Rhode Island American And Providence Gazette

CONGRESS
In the Senate, Monday, May 22, the resolutions offered some time since by Mr. Benton, to transfer the unfinished business to the next session of Congress were taken up; a motion to lay them on the table, was negatived by a majority of one, the resolutions were then disagreed to by a majority of five. The military committee were discharged from a further consideration of the resolution directing an inquiry into the state of the public works at Old Point Comfort, through want of time to complete the investigation. The committee consider it due to the country, the administration and to Col. Gratiot to prosecute the inquiry. Mr. Harrison, chairman of the committee, however expressed, individually, his perfect confidence that no lapse of duty could be attributed to Col. Gratiot, who had the particular direction of those works. The President of the Senate, pro tempore, made a short address, wishing the members of the Senate a safe return home, that they might find their families well, and that their days might be many. And then the Senate adjourned.

In the House, the Speaker signed the enrolled bills "making appropriations for completing the public buildings," which was not signed on Saturday for want of a quorum. Mr. Badger laid the following resolutions on the table, which the House refused to consider "That it is viewed with extreme regret by this House that any member should think himself justified in leaving Congress for home, without leave of absence, previous to adjournment without day, which practice results in a great detriment to the public business." Resolved, also—That, for the future, the Sergeant at Arms shall not finally settle, with reference to the last day of the session, the account of any member of this House for his pay, until after the adjournment of Congress without day. Resolved further—That each and every member for the present Congress, who departed from this House for home before adjournment. and without leave of absence, ought to refund any pay received by them from the time of absence to the final adjournment. The several committees were discharged from further consideration of all subjects referred to them which have not been finally acted upon. The 18th joint rule which provides that "no bill or resolution that shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be presented to the President of the United States for his approbation, on the last day of the session," was dispensed with so far as related to the bills to compensate Receivers of Public Money for transporting and depositing the same. and Registers and Receivers of Land Offices for extra services, and the House receded from its second amendment (which the Senate disagreed to) to the former bill and both were passed. A message was sent to the Senate by the Clerk, informing them that the House were ready to adjourn, and a committee was appointed, to join a committee from the Senate, to inform the President of the United States that unless he may have other communications to make to the two Houses of Congress, they were ready to adjourn. Mr. Mercer and Mr. Tomlinson were appointed the committee, and subsequently reported that they had waited on the President, and informed him that the two Houses were ready to adjourn, and that he had informed them that he had no further communication to make to either House. When, on motion of Mr. Bassett, the House adjourned, to meet on the first Monday in December.