Phenix Gazette

CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS OF YESTERDAY.

In the Senate.—The bill to secure the accountability of Public Officers, was called up and gave rise to a desultory debate, without coming to any decision. It was finally recommitted to the committee, with a view to make some further amendments.

A petition was presented by Mr. Marks from the Grand Jury of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, praying Congress to pass a law to prohibit the importation of ardent spirits.

Mr. Sanford, the new Senator from New-York, appeared and took his seat.

In the House of Representatives.—Mr. McLane, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a Bill, which was twice read and committed, remitting the duties upon certain articles imported for the use of the University of Virginia. These articles consist of a number of marble Capitals imported into Boston, and a number of marble Bases imported into New-York, by Thomas Jefferson, Esq. Rector of said University. On the last the duties have been paid, and the bill provides for refunding the money.

The same gentleman reported another Bill, allowing an additional drawback on sugar refined in the United States and exported therefrom. The present allowance for drawback is proposed to be increased to five cents per pound. The Bill was twice read and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

A message was received from the President of the United States, transmitting a report from the Secretary of State, and the correspondence with the British Government, relating to the boundary of the United States on the Pacific Ocean; which message was referred to the same Committee of the Whole, to which was committed the Bill to authorise the establishment of a military post at the mouth of Columbia River, and to provide for the exploration of the coast and waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The Resolutions, yesterday laid on the table by Mr. Reed of Massachusetts, calling for information, relative to surveys of a canal route between Barnstable and Buzzard's Bay, and of the Island of Nantucket and harbors of Marblehead and Holmes's Hole—were considered and agreed to.

Mr. Barbour's Resolution, offered yesterday, calling for information on the subject of relief afforded by Congress to Nimrod Farrow and Richard Harris, was also considered and adopted. Mr. Metcalfe, of Kentucky, then called up the consideration of a resolution submitted by him the day previous, requesting information from the President, in relation to the proposed Congress, at Panama. Mr. Forsyth inquired, whether the resolution would be in order, since one of a similar import had been laid upon the table, some days before, by a gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. Hamilton).— Whereupon, Mr. Metcalfe moved for the consideration of Mr. Hamilton's Resolution, observing that his object was to get the information required, he was indifferent which resolution was adopted.

The House having agreed to consider Mr. Hamilton's resolution, that gentleman briefly explained his reasons for not calling it up himself, and a general debate ensued, which was arrested by a call from Mr. Allen of Massachusetts, for the orders of the day.

The House then took up the unfinished business of yesterday, being the bill making appropriations for Fortifications on the sea-board; and on motion of Mr. McLane of Delaware, resolved itself, into committee of the Whole,

Mr. Condict of New-Jersey, in the Chair. The first question was on filling the blank in the clause making an appropriation for Fortress Monroe. The Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, had proposed $115,000, and Mr. Cocke of Tennessee, $80,000; the first named amount, after some discussion, was adopted by the Committee. Mr. Cambreleng, of New-York, offered an amendment to the bill, proposing an appropriation of $17,000 for the purchase of a site for a Fortification on Frog Island; which Mr. Powell, of Virginia, said he was not at present prepared to vote upon, and therefore moved, as it was unusually late, that the committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again. The Committee accordingly rose, obtained leave to sit again, and the House adjourned.