work. We have the law of 1819, which fixes the price those who do the work shall receive, and that law was passed by a Congress as competent to un derstand the subject, and who had the good of the country as much at heart as this. But suppose, in carrying out the intentions of this resolution, the CLERK Confines his efforts to the city of Washington. In that case, what is to prevent a combination from being formed among the printers here to raise the prices higher than those allowed by the law of 1819? The resolution, as amended, did not provide for the manner in which the work should be done. It only provided that the CLERK should get the work done on the cheapest terms, without regard to time and without regard to the This was another reason quality of the work.

operating with him for moving the reconsideration. No man, Mr. D. said, should go ahead of him in any measure of economy, where economy was practicable; but he did not conceive it to be so in this case. Another objection to the adoption of the resolution arose from the fact that they must soon go into the election of Printer. The interests of the country demanded it, and their duty demanded that these interests shou'd no longer be neglected. Why, then, should we at this time introduce into this resolution, which can only be a femporary measure, provisions which, so far from performing its objects, are only calculated to defeat them? He was not (Mr. D. saii) favorable to previous questions. He had assigned, so very briefly, his reasons for moving the reconsideration, as not to render a reply necessary, and he would, therefore, for the second time in his life, move the previous question.

Mr. PETRIKIN moved to lay the whole subject on the table.

The SPEAKER was of opinion that that motion was not in order; but that the gentleman could move to lay the motion for reconsideration on the table, and that motion would, if it prevailed, carry the whole subject with it.

Mr. PETRIKIN then moved to lay the motion for reconsideration on the table.

Mr. LEWIS WILLIAMS called for the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were-yeas 106, nays 111.

So the House refused to lay it on the table.

The question then recurring on the motion to reconsider it was decided in the negative-yeas 108, nays 100.

The question recurred on the adoption of the resolution as amended; on which

Mr. EVERETT demanded the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were-yeas 115, nays 97, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Alford, John W. Allen, Simeon H Anderson, Andrews, Baker, Barnard, Bell, Bond, Botts, Boyd, Briggs, Brockway, Anson Brown, Sampson H. Butler, Calhoun, William B. Campbell, Carter, Casey, Chittenden, Clark, Connor, J. Cooper, M. A. Cooper, Corwin, Crabb, Cranston, Curtis, Cushing, Edward Davies, John W. Davis, Garret Davis, Dawson, Deberry, Dillett, Edwards, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, Fisher, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gates, Gentry, Giddings, Goggin, Goode, Graham, Granger, Graves, Green, Griffin, Grinnell, Habersham, Hall, Wm. S. Hastings, Hawes, Heury, Hill of Virginia, Hoffman, Hook, Hopkins, Hunt, James, Jenifer, C. Johnston, William Cost Johnson, Kempshall, Lawrence, Lincoln, McCarty, Marvin, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Calvary Morris, Naylor, Nisbet, Ogle, Os borne, Palen, Peck, Pickens, Pope, Proffit, Randall, Randolph, Rariden, Ridgway, Reed, Russell, Saltonstall, Sergeant, Shepard, Sunonton, Slade, Truman Smith, Stanly, Storrs, Stuart, Talia. ferro, Waddy Thompson, Tillinghast, Toland, Triplett, Trumbull, Underwood, Peter J. Wagner, Warren, John White, Lewis Williams, Joseph L. Williams, Christopher II. Wil liams, and Sherrod Williams-115.

NAYS-Messrs. J. Allen, H. J. Anderson, Atherton, Banks, Beatty, Beirne, Black, Blackwell, Brewster, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, William O. Butler, Bynum, Carr, Carrol, Chapman, Clifford, Coles, Craig, Crary. Dana, Davee, John Davis, Doan, Doig, Dromgoole, Duncan, Earl, Eastman, Ely, Fine, Fletcher, Floyd, Formance, Gerry, Hammond. Hand, J. Hastings, Hawkins, Holleman, Howard, Hubbard, Jackson, Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Nathaniel Jones, Keim, Kemble, Leadbetter, Leet, Leonard, Lowell, Lucas, McClellan, McCul loh, McKay, Marchand, Medill, Miller, Montanya, Samuel W. Morris, Newhard, Parmenter, Parris, Paynter, Petrikin, Prentisa, Ramsey, Reynolds, Rives, Robinson, Edward Rogers, James Rogers, Samuels, Shaw, Albert Smith, John Smith, Thomas Smith, Starkweather, Steenrod, Strong, Sweeny, Taylor, Francis Thomas, Philip F. Thomas, Jacob Thompson, Tiney, Vanderpoel, David D. Wagener, Watterson, Weller, Wick, Jared W. Williams, Henry Williams, and Worthington -97,

So the resolution was adopted.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, then proceeded in his remarks on the proposition to amend the rules. He made a strong constitutional argument

against the movements of the Abolitionis's, a synopsis of which there is not room in this day's paper, but the speech will be given hereafter at length. Mr. J. before concluding, yielded the floor to Mr. PeTRIKIN, on whose motion, The House adjourned.

IN SENATE,

TUESDAY, January 28, 1840.

The CHAIR presented a message from the President of the United States, communicating a supplement to the annual report of the Chief Engineer; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Also, a communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting a report from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the persons employed by that bureau, with their compensation, during the last year; which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

Also, a memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa, that settlers on the sixteenth sections be allowed a pre-emption right to the same, and that other lands be set apart as school lands; and

A memorial from the same body, praying that settlers on the mineral lands may be allowed the right of pre-emption; and

A memorial from the same body, praying that the commissioners of Lee county be authorized to enter a quantity of school lands in the Sac and Fox reservation; which were severally referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Also, a memorial of the same body, praying that Congress provide for that Territory three six-pounder cannon and other munitions of war; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. MERRICK presented a memorial of Jacob Greaves for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Also, a memorial of the Howard Institution of the city of Washington, praying for assistance; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Also, the memorial of the president and directors of the Bank of the Metropolis, in the city of Washington, praying for a renewal of their charter; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. STURGEON presented the memorial of the administrator of George Simpson, deceased; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. CALHOUN presented the petition of Mathew Irvine Keith; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. CLAYTON presented a petition of ci izens of the State of Delaware, praying for the construction of a steam revenue cutter fer Delaware bay; which was referred to the Committee on Com

merce.

