The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

CONGRESSIONAL JOURNAL.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18.

SENATE. Mr. Hendricks, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported a bill authorizing a subscription, on the part of the United States, of 750 shares to the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company. The Senate spent three hours in the consideration of executive business.

HOUSE. The House resumed the consideration of the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road, when Mr. Chilton made some remarks in favor of the bill. The question was then taken on the amendment offered by Mr. Buchanan, which was negatived—ayes 77, noes 113. Mr. Wickliffe then moved to strike out all that part of the bill which relates to tolls, which was negatived—ayes 87, noes 107, when the bill was finally ordered to be engrossed and read a third time tomorrow—ayes 105, noes 91.

THURSDAY, Feb. 19.

SENATE. The Senate proceeded to the election of a Printer; on counting the ballots it appeared that forty votes were given, of which twenty-four were for Duff Green, and sixteen for Gales & Seaton; whereupon Duff Green was declared to be duly elected printer to the Senate for the next Congress.

HOUSE. The House resumed the discussion of the resolution amendatory of the Constitution, offered by Mr. A. Smyth. Mr. Wright then concluded his remarks upon the subject, and was followed by Mr. A. Smyth, who defended the arguments contained in the anonymous letters which had been brought before the House. The House then passed the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road, by a vote of 103 to 79. Mr. Hendricks, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported a bill authorizing a subscription of 2500 shares to the stock of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company.

FRIDAY, Feb. 20.

HOUSE. The amendment of Mr. Smyth to the Constitution came up, when Mr. S. took the floor, and concluded his remarks in reply to Mr. Wright, and in defence of the amendment, generally, and more particularly of his own course in addressing anonymous letters to members of the House, arguing to show that he could have had no bad motives, but a regard to the public good. Mr. Weems called upon the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. Wright) to explain whether, in speaking of "stage drivers, whippers in, and the small fry of the House," he had any personal allusion? Mr. W. said he would yield the floor to the gentleman for the purpose of making such explanation. Mr. Wright said, if he took the floor, he should take it under no conditions imposed by the gentleman from Maryland, but with all the privileges pertaining to the possession of it. The Chair decided that if the gentleman from Maryland yielded the floor, he must yield it altogether. Mr. Weems having done so, Mr. Wright said he had no explanation for the gentleman, but would offer an amendment, viz: To insert in his second proposition to amend, after the words "free white male citizens," the words "of 21 years of age." Before any decision was had, the subject was laid on the table, where it will probably repose during the session.

SATURDAY, Feb. 21.

HOUSE. The obstruction presented by the resolution of Gen. A. Smyth having been removed, various resolutions which have long slumbered on the table, were taken up and disposed of. The different appropriation bills were all acted upon and passed various stages. The bill to provide for taking the fifth Census, was reported to the House.

MONDAY, Feb. 23.

SENATE. Mr. Hayne, from the committee on Naval Affairs, reported an amendment to the bill from the House referred to them, "providing for an exploring expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas," striking out the whole of that bill, and providing for the employment of one of our public vessels in the examination of such Coasts, Islands, Harbors, Shoals, and Reefs, in those Seas, as may be in and near the usual tracks of our commerce, and for the appointment of two scientific persons and two assistants to be employed under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, in making the necessary observations, examinations and surveys connected with his subject. Three hours and a half were spent in the consideration of executive business.

HOUSE. Various appropriation bills were read the third time and passed. The bill to provide for taking the fifth Census was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time tomorrow. The bill for the relief of surviving widows of certain officers and privates of the army of the revolution: the bill for the relief of sundry revolutionary and other officers and soldiers, were ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

TUESDAY, Feb. 24.

SENATE. The bill for authorizing an additional subscription to the Stock of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, after a long debate, was ordered to a third reading, by a vote of 28 to 15.

HOUSE. A bill was reported by Mr. Mercer, from the committee on Roads and Canals, authorizing a subscription for 2500 shares in the South Carolina Rail Road Company. On the question of the second reading, Mr. Hamilton protested against this being considered as any boon to the State of South Carolina, or a measure in which the State, in her sovereign capacity, felt any interest. The bill to amend an act to provide for the relief of persons engaged in the land and naval service of the U. S., in the war of the revolution, was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, by a vote of 120 to 50.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25.

HOUSE. The House of Representatives were almost exclusively occupied in the discussion of the bill to amend an act to provide for persons in the land and naval service of the U. States, in the army of the revolution: which was passed by a vote of 111 to 67. Many reports were made from committees; and, among others, Mr. Bartlett, from the committee on Naval Affairs, reported a resolution requiring from the Secretary of the Navy information on the subject of the use of ardent spirits in the Navy, which was adopted.

THURSDAY, Feb. 26.

SENATE. Five thousand copies of the document stating the amount of money expended by the government within the respective States, for the purposes of Internal Improvement, since the year 1789, was ordered to be printed. The bill from the House of Representatives, providing for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the confederated States during the Revolutionary War, &c. was read and laid on the table, for the reason that there was not time for acting upon it this session. The vote on the passage of the bill for the relief of Thomas L. Winthrop and others, directors of an association called "the New England Mississippi Land Company," was reconsidered. After some discussion, the question was taken on the passage of the bill and decided in the negative, by the casting vote of the Vice President. The bill for the relief of sundry revolutionary and other officers and soldiers of the revolution, &c. was considered; after some discussion and the adoption of some amendments the Senate adjourned without disposing of the bill.