Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, Jan. 27

Mr. Ward of N. J. appeared and took his seat.

The Speaker laid before the house a letter from the Secretary of war, transmitting documents containing the information required by a resolution submitted by Mr. Wright on the 22d inst. relative to the execution of the act fixing the Military Peace Establishment, which was read and referred to the committee on military affairs.

MONDAY, Jan. 29.

The following petitions were presented and referred to committees, viz.

By Mr. King of Mass. the petition of Jabez Mowry and others, citizens of the U. States, stating that upon the capture of Eastport by the British forces during the late war, a number of bonds given by them to the U. States to secure the duties on imported merchandize fell into the hands of the British authorities, that suits have been commenced against some of them by the British government in Halifax, and judgment decreed, that the cases are now pending before the higher courts in G. Britain, &c. and that suits have also been commenced against them by the authorities of the U. States, and praying relief from these double prosecutions.

By Mr. Wendover, the petition of the weighers for the customs in and for the port of N. York, praying for an increase of compensation.

By Mr. Sargeant: the petition of the merchants and traders in the City of Philadelphia, praying that the present state of duties may continue for such length of time as shall produce equal justice to all, or that a new tariff of duties may be established to go into operation when the existing rate of duties shall cease.

By Mr. Ingham, the petition of sundry manufacturers of woolen goods in the states of N. Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, praying that the existing duties upon all woolen articles of foreign manufacture imported into the U. States may be continued.

By Mr. Cannon, the petition of Wm. P. Lawrence, praying compensation for a negro slave, the property of the petitioner, who died of a disease contracted whilst attending a detachment of sick and disabled soldiers of the army of the U. States.

Mr. Yancey, from the committee of claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Zach Shoemaker, a paymaster in the army, who prayed to be allowed for a certain sum of public money stolen from him. The report lays down the principle, that paymasters ought in all cases, to be made responsible for losses of money, actually received in their possession. The report was read and referred to a committee of the whole.

Mr. Yancey, from the same committee, made a report on the petition of Daniel Gould and others, of Randolph county, praying to be allowed certain monies stolen from capt. J. W. Wamsley at Richmond, which he had received at Norfolk on their account and for their use, in payment for militia services. On the principle that the government ought to bear the risk of transmission until it was paid into the hands of those to whom it was actually due, the committee report a bill for their relief. The bill was twice read and committed.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of ways and means, reported a bill making appropriations for ordnance and ordnance store for the year 1816. The bill was twice read.

Mr. Ingham from the committee on post offices and post roads, made the following report:

The committee of the post office and post roads, to whom was referred a letter addressed to the Speaker by the Postmaster Gen. requesting an investigation of the fiscal concerns of this department, report, that they have had a conference with the Postmaster General on the subject of his letter, who states that a rumor is in circulation with respect to the conduct of certain persons in his department, which he considered was of such a nature as to require an investigation by a committee of the house of representatives. Your committee have ascertained that the rumor has proceeded from Clerks in the General Post-Office and that it purports to indicate a suspicion that some persons in that department have been in the practice of selling drafts upon Deputy Postmasters for premiums which have not been passed to the credit of the department on the books.

Your committee have not ascertained any fact to justify this rumor, but they consider it due to the character of the Post Office Department, as well as to the interest and policy of the government, to comply with the request of the Postmaster General in recommending a more particular enquiry than would have been in their opinion compatible with the duties assigned to the committee of post office and Post Roads by the rules of the house. They therefore submit the following resolution:

"Resolved, That a select committee be appointed, in conformity with the request of the Postmaster General, to investigate the conduct of the Post Office department."
The report was concurred in, and a committee ordered to be appointed accordingly.

Mr. Tucker from the committee of the District of Columbia, reported a bill making an appropriation for enclosing and improving the public square near the Capitol; and a bill to incorporate the Columbia Insurance company of Alexandria. These bills were twice read and committed.

Mr. Cannon after a pretty full explanation by him of the circumstances of this case offered a resolution, which having been modified on the suggestion of Mr. Desha, to embrace the case generally of all militia who had been situated in the same manner as those of Tennessee, whom Mr. N. desired particularly to relieve, was agreed to in the following words:

"Resolved, That a committee on military affairs, be instructed to enquire into the expediency of making provision by law, for paying the different volunteers and militia corps, in the service of the U. States during the late war with G. Britain, for the transportation of baggage, when such transportation was not furnished by the government."

THE REVENUE.

The house then again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the revenue subject.

The question still under consideration was the proposition, by way of amendment, to repeal the direct tax.

Mr. Parris, and Mr. M'Kee, spoke in favor of this motion; Mr. Clay went at length in opposition to the motion; and Mr Hopkinson in reply.

The speeches of the two latter gentlemen covered the whole field of the general policy past and present, of the government.

When Mr. Hopkinson concluded on the suggestion of Mr. Throop the resolution respecting the direct tax was ordered to be laid on the table, and the House proceeded to consider the following resolution, as being more pressing in its nature:

Resolved. That it is expedient to repeal, from and after the 18th day of April next, the act entitled " an act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expences of government and maintaining the public credit, by laying duties on various goods, wares, and merchandize, manufactured within the U. States," passed on the 18th of Jan. 1815, and also the act entitled " an act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expences of government and maintaining the public credit, by laying a duty on gold, silver, and plated ware, and jewelry and paste work, manufactured within the U. States," passed on the 27th February, 1815, from the same day.

Mr. Desha moved to strike out so much of the resolve as proposes to repeal the duties on manufactures of jewelry, &c, which motion was however negatived, being opposed by Mr. Lowndes.

The resolution was finally agreed to, and referred to the committee of Ways and Means to bring in a bill accordingly.

Mr. Randolph in consequence of what had fallen from Mr. Clay, in debate laid upon the table the following resolution:

"Resolved. That it is expedient to reduce the military establishment of the U. States."

And the house adjourned.