New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-19
By This Mornings Mail.
COSGRESSION4L PROCEEDINGS.
ECON TIE RgeoE1El o. TnE NEwYoKx rElsUS1:

FROM THE REPORTER or THE NEW YORK TftlBuNE
w,sn1xcros. "Wednesday Jan. Il.
IN tcc House or REPRESENTATIVES to-day. the
debate on the subject ofimprovements IN Western
,syiga:ion was continued by Nh WELLER, who
denounced nir. STEWART's speech OF yesterday -
:. stump speech. It's delivery outrage upon tie
feengs of the House, and lis statements with re-
ference to Mt. Van buTens opinions IN regard 10
the was; OF power IN Congress over internal mn
provements false: and promised at some future
time, to reply TO It.
Mr.. STEWART, in an explanation which ne was
reluctantly allowed TO make, avowed himself Tea'y
10 prove from MIR. Van Burens own letters ali nc
had stateG-that he denied utterly the constltu-
tional power OF The General Governmental to MAKE
internal Improvements, &c. &c.
From farther explanations with reference to
the acton of the Committee OF Ways and
Means, ii appeared not that they lad singled cut
the Mississippi River, but that they had thrown
out all othcrs-all appropriations Tor Internal I'm
provement from the Appropriation Bill.
Mr. VINToS, with much cearness and force,
rep!;ed to Mr.. Holiness argument OF yesterday,
arguing the power of Congress over the Mlssls-
sppi from the ordinance OF 1877, showing that
this did not apply to the Mississippi but that
their power over the Mississippi and all the other
public highways of the Union was derived from
the power given in the Constitution 70 regulate
commerce among the States Tie held that
CONGRESS had the power to do any and every
,hin0 in aid of internal commerce that II mas IN
aid of foreign cornmcrce-the language OF the
Constitution conveying these powers beng pre-
cisely the same, &c.
Mr. BARNARD advocated the necessary appro-
priations-not for the Mississppi alone, (Which
onlv with It's tributaries, according TO the IDEAS
of some Western gentlemen, was included within
the Constitutions but for all the internal navlga-
ton Oft the country, &c, &c.
The debate was further continued during the
dav by Messrs SMITH of Ia, SMITH OF H., HAIR
DIN of H., and others.
Under the operation Of the previous question,
the resolution instructing the Committee to re-
port bill appropriatng for keeping in operation
the Snag-boats on the Mississippi, was recOnsid-
cred. Yeas 95. Nays II. After further debate,
Mr.. CosT .joaNsoN offered a substitute to the re-
solution providing for an inquiry by the Commit.
tee into the Expedicncy OF the appropriation and
moved the previous question. The amendment
was adopted yeas los Nays 6l. The rcsolu-
ton as amended was then agreed to without oppo-
sition, and the House adjourned.
In SENATE, various petitions were presented
among which was one by Mr. MoREHEAp, from
numerous citizens of Cincinnati for reduction
of postage. Mr.. NJ inquired of the Chairman Of
the Post Office Committee the reason Of their de
lay in reporting a bill upon the subject
Mr.. MERR1cK chairman replied that the
Committee had been engaged upon the subject
and would have ready their bill in day or two.
Mr.. KING hoped the Committee would give at
tention to the abuse of the tranking privilege.
Mr. MERRlck said they would The greates
franking abuse, however, was not among tht
members of Congress but among the $4,000 De
putty Postmasters.
The House bill to supply deficiency IN the
fund for the relief of disabled scamen was report
cd from the Finance Committee and passed.
Mr.. BAYARD gave notice Of bill to establish d
Naval Instruction School.
The bill granting lands in Wisconsin for The
| improv vement of Fox and WISCONSIN Rivers, al
ter some debate, was laid aside
| Mr.. MCDuFFIE's bill to rc-establlsh the Com
promise Act was postponed till tomorrow, and
the Senate went into Executive Session.
The nomination Of Isaac Hill 10 the Head o
the bureau OF Provisions and Clothing in tho
Navy Department was rejected; and the Senate
adjourned. ARGUS.