Edwardsville Spectator

CONGRESSIONAL EPITOME.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9.

Senate. Mr. Hayne submitted a resolution 'That uniform laws on the subject of Bankruptcy throughout the United States ought to be established.' A resolution, offered on Wednesday by Mr. Ruggles for the appointment of a committee on Roads and Canals was briefly discussed and negatived. One offered by Mr. Findlay, for the appointment of a committee on Agriculture, was examined more at length and adopted—yeas 22, nays 14. Mr. Johnson's resolution, to appoint a committee to inquire into the expediency of abolishing imprisonment for debt, was taken up, and after some discussion, postponed to the succeeding Tuesday. Adjourned to Monday.

House of Representatives. Sundry petitions were presented. Mr. Hemphill presented a memorial signed by delegates from several states, in behalf of the surviving officers of the revolutionary army, praying compensation, &c. On his motion it was referred to a select committee. Mr. Condict presented a similar memorial on behalf of the surviving officers of the revolutionary army in New Jersey. It is said to enter into a full detail and elaborate argument: Referred to same committee. Mr. M'Duffie offered a resolution on the subject of an amendment in the constitution in relation to the election of President and Vice President. Mr. Ingham offered one calling for documents and report of proceedings in the trial of Captain Stewart and Lieut. Sands and Hunter. Mr. Sawyer asked for a select committee on that part of the President's Message which relates to exploring the interior with a view to geological researches—laid on the table. Mr. Little's resolution of the 7th, appointing a committee on revolutionary claims was adopted. Rev. Mr. Post was elected chaplain. House adjourned to Monday.

MONDAY, DEC. 12.

Senate.

Mr. Hayne's resolution on the subject of bankruptcy was, at his request, laid on the table. Mr. Kane offered a resolution to direct the committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of amending the laws of Congress regulating processes in the United States Courts so as to place the states admitted into the Union since 1797 on a footing with the old states. The Senate then elected officers for the next two years. Walter Lowrie (late Senator) was, on the third ballot elected Secretary, Gen. Mountjoy Bailey re-elected sergeant-at-arms. Henry Tims, assistant door-keeper. Dr. Staughton, chaplain.

House of Representatives. Sundry petitions were presented—among which a memorial from the Legislature of Illinois on the subject of a grant of land to enable the state to cut a canal from Michigan to the Illinois river, was presented by Mr. Cook; who moved its reference to a select committee. After some debate it was referred to the committee on Roads and Canals. Mr. Hemphill presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce at Philadelphia, praying the erection of a Break-water in Delaware Bay. Mr. Ingham's resolution calling for the proceedings in the trials of Com. Stewart and others was adopted. Yeas 89, Nays 75.

TUESDAY. DEC. 13

Senate. The various subjects of the President's Message were referred to their proper committees. Mr. Johnson's resolution on the subject of abolishing imprisonment for debt was amended so as to instruct the committee to inquire into the expediency of establishing a uniform system of bankruptcy, and adopted. Some discussion took place on Mr Kane's resolution, in which he explained his object, and the resolution was adopted.

House of Representatives, Mr Bailey of Mass. offered a series of resolutions, the object of which is to amend the constitution, so as to give Congress a specific power to appropriate money for roads, canals, &c. and to the several states the exclusive power of expending it on those objects. Referred. Mr. Wright, of Ohio, submitted a resolution, modified by Mr. Cook. to inquire, by committee, into the expediency of granting the consent of Congress to the revocation of any ordinance or act exempting public lands from taxation for five years after their sale. Rejected. A resolution passed on the motion of Mr Boon of Indiana, to inquire into the expediency of graduating the price of public lands. Another, on motion of Mr. Cook to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that individuals may obtain title papers at the land office at Kaskaskia.

WEDNESDAY DEC. 14.

Senate. The time was chiefly spent in presenting petitions and offering resolutions. Mr. Benton offered one, much the same as the one submitted by him last year, on the Presidential election—by the people in districts. Mr. Johnson of Lou. and Mr. Eaton each offered a resolution on the Judiciary, similar in some respects, to that of Mr. Kane. Mr. Lloyd submitted one calling for papers relating to the trial of Com. Porter: agreed to.

House of Representatives. Mr. M'Lane, from the committee of Ways and Means reported a bill making appropriation for the revolutionary and other pensioners of the United States. Read twice and committed. Mr. Test of Indiana offered a resolution to inquire into the expediency of revising the law of 10th May, 1824 for the extinguishment of the debt due for public lands, with the amendment, adopted. Mr Moore of Alabama, submitted a resolution to inquire into the expediency of preserving to residents of public lands the crops growing thereon. Also, to grant those who have relinquished, the right of pre-emption at the original price, adopted.

THURSDAY, DEC. 15.

Senate. Mr. Johnson's resolution on the Judiciary was discussed and adopted. Mr. Benton's resolution on the Presidential election, was taken up and discussed, and after several amendments had been agreed to, the whole on motion of Mr. Macon, was stricken out after the word 'Resolved,'—and so amended as to direct an inquiry into the 'best, most practicable and safest mode in regard to such elections.' The resolution was then adopted. Referred to a select committee of nine. Adjourned to Monday.

