The Middlebury People's Press

CONGRESS.

Correspondence of the Tribune.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 1842

To-day, at two o'clock, P.M.—the designated hour—was terminated the Second Session of the Twenty-Seventh Congress, after a continuance of thirty-eight and a half weeks, and after effecting all (within the power of Congress) for the promotion of the public good and prosperity. Numerous bills were disposed of and the machinery of legislation was kept in motion for the last few hours.

In Senate, the bill from the House limiting the sale of the public Stock to par, and authorizing the issue of Treasury Notes in lieu of $6,000,000 thereof, if not negatived, was passed: Yeas 19. Nays 9, as follows:

Yeas—Messrs. Bagby, Bates, Bayard, Berrien, Choate, Conrad, Cuthbert, Evans, Fulton, King, Linn, Phelps, Porter, Rives, Sevier, Smith of Ia., Tallmadge, Woodbury, Young.—19.

Nays.—Messrs. Allen, Benton, Clayton, Crittenden, Mangum, Preston, Tappan, White, Woodbridge—9.

Mr. Bayard submitted his resolutions to expunge the Expunging Resolutions, and, as they were about to adjourn, he desired that they lie over until next session. Mr. Benton submitted a substitute (the same as offered at the extra session) and they were all ordered to be printed and entered on the Journal.

After alternating once or twice in a few minutes from Legislative to Executive session, and vice versa, business was further transacted with open doors.

Mr. Linn asked to be discharged from the further consideration of a half bushel of petitions on the subject of the Oregon Territory. He stated that a bill was reported from the Select Committee declaring the title of the United States, but they had failed to press the subject on account of the recent negotiations with Lord Ashburton. The Committee was discharged.

Mr. King submitted the following resolution, which was agreed to, viz:——

Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of the Senate be presented to the Hon. W. P. Mangum, for the ability and impartiality with which he has discharged the duties of President pro tem. of the Senate

At different periods of the day, a variety of messages were exchanged by the two Houses, and a large number of bills signed by the presiding officers of the two Houses respectively, and the President of the United States, who, as usual at the closing hours of Sessions of Congress, was on the ground ready to perform his duty in the sanctioning of (expedient and constitutional) measures.

Among the bills they perfected and enacted into laws, were the Fortification bill; the bill authorizing the construction of a depot for charts and instruments of the Navy; the Treasury Note and Loan bill (above mentioned); the bill providing for the support of the District Penitentiary; joint resolution appropriating to defray the expenses of the American Legation at Mexico on account of the Santa Fe prisoners, &c.

In the House, the bill to revive the Neutrality Act was, after brief discussion, laid on the table.

Much difficulty was experienced throughout the day from the want of a quorum.

A letter of Mr. Webster, in vindication of himself with reference to the Sylvester case, was presented by Mr. Cushing, laid on the table, and ordered printed.

The bill relative to contested Elections and the new Distribution Bill, were not among the many received from the President during the day.

After interchanging the usual messages with each other and with the President The two Houses adjourned