The senate passed to the consideration of the spe cial order. viz. the revenue bill. Various amendments were acted upon, and among them, by a vote of 25 to 23, an amendment offered by Mr. Walker to reduce the duty on cotton bagging from 4 cents, (as amended by the committee on finance), to 3 cents per yard was adopted. The day was exhausted in discussing the various amendments, and the senate finally adjourned AUGUST 26. Mr. Archer, from the committee on naval affairs, reported the joint resolution of the house to authorise experiments of Colt's submarine battery. Mr. Evans, from the committee on finance, reported back, without amendment, the bill from the house making appropriations for fortifications. The bill from the house making appropriations for the purchase of sites for the erection of marine hospitals was taken up in committee of the whole debated, read a third time and passed; yeas 29, nays 9. The bill to make appropriation for the erection of a marine hospital at or near Ocracock, North Carolina, was read a third time and passed. The senate then took up the revenue bill; when fered by Mr. Rives, and decided in the negative as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Bagby, Calhoun, Cuthbert, Fulton, Henderson, King, Mangum, Merrick, Preston, Rives, Sevier, Williams-13. NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Mr. Merrick moved to limit the operation of the bill to two years. Mr. Evans spoke as to the disastrous effect of this fluctuating policy, and hoped it would not prevail. Mr. Preston desired that its provisionary character should be expressed on its face: it was overwhelm Benton, Berrien, Buchanan, Choate, Clayton, Conrad, ingly protective, stamped all over with such features, Mr. Sevier was willing to vote for a bill for revenue, and he would go for twenty-five per cent. ad valorem, and that was to the utmost extent he would go, and a government that wanted more did not deserve to be supported, and ought to be rebelled against. He was anxious the government should have revenue, and he thought the bill he should move as a substitute would afford it. Mr. then moved to strike all after the enacting clause, and to insert a bill which he sent to the chair, extending the duties to 25 per cent. ad valorem, which, with the home valuation, he said, would be equal to 30. The question was taken on the amendment, and decided in the negative as follows: on Mr. Merrick's amendment by yeas and nays, and decided in the negative; yeas 21, nays 22. Mr. Evans expressed the hope that the amendments would be ordered to be engrossed. Mr. Calhoun did not know how many might be present in the morning, and he should prefer to have the yeas and nays now. Mr. Barrow moved that the senate adjourn, and by yeas 24, nays 20, the senate adjourned. AUGUST 27. On motion of Mr. Bayard, a committee of conference, consisting of three senators, was appointed by the chair, to meet a like committee on the part of the house, to confer as to the disagreeing votes on the bill to suppress the vending of lottery tickets in the District of Columbia. YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, Berrien, Mr. Choate moved to amend the bill so as to make -21. linserd subject to a duty of five per centum ad valorem. NAYS-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Mr. Huntington moved to amend the bill so as to subject sulphate of barytes to one half cent a pound instead of 20 per cent. ad valorem; which motion was agreed to. Mr. Merrick moved to amend the bill by adding an additional section. providing that whenever the president of the United States shall receive satisfactory evidence that the grain, flour, salted provisions and manufactured tobacco, exported from the U. States, are admitted at a rate of duty not exceeding twentyfive per cent. ad valorem. into any European state he shall make proclamation thereof, and thenceforward the duties imposed by this act upon all articles the growth of such state shall be reduced to the rate of twenty-five per centum ad valorem. Mr. Evans expressed a hope that the amendment would not prevail, as it would interfere with our commercial treaties Mr. Merrick denied that such was the fact. Mr. Walker was opposed to the proposition. When the price of grain had risen to a certain amount the duty was already made less than that which he contemplated; and as for tobacco, that being a monopoly any reduction was hopeless. Mr. Evans read a passage from the commercial treaty with England. Mr. Wright would have voted for it, had it not been for the suggestion of the senator from Maine. Mr. Benton thought it not suited for a bill like the present. The question was taken by yeas and nays, and decided in the negative, yeas 6. nays 29. Choate, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts, Crittenden, Dayton, Evans, Huntington, Merrick, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter, Simmons, Smith, of Ind. Sprague, Sturgeon, Tallimadge, White-23. Mr. Berrien moved to amend the bill so as to extend the time allowed for paying duties on rail road iron to the year 1845. Mr. Buchanan opposed the amendment at length. The question was taken and decided in the negative; yeas 18, nays 23. On motion of Mr. Porter, the bill was further amended so as to make unwrought spars subject to a duty of 30 per cent. Mr. Graham then moved to repeal the section continuing the proviso suspending distribution when the duty should be raised above 20 per cent. Decided in the negative as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bayard, Clayton, Crittenden, Graham, Mangum, Merrick, White, Woodbridge-10. The bill which had passed the house repealing the sixth section of the distribution act, which suspends the operation of said act when it shall be necessary port the government, was taken up, and read the first time; and the question being "shall the bill be read the second time, with a view to reference?" Mr. Allen objected. The bill regulating the taking of testimony in cases of contested elections was, after a short debate, recommitted to the committee on the judiciary: yeas 16, nays 13. The joint resolution from the house making an appropriation to test the invention of Mr. Colt's submarine battery was taken up on the motion of Mr. Preston. Mr. Archer proposed an amendment, authorising the secretary to cause experiments to be made on the inventions of Messrs. Easton, Campbell, or Quimby, for the prevention of explosions of steam boilers. A short debate ensued, but the morning hour haring expired, the senate proceeded to the orders of the day, being the bill providing for the collection of revenue, and to change and modify existing laws, and for other purposes. Mr. Buchanan said that it was one most important consideration with him to vote for any bill which would arrest the distribution of the splendid inheritance of the public lands, and place the fund where NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Bates, Benton, Mr. Clayton submitted an amendment to suspend the ten per cent, allowed to the new states under the distribution law, which was agreed to. On motion of Mr. King the duty on untarred cor dage was reduced from five to three cents. Mr. Tappan then moved his proposition of recipro Mr. Rives felt strong objections to the present bill. It was evident it was a measure prohibitory in its character. and, in his opinion, aimed a deadly blow cal duties, to the effect, that the produce of such naat the commerce of the country. Instead of some- tions as may admit the flour, grain and salted meat thing like an adherence to the compromise act, it of the United States, shall be admitted free of duties, went beyond the tariff of 1828; and instead of afford- so far as the same shall exceed 20 per cent. This ing revenue, he had seen estimates from the most led to some debate. Mr. Merrick pressing his amendenlightened and practical men that it would defeat ment to include unmanufactured tobacco, Mr. Tapthe very object which it proposed to have in view, pan withdrew his amendment. viz. revenue. He desired to restore the duty to what Amendment after amendment was offered, on it was in 1841, which produced a net revenue of fif teen millions which, with a duty of 20 per cent. on which the yeas and nays were called. The bill was reported to the senate at seven o'clock, free articles would give revenue sufficient for all and the question was then taken on concurring in the the practical purposes of an economical administra-amendments and carried, with the exception of those tion of the government. Mr. R. then moved to strike relating to cotton bagging and reduction on untarred out all after the enacting clause and insert as an cordage. amendment, a bill generally similar to that introduced into the house of representatives by Mr. C. J. Ingersoll, (on the 19th inst.) Mr. Crittenden hoped the amendment would not be concurred in, and quite an animated debate sprang up, in which Messrs. King, Crittenden, Walker, Cuth Mr. Preston moved to amend the amendment by hert, and others participated, when the question was striking out the words 'until the further legislation taken on concurring in the amendment to cotton bagof congress." and making the act operative for the space of two years only. Mr. P's amendment was decided in the negative. Mr. Evans said the amendment of Mr. Rives was a question of revenue or no revenue. Mr. Preston hoped that the amendment would be passed. Mr. Walker moved to amend the amendment by inserting a tax of three and a half per cent. on all articles of gold and silver ware above the value of $100, and not in the stores of merchants for sale, to take the place of the tax on tea and coffee. Negatived, yeas 11, nays 28. Mr. Allen then moved to amend the amendment, amendment by striking out so much of the substitute as imposed a tax on tea and coffee. This question was decided in the negative; yeas 19, nays 24. The question was then taken on the substitute of 1 ging by yeas and nays, and decided in the negative: Mr. Morehead proposed an amendment of four cents Mr. Walker moved to strike out five and insert four where it subsequently occurred in the bill. Decided in the negative; yeas 23, nays 23. Mr. King thought that the duty would be prohibitory; and a compromise was made, and the duty on cordage was reduced to four cents and a half, and the amendment was adopted. and the vast revenue for the support of the government was in law, and would continue for some time to be in law, and no one knew what would be the judicial resuit. The treasury was empty, the public credit affected, and it was therefore indispensably necessary to pass some measure to relieve the public distress. He felt that their very first duty was to sustain the national credit abroad; failing to do this, they would make themselves the scorn of the citizens of Europe, and subject the lovers of free institutions to deep humiliation. There were hundreds of thousands of honest mechanics, who make their living by the "sweat of their face" scattered throughout the union. With twenty per cent. duties, the cheap labor of foreign countries would be brought into ruinous competition with that of our own; and cheap shoes, cheap clothing, and cheap every thing else, would seriously injure our own artisans, and deprive them of employment. This would be the case he knew in Pennsylvania; and all he would de-. sire for his own state was such duties as would enable the manufacturers to live. He would take this bill, at this moment, in preference to leaving the country in the condition in which it would be left without it, trusting to some other time to amend it to render it more acceptable to the north, east, south and west. Mr. Merrick replied to the senator from Pennsylvania and said that he would feel justified in voting against this bill, because it was calculated to restore the public lands to the treasury, and defeat the measure to which the party to which he was attached, from the loftiest principles of justice, adhered. His firm opinion was that this bill would not provide the necessary revenue for the support of the government. It would not yield so much by three or four millions as the other revenue act recently passed; for tea and coffee in this were to come in free of duty. In fact, he considered this measure as an extravagant bill of protection, designed to operate, and it would operate, injuriously and unjustly on the agricultural interests of the country. Mr. Smith, of Connecticut, condemned the bill. as having in view the protection of one great interest at the expense of, and injury to, the other. 1 Mr. Simmons replied and spoke in defence of the bill. as being necessary to the support of the government and the protection of the great manufacturing, agricultural and other interests of the country. Mr. Huntington of Con.. answered his colleague (Mr. Smith) and observed that the people of Connecticut demanded protection, and had a right to demand it, to save them from the consequences of the influx into the country of the pauper labor of Europe and other countries; and he expressed the hope that the bill before them would, in a few moments become a law. Mr. Choate would vote for the bill under a profound conviction that it was all that they could do at "the eleventh hour," or as the sun was going down in the west. He grieved that, in passing a good law for revenue, they defeated a good law for distribution. He had wished to live under the shade and partake of the fruit of both trees; but he felt that, at the same momeut, in planting this, he assisted to pluck up the other by the roots. He replied to the senator from Maryland's objections to the bill, and compared the distribution land fund as a drop of dew divided among a thousand men dying of thirst; and. in conclusion, he urged the passage of the measure, and begged senators, while