The Daily Madisonian

CONGRESS.

In the House of Representatives, yesterday, Mr. Van Rensselaer submitted a resolution, which was adopted, instructing the Committee of Claims to inquire into the expediency of remunerating Mr. Gardiner, of this city, for the loss by fire, on Sunday morning, of certain furniture which he was engaged in making for the use of the Patent Office.

On the motion of Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, it was resolved that a committee of five be appointed to inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the removal of Henry H. Sylvester, late a clerk in the Pension Office, from his place of clerk aforesaid; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and to report by bill, resolution, or otherwise.

Mr. Levy, the Delegate from Florida, moved that the message of the President of the United States, in relation to the cessation of hostilities in, and an armed occupation of, that Territory, be taken up. He questioned the propriety of sending such a message to Congress under existing circumstances, and endeavored to show that hostilities had not nor could at present cease. He further contended that the policy of the Executive, upon this subject, if carried out, would be an abandonment of the measures heretofore pursued in the prosecution of the war which he contended would be extremely unjust towards the people of Florida.

Mr. Morgan believed that the pacific policy of the President was the proper one, and he showed that, from the nature of the case, it would be impossible for an army, however great, to accomplish the object desired by force.

Mr. Cushing remarked that all the people of Florida desired was that the Indians should be removed in the best possible mode. He demonstrated that, if we were really engaged in a war, how ridiculous it would appear: a whole nation fighting against eighty Indians! As there were now so few of them in that Territory, he was at a loss to know what particular objection the Delegate could have to the course recommended by the President.

Mr. Cooper, of Georgia, delivered some remarks in opposition to the views of the two gentlemen who preceded him; and the message was then referred to the Committee on the Territories, and ordered to be printed.

The report of the Committee of Conference on the amendments to the Appropriation bill were concurred in.

The House then proceeded to the consideration of the bill making appropriation for the support of the Navy for the year 1842, and, after debate, the House adjourned.

In the Senate, Mr. Allen presented a memorial, signed by a number of the members of the bar of Ohio, expressing a desire that the salary of the United States District Judge of that State may be increased to double its present amount.

Mr. Smith, of Indiana, from the Committee on Public Lands, reported, without amendment, the House bill for the relief of George Schnabel and Robert Barbour.

Mr. Tallmadge presented a memorial from Otsego county, New York, signed by persons without distinction of party, asking for such a revision of the tariff as will give ample revenue for the support of the Government, and, at the same time protect the industry of the country; and two other memorials from that State making a similar request; also a petition from manufacturers of gold and silver ware, residing in the city of New York, praying that the present duty on those articles may not be reduced, and alleging the incorrectness of the representations made by importers and others, that, under a 20 per cent. duty, there would be much smuggling and a decrease of revenue; and setting forth that there was imported of watches, jewelry, &c. into the port of New York, in the last quarter of 1841, under 20 per cent. duty, $120,940, producing a revenue of $24,188; in 1840, under 12 1-2 per cent. duty, $82,392, producing a revenue of $10,299. Excess of imports $48,548; excess of revenue $13,889.

Mr. Tappan, on leave, introduced a bill to provide for publishing an account of the discoveries made by the Exploring Expedition under the command of Lieutenant Wilkes, of the United States Navy; which was read a first and a second time and referred to the Committee on the Library.

Mr. Benton, on leave, introduced a bill to provide for the armed occupation and settlement of the unsettled parts of East Florida; which was read a first time and a second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On the motion of Mr. Linn, it was Resolved, That, in addition to the distribution already made, the Surveyor General of the public lands of the United States and the Register of land titles at St. Louis, Missouri, shall each be supplied, for the use of his office, with one copy, comprising five volumes, of the reports and documents relating to public lands and private land claims, printed by order of the Senate, and one copy of laws and opinions printed under the resolution of the 28th of February, 1837.

The bill for the relief of Archibald Parker, a soldier of the late war, was read a third time and passed.

The Senate then took up the bill directing warrants to issue for bounty land due on account of the services of Major General Duportail, Brigadier General Armand, and Major De La Colombe; and, after debate, it was recommitted to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

The Senate, at two o'clock, went into an Executive session, and when the doors were opened, it concurred in the report of the Committee of Conference; and then adjourned.