Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

Congress of the United States.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, January 16.

[Taken for the Alexandria Gazette.]

Several reports, resolutions and private petitions were presented and referred.

Mr. Moseley from the committee on the petition of Daniel Pettibone, praying to be employed to warm the hall of the house of representatives with his rarifying air-stove, reported that the prayer of the petitioner is reasonable and that measures ought to be taken to procure a rarifying air-stove to warm the hall of this house: Referred to a committee of the whole house on Friday next.

The unfinished business of yesterday was taken up, respecting the gag-rule. The question before the house is, shall the committee have leave to sit again?

Mr. Dana spoke at considerable length and with great energy against the rule. He said it was worse than licensing the press--it went to silence more than a million of people at once. It destroys representation in its essence. Why should the majority have a desire to silence the minority with this political lock-jaw?

Mr. Moseley also spoke with great judgment and strength of argument against the rule.

Mr. W. Alston spoke in favor of the rule, as did Mr. Rhea.

Mr. Sheffey spoke against the rule. He considered it an encroachment on the liberties of speech, and he could never submit to it.

Mr. Nelson was also against the rule--he believed the previous question was not well understood in the house, or perhaps he did not understand it. According to the construction now put upon it by those who advocated it, he believed it to be one of the most wicked and mischievous regulations ever introduced.

Mr. Dana rose again to explain the former usages of the house with respect to previous question.

Mr. Ross was in favor of the rule, he thought it absolutely necessary for the government of the house and to facilitate the business of the nation.

The question, shall the committee of the whole have leave to sit again? was put and lost.

The merits of the report of the select committee who reported the rules and order of the house were then taken up.

Mr. Dawson moved to strike out the offensive rule, in order to introduce the rule as formerly practised.

Mr. Sheffey moved to divide the question so as to take the sense of the house on striking out first. The yeas and nays were called on this question.

Mr. P. B. Porter spoke at considerable length in favor of the rule. He did not wish to disguise the rule. It went to give the majority the privilege of closing debate when they thought proper; and he contended that this power was necessary to the majority--As they had power to make laws, they ought to have power to silence the opposition.