Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-14
Congress Proceedings of yesterday.

Congress Proceedings Of yesterday.
In TIE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, much
of the day was consumed by the presentation
anil disposal ofpetitions, none OF which would
be interesting to our patrons, except per-
haps, memorial from the Vaccine Institution
of Philadelphia, praying Congress to establish
one for the whple United States.
The several amendments to the Rules OF
the House, which we noticed yesterday, were
considered to-day, and after some little de-
bate and attempt further to amend, were a.
topted- The first amendment was proposed
nv Mr.. Strong, of N. York, and adds another
Standing Committee of seren to the twenty
which are, as we formerly stated, appointed at
The commencement of every session. This
committee is called, "7he Committee on tie
Tsritories," and its duty is to examine into
their Legislative, Civil and Criminal proceed
ings; and to devise and report to the 'ouse
such means as may be necessary to secure
the rights and privileges of residents and non-
residents. There being a special committee
for this District, our affairs will not, OF course,
come under the inspection ofthe new commit
tee. The members composing it will be an
nounced tomorrow.
The other amendments were made at the
instance of Mr.. Webster of Mass who moved
that the rules Of the House, be so far altered
and amended as that the committee now cali
ed the committee on Pensions and Revoh-
tionary Claims, be hereafter called the Com
m ttee on Revolutionary ClNmes; and that
the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be
hereafter called the committee on Military
Pensions; and that it shall be the duty OF the
last mentioned committee to take into cons-
Iteration all such matters respecting pensions
for military service, and also all such matters
respecting invalid pensions as shall be refer
red to them by the House.
This alteration, it will be observed. raises
no additional committees, but merely changes
the names of existing ones, and in very
slight degree, their duties. The object, as
explained by the mover, was to prevent con-
fusion and misapprehension in referring bus'
ness to these committees, under their former
appellations; one of them having been newly
established, bearing part of the name, and
assuming pant Of the duties of the other.
Under these circumstances there was an am
biguity, which the new arrangement dispell-
ed
Mr.. Miller of Perm. called for the con-
sideraton Of resolution offered by him yes
-erday, requesting the President OF the United
States to lay before the House all the pro
ceedings and documents in the case of Lieut.,
wolbert, lately tried by Court Martial and
dismissed from the Navy; and upon the House
agreeing to consider it, MIR. Bartlett OF New
Hampshire, requested an explanation OF the
views of the mover. Mr. Miller said the per-
son dismissed had always Borne the reputation
Of an able and meritorious officer, and he
wished the House and the Nation to see upon
what grounds he had been pronounced other
wise by the Court Martial, Mr.. Bartlett then
objected to the notwithstanding that the
House might as well attempt to review the
Judgments of Judicial Courts, or the decisions
of the Supreme Court Of the United States
The House, he said, had called for papers in
the case of officers acquitted-they were now
asked in the case ofan officer found guilty and
cashiered, without IFS even being alledged
that the sentence of the Court was unjust
He hoped the motion would not prevail.
Mr.. Trmble, of Kentucky, also opposed
the motion, on the ground that no satisfactory
reason had been given for the request. Pa
pers had been called for, he said, on former
occasions, for the sole purpose of getting
them printed in the shape of book, to be cir,
culated through the country; when, at the
same time, there was no intention Of taking
any step in the House in relation to them. If
this was the object in the present instance, he
should vote against the resolution. No further
explanation being made, the question was Ia
ken, and decided in the negative by large
majority.
Mr.. Bailey of Mass submitted a series Of
resolutions for the consideration of the House,
expressing opinions of the great importance
of Roads and Canals to the general prosperity
of the Uniou,of the proPriety of appropria-
tons being made by Congress for these OBJ
jects, and fairly distributed among the several
States; that if Congress do not possess the
power to make such appropriations, the Con-
stitution should be so amended as to grant it;
together with other doubtful powers ofestab-
fishing National Universities, promoting Agri-
culture, Education, Science and the liberal
Arts. And for this purpose he offered a joint
resolution, proposing such amendments to the
Constitution as would embrace all the objects
in question. The subject was referred to
the committee of the whole House, and Or
dered to be printed. When revived, We
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