Herald Of The United States

WEEKLY ALMANACK.

United States.

NINTH CONGRESS.—SECOND SESSION.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

TUESDAY, FEB. 26.

Mr. Holmes, from the committee of claims, to whom had been referred the memorial of Eugene de Beaumarchais, submitted a report, recommending that the said memorial be referred to the Secretary of State, with directions to report thereon at the next session of Congress; which was agreed to by the house.

The house then proceeded to consider the amendment of the Senate to the bill repealing the duty on Salt, and continuing the Mediterranean fund. [The first amendment repeals only the act of '97, imposing an additional duty of eight cents per bushel on Salt: the second amendment repeals the 2d section: and the third amendment continues the Mediterranean fund until the 31st December, instead of the end of the Session of Congress.] The question was taken by ayes and noes, on agreeing to the first amendment of the Senate, and it was lost—Ayes 15—Noes 85. The other amendments were also disagreed to. Mr. Randolph moved that the house insist upon the bill as it originally passed, and contended, since the Senate had no constitutional right either to dictate the objects which should be taxed, or the quantum of taxes which should be imposed. Mr. Randolph afterwards withdrew his motion, Mr. Early moved that the house adhere to their bill. The ayes and noes were taken on this motion, and it was carried in the affirmative—Ayes 93—Noes 20.

A message was received from the Senate, notifying that they had agreed to the "joint resolution," sent from the house, directing the publication of the map of the survey of the coast of North-Carolina, with amendments: also, that they had passed an act for laying out and amending a road from Cumberland to Ohio. Ordered to lie on the table.

Considerable debate arose on agreeing to the amendments made by the Senate to the bill to prohibit the importation of slaves: when the question was taken by yeas and nays, and it passed in the affirmative. So that this bill wants only the President's signature, to become a law.

The house proceeded to consider the amendments of the Senate to the "joint resolution" above mentioned, and disagreed to the same.

The bill from the Senate, in addition to the act for laying out and amending a road from Cumberland to Ohio, was read twice and referred to a committee of the whole to-morrow. This bill appropriates 250,000 dollars for that object.

A message was received from the Senate, informing the house, that they had resolved to adhere to their amendments to the "bill repealing the act laying duty on Salt, and continuing in force for a further time the act entitled an act farther to protect the commerce of the United States against the Barbary powers." [This bill is therefore lost: and instead of the United States—against the opinion of the United States—the tax on Salt, which yielded about half a million yearly, will be still continued; while the additional duty on certain articles, constituting the act above mentioned, imposing an additional Mediterranean fund, which yields about one million yearly, will expire on Tuesday next.]