Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-06
Gotr9rcesioma
OF CONGRESSIONAL PRO
CEEDINCS

GnttNtrHSt U1rat.
ABSTRACTS OF CONGRESSIONAL PRO
CEEDINGS.
| WAsHINGroN, March 2.-It the Senate on
Saturday last, the journal having been read, Mr.
Benton rose, and moved that 5000 copies Of the
Presidents message, transmitting the report of the
| Whr Department, OH the practicability and ex
! pense OF opennga line of water commune alton
between the Mississippi and Atlantic, and of the
map accompanying the same, be printed for the
use OF the Senate; and that the engraving and
printing OF the map be done under the direction
| oil the Engineer Department Mr.. b. comment
ed strongly upon the value and importance Of the
! work to which these documents referred and the
necessity OF giving 10 them the greatest publicty
itwas work which would open safe, perma-
nent and uninterrupted water communication be-
tween the Mississippi at New Orleans and the
Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Georgia or Florida,
and was an object of the highest conceivable i'm
portauce 10 ali the States and Territories in the
valley Of the Mississippi. His (Mr. Bepton'sl
idea OF the transcendant utility of this work had
induced him TOUR years ago, when the first law
passed appropriating 100000 to defray the ex-
pense of surveying and examining routes for roads
and canals, 10 move an amendment, TO have this
work specially selected by Congress- as one TO be
, among the hrst attended 10 under that law. His
motion failed; but the Senator from Louisiana.
(Mr. Johnston! two years afterwards had been
more successful: he had moved and carried spe
cial appropriation OF $40, Oo0 for having this great
route examined and reported upon and upon that
appropriation, the survey and examination had
been made, Of which the report and map were
now before the Senate. Six thousand copies of a
document, Mr.. B. well knew, was an un,,suallv
large number for the Senate to order 10 be printed
hut the value Of the information 10 be diffused !,
Justified the motion TO print that number on the
present occasion. The map was of the utmost i'm
portance TO all the navgators of the gulf coast.
being founded on actual survey by skilful officers
All the western States were interested in the work
II would open TO them, besides safe, permanent
ana uninterrupted communication with tie Allan.
tic, innu:nerabie markets for their prolr ctons
in the planting states Of the South Their steam
boats, loaden with all their various produce. would
be able to enter Lake Pontchartrain go to Mobile
st. Marks, and st. Augustine to all the intermedi
ate points or penetrate the interior Of the southern
states, by turning up the rivers which flow from
them, and TO find thousand ne " points AT which
their cargoes could be sold. Mr.. Webster moved
TO modify the resolution. by distributing part of
Inc documents when printed. to the heads of de-
partments, and the members of the House of
Representatives, which was agreed 10. The reso-
iHiion submitted by Mr.. Webster reuuestiup the
President Of the United States to cause copies of
the instructions given to the Ministers of the T.
nited States. appointed to attend the CONGRESS- at
Panama, TO be laid before Congress- or so much
thereof. as in his opinion may be divulged without
prejudice TO the public interest. was considered
and after long and animated debate, in which
Nlessrs Webster, Tazewell, Hayne. Benton, and
4.
Smith, of Md. laid on the table, by a vote of 2s tn
~. Mr.. Bell moved TO proceed to the considera-
ton OF executive business, and called for the yeas
and nays, which were taken upon the question
The proposition was negatived by a vote of "a
10 20 Saturday being tile last day on which biJs
originating in the Senate could be transmitted IN
The House OF Representatives, numerous bilIs
were considered and forwarded through the ne
cessary stages for that purpose. The Senate was
occupied in the transaction of business of this de-
G o'a t1.tr 49,
toook place
on Saturday. in the HOUSE, Of Representatives
after the presentation OF numerous reports and
the disposal OF various bills. the resout on of Mr.
Barringer, Tor the re-prnting of the documents OF
the early Congresses was taken I'D. Mr. HoH-
man resumed the argument commenced by him
on Thursday, against the premature adoption OF
such measure as that proposed by the member
from North Carolina. After pointing out almost
innumeTabie instances OF the negligent and erro.
neous manner in which the printing Of one branch
alone OF the public service, that of the navy W as
performed, he adyerted TO the enormous mass of
documents required 10 be re printed They wopId
rival, he observed, the memorable one hundred
and forty nine folio volumes reports Of the Board
OF Trade in England 10 which Burke when sect .
ing for Information on some trivial commercial
subject, was referred by Mr.. Eden; and he ar
gucd, that consisting, as hundreds of them did
consist, for the better part, Of epistes rorntnenc
ing with 81 have The honor 20 STATE" and ending
'O your UuIDOIe servant,
the diplomatic "sssurances Of high regard and
consideration" the greater part Of them, though
in the time Of Csliph Omar they might have
served as fuel for the baths Of Alexandra, thew
were at present Of no earthly purpose. Mr.. Hof
man continued his remarks until the close of the
hour appropriated for the consideration of resolu-
nonsi and retains possession Of the floor on this
sntgect to-day. The bill from the Senate, 10 en-
large the draw Of the bridge over the Potomac.
was referred TO Committee OF the Whole on the
ota'e OF me Union. Upon the discussion of re-
declaring ~ inexpedient TO proceed with the fur.
tbef cObsineTSilon OF the contemplated military
road rom VARS iIili e. the MadsWasca River, in
the State ct Maine, Mr., Anderson of mat site
took occasion TO protest against the jurisdiction as
sumed and exercised by the British over the die.
puted territory on our northeastern bounJarv
The House was occupied afterwards with the Nil
for the relief Of the widow Of the late Commodore
Decatur, on srcount Of the capture aud destruc.
ton Of the frigate Philadelphia, in the harbour Of
!. irpoii' IN 'Sn long discussion easued yevotT