Phenix Gazette

Congress Proceedings of yesterday

The business of the Senate was wholly of an unimportant character. A few petitions were presented, and a joint resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Mississippi, in relation to a Canal between Pascagoula River and the Gulph of Mexico.

The resolution submitted by Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, about the territorial laws of Florida relating to wrecks, gave rise to a few remarks, from which it appeared, that great abuses had taken place at Key West under the act—that by a summary process, property to a large amount was lost—that from 70 to 90 per cent salvage was taken, and complaints had been made on the subject as well by Foreign Governments, as by our own Insurance Companies. An Executive Message was received and the Senate proceeded, with closed doors, to its consideration.

In the House of Representatives. Many private petitions were presented and referred, and a number of unfavorable Reports from different committees were made on petitions previously presented.

Quarantine Establishment for the District of Columbia, referred to the District Committee at the last session of Congress, but not acted upon, was again referred to the same committee.

On motion of Mr. Tomlinson, the Committee on the Territories was instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law, that sales of land, for non payment of taxes laid thereon, by authority of the Territorial Governments, shall not be made in a shorter period than one year, after such taxes shall have become payable; that two years shall be allowed for redemption upon payment of a penalty not exceeding fifty per centum on the amount of the tax; and that the Commissioner of the General Land Office or other proper officer of the government, residing at the City of Washington, be authorized to receive such tax and penalty, from non resident proprietors, and required to deposit the same in Bank, to the credit of the proper Territorial Officer, and make to him quarterly returns of the sums so deposited.

On motion of Mr. Sawyer, the Committee on Roads and Canals, were instructed to enquire into the expediency of turning the waters of Albemarle Sound in their old channel, by a dyke across Croatan and Roanoke Sounds, so as to produce a navigable inlet near the former one, through which the first emigrants entered, when they landed on Roanoke Island.

On motion of Mr. Van Rensselear, the Committee on the Library, were instructed to enquire into the cause of the fire by which the Library Room and Library of Congress sustained damage on the night of the 22d December instant; and to report whether any person or persons in the employ of government, be chargeable with negligence in relation to the same.

Mr. McDuffie gave notice, that on the first Thursday in January he should call up his resolutions, offered at the commencement of the session, proposing certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, Mr. Condict in the Chair, on the bill granting a pension to Penelope Denny, and after some debate the bill was reported, without amendment, and laid on the table, and the House adjourned.