Mr. PRESTON presented the memorial of the heirs of Dr. Thomas Cooper, praying the repayment of a fine exacted under the Alien and Sedition laws; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. WRIGHT presented the petition of a number of inhabi'an's of Westchester county, New York, for a reduction of the rates of postage; which was referred to the Cominit:ee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. TALLMADGE presented the memorial of the executors of Henry Eckford; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. RUGGLES presented the memorial of Samuel E. Smith and others, of Wiscasset, praying for a reduction of postage; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Reads.

Mr. YOUNG presented the memorial of Joseph Smith, ir. Sidney Rigdon, and Elias Higbee, in behalf of "The Latter Day Saints," commonly called Mormons, praying for a redress of grievances, inflict d on them by the people of the State of Missouri.

Mr. Y. moved that it be printed, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

After some remarks from Mr. LINN,

Mr. NORVELL moved to lay the whole subject on the table,

Mr. YOUNG called for the reading of the memorial, and it was accordingly read.

After some further remarks from Messrs. BENTON, PRESTON, and CLAY, of Ken'ucky, the motion to lay on the table was agreed to, with the understanding that it would be called up at an early day.

Mr. STRANGE presented the petition of Susannah R. Pickett; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, the petition of William Hawkins; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. HUBBARD, from the Committee on Claims, reported

A bill for the relief of Joseph M. Hernandez; and

A bill for the relief of George W. Paschall; which were severally read and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. SEVIER, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported a bill for the relief of John C. Reynolds, late disbursing agent of the Indian Department; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. MERRICK, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, to which was referred

A bill concerning the estates of idiots or lunatics and infants in the District of Columbia; and

A bill giving the assent of Congress to the acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, incorporating the Falmouth and Alexandria Railroad Company, and for other purposes;

Reported the same without amendment.

Mr. M. also, from the same committee, reported a bill authorising the granting of letters testamentary, and of administration to aliens in the District of Columbia; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. WALKER, from the Committee on Public Lands, reported an act for the relief of William Osteen; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

The resolution submitted by Mr. MERRICK, to admit the District Attorney and the Reporter of the Supreme Court on the floor of the Senate, was taken up and disagreed to.

Mr. PRESTON submitted the following resolution :

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate the cause of the removal of General Call from the government of the Territory of Florida, and the correspondence connected therewith; and also the correspondence between the Department of War and Governor Call, concerning the war in Florida. The bill for the relief of certain persons therein named; and

The bill for the relief of Samuel R. Slaymaker, were severally read a third time, and passed.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

The bill to establish a Board of Commissioners to hear and examine claims against the United States, was taken up as in Committee of the Who'e.

Mr. SEVIER offered an amendment excluding private land claims from the jurisdiction of the bill; which was not agreed to-ayes 10, nocs 31.

Mr. PRENTISS offered an amendment excluding such cases as were within the jurisdiction of the judicial tribunals and the officers of the General Government; which was agreed to.

Mr. WALKER moved a new section, making the action of the board, when adverse to the claimants final, but not so when against the United States, and that nothing in the bill should compel claimants to present their claims before this board; which was disagreed to-ayes 12, noes 31.

After some further unimportant amendments, which, with those preceding, were debated by Messrs. HUBBARD, SEVIER, TAPPAN, WALKER, CLAY, of Alabama, PRENTISS, GRUNDY, and HENDERSON, the bill was ordered to be engrossed-ayes 25, nces 16, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Clayton, Crittenden, Cuthbert, Davis, Dixon, Grundy, Hubbard, King, Knight, Lion, Merrick, Nicholas, Pierce, Prentiss, Pres on, Roane, Robinson, Smith, of Connecticut, South

ard, Spence, Sturgeon, Walker, Wall, Williams, and Young-25.

NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Betts, Brown, Calhoun, Clay, of Alabama, Clay, of Kentucky, Fulton, Henderson, Lumpkin, Mouton, Norvell, Ruggles, Sevier, Strange, and Tappan-16. The Senate then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

TUESDAY, January 28, 1840.

The first business in order was the proposition of Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina to amend the rules, by the addition of the following:

Resolved, That, upon the presentation of any memorial or petition praying for the abolition of slavery or the slave trade in any District, Territory, or State of the Union, and upon the presentation of any resolution, or other paper touching that subject, the reception of such memorial, petition, resolution, or paper, shall be considered as objected to, and the question of its reception shall be laid on the table, without debate or further action thereon.

And the proposition of Mr. ADAMS, as a substitute for the above, in the following word:

Resolved, That the following be added to the standing rules of this House, to be numbered the 21st:

"Every petition presented by the Speaker, or by any member, with a brief verbal statement of its contents, shall be received, unless objection be made to its reception for special reason; and whenever objection shall be made to the reception of a petition, the name of the member objecting, and the reason of the objection, shall be entered upon the journal. The question in every such case shall be, shall the petition be rejected? and no petition shall be rejected but by a majority of the members present "

Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, who spoke a pari of the day on Saturday and yesterday, on the above propositions, renewed his remarks. He argued the impropriety and unconstitutionality of the people of the North attempting to deprive the people of the South of their slave properly, which was valued at twelve hundred millions of dollars. This was the capital, the most available, in fact, upon which the South done all its business; and he considered that it would be equally constitutional and proper for this section of country to make movements in that Hall and elsewhere, to deprive the North of all her manufacturing and other capital, the great sources of its wealth, as for the North to conspire, for the purpose of depriving the South of her slave property. It would be equally a violation of the Constitution, and justice, and right, in one case as in the other.

Mr. J. argued that it had been a blessing to the colored race to keep them in slavery, and drew a comparison of their condition in Africa and this country. In the former, they were little more intelligent than the ourang outang species; but now they had become a civilized and Christianized people, and would, under the dispensations of Providence, contribute to the spread of Christianity throughout the benighted regions of their native country. He then referred to the efforts of the State which be in part represented, to colonize the African race; and thought the movements of the Abolitionists had a tendency to retard these humane efforts. He then referred to the opinions of the people of his own district, and particulary to the Society of Friends, who, he said, were as religious and as humane as the people of any other district, and were opposed to all the movements of the Abolitionists. He commented on the course of some gentlemen from the North, who, whilst they were contending for the constitutional right of petition, blinked their eyes at other provisions of the Constitution, which also secured the rights of the people of the South in this species of property inviolate-and which provisions of the Constitution these petitioners ask them to violate, and thereby violate their oaths. He thought the Representatives of the North had better tell their women petitioners to attend to knitting their own hose and darning their stockings, rather than come there and unsex themselves, be laid on the table, and sent to a committee to be reported on.

