Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-01-30
l4M Congyess.....First Session.
The Congress of the u. s.

from the 18th to the 22d inst. passed upon the
following subjects In the House it was de-
cided that the Double Duties shall continue
only till 30th June next.-Numerous petitions
were read and referred among them, one
from Jane A. Blakely, OF Boston, stating her
fears for the loss of her husband, Capt. John
BIakely, OF the U. S. ship OF war Wasp, and
praying that measures may be adopted for
the support of herself and the daughter of the
said Capt. Bakely-also a similar petition
from the wives and mothers of several petty
officers and seamen on board said ship-o.h
ers from cotton, chemical, and other establish
Inents-lrem James Levns, praying compen-
sation Tor vanquishlng, unassisted and aone,a
.niishipnan and four seamen sof the navy OF
u. Britain, and bringing them prisoners of
war into the U. 8. during the war.--The
senate, on the 18th, voted against the bill
which the House had passed for carrying into
elect the late Treaty with Il. Britain The
vote is deemed tantamount TO a declaration by
the Senate that the treaty making power re-
sides exclusively in the President and Sena,e.
On motion of Mr. Randolph, the Secretary
the Treasury was directed TO lay before the
House an account of the Receipts and Expen-
ditures of the Nation from the commence
ment of the Government TO the present time,
distinguishing the different, items of each, &c.
Ii would seem from The reports which we
have sen OF tie debates which took place in
congress, respecting the convention with
Greal Britsin, that Mr. Randolph and seve.
ral osher gentlemen Of liscriM mating
minds and acute perceptions, very s,renu
ously urged, that though the President and
ee@aie possesses the power of making and
ra,itying treaties, without the interference
Of The House OF Representatives, yet no
such treaty can so operale as to repeal any
law ot The land constitutionally enacted by
the threr branches oil The legislature. Ii
this be sound doctIine, what is now the sit
uitioh OF zoe sCoQaoy under law OF con-
',tess cQnstiiuionally enacted on the 18th
OF iJa1e, 1912, declaring the existence OF
wa between the United states and Great
Brilain Tia, law has never been repeal
sd, unless 1t was repealed and nullitisd by
tie ratification and promulgalie n OF the ,rea
y OF t'henI and consequently, according
10 the doctrine OF the gentlemen, the law
remains IN sorce, and The war still exists,
aad must continue to exist until The House
oi Representatives. shall concur in IN act 10
repeal that law ii follows of necessity that
il ny OF ouSDayal commanders should now
capture fee, oil British merchantmen,
they would be good and lawful prize. Ma
ny other absurdilies, equally glazing, might
re pointed out as necessarily resulting
from the principle. But one would sup
pose that thi, alone would be sufficient to
settle the question. u. S. Gaz,
From Washington, San. 20
There was yesterday most Interesting
end important debate upon the subject of
the PreviJus Que. non The House being
IN committee OF the whole on report OF a
committee upon the rules of the House,
Mr.. Stanford, chairman, moved tha, the rule