aiming at the apple [distribution] to remember that it rested on their own owrchild's head. Mr. Merrick replied. Mr. Wright declared his intention to vote for the bill, and gave as a reason that this measure would root out the germ of distribution Mr. Woodbury opposed the bill; and in the course of his remarks, alluded to the remarks of the senator from New York. Mr. Wright rejoined. Mr. Morehead argued that the whigs had made a sacrifice of the land distribution at present for the purpose of saving the country and preserving it from dissolution. Mr. Calhoun said that, if the whigs had lost the distribution measure, they had gained another in this bill which was more protective and laid duties more unequally than any bill for protection which had ever been passed by this body. Mr. Woodbridge remarked that, because the bill was protective, it was to his mind, no objection to it and he rose to announce that as his friends should go he should go. The question was then taken on ordering the amendments to be engrossed and the bill to be read a third time, and resulted in the affirmative: ycas 24, nays 23, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Buchanan, Choate, Conrad, Crafts, Crittenden, Dayton. Evans, Huntington, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter, Simmons, Smith of Ind. Sprague, Sturgeon, Talimadge, White, Williams, Woodbridge, Wright-24. NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Archer, Bagby, Benton, Berrien, Calhoun, Clayton, Cuthbert, Fulton, Graham, Henderson, King, Linn, Mangum, Merrick, Preston, Rives, Sevier, Smith, of Conn. Tappan, Walker, Woodbury, Young-23. The amendments being engrossed, the bill was read the third time and passed. Mr. Wright now moved to take up the resolution passed by the house, fixing the day for the adjourn ment. The senate, however, adjourned without disposing of the resolution, there being 23 in favor of the adjournment, and 22 against it. AUGUST 29. Many private bills were favorably acted on. Mr. Crittenden said that, while he did not desire to see attempted protection as a principal subject of legislation, he was determined, so far as his vote would go, to make the imposition and collection of duties productive of as much encouragement and protection to American labor as was consistent with the character of a revenue measure; and regarding this bill according to this principle, he found no objection tracts, and no tickets to be sold within the District of to it, although he dared say that it was not as perfect as was desired. The reasons which would induce him to vote for the bill were, first, a deference to the decision of whig house of representatives; and, se a condiy, the condition of the country. Although he believed they had a bad and mischievous president, he well recollected that he had a good and glorious country; and if one merited his resentment or indignation, the other was entitled to assistance and res pect; and this had brought him to a determination to make the sacrifice and support the bill. Mr. Bagby drew no distinction between direct and incidental protection; they were the same in princi to the sale of lottery tickets in the District of CoThe committee of conference on the bill relating lumbia, made their report. The effect of which is, that the law is not to interfere with pre-existing conlotteries drawn out of the District. The report was concurred in by the senate. The bill to provide for the repeal of the proviso of The bill making appropriations for fortifications was then taken up, amended and passed. The senate then went into executive session and thereafter adjourned. AUGUST 31. The bill from the house to limit the sale of public stock to par, and to anthorise the issue of treasury notes in lieu thereof to a certain amount was taken np. Mr. Evans said this bill had been reported without amendment, and he hoped none would be offered.The bill prohibited the sale of stock under par, and authorised an issue of six millions of treasury notes in the place of the loan. Mr. E. said he had brought himself with great reluctance to vote for this bill.As there had been great difficulty about negotiating the loan the issue of treasury notes appeared the only mode of relieving the the temporary embarrassments of the treasury. There were now outstanding about nine millions, which with the six millions now proposed, would make fifteen millions to be provided for, and he did not doubt that before the next session they should again be called on to make provision for them. The present was a state of embarrassment and difficulty which all deplored and all must lament, but it was the best that could be done uader the present exigency. Mr. Crittenden expressed his doubts whether the issue of treasury notes would do much to relieve; these easy modes of supplying difficulties might lead to still further embarrassments; he thought it would be better to take away the restraint imposed on the clause leading to the loan. Mr. Woodbury argued in favor of issuing treasury notes as the least embarrassing to the treasury, and as the most economical as well as favorable mode of raising money. The debete on this motion was further continued, and after some further remarks by Messrs. Crittenden, Preston, and others, the vote was taken on ordering the follow the bill to a third reading, and decided in the affirma. YEAS-Messrs. Bagby, Bates, Bayard, Berrien, Choate, Conrad, Cuthbert, Evans, Fulton. King, Linn, Peelps, Porter, Rives, Sevier, Smith, of Ind. Tallmadge-19. NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Clayton, Critten ceeds of the sales of the public lands and to grant YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bayard, Choate, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts, Crittenden, Dayton, Evans, Phelps, Porter, Simmons, Smith, of Ind. Sprague, NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, Buchanan, ple. This bill was protective in its character, and Calhoun, Cuthbert, Fulton, Henderson, King, Linn, to the bill. Mr. Williams replied to a remark of the senator from Alabama-viz. "that the people of New Eng land were patriotic, industrious, and frugal, but there was one thing for which he detested thein, and that was, their covetousness" and he (Mr. W.) said that if the senator from Alabama would do himself the pleasure to visit New England he would change his opinion of that portion of the population of the Union. Mr. Bagby inquired what part Mr. Williams replied any part. Go into their shops, stores fields. and there he would find a hardy, industrious, happy, prudent, and virtuous people, and not that sordid and grasping population which the senator imagined. Mr. Bagby repeated what he had said. taking of testimony in cases of contested elections was reconsidered, and the bill was ordered to a third reading and finally passed: Yeas 26, nays 19. Mr. Merrick stated that he was out when the vote was taken