Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

ALEXANDRIA:
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 18. 1819.

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASHINGTON
Wednesday, February 17.

Something worth particularising passed yesterday in the house of representatives. The motion of Mr. Tallmadge, to amend the Missouri state bill, by excluding slave holders from that state, was argued in the house again, as it had been in the committee of the whole—and the question being taken by yeas and nays on it, was decided in the affirmative: yeas 87, nays 76. On the second amendment, freeing those born in the state after 25 years of age, there were, yeas 82, nays 78. We still have the old hankering upon us !! Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, moved to call up his motion for a reduction of the army—but his motion was rejected by a majority of ten.

In the Senate, yesterday, no business of leading importance was perfected; though many bills passed through different stages, which will be hereafter noticed.

In the House of Representatives, a decision took place in committee of the whole which, if confirmed by the House, may be expected to have an important bearing on the political relations of the several states and to have a wider scope of operation than, on the face of it, would be supposed. It was, to annex a restriction on the embryo state of Missouri, from admitting into the constitution, which the people are to be authorised to form, the recognition of the principle of slavery. This is the first instance of such a restriction being imposed on the new states; and the result of the motion, to superadd it to the provisions of the bill, appears to have been wholly unexpected.

By an examination of the merits of this question, we will not anticipate the views which will be presented by such speeches made on the subject, as shall be reported.

National Intelligencer, Feb. 16.