Alexandria Gazette

CONGRESS.
SENATE—FRIDAY—MAY 22.
Mr. Dix, from the Committee on Commerce, reported the bill from the House for the improvement of rivers and harbors, with certain amendments, which were ordered to be printed.
Mr. Fairfield, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported back the bill which had been recommitted, for the building of 10 war steamers, with amendments.
Mr. Mangum desired to know of the honorable Chairman, when it was his intention to call the bill up? He concurred in the amendments proposed by the Committee, with the exception of one which gave the President the discretion to build or not to build the vessels authorized by the bill. That was a discretion which he thought Congress ought to exercise. We had already given the President a great power by the passage of a recent bill, and Mr. M. was unwilling to extend that power by any future legislation. We had already conferred upon the President almost unlimited power to prosecute this unfortunate War.
Mr. Fairfield replied that he would call up the bill on Monday. But he would remark in reply to the Senator from North Carolina, that the discretion conferred upon the President, by the bill to prosecute the war with Mexico, rendered it necessary to confer upon him the discretion proposed in the amendment referred to. By that bill he was authorized to purchase any vessels he might deem necessary, and should he find any suited to the purpose, it would obviate the necessity of building them.
Mr. Mangum said that was a matter to be considered when the bill came up.
Mr. Woodbridge submitted a resolution, which was adopted, in reference to the boundary between the United States and Great Britain, as settled by the Ashburton treaty.
Mr. Allen offered a resolution, which was adopted, calling upon the President, if not incompatible with the public interest, for copies of any correspondence with England and France in reference to the treaties between those countries and Texas while an independent state.
Mr. Usher, from the Judiciary Committee, reported the bill from the House relative to certified copies of papers by the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House, with a substitute therefor.
On motion of Mr. Johnson, of La., the Senate proceeded to the consideration of a joint resolution reported in the early part of the session, in relation to the issuing of grants of certain lands in Louisiana.
After some remarks from Mr. Johnson in favor of the early passage of the resolution, which he represented as one of great importance, it was postponed until Tuesday next, on motion of Mr. McDuffie, who desires to give his views upon the subject.
Mr. Westcott, in accordance with the notice given yesterday, moved to postpone the bill from the House extending the laws of Iowa over the Oregon territory, until the first Monday in December next, and accompanied the motion with some remarks explanatory of the reasons for his motion.
Mr. Allen moved to make the bill the special order for Monday next. He said that if the motion of the Senator from Florida should prevail no action upon the subject could be had at this session of Congress. Our citizens in Oregon are now somewhat protected by a law—the treaty of joint occupancy—which would cease about the 15th of May next, and should Congress not legislate for them, they would then be subject to British laws and British rule.
Mr. Westcott made some remarks in favor of leaving the people in Oregon under the government which they had adopted for themselves.
The question was taken on the motion, (being the first in order,) to discharge the Committee on Territories from the further consideration of the bill, and it was agreed to.
Mr. Westcott then made his motion to postpone the whole subject until the first Monday in December next.
Mr. Benton then addressed the Senate at length, in a speech which attracted great attention, to show that the line of 54 40 was never established as the boundary between the U. S. and Russia—but as the southern boundary of Russia and the northern boundary of Great Britain—and that the true boundary of the U. S. was the line of 49°.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Holmes from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported the bill from the Senate repealing the proviso to the Naval Appropriation bill for 1846, which restricts the Naval force to 7500 men, with an amendment taking off the restrictions with regard to the pay of officers imposed by the Appropriation bill of 1845.
The amendment was adopted and the bill was then read a third time and passed.
Mr. McClelland, of Mich., reported a bill to allow drawback on merchandise imported into the U. S. from British North American Provinces, which have been regularly entered and the duties paid at any port of entry on the N. E., Northern, or N. W. frontier, and exported to foreign countries.
After some remarks from Messrs. McClelland, Brodhead, Preston King, Holmes, of S. C., and Darragh, the previous question was demanded and sustained, and the bill passed without a division.
Mr. Gentry, of Tenn., moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn over until Monday next. Lost, ayes 65, noes 93.
The House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Hudson, of Mass., in the Chair, and took up the private calendar. All bills objected to were passed over, and those to which there was no objection were laid aside and subsequently reported to the House, and at an early hour the House adjourned.