The Whig Standard

TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1844.

SENATE.

A communication was received from the Treasury Department, with additional testimony concerning gas as a substitute for oil in light-houses.

Also, one from the Navy Department, covering a copy of a report upon a plan for improving the Navy Yard at Pensacola.

Mr. BUCHANAN presented a memorial, numerously signed, from citizens of Philadelphia, asking that the naturalization laws may be changed, so as to make a residence of 21 years in this country a prerequisite to the enjoyment of the inestimable rights of American citizenship. The memorialists ask the speedy action of Congress on this subject, and Mr. B., while he stated his dissent from the wishes of the memorialists, moved the reference of their prayer to the Committee on the Judiciary, and expressed a hope that they would give it early attention.

Mr. DAYTON reported against granting compensation to Jas. Wilson, as keeper of the western gate of the Capitol.

WESTERN HARBOR BILL,

This bill was again taken up. The question was on the amendment of Mr. Evans, leaving to the discretion of the War Department the manner in which the $40,000 appropriated for Buffalo harbor, N. Y., shall be expended.

Mr. EVANS sent to the Chair a letter from J. H. Lathrop, urging the expenditure at a point different from that proposed in the bill.

A brief discussion ensued between Messrs. TAPPAN, WRIGHT, EVANS, and others.

The amendment was rejected.

Another amendment, proposed by Mr. Wright, was rejected.

The bill was then read a third time and passed, by a vote of 32 to 6.

On motion of Mr. HUNTINGTON,

THE EASTERN HARBOR BILL

was next taken up and read.

Mr. MERRICK moved an amendment, giving $20,000 for the improvement of the harbor at Baltimore. This amendment Mr. M. urged with great zeal, and asked why, when every important harbor on the Atlantic received the fostering care of the Government, that of Baltimore alone should be neglected?

The chief objection—the only one—urged, in fact, to Mr. M.'s amendment, was the danger of losing the bill if returned to the House at this late period of the session.

This amendment, however, and all others, were voted down by the Senate, and the bill was finally passed, by a vote of 32 to 8.

The Senate then passed into Executive session.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The first business this morning was a motion that on and after Monday next the hour of meeting should be 10 o'clock, and that the House take a recess each day from 2 until 4 o'clock.

Mr. C. J. INGERSOLL was in favor of keeping the House in session until 8 P. M.

A discussion of half an hour or more ensued, the upshot of which was, that the House agreed to meet at ten, but refused to take the recess.

A resolution was adopted to close the debate in committee, on the bill to establish a depot at Memphis in one hour and a half after it was taken up.

A bill making compensation for the services of the Iowa militia, in 1839, was passed.

A bill was then brought before the House proposing to give to the scientific corps of the Exploring Expedition a copyright of their Journal, with the use of the plates provided by the Government.

An amendment was adopted that the work should be published at a price not exceeding $20 per copy.

Mr. ADAMS proposed an amendment, that the work be printed by the Government and furnished at cost to all who applied for it.

Mr. SCHENCK contended that Lieut. Wilkes had already enjoyed sufficient privileges and emoluments from his connexion with the Exploring Expedition. He had received, in the first instance, $6,000 per annum for his services as commander of that expedition, in which station he was placed in disregard of the higher claims of many senior officers.

Mr. BARNARD, of N. Y., replied to Mr. S., and defended Lieut. Wilkes.

Mr. J. R. INGERSOLL followed next, and advocated, in a very able speech, the amendment proposed by Mr. Adams.

A motion was made, when Mr. I. concluded, to lay the bill on the table. The yeas and nays were called, and the bill was laid on the table by a vote of 116 to 35.

The House spent the rest of the day on private bills.