Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-12-19
CONGRESS.

!
Texas. Mr.. Merrick gave notice tina, he would
bring in bill to reduce the rates Of postage.
! In the House. the Standing Committees were
announced by the Speaker. The bill introduced
by MIR. Duncan to provide for the election of Pre-
sldent and Vice President on one and the same
day in all the States Of the Union, was taken up,
and after some discussion, laid aside, with view
10 Its reference to a Committee. The Presidents
message was then referred to appropriate Stand
Ing Committees, and Mr.. Duncan's bill to the
Committee on Elections.
| In the Senate, on Tuesday, a number of Exe.
| cutive communications were received. COVERING
nominations, the Treaty with China, and an ar.
rangement with Venezuela, for the payment of
American claims. Mr.. McDufie presented Joint
resolution, according to notice given the day be-
'ore' Tor the annexation of Texas upon the terms
of the Treaty signed by John c. Calhoun, Secre
tary OF State, on the part of the United States,
and Isaac Van Zandt, and ]. Pinckney Hender.
son, on the part of Texas. AS soon as il was
read, MIR. Archer moved its reference TO the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, which was done. Mr..
benton then gave notice Of his intention to bring
In Dill to provide for the annexation of Texas
MS rival scheme of the last session.
! In the House, Mr.. Adams presented memo
rial from citizens of New York, setting forth that
they believe the institution of slavery National
disgrace, and asking that it may be removed from
the District Of Columbia. The petition was re-
ceived, ayes LOT, noes 81. Mr.. Tibbats then
moved to lay it on the table-lost ayes SO, noes
80. The memorial on the motion of Mr.. Adams
was then referred to the Committee on the Dis
tfct OF Columbia. Other memorials of the same
character took the same direction.
In the Senate, on "Wednesday, Mr.. Benton, a.
greeably to notice, brought in his bill to provide
Tor the annexation of Texas to the United States.
IL is the same as that presented at the last ses.
sion' MIR. Niles presented resolution calling
upon the Secretary of the Treasury for informa.
tIon as to the amount of moneys in the Treasury.
'helr disposition, and the terms upon which they
were placed in the hands Of corporations, indv-
duals, &c. On the motion of Mr.. Allen reso-
luton was adopted calling upon the President for
the correspondence between our Minister in Eng
land and the Department here, and the British
government in reference to the Oregon question
Mr.. Archer stated that he had had conversation
with the Secretary of State on tho subject, and
that he had informed him it would be incom-
Pallble with the public interest to respond to such
call at this time; but the Senate passed the re-
solution notwithstanding.
In the House, on the motion Of Mr., Duncan,
the one day election bill was taken up in commit
tee OF the whole. After some discussion the bill
was laid aside to be reported to the House. Mr..
Houston of Alabama then moved to take u2 the
OIL TO graduate the price of the public lands.-
| In
! The bill provides that lands surveyed and subiect
to sale for five years shall be sold to the amount
| oil $50 acres at 81 per acre-lands in market 10
years, at rs cents per acre-lands Is years in
market, at so cents per acre-and all 90 years in
market at 20 cents per acre; provided that the
| lands be purchased for bona fde settlement The
bill having been read and declared open for a.
mendment, Mr.. Colomer, of Vermont, briefly
expressed his opposition to the measure, on the
ground that 1t would diminish the revenue of the
country, and ne called upon all who were in ia
vor OF distribution of the proceeds of the sales
of the public lands, and all who were in favor of
low duties, TO be careful how they allowed this
Dill TO pass. MIR. Sample and Mr.. Davis replied
III defence OF the bill, principally upon the ground
mat the refuse lands would not be bought unless
the price was reduced. MIR. Vinton, of Ohio, re-
pied He said that millions of dollars were in
VOWED in the bill, and to pass it would be sui
cldai act of policy, unjust to the Government,
dangerous as precedent, and a positive wrong
to the old States. The idea of selling lands at a
reduced price after .hey had been twenty years in
market ne said was preposterous. Some of the
lands had been sold at 81 ,25 after being 40 years
In market and often the best lands would be S,
10 and 10 years i'm market. Soon after Mr. Vim.
ton concluded the House adjourned.
In the Senate, on Thursday, Mr.. Phelps of VT.
introduced resolutions calling upon the President
for information to the present amount of the
public debt OF Texas, and whether any additions
have been made to that debt since the signing of
the Treaty. Also, as to what amount Of the pub.
lie lands of Texas had been granted by the Spa
nish, Mexican, and Texan governments previous
to the signing Of the Treaty-what amount re-
manned ungraHted at that date, and whether any
and what grants of said domain have been made
by the Texan government since that period. The
resolution offered by Mr.. Huntington calling for
the correspondence between our own and the
French Government, and the resolution of Mr..
Niles offered the day before, for information as to
the disposition of the public money we've adopted
In the House, Mr.. Dodge, the Delegate from
Iowa, presented the Constitution adopted by the
people Of Iowa, and moved its reference to the
committee on Territories, which was finally "a
greed to. MIR. Giddings presented sundry memo
rails from Ohio, couched in offensive terms call
ing for the adjustment of slavery in the District
Of Columbia, which, as MIR. Black Of Ga. and
Mr.. Rhet wished to debate, under the rule were