Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-12-19
Thfrty.First Congress.


The Presidents Message was sent in on the
first day Of the session, and everybody looked ior
Congress to go to work in earnest; but the week
was wiled away and nothing DONE
Rev. Mr. Gurley (Presbyteran) was elected
Chaplain of the House, and Rev. c. M. Butler
(Episcopalian) Chaplain Of the Senate.
The death of the Hon. Chester Butler, of Penn
sylvania, was announced, and the customary pro-
ceedings had. s>Ey-t t.t
Mr. Benton introduced a bill for railroad from
Missouri to San Francisco. sus7s
On Thursday both houses adjourned over TO
Monday--the Senate having referred the Presl-
dents Massage to appropriate committees.
Monday, Dec. 9--In the Senate, petitions and
memorials were presented and referred, bills in
troduced, &c.
In the House, the reference of the Presidents
Message to committees was in order. Mr.. Gid
dinps made a violent speech against that portion
of il relating TO the Fugitive Slave Law. Mr..
Brown, of Indiana, was opposed to the discussion
of the question at this time. The House then a
greed to limit the speeches to one minute, and the
reference of the message to committees was soon
accomplished
Mr.. Schenck made an Intellectual effort to sub
nit resolution for the fitting out of the u, s.,
ship Pennsylvania, to convey articles to the Lon
don Worlds Fair.
Dec IO.--In the Senate, little Of interest was
done-bills and resolutions introduced, and pri-
vate bills passed. -
! In the House the credentials of VIM. Messe-
vey, Delegate from New Mexico, were presented
and referred to the Committee on Territories.
| number Of bills and resolutions were intro
duced, among them one by MIR. Hampton, Of
Penn'a. granting portion of the public lands in
Pennsylvania to aid in the construction Of the Ohio
and Pennsylvania Railroad. Referred TO the Com
mitiee on Public Lands.
| Dec lI.-ln the Senate. Mr. Hale presented
! petition Of citizens of New Hampshire, praying
| for revision ofthe military laws-based upon the
case Of soldiers lately tried and sentenced to Sc
| we're and barbarous punishment in that State. 1t
was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs,
The death of Amos f. Wood. Nj. G.. from Ohio,
was announced in both houses, and they then ad-
! iourned
Dec. I2-In the Senate, nothing of Importance
was done, and they adjourned over to Monday.
In the House, nothing of interest was done.
Dec. I3.-In the House, private bills took up
the chief part Of the time, and they adjourned over
to Moaday. ss :. . y.
The ST. Louis papers contain full particulars OF
the recent tornado on the Mississippi river, by
which the beautiful village of Cape Gradeau. in
Missouri, was almost entirely destroyed.
The convent, Catholic church, and other build
ings, in the immediate vicinity, are heaps OF ru-
/ ins. eee
The ST. Vincent College is also prostrated and
the Methodist church, and all the other houses be-
tween that and the bridge, injured.
The professors and students were al the college
at the time of the awful visitation, and many Of
them were severely injured One has since died.
Upward Of one half of the residents of the place
were left without roof to protect them from the
weather. - rr
1t is said that for distance Of fifteen miles back,
and round Cape Giradeau, everything bears the
aspect of utter destruction.
The accounts do not give the number Of injured
and killed.
Prompt measures have been taken al ST. Louis
for the purpose Of extending aid to the distressed
and suffering families who have been rendered
! houseless by this awful calamity.