Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

CONGRESS

House of Representatives.

Monday, February 3.

A number of petitions were read and referred.

On motion of Mr. Harrison, the report of a select committee on the petition of Lucy Clark, was taken into consideration—this report was read, and is in favor of the prayer of the petition.

Mr. Harrison moved that a committee should be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill conformably to the report—this motion was agreed to, and a committee of three appointed.

Mr. Watts presented the petition of Pearfall and Pell. of New-York, who have established a manufacture of Hand-bellows, and praying the encouragement of Government, by laying enhanced duties on that article imported.

On motion of Mr. Watts, this petition was referred to a select committee. The petition of the dealers in painters oil and colours, on motion of Mr. Fitzsimons, was referred to the same committee.

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill for granting relief to such of the refugee inhabitants of St. Domingo, as stand in need of support. The committee proceeded thro' the several sections of the bill. and reported it without amendment—it was then ordered to be engrossed.

In committee of the whole on Mr. Madison's resolution—Mr. Trumbull in the chair.

Mr. Swift, after a few remarks, in which he adverted to sundry modifications of the introductory resolution suggested by the mover, which modifications he observed, rendered the resolution of no importance in relation to those subsequent, moved that the first resolution should be struck out.

This motion occasioned another, for the rising of the committee, that time might be given for members who are now absent to be present at taking the vote—After some debate on this motion, it appeared that the house was as full as usual—97 members being present, the motion was therefore withdrawn—as was also the motion for striking out—the debate was continued on the resolution; at length an amendment was moved to strike out the word "certain," and to insert the following, before the word "cases" this motion was withdrawn. The question will the committee agree to the first resolution was then put, and carried in the affirmative, 51 to 46.

This resolution is in the following words, viz.

Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that the interest of the United States would be promoted by further restrictions and higher duties, in certain cases, on the manufactures and navigation of foreign nations, employed in the commerce of the United States, than those now imposed.

The second resolution being read—Mr. Fitzsimons moved that the words "Having no treaty with the United States", should be struck out—this was succeeded by a motion for the committee to rise and report progress which was accordingly done.

Adjourned.

Tuesday, February 4.

The bill for the relief of the Refugees from St. Domingo, was brought in engrossed—read the third time and passed—the blank was filled up with fifteen thousand dollars.

In committee of the whole on Mr. Madison's resolutions. The motion made yesterday by Mr. Fitzsimons, for striking out the words, "Nations not having a commercial treaty with the United States" was, after a few observations, withdrawn, to make way for a motion Mr. Nicholas, the object of which was to except from the discrimination proposed, sundry powers with whom the United States have no commercial treaty.

This motion leaves the discrimination to operate against Great Britain only—the powers proposed to be excepted are, Russia, Denmark, the Hanseatic Towns, the Imperial ports, Spain, and Portugal.

The debate continued till 1/4 after 3 o'clock—when this committee rose without taking a vote—and the House adjourned.