Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASHINGTON.

Tuesday, 17th November, 1818.

The second session of the fifteenth congress of the United States was opened yesterday, with an attendance sufficient to make a quorum in each house, when the usual interchange of ceremonies took place between the senate and representatives, and between the individuals composing them, still more than the usual personal civilities and expressions of kindness. It was indeed a sight which ought to be gratifying to every good heart, and must have been highly so to every lover of his country,—the sincerity and hearty good will with which each recognized his old friend or approached a new one; and must have been felt with greater enjoyment by those who could recollect the temper and consequent expression with which our legislators were in the habit of meeting each other some five sessions ago; when, like a certain gentleman to whose immortality Milton has added in his Paradise Lost—they, with eye malign looked askance at each other, scowling with mutual suspicion and abhorrence.

Such are the blessed effects of peace.—Their feelings, which, after having been gradually cleared of their old stormy passions, session after session for two or three years before, had, on the last, presented a pleasing calm,—at yesterday's meeting seemed to be improved into a generous reciprocation of brotherly friendship, and exhibited strong indications of a sense that the object of all was nearly the same—that they came there for more beneficial and honorable purposes than to scuffle and tear each other—that their business, in which they were all disposed to unite, was to provide for the glory and interests of the republic, not for the sordid purposes of self interest, or the inexcusable views of party—and that their bosoms partook in the general tranquillity, harmony and joy, which now overspread the union, and present it with a new and improved aspect to the world.

With respect to the house of representatives, it is unnecessary to observe, in detail, that the customary officers were in due form appointed, and that the same persons who have for a long time given satisfaction to the house and the public were invested with their old situations, Mr. Clay as speaker, Mr. Dougherty as clerk, and our old friends Dunn, Claxton, and Burch, as sergeant at arms, &c.

According to the established custom, a committee (consisting of Mr. Taylor, of New York, and Mr. Baldwin, of Pennsylvania) was appointed to wait on the president, whose message, it is hoped, will be received this morning; and upon this part of the business it is not only pleasing to relate, but particularly deserving of notice, that a deeper interest or a more lively desire has scarcely ever been known to precede the communication of the president at the opening of any session, than is expressed by the people on the present occasion.—What can be the motive? The people are influenced neither by the fear of war for we have now no enemies—nor the hope of it—for it is fortunately placed so entirely out of the scope of any rational scheme of policy, that no one can be wicked enough to hope for it—But it is that the people begin already to perceive the wonderful advantages of a tranquil state, and to be desirous of converting them, with as little delay, and as great energy, as possible to the improvement of the commonwealth, and naturally look with impatience; and, I do believe, with confidence, to the executive and its councils for the development of an outline sketch, at least, of the plans which their wisdom may have devised, for turning to the best possible account the felicitous circumstances in which the bounty of Providence, the vigor of its population, and the spirit and intelligence of its government and national councils, have placed this republic. Among the rest people generally look for relief in their money affairs, from some wholesome and proper regulations in the circulating medium of the country, and in a more comprehensive uniform system of bankrupt law than that proposed last session; and almost unanimously for every rational measure that can be devised for the promotion of internal improvement.

The constitution for the new state of Illinois was laid before the house.