son, of S. C. Miller, Coles, Kemble, Allen, Monroe, Sumer, and Geggin.

Militia-Messrs. Keim, Carter, Griffin, Wagner, P. F. Thomas, Goode, Rogers of S. C. Triplett, and R.dgway.

Elections-Messrs. Campbell of South Carolina, Rives, Fillmore, Medill, Crabb, Brown, of Te., Fisher, Smith of Connecticut, and Bouts.

Public Expenditures.-Messis. Briggs, Smith of Maine, Bond, Rariden, Duncan, Crockett, Hall, Watterson, and McCulloch.

Ways and Means.-Messrs. Jones of Virginia, Biddle, Atherton, Lawrence, Rhett, Vanderpoel, Evans, Conner, and Cooper of Geo.

Mr. KEMPSHALL, a member from the State of New York, appeared, qualified, and took his

seat.

Mr. WISE then rose, and said that, with a view of preventing the strife which had heretofore agitated this House and the country, he now took the earliest opportunity to move a suspension of the rules of the House for the purpose of submitting the following resolution:

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 upon the table, without further debate or further action thereon.

Mr. WISE said if there was any objection to this mot on he would call for the yeas and nays upon it.

Mr. FILLMORE said if it was necessary to make objection, he objected.

Mr. WISE then called for the yeas and nays, which were ordered.

Mr. BELL inquired if the resolution could be amended if the rules were suspended?

The CHAIR was of opinion that it could. Mr. ADAMS moved a call of the House, but the House refused to order the call.

The question was then taken on suspending the rules, and decided in the negative-yeas 109, nays 77, not being two-thirds, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Alford Judson Allen, Simeon II. Anderson, Andrews, Atherton, Banks, Bell, Boyd, Brewster, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, Sampson H. Butler, William O. Butler, Bynum. John Campbell, William B. Campbell, Carr, Carter, Cases, Chapinan. Clifford, Colcs, Colquitt, Crabb, Crary. Crockett, Dana, John Davis, John W. Davis, Garret Davis, Dawson, Dillett. Duncan, Earl, Eastman, Fisher, Formance, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gentry, Goggin, Graham, Gritia, Habersham, Hill of Virginia. Hill of North Carolina, Hillen, Hook, Hopkins, Howard, Hubbard, Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Cave Johnson, Keim, Kerable, King, Leet, Leonard, Lewis, Lucas, McClellan, McCulloch. McKay, Marchand, Medill, Miller, Montanya, Montgomery, Samuel W. Morris, Newhard, Nisbet, Paynter, Pickens, Pope, Prentiss, Ramsey, Rayner, Reynolds, Samuels, Shaw, Shepard, Albert Smith, Thomas Smith, Stanly, Stcenrod, Strong, Stuart, Sumter, Sweeny, Taliaferro, Taylor, Waddy Thompson, Jacob Thompson, Triplett, Turney, Underwood, David D. Wegener, Watren, Watterson, Weller, Edward D. White, John White, Wick, Jared W. Wil liams, Lewis Williams, Christopher H. Williams, and Sherrod Williams-103.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, John W. Allen, Hugh J. Andersen, Barnard, Beatty, Biddie, Briggs. Brockway, Anson Brown, Calhoun, Chinn, Chittenden, Clark, Corwin, Cranston, Curtis, Cushing, Davee, Edward Davies, Doan, Duig, Ely, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, Fletcher. Floyd, Galbraith, Gates, Giddings, Goode, Granger, Hall, W S. Hastings, J. Hastings, Henry, Hoffman, Hunt, Jackson, James, C. Johnston, Nathaniel Jones, Kempshall, Leadbetter, Lincoln, Lowell, Marvin, Mason, Morgan, Calvary Morris, Ogle, Osborne. Palen, Parish, Parmenter, Parris, Peck, Randall, Randolph, Rariden, Reed, Ridgway, Edward Rogers. Russell, Slade, John Smith, Truman Smith, Starkweather, Storrs, Swearingen, Tillinghast. Toland, Trum bull, Peter J. Wagner, Thomas W. Williams, Henry Wilhams, and Joseph L. Williams-77.

[Mr. BLACK of Georgia not being within the bar at the moment that his name was called, asked leave to record his vote; but it was objected to.] Mr. BELL inquired whether it would be in order to move to suspend the rules for the purpose of introducing the resolution of the gentleman from Virginia, with this amendment, that all these petitions be referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia, without debate. It seemed to him that this would be the most proper disposition to make of them.

Mr. WISE. The gentleman's amendment would be wholly inconsistent with my resolution.

Mr. BELL Then I will introduce a new resolution to this effect.

