Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"" I . ' VA '' - ;Jted and endearing. Whatever institution or a rtaio o*" soc ftly we may think proper to establish I . or permit, is by no other ?tate to be disturbed . ? Si questioned. We enter not into the inquiry, who- C thor such institution be deemed by anothor State just or expadlorit. It U sufficient that we think ^ proper to allow it.' To protoct ns from attempts . to disturb what wo allow, and thoy approve, would be to support not our institutions, but their p1 o.vh opinio us,?to exerciso a supervising poWer n1 ov-?ronr legislation, and to insult us with a claim of superiority in the very offer to discharge the duty which our relations authorize us to require. , As.our right is indisputable, to regulate cxclo- ^ sivdy, according to our own notions, tho interi- g our relations of our own people, tho duty of pre- tl Venting every attempt to disturb what wo hero s< - established, results from the simple fact that wo have established it. And the propriety and impropriety in the view of others, of such regula- 0 ions as we have pleased to make, can cover ei- a .1- u Vaer eniionccor lessen inc uuijf u* ?uw? ^vivu- M ^on* p Wo do full justice to tho ganeral sentiment and jj " f.*el?ugs of our fellow citizens in other States, and are fully award that the attempts to injure us W I. aro m ni'j by a small minority.?composed, prob- t( aMy, of many misguided and some wickod mon; a and that these attempts meet with no favor, but ^ on the ether Iiand with marked disapprobation, from tho largo majority of tho communities in which they are mu'o. Still it must be recollect- C ed, that l>o:u tin nature of tho means employed, r< the danger to us is tho same, wbclhjr these f] . means -are put into activity by a contemptible ^ minority, or are sanctioned and adopted by the witoi 5 i>o-:ly of tho poopls. An incondiary pam- P phiot performs its office of mischief as effectual- t! jy whan issued uaicr the patronage of ,1 wonty, as <? of twenty thousand persons. Its efficacy^ deponds upon its circulation, not the woight ot au- ^ thority which supports it. J^tferc ought to com: in Ike last paragraph on the - c preceding page.} p . ' . P But it i3 unnsce.-sary further to set forth the 1 j i>tice of our claims on our brethren of tho p nor Ida and ea&t, end their c ipability, if they we^o p ~ *"" "* ^ *?-?? ?^l? tnef il.amAni^e (ic^irou^) or conipij v?'iui um joow mvhiumwi ^ Wo Ihjlioro that oar property, the lives of our . fellow citizens, and the poao and harmony of 1 our country, are threatened by tho measures of 0 t Visyihisguidcd, wicked men; and though wo tl "foot.the "Tcatest attachment for tho Union, and b wo-:! i do Ji in our power to strengthen and per. ^ puui.itr it, yet wo are not ready to surrender uiAj) very rights and blessings which that U- . \ .on wiuj formod to protect: And should tho J< .In ruts now adopted, pr^va inoffsetualin stopping u .> tho ?kugress of these attacks on oar peace and ^ t iuppiues.;, we would invoke tho aid of tho other ( . j.. A-.ivj ho'uifag States, that thoro may bo aeon- , " y et ri of?action in taking such steps -aa the ecca- " "si-j:i \aty demand. ; '-nv, - < a , ? THOS. G. POLK,* . Chairman sf the. Committee of 26. Rr volte J, That wo arc ready and willing to S make a common cause of this subject with - the p I - rest .of our sister slave holding States, and here. by invite their co-operation in passing such laws t. >nT*r;'gnJ it?oris as may bo necessary to suppross n * '.o circulation of any such publico- tl turns within '-nyof s. id slavuholding States. e ^ . ti- Vr- ThuLu'thojgh the constitution sehe exclusive jurisdiction over .. !-?d by tho States to tho federal -.ii, y i we should deprecate any action P part of t'ou^ress, towards liberating the n of the district, without consent of their q LVtv ~sr as a broach of faith towards those States g 4 oy Vno-ji tho territory was coded: and will regard. - -ich th interforencs as tho first step towards le- v action with retard to our own property, t Revolved, That hi3 Excellency tho Governor I +$ of this State bo requested to transmit a copy of \ these resolutions to each of our Senators and Rc- c presontatires in Congress, and to tho Executive of each of tho Slates of tliis Union. c Mr. Polk, also from tho samo committee, at i the request of the minority of the said commit, tee, submitted the following resolutions, which g were also laid upou tho tabic and ordcrod to bo printed. *' . - !. 1. Resolved, That North Carolina alono has c tho right to legislate over the Slaves in her terri- I > - tory, and any attempt to change their condition, t xvliethormaao by Congress, the Legislatures, or ( tho pooplo of other States, will bo regarded as *. an invasion of oar just rights. a ?Tim ?r.