The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-10 00:00:00

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AMERICAN PAPERS.

PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 7.—On--Tuesday, the
3d instant, the Congress of the United States closed
their session. No legitlative measures were adopted in
reference to France. The House passed on the 2d a
resolution unanimously declaring that the fulfilment of
the treaty of Suly, 1831, ought to be insisted on by the
Government.

The appropriation bills were not acted upon until
late in February. It is the practice of this Govern-
ment to make specific appropriations for each particu-
lar department. These appropriations are based upon
estimates made for Congress by the departments. The
estimates are placed in the hands of the Committee of
Ways and Means, who report to the house the ne-
cessary bills, and it is the duty. of the chairman of that
committee to give such explanations as may be re-
quired when the Bill is under consideration.

A system of fortifications has been in nroe,--ress
throughout the country for some ven7T; ?a:A. An annual
appropriation for this -,-;:;rp.):;e is therefore regularly
made. Th:! Bill specifies the sum applicable to each
iurt, and whether for building, for repairs, or for arm-
ing, and the amount. To meet this object, a Bill de-
signated the Fortification Bill passed the House
early in February, and was sent to the Senate.
The expenditure authorized was there increased, on
the suggestion of the Secretary at War, and returned
to the House on the 24th of February. On the night
of March 3d, a few hours before the adjournment,
the Bill was again amended in the house by adding a
section, appropriating 3,000,0000 dollars, for the
use of the War and Navy Departments, to be ex-
pended under the direction of the President, if he
deemed it necessary. This amendment was hurried
through the House by the force of party discipline.
The Senate, however; rejected the proposition, on
the ground that it was transferring to the President
the legislative powers of Congress, in violation of the
spirit of the constitution, that it was plaCing at his
control a large sum of money without knowing in what
manner, or for what purpose, it was to be expended ;
that it was incompatible with the usages of the Go-
vernment, inasmuch as Congress did not and could
not rightfully appropriate the public money but for
specific purposes, to be enumerated in the Bill. Both
branches remained inflexible, the Senate refusing to
pass it vitli thiS-general 'clause in it, and the House
refusing to pass it without the clause. Committees
of Conference were appointed. They agreed upon a
compromise, by which an additional sum of 800,000
dollars was to be granted, and the objects specified.
The House however refused to act upon the report, on
the ground that it was presented after twelve o'clock
at night, when their functions as representatives had
expired. The Bill was therefore lost. It provided
for the appropriation of nearly 2,000,000 dollars
for fortifications, &c. ; but in consequence of its
failure, there is no appropriation for the works
now constructing. The effect will be, that all
must be suspended in every part of the country. The
Government has at this moment in the several banks,
in deposit, upwards of 12,000,000 dollars, not one
penny of which can be legally drawn to mount a single
gun in the nation, or to secure against the inclemency
of the weather those works that are in an unfinished
state. Every thing in regard to fortifications, or arm-
ing them, must remain as at present, until Congress
again convene. _

-In this dilemma has the virulence of party spirit
placed the Government of the United States ; and
that, too, at a crisis when the country is menaced with
war, and when some of the persons whose votes have
produced this result profess to apprehend a conflict
with France. The friends of the Administration will
attempt to place the responsibility of defeating the
Bill upon the Senate, while the Opposition will be
equally zealous in asserting that on the House of Re-
presentatives should rest the blame.

I have heretofore noticed the great popularity of
General Jackson. Many of his friends honestly be-
lieve him among the most patriotic and- pure men of
the age. They are, therefore, willing to confide in him
to any extent. But among his adherents there is ano-
ther class of politicians, mercenary and selfish, who, to
accomplish their own ends, would advocate granting
him any power which they imagined would gratify
•his feelings. It is well known that General Jackson
is fond of power, and never fails to exercise all that he
possesses. He desired, as suggested in his message
of the Ist of December, to be authorised, if he deemed
it expedient, to grant letters of marque and reprisal
France. To this it was soon ascertained that the Se-
nate would not consent. The project was abandoned,
rather than urge it and suffer a defeat. This pertina-
city of the Senate excited the angry passions of the
President. To soothe them the Committee of the
House of Foreign Relations offered a resolution, de-
claring that provision ought to be made by Congress to
meet any contingency that might arise out of the diffi-
culties with France. The resolution, by a vote of the
House, was laid on the table. This added to the flame
which in some measure was smothered in the breast of
the President. His party then considered it absolutely
necessary that something should be done to pacify
him, and to 'Rove to the country that his influence over
Congress was not lost, even if it was on the wane.
They therefore determined on a desperate effort to
carry the extra appropriation for 3,000,000 to be
placed entirely under his control, and to be expended
as he deemed it expedient, or to defeat the An-
nual Fortification Bill. It is due to them, however,
to say, that they never anticipated the latter;
they believed that the Senate would give way.
Mr. Cambreleng, the Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations, refused to carry into
effect the compromise made by the conferrees, because
he was notified that General Jackson was indignant at
the refusal of the Senate to grant any sum to be used
at his discretion, and not less mortified at the restric-
tion contained in the compromise, of specifying the
precise objects upon which this extra appropriation
should be expended. Under these
.circumstances, a
portion of his friends refused to act on the night of
the 3d inst., and thus left the House without a quorum.
A majority of all the Members elected is necessary to
transact business. The whole number being 240, it
requires 121 to make a quorum.
These proceedings indicate, on the part of the Ad-
ministration and its supporters, a settled determination
to enforce the conditions of the treaty ; or that they
will resort, so far as they possess the power, to measures
of the most belligerent character. If the country is
involved in war, General Jackson will, probably, again
be a candidate for the office of President ; and, how-
ever much gentlemen of either side may endeavour to
hide from public view the springs of aotion which have
operated upon the deliberations of the late Congress, I
am satisfied that the presidential question has had a
great, if not commanding, influence upon many of the
measures and votes which have been adopted, or given,
by distinguishsd men in both parties. •
And now, what is next to be done ? An extra
Session is spoken of, and by some recommended im-
mediately. If the French Chambers refuse the appro•
priation, the next Session of Congress will not termi-
nate without a resort to some decisive measure. What
that measure will be depends upon State elections yet
pending, and upon the manner in which France re..
fuses the appropriation.
A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.

On Friday :Jr. W. Hockley, of Beniers
Hall, Perilets Roothing, Essex, was found dead in one of his
having shot himself with a gun which he had taken out
to shoot rooks. The gun was found near him, with a piece of
cane attached to the trigger. The deceased was in affluent
circumstances, but had for some days exhibited signs of derange-
ment, for which medical assistance had been called in. Ho
has left a widow and three children to lament the loss of a good
husband and father.

A SLEEPING PAIITNER.—At the late Assizes at
Horsham, a clodhopper of the real Sussex breed underwent at
sharp cross-examination by one of the learned counsel, in the:
course of which he was asked who his sleeping partner in bu,
siness was. "My sleeping partner ?" replied Hodge, scratch.
jog his head and giving his hat, which he held by the ban('
in his other hand, another turn, and staring at the same time
at his interlocutor, as much as to say, I wonder what the deuce
is coming next—' My sleeping partner?. I'se got noa sleeping
partner but Mary." The Court was convulsed with laughter,
and when it had somewhat subsided, the counsel resumed
" You say your sleeping partner is Mary, pry who is Mary?"
—" Why doesn't thee know Mary ?" rejoined the witness.
grinning till his fat red cheeks almost closed his eyes, " why
she's my woife, to be zure I"