Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-01-06
Congress.


MoEDAY, Dec 81, lS47.
Senate. Senator Bradbury announced the death
of his colleague, Mr.. Fairfield, stating that he
was in good health at the last meeting of the Sem
ate on Thursday On Friday morning he re-
ceivod the visits Of his friends with accustomed
checriuness, and at noon submitted to II surgi.
cal operation for an infirmity of the knee. His
physical strength, however, was insufficient to
sustain the agony which the operation produced,
and he died at 20 minutes before 8 o'clock the
same evening.
Mr.. Niles followed with an eloquent euogy up
on the character and public services of the de-
ceased, concluding with the usual resolutions
The funeral was appointed to take place at noon
tomorrow.
The Vice President appointed Messrs. Niles,
Berien Crtcnlen, Breese, Dix, and Green Il
committee to make tho necessary arrangements
for the funeral. Adjourned.
House. Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, introduced
resolution of inquiry as to the eXpedency ui au-
thorlzlng temporary employment Of additional
clerks in the pension office. The preamble states
that some nine thousand applications for bounty
lands and land scrip, under the act OF last session.
are now on file in the Pension office, not exam
med, and the number Is daily increasing. Be-
sides these, there are large numbers partially eX
amined and suspended, and without additional
assistance there must b great delay IN adjusting
thesc.claims, and manifest injustice done to claim
ants.
A debate cnsued, in which Messrs Jones,
Brodhcaf, Houston, Of Ala, Goggn, Stanton,
White, Shenck, Toombs, Sawyer and Smith Of
Illinois, participated.
During the debate several amendments or mod
ifcations were suggested, but before any action
was had thereon, a message was received from
the Senate, announcing the death OF Mr.. Far.
field. The eulogy was pronounced by Mr.. Ham
mons, who offered the usual resolutions, which
passed unanimously. The House then adjourned
to attend the funeral tomorrow at noon.
TUESDAY, Dec %.
Senate. In accordance with the resolution u
dupied, the Senate proceeded to attend the iune-
raj Of Senator Fairfield, at his lodgings
Mr.. Clark, Of the House, was appointed to at
tend the corpse to Maine.
House.-Mr Hunt gave notice Of intention 10
oiio resolutions OF tn INKS to Gen. Scott and 9th.
err officers Of the army.
Mr.. Sawyer of Ohio, submitted resolutions for
the regulation of trade between the whites and
the Indians.
a petition from the American Peace Society of
Boston, praying the adoption Of measures for re.
storing peace was presented.
Mr.. King, of Georgia, presented a communi-
cation from the Secretary of the Navy, asking an
appropriation Of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars Cor in1cdate use in constructing the U.
S. Dry Dock at New York, in anticipation Of APP
preparations for the next fiscal year, and stating
that unless the appropriations were made, the
work would have to be stopped and disastrous
circumstances cnsue. 1t was referred.
Mr.. Smith of Indiana, presented petition from
the citizens of that State, for the abolition Of
slavery IN the District OF Columbia and Terrific
ries Of the United States, and the suppression Of
the internal slave trade. He moved its reference
to the Committee on the District of Columbia.
Mr. oil IN In on no fub La
Mr.. Root demanded the yeas and nays on the
last motion, which was ordered. Yeas rs, nays
20. 1t was laid on the table.
Mr.. Cooke submitted resolution nqnirlng by
what authority goods carried into Mexico from
the Unled States were taxed, Which was laid
over.
The House then adjourned to attend the funer-
al of Mr. Fairfield.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 80.
Senate. AT two o'clock the Vice President
called the Senate TO order; prayer by Rev Mr.
Gnrley.
The Vice President laid before the Senate a
.GE-s,z riou tpo' Secretary 81 Ia Nere in rela
q tonic the expenditures ofcontingent appropf'u
The Vice President also laid before the Ser
ate a communication from the Secretary of tn
, Treasury, in relation to the overlooked Publ
Lands in Arkansas. Also communication trot
the Secretary OF the Treasury relating TO the Put
, lie Lands at the Sault st. Marie.
Mr.. Cass, from the Committee on Military A
= fairs, reported bill TO provide for the furthC
prosecution Of the War with Mexico.
3 Mr.. Cass, from the same Committee, reporte
a bill relative to Volunteers.
Mr.. Atherion, from the Committee on Finance
reported a bill from the House, providing for de
: fciency in the subsistence appropriations. III
bill was read a third time and passed.
Agreeably to notice, Mr.. Ashley asked and OF
tanned leave to bring IN BILL which was read tn
first and second times, by unanimous consen
, and referred to the Committee on Public Land
1t related to a general pre- empton law.
M. Wescott, from the Committee on Patent
, and the Patent Office, reported bill for the ell
ploymenl Of an additional number OF eXinlnin
Clerks in the Patent Office.
, House In the House. Mr. Stuart of Mchiga
announced the death OF Edward Bradley, cleo
ed to Congress from the ID District of Michigan
, but who died before the meeting OF Congress
and after passing the customary resolutions, tn
; House adjourned.
THURSDAY, Dec. 30.
f Senate Mr.. Breesc announced the resigno
ton Of Mr.. Cass a Regent of the Smllhsonla
Institute The Vice-Presdent Is authorized t
, fill the vacancy
t A bill was reported by Mr.. Dix and passe,
authorizing the requisite proceedings n the Gus
of the bark Canton.
Mr.. Reverdy Johnson's resolution was adopted
calling Tor the number OF volunteers received il
to the service since the beginning OF the wa
number Of deaths, number killed &c.
The bill to purchase the Madison papers wa
passed, % to 49,
Mr.. Cass moved the postponement Of p;ior OF
J dcrs to take up the bill to increase the Army.
Mr.. Calhoun opposed the motion, and desire
the discussion OF his Resolutions before the Sci
/ ata -, no
Mr.. Cuss thought the discussion the Resolu
t tons could have NJ practical effect on the pas
sage Of the bill. L was important 10 The countr
y to have the Army increased without delay.
Mr.. Clayton and Mr. Berrlen desired the posi-
4 pouemeut, though not opposed to granting SUI
plies. The latter thought the resolutions Of Nj
Calhoun had an important bearing on the amour
Of supplies to be granted.
\ Mr.. Allen strenuously opposed delay.
Mr.. Hale pronounced the War essential
wrong in its origin and progress. lie insiste
that the desire to propagate Slavery was the reS
cause of the War
Alef farther debate, the motion prevailed, Il
TO 10, the VieePresident giving the casting vote
The bill was then taken up and read, soon afte
which the Senate went INTO executive session