House of Representatives.—The seat of Egbert Ter Eyck, from New-York being contested by Daniel Huguenin, jun. the Committee on Elections reported in favor of the latter, which was concurred in, and he appeared and took his seat. An animated discussion took place on a resolution previously offered by Mr. Livingston on the subject of unclaimed dividends. Laid on the table.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16.

The Senate did not sit.

House of Representatives. Mr. Hamilton moved a resolution, calling on the President for information in relation to that part of the Message which refers to the appointment of commissioners to join the Congress at Panama. The resolution which had been offered by Mr. Baylies relative to the exploration of the North West Coast, was agreed to. A resolution was moved by Mr. Cook, for inquiring what further appropriations should be made for constructing the road from Wheeling to Missouri, and agreed to. Adjourned to Monday.

MONDAY, DEC. 19

Senate.—Messrs. Benton, Macon, Van Buren, White, Findlay, Holmes, Dickinson, Hayne, and Johnson, (of Ky.) were appointed the committee on the subject of the amendments to the Constitution of the U. S. Sundry petitions were presented; among which, one by Mr. Barton, of the inhabitants of St. Louis, relative to the transportation of the mail between that place and Vincennes; and one from the citizens residing in the Salt River Land District, praying the removal of the land office from Palmyra to New London. Mr. Dickerson submitted a resolution proposing as an amendment to the U. S. constitution, that 'No person who shall have been elected President of the United States a second time, shall again be eligible to that office.' Mr. Cobb proposed an inquiry, by committee, into the expediency of providing by another amendment, to prohibit the appointment of any Senator or Representative to any office during the period for which he shall have been elected. A resolution, offered by Mr Kane, on Thursday, referring that part of the President's message which relates to a monument to Washington, was adopted.

House of Representatives. A resolution offered on Friday by Mr. Hamilton, calling on the President for the information in relation to the Congress of Panama, which induced him to signify to the House that ministers on the part of the United States will be commissioned, was taken up, and, after a remark by him, in which he said that he had understood that the President intended to communicate with the House on the subject, was, on his motion, laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Reed, it was resolved 'That the committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a line of communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, through the Isthmus of Panama. On motion of Mr. Boon. it was 'Resolved that the committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of a further extension of the act of Congress, approved May 26, 1824, the provisions of which authorize the state of Indiana to survey and mark through the public lands of the United States, the route of a canal by which to connect the navigation of the rivers Wabash and Miami of Lake Erie, and to inquire into the expediency of providing for an additional reservation from sale of the public lands through which the route aforesaid is proposed to run.' Mr. Webster laid on the table a resolution on the subject of a canal across the Peninsula of Florida. The claims of Mr. Monroe (Ex President) were brought before the House by Mr. Ingham, and referred to the committee on Claims.

TUESDAY, DEC. 20.

Senate—Mr. Van Buren introduced a resolution, accompanied by remarks, declaring that Congress does not possess the power to construct roads and canals, and proposing that the power be given, under such restrictions as to secure to each state the benefits resulting from appropriations for that purpose. Mr. Benton gave notice that, on Thursday following, he should ask leave to bring in a bill 'to graduate the price of public lands.' Mr. Robbins submitted a resolution to refer that part of the President's message which relates to a National University, to a select committee. Mr. Thomas presented the memorial of the Legislature of Illinois, praying a donation in land in aid of the canal. Mr. Barton presented a petition relative to the removal of the Land Office from Palmyra to New London; and a remonstrance against it. Mr. Cobb's resolution of Monday, proposing to inquire into the expediency of inhibiting the appointment of members of Congress to offices, was adopted. Adjourned to Thursday.

House of Representatives —A resolution offered the preceding day by Mr. Trimble, requesting the President to lay before the House the message of Mr. Jefferson, wherein he recommends an expedition across the continent to the mouth of Columbia river, together with any document or information, &c. was taken up, and, after some remarks, adopted. Ayes 72—Noes 64. A resolution was adopted, on the motion of Mr. Cook, instructing the committee on Public Lands to inquire into the expediency of establishing a Land Office north of the Sangamon district, and also, of reserving from sale a portion of the lands bordering on the route of the proposed canal, from the Illinois river to Lake Michigan. Another resolution offered by Mr. Cook, was adopted, to inquire into the expediency of selling the lead mines and salt springs belonging to the United States, under proper restrictions. Some opposition manifesting itself, Mr. Cook called for a second reading; and explained his object, which was to get information; on which the resolution passed. On motion of Mr. Holcombe, a resolution passed to inquire, by the committee on Naval affairs, into the propriety of establishing schools for the instruction of destitute children (those of American seamen to be preferred) with a view of apprenticing them on board of public ships —in order to furnish a regular supply of petty officers. Mr. Henry of Ky. presented a resolution relative to the establishment of a Military Academy on the western waters.