State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-08
CONGRESS.

CONGkESS.
The principal subject before Congress
has been the bill for the relief of merchants
in New-York who lost goods in the great
fire. 1t is proposed to remit the duties, or
extend the time, and great opposition is
made to it, step by step. Col. Benton's reso-
lutions for the public defense have passed
the Senate after long debate.
Neither House of Congress sat on Satur-
day. The House of representatives., in
deed, adjourned over from Friday till to-
morrow, out of respect, it might be thought
for this day, the anniversary of the birth of
WAsHINGTON. We suspect, however, that
the desire to escape the pains & penalties of
black Monday--the weekiy-recurring vex-
alton and irritation of pctiton-day, and of
course of abolition debates was chiefly
influential in procuring AN adjournment,
such as is otherwise without precedent in
our legislative history. 1t proper to state,
however, that the reason assigned by the
mover of the adjournment to Tuesday was,
respect due to the day in commemoration
should be glad to be able to believe
that it was voted for on that ground
only.
mONDAf, l. Gu. u.
In the Senate, message was received
from the President of the United States, an
nouncing the full and final settlement of
the difficulties with France, and transmit
ting the correspondence with the British
government re cepting the mediation, and
also the letter of the British Charge of Feb.
18th, communicating information that the
annual message of the President is received
by the French government as u satisfactory
explanation, and that ihe money is ready
to be paid whenever u proper person is
authorized to receive it.
The message and documents were read,
and after some remarks of Mr.. Clay, exut-
ing in the return of peace and casting the
blame upon the Presidents first message,
the whole were laid on the table and order
ed to be printed.
TUESDAY, Feb. 49,
The Senate was occupied with motions
and inquiries, and speech of Mr.. Benton
on the fortification bill.
In the House, this being the first sitting
day IN the week, petitions was the order of
the day, and the unfinished question came
up, OH the petition presented by Mr.. Briggs,
hut was postponed TO Monday next Pc
tltlons being now called for, beginning
where they left oil, Massachusetts, Mr.. j.
q. Adams presented a petition for the abo-
lition of slavery in the District of Columbia!
and moved its reception. Mr.. Davis moved
to lay the motion to receive on the table.
Mr.. Mann, of New York, new moved to
reconsider the vote postponing the motion
on Mr.. Briggs petition. The subject would
meet the House at every step, and had bet
ter be settled. Agreed to.
The question now was, whether the vote on
Mr.. Pinckney's resolutions embrace pcti-
tions presented after these resolutions were
adopted. Tie Speaker decided that they
did not, and that therefore the question Of
reception must still be taken OH each petit
ton. A debate ensued. Messrs. Lawler
and Gushing sutained tho chair. Mr..
Beardsley opposed.
Mr. Wise rose to make another predic-
ton, viz. that, now that the attorney gcner-
al Of New York had given his opinion, and
he had, he said, argued the question logic
ally and in manner becoming the attorney
general of New York, the House would
reverse the decision of the chair MIR.
w. went on to support the decision of the
chair from policy, through he believed, he
said, that all the facts of the case were
against the opinion of the chair. Mr. w.
went very much at large into the merits of
the petitions and the policy of Mr.. Pinck-
ney's resolution.
After long continued discussion, Mr.
Galbraith moved the previous question,
which was seconded.
The main question was ordered to be put
yeas 1913, nays "a.
The main question being taken, it was
decided in the negative, yeas Sc, nays 49,
So the decision of the chair was reversed.
Under this vote the aboitin petition,
presented by MIR. Briggs, was, of course,
referred to the Select Committee on the
subject.
The effect of all this will be to refer all
petitions, without question, vote or debate,
to the Select Committee, who will proba-
bly, make no report.