on the bill relating to the distribution of the public lands, and desired to record his vote in favor of the same. Objections having been made by Mr. Wright and Mr. Benton, Mr. Merrick waived the matter, having made an expression of opinion in relation to the same. Mr. Wright called up the resolution fixing the time of adjournment. Mr. Archer desired that they might wait an hour or two, by which time the tariff bill would have gone to the president. Mr. Wright insisted that the great Mr. Williams observed that the senator entertain- leading business of the session was at an end, and that ed that opinion because he had not visited New Eng- they might fix Wednesday next as the time for adland and become acquainted with the people; and in journment. Mr. King urged that the resolution conclusion, he declared that this was a bill which he should be taken up and disposed of at once, alluding could not approve of, but he would throw no opposi- to the long time the body had already been in session. tion in the way of its passage, and would withhold Mr. Archer said if gentlemen were ready to risk mathis vote; but if his vote should become necessary for ters he was. its passage, however reluctantly, he would give it in the affirmative. Mr. White concurred in the views expressed by the senator from Kentucky, (Mr. Crittenden,) and therefore it was unnecessary for him to repeat them. Mr. Sevier sympathized with his friends on the whig side who were brought up reluctantly to vote for this bill, which was the last of the assets of the Clay concern-the bank, lands, and all, having departed and been wrested from them. Mr. Crittenden replied with great spirit. contending that there was no measure proposed by the whigs which had not been carried by them through con Mr. Tallmadge moved to fix the time at 12 noon, on Wednesday. Mr. King suggested the best course would be to fix the time at 2 P. M. on Wednesday, which motion was adopted almost by acclamation. The senate then went into executive business, ahd at a late hour adjourned. AUGUST 30. On motion of Mr. Evans the bill making appropriations for carrying into effect the treaty with the Wyandott Indians was taken up. The bill was then on motion of Mr. E. so amended as to appropriate $100,000 for expenses of the judi. ciary for the United States district courts in the states and District of Columbia, and on motion of Mr. Preston, $6,000 to remunerate the Mexican legation for moneys expended on the American prisoners taken at Santa Fe, &c. and then read a third time and passed. After an inoffectual effort by Mr. Preston to have the bill for ine relief the Baron de Kalb taken into consideration, the senate proceeded to executive session, and after the doors were orened-The joint re solution in relation to the testing experiments of Colt's submarine battery, and for other purses came from the house with an amendment, which was concurred in, and the resolution passed. For the reorganization of the navy of the U. States. Appointing engineers in the navy, &c. Two bills relating to the navy also passed, viz. The senate again took an executive session; and, some time after, the body adjourned sine die. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY, AUG. 25. Mr. Fillmore rose to a privileged motion, having moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the fortification bill some time since was laid upon the table. Objections were made. Mr. Fillmore said that the bill was laid upon the table in the fear at the time that no revenue bill could be passed. Mr. Stuart of Illinois, moved to lay the motion to re-consider on the table. The yeas and nays were called, and the motion was voted down by a vote of 84 to 64. The vote being carried in the affirmative, the bill was then passed by a vote of 91 to 70. The resolution in reference to Colt's sub-marine machine explosion was called up. Mr.Adams said he was opposed to the resolution; he did not believe it would do much good, and if it would do all the good that had been contended for, he should be opposed to it. It was a cowardly manner of fighting an enemy. If there was to be war he was in favor of an open, fair war, and not for the application of such means. The joint resolution was adopted, authorising experiments to be made by 110 yeas, 51 nays. The post route bill was then read a third time and passed. Mr. Gentry, from the committee on the public lands, proposed to report a bill to repeal the proviso to the 6th section of the act entitled "an act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, and to grant pre-emption rights," approved, September 4, 1841. Objections were made to the reception of the report, upon the ground that there was not a quorum of members present when the bill was reported. This was debated a long time upon a point of order, and got rid of by a motion for the previous question. The yeas and nays were taken upon the motion to receive the report, and the result was 91 to 97. The bill was received, read twice, and after an in- | Reynolds, Rhett, Riggs, Rogers, Saunders, Shaw, Mr. Adams proposed a resolution to the effect that the members of congress should at the end of every session of congress give a statement to the sergeantat-arms of their absence, and that they should receive pay for the days in attendance, for Sundays, for such days as the house was not in session, and for no others. On motion of Mr. Rayner the resolution was subsequently made a joint resolution and adopted, by 134 yeas, 18 nays. Mr. Arnold endeavored to incorporate with it his bill to reduce the compensation and mileage of members, but without success. The house then went into committee of the whole, and took up the bill to provide for a reorganization of the navy. Mr. Wise addressed the committee, which thereafter rose and reported progress, and the house adjourned. FRIDAY, AUG. 26. The speaker laid before the house, communications from the secretary of war in accordance with resolutions of the 2d instant in relation to allowances to general Clinch and J. M. Hernandez for losses in Florida, and of the 19th inst. for copies of the orders and the reasons, &c. for disbanding the artizans at the Harpers and Springfield ar mories. The senate bill to pay the Louisiana militia for services in Florida, in 1836, was read the third time and passed. Mr. T. Smith offered a resolution to terminate debate in committee on the bill to repeal the proviso to the sixth section of the land bill, at the expiration of one hour from its being taken up. Adopted by 102 yeas, to 80 nays. Mr. Gwin moved that the house go into committee on the bill to refund to Gen. Jackson, the fine imposed by Judge Hall. The house by a vote (two thirds being required) of 88 yeas, to 86 nays, refused. The house then went into committee on the state of the union and took into consideration the following bill, viz: "Be it enacted, That the proviso of the sixth section of the act entitled 