Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASHINGTON.
Friday, Nov. 20.
Nothing of any extraordinary interest or importance took place yesterday in the H. of Representatives. Mr. M'Lean, the first elected representative of the new state of Illinois, was expected to have the oath administered to him, in order to his taking his seat; but Mr. Poindexter objected to his being sworn or taking his seat till the constitution of the state was examined, to see whether it was so perfectly republican as to warrant its admission among the states of the union. Mr. Harrison said a few words to prove the admissibility of the new member by the precedent of Indiana, and was followed by Mr. Pitkin, who said that the house had directed that, after Indiana had complied with the necessary requisitions, her constitution should be examined. The speaker then suggested that the sense of the house should be taken on the question of administering the oath to Mr. M'Lean, which being taken, resulted in the negative.
A resolution passed to refer it to the committee on naval affairs to consider of the expediency of extending still further the five years pension to the widows and orphans of seamen killed on board the armed ships of the United States in the late war.
Mr. Johnson of Kentucky moved a resolution to refer it to the committee on military affairs to inquire into the expediency of establishing two military academies,- one in this district, and one in Kentucky: but on its being suggested by Mr. Williams of N.C. that the southern states ought to be allowed to participate in the benefit of those establishments, and moved by him that one academy should be located at Fort Dearborn, S. Carolina, the resolution was so moulded as to make it more general.
A resolution also passed, on motion of Mr. Jones of Ten. referring it to the committee on military affairs to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the payment of property lost or destroyed by the enemy, and for horses lost for want of forage during the war with the Seminole Indians.
Another resolution passed to refer it to a select committee to inquire into the expediency of allowing to the Michigan territory a delegate to congress—another to refer it to the committee of commerce and manufactures to consider of the expediency of providing by law for staking off the channel of Currituck sound, from the inlet to Powell's point—and another referring it to the committee of post offices and post roads to consider of the expediency of increasing the salary of the assistant post master general.