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Domestic News
January 3, 1829
The Delaware Register, Or, Farmers', Manufacturers' & Mechanics' Advocate
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
Congressional proceedings from Dec. 24-31, 1828, feature numerous petitions against Sunday mail transport and for auction duties, alongside bills on naval pay, Decatur compensation, Cumberland Road, military reforms, and resolutions on currency, printing, and retrenchment.
Merged-components note: Continuation of Congressional proceedings summary within the same page; single news report on legislative activities
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Twentieth Congress...Second Session.
Wednesday, December 24.
IN SENATE.
Mr. Dickerson presented a memorial of sundry citizens of the State of New Jersey, praying that duties may be laid on sales by auction.
Mr. Marks presented a memorial of sundry citizens of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, complaining of the auction system as at present pursued, and praying that Congress will adopt such measures on the subject as to their wisdom may seem proper.
Mr. Smith, of Maryland, from the Committee on Finance, reported the bill from the House of Representatives, "making appropriations for the support of Government for the first quarter of the year 1829," without amendment.
The Senate adjourned to Monday next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Bates presented a memorial from citizens of the town of Hadley, in the State of Massachusetts, against Sunday mails.
Mr. Barnard presented similar memorials from citizens of the counties of Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, and Erie, in the State of New York.
Mr. Orr presented a memorial of sundry citizens of the city of Pittsburgh, complaining of the present Auction System—that the long credit on auction duties is an evil, and defeats the intention of Government in its revenue laws and laws protecting home manufactures, and praying Congress to take the subject into consideration.
Mr. Condict, by request of Mr. Burges, who is confined to his bed by sickness, presented the petition of sundry citizens of Providence, praying for duties on sales at auction.
Mr. Hoffman, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill for increasing the pay of Captains and Masters Commandant in the Navy of the United States. Twice read and committed.
On motion of Mr. Sprague, it was Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of revising and amending the laws regulating the currency of foreign coins.
The House adjourned to Monday next.
Monday, December 29.
IN SENATE.
Mr. Burnett, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of Ohio, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of General Harrison, appeared to-day, was qualified, and took his seat.
Mr. Ridgely, of Delaware, also appeared to-day, and took his seat.
Mr. Tazewell presented a petition from General Scott, praying for the passage of a declaratory act on the subject of brevet rank; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Among the petitions presented to-day, we notice the following:
For a discontinuance of the practice of opening and transporting the mails on the Sabbath, were presented—
By Mr. Ingersoll—From inhabitants of the Counties of Middlesex and Hartford, Connecticut.
By Mr. Mallary—From inhabitants of Middlebury, Vermont.
By Mr. Woodcock—From inhabitants of Ithaca, New York.
By Mr. Van Rensselaer—From inhabitants of Albany and of Oneida County, New York.
By Mr. Martindale—From inhabitants of Salem, New York.
By Mr. Markell—From inhabitants of Johnstown, New York.
By Mr. Barnard—From inhabitants of Byron, Bergen, and Riga, New York.
By Mr. Swan—Of inhabitants of Princeton, New York.
By Mr. Condict—Of inhabitants of Brooklyn, Long Island; and of inhabitants of Burlington County, New Jersey.
By Mr. Lawrence—Of inhabitants of Washington County, in Pennsylvania; and also, a presentment of a Grand Jury of that County.
By Mr. Mercer—From inhabitants of Loudoun County, Virginia.
Mr. Marvin presented a remonstrance from inhabitants of Ontario County, in New York, against the stoppage of the Mails on the Sabbath day.
Memorials for laying duties on Auctions, were presented—
By Mr. Hunt—From citizens of Brattleboro', Vermont.
By Mr. Barnard—From citizens of Rochester, New York.
By Mr. Pierson—From citizens of Essex and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey.
By Mr. Sprigg—From citizens of Washington County, Maryland.
By Mr. Pierson—Of citizens of the Counties of Essex and Middlesex, in New Jersey, for such an amendment to the Constitution of the U. States, as that a President shall be ineligible to a second term, and that the term may be extended to six years.