'an act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, and to grant pre-emption rights,' approved September 4th, in the year one thousand cight hundred and forty-one, be and the same is hereby, repealed." Mr. Arnold addressed the committee in its support. Mr. Wise followed, in opposition thereto. The hour having arrived the committee rose and reported the bill to the house. Mr. Thompson of Indiana, made a few remarks in reference to some of those of Mr. Wise, and terminated in accordance with his promise by a motion for the previous question, which being taken, was decided as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Landaff W. Andrews, Sherlock J. Andrews, Appleton, Aycrigg, Babcock, Baker, Barnard, Barton, Birdseye, Blair, Boardman, Borden, Botts, Brockway, Milton Brown, Jeremiah Brown, Burnell, Calhoun, Thos. J. Campbell, Caruthers, John C. Clark, James Cooper, Cowen, Cranston, Garrett Davis, Deberry, John Edwards, Everett, Fessenden, Filimore, Gentry, Giddings, Shields, W. Smith. Steenrod, Jacob Thompson, Tur- So the bill was passed. Mr. Andrews, of Kentucky, moved that the vote Mr. Fillmore on leave given, reported from the Mr. C. J. Ingersoll then withdrew his motion to re commit. And the main question, "shall this bill pass?" was taken, and decided in the affirmative, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Landaff W. Andrews, Sherlock J. Andrews, Appleton, Arnold, Ayerigg, Baker, Barnard, Barton, Birdseye, Boardman, Bordan, Brock way, Jeremiah Brown. Calhoun, William B. Campbell, Thomas J. Campbell, Caruthers, Childs, Chittenden, John C. Clark James Cooper. Craftson, Cushing. Garret Davis. Deberry, John Edwards, Everett, Fillmore, Gamble, Gentry, Giddings, Graham. Granger, Green, Hail, Halsted, Howard, Hudson, Hunt, Joseph R. Ingersoll, James Irvin, Isaac D. Jones, John P. Kennedy, Linn, McKennan, Thomas F. Marshall Samson Mason, Mathiot, Mattocks, Maxwell, Mitchell, Moore, Morgan, Be it enacted, &c. That no stock authorised to be Morrow, Osborne, Owsley, Pearce, Pope, Posell, Ramissued for a loan by the act entitled 'an act authoris- sey. Be jamin Randall, Alexander Randall, Randolph, ing a loan not exceeding the sum of twelve millions Rayner, Ridgaway, Rodney, William Russell, James M. Russell, Salonstall, Shepperd, Simonton, Slade. Truman of dollars, approved July twenty-first, 1841, and the Smith. Sollers, Stanly, Stratton, John T Stuart, John act amendatory of the same, entitled 'an act for the B. Thompson, Richard W. Thompson, Tillinghast. Toextension of the loan of eighteen hundred and forty-land, Triplett. Trumbull, Underwood, Van Rensselaer, one, and for an addition of five millions of dollars Washington, Edward D. White, Thomas W. Williams, thereto, and for allowing interest on treasury notes Joseph L. Williams, Yorke, Ang. Young-92. due, approved, April fifteenth, 1842," shall hereafter be sold par; and in case the same sold at or above par, and the exigencies of the public service shall require the same, then, and in that case, the secretary of the treasury shall be, and hereby is, authorised to issue treasury notes in lieu of so much thereof as cannot be thus negotiated to an amount not exceeding six millions of dollars. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the treasury and they shall be issued under the provisions and li- On motion of Mr. Fillmore, the bill was committed On motion of Mr. Barnard, the house resolved itself into committee of the whole on the state of the union, and resumed the consideration of the senate bill (heretofore under discussion) to provide further remedial justice in the courts of the United States. Mr. Black with great earnestness, opposed the bill on the ground that it interfered with the rights of the states, and sacrificed their penal jurisdiction, merely for the sake of guarding against future collisions with Great Britain. Mr. C. J. Ingersoll took the same ground, and was proceeding with remarks which glanced in a very unfriendly manner on the late treaty, when he was No amendment being offered, the committee, on And the question being on the third reading there And the main question (on the third reading) was ordered to be now taken. Mr. W. W. Irwin moved that the bill be laid on the table, and asked the yeas and nays on that motion, which were ordered; and, being taken, resulted in yeas 69, nays 99. So the bill was not laid on the table. The bill was NAYS. Messrs. Arnold, Arrington, Atherton, then read a third time by its title. And the question being "shall this bill pass?" Mr. I. then resumed the course of remark which Doig, John C. Edwards, Egbert, Ferris, John G. he had commenced in committee of the whole, and Houck, Houston, Hubbard, Hunter, Charles J. Inger- Mr. Cushing replied, vindicating the treaty, and re- Blair, Boyd, Aaron Brion, Charles Brick Black, NAYS-Messrs. Arrington, Atherton. Bidlack Cald Mark A. Cooper, Cowen, Cross, Daniel, Richard D. Rogers. Saunders, Shaw, Shields, William Smith, Steen- So the bill was passed. Mr. Barnard moved a reconsideration of the vote, and demanded the previous question. There was a second. The main question was ordered, and the vote was not reconsidered. And the house then adjourned. SATURDAY, AUG. 27. Mr. Irwin offered a resolution that the committee on roads and canals report at the next session of congress the propriety of extending the Cumberland road to Lake Erie via Pittsburg. It was amended so as to add after Pittsburg the words "and the arsenal at Meadville," and adopted. Mr. Clark offered a resolution to terminate debate in committee on the bill to reorganize the navy department, after the expiration of one hour from its being next taken up. Adopted. Mr. Cushing from the committee on foreign affairs, to whom had been referred the memorials of W. S. Parrott and Aaron Legget on claims against Mexico, and also the message of the president in relation thereto, presented a report. The house then went into action upon the bills from the senate or amendments to the house bills by the senate which had not been concurred in. A large number of these bills were passed, mostly of a private character. The bill from the senate for the relief of the sureties of Samuel Swartwout was debated at some length by Messrs. Barnard, Ferris, Ward and Stanly, and then, on motion Mr. C. Johnson, of Tenn. laid upon the table. Mr. Fillmore, of N. Y. moved a resolution to the effect that the house proceed to the consideration of bills from the senate to which there shall be no objection, beginning with those in the house, and ordered to a third reading, and then going into committee of the whole to consider such senate bills as should not then be objected to. Adopted. In committee of the whole a large number of senate bills were passed. Among them, one allowing a drawback on goods exported from Santa Fe and Chihuahua, a bill for the relief of Pettrich the scuptor, and a bill to report the decisions