Richmond Enquirer

Twenty-second Congress.—Sess. 1.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday, Feb. 25th.

The House assembled at 12 o'clock.

Mr. Adams submitted the following resolution, which lies one day on the table.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested, if in his judgment not incompatible with the public interest, to cause copies of the instructions and correspondence relating to the negociation of the Treaty with the Sublime Porte, to be laid before this House.

The resolution of Mr. Plummer to amend the 13th rule of the House, was, on motion of Mr. Taylor, laid on the table.

Petitions were presented, by consent, by Mr. Gordon and Mr. Vance—by the latter, from the Commercial Bank of Cincinnati, praying for the renewal of the U. States Bank charter.

Mr. Adams submitted a resolution calling upon the President of the United States for information, if compatible with the public interest on the subject of the treaty with Turkey.

It lies upon the table one day.

The resolution of Mr. Davis, of South Carolina, on the subject of our present relations with Colombia, was, on his motion, postponed till Monday.

LIVE OAK TIMBER.

The resolutions submitted on Friday, were taken up, and after some discussion, adopted in the following modified form:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be requested to furnish to this House extracts from the communications made to the Department by the Agents employed in the examination of the live oak lands belonging to the United States, and the preservation of the Navy timber growing thereon, during the last and the present year, showing portions and extent of sea coast which has been examined by them within the time mentioned; the quantity of said timber which has been found on them, and what reservations of these lands have been directed to be made in consequence of such discoveries. And that he be further directed to report to this House, the number of agents and assistants appointed by the Navy Department for the preservation of live oak; the date of their respective commissions, the authority under which they were appointed, the salaries of each agent and assistant, their compensation when appointed, and when and how increased, with the contingencies and expences of each, and the expenses of equipping and keeping in commission the several public vessels for the protection of live oak. Also, that he be requested to lay before the House the report or reports of the agent who may have been directed to make surveys of the live oak plantations on Santa Rosa Sound, near Pensacola, and which may show, with their opinions, the value of the lands of said plantations, their adaptation to the culture and productions of navy timber, and, whether, from such report, or reports, it is probable the cultivation of this timber on those lands, will compensate the United States for the labor which must be expended for the purpose, together with the report of the Navy Commissioners made to the late Secretary of the Navy, showing the quantity of live oak on the public lands, with any correspondence and documents in the Department since the last session, relating to the reservation and purchase for the purpose aforesaid.—

And that he be further directed to accompany such reports with a statement of the facts connected with the purchase of the live oak plantation on Santa Rosa Sound.

Resolved, That he also be requested to report to this House, at an early period of the next session of Congress, such further information on this subject as he may be furnished with, by the agents, or others who may be employed in the service, with his views of the best means of preserving the Navy timber, growing on the public lands; or, if he deem it necessary, that he lay before the House, a plan or system which he may think best calculated to secure to the nation an adequate supply of this material, either by cultivation or the purchase of lands now containing such supply.

The bill granting patents to certain aliens was read a third time and passed.

The Speaker laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting information on the subject of cannon and shot.

On motion of Mr. Drayton, it was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

The House then, on motion of Mr. Watmough, went into a Committee of the Whole, Mr. Speight in the chair, upon the bill to compensate Mrs. Decatur and others.

The question was on the amendment of Mr. Pearce.

Mr. Everett of Mass. and Mr. Watmough, supported the original bill.

Mr. Rencher opposed the claims.

Mr. McDuffie suggested, that to avoid a prolongation of the debate, and prevent the bill from further retarding the other public business, a vote should be taken on the amendment, so that the bill might be brought into the House.

Mr. Anderson followed against the amendment, and Mr. Pearce replied in support of it.

After some remarks of Mr. Everett of Massachusetts, to which Mr. Pearce rejoined, the question was taken on the amendment, which was negatived by a vote of ayes 70, noes 80.

Mr. Blair of South Carolina, then moved to strike out the enacting clause of the bill, but subsequently withdrew the motion.

Mr. Dickerson immediately renewed the proposition.

Mr. McDuffie and Mr. Polk addressed the committee in favor of the bill; and

On motion of Mr. Davis of Mass. the committee rose.

Mr. Briggs, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported several bills.

The House then, at half past 1 o'clock, adjourned.
CONGRESSIONAL ANALYSIS.

In the Senate, yesterday Mr. Webster, presented several petitions in favor of the abolition of slavery within the District of Columbia. A number of memorials in favor of the renewal of the charter of the United States Bank, were presented. Mr. White, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported a bill establishing the office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Mr. Clay's resolution was taken up and Mr. Dallas spoke two hours and a half in its support, when not having concluded, he gave way for a motion to adjourn.

In the House of Representatives, numerous memorials and petitions were presented. Mr. Archer, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill to carry into effect the Convention between the United States and France, concluded at Paris on the 4th of July, 1831. Mr. Archer, from the same Committee, reported a bill to amend the act fixing the compensation of the Ministers and Consuls of the United States residing on the Barbary coast, and for other purposes. Mr. McDuffie, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill making appropriations for Indian annuities and other similar objects, for the year 1832. Mr. Plummer, from the Committee on the Public Lands, reported a bill to remove the Land Office from Mount Salus to Jackson, in the State of Mississippi. Mr. Hall, of North Carolina, from the Committee on Public Expenditures, reported a bill to establish a uniform rule for computing the mileage of Members of Congress. Mr. Barringer, from the Committee on the Militia, reported a bill to provide more effectually for the national defence. The resolution submitted on Saturday last by Mr. Adams, was modified by the mover, and agreed to. The resolution submitted on Thursday last by Mr. Clayton of Georgia, for the appointment of a Select Committee to examine into the affairs of the Bank of the United States, was taken up. Mr. Clayton addressed the House in favor of the adoption of the resolution, and was followed by Mr. McDuffie in opposition thereto. When the latter gentleman had concluded, Mr. Patton obtained the floor, but the hour heretofore agreed upon for a recess, having expired, he gave way, and the House adjourned to meet again at 7 o'clock, P. M.

Evening Session.—The House re-assembled at seven o'clock. On motion of Mr. Johnson of Kentucky, the bill to establish certain Post Roads, and to alter and discontinue others, and for other purposes, was considered in Committee of the Whole on the Union. Numerous amendments were agreed to, when the Committee rose, reported progress, and at a late hour the House adjourned.

—Globe, Feb. 28.