He

considered the question of Abolition was but one degree in the rear of amalgamation. He intimated that the people of Maryland, when the proper time came, would defend their property to the last extremity, and that they would not submit to have it severed from them except by the sword. Mr. J. dwelt at some length upon the relative demerits of the propositions before the House, to all of which he was opposed, because they presented no direct issue upon which to vote; to attain which purpose he would offer, before taking his seat, another proposition, and called upon those opposed to the Abolitionists to vote for it, and kill the hydra, Abolition, in an instant, in such manner that it could not germinate its species again; and referred to a precedent on record in the journals, involving the same principle, that had met the support of Messrs. ADAMS, GRANGER, and others, whose support he expected to have on his proposition.

Mr. J. said, so far as this question had been connected with the subject of the next Presidency, he regretted it. He thought it was too important and vital a question to the interests of the country, to be made, in any degree, a party question. He believed, though he was not formerly in favor of Harrison, that the nomination of the Harrisburg convention would meet the unanimous support of the Whig party, and that they would rally, and rout the Administration candidate, "horse, foot, and dragoons." Mr. Clay, he said, was his first choice, and General Scott his second; but he would now, with pride and pleasure, support General Harrison for the Presidency.

Mr. J. after having eulogized Gen. Harrison at some length, gave some reasons why he thought the South should not oppose him.

Mr. J. on concluding, offered the following amendment to the amendment of Mr. ADAMS, striking out all after the word "resolved,” and inserting it as a substitute:

"That no pet tion, memorial, resolution, or other paper praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, or any State or Territory, or the slave trade between the States or Territories of the United States in which it now exists, shall be received by this House, or entertained in any way whatever."

Mr. VANDERPOEL rose, and several gentlemen rising nearly at the same time and claiming the floor, the CHAIR awarded it to Mr. V. when

Mr. GIDDINGS rose to a point of order. He understood that when a gen leman addressed the CHAIR, ho must rise in his place. Now the gentleman from New York did not rise in his place.

The CHAIR said that, according to the usual practice of the House, the gentleman was entitled to the floor, though he rcse from a seat that was not his own. This practice had never before been objected to.

Mr. BELL said there was a stronger point of order than that. The question before the House had not been propounded by the Chair when the gentleman arose.

The CHAIR then stated the question before the House to be on the amendment of the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. JOHNSON] to the amendment of the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. ADAMS] Mr. VANDERPOEL then immediately rose and claimed the floor.

After some remarks from Mr. W. THOMPSON, Mr. GIDDINGS took an appeal, but subsequently withdrew it, it having been suggested to him by several of his friends, that it was consistent with the usual practice of the House for a gentleman to rise and address the Chair out of his seat.

Mr. DAVIS, of Kentucky, rose to a point of order. The question he said had not been propounded by the Chair, when the member from New York obtained the floor.

The CHAIR said it was true, that when the gentleman first arose, the question had not been propounded; but that the CHAIR did, after that, state the question to the House, when the member from New York, first rising obtained the floor.

Mr. VANDERPOEL said he would put it to the consciences of gentlemen, whether it was not high time that this interminable and unprofitable debate

should close. We had been here nearly eight weeks, and had, as yet, done nothing but to elect a Speaker, and appropriate between three and five hundred thousand dollars to pay ourselves. [Mr. ADAMS here rose and made a point of order. His point of order was, whether, as Mr. V. had avowed his intention to move the previous question, he coull be permitted to make a speech ] Mr. V. said he would relieve the gentleman from Massachusetts. He had only said that he would "probably” move the previous question, but bad not positively committed himself upon that point. It was his right to speak, and he should do so, if he felt that the occasion required it. Had he not spoken before-were not his speeches scattered through the pages of the debates of this House-he would, if any gentleman could be, justifiable in protracting the debate; for he had been named, goaded, pointed at; yes, every possible effort had been made to provoke him into this debate, and still he had forborne, from the consideration that what he had thought and said on this subject, and what he would again say, if called upon, was on record, so that all who wished to know could know what were his sentiments upon this agitating question. It was "not his talent to conceal his thoughts," and his bold and early expression of them here and at home, had, at a very early period, brought him into marked disfavor with the Abolition's's. He had never wooed them; he had never won them, as many Northern politicians had done. To show the estimation in which they held him, he need only say, that though he had always had Abolitionists in his district, they had never sent to him one of th ir petit.ons; had never entrusted him with the presentation of them here. It had fallen to the lot of other gentlemen, his colleagues, who were in greater favor with them, to present their petitions. He well recollected that his "Whig" colleague [Mr. GRANGER] who some days since eulogised the Abolitionists, by telling us that so many of them had poured out their blood at Lundy's Lane and Chippewa, had here, some three or four years ag`, presented an Abolition petition from his (Mr. V's.) district. He (Mr. V.) had always been well understood by them. He had always believed, and always so expressed himself, that all their movements were mischievous, incendiary, insult ing to our Southern bre hren, and against the letter and spirit of the solemn compact into which we had entered with them. He had here always voted to receive their petitions; but the moment they were presented, he had voted, and would again vote, for the strongest possible measure to the to reject their prayer, nail them table, mingle them with the rubbish of your garret, and in the strongest mode mark our disapprobation of their object. He would not vote for the proposition that the petitions should not be received, because he believed that it would be creating a new issue, if we adopted such a proposition-an issue which would have the effect of re-enforcing the Abolitionists. He had always risen, he trusted he wou'd ever rise, above the misërable attempts that had here been made to connect this great and vital question with the pitiful, ephemeral party conflicts of the day. He had also risen, and would ever rise above the idea of opposing the mad schemes of Northern Abo i tionists from the narrow consideration of sustaining "Southern interests and Southern institutions.” He had taken this stand against them, for higher and holier purposes. It was to maintain the interests of the Union, to fulfil our part of the compact, which formed this confederacy of States. No, it was not as a Northern man, or as a Southern man, that he had so long, here and at home, struggled to defeat the mad efforts of Northern Abolitionists. It was as an American citizen, determined, at all hazards, to discharge a great and paramount duty. As I once before remarked on this floor, I tell you, my Southern brethren, the great mass of the North will fulfil the compact to the letter and spirit. We recognised your property in slaves when we entered into solemn covenant

and union with you. We solemnly agreed that
they should form part of the basis of representa-

tion on this floor; AND UNTIL WE BECOME WRETCHES, AND WHOLLY INSENSIBLE TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF COVENANT AND DUTY, WE WILL FAITHFULLY FULFIL THE COMPACT. Mr. V. said he would now move the previous question.