-v rmwlv .inrl u*i Timer to ?s. nci?iK?i ? ??j ^ inhkcij ea tliis s ibj??ct, a, common cause with the. i : of oar sister slavcholding States, and hereby j in cite tli jr eo-ep;r:ition in passing such laws and j , u .Lisas ;s way be necessary to suppress and , pro* nt the circulation o? any incendiary publi- ' c uo.is .within any of the slavchelding States* I 3. Resolved, That the thanks of tiro State are ] due, and Jtlie kindest feelings of the citizons 'j thereof are cherished towards their brethren of the North, who have magnanimously sustained the principles of ouj, Federal .Government, and 1 yccoguizcu and maintained our rights against the * fanatics of those States. i Resolved, That our sister nen*elaveholding States aac respectfully requested to enact pc - iial laws prohibitingthe printing within their re- < spcctivc limits, all such publications as have a j tendency to make our slaves discontented with their present condition, or incite, them to insur- ' reclion. 1 a. Re-solved, That although by tho Constitu. ] tion* all legislative power oyer the District of < - Columbia is yestod in tho Congress of the United ; totes, yet we would deprecate any legislative ac- j lion en tho part of that body towards liberating 1 the slaves of that District, as a breach of faitn ! - . towards thoso States, by whom the territory was originally ceded, and will regard such mterfc- , renco as ihe first step towards a general omanci- ( pation of tho slaves of tho South. " ?'1*1. ?Ua rin-*mnp Kn ?ind Via i? ' XJ. AUW* W4V VW?V* UV? W) tbUM MV ?v hereby requested te forward a eopy of this pro. ' amble and resolutions to each of our Senators 1 and Representatives in Congress, and to the Ex. i eculive of each of the States of the Union, with . a request that-the same bo submitted to their re. , npective legislatures. Frederick J. Hill. Jesse Wilson, x , A. Little, ( T. 0 Polk, .. . j John B. Muse, / R. M.G.Moore, ' Thomas L. Clingman, ] Daniel S. Saunders, j "** . John B. Beasley. I 'Dec. 10. Nr. Hill submitted a resolu- 1 , tion in favor of increasing the capital of the I * State Bank 8*200,000, to enable the Trustees of the University and Literary Fund J to subscribe. Read the -first time and laid < 011 the table. ' _ 1 Dec. 11. was principally consumed in J debating tire resolutions relating to the pub. t jic lands. 1 * Dec. 12. The Judiciary committee re- t ported against the bill to give exclusive ju- 1 * r-s iiciioiHo the superior courts in ca- e ^es. \ i Dec. 14. The bid . to suppress ductiinj c /..S3ed its second reading after sundry a- s * * - I'vidments. 0 ' *ec. 14. The bill more eficetualiy to u suppress tbe vice of gambling in this State, was read the second time, amended, on the U several motions of Messrs. Wvche, Bryan, o Welbprn,and MarsteHer, passed and ordered G to be engrossed. b The land., rgggjnti ons were then taken up. tl * and the debate on ibem continued tjJ^Jije -n S Miate adjourned. 7 I !V?L 15. The same subject was again at - a 4p. when a motion which had been H i m. *' - ' * \ iade by Mr. Litrle, to strike out all ailor t te Word resolved and insert resolutions c milar to those adopted by the House of c ommons, was lost by a vote of 27 tc 35. c Mr. Little i introduced an amendment, i blaring that Congress has the Constitu- i anal right to distribute the proceeds of the i ublic lands among the States; which was i egutived 34 to 27. " J Dec. 15. The Land resolutions were gain taken up and the 1st resolution which eclares against the right of Congress to i ive the public lands to the States in which .1 icy are situated, and the first part of the < ?cond resolution, declaring that the whole j jvenue ought never to exceed the amount 1 f expenditures necessary to an economical i dministration of the General Government, rere unanimously adopted. The second 1 art, which declares that the .proceeds of ] je lands ought to be cast into the Treasury I ith other revenues, and that Congress ought * * i ) reduce the revenue to a sum, wiucn, wnen dded to the land sales, will not exceed the rants of the Government; but until that an be done without disturbing the tariff ] ompromise, that any surplus which may , imain after defraying the expenditures of < le Genera! Government, ought to be dis- | ibutcd by Congress among die States, was i assed by a vote of 36 to ?7. [We regard 1 lis as tantamount to surrendering all the I laims of the States to the Public Domain.] The third Resolution, which declares that 1 'ohgress cannot distribute the land or pro. ] ceds thereof in any manner so as to .give ] reference to the new States, without viola. < ng the rights ofj and injuring all the States, I assed by a vote of two to one. The fourth 1 ^solution, which deprecates the giving to ] ational questions, in Jrespcct to our public tnds, a party character* passed by a vote j fS6 to 27. The last resolution, requesting j le Governor to transmit them to otir memcrs of Congress, passed 35 to 25 ; and the ] ^solutions were ordered to be engrossed. 