Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-03

ne, as member of that Committee, had abored
with his colleagues in maturing system for ame-
liOrating the penal laws here, but though bill
was reported, they were never able to get it up.
Mr.. l. dwelt on the anomalous and cruel nature
of the laws which prevail in the Dictrict-remain-
inc destitute of those improvements which have
been made in those of the States around, because
there has been no legislation for the District
They are Just as they were thirty years ago at the
time of the cession. One fact he cited as an in
stance: kidnapping is not an offence in the Dis
trict; stealing slave is, under the old law, but
stealing free man is not punishable. He also
referred to the evils of the slave-trade as carried
on through the District. A bill was once report
ed to abate this evil, but Congress could never be
got to take it up. He hoped the time asked for
the affairs of the District would be granted, and
tins mass of corruption be swept of.
Mr.. PettiS then renewed his motion to lay the
resolution on the table.
They were taken accordingly, and were, ayes
A., noes l20. >
Here the hour elapsed, and Mr.. Nailary NOV
ed to suspend the rule, but the House refused.
The House then acted, in Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union, on the bill to
construct road from Buffalo, by way of Wash
ington, to New Orleans, but did not come to any
decision.
An amusing scene (says the National Journal)
occurred in the House of Representatives on
Thursday. Mr.. W. b. Shepard, Of North Ca
rolina, took occasion, in his speech the Buifs-
10 and New Orleans Road Bill, to aliude to the
story of bargain and corruption in the election
of MIR. Adams, and very frankly Though friend
of the present Administration avowed his belief
that there was no foundation for it, and that 1t
neoer ,cas believed by intelligent and honorable
men. His colleague, Mr.. Carson, doubtless
surprising that such sentiment, from such a
quarter, was calculated to injure the cause Of
the Combination now in power, undertook to as
sure Mr.. S. that he believed the story true, and
that it was in that faith he began his opposition to-
Mr.. Adams's Administration. By the way. we
thought he began his opposition on the Billiard
Table. as that is believed to be the first occasion
on which his voice was heard i'll Congress. MIR.
S. replied, that what he had stated was said In
good faith, as at the time he supposed the story
was not believed, but was only used as an cleo
toneering topic, for effect. As. however, his
colleague declared that he believed the story,
Mr.. 5. must admit he was in an error.
So. it seems, MIR. Crason is believer in the
ridiculous story. We take leave, from this In
cident, to caution all good Jackson men and true
to beware how they suffer themselves to avow
their honest sentiments on this subject, so long
as HENRY CLAY is alive. and rising still higher
in the estimation Of the community. When ne Is
dead, the truth may be told.
-ssaesSee2ne-
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT.
! Henry .4shton, Ihomas Carbery, and Uiaia'n
O'Neal, of the city of Washington, Thomson F.
Mason, of Alexandria, and James Dunlap, at
Georgetown, all of the District of Columbia, to
be Inspectors of the Penitentiary, from the 9th
March, 1880.
| -sel5e5en-
We are authorized to state, says the National
Intelligencer of yesterday, that the Secretary OF
the Navy. on receiving satisfactory information
that certain Officers of the United States Navy
had been concerned in the late duel near Phila-
delphia. which resulted in the death of MIR. Mil
1ER. of that city, communicated the same to the
President of the United States and recommended
their dismissal from the service; and that the
President, on being made acquainted with the
facts. immediately ordered the names of the fol-
lowing officers to be erased from the Register OF
the Navy,viz.:
Lieutenant Edna,usa Byrne,
Lieutenant Hampton WestcoH,
Passed Midshipman Charles H. D"ryee
Midshipman Chales G. Hunter.
-ase9eaaea-
FIRE AT WINrON, N. c.
From the Norfolk Beacon Of March ST.
We learn from gentlemen who arrived here
yesterday from Murfreesborough, that an express
reached there on Monday morning early. as they
we're about to depart, with the melancholy intel
luence of the destruction Of the Court House 91
and Clerks Offices Of Hartford County, at WIN
ton, by fire. s,J.r
and had Gained so great an ascendancy before
# was discovered, as to defy every effort to ar
rest s its progress. The Clerks Offices of the ST.
nsr;or and COUNTY Courts, which were frame