Mr. RHETT asked permission to say a few words on the subject; but this was denied him.

Mr. RICE GARLAND then moved a call of the House, which was not carried.

The question was then taken on seconding the previous question, and it was carried.

The preliminary question "Shall the main question be now put?" was taken by yeas and nays, and decided in the affirmative-yeas 147, nays 61, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Alford, Judson Allen, John W. Allen, Hugh J. Anderson, Simeon H. Anderson, Andrews, Atherton, Banks, Beatty, Beirne, Black, Blackwell, Bond, Botts, Boyd, Brewster, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, Samp son H. Butler, William O. Butler, Bynum, W.B.Campbell, Carr, Carroll, Casey, Chapman, Clifford, Coles, Connor, Mark A. Cooper, Crabb, Craig, Cranston, Crary, Cross, Curtis, Cushing, Dan, Davee, John Davis, John W. Davis, Dawson, Deberry, Dennis, Doan, Doig, Dromgoole, Duncan, Earl, Eastman, Ely, Fine, Fisher, Fletcher, Floyd, Fornance, Rice Garland, Gentry, Gerry, Goggin, Goode, Graham, Green, Griffin, Habersham, Hammond, Hand, John Hastings, Hawkins, Henry, Hill of Virginia, Holleman, Holmes, Hook, Hopkins, Howard, Hubbard, Jackson, Joseph Johnson, Nathaniel Jones, John W. Jones, Keim, Kemble, Leadbetter, Leet, Leonard, Lewis, Lowell, Lucas, McCarty, McClellan, McCul loh, McKay, Mallory, Marchand, Marvin, Medill, Mitchell, Montanya, Montgomery, Samuel W. Morris, Calvary Morris, Newhard, Nisbet Parish, Parmenter, Parris, Paynter, Petrikin, Pickens, Prentiss, Profit, Ramsey, Randolph, Rariden, Rey. nolds, Rives, Edward Rogers, James Rogers, Samuels, Shaw, Simonton, John Smith, Truman Smith, Thomas Smith, Starkweather, Steenrod, Strong, Stuart, Sumter, Sweeny, Taylor, Francis Thomas, Philip F. Thomas, Jacob Thompson, Turney, Vanderpoel, David D. Wagener, Warren, Watterson, Weller, Wick, Jared W. Williams, Henry Williams, Sherrod Williams, and Worthington-147.

NAYS Messrs. Adams, Barnard, Bell, Biddle, Briggs, Brockway, Calhoun, Chittenden, Clark, James Cooper, Davies, Garret Davis, Dillett, Edwards, Evans, Fillmore, Gates, Granger, Grinnell, Hall, William S. Hastings, Hoffman, Hunt, James, Jenifer, Charles Johnston, Wm. Cost Johnson, Kempshall, Lawrence, Lincoln, Monroe, Morgan, Naylor, Ogle, Palen, Peck, Pope, Rayner, Reed, Rhett, Ridgway, Russell, Saltonstall, Sergeant, Slade, Stanly, Storrs, Taliaferro, Waddy Thompson, Tillinghast, Toland, Triplett, Trumbull, Underwood, Peter J. Wagner, John White, Thomas W. Williams, Lewis Williams, Joseph L. Williams, Christopher H. Williams, and Wise-61.

Mr. THOMPSON rose to modify his resolution so as to include the amendment of Mr. JonNSON; but this proposition was ruled to be out of order.

The question was then taken on the amendment of Mr. JOHNSON, and it was carried-yeas 115, Lays 105.

The question then coming up on the amendment of Mr. ADAMS as amended,

Mr. SMITH, of Maine, moved the previous question.

Mr. ADAMS moved a postponement of the qustion "till the House was constituted;" that is— till the State of New Jersey is represented.

The CHAIR said this motion was not in order. The question was then taken on the resolution as amended, and decided in the affirmative-yeas 114, nays 108, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Alford, Andrews, Atherton, Banks, Beirne, Black, Blackwell, Botts, Boyd, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, Sampson II. Butler, William O. Butler, Bynum, John Campbell, William B. Campbell, Carroll, Chapinan, Coles, Colquitt, Conner, Mark A. Cooper, Crabb, Craig, Crockett, Cross, John Davis, John W. Davis, Garret Davis, Dawson, Deberry, Dennis, Dillett, Dromgoole, Earl, Eastman, Fine, Fornance, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gerry, Goggin, Graham, Graves, Green, Griffin, Habersham, Haw. kins, Hill of Virginia, Hill of N. C. Holleman, Holmes, Hopkins, Hubbard, Jameson, Jenifer, Joseph Johnson, William Cost Johnson, Nathaniel Jones, John W. Jones, Kemble, Leadbetter, Lewis, Lucas, McCarty, McClellan, McCulloh, McKay, Medill, Miller, Montanya, Montgomery, Nisbet, Parish, Parris, Petrikin, Pickens, Pope, Prentiss, Proffit, Ramsey, Rayner, Reynolds, Rhett, Rives, James Rogers, Samuels, Shaw, Albert Smith, Stanly, Steenrod, Strong, Sumter, Sweeny, Taliaferro, Taylor, Francis Thomas, Philip F. Thomas, Waddy Thomp son, Jacob Thompson, Triplett, Turney, Warren, Watterson, Weller, John White, Lewis Williams, Joseph L. Williams, Christopher H. Williams, Sherrod Williams, Wise, and Worthington-114.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Judson Allen, John W. Allen, Hugh J. Anderson, Simeon H. Anderson, Baker, Barnard, Beatty, Bell, Biddle, Bond, Brewster, Briggs, Brockway, Anson Brown, Calhoun, Carr, Casey, Chittenden, Clark, Clifford, James Cooper, Cranston, Crary, Curtis, Cushing, Dana, Davee, Edward Davies, Doan, Doig, Duncan, Edwards, Ely, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, Fletcher, Floyd, Gates, Gen try, Giddings, Goode, Granger, Grinnell, Hall, Hand, William S. Hastings, J. Hastings, Henry, Holman, Hook, Howard, Hunt, Jackson, James, C. Johnston, Keim, Kempshall, Lawrence, Leet, Leonard, Lincoln, Lowell, Mallory, Marchand, Marvin, Mason, Mitchell, Monroe, Morgan, Samuel W. Morris, Calvary Morris, Naylor, Newhard, Ogle, Oshorn, Palen, Parmenter, Paynter, Peck, Randall, Randolph, Rariden, Reed, Ridgway, Edward Rogers, Russell, Saltonstall, Sergeant, Simonton, Slade, John Smith, Truman Smith, Starkweather, Storrs,

Stuart, Tillinghast, Toland, Trumbull, Underwood, Vander poel, David D. Wagener, Peter J. Wagner, Wick, Thomas W. Williams, and Henry Williams-108.