By Mr. Archer—Of Major General Winfield Scott, relative to the controversy which has arisen with respect to his claims to rank in the Army.
By Mr. Muhlenberg—Of citizens of Ohio, for further encouragement for the dissemination of vaccination.
These several petitions were referred to the Committees to which their subjects appropriately belong.
Tuesday, December 30.
IN SENATE.
The bill "to compensate Susan Decatur, widow and representative of Capt. Stephen Decatur, and others," was read the third time, and passed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Storrs presented a petition of merchants, traders, and others, inhabitants of the county of Oneida, New York, praying that a duty may be laid on certain sales at auction.
Petitions against opening and transporting the mails on the Sabbath day, were presented—
By Mr. Storrs, of inhabitants of the towns of Augusta and Champion, in the counties of Oneida and Jefferson, New York.
By Mr. Wright, of inhabitants of Jefferson county, New York.
By Mr. Swann, of inhabitants of Huntington county, New Jersey.
By Mr. Bassett, of inhabitants of Horn town, Virginia.
On motion of Mr. Mallary,
The petition of Mauritz Furst, artist, praying Congress to purchase his medallions of General Jackson and the battle of New Orleans, and from the consideration of which the Committee on Manufactures was discharged some days ago, was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Stewart, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the sale of all real property acquired by the United States in payment of debts due to the Government.
Wednesday, December 31.
IN SENATE.
The following resolutions were submitted for consideration by Mr. Chandler, and lie on the table until to-morrow:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the propriety and expediency of abolishing the office of Major General in the Army of the United States.
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of changing the law on the subject of Brevet Commissions in the Army of the United States.
Mr. Smith, of Maryland, moved that, when the Senate adjourns, it will adjourn to meet on Friday; which was agreed to.
The bill to extend the time in which merchandise may be exported with the benefit of drawback, was read the third time, and passed, as amended.
A message was shortly after received from the House of Representatives, notifying that they had concurred in the amendments.
The bill for the continuation of the Cumberland Road, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Allen, of Mass. presented a petition of inhabitants of Amherst, Massachusetts, against Sunday mails.
Mr. Hodges presented a memorial of inhabitants of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for a duty on sales at auction.
On motion of Mr. Bartlett, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that some other article instead of "distilled spirits" shall be supplied in the rations allowed to Midshipmen in the Navy of the United States.
On motion of Mr. Vance, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing the office of Major General; and of providing for three Brigadier Generals, who shall be respectively Brigadier General of Engineers, Brigadier General of Artillery, and Brigadier of Infantry; and of abolishing the power of conferring brevet rank, except in time of actual war.
On motion of Mr. Hamilton, it was
Resolved, That the report of the select Committee (No. 259) entitled "a report on Retrenchment," made at the last session, be committed to a Select Committee, with instructions to report by bill or otherwise, touching the several subjects submitted by that Committee to the House.
In offering this resolution—
Mr. Hamilton said, that he felt it his duty to remind the House that a report had been made at the last session of Congress by the Committee of Retrenchment. That report had been presented at a very late period, because the Committee had had such a mass of investigation before it, as to be perfectly overwhelmed by its labors. In presenting that report, he had stated to the House that the Committee had not sufficient time left to prepare the various bills which would be the legitimate consequence of the investigation they had made; but he had further stated, that a motion would be made, early in the present session, to recommit the report, with a view that the necessary bills might be prepared in conformity to it. He was now aware of the shortness of the present session, but would assure the House that the requisite bills should be prepared with all possible expedition. It was not, however, the intention of the Committee to press these bills with any improper importunity. The House could take up such of them as it might deem valuable, and would, in this respect, act its pleasure. The Committee had conceived it proper that the accounts of the printers to this House, for eight years past, should be investigated, as it had been supposed by some that the terms of the contract under which the printing was performed had not been strictly complied with, inasmuch as the size of the page had been somewhat curtailed. It was, however, due to the printers to state, that they contended that this alteration in the dimensions of the page had been made as much from regard to the convenience and advantage of the House as to their own, and that the slight difference which it occasioned had been abundantly made up to the public by the manner in which other parts of the contract had been performed. Under these circumstances, he had, at the last session, offered a resolution that this account should be fully investigated; and he believed that it was the understanding, both of the House and Committee, that a thorough examination of it should be had during the present session, when time and opportunity would be afforded for taking the depositions of the witnesses under the solemnity of an oath.
