Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

Congress of the United States:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, February 26, 1812.
[Reported for This Gazette.]
Mr. Law presented the petition of Mrs. Palmer of Stonington praying relief. The petitioner states that her husband was one of the officers of the customs for that Port that he was ordered to go on board a vessel, he employed Edward Hancock, junior, to go with him, that they attempted to board the vessel, in an open boat, but a storm coming on the boat was driven ashore and Palmer was frozen to death, and Hancock so much frozen as to render him unable to perform manual labor, and therefore hopes Congress will grant her such relief as they may deem proper.
Also a petition from Edward Hancock, jun. on the same subject--The petitions and documents accompanying them were referred to a select committee of three.
Mr. Sturges presented the petition of Elisha White a revolutionary soldier praying relief.
Mr. Dawson from the select committee, reported a bill to authorise the Secretary of War to exchange a lot of ground with the Ursuline Nuns in the city of New-Orleans.--Read twice and referred to a committee of the whole House.
Mr. Sybert offered the following: Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the U.S. in Congress assembled, that the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be and they are hereby authorised to grant to the Judges of the Supreme Court, while in session, the use of the books in the public Library, on the same terms as members of Congress are authorised to use them. Read twice and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading tomorrow.
The House in committee of the whole took up the unfinished business of yesterday, the report of the committee of ways and means. Mr. Mitchell was opposed to the resolution laying an additional duty of 100 per cent.--He thought it would be better to enquire whether there were not objects which would bear taxation, which had heretofore been free of duty; such as Plaster of Paris, Copperas, Wool and Mahogany Wood, &c. He believed it would be more proper to enquire for new subjects of taxation, rather than lay an additional indiscriminate duty of 100 per cent. on the present tariff. Some articles would not bear the proposed additional burden, while others could very properly be subjected to it. He moved that the resolution lie on the table, in order to give time for further enquiry.
This motion gave rise to a desultory debate in which all the speakers seemed to admit that the rate proposed was too high, as applied indiscriminately, but the prevailing opinion appeared to be, to leave the sum blank, that the committee, when reporting a bill might propose such additional duty on specific articles as might be expedient.
The motion was withdrawn.
Mr. M'Kim moved to strike out 100 per cent, and make the resolution read, " That an additional duty be laid, &c. calculated to yield a net revenue of 2,500,000 dollars." Negatived.
Mr. Sybert moved to strike out 100 per cent. and insert 50. Negatived, 33 to 57.
Mr. M'Kim moved to strike out 100 per cent. and leave the resolution blank. Negatived 37 to 48.
The resolution was then agreed to, 61 in the affirmative.
2d Resolution--retaining 25 per cent. on drawbacks. Agreed to, 56 in favor.
3d Resolution-laying additional tonnage duty. Agreed to, 59 in favor.
4th Resolution-duty on salt. Agreed to, 51 in favor.
5th Resolution--duty on licenses and stills. Agreed to, 49 in favor.
6th Resolution--duty on licences to retailers of foreign merchandize. Agreed to, 57 in favor.
7th Resolution--duty on sales at auction.--Agreed to.
8th Resolution--duty on refined sugar. Agreed to.
9th Resolution--duty on carriages. Agreed to.
10th Resolution-duty on stamps. Agreed to.
11th Resolution--direct tax, $ 3,000,000 Agreed to.
12th Resolution--allowing a discount on the prompt payment of the direct tax. Agreed to.
13th Resolution--provides that the taxes shall not be levied or collected till the United States shall be actually engaged in a war with some foreign European government ; or letters of marque and reprisal have been issued against the subjects of such government.
On motion of Mr. Grundy the last member of this resolution was struck out, and the House agreed to the other part.
14th Resolution--limiting the duration of the taxes. Agreed to.
The committee rose and reported them to the house and the house Adjourned.