The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

National Legislature.
Nineteenth Congress......First Session.

SENATE.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13.
The Senate did not sit this day.

MONDAY, JAN. 16.
The Bill to prevent desertion in the Army, and for other purposes, was read the third time and passed. The Committee on Naval Affairs made a report on the communication of Com. Porter, accompanied by the expression of their opinion, that there was nothing in the character of the transactions that requires the interference of the Senate, and that it is due to the preservation of a proper discipline, and the reputation of our officers, that appeals should not be encouraged from the decisions of the Military Courts.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17.
The report of the Committee on Naval Affairs, relative to the Letters of Com Porter and Thomas Randall, was then taken up. Mr. Dickerson moved that it lay on the table, together with the Resolution; which was carried.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18.
The bill amending the Judicial System, which was made the order of the day, was ordered to be on the table, Mr. Johnson, of Ken. gave notice of his intention to bring in a bill to authorize the Columbian College, in this district to raise certain sums by lotteries.

Academy, and the Committee on Roads and Canals, to whom was referred the bill to provide for the survey of the proposed Canal and ship channel across the peninsula of Florida reported the same. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky had leave to bring in his bill for the benefit of the Columbian College. Mr. Benton, from the select committee, reported a resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, on the subject of the election of President and Vice-President, accompanied by a report of eighty manuscript pages, the reading of which occupied about an hour and a half.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13.
Mr. Condict, of N. J. laid on the table a resolution for inquiry relative to the expediency of withholding from Deputy Post-masters the franking privilege.
Mr. Van Rensselaer offered a resolution directing the Speaker to procure a copy of the most approved portrait of General George Washington by one of the most eminent native artists, to be suspended in the Hall of the House, opposite the portrait of General La Fayette The House, in Committee, resumed the consideration of the Judiciary bill. Mr. Powell of Va. opposed the bill, and Judge Clarke, of K. supported it.

MONDAY, JAN. 16.
A Bill was introduced by Mr. Baylies, of Mass. to establish a military post at the mouth of Columbia river, and to provide for the exploration of the coasts and waters.
Resolutions were laid on the table by Mr. Miner of Penn. asking for an account of the revenue from the imports and tonnage at the ports in the Delaware and the Chesapeake, in New-York, and Boston, from 1790, to the last day of December, 1825.
The Judicial Bill was taken up in Committee, and Mr. Cook spoke for about an hour in support of the bill.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17.
On motion of Mr. Webster, the House then again went into committee of the whole, Mr. Tomlinson in the chair, on the bill 'further to amend the Judiciary System of the United States.' On which considerable debate took place.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18.
An attempt was made to cut short the discussion in the Committee of the House of Representatives, on the Judicial Bill. Mr. Storrs submitted a motion to amend the bill by striking out three additional Judges, and inserting two; so as to make the whole number of the Supreme Judges nine instead of ten, which is the number proposed in the bill as it was reported, but the question was not taken.
Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, laid on the table a resolution on the subject of a Canal from the Mississippi to the Bay of Pensacola. A resolution was agreed to, on motion of Mr. Ingham, of Pennsylvania, directing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into an alleged professional misdemeanor, It is charged against a District Attorney, that after prosecuting a public debtor, he received a fee from the debtor himself—or rather his assignee—to render him service in the case. The subject excited some indignation in the House, and the Committee was clothed with authority to send for persons and papers.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19.
After a little more discussion on the subject of the Judicial Bill, it was reported without amendment. In the House, a division took place, by ayes and noes, on a motion by Mr. Storrs, of New-York, to give but two new Judges, which was decided in the negative—119. Mr. Mercer moved to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to amend it so as separate the Appellate from the Circuit Court, and reduce the Judges in the former to 5. A bill was reported by Mr. Hemphill, concerning Roads and Canals, which authorizes the President to apply to the purposes of Internal Improvement any surplus money which may remain in the Treasury, at the close of each session of Congress.