The resolution was then agreed to.
The bill from the Senate for the relief of Mrs. Decatur and others, was twice read, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Van Rensselaer, it was
Ordered, That when the House adjourns to-day, it will adjourn to meet again on Friday, the 2d of January.
Promises made in hours of affliction are but seldom remembered.
Wednesday, December 24.
IN SENATE.
Mr. Dickerson presented a memorial of sundry citizens of the State of New Jersey, praying that duties may be laid on sales by auction.
Mr. Marks presented a memorial of sundry citizens of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, complaining of the auction system as at present pursued, and praying that Congress will adopt such measures on the subject as to their wisdom may seem proper.
Mr. Smith, of Maryland, from the Committee on Finance, reported the bill from the House of Representatives, "making appropriations for the support of Government for the first quarter of the year 1829," without amendment.
The Senate adjourned to Monday next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Bates presented a memorial from citizens of the town of Hadley, in the State of Massachusetts, against Sunday mails.
Mr. Barnard presented similar memorials from citizens of the counties of Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, and Erie, in the State of New York.
Mr. Orr presented a memorial of sundry citizens of the city of Pittsburgh, complaining of the present Auction System—that the long credit on auction duties is an evil, and defeats the intention of Government in its revenue laws and laws protecting home manufactures, and praying Congress to take the subject into consideration.
Mr. Condict, by request of Mr. Burges, who is confined to his bed by sickness, presented the petition of sundry citizens of Providence, praying for duties on sales at auction.
Mr. Hoffman, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill for increasing the pay of Captains and Masters Commandant in the Navy of the United States. Twice read and committed.
On motion of Mr. Sprague, it was Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of revising and amending the laws regulating the currency of foreign coins.
The House adjourned to Monday next.
Monday, December 29.
IN SENATE.
Mr. Burnett, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of Ohio, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of General Harrison, appeared to-day, was qualified, and took his seat.
Mr. Ridgely, of Delaware, also appeared to-day, and took his seat.
Mr. Tazewell presented a petition from General Scott, praying for the passage of a declaratory act on the subject of brevet rank; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Among the petitions presented to-day, we notice the following:
For a discontinuance of the practice of opening and transporting the mails on the Sabbath, were presented—
By Mr. Ingersoll—From inhabitants of the Counties of Middlesex and Hartford, Connecticut.
By Mr. Mallary—From inhabitants of Middlebury, Vermont.
By Mr. Woodcock—From inhabitants of Ithaca, New York.
By Mr. Van Rensselaer—From inhabitants of Albany and of Oneida County, New York.
By Mr. Martindale—From inhabitants of Salem, New York.
By Mr. Markell—From inhabitants of Johnstown, New York.
By Mr. Barnard—From inhabitants of Byron, Bergen, and Riga, New York.
By Mr. Swan—Of inhabitants of Princeton, New York.
By Mr. Condict—Of inhabitants of Brooklyn, Long Island; and of inhabitants of Burlington County, New Jersey.
By Mr. Lawrence—Of inhabitants of Washington County, in Pennsylvania; and also, a presentment of a Grand Jury of that County.
By Mr. Mercer—From inhabitants of Loudoun County, Virginia.
Mr. Marvin presented a remonstrance from inhabitants of Ontario County, in New York, against the stoppage of the Mails on the Sabbath day.
Memorials for laying duties on Auctions, were presented—
By Mr. Hunt—From citizens of Brattleboro', Vermont.
