Thursday, March 27.
Introduction of Slaves into Territories.
Mr. D. R. Williams, from the committee appointed on the seventh ultimo, presented a bill to prohibit the introduction of slaves into the Mississippi Territory, and the Territory of Orleans; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Saturday next.
Friday, March 28.
Plurality of Offices.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the following resolutions submitted some time since by Mr. J. Randolph.
Resolved, That a contractor under the Government of the United States is an officer within the purview and meaning of the constitution, and, as such, is incapable of holding a seat in the House.
Resolved, That the union of a plurality of offices in the person of a single individual, but more especially of the military with the civil authority, is repugnant to the spirit of the Constitution of the United States, and tends to the introducing of an arbitrary government.
Resolved, That provisions ought to be made, by law, to render any officer in the army or navy of the United States, incapable of holding any civil office under the United States.
The question was taken on these resolutions without debate.