1 "T 1..?:?? - , uixt if* i ik; ivsuiuipj:? vu mv ouw < ict of incendiary publications, were taken < p for consideration. rMr. Polk moved to mend the same, by striking out all after the < 'ord Resolved, and inserting a substitute; lit before the question was taken the Sen- I te adjourned. - 1 Doc. 18. The engrossed bill to regulate ic practice of hawking and peddling in this i tate, the engrossed bill making an appronation of $75,000 for Carrying on and i ompleting the capitol of the State; and va- i ous other bills of less importance, passed j leir last reading, and were ordered to be 1 nrolled. ~ i The Senate resumed the consideration of , ic resolutions on tiie subject of incendiary ublications:?th? question still pending on Ir. Polk's amendment. A division of the 5* ? i ii?1 M', W;L uesuon naving uanuuiui tw uj uu< ?. on, the motion to strike out all except the rord resolved, was decided in the affirm aive, 44 to 17. The question then recurring on inserting he substitute, a division of the question was ailed for by Mr. Wilson, the motion to strike >Ut a*! except the word resolved, woo decided n the affirmative, 44 to 17. The question then recurring on inserting he substitute, a division of the question was afiodior by Mr. Wilson, and the first branch >f the resolutions was adopted by a unanimous yote; and the second by a vote of 45 o 16. Tin question on the third branch jf the resolutions has bcei\ decided unanimously in the affirmative, 55 to 7. Mr; Fox moved to amend the amend* i?ent in the 5th branch, so as to convey the dea, as we understood it, that Congress has :l?e riglit to emancipate the skives in the District of Columbia, with the consent of the owners; which was not agreed to?on!y eleven voting in its favor afid 51 against it , . . . Ayes?Messrs. Bdwards,. Exum, Fox, Gambit], Hussey, Kerr, Pattersoiij Rabun, Stalcy, Stephens, W augh. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Dep. 8. Mr. Graham from the Judiciary committee reported unfavorably on the. bill to authorize Lawyers from other States to practice in the courts of N. Carolina, on the ground that the power of allowing such persons to practice is vested in the Judges of the Supreme Court. Dec. 8. The bill to incorporate the Raleigh and Gaston. Rail Road was read the 3econd time. Mr. Jacocks moved an amendment the object of which was to allow any future company to connect another road with this it any point. v His aim he said has to give the planter ivho might use this road to transport his produce the option, when it arrived at Gasion or Wilkins' ferry, of going on with it to Petersburg or diverting it to Norfolk if he ^his motion was opposed by Messrs. Grraham, Foreman, Hawkins, King, Williamson, Clingman and Manly,on tbe ground that it would be giving others who borC no part of the expense of constructing the road, the right of using it, and therefore :hc road would never be constructed; for 30 one would invest his capital in it on such :erms. The motion was advocated by Messrs. Facocks, Dudley, Collins and MThcrson, )n the grounchhat it would give the planter i choice of markets, and prevent the Pc- , crsburg merchants from_taking the advanage of him. To this, it was answered hat the planter had no right to such advanage at the cost of the private individuals vho might be stockholders in the Raleigh md Gaston Rail Road company; and that f they or the Norfolk merchants wished my advantage of this kind, they might con- ^ ;truct a road of their own parallel with the itbcr, or buy of the company tbe right to ise theirs. The motion was lost. A motion was then made by Mr- Gary i ) limit the duration of the charter to a term I f 60 years. This was opposed by Mr. I rraham, because the stock would not, like i ank stock, be capable of division among 1 ic owners; and it would be unjust to de- ; rive them of it bv dissol>:og toe company, i 'hem igtion was lost, and the bill passed its 11 jcond leading. Peg. 0. Th? bill to regulate the prac- 1: icc of .peddling was amended so as to re. |uire booksellers not resident, before podiling in books, to procure licence from the Jounty court, and subject their stock to ex. imination. The object of the amendment s to guard against the danger of circulatng incendiary publications. The bill pasted its last reading and was sent to