By Mr. Barnard—From citizens of Rochester, New York.
By Mr. Pierson—From citizens of Essex and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey.
By Mr. Sprigg—From citizens of Washington County, Maryland.
By Mr. Pierson—Of citizens of the Counties of Essex and Middlesex, in New Jersey, for such an amendment to the Constitution of the U. States, as that a President shall be ineligible to a second term, and that the term may be extended to six years.
By Mr. Archer—Of Major General Winfield Scott, relative to the controversy which has arisen with respect to his claims to rank in the Army.
By Mr. Muhlenberg—Of citizens of Ohio, for further encouragement for the dissemination of vaccination.
These several petitions were referred to the Committees to which their subjects appropriately belong.
Tuesday, December 30.
IN SENATE.
The bill "to compensate Susan Decatur, widow and representative of Capt. Stephen Decatur, and others," was read the third time, and passed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Storrs presented a petition of merchants, traders, and others, inhabitants of the county of Oneida, New York, praying that a duty may be laid on certain sales at auction.
Petitions against opening and transporting the mails on the Sabbath day, were presented—
By Mr. Storrs, of inhabitants of the towns of Augusta and Champion, in the counties of Oneida and Jefferson, New York.
By Mr. Wright, of inhabitants of Jefferson county, New York.
By Mr. Swann, of inhabitants of Huntington county, New Jersey.
By Mr. Bassett, of inhabitants of Horn town, Virginia.
On motion of Mr. Mallary,
The petition of Mauritz Furst, artist, praying Congress to purchase his medallions of General Jackson and the battle of New Orleans, and from the consideration of which the Committee on Manufactures was discharged some days ago, was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Stewart, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the sale of all real property acquired by the United States in payment of debts due to the Government.
Wednesday, December 31.
IN SENATE.
The following resolutions were submitted for consideration by Mr. Chandler, and lie on the table until to-morrow:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the propriety and expediency of abolishing the office of Major General in the Army of the United States.
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of changing the law on the subject of Brevet Commissions in the Army of the United States.
Mr. Smith, of Maryland, moved that, when the Senate adjourns, it will adjourn to meet on Friday; which was agreed to.
The bill to extend the time in which merchandise may be exported with the benefit of drawback, was read the third time, and passed, as amended.
A message was shortly after received from the House of Representatives, notifying that they had concurred in the amendments.
The bill for the continuation of the Cumberland Road, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Allen, of Mass. presented a petition of inhabitants of Amherst, Massachusetts, against Sunday mails.
Mr. Hodges presented a memorial of inhabitants of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for a duty on sales at auction.
On motion of Mr. Bartlett, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that some other article instead of "distilled spirits" shall be supplied in the rations allowed to Midshipmen in the Navy of the United States.
On motion of Mr. Vance, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing the office of Major General; and of providing for three Brigadier Generals, who shall be respectively Brigadier General of Engineers, Brigadier General of Artillery, and Brigadier of Infantry; and of abolishing the power of conferring brevet rank, except in time of actual war.
On motion of Mr. Hamilton, it was
Resolved, That the report of the select Committee (No. 259) entitled "a report on Retrenchment," made at the last session, be committed to a Select Committee, with instructions to report by bill or otherwise, touching the several subjects submitted by that Committee to the House.
