The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-28
CONGRESS-.

CONGRESS-.
In the Senate, on Wednesday, several reports were
made from standing committees private bills; and
The bill for providing the adjustment ofclamsa rs-
ing under the fourteenth and nineteenth articles OF
the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, between the
United States and the Chociaw Indians was ordered
to be engrossed for third reading.
Mr.. YOUNG offered the following, as an amend
ment to the resolution submitted by him Tuesday,
in relation to the public lands, which ordered to
be printed, viz
IL. The quantity of land in each State patented on
account of military bounties for services rendered
during the late war with Great Britain.
Is. The number of unsatisfed claims on the same
account, and the quantity of land required to satisfy
the same.
IA. The amount of land scrip issued on account of
the State Of Virginia. in consequence of the cesson
OF her waste lands OF the United States, for military
services rendered by her citizens during the Revolu-
tonary war.
Is. The amount of scrip required to lquidate the
unsatlsfied claims on the account far as the
same can be ascertaned at the Department.
16. The grants of lands made to the several States
and Territories from the earliest period up to the
present time and the purposes for which such grants
were made.
II. The quantity of land reserved by the States
respectively for their benefit from the lands ceded
by them to the United States
MIR. BENTON from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported, without amendment the Sena e
bill, as amended by the House, providing for an
armed occupation of Florida.
The bill for the satisfaction of claims arising
der the fourteenth and nineteenth articles of the
treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, was ordered to be
engrossed for a third reading.
MIR. MERRICK moved that the Senate now pro-
coed to dispose of the motion made several days ago.
to reconsider the vote by which the bill in relation
to postage on letters private expresses, etc. was Or
dered to be engrossed for third reading. He stated
that the head of the Post Office Department was of
the opinion that the rates of postage fixed by the
Senate on Saturday, would seriously curtal the re-
venue of that branch of the Government and there
fore desired that they should not be enacted into
law.
The vote by which the bill was ordered to be en-
crossed for athird reading, was then re-consdered
Mr. MERRICK moved to strike out the first
section
Mr.. WALKER SAID that this was the most i'm
portant part of the bill His State considered it
important that, during this session, the Legislature
of Mississippi forwarded to him positive instructions
to support such modification of the Post Office laws
would introduce the Federal coinage in the place
Of that Iad for postage.
Mr. MERRICK remarked that the Committee on
the Post Office had framed the section the section
conceived that what lost by receiving five and
ten cent pieces in lieu of six and quarter and twelve
and-a-half, would be counterbalanced by requiring
twenty cons in place of eighteen-and hree-f,utths
But the section had been amended not only as &c
rates, but distances and he desired that should be
stricken out.
Mr.. McROBERTS observed that if they should
strike out that portion of tie bill which adopted
on the motion of the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr
Simmons) Saturday. the section would be left as 1t
tk.t,t
retained, because it would conform the rates of post
age to the Federal currency, and attain an object
which was so anxiousIy desired by the country
Mr. WOODBURY. moved to recommt the bill to
the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads
Mr.. MERRICK hoped that this would not be done,
the Senate able to restore the bill to what it
was, if they should think proper SO to do.
Mr.. CALHOUN preferred that the motion Of the
Senator from New Hampshire should prevail The
committee could come to satisfactory conclu-
sion with regard to what rates of postage should be
hXed after consultation with the Postmaster Gene
ral and the bill could be reported tomorrow
ing.
Mr. KING sud that they should take no step in
this matter which would have tendency to dimin-
sh the revenue of the Department but conformity
Of the rates of postage with the Federal coin would
not, he imagined have this effect and he thought it
to be well worth the experiment.
Mr.. MERRICK urged that the first section be
stricken out and that the rest of the bill become
law
Mr.. WALKER could not agree to that and was
anxious to improve the section it now stood.
Mr.. BUCHANAN desired that the further conside-
ration of the subject should be postponed until they
could obtain estimates from the Department to the
probable effect of a reduction of postage upon re-
venue. So far as his vote was concerned, he would
not move on inch in the absence of estimate He
would vote against recommitment of the bill and
he desired that the first section should not be acted
on until they heard what the Postmaster General had
to say upon the subject.
The question was taken on the motion to recon-
nit the bill to the Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads; and it was decided in the negative
ayes IA, noes 90.
Mr.. WALKER moved to strike out all after the
enacting clause, and insert that all single letter
sheets, except those which are exempted from post
age by law, there shall be paid for transportation,
not exceeding twenty-five miles, five cents; over
twenty hive, and not exceeding one hundred and
twenty, ten cents over one hundred and twenty,
and not exceeding two hundred and fifty, fifteen
cents; over two hundred and fifty, and not exceeding
1--WE hundred, twenty cents, and over five hundred,
twenty-five cents
The amendment was disagreed to +; and
The question having been taken on striking out
the first section-relatng to the rates Of postage-t
was decided in the affirmative.
The section relating to the size Of the largest
newspapers which can be transported by mail at
the ordinary rate amended to increase
tle Hhll Vi lToH loUI square inches 10 I,4oU al
papers above this measurement to be charged one
cent additional postage for every five additional
square inches
The bill was read third time and passed
MIR. WALKER submitted the following resolution,
which was adopted, viz:
RESOLVED, That the Postmaster General be directed
to communicate to the Senate at the commencement
of the next session an estimate showing what reduc-
ton OF the number Of miles which postage is now
charged in the several designated by law would
be necessary to introduce the Federal coinage so as
not to diminish the aggregate revenue Of the Post
Office Department
A message received from the President of the
United States, stating that he had signed the bill ent-
tied An act regulating the value to be affixed to the
pound sterling by the Treasury Department.