The Rhode Island Republican

1st Session—24th Congress.

In Senate, Monday, Dec. 28th several memorials were presented relating to subjects of a local character, and referred to committees.

Mr. Wright presented a memorial from a committee of 125 persons, chosen by the citizens of N. York on the recent conflagration in that city, and asking relief. The memorial asks for the remission of duties not already paid, and the refunding of those which have been paid, on goods in original packages, destroyed by the fire—For an extension of credit on duties—and an investment of a portion of the surplus revenue of the U. States, in such manner as to afford relief to the sufferers.

After some remarks by Messrs. Wright and Webster, the memorial was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Calhoun gave notice that he should introduce an act to limit the term of service of certain officers, and for other purposes. The act makes it the duty of the President, to furnish to the Senate a list of all the officers he may remove, together with the cause of their removal. Mr. Calhoun also gave notice that on Tuesday he should introduce a joint resolution proposing an amendment of the Constitution of the United States, providing for the distribution of the surplus revenue among the States and Territories until 1843.

Mr. Calhoun also gave notice, that he should introduce bills for the following purposes;
To regulate the deposites of the public money, and to re-organize the Post Office.

The bill or the increase of the Engineer Corps, and some other business of a private character, were acted upon, when the Senate went into the consideration of Executive business with closed doors, till the hour of adjournment.

In House, certain resolutions were presented and acted upon, relating the public buildings and the city of Washington, and the Library of Congress.

The Message of the President on the subject of the Constitution of Michigan was called up. After some discussion, the question on commitment to the Committee on Territories was carried in the affirmative—yeas 113—nays 77.

The motion to refer to the Committee on the Judiciary, prevailed.

On motion to re-consider the vote of the House, by which the question of the southern Boundary of Michigan was referred to a select Committee, after some debate, the question was taken, and decided in the affirmative—yeas 107—nays 79. So the select committee was discharged, and the subject re-referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and the House adjourned.

In the Senate, Tuesday, Mr. Clay rose and asked leave to introduce a bill to distribute a portion of the proceeds arising from the sales of the public lands, amongst the several states of the Union. The bill was then read, and referred to the committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Calhoun introduced the following bills—a resolution, providing for a distribution of the surplus revenue among the Several States—to regulate the deposites of public money:—and to repeal the act limiting the term of certain officers therein named.

After a debate on Mr. Calhoun's resolution relative to the repeal of certain duties, the Senate went into Executive business, and when the doors were opened, adjourned.

In the House, the Speaker presented a memorial from certain officers in the Army, praying Congress to regulate their pay on the principle adopted in the Navy—which was referred to the committee on Military Affairs.

The Speaker presented a report from the Secretary of War, transmitting the annual report in relation to the application for pensions.

The Speaker also presented a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, on the subject of weights and measures.

Mr. Cambreleng from the committee of Ways and Means, reported the following bills:—
A bill making appropriations in part for the support of the government for the year 1836.
Also, a Bill making appropriations for the payment of revolutionary and other pensioners of the United States, for the year 1836:
A Bill, making appropriations for the support of the army, for the year 1836.

On motion of Mr. Cambreleng, all the above named Bills were referred to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Union, and ordered to be printed.

Various subjects which had been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, were, on motion of Mr. Cambreleng, referred to other Standing Committees of the House.

Mr. Mason from the committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill to carry into effect the Treaty between the U. S. and Spain.

Various private bills were read and referred.

After referring some petitions the House adjourned.