Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-12-28

DAY, proceeding, IA Congress. - BaIi -ln.sr
WASmNCToS, Dec 18Th.
Both Houses came together 4; is o.
clock.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,
. The Journal being read, Mi Briggs,
.of Massachusetts. asked the House 10
excuse him from accepting his appoint
ment, made by the Speaker on Thurs.
day last, 10 serve as u member OF the
Committee Of Ways and Means. Mr..
Briggs bad been selected by the Speak
CT 10 iiil the vacancy occaSioned by the
resignation OF Mr.. Fletcher, Of Boston
who iCg certain :easons. asked. on We'd
ncSday last 10 be excused from further
service upon the Committee. Mr.
Briggs SAID that the peculiar circuIl-
stances If the case rendered 1t impro-
per that he should ill the vacancy oc-
casioned bv the resisnatiou'oi his coli
league. lie begged therefore. TO be
excused. The House responded TO has
request, and authorized the Speaker 10
al the vacancy occasioned b the Tc.
signa.ion Of Mr.. Briggs.
PETITIONS.
Petitions were then IN order. In the
House more than thousand were pre-
scented, praying among other things for
an act OF Congress refusing hereafter TO
admit any State into ;he Union Us a
Slave State; for restriction OF the
Slave trade in the several States, for
the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave
trade an Tie District OF Columbia, and
IN the several territories of the Union.
These petitions, IN all numbering -four
hundred and more, were laid upon the
table wlthou. discussion. The petitions
were from the Western States, and
from the free States OF the North.
Massachusetts sent in 4 hundred pc
ti,IoEs through all her members. Yer
mont came IN with half hundIe d more
Pennsylvania with another tii:y. Halt
OF them were from the women aud chil-
dren IN the free States, aud the fact
IS worth mentioning that in almost all
cases majority of the PETITIONS agains 4
the Abolition of Slavery *. are from
mothers and daughters, wives and chii-
dicn Of the free States.
Mr.. Adams. of Massachusetts, during
the morning, presented petition from
the Peace Society OF New York, pray
ing tha! the Controversy between the
United States and Mexico be referred
10 Foreign Power for arbitration, be :
fore hostiliiies arc commenced between
the two Governments MIR. a. moved
that this petition be referred to a select
committee.
Mr.. Howard moved tha, it be refer
red 10 the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs. A debate was threatened and
the resolutions were laid over. Mr.. 4 g.
dams contentiEg himself with making
some severe remarks upon the Com
mittee OF Foreign Affairs, owl Inch you
know Mr. Howard IS Chairman.
Mr.. Adams then presented thirty or
forty naturalization Petitions, which
he moved TO refer TO a Select Commit
tee. y petition was then presented by
hun praying AGAINST the Aboiillpn ul
Slavery IN the District Of Columbia.
Nj. Adams said this petition came from
his Constituents and he moved that u
be printed and referred to the Dr>lfic'
Con. mit,ec. The House laid j. upon
the table.
SENiTE
The .75,Lii,a Of M,rry in tie DH-
rict Of Columbia has been the qurs.
ton. the everlasting question, which
has consumed the time Of the Senate
from noon until four O'Clock.
Mcs>rs Clay, Calhoun. Preston
Riyes. ROane--l large majority III fact
Of tic Senators from all sections Of The
country, look par, IA the discussion.
The debate was long Spiu,cd. and
drew forth much Of the acfimony and
bitter feeling of the senators from the
South. No.th and West The discus
son began on petition presented by
Mr. wall. ct New jersey. praying TT
the Abolition Of slavery IN the Drino.
of Columbia \ motion was made 20
las the petition on The table.
Mr Clay OF rs. begged tha' the
motion 90 Law upon the table shouli be-
wiihlrawn. tbc motion was Withdrawn.
Nf Clay took tie ilDor and sai 90 as
anxious o. learn from senator ferfe-
seniins tbs free State. What RCTo ihr
causc, and what The cvicntof Toe Aui
Sliycry freli0g IN The North W,.it
upon ihe increase or upon 'hr drcte1s'
Wa not ihe increase caused hy cup
position on the piH ~ the reritares
that the nigh, OF petition had been n.
vaded ~ a refusal 1u ur part q CO. .
zrcss 60 receive aud refer lshu1,,
Would NOT toe petition dccrsa
were referred 90 commit g,l
report, a calm, di,pss.ioD< "a Ire
reasoning report be yFfn'e Pei.
confederation OF ls sc,' If = qae.don
presented by ~ Cl}y Jsrev pfes,is, =
Nenr, Vsll Of Si Mic. Of COM !,
and So e. ct strn senator. al re-
and fher N,ad,ely to ,he que laa.
y,5nded a. without exception hey =
Of NJ 'fbey believed ihata reference 2
sa'd J petitions would limit agitation I
DICK discussion. heal the public %