Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-01-21
CONGRESSIONAL.

Ar"
IN the SENATE. on Tuessay. petitions frcmin-
var,ors we're presented for a modification OF the
MI Hunter from the COMMITTEES on Finance,
reported adversely upon bills granting lanus lot
certain railroads:
conv of a report on the foundations OF the lower
The House bill expIi natory Of the Bounty Land
aei, was taken up aud made the special ordeFior
Friday next
Mr.. Houston gave notice OF an amendment 10
the same.
Mr.. Hunter presented the memeCialof Thomas
Richie. praying TO be relieved from his contract
for the public printing, and to be allowed attne
rate Of fifty per cent. less Than the prices nSee
the Joint Resolution ri 1873. for the WoTk eene
bv him as Public Printer Referred 70 the SOm
mtttee on Printing,
The Senate resumsd the Consideration OF sue
Bill 10 cede the public lands osthe Snlied
States 10 the States respectfteig % &sien Nasy
lie, on condition tlatthe5sald on8e5 sltg
rally grant and y The saiddAnds 70 aetAs
occupants ony % limited g
survey, HansIeEs and m~anlJnentS mercy
Haleresdmed andeoE ieded bis sne ens
The bill.
In the SENATE, on "Wednesday, Mrs Clay pre-
scented petitions in favor OfgCoionization and the
E0QUFeSSIOu Ol u Sl4NG NAa4G aA2
ed and enforced in some remarks. The petItlons
we're referred. .
Mr.. Hale presented a petition from citizens OF
Washington county, Penn for a repeal OF the
fugitive slave act. After some discussion 1t was
laid on the table, s. TO l6.
Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Yulee, refused to vote on
the subject. Mr.. YuIee gave as a reason, thai
resolutions were pending in the Legislature OF
Florida. iDstructing their Senators, not 10 vote on
the subject of the repeal OF the fugitive act.
The land Bill was taken up, and Mr.. Walker,
its author, spoke at length in its support
The HOUSE,, on Wednesday,, was occupied all
dav in the consideration OF tie bill to reduce
Postage. ,
under the five minute rule =,
The three cent uniform rate was adopted, and
that papers, when circulated in ,he county where
published, or within thirty miles OF the place OF
publication, be transmitted free OF postage, was
carried by a vote OF 10 TO 46.
It was also agreed that fifty per cent. nf the
postage on magazines and other periodicals be
RENTED when poStsge,shall have been pre- paid.
In the SENATE, on Thursday. Mr.. HGnter pre-
sented the credentials of the Hon. J. NJ. Mason
as a Senator from Virginia for six years from 18th
of March next.
Mr. Seward presented several memorials, pray
ing the repeal OF the fugitive slave law, the abo-
Iitjon of slavery in Utah aud New Mexico, and
the District Of Columbia, all of which were laid
on the table.
Mr.. Pearce presented a joint resolution di-
recting a distribution OF the works OF lire eSpIo-
ring expedition, whirh was considered and passed
Mr.. Shields offered a resolution, which was
agreed to, asking information in respect TO Ger
tain transactions by the British agehts of the
coast of central America.
Mr.. Benton submitted a resolution calling for
copies of correspondence by the Spanish minis
- =. -,l,FS, n fIna GTnnfnr =.n which
was laid over.
The Senate took up the bill! to pay The claims
for sgoIiations by the French, and MT Smith adj
dressed the Senate in support Of the bill. lie
fore he had concluded,
The Senate adjourned.
The HoUsEo on Thursday, went into Committee
OF the Whole on the state ofthe Union on the -
10 reduce and modify the rates OF postage.
Yesterday, three cents, cnitGrm, was agreed
TO, on all letters not weighing more than a halt
ounce. To-day after many PTeliminarIes, The Sc
cUnd section was amended so as TO provide that
printed matter transmitted through the mails, 1t
no greater weight than two ounces, shall pay
one cent; and tor each additional ounce or sec
ton one cent. Bound books, moi weighing over
thirty ounces, 10 be deemed maiiable matter Un
der the provision of this section ; provided thai
newspapers delivered in the State where printed
shall be chargeable with one half the foregoing
rates; provided that no postage shall be charged
on any newspaper maiIed ana CeIIEeTed III the
county where printed, or within thirty miles OF
the place where printed fitry per cent. To be de
Quoted from the postage ON magazines when the
same shall be prepaid
The third section was amended. providing FOR
the coinage Of a three cent coin, To be composed
of three four,ls silver and one part OF copper,
with devices different from the gold dollar and
silver coins.
The fourth section, as amended. provides for
the furnishing o. three cent stamps, and making
it felony to counterfeit them.
Mr.. Dickey Intellectually endeavored to substi-
tute stamped envelopes for the stamps.
Mr.. .Crowell moved to abolish the frsnking
privilege, but the question was decided in The
negative-ayes AZ, nays SO.
Mr. Carter moved TO strike out the fifth and
last section of the bill, which makes an apprOpri-
alton of one million and a half of dollars 10 meet
any deficiency which may arise in consequence of
the reduced postage; but the motion was disa-
grced to.
Many amendments were offered, some adopted,
others rejected. Among the latter one by Mr..
Putnam, requiring the Postmaster General 10 re-
duce the postage on letters TO two cents when
the revenue Of the Departments, at the rates es-
tablis ed by this act, shall exceed lis expenses
more than five percent. for more than two con-
secutive years.
Several Substitutes we're offered Tor The enGTe
bill one of which. was pending when the COM
Iuiltee rose,
And the House adjourned
PENNSYLVANIA or THE WAR BoUEFT.-In the
Senate of Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Mr. crabb
presented a series OF resoIutions, which were read
end adopted, as follows:
Resolred, That as a number of soldiers recruit-
ed into the service of the United States were
scarcely a month on duty, and yet received 100
acres of land, it is the opinion of the General AS.
sembly that those soldiers who served in the war
of 1912, as well as in The Indian wars, should re-
ceive the same bounty.
Resolred, That the Governor be requested IN
forward a copy of these resolutions to each ofonr
Senators and Rnnrnsnnrnt;n.. -