In offering this resolution—
Mr. Hamilton said, that he felt it his duty to remind the House that a report had been made at the last session of Congress by the Committee of Retrenchment. That report had been presented at a very late period, because the Committee had had such a mass of investigation before it, as to be perfectly overwhelmed by its labors. In presenting that report, he had stated to the House that the Committee had not sufficient time left to prepare the various bills which would be the legitimate consequence of the investigation they had made; but he had further stated, that a motion would be made, early in the present session, to recommit the report, with a view that the necessary bills might be prepared in conformity to it. He was now aware of the shortness of the present session, but would assure the House that the requisite bills should be prepared with all possible expedition. It was not, however, the intention of the Committee to press these bills with any improper importunity. The House could take up such of them as it might deem valuable, and would, in this respect, act its pleasure. The Committee had conceived it proper that the accounts of the printers to this House, for eight years past, should be investigated, as it had been supposed by some that the terms of the contract under which the printing was performed had not been strictly complied with, inasmuch as the size of the page had been somewhat curtailed. It was, however, due to the printers to state, that they contended that this alteration in the dimensions of the page had been made as much from regard to the convenience and advantage of the House as to their own, and that the slight difference which it occasioned had been abundantly made up to the public by the manner in which other parts of the contract had been performed. Under these circumstances, he had, at the last session, offered a resolution that this account should be fully investigated; and he believed that it was the understanding, both of the House and Committee, that a thorough examination of it should be had during the present session, when time and opportunity would be afforded for taking the depositions of the witnesses under the solemnity of an oath.
The resolution was then agreed to.
The bill from the Senate for the relief of Mrs. Decatur and others, was twice read, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Van Rensselaer, it was
Ordered, That when the House adjourns to-day, it will adjourn to meet again on Friday, the 2d of January.
Promises made in hours of affliction are but seldom remembered.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Congress Proceedings
Auction Duties
Sunday Mails
Naval Pay
Brevet Rank
Military Affairs
Petitions
Memorials
Resolutions
Bills
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Dickerson
Mr. Marks
Mr. Smith Of Maryland
Mr. Bates
Mr. Barnard
Mr. Orr
Mr. Condict
Mr. Hoffman
Mr. Sprague
Mr. Burnett
Mr. Ridgely
Mr. Tazewell
General Scott
Mr. Ingersoll
Mr. Mallary
Mr. Woodcock
Mr. Van Rensselaer
Mr. Martindale
Mr. Markell
Mr. Swan
Mr. Lawrence
Mr. Mercer
Mr. Marvin
Mr. Hunt
Mr. Pierson
Mr. Sprigg
Mr. Archer
Mr. Muhlenberg
Mr. Chandler
Mr. Storrs
Mr. Wright
Mr. Swann
Mr. Bassett
Mr. Allen Of Mass.
Mr. Hodges
Mr. Bartlett
Mr. Vance
Mr. Hamilton
Mr. Stewart
Susan Decatur
Capt. Stephen Decatur
Mauritz Furst
Major General Winfield Scott
Where did it happen?
Washington
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington
Event Date
December 24 31, 1828
Key Persons
Mr. Dickerson
Mr. Marks
Mr. Smith Of Maryland
Mr. Bates
Mr. Barnard
Mr. Orr
Mr. Condict
Mr. Hoffman
Mr. Sprague
Mr. Burnett
Mr. Ridgely
Mr. Tazewell
General Scott
Mr. Ingersoll
Mr. Mallary
Mr. Woodcock
Mr. Van Rensselaer
Mr. Martindale
Mr. Markell
Mr. Swan
Mr. Lawrence
Mr. Mercer
Mr. Marvin
Mr. Hunt
Mr. Pierson
Mr. Sprigg
Mr. Archer
Mr. Muhlenberg
Mr. Chandler
Mr. Storrs
Mr. Wright
Mr. Swann
Mr. Bassett
Mr. Allen Of Mass.
Mr. Hodges
Mr. Bartlett
Mr. Vance
Mr. Hamilton
Mr. Stewart
Mr. Van Rensselaer
Susan Decatur
Capt. Stephen Decatur
Mauritz Furst
Major General Winfield Scott
Event Details
Reports of Senate and House proceedings from December 24 to 31, including presentations of memorials and petitions on duties on auction sales, opposition to Sunday mails, naval pay increases, currency of foreign coins, appointment of Senator Burnett, petitions on brevet rank, constitutional amendments, vaccination encouragement, bills for compensation to Susan Decatur, Cumberland Road continuation, resolutions on military offices, brevet commissions, government printing accounts, and adjournments.