Republican Herald

United States Congress.

IN SENATE—Friday, Feb. 21.

A message upon Executive business was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Donelson, his Private Secretary.

Mr. Southard presented a memorial from the town of Trenton and its vicinity, signed by 423 individuals; another from the township of Yovel, signed by upwards of 300 citizens; and a third from Burlington, signed by 275 voters, against the removal of the deposits from the Bank of the United States, which, after some remarks by Mr. Southard, were read, referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Wilkins presented the proceedings of upwards of 1000 citizens of Pittsburg and its vicinity opposed to the Bank of the United States, and friendly to the measures of the Administration in relation to that institution. The proceedings were read, referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Wilkins presented the memorial of the two local Banks in Pittsburg, asking the interference of Congress to restore the public deposits to the Bank of the United States; upon which a similar order was made.

Mr. Sprague presented a similar memorial, signed by 646 citizens of Portland, Maine, and moved the usual reference, and that it be printed.

Also the proceedings of a town meeting of Bangor, Maine, and a memorial signed by 300 citizens of that town, of the same tenor as the above.

After the memorials were read, a protracted discussion ensued, which continued till 4 o'clock, in which Messrs. Sprague, Shepley, Forsyth and Chambers participated—when Mr. Webster rose, and after expressing a wish to make some remarks, moved an adjournment, but on the suggestion of Mr. Poindexter, withdrew it, and after a short time spent in executive business,

The Senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY. FEB. 21.

Mr. Adams moved that the journals of the preceding day be so amended as to show that the House adjourned for the sake of attending the funeral of Mr. Wirt. The motion was agreed to.

The House resumed the consideration of Mr. Mardis's resolution instructing the Committee of Ways and Means to report a bill for depositing hereafter the public revenue in the State banks, and for defining by law the contracts to be made by the Secretary of the Treasury with the State Banks. Mr. Mardis spoke till the expiration of hour allotted to morning business, without having concluded. The Committee of the Whole took up the bill to compensate Susan Decatur and others, appropriating 100,000 dollars to be paid in various proportions to Mrs. Decatur, to the widow of Commodore Preble, and to the officers, seamen and marines who served in that party of volunteers from Commodore Preble's squadron, who in the year 1804 entered the harbor of Tripoli, and under the fire of the batteries of the harbor destroyed the frigate Philadelphia which had been captured by the barbarians. Mr. Patton related the circumstances of this enterprize and vindicated the claim of those who were engaged in it to the bounty of the nation. The bill was further debated but the Committee rose without taking the question. The House adjourned to Monday.

IN SENATE—Monday Feb. 21.

A message upon Executive business was received from the President. Mr. Silsbee submitted a resolution that the Committee of Commerce be instructed to inquire whether any alterations might be made in the amount of compensation to the collectors of Custom Houses and other officers of the revenue, and whether the fees and charges, or some of them now paid at the Custom Houses, might not be discontinued. The resolutions of Mr. Clay on the subject of removing the deposits were called up, and Mr. Tyler addressed the Senate in their favor.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, Feb. 24.

Several memorials concerning the deposits were presented, and occasioned some debate, though of not much importance.

On a motion to print a memorial, with the names, from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in German & English, Mr. Crockett delivered himself as follows.

Sir, as I am the only person from Tennessee in this House who am opposed to the administration, I hope I may get a few words in; that I may say what are my own notions of these matters.

Sir. I think the member from New York (Mr. Turrill) who has just spoke has been a little testy in his objections; he talks much about this, as if it was a great matter. Sir, are we to stick at such trifles as a few dollars in the printing a matter so important. It seems, sir, to me to be something like loading a twenty-four pounder to shoot a flea. Sir, is it not so. We are spending 3 or 4000 dollars in discussing the printing of a matter that perhaps after all will not be 20 cost.

But, sir, this is retrenchment; but it is the old rule for retrenching. I love, sir, to see the petitioners come here, and my life on it, sir, they will come; aye, and from Indiana, for all that we hear to the contrary; and yet from my own State, every day my letters tell me they wish this question settled. They know very well in my district the character of the man, who, when he takes any thing into his head, will carry it into effect. They know how I should act in this Bank business. for I told them, before I was elected, how I should vote—that I would recharter the Bank, and restore the deposits Sir, I get letters every day from all parts, which tell me these acts are disapprobated. The question is now whether we shall be under the old and happy state of things, or have a despot. Sir, the people have a right to tell their grievances, and sir, I tell you they must not be refused—I can't stand it no longer—I won't.