So the resolution, as amended, was adopted. Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana, moved a reconsideration of the vote taken yesterday, authorizing the Clerk to have the printing of the House executed on the cheapest terms, &c. It was evident to the House, he said, after mature reflection, that it would be impossible for the Clerk to comply with the terms of the resolution, and conform strictly to his duty. He was anxious that it should be more particularly defined in its expressions, because the Clerk is not limited either as to time, place, or extent. His object in moving a reconsideration was to make it more definite. He agreed most cordially with the substance of that resolution-that is, thet the printing of the House shall be done at the lowest expense to the Government. He should always go for retrenchment and reform; but he was unwil ling to yield to the Clerk the prerogative of the House to make its o vn contracts. Much as he admired the late manly and candid course taken by that officer he was unwilling to give to him the unlimited discretion, or to impose on him the responsibility contemplated by the resolution. If the House would permit him, he would read a resoluion which he proposed to offer if the reconsideration prevailed; and it would then be seen whether those gentlemen who were so anxious for economy, and for separating the printing of the House from the political press, were willing to carry out their professions. Mr. D. then read his amendment as follows:

Resolved, That this House will now proceed to the election of a Public Printer, who shall proceed to execute the printing of this House agreeably to the requirements and compensation of existing laws, until such laws are modified by the legislation of Congress; and in the mean time, a committee of seven members shall be appointed by the Chair, who shail, within twenty-one legislative days from the date of their appointment, report to this House what amendments, if any, are necessary to the more prompt, perfect, and economical execution of the printing of Congress; whether the same should be let out to contract, or whether it would be more expedient to execute the same by a Congressional Printing House, press and type belonging to Congress, and subject to its superintendence.

Mr. DAVIS then moved the previons question on the reconsideration, and the motion being seconded by the House,

Mr. RICE GARLAND called for the yeas and nays on the main question, which being ordered, the roll was called over, and it was found that there were-yeas 110, nays 106.

YEAS-Messrs. Judson Allen, Hugh J. Anderson, Atherton, Banks, Beatty, Beirne, Black, Blackwell, Boyd, Brewster, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, Sanipson H. Batler, William O. Butler, Bynum, Carr, Carroll, Chapman, Clifford, Coles, Conner, Mark A. Cooper, Craig, Crary, Cross, Dana, Davee, John Davis, John W. Davis, Doan, Doig, Dromgoole, Duncan, Earl, Eastman, Ely, Fise, Fisher, Fletcher, Floyd, Fornance, Gerry, Griffin, Hammond, Hand, John Hastings, Hawkins, John Hill, of N. C. Holleman, Howard, Hubbard, Jackson, Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Nathaniel Jones, Keim, 'Kemble, Leadbetter, Leet, Leonard, Lewis, Lowell, Lucas, McClellan, McCulloh, McKay, Mallory, Marchand, Medill, Miller, Montanya, Montgomery, Samuel W. Morris, Newhard, Parish, Parmenter, Pairis, Paynter, Petrikin, Prentiss, Ramsey, Reynolds, Rhett, Rives, Edward Rogers, J. Rogers, Samuels, Shaw, A. Smith, J. Smith, Thomas Smith, Starkweather, Steenrod, Strong, Sumter, Sweeny, Taylor, F. Thomas, P. F. Thomas, Jacob Thompson, Torney, Vanderpeel, David D. Wagener, Watterson, Weller, Wick, Jated W. Williams, Henry Williams, and Worthington-110.

B.

NAYS--Messrs. Adams, Alford, John W. Allen, Simeon II. Anderson, Andrews, Baker, Barnard, Bell, Biddle, Bond, Botts, Briggs, Brockway, Anson Brown, Calhoun, William Campbell Casey, Chittenden, Clark, James Cooper, Crabb, Cranston, Crockett, Curtis, Cushing, Davies, Garret Davis, Dawson, Deberry, Dillett, Edwards, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gates, Gestry, Giddings, Gog gin, Goode, Graham, Granger, Graves, Green, Grinnell, Habersham. Hall, William S. Hastings, Henry, John Hill, of Va. Hoflinan, Hook, Hopkins, Hunt, James, Jenifer, Charles Johnston, William Cost Johnson, Kempshall, Lawrence, Lincoln, McCarty, Marvin. Mason, Mitchell, Morgan, Calvary Morris, Naylor, Nisbet. Ogle, Osborne Palen, Peck, Pope, Proffit, Randall, Randolph Rariden, Rayner, Reed, Ridgway, Russell, Saltonstal', Sergeant, Simonton, Slade, Truinan Smith, Stanly, Storrs, Stuart, Taliaferro, Waddy Thompson, Tillinghast, Toland, Triplett, Trumbull, Underwood, Peter J. Wagner, Warren, John White, Thomas W. Williams, Lewis Williams, Joseph L. Williams, Christopher H. Williams, Sherrod Wil liams, and Henry A. Wise-106.

The question then recurring upon the adoption of the resolution,

Mr. GRAVES asked of the SPEAKER, if he was in possession of a communication from Messrs. Gales and Seaton, on the subject of the public printing.

The SPEAKER replying in the affirmative. Mr. GRAVES submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the whole subject of public printing, together with the communication lately received from Gales and Seaton on that subject, be referred to a select committee, to inquire into the best plan of executing the same, and to report by bill or otherwise; and that the printing which bas been, or may hereafter be ordered, be executed in all things, except prices, in the manner prescribed by the joint resolution of Congress relating to that matter, approved March 3, 1819; and the Clerk of this House, under the supervision and control of the Committee of Accounts, is hereby authorized to make a contract or contracts, with some suitable person or persons, to execute said work, upon the best terms it can be done in the District of Columbia, provided the prices shall not exceed those fixed by the aforesaid joint resolution of 1819.

Mr. DROMGOOLE asked if it was in order for the gentleman from Kentucky to move the reference of a paper not in the possession of the House.

The SPEAKER said it was not in order; when

Mr. GRAVES modified his amendment, by striking out all that part relating to the communication of Gales and Seaton.

