The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-03-01
GmeAtp4 SsosMth Congress.
THIRD SESSION
TUESDAY, February %, ls43.
SENATE.

sen ATE
Mr. EVANS, from the Committee on Finance Re.
ported, with all amendment, the House bill autho-
rizing reissue Of Treasury notes.
Also, the bill to prohibit the allowance Of extra
compensation; and he expressed the opinion Of the
csmmttee that such an &C, unnecessary, as there
was already law 10 force upon the subject
Mr. CRITfENDEN presented memorial, from
citizens of Lexington, Kentucky, stating that in
consequence Of the distractions in the Western wa
ters there is continually great loss Of life and pro-
perty, and asking Congress to apply remedy.
The Senate passed the bill repeating much Of
the act Of last year provides that after the 4h of
March next the second regiment of dragons shall
be converted into rifle regiment, etc.
The bill TO amend the laws regulating Imprlson.
ment for debt in the District Of Columbia was read
third time and passed.
The bill to settle the title to the Pea Patch island
in the river Delaware, was ordered to be engrossed
The bill to reduce the rates of postage was taken
up, when
Mr.. MERRICK proposed to amend it by reducing
the rates Of postage as follows letters, not ex.
ceeding thirty miles, five cents thirty and no,
exceeding hundred miles, ten cents over one
hundred, and not exceeding two hundred and twenty
miles, fifteen cents; over two hundred and twenty
miles, aud not exceeding four hundred miles
twenty cents; for all distances over four hun
dred miles, twenty-five cents. He said that hi,
scale was that proposed by the Post Office Depart.
ment. 1t would reduce the postage somewhat, and
also equaze the rates Of charge to the decimal coins
of the United States.
Mr.. SIMMONS suggested that the rate of postage
between thirty and two hundred and twenty miles be
reduced to the lowest rate. By this means the reye
nue. would be very materially increased
MIR. MERRICK said that all they could do wa, 10
adopt the recommendation of the Department, where
1t had been well and maturely considered
MIR. WRIGHT proposed an amendment, which
was rejected.
And the question being taken on the amendment
of Mr. Merrick, it was agreed to.
The bill was engrossed for a third reading.
The bill for defraying the expenses of treaty stipu-
lations with various Indian tribes, was called up by
Mr. EVANS, the appropriation reduced and the bill
amended. passed and sent to the House for concur
renee in the amendments.
INTERCOURSE WITH CHINA.
Mr.. ARCHER, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, reported the bill regulating intercourse with
China; and the bill was placed upon the calendar
FoRrIricATioN BILL
This bill was reported from the Finance Commit
tee without amendment. 1t was read, when
Mr.. SEWER moved amendment appropriatinp
S25 900 for rebuilding Fort Gibson at or near its pre-
sent site but it was rejected.
Fifteen thousand dollars were then inserted for
this purpose.
The amendment was then ordered to be engrossed
and The bill was subsequently passed.
FRANKING PRIVILEGE
The bill to limit and control the Thanking privilege
was called up, and explained by Mr. Merrck, the
chairman of the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads, and then laid upon the table by vote OF
20 to 10.
NAVAL PENSION BILL.
This bill was called up, discussed, and reported to
The Senate with an amendment, which was ordered
to be engrossed, and the bill was passed.
CHARTERS OF THE DISTRICT BANKS.
bill to extend the charters of the District bank;
from 1874 to 1854 was the next business in order
Mr. ALLEN moved the indefinite postpopemep,
oil the bill and the motion gave rise to debate
Mr. Aliens motion was rejected by the following
vote
fEAS-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton Buchanan,
Suthber', Fulton, King, McDufe, McRobers
smith OF Connecticut, Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker
w ill,ams, Wo 'dbury, Wright, Young-lT.
fEAS-Messrs Archer, Barrow, Bates. Choate
Clayton, Conrad, Crittenden, Dayton, Evans, Ora.
ham, Henderson, Huntington, Kerr Mangum, Mer.
rcs, Miller, Morehead Porter, Rives, Simmons
Smith OF Indiana, Sprague, Tallmadge, White,
Woodbrdge-25.
Mr. HING moved TO lay the bill upon the table
but the motion did not prevail-yeas is, nays IS
Mr. AL EN proposed an amendment 10 make the
stockholders liable for all the obligations of the bank
This give rise 10 an extended debate in which
Messrs ALLEN, BENTON MILLER, WALKER,
BARROW, ARCHER, and others participated
On the question being taken, the amendment was
lost.
On motion Of Mr. BUCHANAN, an amendment
was adopted to the effect that the banks shall forfeit
their charters when they shall refuse to redeem their
notes IN specie, and making provision for liquidation
yeas 50, and MIR. Morehead only in the negative.
The bill was ordered to be eugrossed for third
reading
message was received from the House of Repre.
sentaliyes stating that they had passed bill TO pro
vide for carrying into effect the late treaty between
the United States and Great Britain.
On motion Of Mr.. ARCHER the bill was referred
10 the Committee on Foreign Relations
The Senate, at seven O'Clock, went into an Execl-
tive session.