Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-14
CONGRESS-

the President OF the United States recommending
the passage Of the "ten regiment bill and the ap-
pointment of a Superior Officer to take the com
maud Of all the forces received and referred to
the Military Committee A Message was also re-
ceived IN answer to Resolution recommending le-
gislation for the transportation of the mail to the
Army. The bill to reduce and graduate the price
or the public lands made the special order for
Monday next
In The House, Mr.. Preston King, (Loco,) of N
r. asked permission to offer bill for procuring
peace with Mexico. The day, however, having
been set apart for special order the House rp6,s
ed TO receive it by the close vote of SO to SO The
Message of the President recommending the mas.
sage OF the bill to increase the army, and the appoint
ment OF Superior Officer, was read. and referred
to the Committee of the Whole ON the state OF the
Union The House then went into Committee up-
on the bill for the increase of the army. This bill
adds ten regiments to the Regular Army, Gone of
Dragons and nine of Infantry, to be enlisted for
i've years or during the war; at ,heir option Mr.
Houston was called TO the Chair, and the debate
was continued during the day in discussion of
great interest by Mcssrs McGaughey and Owen, of
Ia, and by Mr.. Hamlin, Of Me-
On Tuesday, Mr.. Cameron, of Pa, submitted
Resolution directing the Secretary of the Treasury
TO report to the Senate what articles embraced
In the Tariff act of 1916, the duties can be increas
ed beyond the present rates as to augment the
revenue, and to what extent said duties can be in
creased and what additional revenue would occruo
therefrom. The resolution was laid over until
Thursday. The Resolution of the late Mr.. Barrow
calling for information respecting the return of San
Ia Anna to Mexico, which was the special order
Tor to-day, was, OH motion of Mr. Phelps, laid upon
the table,
In the House, Mr.. HARRISON, of Ga, asked leave
to make report from the Committee on Military
Aiiairs-Leave having been granted him, to the
surprise OF many, he stated that he had been in
structed to ask that the Committee be DISCHARGED
from so much Qfthe Presidents Message as relates
to the appointment ofa General Officer, and that
1t be laid upon the tablc.-The report was unani-
nously agreed to. The debate on the bill for the
increase of the army was then resumed and contin-
ued to the hour of adjournment.
On Wednesday, in the Senate, but little bust
ness of general interest was transacted. num-
Der of petitions for indemnity for French spoliations
prior to 1900, Were presented and referred to the
Select Committee
In the House, Mr. Hamlin, Of Me-, moved to re-
consider the vote Of yesterday by which SO sum-
mary quetus was put upon the It. General.
and the recommendation of the Executive to secure
such an officer to take control Of The military forces
OF the country. The yeas and nays were ordered
and the vote stood, after many changes, much
lodging and some drumming up of voters, yeas Sc!
nays "a This vote created quite sensation in
the Hall, as the result was brought abou. by
change OF votes on the part of Mr.. Psbury, of
Texas, and Preston King of New York Mr..
Houston was anxious that Mr.. HARRISON, OF Ga.
should change his motion, which had been to lay
"I'o'' '''v '."o, response rrom Mr. HARRISON
was that he was acting under instructions from the
Committee The vote was then taken upon that mo-
tion and resuted-yeas 81, nays 81. The report of
the Military Committee was then referred to the
Committee of the Whole
Tn Thursday, in the Senate, the Resolution of
Mr. Cameron, directing the Secretary Of Treasury to
report to the Senate upon what articles in the Ia
riff of '46, the duties can be increased, &C., came
up for consideration, and after being amended SO as
to ask also upon what articles in the free list duties
shall be laid for revenue-upon what articles duties
can be reduced, to produce revenue ard whether
the imposition of duties upon articles now free, will
increase their cost to the consumer and how much
was adopted. MIR. Benton reported a bill to en-
courage enlistmens in the Regular army, which
provides that the term of enlistment shall be for the
war, or five years, at the option of the recruit, and
also tina: he shall receive bounty of Sl2-one-haf
on enlistment and the other half upon joining his
reglment.-This bill was passed through all its
stages and sent to the House, from which it was af
forwards returned with slight amendment which
was concured IN. 1t therefore only wants the Pre-
sidepPs signature 10 become law.
In the House, the Army bill was under discus
sion nearly the whole day, and in connexion with
it, the question Of Slavery.
On Friday, the Senate did not sit
In the House, the Army bill was the only subject
under discussion.