of the supreme court. The house finally adjourned. MONDAY, AUG. 29. A message was received from the senate. informing the house that the senate had passed, with certain amendments, a bill to provide revenue from imports, and to change and modify existing laws imposing duties on imports, and for other purposes. Mr. Fillmore rose and said it was important that the bill should be acted on with despatch; and, with that view, he would suggest the propriety of the clerk's reading over the amendments-all of which, as printed copies of them were on the table, could be easily understood. If there was any particular amendment on which gentlemen desired a special vote, they might designate it, and let the vote on all the others be taken en masse, inasmuch as a great ma ny of them were merely verbal. There wего попа of them which required any explanations; they could all be understood by the simple statement of them. There was one fact, however, to which he wished to call the attention of the house. An impression had gone abroad that there was a part of this bill whish infringed some of our traaties. This was a mistake. The errer arose from the impression that the section authorising the importation, duty free, of tea imported in American vessels from beyond the Cape of Good Hope, and of coffee, might infringe our treaties with Austria and one or two other nations which had the priviledge of importing on paying precisely the same duties as our own vessels. Now, there was a provision that had been overlooked by those who supposed the amendment would bear such a construction, and which was in the following words: "Provided That nothing herein contained shall be construed or permitted to operate so as to interfere with subsisting treaties with foreign nations." Thus, Mr. F. said any such infringment of treaties as was feared. was effectually prevented. He moved the previous question, but withdrew it, on pledge of renewal at the request of nion of Mr. L, a poor exchange for those from NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Allen, L. W. Andrews, Fillmore, J. G. Floyd, Gentry, Gerry, Giddings, But in all this Mr. L might be mistaken. At all more complete success of the whig party for that Taliaferro, Richard W. Thompson, Tillinghast, To- tective tariff, the distribution among the states of the Mr. Linn, who said that when this bill was originally before the house, he had been compelled from several considerations to record his vote against it. Had he obtained the floor at the proper time, he would ed to the retrial of all the great issues which were have detailed at large the reasons which then forced passed upon in 1840, and he confided in the assuupon him the painful duty of separating from so ma- rance that then it would be found that the measures ny of his friends upon a question in which, in com- of a sound and uniform currency, a permrnent promon with them, he felt a deep and lively interest. At home he was known, and believed his course here had proved him, to be the unwavering advocate of the protective system-so much so indeed, that his opposition to the bill had by no means been controlled by his desire to resist the encroachments of the executive upon the legislative independence and discretion of congress. While it was true, he then believed and still believed. that congress would have been fully authorised yea, were bound to resist the dangerous and alarming usurpations of the executive, and would have been most triumphantly sus- declined to withdraw the demand. Mr. L. concluded (according to promise) by moving the previous question. Mr. Bolts appealed to Mr. Fillmore to suffer the demand for the previous question to be withdrawn, to enable him (Mr. B.) to make an explanation. Mr. Cushing objected, unless it should be withdrawn to enable members generally to explain. Mr. Fillmore tained by the people. yet that ground of objection And the main question (on concurring in the alost with hun much of its force the very moment mendments of the senate) was ordered to be now the majority here essayed the passage of another re- taken. venue bill. He had therefore, for the most part. been Mr. Clifford moved that the bill and amendments governed in his opposition to the bill by objections be laid on the table. which had regard to the permanent interests of the measure itself, and which he then felt, and now felt at liberty to relinquish, provided, by so doing, any good for the country could be accomplished. Mr. Gwin asked the yeas and nays, which were or dered. Mr. Botts asked to be excused from voting, and said he had no desire to speak to this subject for any other purpose than to satisfy those who felt an interest in what he did here, and were entitled to know Van Buren, Van Rensselaer, Ward, Washington, So the bill and amendments were not laid on the table. And the question recurring on concurring in the amendments of the senate, they were read by the clerk, and the amendments were concurred in en masse. On the 29th section Mr. W. C. Johnson called for a separate question, and asked the yeas and nays, which were refused. And the question being taken, the said amendment was concurred in. On motion of Mr. Fillmore the house resolved it self into committee Mr. J. R. Ingersoll in the chair, and proceeded to the consideration of the bill heretofore reported "to limit the sale of the public stock to par and to authorise the issue of treasury notes in lieu thereof to a certain amount," viz: $6,000,000. The debate upon the bill was commenced by Mr. Fillmore in its favor, Mr. Botts in opposition, Mr. Cushing and Mr. Proffit and Mr. Marshall in advocacy and Mr. Arnold in opposition to it. The limitation of the debate to two hours then called up the question on the bill. The various amendments proposed were thereupon rejected and the bill reported to the house. Mr. Botts offered the following amendment, which was adopted by yeas 102 to nays 46, viz: Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That nothing in He (Mr. L.) had ever considered every system of revenue which contemplated the application of the avails of the public lands to the or inary expendi- the motives by which he was influenced. He had tures of government as too fluctuating and uncer- uniformly opposed any further action upon a revenue tain to afford permanent and steady protection to the bill since the last had been vetoed, because he reindustrial interests of the country, and saw in the garded the question involved as one far above the same, shall be so construed as to authorise the issue giving up of the principle of distribution, much to collection of revenue, distribution, or party. It was dread for the permanent success of the great and in- a question of legislative independence, coming in come due, by the United States for any other purpose dispensable measure of protection. He had looked conflict with executive power; and he thought the upon protection