the Sen. itc. Dec. 10. A petition from citizens of Virginia was' presented asking the incorpo ation of a company to construct a rail road 'rom Evensham by Danville to some point :>n the Roanoke, which was referred to: a oint select committee. . A bill was also introduced to incorporate the Milton and Salisbury Rail Road Company. Dec. 12. The bill to incorporate the Raleigh and Gaston Rail Road Company, passed its third reading and was sent to the Senate. The bill to reward the taking up a runaway slave in the non-slaveholding States, was rejected. The engrossed bill amendatory of an arj passed in 1822, for the relief of Insolvent Debtors, was read the third time and ordered to be enrolled. It is therefore a law.? [Provides that where a Jury is empannelled lo try an allegetion of fraud against an individual applying to take the oath, either party may take an appeal from the rcrdict.] . Mr.* Waddcl, from the committee to whom the petition from Virginia nad been referred, reported a bill to incorporate the. Danville, Roanoke and Junction Rail Road Company, and to re-enact tiie act of 1833, to incorporate the Roanoke and Yadkin Rail Road Company, with amendments. Passed the first reading and printed. The bill to incorporate the Raleigh and Fayetteville Rail Road Company passed its JCVWJRI IMlUlUgt Dec. 15. A bill was reported to divide i Rowan County, and postponed indefinitely.! Dec. 10. Mr. Graham, from the Judi-! :iary Committee, reported against the'expediency of amending the revenue laws of the, State, so far as regards Store Tax?concurred in. ;r Mr. King, from the select Committee on the subject, reported a bill to regulate the times of holding the Superior Courts in the 1th and 6th Judicial circuits, which passed its first reading. Dec. 17. - Mr, Ilybart, from the select Committee on the subject reported the bill to incorporate the Planter's and Mechanic's Bank of Fayetteviile, with an amendment. The bill was read, and on motion of Mr. u.'oo nnctnnnprl inrlpfinPh'. V*VVI KJtIliUI) TV WO * Abstract of the Proceedings of the Twenty-Fourth Congress. First Session. I 1 11 . 1 i ir. A? SENATE?DEC. 10. A mes3aga was received from the Presi. dent relating to the dispute between Ohio and Michigan, 'with accompanying documents. Ordered to be printed. Mr. Benton presented papers purporting to be credentials of John Norveiland Lucius Lyon, senators elected by The Otutc oT Micliigan, for six years from the 4th of Marph last, and moved that out of courtesy, seats be assigned them on the floor of the Senate. The motion was laid on the tabic. " On -Monday, the 14th, the Senate did nothing but pass the usual resolutions in consequence of the death of Mr. Kane, and Mr. Wildman of the House of Rcpresentatives. Dec. 15. Walter, Lowric was unanimously re-elccted Secretary, having received every vote given. A motion to ballot for a committee on the subject of the Michigan claims was made, and DostDoned till dav after tomorrow. Mr. Benton called up his motion of courtesy to the Michigan Senators, which was again ]oid on the table at the instance of Mr. Clayton. On the 16th and 17th December the Senate, by ballot, chose the following standing committees, the first named member ofeach being Chairman: Foreign Relations?Messrs. Clay, King of Georgia, Tollmadge, Mongum, Porter. Finance?Messrs. Webster, Cuthbert, Wright, Mangum, and Tyler. ^Conansrce-Mcssrs, Davis, Goldsborough, Tomlinson, McKean, and Linn. . v ? Manufactures?Messrs^ Knight, Ruggles, Morris, Prentiss, and Hendricks. On Agriculture?-Messrs* Brown, Kent, King of Alabama, Morris, Wriglit. r On, Military Affairs?Messrs. Benton, Wall, Preston, Goldsborough, Tipton. On the Militia?Messrs. Robinson, Hendricks, McKean, Swift, and Wall; On Naval Affairs?Messrs. Southard, Tailmadge, Black, Bobbins, and Cuthbert. On the Public Lands?Messrs. Ewing, - ~ . nr rr Moore, rrentiss, onttenucn, ana iucivcan. . - Of jPriiiwiw LandClaim&~Mggsrs* Black, Linn, Rugglcs,Porter, amlRing ofGa. !fK On Indian Affairs?Messrs. White, Tipton, Goldsborough, Swift, and Brown. On Claims?Messrs. Naudain, Tipton, Shepiy, Swift, and Brown. On the Judiciary?Messrs. Clay ton, Buchanan, Leigh, Preston, and Crittenden. / . On the rost Office and Post Roads?Messrs. Grundy, Robinson, Ewing, Knight, and Davis. ' On Roads and Canals?Messrs. Hendricks, McKean, Robinson, Kent, Bobbins. On Pensions?Messrs. Tomlinson, Talimadge, Linn, Prentiss, McKean. On the District of Columbia?Messrs. Tyler, Kent, Naudain, Southard, King of Alabama. Cn Revolutionary Claims?Messrs. Moore, White, Hubbard, Leigh, Shepley. On the Contingent expenses of the Senale?Messrs. McKean, Tomlinson, Brown. On Engrossed Rills-?Messrs. Shepley, HiD, Morris. Dec. 