Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-02-26
CONGRESS-.

Compiled principally from the washington
Union. received at this Office since our last
publication -
Feb. I6.-SENATE-ln the Senate, to-day,
bill was reported from the Committee on
Military Affairs, in accordance with the re-
concentrations contained in the message of
the President of Saturday last, for the organl-
cation of the ten regiments recently authorized
into brigades and divisions; and also provi-
ding for the appointment By the President. by
and with the advice and consent OF the Sem
ale, of the general officers required by such
organization, who shall be discharged imme-
diatelv upon the close of the war with MeXl-
CO. The bill also provides for the appointment
of three assistant adjutants general, and au-
thorizes the President to accept the services,
should the state of the service in his opinion
require it, of such of the volunteers now in
Mexico as may, after the expiration of their
present term, voluntarily agree to serve to the
end of the war, and to organize them into
companies, battalions, and regiments, under
existing military regulations, and appoint Off
GERS for such companies, battalions, and regi-
ments. Provision is also made for filing va
cancies in~the ranks and of officers of the vol
unteer corps now in the field.
That part of the late message of the Presi-
dent relating to an increase of revenue by the
imposition of duty on tea and coffee, and a
reduction in the price of the public lands. was
referred to the Committee on Finance.
The naval appropriation bill was taken up,
and progressed in. so far as relates to the ap-
preparations for dry-docks, which are left in
the shape in which the bill passed the House
when its further consideration was postponed
until tomorrow.
| The three million bill was then taken up,
and Mr. Badger addressed the Senate in a
speech of about twohours and half in length
pretty large portion of which was devoted
to animadversions upon the course of the edi.
tors of the Union as in connexion with the
administration. When he had concluded, Mr.
Chalmers obtained the floor, and the Senate
went into executive session, and soon after
adjourned.
HOUSE, OF REPREsENrAr1vEs-T final
vote was taken upon the bill to admit the State
of Wisconsin into the Union, and said bill was
passed.
| The balance of the day was consumed in
receiving and acting upon reports from com
mittees. The joint resolution of thanks to
Gen. Taylor and army was reported back from
the Military Committee with recommends
ton that the Senate amendments thereto be
concurred in.
Mr.. J. Thompson moved to amend the a.
mendment by aiding clause giving gold me-
dals to the brigadier generals and major gene
rails who were present at the storming of Mon
terey which amendment was agreed to, & the
amendment of the Senate as amended was then
concurred in.
Feb. 17.-SENA1E-The Vice President
presented a memorial from John A. Barry, co
subject of her most gracious Majesty, Victo
ria, Queen OF Great Britain &C., praying ar
extension of the appellate jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court of the United States, so as to
bring within its jurisdiction the case N which
he was the plaintiff in error, and which wa:
recently dismissed by the said court for wan
of jurisdiction. The presentation OF this pc
tition from an alien gave rise to the question
whether or not nonresident alien has tn
right to petition Congress directly, instead o
through a representation from his own gov
eminent to that of the United States. Nh
Webster took the affirmative of the PROPOSE
ton, and Mr.. Calhoun the negative After
brief but highly interesting debate, the subjec
was postponed until tomorrow.
The navy appropriation bill was taken up
Mr. Fairfield moved to amend the section
relating to docks, by inserting after the word
" Philadelphia the words g if the same shoul
be deemed desirabe," on the ground that tn
proprietors of one of the floatingsdocks, abou
which there was such an ardent competition
going on, had claimed that the use of the tern
"with basin and railway was intended t.
designate their Dock and such was the con
struction of the senator from Connecticut, (Ml
Huntingdon but he (Mr. F. and several sen
ators about him, did not so understand it, an
were OF the opinion that there was nothing j
the least limiting the discretion of the Score
tary of the Navy in that expression, as tn
proprietors of both docks claimed the euua
applicability of basins and railways to thei
respective plans.
Mr.. Anterior did not know that any pal
tlcular kind of floating dock was designate
by the bill as it stood Nor was it 50 gene
rally considered by those acquainted with tn
subject, and he opposed any amendment t
the section as tending to leopard the bill, s
far as the dry-docks therein provided for wer
aoncerned.
Mr.. Webster hoped the section providing fe
these docks would pass the Senate witho,
amendment. 1t had been adopted by the otl
er branch by strong vote; and the Senate
by its previous strong vote, had sanctione
the appropriation with great unanimlty; an
it seemed to him to be the wisest course NJ
to place the fate of these useful appropriation
in jeopardy by any alterations not shown
: be of actual importance. The amendmel
was negatived.
Some further progress was made in the bi