and distribution as one and insepara- opportunity had been presented to this house to cov ble, and events which were daily occurring him that he had looked aright. er itself with immortal honor and glory, by rebuking lie saw in the recommendation of the executive, tion; but wiser counsels, no doubt, than his had preat an early day in the session. to repeal the distribu- vailed. He had been overruled by a majority of his tion act, and in his refusal to approve the revenue friends in both houses; and knowing as he did, from bills passed by congress, that the decree had gone forth and that those who were covertly opposed to a protective tariff intended to destroy the only natural and political combination upon which the measure could safely and permanently rest; that this was the great crisis of its fate, and all depended upon the firmness and spirit of its true friends. his personal and political associations with them, He had changed no opinion he had at first enter tained, though now the question was changed, and A majority of the political friends of Mr. L. he The house refused to excuse Mr. В. the act contained, entitled an act authorising the loan above referred to, and an act amendatory of the of certificates of stock for debts now due, or to be than a bona jide loan to the government according to the original intention of that law, and that no certi ficate for any loan shall be issued for a less sum than one hundred dollars." The yeas and nays being demanded on the passage of the bill, there voted for it 115, against it 33. So the bill as amended was passed. The joint resolution fixing upon the day of adjournment, as amended by the senate so as to adjourn on the 31st at 2 P. M. was then taken up and concurred in. The house then took up the bill to regulate the taking of testimony in cases of contested elections which had been returned from the senate with a mendments, which were then all concurred in except the first and second. After action upon other less important bills the house adjourned. TUESDAY, AUG. 30. Mr. Calhoun, of Mass. submitted the following resolutions which were adopted Resolved, That the secretary of war furnish to this house, at the beginning of the next session, a statement, setting forth the number of private establishments at which fire arms are manufactured for the government; where situated, and at what prices the contracts have been taken for the last ten years, up to the present time, the number of arms annually fabricated within that period, and the annual cost. generous whigs of the south and west, who, shield- W. O. Butler, G. W. Caldwell, Patrick C. Caldwell, That he also furnish a statement of the amount in ed by the principle of distribution, pledged to them J. Campbell, Casey, Clifford, Clinton, Coles, Mark A. number and value of the fire arms in deposit at the by the north and east, had materially aided in the Cooper, Cross, Daniel, Dean, John C. Edwards, Eg- various arsenals and depots; the number of men emadoption of the measure which was now to be yield- hert, Gamble, Gilmer, Goggin, Wm. O. Goode, ployed in each during the last ten years; the number ed, and that it was unjust as well as impolitic to Graham, Gwin, Habersham, Harris, Hays, Holmes, and grade of officers stationed there, and the amount cast off these tried friends and depend upon those Hopkins, Houston, Hubard, Hunter, Cave Johnson, of money disbursed at each, within the same period who, he feared, were the mere time-servers of the John W. Jones, King, Lewis, Littlefield, Abraham annually. protective policy. That those who had been preach- McClellan, McKay, Mallory, John T. Mason, Ma- And resolved further. That there be annexed annuing up a judicious tariff and free trade, (which thews, Medill, Owsley, Payne, Rayner, Reding, ally hereafter to the Army Register, an accurate practically meant the same thing, and tended alike Reynolds, Rhett, Saunders, Shaw, Wm. Smith, Steen- schedule of the pay and empluments, with the comto the utter prostration of the productive and manu- rod, Sumter, Jacob Thompson, Turney, Warren, mutation value thereof, to which the various officers asturing interests of the country), were, in the opi | Watterson, Weller, James W. Williams, Wood-65. of the army of each grade are entitled. NILES' NATIONAL REGISTER-SEPT. 3, 1842—CONGRESS. The house went into committee of the whole, and took up the bill (the discussion of which in committee by resolution had been limited to one hour,) for the re-organization of the navy. Mr. J. R. Ingersoll was called to the chair, and the debate proceeded upon the merits of the bill. Mr. King, of Georgia, spoke in behalf of the bill, the improvements of which he pointed out at length, citing a number of very important reasons why the bill should pass. Mr. Wise followed. The amendments having been gone through with, the bill was reported to the house of representatives, and passed upon the previous question by the vote of 117 to 35. [While the house were in committee of the whole the speaker resumed the chair, and the private secretary of the president appeared at the bar of the house and gave information that the president had approved and signed the bill "to provide revenue from imports." Another message was communicated to the effect that the president had sent a message to the house of representatives. The message was in the torm of a protest against congress, and was for the time, laid upon the table]. The house after receiving several reports and transacting business of a private and miscellaneous character, were found upon motion to proceed to more important business without a quorum. A call of the house was then made, and on motion the protest was read by the clerk. The reading of the message having been concluded Mr. Adams took the floor. He said there seemed to be an expectation on the part of some gentlemen that he should propose to the house some measure suitable to be adopted on the present occasion. Mr. A. knew of no reason for such an expectation, but the fact that he had been the mover of the resolution for the appointment of the committee which had noes 53. The question recurring on the fourth resolution, it A motion was then made by Mr. J. C. Clark to re- Holmes moved that the house adjourn. Rejected by The question on the first resolution was then taken tion viz: "that the clerk of the house be directed to chairman of the committee of conference on the part A report was then received from Mr. Fillmore WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31. The Journal of yester- The house had yesterday by a solemen vote deter- made the report referred to in the message, had been the journal; and he submitted that the gentleman Mr. Botts said, as a member of the select commit tee which had made the report, as a member of the house, and as a representative of a portion of the free people of this country, he felt called upon to vindicate the honor and