The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-12-21
eNaaGECSG.

| Our last reference 10 the proceedings Of Con
gress reached Up till Thursday cf lag; week. The
Senate Was not again in session last week, and
the House did nothing Of Importance.
! On Non'ay, the Eth inst. in the Senate, ,r.
Benton introduced bill 1oG the construction Of a
national highway from the Mississippi river, at
st. Louis, io til" Pacific Ocean.
In the House Of Representatives, the New
York Btanch Mint Bill was made the special
order Of the day for the 18th of January next
and the bill 10 Reduce the Rates Ct Postage. was
made the special order for Wednesday. A Mes
sage was received from the President ofthe Uni.
tea states, Informing Congress of the acceptance
by eHaS OF the boundary propositions; which Was
laid on Che table and ordered to be printed.
On Tuesday the announcement of the death Of
the death OF Hon. ]. II. Harmanson Of Louisiana,
caused both Houses TO adjourn.
On Wednesday in the Senate, Mr.. Pearce pre-
scented the proceedings Of the Maryland Consti-
/ tu'lonal Reform Convention, in which the re-
Gently enacted compromise acts were sustained,
and the necessity for carrying out the Fugitive
Slave law enforced. The resolutions were read
and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Pratt introduced bill to increase the cal
ary the judge the Criminal Court of the Dis
trict Ct Columbia.
In the House several bills, CT no very general
interest were taken up and disposed Of; after
which the House resolved itself into committee
OF the whole on the state ofthe Unicn, when the
bill for the modification Of internal postage was
4 taken up.
The bill, as reported by Mr.. Potter, of Ohio,
provides that upon each letter not weighing over
an ounce, when postage is e-pai; when such
letter is mailed, three cents shall be paid and for
each additional half ounce, three cents; and on
each unpaid letter, five cents, and the same for
every additional hall ounce; that there be ra id on
newspapers of less than 1900 square inches to IL
place out Of the State where published, one cent,
and within The State haia cent; and en- all peri
odcals and other printed matter two cents for
each copy, of no greater weight than one ounces;
and one cent in addition for each additional ounce.
Bound books not weighing over thirty-lwo ounces
TO be deemed mailable matter.
The bill further provides for the issue of coin
OF the yalue IF three cents, and that stamps be
furnished to the Postmasters, who shall dispose
OF them at discount of ten per cent. TO purcha-
sers to the amount offitiy dollars.
Mr.. Ashmun, and Mr.. Brown of Ind, spoke
in favor ola reduction of postage and Mr.. Brown
Of Ohio against it.
Mr.. Venable, from North Carolina, spoke at
considerable length; he was in favor ofany prac-
ticable reduction, but would not anticipate the
same results as had been produced in England
from that measure. He suggested that the post
age should not be demanded on papers in the
county where they were printed as an encourage
ment TO publishers in remote portions Of it; and
was in favor of the postage on papers generally,
being as low as possible:
The Snow is about eight inches deep
at Hamilton, Canada, and they have fine
sleighing.