Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-14
CONGRESS-.

vi "uehuhiehtS. Inc Dill making appropriations
for the payment of Revolutionary and other pen
sions, for the year ending June so, lS47, read
u third time and passed.
In the House, the bill granting pre- cmp,ion rights
to lands belonging to the Miami reservation, was
passed. The bill TO provide for deficiencies in
former appropriations, was under discussion, but all
action was defeated for want of a quorum.
On Tuesday, in the Senate, the consideration of
the bill providing for the adjustment of all suspend
ed presumption claims i'm the several States and Ter
ritories, was resumed. Mr.. Huntingdon proposed
substitute, requiring the Commissioner of the
Land Office to report upon the merit Of each claim
to Congress, instead Of leaving the cases to the de-
cision Of a board. Mr.. Speight opposed the substi
tute.-There were now 5000 claims pending, and
it would be impossible for Congress to act upon
them. The bill was finally recommtted
In the House, the bill to provide for deficiencies
in the former appropriations to meet the expenses of
the Government, was again under consideration
Among the deficiencies are S25 900 for the Marine
Hospital, 81 800 for the Secret Service fund.- $40,
GOO for extra mileage of members of Congress, and
$lOO,OOO towards executing the provision OF a
treaty with Great Britain. The bill was passed
and sent TO the Senate. A debate arose on the bill
in relation to the establishment of line Of Mail
Steamers. An amendment had been added to it
sanctoning the construction OF the Postmaster Gen
eral and Attorney General Of the new Post-office
Law, by which country Postmastcrs receive an a
mount for their services equal TO the sum received
under the old Post-ofice Law. Messrs. Petit of
Ia, Jones Of Tennessee, and Rathbun of New
York complained of the construction as gross a
buse of power. Mr.. Hopkins defended the Post
master Genenl.-He said that but for this construc-
ton many Offices would now be broken up The
House adjourned without any definite action on the
BILL
On "Wednesday, in the Senate, the bin to pro-
vide for the deficiencies in the appropriations of the
present year, returned from the House, was again
acted on-the Senate receding from some of its
amendments, and insisting upon others.
In the House, the bill to repeal the discrminat-
ing duty imposed upon Java coffee was passed
| On Thursday, in the Senate, the bill from the
House repeating the duty on Java coffee was refer
red to the committee OH Finance The day was
devoted chiefly to private bills
In the House, Mr. Adams moved the suspension
of the rules in order that he might offer series of
resolutions calling upon the President for informa-
ton in relation to assertions from the Army requr-
ing the name Of every soldier who had been put to
death for desertion during the present session OF
Congress, and also the names of the officers by
whom the murder was committed, Sc The House
refused to suspend the rules. Mr.. Gddings Of
Ohio, moved to reconsider the vote by which the
| Df H.,
assertions from the Texan army had been ordered
to be printed. He denounced the shooting of the
soldiers for desertion from the Texan army as down
right murder-In the earlier days OF the govern
ment he said the practice of shooting deserters had
been condemned in the strongest language and with
the most marked punishment. Mr.. Giddings was
called to order by several members, and finally put
down, and the motion to reconsider laid on the table
The bill to provide for the support of the Posofce
department taken up. Mr.. Hopkins gave
some account of the deficiencies under the new
Postoffice law. In Baltimore, the per centage was
not sufficient to pay the Postmaster's salary and
the same was true Of St. Louis, Boston and Phla-
delphia. In New York the Postmaster had not re-
celved enough in one quarter by five Thousand dol
lars to meet the expenses of the office, which were
more than $4,000. Mr.. Davis, of KY. denounced
the course of the Postmaster General i'm the allow
ance of salaries to Postmasters, most fagitious
act of power.--It was direct interference with the
law Of Congress. Mr. Hunter indicated the con-
duct of the Postmaster General-He had brought
an ncoherent law into something clear and tangible
and deserved the thanks of the country. Mr. Da-
Wis rejolned that the compensation Of Deputy Post
masters was fixed by law, and that they could not
receive more than the law allowed-yet more had
been allowed them by the construction of Execu-
tive officers. This debate was upon the provso
that nothing contained i'm the bill should be construed
to authorize any payments to supply deficiency in
the compensation of Reconsideration was struck
out by large majority. Mr.. Petit thought that
Congress might now adjourn and go home, as it had
been practically decided that the two Houses were
incompetent to make laws, and the Postmaster Ge-
neral was competent, if advised by the Attorney
General. An amendment was then adopted appro-
priating $4,000 for the support of the Magnetic
Telegraph for the ensuing year. The second sec
ton provides that in case the revenues of the De
partment shall prove insufficient, the deficiency
shall be paid out of any monies in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated. The bill was finally
passed.
Fun made Earnest The Committee of the
Senate Of New York having reported against the
application for a divorce of a Mr.. Hall and a Miss
lille yyb had ropo tbr,ur,L tho ,,arr;,,o caro