The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-02-26
CONGRESS- OLE THE u. s..
From the .Naionai Infelligrncer.
IN THE SENATE FEB. "a.

Ane Join' Iesoiouon directing the print
ing ofa certain number of the journals oil
the revolutionary congress- was read
the third time, passed,ek sent to the other
house for concurrence.
The senate resumed the consider.
alton of the bill to extend the jurisdiction
of the justices of the peace, within the
District OF Columbia, to $50, &c.--the
question being on the amendment offered
by MIR. Johnsoo, of Ken. to exempt the
debtor from imprisonment, for ahy sum
not above $50, exclusive Of costs.
Much debate followed on this amend.
ment /; in the course of which, various
notifications apisubstitutes were offered
for it (; and it was finally agreed to, sub.
stantially, as stated above.
An amendment was also adopted ON
motion OF Mi. Holmes,of Maine exempt.
ing from imprisonmen,,u under any process
issued by virtue ofthis act, the persons OF
all females whatsoever, and all males
over 20 years ofage. In support of this
endment MIR. H. adduced the example
the Napoleon Code.
Various other amendments were offer
ed,some of which were agreed toSs others
lost. Amongst those which were unsuc.
cessful, was one offered by MIR. Southland,
which proposed to strike out all OF the
bill allowing jury trial before JUS
ticc of the peace, and substituting sec.
tons, providing that where the parties to
a debt above 90 dollars, did not con,en,
TO waive jury trial, then the case
should be referred to that court Of the
county this amendment was lost BY two
votes.
In the discussion oil the amendment,
above stated and referred to Messrs. Bar.
bour, Southland, Mills, Eaton, Lloyd of
Md. Talbot, Johnson Of KY Macon, Nor.
rel, and Lanman engaged most actively;
In the end, the bill was ordered to be
read third time as amended.
The senate then took up the bill to di-
vorce John Wheelwright of Alexandria.
and Caroline Eliza Wheelwriht his wife.
EMr. W. petitions for divorce, on sse
ground OF the insanity of his wife, at the
timeof his marriage, (though then to him
unknown) ofthe increase OF the ma!ady
until il became entirely settledS confirm.
ed; of its having now continued forseveraI
years, and the belief, (in which he has
the opinion OF the physicians in whose
care she has been long placed, that the
insanity is incurable. A long and feel
ing debate took place on this bill--chief.
iy on these points. Whether the insaui>
ty actually existed at the time of mar
riagc, SO as 10 render the contract void /;
whether nm affection of this character
ought TO dissolve the marriage contract
whether, lift was entitled to relief, the
tribunal appointed for the purpose OF
granting such relief in the state of Mas
sachusetts, (where the marriage was con-
tracted) was not the proper place for
tho petitioner to seek it /; whether it
was right for congress to grant divorces
at all, lit has never yet granted one) &c.
Gc. II was agreed. on all hands, the
facts being generally admitted, that it
was case of great hardship Messrs.
Barbour and Southland advocated The bill
with much earnestness. Il was opposed
by Messrs. King, of New York, Benton,
Mills, Holmes Of Maine, and Chandler.
Mr.. Lloyd of Mass. 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 connex>
IONS Of the lady reeiding in Boston.
The question being taken on ordering
=. the bill to be engrossed and read third
time, it was decided in the negative by
yeas and nays as follows:
feas--Messrs. Barbour, Barton, d..
Wolf, Dickerson, Eaton, Johnson of KY.
Johnson Of Lou. Kelly, Knight, Lanman,
Noble, Parrolt, Southland, Talbot, Taylor
of Ind. and Williams of Ten. l6.
Nays--Messrs. Benton, Boardman,
Brown of Ohio, Chandler, Elliott, Find.
lay, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Holmes
of Miss. King of Ala. King of N. Y.
Lloyd of Md. Lloyd of Mass. Macon,
Mills, Morril, Palmers Seymour, Smith,
of S. C. Stokes, Taylor of Va. Thomss,
Van Buren,, Van Dyke, Ware, Williams
of Miss. &c.
So The bill was rejected. The senate
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
On motion of Mr.. Cooke, Resolved,
That the clerk of this house be suthoriz-
ed and directed to make the same allow
ance for extra services 10 each person
serving this house as was granted at the
end of the last session.
The house then, on motion OF MIR.
Newton of Virginia, proceeded to the
consideration Of the bill TO abolish the
Office Of measurer in the several ports Of
entry in the United States. HE bill is