21, A message was received from the President of the United States, submitting to the consideration of Congress a t>equest made in London for an Institution in this country, which, on motion of Mr. Webster, was laid the table. Mr. Webster offered the following resoution, and moved its consideration at this ime, which was agreed to: ' . . . Resolved,. That the Committee on finance *> instrbcted to inquire what rnqfcsures j should be adopted by Congress in consequence of the destruction of merchandize and other property by the late fire in New York. Adopted. Mr.Ewing, pursuant to notice, rose to ask leave to introduce a bill to define and settle the northern boundary line of the State of Ohio. . _ ' Leave being granted, Mr. Ewing introduced the bill, which was read and ordered to a second reading. Mr. Calhoun moved that so much of the President's Message as refers to the transmission of incendiary publications by, mail be referred to a Special Committee. On this motion some debate took place, in which the affirmative of the proposition was sustained by Mr. Preston, Mr. Mangum, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Goldsborough, Mr. Leigh, Mr. Ewing, and Mr. Davis, and the nega tive by Mr. King of Alabama, Mr. Grundy, Mf. Buchanan, and Mr. Brown. The motion of Mr. Calhoun was carried in the affirmative?ayes 23. ; On motion of Mr. Calhoun, the committee was ordered to consist of five Senators. The Senate Droceeded to ballot for the committee,when the following Senators were elected: Mr. Calhoun, Mr. King of Ga., Mr. Mangum, Mr. Davis, and Mr. Linn. -J-Ca motion of Mr. Black, the bill introduced by him to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to invest the 2 per cent fund, die. was read a second time and referred. Dec. 22. Mr. Morris introduced a joint resolution to fix the northern boundary of the State of Ohio, which was read and ordered to a second reading. Mr. Benton moved to take up the motion offered by him some days since relative to the admission of the Senators from Michigan on the floor. The resolution, after being so amended as to extend only to the Hon. John Nowell, (one ofjthe persons named in the original resolutions) the courtesy of sitting M on the floor" as a spectator of the proceedings of the Senate, was adopted. - Lucius Lyon, the other person commissioned by Michigan, is entitled to. the privilege of going into the Senate as a delegate trom-tnat territory. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Dec. 10. On motion of Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, it was ordered that the Colonization Society hare the use of the Hall on Tuesday evening the 15th inst. A message was received from the President," transmitting papers relative to the boundaryJine of Ohio and Michigan. Mr. Mason, of Virginia, moved te refer them to the standing committee on Territories ; and the House adjourned without taking the question. Dec. 14. In consequence of the death of Mr. Wfldman and Mr. Kane of the Senate. no business was done. But the fol lowing committees were announced by the I Speaker. On Elections?Messrs. Claiborne, Griffin, Hawkins, Hard, Barns, Kilgore, Buchanan, Maary and Boyd. Of Ways and Meant?Messrs. Cambreleng, McKim, LoyalKCorwin, Johnson of Tennessee, Ingersoll and Owens. Of Claims?Messrs. Whittlesey, Forester, Banks, Bynum, Grsnnell, Davis, Taliaferro, P. C. Fuller, and Chambers, of Kentucky. On Commerce?Messrs. Sutherland, Pinckney, ' Pearce, of Rhode Island, Gillet, Phillips, John, son, of Louisiana, Ingham, of Connecticut, Cushman, and McKeen. On ike Public Lands?Messrs. Boon, Slade? r Williams, of N. Carolina, Lincoln, Ca??y, Ken. non, Dunlap, Chapman, and Harrison, of Mis. ouri. On the Post Office and Post Roads?Messrs. Connor, Brings, Laporte, Hall, of Vermont, r Mann, of New York, Cleavoland, French, i Shields and Hopkins. -( rw.,W. R. i'W t/IC X/MII Rt UJ vmuinvm Shepard, I leister, Vanderpool, Bouldra, Washingtou, Lane, Rogers, Fairfield and Townes. . On the Judiciary?Messrs. Beardsly, Thomas, Hardin, Pierce, of N. H., Robertson, Peyton, Toucy, Jones, of Va.and Martin. On Revolutionary Claims?Messrs. Mohlen* , berg, Crane, Standefcr, TurriU, Kinnard, Bean, mont, Craig, Chimin, and Underwood. On Public Expenditures?Messrs. Page, Clarke, of Pennsylvania, McLane, Masen, of Maine, Dcbcrry, Leonard, Haloy, White and Weeks. -' ' ' ' ^*3 On Private Land Claims?Messrs. Carr, Galbraith, Patterson, Chambers, of Pennsylvania, May, Garland, of Vrirginia, Hammond, Hants, man and Lawfor. On Manufactures?Messrs. J. Q. Adams, Den. ny, Dickerson, McComas, Webster, Gideon Lee, Judsoo, Holsen and Granger. * On Agriculture?Messrs. Bockee, Bean, Roane, Shinn, Deberry, Bailey, Logan, Phelps