Alexandria Daily Advertiser

Proceedings of Congress Taken for the "Alexandria Daily Advertiser."

NINTH CONGRESS.

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Thursday, December 26.

Mr. Bidwell called for the resolution, respecting a reward to WILLIAM EATON, Esq.

This produced a long, and animated debate.

It was began by Mr. J. Clay; who said, that it was very far from his intention, to depreciate the merits of Mr. Eaton; but he could not reconcile it to his mind; that the taking of such a place of Derne, in which about a dozen Americans assisted, was worthy of the high and honorable reward of a Gold Medal. He observed that such rewards were only voted on the most important occasions, and he mentioned such an instance as the capture of York Town.

Mr. J. Randolph, concurred with the last speaker. He too was of opinion that the reward should be in proportion to the services rendered. He did not personally know the gentleman in question, but he thought that he would be better gratified by a vote of thanks. He did not think, this a case, where a gold medal should be voted. Three times only, during the revolutionary war with Great Britain, this had been done. Once on account of the victory of Saratoga: a second time on the capture of the English Army under Lord Cornwallis; and again, on that most important and sublime occasion, the resignation of the commander in chief of his commission to Congress, on a glorious peace. There is, continued Mr. Randolph, a Bathos in politics, as well as in poetry, and in both we may go too far. Shall we in this instance pass a vote similar to that on those great occasions? or a mere skirmish, between an handful of Americans, and a parcel of half naked barbarians!- The expression of the unanimous vote of thanks from the House, would be thought to be more satisfactory, than the reward now in contemplation; and would fully remunerate the gentleman for his service.

(This interesting debate will be continued, but the time at present, will not allow more, previous to the departure of the mail.