Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-04-12
28th CONGRESS-, 1st SEES.
MONDAY, April /.

18th CONGRESS-, LIST SEES.
MONDAY, April /.
Senate. Several petitions against disturbing the
IarliI, and against the annexation Of Texas were
presented. The most important business of the
day, was discussion on the Post Office Bill. Mr.
Phelps spoke at length against the bill, arguing
that the evils complained OF resulted from patron
age, politics, and the high rates paid for mail ser.
vce-that these embarrassed the Department. He
argued also against various provisions Of the bill
Mr.. MeTick replied to several of the objections
and urged that high postage was the great evil and
reduction should be the remedy. Mr. Simmons ad-
vocated his amendment Extending the distance of
letters at 5 cents postage from leo to $50 miles
urging that this reduction must be made to put
down private expresses-and that it was Just also,
because while on the $50 mile letters the proposed
reduction is but 2 l-2 cents, reduction of 10 cts
is proposed on the 500 mile letters His amend
ment would equalize the rates. and he believed in
crease the number Of letters four fold. Mr.. Day
ton objected to going to work in the dark-against
hastily going to great lengths: though this amend
ment would increase the number of letters, lie
thought the increase would not be great as anti
cipatcd by its friends. Mr. Merick replied to Mr.
Simmons, and admitted the fourfod increase of
letters yet he said the result would be loss of
revenue. The average rate deemed necessary by
the Committee to sustain the department was Z ! 2
cents this amendment would reduce the rate be-
low the average, and he must oppose it. He would
reduce postage as low as possible consistently with
the policy of enabling the department to sustain it.
self
House. Mainly occupied with territorial bust
ness.
TUESDAY, April 2.
Senate. Memorials against the annexation of
Texas were presented by Mr.. Uphom and Mr..
Tappan. Several bills from the House were dis
posed of, when the discussion of the Postage bill
resumed.
House. Territorial business &c. The bill for
the reduction of the army was further debated.
"WEDNESDAY, April B.
House. Mr.. Adams, from the Select Committee
on the resolves of Massachusetts Legislature, for
an amendment to the Constitution to abolish the
representation slaves, leave, made report from
the ma ority of the committee of two resolutions,
one declaring that said amendment of the Consti-
tuition ought not TO be recommended, and the other
for the discharge of the committee from the further
consideration Of the subject; also a report Of the
journal of the committee and minority augumen-
tative report of himself and Mr. Giddings. He
moved to lay upon the table the above with the re-
port Of Mr.. Gilmer and Mr.. Burt and all the mi
nority reports that should be made and the print.
ing of all.
BY general consent the reception of all the mi
nority reports was agreed to, and they were made
by Mr.. ]. Il. Ingersoll Ton behalf of himself and
Mr.. G. Davis, of Ky) by Mr.. Burke, Mr. Morse and
minority reports to the number of SIR thus being
made jointly or singy by all the nine members Of
the committee except Mr. Lucas of Va, appointed
in place of Mr.. Gimer, deceased.
The minority reports were all laid on the table
and the question Of their printing was postponed
until tomorrow.
On the adoption of the resolutions of the major
ity Mr.. Chapman moved the previous question,
which finally seconded, and the resolution de-
claring I" that the amendment of the Constitution
Of the United States proposed by the Legislature
of Massachusetts, ought not to be recommended"
was adopted-Yeas 5G, to the following Nays:
Nays-Messrs. Abbott, Adams, Baker, Darrah, |
Dickey, Giddings, Hudson, Marsh, Morse, Rock
well, Rogers, Severance, Winthrop-l3 All wings.
Mr.. Foot was in NewYork, TO take wife. Mr.
Collamer voted aye, and Mr.. Dllllngham's name
does not appear
Mr. Phoenix, from the Committee on Commerce,
reported bill allowing drawbacks on foreign mer-
chandze imported in original packages from Chi
huahua and Santa Fe, and the British North Amer.
lean provinces adjoining the United States.
Some other reports were made on leave
The remainder of the day was occupied upon the
Bill directing the sale Of the mineral lands in Hi
nols, Wisconsin, and Iowa; which was discussed
at some length by Messrs. Hoge of Ill. and White,
in advocacy; and by blessrs Cave Iohnson, Bar
nard, Holmes and Summers in opposition. The
ground being taken by the forner-sustained by !
reference to documents-that these mines were not
and had not been source of revenue to the Uni
ted States, but rather of expenditure; that their
value was constantly decreasing under the conduct
of the lessees now having charge of them; and by
the latter, that although their sale on proper condi
tons might be advisable, this bill did not embrace
those conditions; that under it the spectators
would combine and manage TO obtain at the mini
mum price, 1925, these valuable mineral lands, &c.
The bill was rejected. Yeas 90 nays 81. Mr.
Cllngman moved reconsideration; pending which
the House adjourned.
Senate Petitions were presented by Mr.. Wood
bridge, hree,-Mr. Tappan, one, and Mr.. Phelps,
one--GgainSt annexation and by Messrs. Buchan-
an, Wright, Woodbridge and Phelps, against a
modification of the Tariff. Mr.. Phelps said the
ground taken by the memorials he presented on
each of these subjects, was that occupied with one
feeling by all parties in Vermont
On motion of Mr.. Allen, the Military Academy
bill was reconsidered Ito allow the Illinois Sena-
tors according to instructions to record their vote
against it) and the bill was re-passed. Yeas, q
nays, II.
Mr.. Porter, from the Committee on Roads and
Canals, made report on the subject of Canal
round st Mary's Falls, to connect lakes Huron and
Superior; of which, on motion of Mr. Tallmadge,
500 copies were ordered to be printed.
The Fertilization bill was further considered and
was ordered engrossed
THURSDAY, April4.
Senate. Various petitions were presented, a.
mong which were, by Messrs. Tallmadge, Francis
and Buchanan, against any modification of the Tar
i'll.
House. The Army Retrenchment bill was taken
up in Committee of the Whole on the Union, and
the greater part of the time until two O'clock the
time fixed for the close Of debate-was occupied by
Messrs, Black, Of s. c. (who reported the bill from