American Watchman

CONGRESS.

IN SENATE—JANUARY 26.

Mr. Ruggles submitted a resolution requesting information with regard to the officers and soldiers who served in the revolutionary army from the State of Virginia, &c. &c.

After postponing two or three subjects to a future day, and receiving one or two petitions, at an early hour—The Senate adjourned.

January 28.—Mr. Van Dyke laid before the Senate certain resolutions of the Delaware Legislature favorable to the appropriation of a portion of public lands for education.

Mr. Noble submitted a resolution requesting a statement from the Sec. of War, showing the number of persons placed on the pension roll by virtue of the acts of May 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820, likewise the number rejected.

Jan. 29—A variety of miscellaneous business was transacted in the Senate this day; and a number of engrossed bills were read a third time, passed and sent to the House for concurrence.

Mr. Chandler's proposition respecting the expediency of making two military roads from the State of Maine to the British line, produced some considerable whimsical discussion and trifling.

Mr. Holmes, of Maine, laid before the Senate a report, and sundry resolutions adopted, by the Legislature of that state, favorable to the Maryland proposition relative to a grant of public lands to the old states, for the purposes of education; and the document was read.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, January 28.

A variety of petitions, reports &c. were presented, among which was a memorial from sundry inhabitants of New-York, Rhode-Island, praying for a uniform bankrupt law.

Mr. Eustis, from the committee on military affairs, made two reports, unfavorable to soldiers' applications for bounty lands, who had been discharged at their own request, before the period of service had expired.

Imprisonment for Debt.

On motion of Mr. J. S. Smith of Kentucky it was—Resolved, That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing imprisonment for debt, in all cases of process issuing from the courts of the United States and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

[A committee of three was appointed accordingly.]

Carver's Grant.

Mr. Walworth laid upon the table a resolution calling on the Treasury Department, for information respecting the claims of Jonathan Carver, to certain lands near the Mississippi, said to have been granted him by the Indians.

The orders of the day were then announced [the bankrupt bill having a precedence] when a motion to take up the bill for the apportionment of representatives according to the fourth census, was put and carried.

FOURTH CENSUS.

The census bill was accordingly taken up, in the house; and the question of concurring with the committee of the whole in filling up the blank with 42, in which the yeas were demanded, being stated from the chair—

Mr. Smith of Md. rose and stated his objections to the number of 42, preferring 40,000 as the ratio of representation.

Mr. Rochester advocated the number of 40,000.

After a debate, in which Messrs. Rochester, Williamson, Farrelly, Sanders, Randolph, &c. took part, the question on agreeing to the report of the committee of the whole, which fixed the ratio at 42,000, was decided, by ayes and noes as follows—

In favor of it, 83—Against it 85, So the amendment was rejected, leaving the ratio in blank.

Mr. Taylor then moved to fill the blank with 47,000, and called for the ayes and noes, but before the question was taken—The house adjourned about 4 o'clock.

Jan. 29—Mr Johnson of Louisiana submitted two resolutions requesting information with regard to depredations committed on our Commerce and the particular acts of violence committed on the persons of our citizens in Havanna and how far they are acquiesced in by the Spanish authorities.

Mr. Bateman moved that, after the present week, the usual hour of adjournment be 11 o'clock; which was lost—ayes 73, noes 77.

The Speaker laid before the House a Letter from the President of the United States, communicating intelligence respecting the affair between General Jackson and Judge Fromentin.