Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[Reported for the Alexandria Gazette.]

Friday, February 20.

Mr. Roberts presented the petition of manufacturers of cloth, praying that additional duties may be laid on that article when imported. Referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures.

Mr. M'Kim presented the memorial of a committee of the citizens of Baltimore in opposition to the bill reported by the committee of ways and means for a partial suspension of the non-importation act. Mr. M'Kim moved to refer it to the committee of the whole house who have that bill under consideration. Mr. Goldsborough opposed this motion. It was referred to that committee.

Mr. Talman from the select committee reported a bill authorising the discharge of John M'Masters from his confinement, which was twice read and referred to a committee of the whole house for Monday next.

Mr. Rodman, Mr. Widgery and Mr. Bacon had leave of absence.

Mr. Grundy, after some preliminary observations, in which he endeavored to impress upon the house the necessity of an early meeting of the 13th Congress, particularly for the purpose of providing the ways and means for prosecuting the war to advantage and upholding the public credit, offered the following:

Resolved, That it is expedient that the 13th Congress assemble on the last Monday in May next, and that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill providing therefor.

Mr. Bibb expressed his approbation of the resolution. Mr. Roberts opposed its passage, and moved that it lie on the table. Mr. Grundy opposed this motion. Mr. Randolph advocated its lying on the table. Several other gentlemen spoke for & against the motion, and the question was decided by ayes and noes as follows --Yeas 45 Nays 81.

The question then recurred on adopting the resolution. A debate of considerable interest took place, and the question was decided by ayes and noes --Yeas 58 Nays 70.

An engrossed bill regulating foreign coin, was read a third time and passed.

An engrossed bill for the encouragement of vaccination was read a third time, Mr. Williams moved that it be recommitted, some debate took place, and the motion was negatived. Mr. Stanford moved to postpone it indefinitely. Negatived. The bill was then passed.