Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-02-22

IN SENATE.

Mr.. SMITH, from the Committee on
Finance, to whom was referred the
bill, entitled Gan act making further
appropriations for the military service
for the year 1885," reported it with a.
mendments; which were read.
The Senate took up the joint resoIu-
ton directing the purchase and distri.
button Of $50 copies, four volumes
each, of Way and Gideon's edition of
the Journals of the Congress of the
Confederation.
This resolution gave rise to consi.
derabIe debate, in which it was advo.
Gated by Messss. TALBOT and JOHNSON,
Of KY; and it was opposed by Messrs.
COBB, BENTON and Dickinson.
The question, finally, being taken on
the third reading of the resolution, it
was negatived by the following votes
Yeas l3-Nays 80.
The resolution was of course re-
jected.
The Senate next took up the bill ma.
king an appropriation of 5000 dollars
for the purchase Of Mr.. Rembrandt
Peale's picture exhibited in the rotun-
da) embracing an equestrian portrait
of General Washington, and equestri-
an portraits of General La Fayette,
General Hamilton, and other officers.
Mr.. HOLMES, Of Maine, opposed the
bill principally on the ground Of the
extravaganza, as he conceived it, OF
the sum proposed for the picture.
Mr.. Mills supported the bill, at
some length, both on the grounds Of
the disturbances of possessing SO fine
a picture, embracing SO good por-
trait of Washington, and for the rea.
sonableness Of the price for it, which
had been reported in the bill; (being
less than Mr.. p. valued it at.
Mr.. HOLMES moved to strike out
5000 and insert 1000.
Mr.. TALBOT though he admired the
painting and respected the genius and
talent that produced it, yet doubted
whether too high a sum had not been
fixed on in the bill, and he was in favor
of smaller one.
The question being divided, was put
on striking out, and was carried, ayes
20, noes Ia.
Mr.. HAYNE moved then to fill the
blank with 5000 dollars, convinced that
that was the very lowest sum which
Mr.. P. would accept for the painting.
The question on fve thousand was
decided, by yeas and nays, in the mega
tive, yeas 90, nays %.
The question was taken on $4,000,
and lost.
Mr.. HOLMES, of Maine, then moved
to fill the blank with $4,000, but, be.
fore the question on this sum was put,
The bill was, on motion OF Mr..
MILLS, ordered to be laid on the table.
A motion to adjourn to Monday gave
rise to some discussion; and, after mo.
difying it, on motion Of Mr.. BENTON,
so as to change the hour Of meeting
from IL to II O'Clock, the motion pre-
vailed-ayes %, noes l9; and
The Senate adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The messages yesterday received
from the President of the U. States
were read, and referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
CANAL BOATS.
Mr.. NEWTON moved to discharge the
committee of the whole from the con-
sideration of the bill concerning canal
vessels and boats. The motion was
carried, ayes u. The bill was then
taken up and read.
Mr.. SroRRs, of New-York, objected
to the bill on constitutional grounds,
because it speaks of the remission Of
the tonnage duty on canal boats, as
thing granted by Congress, whereas, he
held that Congress had no right to i'm
pose such duty on boats navigating
a canal lying wholly within the limits
of single state; and he moved the
following amendment, viz:
To strike out the first section, after
the enacting words, and substitute the
following:
'eThat the several acts regulating the com.
mercs of the United States, and imposing du-
ties on tonnage, and the acts supplementary
and amendatory Of the same, shan not be con.
,tr,ed to extend to boats employed exclusive
ly in navigating the canals within the repee.
tive states"
Mr.. McLAxE suggested to Mr.. SroHHs
the propriety Of emitting that clause
of his amendment which extends the
exemption, not only to boats naviga'
tingthe canal, itself, but, also, the ar
tihcial works connected herewith
One Of these works was bason IN
Lake Erie, and the words Of the q
mendment would exclude Ill the navi.
CATION of Lake Erie which entered that
basin, from tonnage duty.
Mr.. SroRls accepted the modihca-
ton proposed by Mr.. NOLAN.
The question was then taken on Mr..
~ -I~ou< and dprided in