Mr. JAMESON rose to a point of order. The gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. DAVIS,] he said, moved a reconsideration of the vote taken yesterday, which reconsideration was ordered by the House. But the gentleman, on making the mo tion, stated that his object was, if the reconsideration prevailed, to offer an amendment, the purport of which he stated to the House. The vote, therefore, for reconsideration, was given with the understanding that this proposition of the gentleman from Indiana was to be received and acted on, and it was not compe'ent for the CHAIR to entertain another and distinct proposition as had been offered by the gentleman from Kentucky.

The SPEAKER required the gentleman from Missouri to reduce his point of order to writing; but at this stage of the business,

Mr. JAMESON yielded the floor to a motion for adjournment, and

The House adjourned.

IN SENATE,

WEDNESDAY, January 29, 1840.

The CHAIR submitted a communication from the War Department, in answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 30th ult. in relation to the massacres and devastations committed by the Indians in the Territory of Florida; which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.

The CHAIR also submitted a message from the President of the United States, supplementary to a message received a few days since, in answer to a resolution of the Senate, on the subject of the Northeastern boundary. The message was read, and was as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:

I herewith transmit to the Senate, with reference to their resolutions of the 17th instant, copies of two official notes which have passed, subsequently to the date of my message of the 22d, between the Secretary of State and the British Minister at Washington, containing additional information in answer to the resolutions referred to.

M. VAN BUREN.
WASHINGTON, 29th January, 1840.
Mr. Fox to Mr. Forsyth.

WASHINGTON, January 26, 1840. The undersigned, her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, has the honor to acquaint Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States, that since the date of his last official note of the 12th instant, he has been furnished by her Majesty's authorities in North America with more correct information than he then possessed, respecting certain reported move

ments of British troops within the disputed territory, which formed the subjes of a part of that official note, as well as of the two official notes addressed by the Secretary of State to the undersigned on the 24th of December, and on the 16th of the present month. The same reported movements of troops were referred to in a recent message from the Governor of Maine to the Legislature of the State, and also in a published official letter addressed by the Governor of Maine to the President of the United States, on the 23d of December.

It appears from accurate information now in the possession of the undersigned, that the Governor of Maine, and, through him, the President, and General Government of the United States, have been misinformed as to the facts. In the first place, no reinforcement has been marched to the British post at the Lake Temiscouata, the only change occurring there has been the relief of a detachment of her Majesty's 24th regiment, by a detachment of equal force of the 11th regiment; this force of one company being now stationed at the Temiscouata post, as it always has been, for the necessary purpose of protecting the stores and accommodations provided for the use of her Majesty's troops, who may be required, as heretofore, to march by that route to and from the Provinces of Canada and New Brunswick. In the second place, it is not true that the British authorities either have built, or are building, barracks on both sides of the St. Johns river, or at the mouth of the Madawaska river; no new barracks have in fact been built any where. In the third place, her Majesty's authorities are not concentrating a military force at the Grand Falls. The same trifling force of sixteen men is now stationed at the post of the Grand Falls, which has been stationed there for the last twelvemonth. It was perhaps, however, needless for the undersigned to advert to this last matter at all, as the post of the Grand Falls is beyond the bounds of the disputed territory, and within the acknowledged limits of New Brunswick.

The undersigned, while conveying the above information, upon a matter of fact, to the Secretary of State of the United States, takes occasion to repeat distinctly his former declaration, that there exists no intention on the part of Her Majesty's authorities to infringe the terms of those provisional agreements which were entered into at the beginning of last year, so long as there is reason to trust that the same will be faithfully adhered to by the the opposite party. But it is the duty of the undersigned, at the same time, clearly to state, that her Majesty's authorities in North America, taking into view the attitude assumed by the State of Maine, with reference to the boundary question, will, as at present advised, be governed entirely by circumstances in adopting such measures of defence and protection, (whether along the confines of the disputed territory, or within that portion of it where it has been before explained, the authority of Great Britain according to the existing agreements, was not to be interfered with,) as may seem to them necessary for guarding against, or for promptly repelling, the further acts of hostile aggression over the whole of the disputed territory, which it appears to be the avowed design of the State of Maine sooner or later to attempt.

For the undersigned has to observe, that not only is the extensive system of encroachment, which was denounced and remonstrated against by the undersigned in his official note of the 2d of last November, still carried on and persisted in by armed bands, employed by the authorities of Maine in the districts above the Aroostook and Fish rivers; but that acts, as above stated, of a character yet more violent and obnoxious to the rights of Great Britain, and more dangerous to the preservation of the general peace, are with certainty meditated by the inhabitants of that State. The existence of such designs has for months past been a matter of notoriety by public report; those designs were plainly indicated in the recent message of the Governor of Maine to the Legislature of the State; and they are avowed in more explict terms in the letter addressed to the President of the United States by the Governor of Maine on the 21st of November, which letter has, within the last few

days, been communicated to Congress, and published.

The undersigned, it is true, has been assured by the Secretary of State, in his note of the 16th inst. that the General Government see no reason to doubt the disposition of the Governor of Maine to adhere to the existing arrangements, and to avoid all acts tending to render more difficult and distant the final adjustment of the boundary question. But in face of the above clear indications of the intentions of Maine, as given out by the parties themselves, the Secretary of State has not given to the undersigned any adequate assurance that Maine will be constrained to desist from carrying those intentions into effect, if, contrary to the expectation of the General Government, the Legislature or the Executive of the State should think fit to make the attempt.

The undersigned not only preserves the hope, but he entertains the firm belief, that if the duty of negotiating the boundary question be left in the hands of the two National Governments, to whom alone of right it belongs, the difficulty of conducting the negotiation to an amicable issue will not be found so great as has been by many persons apprehended. But the case will become wholly altered, if the people of the State of Maine, who, though interested in the result, are not charged with the negotiation, shall attempt to interrupt it by violence.

Her Majesty's authorities in North America have, on their part, no desire or intention to interfere with the course of the pending negotiation, by an exertion of military force; but they will, as at present advised, consult their own discretion in adopting the measures of defence that may be rendered necessary by the threats of a violent interruption to the negotiation which have been used by all parties in Maine, and which the undersigned regrets to find confirmed by the language (as above referred to) employed by the highest official autherity in that State.

The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the Secretary of State of the United States the assurance of his distinguished consideration.

Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Fox. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, 28 h Jan. 1840. The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to reply, by direction of the President, to the note addressed to him on the 26th instant, by Mr. Fox, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain.

