Tuesday, February 3.
A new member, to wit, John Stewart, returned to serve as a member of this House for the State of Pennsylvania, in the room of Thomas Hartley, deceased, appeared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat in the House.
District of Columbia.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the government of the District of Columbia, when the question was taken on the motion made yesterday, for striking out the first section, and negatived, ten members only rising for it.
Mr. Gregg then proposed an amendment to the first section, the object of which was to make the election of representatives annual, instead of biennial as contemplated by the bill. This motion brought on a lengthy discussion, being supported by Messrs. J. Smith, Claiborne, Nicholas, Gallatin, and Macon; and opposed by Messrs. Craik, Harper, Bayard, H. Lee, Thomas, and Dennis. On the question for agreeing to the motion, it was determined in the negative—48 voting for it and 50 against it.
A motion was then made by Mr. Claiborne, so to amend the first section as to extend the privilege of voting to persons who are not freeholders; that privilege being confined by the bill to freeholders exclusively. This motion brought on a short debate, in which Messrs. Kitchell, Nicholson, Smith, Macon, Tazewell, and Nicholas supported the motion, and Messrs. Harper, Craik, Dennis, and Gallatin, opposed it. On the question that the House do agree to the motion, it was determined in the negative, there being 48 votes for, and 50 against it.
Wednesday, February 4.
District of Columbia.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the government of the District of Columbia.
A motion was made by Mr. Gallatin to amend the first section of the bill, so as to extend the privilege of voting for representatives to persons other than freeholders, who are possessed of property in the District to the value of eighty dollars.