Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S.

Monday, Jan. 23.

Mr. Macon from the committee of conference appointed on the bill authorising the appointment and employing of an additional number of officers, seamen and marines, reported that the committee had met that of the senate, but had come to no understanding.

Mr. Lewis from the committee on the affairs of the district of Columbia, reported a bill, respecting the collection of small debts in the said district. Referred to a committee of the whole on Wednesday next.

Mr. Holmes from the committee of claims reported a bill for the relief of Isaac Briggs. Referred to a committee of the whole to-morrow.

Mr. Fisk from the select committee reported a bill altering the time & places of holding the circuit courts of the U.S. in the state of Vermont. Referred to the committee of the whole on Thursday.

Mr. Macon from the committee on the public lands, reported a bill respecting the claims of lands in the Mississippi territory, under grants from the British government of West Florida. Referred to a committee of the whole on Thursday next.

The house went into committee of the whole on the bill providing for the increase of the military establishment. The bill contemplates the raising of 50,000 volunteers.

On the motion of Mr. Nelson, the first blank was so filled as to limit the term of service to two years.

The committee rose and reported the bill with the amendments.

The house immediately took up the report, and after some observations in opposition to the bill, from Mr. Milnor, the question on engrossing the bill for a third reading, was taken by yeas and nays, and carried—ayes 72, noes 45.

On the motion that the bill be ordered for a third reading to-morrow.

Mr. D. R. Williams wished that it might be postponed until the course which was to be pursued should be determined.—He alluded to a declaration made some time since by Mr. Bacon, that he would bring forward a motion for the repeal of the embargo, at a certain period. Mr. Williams wished to have that question settled before this additional force should be voted.

Mr. Nelson could not consent to a postponement. He thought the country ought to be put into an immediate state of defence, and it would be unwise to repeal the embargo until that was done. He apprehended no danger to the liberties of the people from the increased force of the United States. From what he had seen of the militia, he did not believe them sufficiently disciplined to be so immediately effective.

Col. Tallmadge thought the bill of more importance in respect to the interests of the people, than the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Nelson) seemed to imagine. He therefore moved that it should be ordered to a third reading on this day week, that gentlemen might have time to consider the bill in all its bearings.

Mr. Bacon wished for an intermediate period. He said that he should not shrink from the duty which he had assigned himself, in bringing forward a resolution for the repeal of the embargo at no distant period.

Mr. Desha moved that the bill be read a third time on Thursday next.

Mr. D. R. Williams thought if war measures were resolved upon, the nation should know it. If war was the object of the present bill it was deceiving the people.

Mr. Nelson made some remarks in support of the bill, and of a third reading to-morrow.

Mr. Lyon wished the longest period named might prevail. He wanted time to look over a book of speeches, in which he found certain principles in direct hostility to the present bill, maintained by the gentleman who now fills the chair, and the celebrated personage who is at present at the head of the treasury. He wanted to shew the republicans what they themselves had said upon the subject. He called these men time servers, whose principles altered to suit the times.

Mr. Nicholas supported the bill, not on the ground of its contemplating the raising of more militia or volunteers, but as an army of defence.

Mr. Gardenier moved that the third reading of the bill should be postponed until the 22d of February next. Mr. G. took a wide view, in a speech of about an hour, of the affairs of the country, and of the present system of measures, and hoped that gentlemen, if they would not consent to go back, would at least consent to make a short pause, and allow time to have a complete knowledge of the situation of the nation before they should pass the present bill.

Mr. Macon replied at length to Mr. Gardenier, defending the embargo and the other measures of the government.

Mr. Z. G. Jackson also spoke at length in reply to Mr. Gardenier.

The question was then taken by ayes and noes, on the motion of Mr. Gardenier and lost—ayes 16, noes 51.

The question was then put on the third reading on Monday, and lost.

The bill was then ordered to a third reading on Wednesday, and the house adjourned.