The President derives great satisfaction from the information conveyed by Mr. Fox's note, that with reference to the reported movements of British troops within the territory in dispute, no actual change has taken place in the attitude of her Majesty's authorities in the territory since the arrangements entered into by the two Governments at the commencement of last year for the preservation of tranquillity within its limits; and from his assurances that there exists no intention on the part of her Majesty's authorities to infringe the terms of those arrangements, so long as they are faithfully observed on the side of the United States. The President, however, cannot repress a feeling of regret that the British colonial authorities, without graver motives than the possibility of a departure from the arrangements referred to by the State of Maine, should take upon themselves the discretion, and, along with it, the fearful responsibility of probable consequences, of being guided by circumstances, liable as these are to be misapprehended and misjudged, in the adoption within the disputed territory of measures of defence and precaution, in manifest violation of the understanding between the two countries, whenever they may imagine that acts of hostile aggression over the disputed territory are meditated or threatened on the part of the State of Maine. The President cannot but hope that, when her Majesty's Government at home shall be apprised of the position assumed in this regard by its coloniel agents, proper steps will taken to place the performance of express and so

lemn agreements upon a more secure basis than colonial discretion, to be exercised on apprehended disregard of such agreemen's on the part of the State of Maine.

It is gratifying to the President to perceive that Mr. Fox entertains the firm belief that the difficulty of conducting to an amicable issue the pending ne gotiation for the adjustment of the question of boundary is not so great as has, by many persons, been apprehended. As, under a corresponding conviction, the United States have, with a view to the final settlement of that exciting question, submitted a proposition for the consideration of her Majesty's Government, the President hopes that the senliments expressed by Mr. Fox have their foundation in an expectation of his having it in his power at an early day to communicate to this Government a result of the deliberations had by that of her Britannic Majesty upon the proposition alluded to, which will present the prospect of a prompt and satisfactory settlement, and which, when known by the State of Maine, will put an end to all grounds of apprehensions of intentions or disposition on her part to adopt any measures calculated to embarrass the negotiation, or to involve a departure from the provisional arrangements. In the existence of those arrangements, the United States behold an earnest of the mutual desire of the two Governments to divest a question, abounding in causes of deep and growing excitement, of as much as poss:ble of the asperity and hostile feeling it is calculated to engender; but unless attended with the most scrupulous observance of the spirit and letter of their provisions, it would prove but one more cause, added to the many already prevailing, of enmity and discord. Mr. Fox has already been made the channel of conveyance to his Government of the desire and determination of the President that the obligations of the country shall be faithfully discharged: that desire is prompted by a sense of expediency as well as of justice, and by an anxious wish to preserve the amicable relations now, so manifestly for the advantage of both, subsisting between the United States and Great Britain.

The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to renew to Mr. Fox assurances of his distinguished consideration.

(Signed)

JOHN FORSYTH. HENRY S. Fox, esq. &c. &c. &c.

Mr. WILLIAMS said that as an extra number of the document, to which this was a supplemen', had been printed, he would move that five thousand extra copies be printed; which was agreed to.

Mr. ROBINSON presented the petition of Seymour Treat, assignee of John Vanetien, a Canadian volunteer during the late war, praying to be allowed the pay and bounty land to which said Vanetten was entitled; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. ROANE presented the petition of William Ramsay, praying arrears of pay due him, and an allowance for certain expenses granted by the Department, and afterwards revoked; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. WRIGHT presented the petition of the widow of Jonas Snow, a soldier of the Revolution, praying to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. WALL presented the petition of a number of citizens of New Jersey, praying an appropri ation for placing buoys in the south channel of Little Egg Harbor; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. YOUNG, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, to which the subject was referred, reported a bill to authorize the "Iron Mountain Company" to enter on a credit a quantity of land to aid the company in the construction of a railroad from the Iron mountain, in the State of Missouri, to the Mississippi river, and for other purposes; which was read, and ordered to a second reading,

Mr. WALL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred a bill for the relief of the administrator of Joseph Edson, reported the same without amendment, aud with a recommendation that it do not pass.

Mr. W. also, from the same committee, to which was referred a bill for the more easy collec

tion of small bank notes within the District of Columbia, reported the same without amendment.

Mr. W. also, f.om the same committee, reported as a substitute for the last mentioned bill, a bill for the collection of bank notes of and under twenty dollars, issued by banks within the District of Columbia; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. STRANGE, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to which the subject was referred, reported a bill for the relief of Thomas L. Winthrop and others, directors of the association called the New England Mississippi Land Company; which was read and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. BENTON, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill for the relief of the corporate authorities of the city of Mobile; which was read and ordered to a second reading.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. WEBSTER, was taken up:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire whether the law respecting vessels propelled by steam, does not require revision and amendment.

Mr. W. explained his reasons for submitting the motion, and suggested several points for the consideration of the committee.

Mr. GRUNDY said he was much gratified that the Senator from Massachusetts had moved in this matter. He thought this was a subject that required the exercise of the whole power we possessed over it; and he, for one, was for exercising that power. He would suggest, however, to the honorable Senator, the propriety of reducing the several points touched upon in his remarks as proper for the consideration of the committee, to writing, so that we might have an answer to each separate proposition; and the committee could report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. WEBSTER said he would most cheerfully acquiesce in the Senator's suggestion; and the resolation was accordingly laid on the table until to

morrow.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

The bill to establish a board of commissioners to hear and examine claims against the United States was taken up on its third reading, read a third time, and passed.

THE CUMBERLAND ROAD. Mr. YOUNG said he was instructed by the Committee on Roads and Canals, to ask that the orders of the day might be postponed, for the purpose of taking up the bill for the continuation of the Cumberland road, in the States, of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, (appropriating $150,000 in each of these States for that purpose,) with the object of making it a special order; which, after some remarks from Messrs. YOUNG, SMITH, of Indiana, TAPPAN and GRUNDY, in favor, and Messrs. CLAY, of Alabama, and HUBBARD, in opposition, was agreed to-ayes 25, noes 12.

The bill was then, on motion of Mr. YOUNG, made the special order of the day for Wednesday, the 12th of February.

NAVY PENSIONS.

On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS, the bill to repeal certain acts respecting navy pensions, and making further provisions in relation to navy pensions was taken up.

Mr. WILLIAMS explained and advocated the provisions of the bill; when, on motion of Mr. SOUTHARD, it was postponed and made the order of the day for Monday next.

