Alexandria Daily Advertiser

December 12.

Proceedings of Congress.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, December 10.

Mr. Eppes presented the petition of Peter Dupuy, which was referred to the committee of claims.

Mr. R. Nelson presented a petition from sundry inhabitants of [some counties in Maryland, L. Adams county in Pennsylvania], praying for a mail from Frederick town to Gettysburg, which was referred to the post-office committee.

Mr. R. Nelson also presented a petition from John Hargishimer, which was referred to the committee of claims.

On motion,

A committee of enrollment was appointed, composed of Messrs. T. M. Randolph and Porter.

On motion of Mr. Wilson, the petition of sundry inhabitants of Kanawha county, Virginia, presented last session, praying for a new post road, was referred to the post office committee.

On motion of Mr. Thomas, the bill passed by the house at their last session, for the relief of certain British refugees from the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, was referred to a select committee composed of Messrs. Thomas, Wilson and Green.

On motion of Mr. Magruder, the petition of William Brawner, heretofore presented, was referred to the committee of claims.

Thursday, Dec. 11.

Mr. Holmes, from the committee of claims, made a report adverse to the petition of Joseph M. Cracken, which the house considered—whereupon,

Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition ought not to be granted.

Mr. Clopton rose, and addressed the speaker in a speech of considerable length, which he concluded with the proposition of the following amendment to the constitution of the U. S.

Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, two thirds of both houses concurring, That the following article be submitted to the legislatures of the several states, which when ratified and confirmed by the legislatures of three fourths of the said states, shall be valid and binding as a part of the constitution of the United States:

'The last clause of the 8th section of the 1st article of the constitution which contains the following words: "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the U. S. or in any department or officer thereof," shall be construed so as to comprehend only such laws as shall have a natural connection with and immediate relation to the powers enumerated in the said section, or to such other powers as are expressly vested by this constitution in the government of the U. S. or in any department or officer thereof.'

The house immediately considered the said amendment and referred it to a committee of the whole on the state of the union—

Mr. Holmes from the committee of claims, made a report adverse to the petition of Martha Strong, in which the house concurred.

On motion of Mr. D. Williams resolved that the committee of commerce and manufactures be instructed to enquire into the expediency of rebuilding the Light House on North Island, and fixing buoys in Winyaw bay, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. Mac Creery sundry petitions presented the last session, relative to new arrangements respecting the port of Nansemond, were referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures.

Mr. J. Clay presented a petition from sundry patentees, praying for an extension of the periods for which they have patent rights;

Which was referred to Messrs. J. Clay, Jones, Livingston, Alexander and Elmer.

On motion of Mr. Stanton the petition of Edmund Briggs was referred to the committee of claims.

On motion of Mr. Stanton resolved that a committee be appointed to enquire whether any, and if any, what description of claims against the United States, are barred by the statute of limitations, which in reason and justice ought to be provided for by law, and that the said committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Referred to a committee of seventeen members.

On motion of Mr. Dana the memorials of Moses Tryon, and Richard Law junior were referred to the committee of claims.

Committees appointed in the house of representatives.

Committee on the Mississippi territory memorial, Messrs. T. M. Randolph, L. B. [something], timore, Taggart, Wickes and Hamilton.

SENATE UNITED STATES.

December 9. 1806.

The bill from the house of representatives, for suspending the operation of the non-importation law, was referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Giles, Mitchill and Baldwin.

December 10.

The bill which had yesterday been reported without amendment by the select committee, was considered as in committee of the whole house when Mr. Mitchill proposed a new section to the bill.

Empowering the president to give a further suspension to the law beyond the 30th June 1807, until the 31st of December, if in his opinion the public interest should require it.

On this the bill with the amendment was recommitted.

December 11.

Mr. Giles reported the bill with the new section, and another amendment;

Mr. Mitchill's proposition being thus incorporated into the bill, the whole was ordered to be printed.