and Effner. * On Indian Affairs?Messrs. Bell, McCarty, Everett, Graham, Ashley, HaynesrLyon, Hawes and Chancey. On Military Affairs?Messrs. Johnson, of Kentucky. Speight Ward, Thompson, of Ohio, Coffae, Burch, McKay, Anthony and Dromgoolo. / On the Militia?Messrs. Glasscock. Henderson, Wm K. Fuller, Wagoner, Calhoun, of Massachusetts, Joshua Loe, of New York, Car. ter^Coleg, and Wilttams, of Kentucky. ' Naval Affairs*?Messrs. Jarvts, Milligan, Lansing, Reed,* Grayson, Parker, Wise, Ashe, and Grantland. " On Foreign Relations?Messrs. Mason, of Va. Howard, dampbeD, Cramer, Hamer, Allen, of n?l- ! ?!,??? r.rCU^r. AfniUCCJi ( HTKB) vusuuig uuu vuboovu v. ? gia. - ' '* On the Territories?-Messrs. Pat ton, Potts, Brown, Fowler, Pickens, Sprague, Pearce, of Maryland, Borden and Montgomery. On Revolutionary Pension*?Messrs. Ward, well, Lea, of Tennessee, Lay, Janes, Storcr, Morgan, Klingensmith, Bond and Fry. On Invalid Pensions?Messrs. Miller, of Pennsylvania, Beale, Evans, of Maine, Schenk, Tay. lor, of New York, Harbison, of Pennsylvania, DouMeday, Hoar and Howell. On Roads and Canals?Messrs. Mercer, Vinton, Reneher, Lucas, Reynolds, of Illinois, H&nnegan, * St9cle, Jackson, of Massachusetts, and CaThoon, of Kentucky. On Revival and Unfinished Business?Messrs. Huntingdon, Mann, of Pennsylvania, Mason, of Ohio, Harlan end Farlan. On Accounts?Messrs. Lea, of N. J. Darling, ton, Hall; of Maine, Johnson, of Virginia, and Turner.' On Expenditures in the Department of Stats? Messrs. A. H. Shcpperd, Calhoun, of Massachu. setts, Hunt, of New York, Morris and Sickles. Om Expenditures in the Treasury Departmrnt ?Messrs. Allen, of Vermont, Harper, Spangles, Russell and Barton* On Expenditures in the Department of War? Messrs. Jones, of Ohio. Boovee, Johnson, of Va. i Dove and Hubley. On Expenditures in the Navy Department? Messrs. Hall, of Maine, Sloaiie, Seymour, Pet. tigrew and Mason, of New York. 1 On Expenditures in the Post Office Department j ?.Messrs. llawcs, Burnes, Clrilds, Bailv, of Maine, and Reynolds, of New York. On Expenditures on the Public Buildings? Morar?. Darlington, Hazeltine, Pearco, of R. I. Galbraith, and Bo ale. Dec. 15. Nothing was done but the election of sergeant at arms and door keepers. Dec. 16. Mr. Fairfield presented a petition praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr. Slade moved to have it printed. Decided in the negative, Nays, 168; Yeas, 50. The Speaker presented the petition ol David Hewland, of North Carolina, contesting the election of James Graham. Refered to the committee on elections. The Speaker presented a letter from Eh", jali E. Crary, transmitting his credentials, as a Representative from the State of Michigan; A motion was made to admit him to a seat on the floor, and to print his com. munication. But the House adjourned without deciding it. . Dec. 17. The House in committee ol the wliole, referred the different parts of th* r residents message to uie appropriate vuw? mittees. , -r Mr. Webster submitted the following: Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to report the number, extent and direction, of the several rail roads already built or commenced, and-the most important of tfyose which,arp projprted; or contemplated inthe several states; and that they inquire into the expediency of aiding in any of those undertakings on the par of the Government of the U. S., either bj making payment in advance, on contracts for carrying the mails on such road, or oth erwiso; and on the condition of transporting <he property or troops of the U. S. by sue! roads, free of expense to the U. S,, whethe m peace or war. Resolved, That 90 much of tlie Presi. dent's message as respects the question whether the U. S. cannot, without transcen ding their constitutional powers, secure t< the Post Office Department the use of the several rail roads in the U. States, by ai act of Congress, which shall provide withii itself some equitable mode of adjusting the amount of compensation, be referred to th< Committee on the Judiciary, with instruc tions to make a special report thereon.: Dec. 18. Mr. Jackson, of Massachu setts, presented a petition for the abolitioi of slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr Hammond, of South Carolina* moved noi to receive it. After some debate, ii wai moved to lay Mr. Hammond's motion 01 the table. This motion was afterward withdrawn, and Mr. Beardsly, of N. York moved tiiat the petirion be considered which was decided in the affirmative with out opposition. Mr. Beardsley then move< to lay the petition on the table, and Mr Thomas of Maryland moved a reconsider ation of the vote to consider the petition On this motion a