrossed and read a
third time, It was decided In the mega.
tive by yeas aud nays,-yeas 10, nay:
20.
So the bill was rejected.
The Sena then adjourned.