The New Hampshire Gazette

National Legislature

NINTH CONGRESS, II SECOND SESSION.

SENATE

Mr. Worthington submitted the following motion, which was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine, if any, and if any, what alterations or amendments are necessary in the laws of the United States, for the sale of the public lands, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Monday, Dec. 8.—The resolution, offered by Mr. Tracy, calling upon the President for information relative to the negociations pending with G. Britain, was taken up, and negatived—Ayes 5 Noes 18.

Agreeably to notice given on Wednesday, Mr. Bradley presented a bill to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the 1st day of January, 1808.

The bill is the same with that before the Senate at their last session.

Dec. 9.—The bill offered by Mr. Bradley, to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the U. States, from and after the 1st day of January, 1808, was referred to Messrs. Giles, Baldwin and Mitchill.

The bill to suspend the operation of an act, entitled "An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares and merchandize," passed in the House of Representatives, was read a second time and ordered to a third reading.

Dec. 10.—The bill which had yesterday been reported without amendment by the select committee, was considered as in committee of the whole House, when Mr. Mitchell proposed a new section to the bill, empowering the President to give a further suspension to the law beyond the 30th June, 1807, until the 31st of December, if in his opinion the public interest should require it. On this the bill with the amendment was recommitted.

Dec. 11.—Mr. Giles reported the bill with the new section, and another amendment: and Mr. Mitchill's proposition being thus incorporated into the bill, the whole was ordered to be printed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, DEC. 9.

Mr. Bidwell, from the committee appointed on that subject, reported a bill to revive and make permanent an act to prescribe the mode of taking evidence in cases of contested elections for members of the House of Representatives of the U. S. and to compel the attendance of witnesses and in addition to the same, which was read twice, and referred to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday.

Mr. J. Clay remarked that under an existing rule of the House, the member first named on committees was the Chairman, unless another member was chosen by the committee; and that he was instructed to state that, in virtue of the last provision, the committee of Ways and Means had appointed Mr. J. Randolph Chairman.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10.

Mr. Eppes presented the petition of Peter Dupuy, which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion a committee of enrollment was appointed, composed of Messrs. T. M. Randolph and Porter.

On motion of Mr. Thomas, the bill passed by the House at their last session, for the relief of certain British refugees from the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, was referred to a select committee composed of Messrs. Thomas, Wilson and Green.

THURSDAY, DEC. 11.

Mr. Clarkson rose, and addressed the Speaker in a speech of considerable length, which he concluded with the proposition of the following amendment to the constitution of the U. S.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, That the following article be submitted to the legislatures of the several states, which when ratified and confirmed by the legislatures of three fourths of the said states, shall be valid and binding as a part of the constitution of the U. S.

The last clause of the 8th section of the 1st article of the constitution which contains the following words: "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the U. S. or in any department or officer thereof," shall be construed so as to comprehend only such laws as shall have a natural connection with and immediate relation to the powers enumerated in the said section, or to such other powers as are expressly vested by this constitution in the government of the U. S. or in any department or officer thereof.

or in any department or officer thereof.

The House immediately considered the said amendment, and referred it to a committee of the Whole on the state of the union.

On motion of Mr. Stanton, resolved that a committee be appointed to enquire whether any, and if any, what description of claims against the U. S. are barred by the statute of limitations, which in reason and justice ought to be provided for by law, 'and that said committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Referred to a committee of seventeen members.

FRIDAY, DEC. 12.

The Bill regulating the method of taking evidence in cases of contested elections, was taken up. Mr. Clay observed, he intended to introduce a section, providing that in contested elections, by ballot, all persons who were not qualified to vote, and who had voted, should be compelled to declare on oath, for whom they have given their votes. Mr. Bidwell thought the proposition not only unnecessary, but an infringement of the Constitution. Mr. Clay denied the unconstitutionality of his proposition.

No decision was had on the bill: and the committee had leave to sit again.

Petitions from Custom-house officers, praying for increase of emoluments, were referred to the committee of Ways and Means. Adjourned to Monday.

MONDAY, DEC. 15.

The bill from the Senate, to suspend the operation of the Non-Importation Law, until the first of July, 1807, with the addition of a section, enacting, "That the President be authorized further to suspend the operation of the aforesaid act, if in his judgment the public service require it :—Provided, That such suspension shall not extend beyond the second Monday in December next" was taken up; and the amendment agreed to by the House.