independence which belong ed to the representatives of the American people. If he understood the message which had been read at the clerk's table, it declared that the action of the house in adopting the report of the select committee was without precedent in our parliamentary history. Now it seemed that, on this occasion, the president's memory must have been in some degree treacherous. Another and very memorable case of the like kind had occurred, and one in which the president himself had taken an important part; and Mr. B. proposed to measure out to him the very same measure which he had meted out to the then president of the United States. Mr. B. then proceeded to notice the course of the senate, in 1834, in regard to the protest of Gen. Jackson, and adopted a speech made by Mr. Webster upon the occasion, read numerous extracts, and made Mr. Webster's opinions his own, because they were strong, and able, and because he is now in the cabi ing that appear upon it which the house had decided 15 Mr. Barnard moved the previous question. the table. bill and the probability of its becoming hereafter ne- 60, nays 57, (no quorum.) Several gentlemen refus- took up the bill (which had been returned from the The house, on motion of Mr. Moore, of Louisiana, senate, that body having disagreed to the the amendChihuahua and Santa Fe, in Mexico. merchandize exported in the original packages to ment of the House) allowing drawback upon foreign On motion of Mr. Kennedy, of Maryland, the bill was laid on the table. the Speaker whether two bills which had been sent to the president of the United States for his signa. ture-namely, the bill to repeal the proviso to the sixth section of the distribution law, and the bill to provide for the taking of testimony in cases of contested election-had been returned by the President? The Speaker said they had not. Mr. Fillmore rose and desired to be informed by Reporter understood] that the adoption of the joint Mr. Adams rose to suggest to the Speaker (as the gation required imperatively to be committed, and that the act as it now stood was unconstitutional. resolution making appropriation for the Mexican le constitution, and after some farther proceedings, it But the house would not hear any thing about the the time designated for the termination of the session. was perceived that the the finger of the clock had ranged slowly but perceptibly past the hour of two, Mr. Black making the point of order that further buSome confusion followed, and some conversation siness could not be transacted. as to the power of the house now to do any thing The Speaker said it was a question for the house expressed the hope that gentlemen would take their and not the speaker to determine, but the speaker like order. seats, and that the house would adjourn in something The speaker said he had no doubt on the subject. propose to do that which the house had solemnly deThe gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Wise), could not cided should not be done. Mr. Wise. Does the house determine that ny motion shall not be entered on the journal? The speaker. The house has solemnly de- take up and pass the joint resolution of the senate, providing for a committee to wait on the president, adjourn, on which motion the vote stood: Ayes 30, Mr. Reding and Mr. Black moved that the house noes 98. So the house refused to adjourn. Mr. Wise appealed to the courtesy of the house to Mr. McKennan said it was obvions that no quorum was present, and he suggested that, by general con cided that it would not put that paper on the journal. or not, how, in sent that the joint resolution should be acted on, so that the house might adjourn in some sort of order. The suggestion was acceded to. The joint resolution part of this house. S. Mason, Cushing and Ward as the committee on the was concurred in; and the speaker announced Messrs. Mr. Cushing gave notice that he would at an early Mr. Rayner. This house has determined that the paperiod in the next session ask leave to introduce a net of John Tyler and his prime minister. Having The speaker. Not in the judgment of the chair. Mr. 1. Resolved, That while this house is and ever will be ready to receive from the president all such message and communications as the constitution and laws and the usual course of public business authorise him to transmit to it, yet it cannot recognise any right in him to make a formal protest against votes and proceedings of this house, declaring and unconconstitutional, and requesting the house to enter such protest on its journal. 2. Resolved, That the aforesaid protest is a breach of the privileges of this house, and that it be not entered on the journal. 3. Resolved, That the president of the United States has no right to send a protest to this house against any of its proceedings. 4. Resolved, That the clerk of this house be directed to return the message and protest to its au thor. After some confusion, arising from motions to adjourn, calls for the previous question, &c. &c. the vote was taken on the first resolution. which was adopted-ayes 87, noes 46. On the second resolution, the vote resulted as follows, ayes 86, noes 48. Wise. If the protest does not go on the journal, my nays, on the motion that the appeal be laid on the the motion, if he had the right to do so. The speaker On motion of Mr. J. L. Williams, the house took the treaty with the Wyandott Indians, the bill mak- The senate bill to revive and continue in force "An act supplementary to an act entitled an act in addi- oppose it. Mr. Thomas F. Marshall gave notice that he would [Laughter.] an early period of the next session ask leave to introduce his bill in relation to the state debts. [ReMr. W. Cost Johnson gave notice that he would at newed laughter.] introduce his bill No. 548. [Shouts of laughter.] Mr. McKennan. And I gave notice that I shall op Mr. Arnold gave notice that he would ask leave to pose it. [Reiterated roars of laughter.] Mr. Pope, of Kentucky, next made some movement in relation to the currency. Mr. Cushing now re-entered the hall and, in behalf sident, reported that the committee had discharged of the joint committee appointed to wait on the prehad no further communication to make to congress. their duty and that the president informed them he Mr. Randolph moved that the house adjourn. adopted informing the senate that the house had concluded its business and was ready to close the preBut, by general consent, the usual resolution was sent session of congress. information of the house, that the senate was at preMr. Cushing rose and stated, informally, for the sent engaged in executive session. Mr. Howard, of Michigan, moved that the house do now adjourn. which motion prevailed. journed to meet, under the constitution of the United ender months, wanting only five days, the house adSo, at half past 2 P. M. after a session of nine calStates, on the first Monday in December next. |