The Alexandrian: A Commercial, Agricultural And Literary Journal

Congress...Yesterday.

IN THE SENATE

A communication was laid before the senate by the president, which he had received from the clerk of the house of representatives on Saturday, announcing the death of Mr. Linn, a member of that house, from the state of New-Jersey; whereupon

On motion of Mr. Dickerson the senate adopted, unanimously, a resolution to go into mourning by wearing crape on the left arm one month, as a testimony of respect for the memory of the deceased.

The president communicated to the senate a letter from Mr. Wilson, of New-Jersey, announcing the resignation of his seat in the senate.

The senate proceeded to fill the vacancies occasioned in several committees, by the death of Mr. Burrill and the resignation of Mr. Wilson, when the following appointments were made:

On the committee of commerce, Mr. Lanman. On the committee of accounts, Mr. Williams, of Mississippi. On the committee of claims, Mr. Palmer. On the committee of the public buildings, Mr. Talbot. On the committee on the post office and post roads Mr. King, of Alabama.

And Mr. Johnson, of Ky. having on his request, been excused from serving on the committee on enrolled bills—Mr. Morril was appointed in his place.

The resolution submitted by Mr. Williams, of Tennessee, to instruct the committee on the judiciary to report a bill to extend the judicial authority of the union over the state of Missouri was, on the motion of Mr. Smith, further postponed to Monday next.

The bill to 'incorporate the Columbian Society for literary purposes,' was taken up in committee of the whole.

On the numerous provisions of this bill, and the various amendments proposed to it in the course of its consideration, much discussion arose and much time was consumed.

The bill was not disposed of or got through with; when, the usual hour of adjournment having arrived, the senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr. Cannon, from the committee on the subject of the militia, reported a bill to provide for a uniform system for the organization and discipline of the militia of the states and territories, and for instructing the officers of the same at the expense of the United States; which was twice read and committed.

Mr. Gross, of New-York, submitted for consideration the following resolution:

Resolved, that the president of the United States be requested to inform this house (if in his opinion proper) whether any, and, if any, what negociations since January 1st, 1816, have been had with the Six Nations of Indians, or any portion of them: who the commissioners or agents were; the object of the negociations; the expenses of the same; the compensation of each commissioner, secretary and agent, and to whom the moneys were paid.

This motion, according to rule, lies on the table one day of course.

On motion of Mr. Strong, of N. York it was

Resolved, that the committee on the District of Columbia be instructed to inquire and report to this house the number of lotteries which have been instituted in said District, by virtue of an act to incorporate the inhabitants of the City of Washington, and to repeal all acts heretofore passed for that purpose, passed 15th May 1820, the purposes for which the moneys are to be raised, the amount of each scheme, and the total nominal value of the tickets offered for sale, the rate of deduction proposed to be made from the prices, and the gross amount of the proceeds of said lotteries, which will come into the hands of the managers, and also whether the condition of the said act of incorporation has been complied with, so far as it respects the authority to raise money by lotteries.

Mr. Trimble submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That the secretary of the treasury be instructed to inform this house, when and why the agency of the treasurer of the United States for the war and navy departments was first established, and whether the same may not be discontinued without detriment to the public service.

This resolve lies on the table one day of course.

The resolutions moved by Mr. Williams of North Carolina, calling for information of the amount of money necessary to complete the contracts which have been made for the increase of the navy and for building fortifications, were taken up and agreed to.

The orders of the day being then announced by the speaker—Mr. Cobb having moved again to go into committee of the whole on the state of the union—

A short debate arose, which resulted in a motion by Mr. Beecher to discharge the committee of the whole on the state of the union from the further consideration of the resolution introduced by Mr. Cobb.

The question discussed was, simply, whether the subject of a general reduction of the expenses of the government, with reference to expediency and to the state of the finances, could be more practically and efficiently considered by continuing to debate the declaratory propositions of Mr. Cobb, or the bills which have been and probably will hereafter be, introduced, for the reduction of the expenditures of various branches of the public service.

The debate terminated in agreeing to Mr. Beecher's motion, by a vote of 82 to 49; and the resolutions, being then before the house, were ordered to lie on the table.

The house then on motion of Mr. Williams. resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the state of the union, Mr. Whitman in the chair. And

On motion of Mr. Beecher, the committee proceeded to consider the bill reported by the military committee, for reducing the military peace establishment. The first section having been read—

Mr. Simkins of South Carolina, delivered his sentiments in opposition to a hasty and inconsiderate abandonment of the deliberate policy of the government.

Mr. Williams. of N. C. delivered his views. at considerable length, in favor of a reduction of the army, aud of public expenditures generally. The committee rose, and the house adjourned.