Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Congressional Proceedings.
From the National Intelligencer.
Thursday February 21.
IN SENATE.
Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on the post office and post roads be instructed to inquire into the causes of the frequent failure of the mails between the other cities of the U. States and N. Orleans, and that they further inquire into the expediency of providing for the conveyance of the mails to and from New Orleans, in covered carriages.
The resolution lies on the table one day.
Mr. Lloyd presented certain proceedings and resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Baltimore, recommending the repeal of the restrictive system; which, on motion of Mr. L. were referred to the committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Lloyd submitted the following resolution for consideration.
Resolved, That the committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire into the expediency of removing the restrictions on our commerce which are imposed by the act concerning navigation, passed on the 18th April, 1818, & an act supplementary thereto, passed the 15th May, 1820.
Mr. Benton from the committee on public lands, reported a bill to perfect certain locations & sales of public lands in Missouri; and the bill was read.
The bills read the first time yesterday severally received a second reading.
The Senate then, on the motion of Mr. Smith, (who remarked that the petition from Pensacola, which had been yesterday presented to the Senate, would shew the necessity of acting on the bill without delay) proceeded to the consideration of the bill to establish a territorial government for the territory of Florida.
On proceeding to fill the blanks in the bill, a good deal of debate took place on the duties to be discharged by the several officers, the expenses which they must necessarily incur, the responsibility of their offices, &c. &c.
Mr Smith moved to allow the Governor of the Territory a salary of 3,000 dollars
Mr. Eaton thought this sum insufficient--a Governor might be got for 3,000 or for 2,000, or, doubtless for even 1,000; but if a man properly qualified for the office was to be appointed, a higher sum than 3,000 must be given. The salary of the Governor of Orleans Territory was 5,000, as well as that of the late Governor of Florida, and the expensiveness of the place would justify this as the future allowance for the Governor of Florida.
After some debate on the subject, in which Messrs. Otis, Smith, Lloyd, Williams of Tenn. Morrill, Pleasants, and Van Buren, took part, the sum of 5,000 dollars was agreed to
Some discussion took place also on the sum proper to be allowed to the Secretary of the Territory, (1,000 and 1,500 being severally proposed.) In the end the blank was filled with 1,500 dollars.
The next blank to be filled related to the salary of the territorial Judges.
Considerable debate took place on the sum which was just and proper for these officers--in which, as well as on the preceding question, Messrs Smith, Edwards, Johnson of Lou. Morrill, Chandler, Macon, Talbot, Holmes of Maine, Williams of Mississippi, and Lanman, joined--the debate turned principally on the extent and labor of the duties to be performed, the cost of living, the talents and learning required, &c. and comparing the sums proposed with the salary allowed to other territorial judges, the difference, more or less, proper in the present case, &c. The question on filling this blank was negatived--ayes 16 noes 18
The sum of 1,500 was then tried, & carried--Ayes 19.--Noes 17.
The per diem to be allowed to the members of the Legislative Council, while attending to their duties, was proposed by Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, to be four dollars; which was negatived & three dollars were agreed on; and three dollars for every twenty miles travelling to and from the seat of government of the territory.
On motion of Mr. Williams of Miss. the act to prevent settlements on the public lands, passed in 1807, was extended, with the other acts mentioned in the bill, to the new territory
The salary of the District Judge was fixed at 2,000 dollars.--Ayes 18, Noes 12
Several other amendments being offered and some debate ensuing;
The bill was on motion, recommitted, for the purpose of incorporating, with precision some amendments relating to the collection districts, &c
Mr. Lanman, who was accidentally not in the chamber yesterday, when the question on the passage of the apportionment bill was taken, obtained leave to record his name on that vote against the bill.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr Darlington, from the committee on Military Affairs, reported unfavorably on the petitions of Lavinia Huff and Cornelia Van Evereh: which was agreed to.
Mr. Cocke laid on the table the following resolution.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this house a statement, showing the amount of woolens purchased for the use of the army during the years 1820 and 1821: of whom the purchases were made; at what prices and what proportion thereof was of American manufacture
Mr. Cook moved that the two communications from the Treasury Department, on the subject of the inspection of the western land offices. &c. be referred to a select committee.
Mr. Reid and Mr. Rankin opposed that reference; when, the question being taken thereon, it was carried in the affirmative.
A bill from the Senate, entitled An act granting the right of pre emption to certain lands to Noble Osborn and Wm Doak, was twice read and committed to the committee on private land claims.
The amendment from the Senate to the apportionment bill, was read and referred to the committee on the Judiciary.
The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the unfinished business of Tuesday, (the Bankrupt Bill) Mr. Taylor in the chair.
Mr. Woodson rose and addressed the house in a speech of nearly two hours, opposed to the motion to strike out the first section of the bill. He was followed by Mr. Lowndes, in favor of the motion, who occupied the floor until nearly 3 o'clock; when Mr. Nelson, of Va. moved that the committee rise and report; which was agreed to, and the committee obtained leave to sit again.
In the house, the further orders of the day were, on motion, laid on the table, and the house took into consideration the bill making appropriations for the military service of the U. States for the year 1822.
After some debate on motion of Mr. Walker, the house adjourned.