The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-05
IN CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES
SATURDAY. JANUARY 4, 1851.


SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1851.
HOUSE REPRESENT iTiyEs.
After the reading OF the Journal,
mlcHIcAs's ADVANCES FOR VOLUNTEERS IN THE MEXICAN
Mr. BUEL asked the unanimous consent OF the House
for leave 10 introduce bill to refund the State OF Mch
gan the amount of money advanced by her 10 send vol
unteers for the Mexican war leave granted bill read
twice. and referred TO the Committee on Military Affairs
TOBIAS MYERS.
On motion of Mr.. THOMPSON. OF Pennsy vania, BY
leave, the Committee on the Judiciary were discharged
from the further consideration oi the peulion oil TOBIAS
Myers, OF Pittsburg, Pennsylvania which was referred
10 the Committee on Naval Affairs.
THE TEsRE HAUTE AND ILLINOIS TOWN RAILROAD.
Mr. YOUNG, by leave, introduced bill granting TO
the State OF laos the gh, OF and lands to aid the
construction OF a railroad from Tere Haute, Indiana. TO
Illinois town, Illinois read twice and referred 10 the
Committee on Public Lands
PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr.. THOMAS moved the suspension of the rules to
go into Committee OF the'Whole on the private calen-
dsr
LOWER HOSTAGES.
But Mr. POTTER moved the suspension OF the rules
so into Committee OF the Whole on the stale OF the
Union.
The SPEAKER (the bill for the reduction OF the post
age rates being special order before that commttee) an
nounced that the question must be first put the las
motion on which the yeas and nays were called and
ordered when II was agreed to--yeas 10. nays 81
the state of the Ulion, (Mr BURT in the chair y and
taking up the bill for the reduction of The current rates OF
Mr. fEATHERSTON, who was entitled to the floor
declined discussing the bill al length al this time;
tenung himself with giving notice oil his purpose o.
offering at proper tune an amendmeat to the ol; os
out OF the State where published, and sent fret
within such State; and pamphlets, periodicals, an,
magazines shall go IN the mails free OF postage WithlI
per ounce when transported beyond the limits OF thu
State in which published.
Mr.. F. also notified the House OF hspurpose of offering
al the proper tme another amendment additona
section, as follows:
BIZ further enacted, That whenever the poslmasteIs
any route established by law shalt certify under oath
the Postmaser General that increase OF service or
higher grade OF is necessary on snch route io tb
conveyance Of the mail without delay detention sba
his duty increase raise the grade oil service sue
according the testimony OF the postmasers tereo
50 filed with the department
The CHAIRMAN then announced the pending ques
ton to be the amendment Of Mr.. AsHMUE in favor
twocent rate on half-ounce letters for all distances
Mr.. GERRY next addressed the committee at SOM
length in favor OF two.cent rate on haltounc letter
when transported under 500 miles, five cents such let
tiers when transported 900 miles, and ten cents al
letters of not more than half ounce in weight whel
transported more than 1000 miles
Mr. WATKINS sent to the Clerks desk amendmen
which he proposed to offer at the proper tme as follows
To come in after the words zone halEcent" in the I'd
line and section;
PROVIDED, That when newspapers through In
cha rged thereon Ind PROVIDED further That all laws 70
nujrinp the 10 diminish or dscontinu
the service upon any maroue established where tn
revenue fails to pay certain amount OF the expenditure
be and the same are hereby repealed
Mr. w then addressed the committee length agains
the adjustment of the ranking privilege and ia favor
the principle of continuing the existing mail facilities IL
sparsely settled regions OF the country.
| MIR. SWEETSER next argued against any change II
the present OF postage, except hve-cent rate al
round He maintained il would be likely to result il
great injury TO agricultural districts OF the country an
al. d.
expense, to the amount Of million and ahalf OF dollar
per annum, upon the national treasury. He alec urge
the committee not abolish the ranking privilege, whic
he held TO be OF great importance 10 the country at large
il a burden on the members.
MIR. ROOT next addressed the committee, taking groun
against the franking privilege, the existence OF which b
held to be inducement Tor the of the printing
abuse-the publication of an immense amount Of useless
matter by Congress. He in favor of making tn
Post Office Department self-sqpporling machine, an
requiring all letters to be prepaid. Mr. took groun,
in the mails free OF charge S.
i Mr.. PHELPS having next obtained the floor gave wa
Mr. COBB of Alabama who gave notice Of his inten
ton TO offer amendment designed to project the sparse
settled sections of the country from the lessenng
their mail facles which the representatives from dense
y settled portions and the department were disposed Il
bring about
MI C. argued for few minutes TO show that il wa
necessary, in arranging the details OF this bill TO nsur
proper facilities for agricultural districts To this end h
was for the repeal OF the second section OK the Post OF
hce law of 1S45.
On motion of Mr. POTTER the COMMITTEES then rose
and the chairman (Mr, Burt having reported
/ MINNESOTA AND OREGON SCHOOL LANDS.
Mr.. SIBLEY, by leave, introduced bill authorizing
the legislatures OF Oregon and Minnesota take charge
the school lands OF said Territories and for other purposes
read twice. and referred TO the Committee Territories
THE OF THE THE POSTAGE BILL
MIR POTTER offered the usual resolution TO close tn
debate the bill TO reduce the rates OF postage within TIVE
hours after shall mex, be taken up in Committee OF tn
| Whole.
agreed 10;
| And then Mr. PoTTER's resolution agreed to.
| MR.. STEPHENS, OF GEORGIA.
Mr. STEPHENS, OF Georgia. ask ed TO be excused iron
serving on the Committee OF Ways and Means, accoun
OF i'll health ordered BY the House
| And then the House adjourned
CAUTION about agents snsder's ;" vvnes.--Consu
against
ORDER for