The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-14
MONDAY, MAY 4

A'oJ
In the Senate, resolution. of inquiry
were offered by Gen. Cass relative TO land
sales at the SAUL ST.. Marie.
The revolutionary pension bill from the
House was taken mp and passed.
A debate took place on The bill for The
relief of John r. Skinner and others,
s%urelies for a detauIling pension agent.
In the House, a large number Of re.
ports were made from committees.
Mr.. Andrew Johnson, Of Tenn, who
oughtto be immortal for his opinions, Of
fered resolution, preceded by q long pre-
amble, and looking to the abolition ofMe
P~enitentia7y in The District of Columbia,
upon The ground that such an institution is
Inconsistent with pure Democracy and
equal rights
Mr.. Vinton proposed that the pream be
be struck out, bu. many members objected
to the resolution, and it was laid upon the
table in disgust.
Mr.. Adams offered resolution which
commanded much attention, and which
was adopted with grea. unanimity, calling
on The President oflhe U. S TO inform he
House whether any soldier of the army
has been shot, and, if so, when, aud by
whose order; and whether, after The soils
diers had deserted, or while they were in
the acl Of desertion.
TUESDAY, May 5.
In the Senate, the bill for The relief Of
the sureties of Emerson, a late pension
agent, in Vermont, who is deiaulter, was
taken up and finally passed.
Mr.. Ashley reported a bill to amend the
act extending jurisdiction over lakes aud
other navigable waters. Laid over.
The bill providing for The adjustment of
all suspended pre-. emp'ion land claims in
the States and Territories, was next taken
up and was discussed by several Senator'S
Mr.. Johnson Of La. having the floor,
os despatch closes, and is advocating it.
The House wen, into Committee Of The
Whole, Mr.. Thompson, Of Miss, in the
Chair, upon the bill tor the support OF The
Post Office Department. The pending
amendment in relation TO steamers for
carrying the mail prevailed and S250.0c0
Were appropriated fer the execution Of The
contract made by The Post Master Gehe-
raj for carrying the mail from The city Of
New York TO Hayre, Cowes, & Bremen.
The cheap postage system was briefly
debated by Messrs Hopkins, Petit, Mckay,
and Jones OF Tennessee. The cons,ruc-
ton OF the Postmaster General and The
Attorney General, giving Posimastels an
amount equal 10 their receipts under the
old law, was denounced by several friends
of the Administration, as an abuse of
m n rroeo arI Ill - tic
IRENE. The construction was defended
by Mr.. Hopkins, OF Va. as necessary TO
keep up the Post Office Department. An
attempt was made TO prevent such a con-
struction hereafter, pending when The
Committee Iose and the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, May G..
La the Senate the Committee on FL
nance reported n bill from the House 10
supply deficiencies 10 certain appropr:a-
tons for the current year, with The House
amendments, which were recommend d.
Most of the amendments were adopted, The
report agreed 10 and the bill returned to
the House.
The bill to settle the claim of New
Hampshire for militia service, was taken
up and advocated BY Mr.. Anterior.
The House Commit,ee took up the bill
relative 10 the act Of lS42, which imposed
a duty of twenty per cent. ad valorem on
Java coffee.
Mr.. Winthrop made an able speech
against the bill. He said il was not need
ed the construction of the Treasury De,
partment bad been wrong under Mr.. Bib,
but he said it was now right.
A communication was received from
the President, enclosing a correspondence
Of Mr.. Gordon, late Consul at Rio, re-.