Mr. PRESTON submitted the following resolution; which, by unanimous consent, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy furnish the Senate with the names of all officers of the navy who were admitted to the roll of pensions between the 30th day of June, 1800, the day that the act of the 23d April, 1800, for the bet'er government of the navy, went into operation, and the first day of January, 1837, designating those who were admitted for disabilities, occasioned by wounds received in battle, from those who were disabled from other causes; also, designating the nature and degree of disability in each case, and the battle in which such officer was wounded, or the occasion, or accident by which he was other

wise disabled; also, the rank of the officers aforesaid at the time disabili'y occurred, and the nature of the service or particular station occupied by each individual at the time he may have been wounded, or otherwise injured in the line of his duty, together with the per month pension granted in each case.

The bill to transfer to the citizens of the parish of Concordia, in the State of Louisiana, the interest of the United States to a certain tract of land;

The till to authorise the issuing of a patent to the heirs or legal representatives of Francis Rivard, deceased;

The bill confirming certain land claims in Louisiana; and

The bill for the relief of Obed P. Lacey, were severally considered, as in Committee of the Whole, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The Senate then went into the consideration of Executive business,

And then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WEDNESDAY, January 29, 1840.

The question pending when the House adjourned on yesterday, was the point of order raised by Mr. JAMESON as to the right of Mr. GRAVES to offer the resolution below, the rules having been suspended for a specific purpose. The following is the resolution of Mr. GRAVES:

Resolved, That the whole subject of public printing, together with the communication lately received from Gales and Seaton on that subject, be referred to a select committe, to inquire into the best plan of executing the same, and to report by bill or otherwise; and that the printing which has been, or may hereafter be ordered, be executed in all things, except prices, in the manner prescribed by the joint resolution of Congress relating to that matter, approved March 3, 1819, and the Clerk of this House, under the supervision and control of the Committee of Accouuts, is hereby anthorized to make a contract or contracts, with some suitable person or persons, to execute said work, upon the best terms it can be done in the District of Columbia, provided the prices shall not exceed those fixed by the asoresaid joint resolution of 1819.

Mr. PARMENTER, by the permission of the gentleman entitled to the floor, asked leave to present to the House a petition from the Third Congressional district of Massachusetts, contesting the right of Mr. BAKER to hold a seat on this floor, and praying an investigation into the matter.

Objection being made to its reception,

Mr. PARMENTER said he would not, at that time, press a suspension of the rules to enable him to offer it.

Mr. CURTIS also made an attempt to present a petition, but it was also objected to.

Mr. JAMESON then reduced his point of order to writing, and was as follows:

"The gentleman from Indiana [Mr. DAVIS] moved the reconsideration of a vote given on yesterday upon a resolution requiring the C'erk to contract for the printing of the House upon the cheapest terms, for the purpose of introducing another proposition on that subject, which was read to the House; the motion to reconsider was carried; that being announced by the CHAIR, the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. DAVIS,] and the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. GRAVES,] rose at the same time, and addressed the SPEAKER. The SPEAKER announced the gentleman from Kentucky as being entitled to the floor, and entertained a proposition from that gentleman, different to the one read by the gentleman from Indiana; upon which statement of facts the following point of order is raised, to wit: That the gentleman from Indiana is entitled to the floor for the purpose of introducing the proposition, which he announced to the honorable House he would introduce, if the motion to reconsider was adopted."

Mr. JAMESON sa'd, in looking over the journal, he found that it had been the invariable practice of the House, when the rules had been suspended on the motion of a gentleman, for a specific object, the floor was always given by the Speaker

Common

to the gentleman who made the motion. courtesy, independent of justice and right, would entitle that gentleman to the floor. Should the opposite of the practice obtain, those who voted for a suspension of the rules for a specific proposition would be entrapped. He did not believe that that practice had ever been departed from, until yesterday; and if it should be carried out, it would, in his opinion, lead to very bad results; members would always be voting in the dark. The gentleman who made the proposition yesterday, [Mr. Davis of Indiana.] read to the House the proposition he intended to offer, and moved the reconsideration of a vote to enable him to submit it; but a combination had been formed to deprive that gentleman of the floor, after the vote had been reconsidered. Such combinations might be formed on every other question, and defeat the purpose of the suspension or reconsideration as it might be. On this occasion, the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. Davis,] the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. GRAVES,] and the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. WISE,] all rose at the same time, but the gentleman from Kentucky got immediately in front of the gentleman from Indiana, and the SPEAKER awarded the flocr to him, and his proposition being ruled out of order, Mr. WISE handed over his proposition to him. Thus it will be seen that adroit members, under the SPEAKER'S decision, will have the best chance; and that if sustained, the SPEAKER can give the floor to those whose propositions he favors, and thus direct the legislation of Congress. These gentlemen, he said, had been the most fortunate this session in catching the SPEAKER'S eye, and hence they have directed the legislation to a great exHe called upon the young members whose rights might be abridged by those who were possessed of so much adroitne s and tact in obtaining the floor to beware how they sustained this decision.

tent.

Mr. DUNCAN moved the previous question on the appeal, which was seconded, and the main question ordered.

Mr. R. GARLAND demanded the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and were-yeas 104, nays 92.

So the decision of the SPEAKER was sustained. Mr. GRAVES then addressed the House on his proposition, and in the course of his remarks he gave way to

Mr. GARLAND, of Louisiana, to offer the following amendment:

"And into the expediency of entirely separating the patronage from the newspaper or public press of the country."

Mr. PARMENTER, in answer to some of Mr. GRAVES'S remarks in reference to the price of the printing done for the Massachusetts Legislature, said that he had no doubt but the gentleman was correct as to the prices, but that it ought to be recollected that the amount of it was comparatively so small, that there were many large establishmin's in Boston who could perform it as incidental to their general business. Public print ng could be done much lower in Boston than here, as well for the reason he had mentioned as from the circumstance that the composition was principally per formed by females who worked for considerably less than what was paid here. He would add, that, in his experience in the Massachuset's Legisla ure, he had often known that body to be subject to much embarrassment and delay of business in consequence of their printing not being done in' time.

Mr. DAVIS said that before he proceeded, he desired to know whether it was in order for him to offer an amendment to the proposition of the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. GRAVES ]

The SPEAKER replied that it was nct. The que t'on was on the amendment submitted by the gentleman from Louisiana, [Mr. GARLAND.]

Mr. DAVIS desired to know whether it was competent for the gentleman from Kentucky, the gentleman from Lou siena, and the SPEAKER, to decide what proposition is before the House, without its knowledge and consent.

Mr. GARLAND, of Louisiana, called Mr. D. to order; when

Mr. DAVIS disclaimed any intention of impugn