Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

Congress of the United States,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Thursday, February 1.
[Taken for the Alexandria Gazette.]
Mr. Milnor from the committee appointed to enquire respecting the fulfilment of the contract relative to stationary, reported respecting that contract, and offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That no farther order be made on the subject. The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Morrow reported a bill authorising the president to cause the laws respecting the public lands to be collected and printed. Referred to a committee of the whole house.
Mr. Desha from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Daniel Boon, reported favorably to the petitioner. Referred to a committee of the whole house.
On motion of Mr. Eppes, the unfinished business of yesterday was taken up.
Mr. Lyon's motion still before the house.
To strike out certain salaries of public ministers. The question on striking out, was taken by ayes and noes, and lost, ayes 39, noes 77.
Mr. Quincy opposed the clause appropriating 50,000 dollars for contingent expenses of foreign intercourse. He made it appear that this money which would be put at the disposal of the executive was seventy or eighty thousand dollars more than was at his disposal in any former year.
Mr. Dana was for making some enquiry before this sum was passed.
Mr. Gardinier was also against this appropriation. He spoke at considerable length with his usual sarcastic humor, and commanding eloquence. He did not know what was to be done with this additional appropriation. Was the embassy to Russia to swallow up this 50,000 dollars? Was the minister to lay it out in buying up the people there? Was this one of those items, which more properly come under the head of secret service money? The good old maxim was, that republics should have no secrets. But unfortunately that doctrine died about the year 1801.
Mr. Macon was for the appropriation, as he thought it would be economy to keep the nation in peace, and if one hundred thousand dollars would do it he should think it well laid out.
Mr. Lyon spoke a few words against the appropriations.
Mr. W. Alston rose to state how the fifty thousand dollars came to be appropriated last year, it was on account of sending dispatch vessels to Europe.
Mr. Montgomery spoke in favor of the appropriation as did Mr. Rhea.
Mr. Pitkin thought on the whole that the 50,000 dollars might be appropriated.
As he did not see how the 50,000 dollars now in the hands of the executive could be applied to the purposes for which this appropriation is made.
The question was taken by ayes and noes, and carried--Ayes 102--Noes 16. The 50,000 dollars were therefore appropriated.
Mr. Key moved to recommit the bill, so as to strike out the sum appropriated for the mission to Russia.