The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-03-08

| The Work Of Congress The 26ph
congress closes It's session TO day, says the
Philadelphia Ledger Of March 3. The
present Congress has been engaged his
session in some very important neasures,
,mong which are the annexation OF Texas
md the Postage Reform Bill. The former
mas been carried after the most strenuous
lnG determined opposition by majority of
fhy Sir This settles that vexed question:.
How il will be received by Mexico and
otner nations cannot DO predicted now;
nelther is il essential TO know or care so
long as i; has been effected hOnoTaby and
Justly and with he mutual consent 0! the
parties, both of whom were competent to
act for themselves and had the undOubed
fright 10 do so, The passage of the joint
resolutions will be hailed with enthusiastic
Iapprobaton over the whole country -
There is no measure upon which The peO-
pie we're SO united-none that they more
arGenlly desired to be successful The
Postage Bill has also been passed oy both
Houses and only needs the signature Of the
President 10 become law. In The Senate
on Saturday it was amended SO as TO give
members Of Congress the privilege 10 re-
ceive and send letters free of postage thr.
" days after The session of Congress. The
House concurred in this amendment and
the bill may now be considered a law. 1t
proposes, as we have already stated, to 90
INTO effect on the lst OF July mex, and fixes
the rate Of postage at flee cents for any sim
gle letter not over three hundred miles and
ten cents for over that distance. This is a
very considerable change; and lbough The
rates are not so small as some desired and
conlended for, ye, we think they are redu.
ced 10 as low point as wosld be prudent,
until the experiment ahalI be tried and its
Operation be more clearly perceived. The
reduction is a step in reform which can be
followed up at future sessions until we have
perfected and procured the best postage sys
em in the world.
The other bills which have been before
Congress have, all The important ones. been
acted upon. The General Appropriation
Bill has pas,ed. The bill making appro.
priation for The Naval service in the Senate,
on Saturday was read third lime and pass
ed. The Army Appropriation Bill was
lcOnsidered but was not disposed of when
Inc House adjourned, 1t will probably
pass TO day. Ths bill for altering the Nat.
luraIiza,on Laws will not be ,ouched the
present session, and some other bills will
probably remain among the unfinished bu-
';"os" TITO rossnGe alone of the Tex9s
resolutions and the Postage bill entities
Congress TO the gratitude of the people,
Mr. PRATT Chairman Of the Comm Tee
IN Public Buildings, being attacked for ma
king certain purchases for the Presidents
House, thus defended himself
1T is true (said NJ. p he had directed
set Of curtains to be put up in the presi
den's House because he was ashamed, and
every decent man ought to be ashamed of
hose that were there. lie had directed
he finest that could be procured; yes, the
finest and most becoming The place; and he
od The uphOlsteGer that if the Government
did not pay for them he would; and he
meant 10 do IL lie did not give the order
as Chairman of The Committee on Public
but as an individual, as private
gentleman; he had taken the responsibility
and he meant 10 stand by ll and if the Go
rernment did not pay for the curtains he
would. lie then turned 10 Mr.. II. and very
emphalically asked of him: Now sir have
'ou ever done SO uch for your country"
Much laugher.)
s-za.-ss.~n~szs~s~s
OREGON AND CHINA.