The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

CONGRESSIONAL JOURNAL,

SATURDAY, Jan. 31.

The Senate did not sit.

HOUSE. The House was mostly engaged in the consideration of private bills.

MONDAY, Feb. 2.

SENATE. The Vice President communicated a letter from the President of the United States, transmitting one received from Monsieur David, the artist, member of the Institute of France, &c., who presents to Congress the bust of General La Fayette, which has been received with it.

Messrs. Tazewell, Sanford, and Webster, were appointed to ascertain and report a mode for declaring who is elected President and Vice President of the United States, and to notify the individuals elected of such election.

The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of executive business.

HOUSE. A bill was reported for the relief of the heirs of Robert Fulton. The House resumed, in committee of the whole, the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road, when Mr. A. Stevenson (the Speaker) spoke at some length against the constitutional power of Congress to erect toll gates, or assume any jurisdiction over the road.

TUESDAY, Feb. 3.

SENATE. The following resolution, presented yesterday by Mr. Branch, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating a sum sufficient to make a ship channel from the Albermarle Sound to the Atlantic Ocean, at or near Roanoke Inlet.

After which the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business.

HOUSE. Mr. McKean, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to which was referred memorials of inhabitants of various parts of the United States, against the transportation of the mails, and the opening of the post offices on the Sabbath day, made a report thereon adverse to the prayer of the petitioners, but recommending the repeal of so much of the eleventh section of the post office law of March, 1825, as requires Postmasters to deliver letters, newspapers, &c., on the Sabbath. There was some conversation upon a motion of Mr. McKean to print 6000 extra copies of the report, but the motion was finally laid on the table.

The House then resumed the discussion of the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road. Mr. Mercer commenced his reply to the arguments against the bill.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4.

SENATE. Mr. McLane presented a memorial from the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, praying that Congress will authorize a further subscription of Stock to the Company on the part of the Government. The Senate spent about three hours in the consideration of Executive business.

HOUSE. The resolution offered by Mr. Ramsay of Pennsylvania, to print 6000 copies of the Report of the Senate Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, relative to the Sunday Mail was further discussed. A bill to repeal the duties on tonnage on vessels of the United States, and on certain foreign vessels, was then taken up, and after some debate was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, by a vote of 94 to 78.

A bill relative to a more complete organization of the National Militia was reported by Mr. Thompson of Georgia, from the Committee on the Militia.

THURSDAY, Feb. 5.

SENATE. A resolution, submitted by Mr. Haynes, requesting the President of the United States to cause to be laid before the Senate a statement of the expenses incurred in fitting out and preparing an expedition for exploring the South Seas, was adopted. Three hours were spent in the consideration of Executive business, after which the Senate adjourned to Monday.

HOUSE. The resolution offered by Mr. Ramsay, for the printing of 6000 copies of the Report of the Senate Committee on the subject of the Sunday Mail, was laid on the table. The House then in Committee of the Whole resumed the consideration of the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road. Mr. Mercer then concluded the remarks which he had commenced on Tuesday, and the Committee rose and reported progress.

Mr. Mercer reported a bill from the Committee on Roads and Canals, authorizing a subscription to the Stock of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company.

Mr. Hamilton, from the Committee on Retrenchment, reported a Bill to reduce the interest on the United States six per cent. Stock, and to provide for the redemption thereof.

FRIDAY, Feb. 6.

HOUSE. Mr. Smythe's proposition for an amendment of the constitution was considered and discussed. Some private bills were then passed upon, after which the House adjourned.