The Rhode Island Republican

CONGRESS
House of Representatives.

Tuesday Jan. 1—This being New-Year day, and the President having a Levee, only 10 members attended on the publick duty: and they, of course adjourned.

Jan. 2—Mr. Stanley moved the following resolution which was adopted:

"Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the remission of penalties involuntarily incurred by infractions of the law prohibiting intercourse between G. Britain and France, and their dependencies."

Mr. Root offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to lay before this House an account of the expense of the Mint of the United States since its establishment, the profits of copper coinage, the amount of the gold coined, and the rate per cent of refining gold to bring it to standard fineness." Adopted.

The final questions on the passage of the bill regulating foreign coins was taken by Ayes and noes and carried—Ayes 82, noes 20.

The title of the act is, "An act regulating the currency of foreign coins, and providing for their assay." (It makes French and Spanish gold coins a tender at their intrinsick value—4 per cent lower than what they formerly passed at.)

On motion of Mr. Macon, the House went into Committee of the Whole, on the bill to make the Territory of Orleans a state, and to provide for admitting said state into the union. The bill bounds the state westward on the Perdido, so as to cover that part of the country commonly called West-Florida.

After some debate Mr. Troup moved that the Committee rise and report progress. The debate on this subject continued until 4 o'clock, when the committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.

On the question, shall the Committee have leave to sit? a debate commenced, but it was happily interrupted by a motion for adjournment which was carried.

Jan 3—Mr. Witherspoon of S. C. introduced a resolution which was adopted, requesting the speaker to address a letter to the executive of that state, informing of the resignation of Mr. Taylor, one of the Representatives, and that measures may be taken to supply the vacancy.

Mr. Seybert presented a petition from more than 200 inhabitants of Philadelphia, being merchants, manufacturers, etc. praying for a renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States. Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Love's resolution of the 13th ult. calling for information respecting the Bank of the United States was adopted.

A report was read from the Secretary at War respecting the expenses of that Department.—Also, a report was read from the Secretary of the Treasury, respecting district tonnage, etc.

Mr. Bibb, introduced a resolution for the appointment of a committee to enquire into the expediency of annexing to the Mississippi territory the tract of country south of the 31st degree of N. lat. from the river Perdido, by a line extending through lakes Maurepas and Ponchartrain to the Iberville, at its junction with the river Mississippi. Ordered to lie on the table.

A confidential message was received from the President of the United States by Mr. Coles, his private Secretary. The galleries were then cleared, for about 4 hours, after which the doors were opened, and the house adjourned till to-morrow, 11 o'clock.