Elizabeth Town Gazette

Washington City, March 4.

The Congress of the United States adjourned last evening, beyond which their constitutional term of service did not permit them to extend the session. The list of the laws passed at the present session, which we shall publish will shew what has been done. For the present we must content ourselves with stating some of the most prominent proceedings.

First in importance it may be mentioned that the bill which had passed the Senate, changing the mode of disposing of the public lands, did not pass. It was debated a short time yesterday, in the House of Representatives, put aside by an accidental interruption of the proceedings on it, and not resumed. Enough however, transpired, to shew that somewhere about two thirds of the House were in favor of the principle of the bill and that it would have passed had time been allowed for a proper discussion of it, which was vehemently denied, and with some reason too, by the opponents of the bill. Indeed, too many propositions of great importance have, for the same reason, slept out their existence.

The bill authorising the establishment of a Provisional Government for Florida, in the event of the ratification of the Treaty of Cession by Spain, has become a law.

The bill fixing the day, (the second Monday in November, for the meeting of the next Congress, which had passed the Senate, failed in the House of Representatives, being indefinitely postponed, on the motion of Mr. Barbour.

The bill concerning Invalid Pensioners, and the bill establishing additional post routes, have become laws.

The act to amend the act incorporating the subscribers to the Bank of the United States, has become a law.

The bill in addition to the acts prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States, was not, as we had supposed, lost in consequence of a disagreement between the two Houses respecting the amendments. It has become a law, and is perhaps the most interesting to the national character of any act passed during the present session.

That act authorizes the President to direct the armed vessels of the United States to intercept on the coast of Africa or elsewhere, any vessel engaged in the slave trade, and bring them into the United States. It provides for the allowance of twenty-five dollars for every slave brought into the United States under circumstances justifying the belief of an intention to introduce them illegally into the United States: and of fifty dollars for each slave discovered to have been illegally introduced into the United States.

The slaves, when thus captured on the ocean, or discovered in our country, to be held in trust by the United States, until they can be transported back to Africa. &c.

Mr. Scott, the Delegate from Missouri, yesterday attempted, but without success, to prevail on some one of those who voted to adhere to the disagreement to the amendment of the Senate to the Missouri state bill, to obtain a reconsideration of that vote. It is proper to state, that, though as much opposed as any one to the restriction proposed to be imposed on slavery in the new state, the Delegate from the present territory of Missouri used his best exertions to obtain the passage of the bill with that feature, rather than postpone its passage for another year. He failed in his object; and, for another year, the territorial form of government continues to exist in Missouri.