Alexandria Daily Advertiser

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, February 24.
Mr. Aerton from the committee of commerce and manufactures, reported the bill to them committed for the amendment of the embargo law; with amendments, which was ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.
Mr. Whitehill presented a resolution of the general assembly of Pennsylvania, instructing their senators and requesting their representatives in the Congress of the U. S, to use their endeavors to have an amendment made to the constitution of the U. S. that the federal judges should hold their offices for a term of years, be removable on the joint address of a majority of both houses of congress and in cases of impeachment that a majority should be sufficient for conviction.
Mr. Whitehill moved that they be committed to a committee of the whole on the state of the Union, to which had been referred the resolution before the house on the subject.
A considerable discussion on this motion ensued, in the course of which Mr. Whitehill withdrew the motion that the resolution might lie on the table and Mr. J. Clay renewed the motion.
The opponents to commitment argued that this was not a resolution of the legislature of the state in form as it was a distinct resolution of the two houses, the signature of the governor not being affixed to it, and the constitution requiring his signature to every act of the legislature. That this was merely a recommendation to the representatives of that state and could not be considered an official instruction.
The advocates of reference contended that this was the expression of the opinion of the legislature of that state, as such tendered to the house and not considered as a legislative act which required the signature of the governor. The reason why this method was adopted was, that it was well known that the signature of the governor of the state would be refused to any resolution in favor of such an amendment to the constitution; and this was the only manner in which the sense of the legislature could have been expressed.
The speakers in favor of commitment were Messrs. Smilie, J. Clay, Marion, Holland, Macon, Southard, and Einiley: against it Messrs Milnor, Kally, Barker, Dana, Goldsborough, Lyon, Cook and Talimadge
The resolution was finally committed, 82 to 23.
Mr. Smilie laid upon the table for consideration the following order as a part of the rules of the house.
If any member in speaking shall violate decorum and order, he shall be called to order by the Speaker or may be called to order by any member, in either of which cases he shall immediately sit down: the objectionable words may then be repeated by the member calling to order, and if required be taken down in writing by the clerk and read, whereupon the member called to order may either deny, retract, explain or apologise for the words spoken. If the house be satisfied therewith no farther proceedings shall be had, but if otherwise, he shall be subject to the censure of the house at its discretion according to the constitutional provisions in that respect.
Mr. Newton reported a bill to permit John L. Gardner, and John Price, junior, to dispatch a vessel to Sierra Leone on the coast of Africa, which was twice read and referred to a committee of the whole.
The engrossed bills to extend credit on revenue bonds and appropriating money for the support of the military establishment, were read the third time and passed.
The house went into committee of the whole, Mr. Parkin in the chair: On the bill to remit the duties on the importation of the monument to be erected to the memory of the officers who fell in the attack on Tripoli.
Mr. Milnor's motion for adding a section to the bill for covering and railing the monument being under consideration.
A considerable debate arose on it, in which Messrs. Milnor, Rowan, Cook, Nicholas, Van Dyke, Campbell and Lyon supported the motion; and Messrs. Macon, Smilie, Stanford, D. R. Williams, Taylor and Alexander opposed it.
When the question on the amendment was at length taken, and negatived, 50 to 42.
The committee then rose and reported the bill without amendment.
The bill being under consideration,
Mr. Milnor renewed the amendment which he offered to the bill in committee of the whole.
The house adjourned, near five o'clock.