Phenix Gazette

Congress Proceedings of yesterday.

In the Senate.--The greater part of the sitting was passed in the consideration of matters of no interest or importance.

A letter was received from Com. Porter, complaining of the strictures of Messrs. Randall and Munroe upon his conduct while in command of the West India squadron, and asking the expression of an opinion by the Senate, in relation to the truth and justness of their imputations. It was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

The several resolutions offered on Thursday last, and yesterday, were adopted, without debate, with the exception of one offered by Mr. Eaton, about the snags and sawyers in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which gave rise to a slight debate.

The bill to give Clark McPherson a pension of $5 per month, was rejected by a vote of 20 to 15.

Mr. Robbins gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill "prescribing the mode of commencing, prosecuting, and deciding controversies between States."

A number of petitions were presented and referred to their proper committees.

In the House of Representatives.--Mr. Scott from the Committee of Public Lands reported a bill, which was twice read and committed, giving the right of pre-emption in the purchase of lands, to certain settlers in the territory of Florida. Besides this bill, Mr. Scott reported on several private claims; which reports were laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Sterrs of New-York, the House agreed to consider a resolution offered by him on Friday last, calling for information relative to Mr. Monroe's claims. Some amendments were made to the resolution as first offered, when it was adopted as follows:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to lay before the House, a statement of the amount of monies paid out of the public treasury at any time previous to the 4th day of March 1825, to James Monroe, late President of the United States, as compensation allowed to him for his services in the various offices which he has filled under the government of the United States, except his salary as President, and all allowances, disbursements and emoluments attending the said services; designating the particular sums paid as salary or otherwise for such services, allowances and emoluments, and the times when such sums were paid respectively: and an account of all claims of the said James Monroe, for compensation, services, allowances or emoluments, which have been presented at any of the departments of the Government, or to the accounting officers of the Treasury Department, which have been disallowed, and the times when any such claims respectively have been presented, and the grounds on which such claims have been disallowed.

On motion of Mr. Campbell of Ohio, the Secretary of War was instructed to communicate to the House what number of soldiers deserted annually during the three last years ending on the 30th of September 1825; how many of them were of the artillery, and how many of the infantry service; also from what posts or garrisons, and at what period of enlistment the desertions took place, where born, their ages and avocations at the time of enlistment; what number of soldiers has died and where; whether desertions frequently follow the commission of crime or infliction of punishment; what would be the probable effect of withholding from recruiting officers the premiums usually allowed; as well as any other information he may possess in relation to desertions.

After a protracted debate, in which many prominent members participated, a resolution offered by Mr. Wurtz of Pennsylvania, and amended by Mr. Powell of Virginia, was adopted, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the House, whether any & what deviations from the instructions given by that department, or from the course prescribed by law, for securing and collecting the duties on imports and tonnage, have recently taken place, and whether any and what extraordinary losses have been, or are likely to be sustained by the government, in consequence of such deviations, or from any other cause; stating particularly the circumstances attending them, so far as they may have come to the knowledge of the department; and whether any and what steps have been taken by any officer of the government in relation to any such losses, if such have occurred.

The information desired by Mr. Wurtz, although apparently of a general nature, was shown in the course of the debate, to be more particularly wanted in the case of the Collector, at Philadelphia, where it is reported that large quantities of teas and other merchandise, have been illegally withdrawn from the public stores, and that the duties thereon, have been lost to the Treasury of the United States. There seemed to be no disposition on the part of any member to impute criminality to the Collector, but a general determination was manifested to investigate the transaction with the strictest scrutiny, and ascertain whether a defect in the law, or in the administration of it, has given rise to the irregularity and consequent loss.