Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-05-30
CONGRESS-.


sion bills from the House passed, and seve-
raj indefinitely postponed. The Senate then went
into Executive session on the Texas treaty.
In the House, tho bill to provide for the sup.
port of the Post-ollice department was taken up.
Mr.. Davis, Of Kentucky, moved that the com.
pensation to travelling agents of the department
be reduced from $1,000 to 81 900 per annun,
preserving the present allowance Of 50 day fos
travelling expenses. Mr.. Rathbun moved to
abolish the Office altogether. Mr.. Schcnck said
the bill appropriated $4,000 for Mail agents,
and for detecting mail depredations. He sug.
gested that the Offices be abolished, and that
$4,000 be appropriated for the suppression Of
mail deprsdations. The amendment was adopt.
cd, and the bill Land aside. The Navy appro-
Pnauon bill was then taken up. A proposition
was made 10 limit the number Of men employed
In the service Of the present year to 1900, which
led TO long debate, in which the Texas question
was introduced.
On Tuesday, in the Senate, no Legislative bust.
ness OF Importance was transacted, most of the
day being spent in Executive session.
In the House, the Navy appropriation bill was
under discussion in committee of the whole
MIR. Elmer, from the committee on elections,
made report on behalf of the majority of said
nmiltee, against the right of John NJ. Bolts to
lat in the House, end in favor OF the sitting
member John w. Jones, which was laid on the
table and ordered to be printed.
On Wednesday, in the Senate, the bill to re-
duce the pay of officers of the army was indef-
ntely postponed-ayes rs, noes 10. The Sc
nate went early into Executive session.
In the House, the Navy appropriation bill was
under consideration in committee Of the whole.
MIR. Brent's amendment in tie form of proviso,
was adopted, requiring that but one-half of tho
amount appropriated should be expended in the
first half of the present year. The committee
rose at late hour and reported the bill as a.
mended. '
On Thursday, in the Senate, Mr.. McDuffie
asked leave to introduce Mr.. Stansbury, the re-
porter, during the delivery of his remarks in Ex-
ecntive session on the Texas treaty. He said he
would rather deliver a dozen speeches than to
write one. Mr.. Berrien suggested that the ques-
tion should be submitted in executive session,
and Mr.. McDufie for the present withdrew his
motion. MIR. McDuffo then made known tho
fact that in executive session last evening he had
introduced joint resolution which he would in
troduce in Legislative session. Mr.. Berrien
thought if there was proposition to transfer the
business of the Senate from Executive to Legis-
lative session that the motion to do So should be
introduced when the Senate was sitting with
closed doors. The subject not pressed fur
ther The joint resolution of Mr.. McDufie is
understood TO be proposition to annex Texas to
the Union by the assent of Texas and the United
States, and by the power of Congress alone on
the part of the government. The bill proposing
TO refund the amount of cancelled Treasury notes
purloined in New Orleans, amounting to $780,
600, passed.
In the House, Mr. Cobb of Ca asked leave to
present resolutions from the people of Chapel
CO. Georgia in favor of the annexation of Texas.
A motion was subsequently, made to print them,
which required suspension of the rules. The
House refused to suspend the rules by vote of
IS to 99.-Ths vote is regarded as important, as
showing the Texas strength in the House. The
consideration of the Navy appropriation bill was
in committee Of the whole, ami finally
reported to the House. The Post-office appro-
priation bill was passed.
On Friday, in the Senate, Mr.. Tappan pres
scented memorial from GAINESVILLE, Ohio, asking
the immediate annexation Of Texas, on the
ground that if the United States do not obtain it,
Great Britain will. In presenting this memorial
Mr.. l'apPan remarked that the prayer of the me-
morialists was based upon an imposition which
had been industriousy circulated through the
whole country, and played off upon many of the
people. From the recent letters of Gen. Jack.
son, it was evident that he had been imposed up-
on by The same argument, and if il had not been
for the publication of the treaty and accompany
ing documents, it was his belief that the Senate
would be full OF memorials based upon the same
imposition. He thought, therefore, that the coun.
try owed him debt Of gratitude for his agency
in procuring the publication of the Treaty and
accompanying documents. daughter among the
Senators.)
In the House, Mr.. Labranche OF La. asked
leave to present resolutions adopted in New Or.
leans in favor Of the immediate annexation Of
Texas. A motion was made that they &c read,
which was refused. They were then laid upon
the table by vote of I03 TO 7S.--This vote is a
of the one on yesterday, and is deci-
slve OF the feeling of the House on the Texas
question. Mr.. Duncan moved suspension Of
the rules to enable the House to go into commit
tee OF the whole on the Oregon bill-refused,
ayes So, noes So A bill to adapt the rates of
postage to the National coin and to abridge the
ranking privilege, was reported from the com.
mlttee on post Offices and post roads. Accompa@
nylng the bill were two reports, one in favor Of
and the other opposed to cheap rates of posiages
The majority of the committee are opposed to the
Senates bill.
H..