debate ensued which lasi ed tili the House adjourned. No one seen) ed disposed to favor the petitioiror countc nance the petitioners. The difference ap pearcd rather to be as to what was the bes way tediscountenance them. During the debate, MrTPfcrce,~iorNTTl -spoke as foUows: He was unwilling that any imputatio; should rest, upon the North in conscquenc of the misguided and fanatical resentmer of a few-?comparatively very few?whc however honest might have b6cn their pui poses, he believed had done incatculabl mischief, and .whose movements he knci received ho mote sanction among the gres mass of the people, o the North than the did at the South. For one, he, (Mr. P.) while he'would b the last to infringe upon any of the sacra reserved rights of the people, was prepare to stamp with disapprobation," in the moj express and unqualified terms, the whol movement upon this subject. > Mr. P, said he would not resume his sea without tendering to the gentleman fror Virginia, (Mr. Mason.) just and generou as he always was, his acknowledgement fnr thfi nnmisKion franklv made in the onen ing of his remarks, fcfc had said that,.da ring the period that-he had occupied a sea in this House (as Mr. P. understood him. he had never known six men seriously dis pesee to interfere with the rights of th< slaueholders. at the-South. Gentlemej might be assured there was no such dispo sition as a general sentiment prevailing a moog the Jx?ople?at least he felt confiden in asserting, that among the people of tb State which he had the honor in part to re I present, there was not one in a hundred wh< did not entertain the most sacred -regart for the rights of their Southern brethrennay, not one in five hundred who would no have those rights protected at any and cv ry hazard. There was not the sligbtos disposition to interfere with any rights se gether, and which he humbly hoped eve; would bind together, this great and gloriou." confederacy as one family. Before the House adjourned it was incidentally mentioned that a petition of the Irinr) It*/) tKft# r?mr tv?p>n inndvftrtenth OVMIIV |Ui?Wi intu www. . . ? - J referrep to the Committee on the District ol Columbia. Mr. Patton immediately movec to reconsider, the vote for reference. Dec. 21. After several bills from the Committec of Claims for the relief of individuals had been reported, Mr. Cambreleng from the Committee of Ways and Means, presented a communication from the Secre. tary of the Treasury, enclosing a letter from Samuel Swartwout, collector of the customs at New York, stating that owing to the destruction caused by the fire in that city, all business was suspended, and the bonds of the importing merchants could not be paid.; but still that he was.obliged, under the law, to hand them over to the District Attorney, as usual, and expressing a hope that Congress would at once " take seme action on. the subject of this heavy calamity." The letter of the Collector also stated that although the merchants' exchange in which the post office had been kept was destroyed by the fire, the effects of that office were paved, and hie had caused temporary accommodations to be erect2d in toe Inspector's rooms for that effice. jffr. Cnrrjbrefhig^ along with ih??n ' pcrs, made lrom the committoc the dollc ingreport: ( } Deeply sympathising with the immediate and several sufferers by'a great national . calamity, the Committee of Ways Vnd Means lost no time in considering the communication of the Secretory of the Treasury. The disaster is of an unparalleled character, and its consequences must be felt by every interest and every quarter of ? the Union. An exercise of all the constitutional powers of tho Federal Government is in this instance demanded, not only by the highest consideration? of national policy and justice, but prompt .measures are essentially necessary to the collection of jthe ' revenue in every part of the Union to the public interest in every branch of the na1 tional expenditure, and to arrest, or at least | to diminise, the calamitous effects of the late conflagration on all interests, and in every section of the country. 