Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-20
CONGRESS-.

and Burnet. RESOLUTIONS WeTc oheieu w
Messrs Foot and POindexter Various bills
were introduced; among which was one by Mr.
Benton, to reduce the duties on Indian blankets.
and other Indian goods; which was referred to
the Committee on Commerce. The following
bills were read third time, and passed: The
act to aid the State of Ohio in extending the MI
ami cana the several acts for the relief Of George
Johnson, Ezekiel Garfield. and Hugh Barnes;
the act authorizing the Territory of Florida to
open a canal between Chipola river and ST. An
drews' bay; and the act for establishing land
office in the Territory of Michigan. On the o.
pcning of the HIGH Court of impeachment for the
trial of Judge Peck, Mr.. Wicklitfe, on the part
of the managers. addressed the Court in a speech
of upwards of three hours in length, in which he
dweIt with much force on the various topics en-
braced in the great question before the Court.
concluding with an impassioned and eloquent
eulogy on that part of our Constitution, which
secures to our citizens the full enjoyment of the
freedom of speech and of the press; and windy
portrayed the evils which must result to our coun-
try from the remotest innovation on that freedom
so solemnIy guaranteed. After MIR. w. had
concluded, Messrs. Storrs and Buchanan gave
notice to the counsel for the respondent, OF the
grounds they should take, and the authorities
they should cite, in closing the argument on the
part of the House of Representatives. It's sup
posed the counsel for the respondent will address
the Court to-day.
In the House Of Representatives, after the pre-
sentation of usual petitions and reports. Mr.. IT..
WIN, of Ohio. from the Committee of Ways and
Means. reported bill to establish the number OF
Clerks, and regulate their compensation in the
General Land Office. 1t was read twice, and
referred to Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union, Mr.. lhrie, from the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia, reported bill
for the appointment of commissioners to prepare
a code of laws for the District, and to report
thereon at the next session of Congress; and Mr..
Dodd ridge, from the same Committee, introduce
ed bill to alter the bridge and draw across the
Potomac. They were severalIy read twice, Com
mitted to Committee of the Whole, and made
the order of the day for to-day. Mr.. Verplanck,
from the Committee of Ways & Means, reported a
bill making additional appropriations for the i'm
provement of harbors and rivers; which was read a
first and second time,and referred to a Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union. The bill
from the Senate, to authorize the President to send
out ships for the purpose OF succorng vessels that
may have suffered on our coasts from the late
violent storms, was read twice, and referred to a
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the Union.
Some remarks were made by Mr.. Martin and Mr..
Cambreleng, in relation to language used by the
latter gentleman during the debate in the House
on Thursday last, on the motion OF Mr. Stanber-
nv, respecting the salary of the Minister to Rus
sia; after which, the House went into Commit
tee of the Whole, Mr.. Martin in the chair, and
proceeded to the Senate chamber, to attend the
trial of Judge Peck. At 4 o'clock they return
ed, and reported, and the House adjourned
Telegraph.
General Assernbiy-Yesterday much business
was done in intermediate stages. A resolution
was passed for increasing the salary of the Audi
tor of Public Accounts, bis first Clerk; and
the bill making an appropriation to finish the re-
pairs and furnishing of the Governors House, and
concerning the recommendations OF Justices were
likewise passed. Mr.. Kinney called up resolu-
ton, proposing to relax the regulations of the law
subjecting Lottery Vendors to payment of IL
cense tax, in favor of lottery authorized to raise
money for the construction of turnpike to con-
meet the Kenhawa, with the Staunton and James
River Turnpike-stating that by that lottery ten
thousand dollars had been raised, and ten miles
of most useful improvement completed, but
that in consequence Of the license tax mention
ed, the operations of the lottery and the progress
of the road lad been suspended. Mr. linn ex-
pressed the opinion that the law ought to be re-
Taxed in other cases where it bore oppressively-
but before any question was taken, the resolu-
ton at the instance of Mr.. Bryce was referred
to the Committee on Finance.
A number of reports and resolutions of com
mittees were acted upon, which will be poticed,
when their subjects assume the shape of bills.
Yesterday the Committee of Courts Of Justice,
settled the principle in relation to the Superior
Courts of Chancery and Law. and reported their
decision to the House, in the shape of rcsolu-
tons.
The Committee report in favor of abolishing the
chancery courts as separate system. The scheme
which has received the appreciation of the CON-
mittee, is to blend the Chancery and Superior
Court Jurisdictions. The Judges to be twenty
in number-the State to be laid off into conve-
nent districts and Judge assigned to each. and
to hold in every county or district, sending a
member to the House Of Delegates, separate
terms of Common Law and Chancery-the same