Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-03-09
Washington City, March a.

The Congress Of the United States adj
journed last evening, beyond which their
constitutional term of service did not per.
NIT them to extend the session. The lisi
of the laws passed at the present session
which we shall publish will shew what has
been done. For the present we must
content ourselves with stating some of the
most prominent proceedings.
First in importance it may be mention.
ed that the bill which had passed the Sen.
ate, changing the mode of dispesing Of
the public lands, did not pass. 1t was
debated short time yesterday, in the
House of Representatives, put aside by
an accidental interruption of the proceed.
ings on it, and not resumed. Enough,
however, transpired, to shew that some
where about two thirds of the House were
10 favor of the principle of the bill and
that it would have passed had time been
allowed for proper discussion of II,
which was vehemently denied, and with
some reason too, by the opponents Of the
bill. Indeed, too many propositions o
lreai importance have, for the same reason
slept out their existence.
| The bill authorising the establishment
of Provisional Government for Flori
da, in the event of the ratification of the
Treaty of Cession by Spain, has becoTe
law.
The bill fixing the day. (the second
Monday 10 November, for the meeting oil
the next Congress, which had passed the
Senate, failed in the House Of Representa-
tives, being indefinitely postponed, oa th {
motion of Mr.. Barbour.
The bill concerning Invalid Pensioners,
and the bill establishing additional pos
routes, have become laws.
The act TO amend the act Incorporating
the subscribers TO the Bank Of the United
States, has become law.
The bill 10 addition to the acts prohibi
ting the importation Of slaves into the Uni
ted States, was not, as we had supposed
lost 10 consequence Of disagreement be
tween the two Houses respecting the
amendments. 1t has become law, and
| is perhaps the most interesting to the IA
tional character of any act passed durin:
the psesent session.
That act authorizes the President to di
rect the armed vessels of the United
States to intercept on the coast Of Afric'
or elsewhere, any vessel engaged in thu
slave trade, and bring them into the Uni
ted States. 1t provides for the allowance
of twenty-five dollars for every slav,
brought into the United States under cir
cumstances justifying the belief of an in
Itention to introduce them illegally int
the United States and Of fifty dollar
for each slave discovered to have been il
legally introduced into the United States
The slaves, when thus captured on thu
ocean, or discovered in our country, to BIZ
held in trust by the United States, unit
they can be transported back to Africa
&c.
Mr.. Scott, the Delegate from Nilsson.
ri, yesterday attempted, but without sue
cess, to prevail on some one Of those VIII,
voted to adhere to the disagreement t,
the amendment of the Senate TO the Mis-
souri, state bill, to obtain a reconsidera
1 lion OF that vote. 1t is proper to state
that, though as much opposed MS any on,
10 the restriction proposed to be imposed
ION slavery in the new state, the Delegate
1lfrom the present territory of Missouri
Alsed his best exertions to obtain the pas
: bage of the bill with that feature, rather
s Than postpone its passage for another
2 hear. He failed in his object; and, fol
b Hnother year, the territorial form of gov
/. lknment continues to exist in Missouri.