Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-01-18
PUBLISHED (DA1LY) BE
EDGAR SNOWDEN, JR.
n~ OFFICE-No. 104 King street, over
S,one's, formerly French's) Book Store.
INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS

legislature, in session in this place, the follow
ing proceedings are reported on Thursday.
"Mr Me,ceir moved to take up House Bill
No. 9, amending the charter of the city of
Portsmouth, Va. The bill was then takenup,
read and considered.
Mr.. Merceir moved that the bill be read a
second time, and by It's title. The motion was
adopted, and the bill SO read.
Mr. Brown moved a suspension OF the rules
IN order that the bill might be read a third
time. Adopted. .s....4 Az. at
Mr.. Lemosev said. AS a. representative
from the city whose charter this bill is design
ed to affect, he most solemnly protested
against It's passage It was entirely uncalled
for and unsolicited on the part of the people
of Portsmouth, Indeed, he doubted if there
was more than one or two gentlemen OF Ports
mouth who were aware until very recently
shat such bill was before the General Assem-
bly,, or who we're acquainted with one OF Its
many provisions He desired to say but very
little on the subject, because, it he spoke at
length, he might become excited and say things
which it would be better were they not spoken
He desired to enter his protest against the bill,
and moved that it be laid on the table
Mr. Brown asked for the withdrawal Of the
motion, which was granted The Senator from
~
tion to the BILL and hoped, as the action Of the
House seemed to have been hasty and prema'
ture, that the Senate would refuse to concur IN
its action, and reject the bill.
Mr. MERCER hoped that, as the bill was now
before the Senate for the last time, gentlemen
would express themselves freely upon its merits
or dement's, 1t was evident to him, with all
due Difference to the action of his worthy
friends in the other house, that the people OF
Portsmouth did not desire the change which
this bill proposes to make in the charter of their
city. They had not asked it-they had not
petitioned for it, and my worthy colleague
doubts if but few of them know of the exis-
tence Of such BILL Why was such haste ex-
hlbited IN the passage of this bill in the house?
Was the necessity so urgent that time could not
ke allowed members to give that thorough pc
rusal necessary to complete understanding OF
lts provisions? There seems to be an evident
and long settled determination on the part of
some gentlemen In the other House to push this
plll through IN OPT osition to the wishes and
best interests OF the people of Portsmouth, =
lhe author of the bill, in his zeal to accom-
pllsh It's passage at the earliest possible mo-
ment, must go out Of his way to attack the
General Government and the military author
lties appointed to carry out it's views and
wishes. He read from the published pro-
eeedlngs Of the House, the speech of Mr..
Brownley, heretofore published in the Ga
zette)
Why this uncalled for attack upon General
Butler? Why this attack upon the Admins
sratlon and the General Government? | have
talked with gentlemen residing in Gen. But
iers department-aye with gentlemen even
5rom Portsmouth, who boldly assert that they
nave never heard Of any of this outrageous
oppression. This oppression has not been telt
HyT, 2y the worthy Senator from Portsmouth,
why, then, this uncalled for attack upon the