Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-21
Congress of-he United States
SEVENTEENTH CoNGREss-2D SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY Is, 1875.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
AR. Smith. of Md. communicated to
the Senate the preamble and Tesoiu-
tons adopted by the Legislature OF Ma
rvland, heretofore published at large
in the proceedings Of the House OF KEEP,
re.eutatives,l approving the general
policy of the Federal Government IN
relation to the defences of the nation.
the increase of the navy, &c. The re
solutions we're read, and laid Oh the t..
BILE.
Mr.. Lowrie, from the Committee
of Finance. to whom had been referred
the bills from the other House, respec'
ling the further regulation Of the en-.
t,y of merchandise, and to make per-
pe,ual the act of 1917, which continued
in force the act Of 1915, respecting the
collection of duties on imports, report :
ed the same-the latter without, and
the former with an amendment.
The Senate then proceeded to the
annoiptment of Select Committee,
for the reference of Mr.. Taylor's pro-
nosed amendment to the Constitution !;
and Messrs. Taylor, of Va. King, OF n
Y. Macon, Diekerson, and Smith, OF >.
C. were appointed the committee:
The Senate took up the resolution
offered Yesterday by Mr.. johnson, OF
Louisiana, proposing an inquiry Int"
the expediency Of so amending the act
establishing a territorial government
in Florida, as better to secure the rights
of the people thereof.
In submitting this resolution yester.
day, MI, J observed, that the commit
tee on the Judiciary had been instruct
| ed, few days ago, at his instance, to
| inquire into the propriety of modifying
the act o! the last session, providing Tor
the esta blishment of q territorial 60
vernment in Florida, SO as to grant the
right of appeal to the Supreme Court
of the United States, in certain cases
but he had since been apprized OF the
necessity Of several material amend.
ments to the said act, 10 relation to 9th
er subjects. With the view, therefore,
of referring them generally to the com
mlttee, he had offered the resolution.
The resolution was adopted.
The Senate then resumed, in com.
mittoo of the whole, the consideration
Of the bill to abolish imprisonment for
debt, under process from the .. States
courts-Mr Smith, Of Md. in the chair
Some debate ensued, and several a
mendments were offered, and ordered
to be printed.
The bill was then, on motion Of Mr.
Barbour, postponed till tomorrow.
The Senate then spent short time
in the consideration Of Executive busi-
ness; and then adjourned.
! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MIR. Kent, from the committee on the
District of Columbia, reported "a bill
to alter the times of holding the circuit
courts for the District of Columbia,
and for other purposes" which bill
was twice read and committed.
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION,
Mr.. Reid, of Georgia, rose, and said
that the bill providing for the execu.
ton Of certain surveys, and for the col
lection of Typographical information,
with view to system of internal inn
provements, was yesterday ordered to
lie upon the table, by vote Of this
house. Iwas, said he, one of the COM
mittee by whom that bill was reported,
and, although quite willing to afford
the Honorable Chairman of the COM
mittee an opportunity to make an ex.
pertinent, the measure did not altogeth-
err meet my appreciation. My objec-
tons TO the bill are not to be found,
however, in constitutional scruples. l
believe that Congress does possess
the power to establish roads and con.
struct canals. But, l am aware, that
there is much diversity Of opinion up.
on the subject. A large portion of the
people entertain the opinion that we
have not the power. and the Chief Ma
| gistrate has recently expressed his con.
victions to the like effect. Under these
conflicting sentiments, do not believe
that any system of internal improve.
ment, however we'll devised by Con.
gress, would be efficient, because con.
cert and harmony are necessary to it's
prosperity. 1t would seem therefore,
that our first step should be a settle.
tlsnaent Of this question. This can on