Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-12-18
CONGRESS-.

meeting of Congress, at twelve O'Clock the n,euberS
Oh oo'h Houses assembled IN their respective cham
ocrs whercupOn the Secretary of the Senate and
the Clerk. of the House of Representatives proceeded
TO call the roll, and it appeared that there were pres
ent OF the senate l6. and the House, 95 members
There not being quorum, both houses adjourned t
tomorrow at twelve o'clock.
mi Tuesday, Dec. s.
The house this day met and formed quorum
ABOUT loo members appeared and answered TO their
names. "A committee appointed to notify the
Senate that they had quorum and were ready m
proceed to business "
The Senate also met, but only twenty members an
s"ereu 10 'her names 1t Is confidently expected
that sufficient number will arrive tonight and TO-
morrow morning to enable them to proceed TO bust
ness. / doubt it
In the House Mr. Adams gave notice that he would.
on tomorrow or as soon as Congress were organ
zed, offer proposition to repeal the resolution of W.
" Johnson, IN reference 10 abolition petitions passed
on the 29h Of January last and which is in the follow
ing Words
Resolved that upon the presentation of any memo.
rial or petition, praying for the abolition of slavery or
the slave trade in any district territory or state of
the Unon and upon the presentation of any icsolu-
ton or other paper touching that subject, the rccep-
ton OF such memorial, resolution paper shall be
considered as objected to- and the question of its re-
cepton shall be laid on the table without debate or
further action thereon.
Resolved, that no petition, memorial resolution or
other paper praying for the abolition of slavery in the
District OF Columbia or any state territory or the
slave trade between the sta and territories of the T.
States IN which II now exists, shall be received bv
his house, or entertained in any way whatever
These resolutions were passed bya close vote, there
being IA in the atlir native and los in the negative
Many of the loco focos, is said who voted in favor
of them will now vote for their repeal This do not
believe.
"WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9.
The Senate organized to-day, sufficient number
OF members appearing to form quorum. The Clerk
was directed To acqualnt the House that the Senate
was ready TO proceed TO business, and committee
was appointed TO inform the President that they were
ready TO receive any communication he might wish to
make. The Presidents Message was shortly after
wards dellvered by his private Secretary, Mr.. Abra-
ham Van Buren,.
Mr., Merrick, of Maryland then announced in ap-
propra,c language the death his late colleague Mr..
Spence, and the adjournment followed.
In the House, MIR. Adams called up the resolutions
Offered by him yesterday, on the subject of abolition
petitions Mr.. Jeniicr, of Maryland, moved TO lay the
resolution on the table, but was reminded by the
Speaker that Mr.. Adams had the floor. Mr.. Adams
briefly stated his reasons for submitting the motion to
rcscind, saying g am not willing that the rule in
question should remain in force single hour longer
believe il to be direct violation Of the Constitution
ofthe United States and for this reason | have thus
early in the sion brought the subject to the atcn-
ton of the house.
Mr.. Banks, of Virginia. expressed his regret that
the member from Massachusetts should think it
ccssary again to agi,atc question which had been
disposed of at the last session by solemn vote, and
therefore renewed the motion TO lay ii the table
This was after debate, carried, ayes So nays So
Mr.. Adams, it is understood, will shortly again call
up his resolution
The Presidents message was then received, ordered
TO be printed, and the house adjourned.
WAsIIISGToS Dec. 10.
SESATE-Mr. NorvelL Mich. presented a memo
ria from the people of Michigan PRAYING the establish
mcnt of a General Bankrupt Law. The memorial
took the usual reference to the Committee on the Jul
dietary.
Mr. King, President pro tenn Of the Senate, was
elected chairman of the COMMITTEE on Commerce
Mr. Benton notice OF intention to BRING IN
bill upon the SUI ject of Presumption Laws
The President of the Senate was ordered 10 appoint
the several standing and joint committees of the Sc
nate.
Mr. Morrct of Nd. gave notice Of his intention to
bring in bill to transfer the stock in the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal now owned by the General Govern
| mcn,, to the State of Mary land.
| An adiournm mt to Monday followed after an III
effec,ua attempt proceed to ballot for chaplain
| HousE-The extraordinary order adopted by tho
House Yesterday to print COO copies OF the Message
| with the accompanying documents, and 5OUo copies
without being the of the usual order, cXcet
some little debate this morning. MI STANLEY, OF y
c. moved reconsideration of the order by which thu
resolution adopted The vote was close one
Mr. Adams, of Mass submitted a resolution of in
ouiry proposing the appointment of select committee
| of live members with power 10 SEND Tor persons n;'o
papers in order make inHry IN references to do
cunent con ,crning matter relating to the Amlstat
negroes. Mr.. Adams explained the mo ives Whlci
prompted him to offer the resolution. 4 document |
Gems was transferred from the State department. u
the House of Representatives at the last Session o
Congress- and by an order Of the House printed 70
distribution. BY some hocuS-Pocus deslgnedly
innoranv there was false translation which ma
teriny affects the whole questions al issue, ana upo
which may depend the question of liberty or SLAYER.
to the captured and imprisoned Africans taken OF
board the Amistad. The inquiry prososcd by MI
Adams is in reference to the error. lie wishes
know whether 1t has been blunder merely or Il!
commission of fraud designed 10 change the Who'll
question at ISSUE and be decided very soon by tn
, Supreue Court of the United States TheproposliIor
after the explanation and evidence of error Thy MI
Adams met with no serious opposition although
I, division was called The resolution OF inquiry wa
adopteI by a vote of 81 to 49, and the Speaker "
strncted to appoint the select committee the SpeaF
or was mex, instructed appoint the Several Sian'
inq Committees They will be announced by u
Chair on Monday and remain as they were az 'he Ia
: session of Congress. T.,
81 Mr. Tillingha.t of r. l. followed with resolu'lI
in relation to The Sub.reasury Bill, calling upon 7,
IS Secretary of the Treasury to furnish the House WI
| nil the information in his possession relative to u
IS Sub treasury Bil-the buildings erected-ihe expen
j. incurred-the number of officers apponftd-the
lories paid-and all the information in his possess
relative to the operations of the Bill The resolul
n was read and as soon as read, objected to by the
4 ministroon members. A motion was then submit
70 nrint the resolution for the information of the Hot
re and country but objected to from the same sour
or The Ho ,sc, on motion OF Mr.. briggs, ADJOURNED