Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-18
CONGRESS-.

In the Senate, Monday Dec. 8, Messrs. Ber-
rien, Of Ga, Barrow, of La, and Pennybacker,
of Va, appeared and took their seats. MIR. Ben.
ton presented memorial from the American cit
liens resident in Oregon, stating that they had
formed provisional government for themselves,
which had been very beneficial but that they
desired the establishment by the United States
OF territorial government over them. The me-
mortal was read and ordered to be printed. Mr..
Cameron presented memorial from Pennsylva-
MIA against the admission of Texas into the u
MON as a slave State.
In the House, motion TO print 10000 copies
Of the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury
was rejected, and 10000 ordered. prospective
Presumption bill, on leave, was reported; also
bill by Mr.. Holmes of S. G. providing for the
sale of Mineral Lands. Mr.. Hunter, Of Va. Of
fered resolution to instruct the Committee on
Elections to report as to the fact who had ma.
jority of votes in the Florida Congressional cleo
ton. Mr.. Hamlin, of Maine, Chairman of the
Committee, objected to the resolution as unpre-
ceden,ed, and not altogether respectful to the
Committee. The resolution was finally rejected
MIR. Shenck, Of Ohio, then rose TO submit phi
veged motion. There were certain members
upon the floor, elected by general ticket, who
were not entitled to their seats.-His resolution
proposed an inquiry as 10 the violation of law
of Congress, which law is violated by the pre-
sence of members, not elected by districts, from
two States. The resolution created considerable
uneasiness, and motion was made to lay it upon
the table. MIR. Shenck demanded the yeas and
nays; whereupon motion was made to adjourn,
and carried.
In the Senate. on Tuesday, a proposal was re-
ceived from Jesse T.. Dow g. Co. offering to exc
cute the printing of that body, at reduction of
forty per cent from the prices allowed by the act
OF 1919, or of twenty per cent. from the prices
paid at the last session. A similar proposal was
made to the House, but it was of no avail 10
them in a contest with the official editor. Reso-
lutions were offered by Mr.. Cass to inquire into
the expediency of increasing the Navy and Ar
my. The Senate then proceeded 10 the election
of Secretary. MIR. Sturgis was the caucus can
ddate of the Administration party, and was beat
en- by MIR. Dickins-ihe vote being "a 70 25.-
Messrs. Webster, Morehead, McDuflio and Cal
houn, absent and Messrs. Benton, Bagby and
Haywood declining to vote. Mr.. Beale was e.
lected Sergeant-at-arms, and Mr.. Holland Door
keeper. Mr.. NJ. Clayton offered resolution
that the Printer elected by the Senate be required
TO do the printing at a reduction of 30 per cent.
from the prices paid at the last session, when
the number of copies do not exceed 5OOO and
of 33 l-3 per cent. when they exceed that num-
Der; and tina! no allowance be made for compo-
sition (more than once) when the same docu-
ments are printed for both Houses by the same
Printer. Mr. Allen objected to the considera-
ton of the resolution at that time, and it was
laid upon Tie table, The Senate then proceeded
to elect by ballot the Chairmen of the Standing
Committees. The following were the results,
as far as the elections progressed Foreign All
fairs: Allen 2G, Archer 2l-Fnance Calhoun
81, Evans 20-COmmerce: Haywood &c, Davis
l9-Manuiactures Dickinson &c, Simmons 81
-Agriculture: Sturgeon &c, Pearce 2O-Mili.
tary Affairs: Benton 81, Crttenden 2l-Mili-
tia Atchison 25, Barrow 22-Naval Affairs
Fairfield 20. Mangum 2l--Publc Lands Breeze
25, Woodbridge 2l-Private Land Claims LIE.
Wy %, Johnson, La. 21-Indian Affairs: Sewer
26, Phelps 2O-Claims: Bagby &c, J. NJ. Clay
ton 20-Reyolulionary Claims: Semple %, jar
nigan 20-Judiciary Ashley &c, Berrien 2l.-
The Senate then adjourned, leaving Ten Chair
men of Committees still to be chosen.
In the House, Mr.. Shenck called for the unin-
isbed business of the last evening, being the re-
solution authorizing the Committee on Elections
to report to the right Of the members from
New Hampshire and Mississippi to their seats
the same having been elected by General Ticket,
instead Of by Districts, as required by the law
of Congress. Mr.. Boyd, of Ky. moved to lay
the resolution on the table. Mr.. Shenck called
for the yeas and nays on the motion.-The re-
suit was, yeas liz, nays 70. Mr. Mckay pre-
scented Report from the Committee on Printing,
in the form Of Joint Resolution. 1t provides
that where the same persons do the printing of
both Houses of Congress they shall not be paid
twice for the composition Of the same documents,
&c. The resolution was referred to the commit
tee Of the whole. The House then went into
committee of the whole on the Presidents Mes
sage, Mr.. Boyd, of Ky. in the chair. MIR. Doug
lass presented series of resolutions proposing
10 refer the different subjects of the Message TO
appropriate committees. Mr.. Stewart took occa-
sion to comment upon the Message, especially
that part of il in reference to the present Tariff,
He was replied to by MIR. G.. w. Jones of Ten
nessee--and between them there was some spar
ring. Mr.. Adams presented number Of memo
rails from New York and Maine, against the
admission Of Texas,