The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-03-10

better account Of Congress to-day than We
have been able TO do OF the House OF Repre-
seniatiyes for several days past. The Sen
ate Yesterday transacted business from III
10 half past one o'clock, aud then adjourned,
10 enable those Senators who were 50 dlspos.
ed TO pay their respects at the President
House, opened for an hour or two, accord,
ing TO previous public notice, Tor the reeep.
tlon of visiters. The House of Represent.
atiyes, entrapped by the absurd usage which
requires suspension OF lis rules OF proceed.
ing to enable II 20 receive almost any mo.
tlon. (which suspension requires the votes OF
two.thIrds Of the House TO effect it, was
unable 10 take recess from past 10 1
o'clock, though majority desired IT. The
consequence was, thai, soon after clock,
the House found Itself without a quorum,
and, after endeavoring for an hour IS vain
10 obtain quorum for business, was talnto
adjourn tor want oil one.
There was on the docket of the House of
Representatives something like eight hun
bred bills to be acted upon; and the commit.
tees 20 on adding daily TO the number.
Meanw hlle, tune runs. Seven business day
only OF the session now remain.-Nat. iat.
Our readers will perceive by the report
of Saturdays proceedings of the Senate,
that the bill to modify and reduce the exist.
lns tariff Of duties on imports has passed
tina, body, and been sent 10 the other branch
Of the Legislature for concurrence. Almost
all the articles comprised IN the bull are
those coming within the class OF non pro-
tected articles. o. these II IS proposed to
abolish the duty entirely, and about this
there vas no division Of sentiment and no
debate. A few Of the articles IN the bill,
however, such as salt, spirits, and some 9th.
ers, bearing duty Of twenty per cent aud
upwards, fall within the protected class, aud
on these It II proposed 10 reduce the duty
at once one. halt. This reduction being
deemed an ntractIon OF the compromise
act OF 1888, gave rise TO oil the able and an
mated debate which has occurred on the
hlI during the last week. Mr.. CLAY, the la
Their OF that beneticent measure, the com
promise bill ] closed the debate on Saturday
by one OF his most powerful aud eloquent
efforts. 10 a very Impressive appeal 10 the
Senate TO preserve nylolate that iayorlt
measure. But his efforts were not success
tat, MS motion 10 exclude the disputed artl
Giles from the bill beng lost BY majority y
one vote. The publication otthe debate wheel
all be gwen as early rs practicable, wi
disclose the various grounds on which cen,
temen voted on both sides Of this question
Ia the House Of Representatives, an Ct.
fort Vas made in Saturday evening sitting
10 have the body Of the Senate ball. vii
some slight modification, annexed as an a
mendment 10 the tortiticallon bdl but i
failed by vote Of the House, (agalast tbs
decision Of the CHAIR declaring /, mol I,
be IN order to propose II as an amendment
to that bllI.-ib.
The adrouness with which Mr.. Letehei
succeeded, in the House Of Representatives.
four years ago, IN engrattlng upon the stock
af House bull the Senate bill, which bt
this means became law, now known by the
Compromise Act, has been much celebrated
and not more than the clescruess OF the
achievement deserved. But we doubt wheth.
er II eqnaIied in deyleuty a movement Of
the member from Tennessee, Mr. Bel,
whose familiarity with Congressional tactics
enabled hlm, on Saturday last, having the
majority on his side, as the event proved,
to incorporate 10 the bill making The annua
appropriations for tortfeafions, provision
for distributing the surplus rertaas ahict
shall be in the Treasury on the lst Of Janu
ary, l-35. on the same principles as BY the
act Of last session the surplus 10 the Urea
sury on the lst Of last January was direct
ed to be distributed Tor deposttedJ with The
several States.
To understand the Importance Of that ex
perimental knowledge of the rules Which
enables a member to get such a propo
sutton before the House at this period Of the
session, 1t should be noted that, had he
moved It as an ind. pendent amendment, the
Prerious Question might have been called
upon him, which, being agreed to, ~oulc
have precludcd hts or any other amendment
He took advantage. therefore, OF Il depend
ng amendment. 10 move his proposition a.
an amendment. to the amendment, which con.
tanned within Itself many Importan, proyls-
IONS for particular objects Of appropriation,
mot, technically, to the bllI.) The Preri.
Gus Question would have Gu, off the depend.
lug amendments, in which some members
ol the House teI, deep interest. The con.
sequence Of this was, that, when the Pew.
ctla Question was ultimately called If vvas