Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-06-20
CONGRESS-.

Texas. which is given in another column. The
death Of member Of the House, Mr.. Read, Of
Pa. was announced, and no other business was
nothing was done in the House.
On Tuesday, in the Senate, number of Inc.
MORALS were presented by Mcssrs. Archer, Rives
and buchanan, asking an amendment Of the Ma
turalization laws, so as TO require residence of
I'll years to entitle foreigners 10 vote. They were
referred TO the Judiciary committee. The chair
man OF the committee, Mr.. Berrien, was asked if
report might be expected from the committee on
these memorials a, the present sessions TO which
he was understood to reply that tho committee
would not report-,he time being too limited to
give the subject adequate consideration. A num-
Der of memorials for and against the annexation
of Texas were also presented. The Army bill
was then taken up and passed with amendments.
The two Houses are at variance OIL this BILL The
House proposes to reduce the pay Of officers, and
the Senate are for keeping the pay as now es,a-
blished by law. MIR. McDufie's Joint resolution
approving the compact of annexation made be-
tween The Executive of the United States and
That OF Texas, coming up in its order, was laid
on the table, on the motion of Mr.. Woodbridge,
by decisive vote. The bill to remit the duty ON
| RAILROAD iron was rejected.
In the House, Message was received from
! the President, accompanied with the documents
relating 10 the Texas treaty, and in addition anno
| nymous letters and extracts-in,ended no doubt as
AN appeal to the country from the decision Of the
Senate. They were referred to the committee ON
Foreign affairs. The House refused to print an
extra number of copies. Mr.. Adams then SUBJ
United the following resolutions, but the House
| refused to suspend the rules in order to receive
them:
Resolved, That, by the Constitution of the
United States, the power of declaring war is en-
pressly and exclusively delegated by the people
! OF this Union to the Congress of The United
States.
Resolved, That any attempt by the President
! oil the United States 10 place them in a state of
| actual war with any foreign nation with or with.
out the advice and consent of the Senate would
be flagrant usurpation of the powers exclusive
ly delegated TO the House of Representatives,
and requiring of those the exercise of all their
constitutional authority TO vindicate their lawful
powers.
Another message was received from the Prcsi-
dent vetoing the Eastern Ilarbor bill, which be-
ing read, the question was put " Shall this bill
pass notwithstanding the objections of the Presi-
dent = and decided in the negative-yeas 1903,
nays 84-a vote Of two-thirds being required.
On Nednesday in the Senate, MIR. Walker of
Mi. submitted resolution requesting information
OF the President whether The Parliament of Great
Britain had passed an act extending criminal ju-
risdiction over citizens Of the IT, States and also
whether the Diplomatic or other agents of Great
IrIf had
the condition Of any portion OF our population.
MIR. Walker accompanied his resolution with
some remarks in explanation. The law referred
TO was one to punish British Subjects who owned
and purchased slaves, whether residing in or out
of the British dominions In regard to the other
branch OF the inquiry, he alleged that he had
good authority for saying that circulars had been
issued to the Consuls Of Great Britain directing
minute inquiries into the condition of our slaves
The resolution was laid over Till next day. Mr..
Benton gave notice of his intention to introduce
joint resolution to amend the Constitution in
relation to the election of President and Vice.
President.
In the House, the Army appropriation bill, as
amended by the Senate, was referred TO the COM
miitee of Ways and Means. Mr.. Hopkins, of
Va offered joint resolution providing for the fu-
neral expenses of the persons killed on board The
Princeton, amounting to $3.50, out of the con.
tingent fund of the two Houses. Mr. Jones, of
Tenn. moved TO lay the resolution on the table
rejected, ayes 40, noes l24. Mr.. DTomgoole re-
garded the resolution as Objectionable. Mr.. Hop
klns thought 1t surprising that his colleague had
not discovered these objections before the House
had appointed committee in conjunction with
the Senate, to incur these expenses. The Grape
which his colleague had worn while attending
this funeral was not paid for, nor were the car
rIages or collins. If such payments were to be
opposed. the time had passed for making the OPP
position In this case. Mr.. Adams was also op-
posed to the appropriation. Mr.. Ingersoll cited
presidents in favor of the resolution, and the vote
being taken, it was adopted, 1913 to CO. The
Postage question was discussed in committee of
the whole, with great animation. The friends of
reduction are from the East, and from the large
cities, and It's opposers from the West and South
West 1t is doubtful, however, whether any
thing will be done at this session on the subject.
On Thursday, in the Senate, MIR. Benton NOV
co. al an early hour, to postpone the previous or
ders for the purpose of taking up his bill provid-
Ing Tor the conditional annexation Of Texas
The motion prevailed, and Mr. Benton addressed
the Senate for nearly two hours. He commented
very severely on the message sent by the Presi-
dent to the House Of Representatives, asking
Congress 10 do what the Senate had declined TO
do, and annex Texas by legislative enactment.-
lie considered il an insult TO the Senate and one
which merited impeachment. When he finished
MIR. McDuffie rose to reply, but Mr. Evans in
confederation Of fho