Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-12-20

Postage and Frdnking.
Mr. Merrick gave notice Of a bill to reduce
and fix the rate of postage and to regulate
the ranking privilege.
Mr. Merrick's Bill will be similar TO the
Bill which passed at the late session.
do not think il will succeed any better
at this session then heretofore, with the
House. The members from the North
Western and South Western interior are ap-
prehensive that the measure will render nee
essary a diminution of their mail facilities,
which are now kept up at the cost Of the
productive routes.
Presidential Election.
The House, in Committee Of the Whole.
took up Mr. Duncan's Bill establishing a
uniform time for the election of President
and Vice President of the U. States.
WAsHINGToN, Tuesday, Dec. 10th.
The China Treaty.
Mr. Cushing's Treaty with China was laid
before the Senate for ratification Yesterday.
This morning, in Executive Session, it
was taken up and referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs.
Nominations.
The nomination Of Gov Van Ness, as
Collector of New York, and of Judge King
of Pa, and Chancellor Walworth, Of the
Supreme Court, are before the Senate.
They we're not acted on to-day.
Gov. Van Ness will be confirmed unani-
mously, with the exception of two votes.
The nomination of the Judges will prob
ably be laid on the table.
Thara xunc n nanaraI ,Onvno,ant tnr.rI.
the Senate chamber, to-day, in consequence
ofthe superstition that Mr. McDuffie would
speak on the Texan question. But he In
troduced his Joint Resolution for the
Annexation of Tcras,
without II was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. 1t is in the
following words, viz:
Resoiyed by the Senate and House of
Representatives, Of the United States of
america in Congress assembled, That the
compact Of annexation and union between
the said United States and the Republic of
Texas, signed by Jno. c. Calhoun, Secreta-
ry of State, on the part of the United States,
and Isaac Van Zandt and ]. Pinckney Hen
derson, or the part of Texas, on the twelfth
of April last, in the following words, there
follows a copy of the treaty rejected at tho
last session. be, and the same is hereby de-
clared to be, the fundamental law Of union
between the said United States and Texas,
as soon as the supreme authorities Of the
said Republic of Texas shall agree to the
same. And it shall be the duty of the Pres
ident of The United States, as soon as he
shall be officially notified of such agreement
on the Fart of Texas, to announce the same
by proclamation.
Resolued, further By the authority qfore-
SAID, That it is understood and intended that
whatever was stipulated to be lone immedi-
ately, or at a fixed time after the exchange
of the aforesaid compact, shall be done i'm
mediately, or in a like period after the s-
preme authorities of Texas shall have form
ally agreed to these resolutions.
.AROther Project Of annexation.
Mr. Benton gave notice that he would, to-
introduce a "Bill providing for the
annexation of Texas TO the United States
MexicO.
The Resolution yesterday offered by Mr.
calling for the further correspondence
between MIR Shannon and the Government
Mexico, and any later communications
from that minister, was agreed to.
As Duff Green has not yet arrived, the
Government has no further advices Of any
moment to communicate. A few DAYS will
give us very important intelligence.
Wig Caucus.
The Wing Senators held a general and
important consultation to-day, in reference
their course Of action on nominations,
and various party questions. The result
will be decisive, no doubt, of the course of
The Wing party generally, in regard to the
outgoing and incoming administration
Abohtion petitions Referred.
Mr. Adams presented a memorial from
citizens of New York, praying the abolition
slavery in the District OF. Columbia.
Some sensation was visible in the House.
It was to be seen whether the House was in
earnest in resembling the 2Ist rule, or wheth-
they would eva1e the vote by LAYING the
of reception on the table, as in the
MIR Black, of Georgia, objected to the re-
of the petition.
Mr. Thompson moved to lay the question
of reception on the table.
The Speaker stated, in reply to q question
rom MIR Winthrop, that if the motion pre-
vailed, the petition would not be considered
having come into the possession of the
House.
The motion was lost, yeas 80, nays 90.
The question ofreccption was next decid-
~ the affirmative ; yeas l07, nays 81.
mr. Black moved to lay the petition on
he table lost.