1 In considering what measures were best - - - . i.? _ .? _ ' calculated to moderate tne snocjc upon uiu : trade, revenue, and industry of the country, I three propositions were suggested, viz: the extension of the credit on bonds due irom i those who have suffered i>y the late fire,' three, four, or five years?placing the vast [ surplus revenue of the country where thiey _ < may be more actively and usefully employ L ed, in nnr in ortrnrfifTgj-eij'ef to the I embarrassed and impoYensneddebtors of Government, and remitting the duty on all t merchandize destroyed in original pockar ges. Tbo committee submit a bill embrai cingthe two first propositions. The first provision is in accordance with the practice ? of Government heretofore?the second, i while it will most extensively relieve the r immediate wants of trade, and aid in reviving the energies of the commercial capital . of the Union, cannot diminish in any man, ner the security of GoVerOmem,.or embar. rasa the operations of the Treasury,' The > question of remitting duties on property de? strovedf was also considered by the com i mittee, but appearing to require previous i examination and more deliberation, and not j j wishing to'delny the proposed measures of relief, it was not finally acted on. This report was accompanied by a bill, the first section of-which provides that tho Collector of New York may cause to be J extended (with the assen\ of the securities) the time of payment of all bonds hereto\ fore given forduties in. New Ydrk, and Hot 3 due before the 17th of this month, for a j time not exceeding an average of thr^e* four 3 an dfive years. - : The second section authorizes the Secretary, of the Treesury to transfer to such [ banks as he mop select the surplus moneys of j the Gocernment, and permit the same tore, main in such banks for twelve months. I * ' The bill was read twice, and committed ( to the committee of the whole on the state ? of the Union. u The House took up the petition on the subjc ct of abolition in the District of Cou lu.-ibia. Mr. Owens, of Georgia, moved the following resolutions: ; \ , < Resolved, That in the opinion of this ^ ilou^ri^^LL^ooofthe abolition-of slavery in the District of Columbia, ought not to Se entertained by Cougress. */' And be it further resolved, That in case e any petitions praying the abolition of slave. ry in the District of Columbia be hereafter prdsented, it is the deliberate opinion of tbi> * House that they ought to be laid on the ta. c ble without reading. * - Mr. Wise proposed to amend the first resolution by adding, " because Congress y has no power to legislate on it under tho < Constitution of the United Statesand to c. amend the second by striking out all after j the word "Resolved," and inserting,44 that H .* W T *11 .. 1 * vjl ^ inis House win not receive any iuiure uk> ^ morials on that subject," 0 A motion to lay the petition and papers connected with it on the table prevailed by lt a vote of 140 to 76. n Dec. 23. The motion to reconsider die I s motion to refer a petition for abolition, &c. ? was taken up. Mr. Slade spoke more than two hours \ * against the motion and m favor of the ini* mediate abolition of the slave trade, and the ) gradual abolition of slavery in the District * of Columbia. Mr. Garland replied. 2 The previous question was moved, and 1 carried?ayes 104, nays 19. The question " of reconsideration was then decided in the * affirmative, 174 to 61. A motion was then made to lay the peti3 tion on the table, whickprevailed, ayes 144, * nays 67* The House resumed the consideration of * the motion to reconsider the vote by,which 1 " the memorial presented by Mr. Briggsprayt ing the abolition of slavery in the District of " Columbia, was referred to the Committee 1 on the District of Columbia. * Mr. Granger and Mr. Robertson opposed | tfornnttfon to recOflSlderT xmrt ftWgMh ' "g"*- \ r soil, Manir, Johnson, Wise, ana Bearosly 3 advocated it. The debate was qot ended when the House agreed to adjourn* In the ' course of the debate Mr. IngersoU gave no5 tice of an intention, when it should be in orr j~. ti>A aM ~ i...: J ucx, IU uuci uic luiiunu^ icouiunuu . i j Resolved, That the holding of'slaves is * a right, dearly recognized by the constitution of the United States, and is thereby sc. ' cured to the citizens of those States whoso ' policy does not forbid it, as the legitimate ? subject of individual property and source > of political influence and power, and all at' tempts to interfere with or molest them, in { its exercise or enjoyment, are impolitic, un; constitutional, and unjust. Mr. .Cambreleug,by leave of the Hous e, offered an amended for the relief of the ! sufferers by the Fire in NewXork, stating that "the Committee, after consultation, had determind upon some alterations, Which they thought would render it more acceptable to the Hou$e. ... The only amendment however, affecting the sense which we find in the bill, is an ad. dition to the section which authorizes die President to transfer the. Revenue to such Banks as he may select. The addition is in the following words: M " Provided that this section .shall not inter. 9 fere with any further regulation of Congress 1 concerning the coHeetion, distribution, <>: J dishs ??nrr en? $? tbenublic mob^y?. I