Virginia Argus

February 19.

Legislature of Massachusetts.

BOSTON, FEB. 21.

In the Senate, on Friday last, the committee to whom was referred the report of the joint committee, in answer to the disorganizing resolutions of Virginia and Kentucky, made their report, which contained additional reasons in support of the constitutionality of the alien and sedition laws of the United States. These reasons were adopted by way of amendment to the original report, and upon the question "Shall the original report pass, as now amended?" The Yeas and Nays were as follows:

Yeas. Hon. Messrs. Phillips, Bridge, Sexton, Fowler, Dana, Thomson, Campbell, Thayer, T Davis, Reed, B rd, Long, Fellow, Towne, Jones, Hayward, D. Davis, Dwight, Norris, Bingham, Thatcher, Hunt, Taft, Bigelow, Hale, Dummer, and Coffin.

Nays. Messrs. Bacon and Wells.

In justice to the Hon. Mr. Wells, it must be observed, that he was not opposed to the spirit of the measure; but objected to the following sentence, in the report.

"This legislature are persuaded that the decision of all cases arising under the constitution of the United States, and the construction of the constitution, and of all laws made in pursuance thereof, are exclusively vested by the people in the judicial courts of the United States."

On Saturday it was moved to re-consider the report, and the subsequent amendment of the above sentence was proposed, viz.

That this legislature are persuaded that the decision of all cases in law and equity, arising under the Constitution of the United States, and the construction of all laws made, in pursuance thereof are exclusively vested by the people in the judicial courts of the United States.

With this amendment, the question was again called, and passed, with but one dissentient—Mr. Bacon standing alone in the negative.