The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-03-04
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.
NVEDNEsDl

SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Feb 10.
| The Vice President having withdrawn Mr..
Gaillard has been again chosen President
of the Senate. lie had 90 votes, Mr.. Barbour
| 8, scattering g..
SATURDAY, Feb %.
Mr.. PARROT, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, made report on the petition of Robert
Z. Stockton late commander Of the United States
schooner Alligator, accompanied by bill for his
| relief; which was twice read.
Mr.. Kelley rose, and adyertng to the decision
Of the Senate yesterday, by which the bill from
| the House of Representatives supplementary to
the Revolutionary Pension Acts, was rejected,
stated that the subject one which he had not
given much attention to when he was called 10
vote on it, that subsequent reflection had indu-
| oed him to mistrust the correctness of the vote
be then gave. and he should be glad to have the
vote more deliberately and maturely considered.
He, therefore, (having yesterday voted with the
majority moved TO reconsider the decision OF
yesterday on the bill.
On this question Mr. Noble asked for the yeas
and nays.
! The question was accordingly so taken, and
the motion was agreed to--ayes %, noes IA.
! And the further consideration Of the bill was
then, on motion of Mr.. Kelly, postponed to Mon
day.
On motion Of Mr.. Lowrie, the Senate took up
the joint resolution directing the printing of a
number of copies of the Journal of the Revolu-
tioGary Congress; and after some remarks from
Mr.. Lowlie and Mr. Holmes, of Maine, to shew
the great value and Importance of the work, its
scarcity, the impossbiiity Of procuring a copy
10 the United States, &c. the resolution was or
dered to be eugrossed for a third reading. The
Senate adjourned.
MONDAY, FEB. "a.
The joint resolution directing the printing OF
certain number of the Journals of the Reyo-
lutionary Congress, was read the third time. pas
sed, and sent to the other House for concurrence.
! After spending considerable tine in discussing
the bill relative to the Judicial Offices Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, (which was amended and or
dered to third readingl the Senate took up the
bill to divorce John Wheelwright, of Alexandra,
and Caroline Eliza Wheelwright, his wife.
| Mr.. w. petitions for a divorce, on the ground
of the insanity of his wife, at the time of his mar
r;age, Though then to him unknown); of the in
crease Of the nalady until it became entirely
settled and confirmed; ofits having now contin-
ued for several years, and the belief lin which
he has the opinion Of the physicians in whose care
she has been long placed that the insanity is
/
on this bill-chichy on these points; Whether
the insanity actually existed at the time Of mar
riage, SO to render the contract void whcth-
er an affection Of this character ought to dissolve
/ the marriage contract; whether, il it was emit
tied to relief the tribunal appointed for the pur-
pose of granting such relief in the state of Mas
sachusetts, (where the marriage was contracted
was not the proper place for the petitioner to
seek it; whether it was right for Congress to
grant divorces at all, (it has never yet granted
one) SC sc. 1t was agreed, on all hands, the
facts being generally admitted that il was ca sc
Of great hardship Mcssrs. Barbour aud South
ard advocated the bill with much earnestness.
! IT was opposed by Messrs. King, ofNew York,
! Benton, Mills, Holmes, Of Maine, and Chandler.
| Mr.. Lloyd, of Massachusetts,, without taking
sides on the bill, spoke in Confederation Of the
facts set forth by the petitioner, and as to the
great responsibility Of the connections of the
| lady residing in Boston. The question being
taken on ordering the bill to be engrossed and
read third time, it was decided in the negative,
Sc to 15-after which the Senate adjourned.