The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-03-24
: eigbteentb Gonarrsg.
From, The Eatioriul Ia'.iiigencsr.
nv sENATE-MARCH ss.

introduce joint resolution authorizing
the president 10 purchase a portrait oil
Washington.
The unfinished business Of Friday las,
being the consideration OF the resolution
proposing amendments TO the Jons,i,u.
ton, in relation TO The election of presi.
dent and vice president, was again taken
up.
Much discussion eDsued-when the
question was put, on postpuniDy the
whole subject indefinitely, and decideu
in the affirmative, so to Is.
Adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MIR. Mercer submitted the following !:
'Reso!ved, That the committee on roads
and canals be instructed TO inquire into
the expectancy Of connecting the proper.
~ Of the United States, at or near Har.
per's ferr-. by the erection of bridge
across tLs Shenandoah, at or near The
mouth thereof
The mover supported the resolution
by lew remarks ; when the question
being taken, il was pted--ayes 62.
noes SIS.
Mr.. Allen called up the Join: resolu.
ton offered ny hin: some days since, res
pecting an adjournment but the house
refused 70 consider il---ayes 81, noes 33.
MIR. Randolph observed, that the YER
nal equinox was now passed, and he
thought II was time that every member
who did not intend 10 rely on the public
crib, but to feed out of his own corn
house,should so home and plant his corn:
and he hoped that the honersblc member
from Massachusetts would continue To
repeat his motion until il should obtain
more favorable reception by the house,
The protracted sessions of CONGRESS-
which, however, he thanked God, could
take place only erery other year, he con
sidered as fraugat with incalculabie mis-.
chief. they excluded from the public
service an important and valuable class
Of men.
Here the speaker interposed, and
pronounced Mp. X. remarks to be out
of order, inasmuch as the house had refu.
sed 10 consider the resolution
MIR. x. observed that he had intended
to conclude his observations by making
motion; but he should stand corrected.
Mr. Taylor then made motion To
alter the hour of meeting TO III o'clok.
A. NJ. aGd supported his motion by a
short speech, in which he advertei to
the amount OF business in arrear, and the
injurious consequence oflong sessions.
Mr.. Randolph again rose, and said
that he should take the liberty which the
gentleman from n. York seemed So
willing 10 take himself, but TO refuse TO
others--no uncommon case--of making
some observations on an iDterdicted sub,
Ject. He should, in,the selection of his
toplcs,pursue his own lights, however fee.
ble' without availing himself ofthe very
great dIscernments, sagacity, experience
--(he wished he could enlarge the cata.
iogue,) -of the gentleman from n. York
l, Tor one, said MIR. K. voted for the re.
peal OF that prepos,erous rule which.
even If this building were on fire, pre-.
vented the house from adi,urrlng before
. O'Clock; and | did sup, ,oss Ia al, in its
spirit, it went 10 repeal The olner rule on
the same subject, in reference TO the pro,
ceedlngs OF The committee of the whole
-Four hours per diem is as long as 1, at
least, am able 10 endured will not saw
the peshlential atmosphere ofihjs house
but an atmosphere, such as nothing but
the "retched animals plunged in the
Irolto del Cane, near Naples, were
compelled to breathe, 10 crafty the lau.
dable curiosity of the very benevolent
philosophers of modr IN Europe. hone
Inc gentleman's motion will not be adop-
ted--and now give notice, that mean
to follow up his motion with one which
relates to subject tibet requires, if no,
the actual cautery, at least the knife-it
IS motion to reduce the per diem al
iowance OF members of this house, TO
what it was when first had the honor of
seat here, and which [ then thought,
and still think, as per diem allowance,
was hxed greal deal 100 high,
1t the present session is suffered 10
continue, instead of having, in congress,
great leading professional men, we shall
have what have been we'll deDominatod
ibe merely mechanical, the instrumental
members ofthose professions. And, as
to the landed inteFes:, how can we EXPECT
1t to be represented. when it is ruin TO a
landed mao TO attend here? /, for one,
caDnots sir, consent to sit here for so mary
months, de die in diem, for six DAYS in
The week, and hear nothing but the same
strain Tor ever repeated. Ii IS enough,
SIR, TO worry the patience of Job himself.
shall, therefore, move that from and
alter the end of the present session of
congress, the per diem allowance of
members be 60, and The allowance For