The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-19
CONGRESS-.
TUESDAY, DEC. 5.

SENATE.-AIteI Inc ItduiuB VI INC ACei-
dents Message had been concluded,
On motion of Mr.. Breese, Of Illinois, 10, 900
extra copies of the message were ordered for
the use of the Senate.
HoUsE.-Mr. Greeley gave notice of his
intention to introduce, at an early day, bill
to prevent speculations in the public lands,
and to encourage their occupation by actual
settlers.
Mr.. Goggin gave notice of his intention to
introduce bill to establish uniform rates of
postage throughout the United States.
1t IS understood that Mr.. Goggin's bill will
reduce the rates Of postage for letters to five
cents for all distances.
On motion, fifteen thousand extra copies of
the Presidents Message were ordered to be
printed
WEDNESDAY,, DEC. 6.
SExATE.-The Vice President laid before
the Senate the reports of The Secretary Of
State and the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Mr.. Phelps presented the credentials Of Mr..
Upham, of Vermont, which were read.
Mr. Cameron moved to 60 into an election
of Chaplain. Objections being raised, on ac-
count of quorum not being present, the mo-
ton was negatived, and the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Rockwell moved to proceed
to the appointment of a Chaplain. Rev.
Messrs Gurley, Dewey and Cushman, are the
candidates in the House and Senate.
The Rev. Mr.. Gurley was elected on the
part of the House.
The vote stood as follows In the House
the whole number of votes necessary to 4
choice, S7--Mr. Gurley received l56.
A message was received from the Presi-
dent, referring to his signature to the Oregon
Bill Of the last session, and giving his reasons
therefor.
The message was laid on the table, without
reading, and the House adjourned, quarter to
one o'clock-Yeas 81, Nays IS.
THURSDAY, DEC. I.
SENATK.-Mr. King, of Alabama, announc-
ed the death of his late colleague, Hon. Dix
on II. Lewis, in a very feeling and touching
address, in which he dwelt upon his character,
talents and patriotism.
The usual badge of mourning was ordered,
with the usual ceremonies.
HoU sE.-The Hon. Mr.. Ashmun, of Mass,
introduced, and called for consideration, res
olution, ordering the publication of the de-
bates Of the House, in two newspapers in
Washington, viz, the National 1ntelligencer
and Washington Union,-upon the terms a.
greed upon by the other body.
Mr.. Wentworth, of Illinois, opposed the
resolution. 1t was proposition, he said, to
pension old and established Party Presses up
on the House of the country.
Mr.. Root, of Ohio, opposed the resolution,
and at some length,-but while he was speak
ing, the Secretary of the Senate came in,
and The Speaker cried-d Message from the
Senate, announcing the death of the Hon.
Dixon II. Lewis.
Mr.. Harris, of Alabama, then addressed
the House upon the virtues and the abilities |
of the deceased, and closed by offering the |
customary resolutions:
Whereupon, the House adjourned Gin con-
currence with the. Senate) over to Monday.
MONDAY, DEC. IL.
SENATE.-Mr. Fitzpatrick, of Alabama,
took his seat, in place of MIR. Lewis.
Mr. Slicer was reelected Chaplain, rcceiv-
ing39 of AZ votes.
Mr.. Douglass reported bill to make Cali
fornia and New Mexico State. Read twice,
and laid on the table
A memorial from Mr.. Aspinwall, was pre-
sented to both Houses, asking contract for
transporting Government property across the
contemplated railroad over the Isthmus of
Panama.
No Committees appointed. Adjourned.
HoCsE.-The Committees announced arc
substantially the same as last year. The rules
of last session were adopted, appropriation
bills having preference over special orders
The Secretary of the Treasurys report
was referred 10 the Committee of WAYS and
Means, and ten thousand extra copies ordered }
to be printed.
Mr.. Ashmun's resolution for printing the
debates of the House in the Intelligencer and
Union, had met with unexpected opposition
and the editors urged the withdrawal, on the
grounds that they would not consent to be put
in position which would subject theirs to the
imputation of pensioned presses.
MIR. Eckart, of Penn, moved resolution
instructing the Committee on Ways and
Means to enquire into the cxpediency of re-
porting bill based upon the principles of the
Tariff of 1912. The yeas and nays were call
ed for. Yeas, SO; Nays, SO.
A bill to reduce the rates of postage was !
reported by MIR. Goggin. Referred.
A resolution was adopted. enquiring of the |
President the cause of the detention of Amer
lean citizens as prisoners in Ireland. Ad-
journed.
TUESDAY, Dec. IL.
SENATE.-The Vice President laid before |
luc OClldle Il lTOul luC OCCTe-
tary of the Treasury, transmitting the Report
made TO the Treasury Department, by the Su-
perintendent of the Coast Survey, showing
the progress of that work during the year
ending Nov. l.
Mr.. Westcott's resolution to appoint Com
mittees to inquire into the expediency of re-
pealing the act imposing duties on Spanish
vessels was adopted.
On motion Of Mr.. King, the Senate then
went into the election of Chairman and Stand |
ing Committees. There was no alteration,
the members all remaining the same as at the
last session.
Mr.. Dix called upthe Harbor bill, and NOV
ed its reference TO the Committee on Com |
merce, which was agreed TO.
A communication was then received from
the President, and the Senate went into En-
ecutive Session and the doors were closed.
HoUsE.-After the reading of the journal,
the Speaker commenced calling on the States
for petitions. J