Mr. WISE said he would object to this. He would vote against this House taking any action whatever upon these petitions. As a Southern man, he would not admit that the House had any right to act upon these matters.

Mr. BELL should be very sorry to do any thing to interrupt the harmony of this body, and would not present the resolution, if the general sense of the House was against it; but if it would be acceptable to the members of the House generally, he would prepare such a resolution.

Mr. ADAMS inquired if he understood the gentleman from Tennessee as moving to suspend the rules for the purpose of offering the resolution alluded to, that all Abolition petitions should be referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia, without debate. He would suggest to the gentleman from Tennessee, that there was but one class of these petitions which could properly go to that committee, and those were petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. He had no sort of objection to those petitions taking that course. But there were petitions for the abolition of slavery in the Territories; for the abolition of the slave trade between the States, and against the admission of new States, whose constitutions tolerated slavery; and certainly these petitions should not be sent to the Committee for the District of Columbia. He had no sort of objection to having petitions in relation to slavery in the District sent to the Committee for the Dis rict, and he had no sort of doubt that that committee would make a report perfectly satisfactory at least to the Southern portion of the country.

Mr. PICKENS rose to inquire if this question was debatable.

Mr. ADAMS did not desire to debate the question at present, and was only making a suggestion to the gentleman from Tennessee, that petitions relating to slavery should go to different committees. For his own part he would be perfectly willing that the committees on this subject should be appointed by the SPEAKER, according to his own views en this subject; only that these petitions should be received by the House, treated with respect, and referred to appropriate committees, and those committees might be as strong on one side as any gentleman here might desire them to be.

Mr. BELL said it had always been his opinion that the best mode of di pusing of the.e petitions would be to refer them to a committee, and hence it was that he had proposed to introduce a resolution of the kind before alluded to; but as objec in had been raised to that resolution, he would now wait until the question was brought up by the presentation of petitions on this subject.

Mr. WISE inquired if it would be in order for him to move a suspension of the rules again, for the purpose of introducing his resolution.

The CHAIR replied that it would not be in order, the House having just refused to suspend.

Mr. WISE. Then I will give notice that, on the presentation of all Abolition petitions, I will object to their reception, and move to lay the question of reception on the table; and I will say to Northern gentlemen and Southern gentlemen, that I do not admit the power of this House to legislate upon that subject.

Mr. RICE GARLAND then moved a suspension of the rules, for the purpose of submitting the following resolutions; and on that question he called for the yeas and nays:

1. Resolved, That the freedom of speech, of the press, and of the people, peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, are rights secured to every citizen by the Constitution of the United States; but in the exercise of these rights and privileges, no citizen or body of people in one State of this Union, has the right so to use them, or any of them, as to deprive the citizens or people in another State of their rights and privileges, or of the property secured to them by the Constitution and laws.

2. Resolved, That the power given by the Constitution to Congress, to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of Government of the United

States, gives no right or authority to take the probate property of any citizen in such district for public use, without just compensation, and much less does it confer the power to take such property for no use at all, without the consent of the immediately interested, and without making any compensation for it.

3. Resolved, That the interference,,by the citizens of any of the States, with the view to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, is endangering the rights and security of the people of the District; and that any act or measure of Congress designed to abolish slavery in this District would be a violation of the faith implied in the cessions made by the States of Virginia and Maryland of said territory, a just cause of alarm to the people of the slaveholding States, and have a direct and inevitable tendency to distract and endanger this Union.

4. Resolved, That the House will not consider any proposition, petition, remonstrance, memorial, resolution, motion, or paper, asking or requiring, or in any manner relating to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, or the Territories; nor will this House consider any proposition, petition, remonstrance, memorial, resolution, motion, or paper, asking or requiring, or in any manner relating to, the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia, or among the several States of this Union.

Mr. ADAMS wished to know of the gentleman from Louisiana, before voting upon this motion to suspend, whether it was understood that these resolutions which he had submitted were to be debated, or whether the previous question was to be called upon them as soon as they were presented.

Mr. R. GARLAND said that these were no caucus resolutions, and but two gentlemen besides himself had read them, previous to their being pre. sented this morning, and it would be for the House to dispose of them in such manner as may meet its pleasure.

Mr. ADAMS could not trust the House against the previous question, and would therefore vote against a suspension of the rules; although he wou'd be happy to have these resolutions presented to the House, and fairly and fully debated. That, said he, is what the country wants.

The yeas and nays were the ordered.

Mr. GATES wou'd inquire whether this mot on to suspend the rules was in order. When the gentleman from Virginia asked to suspend the rules, it was not in erder, because the House had refused to suspend the rules, and this was precisely the same proposition, except that there was prefixed to it certain abstractions of no consequence.

The CHAIR considered the proposition somewhat different, and therefore decided the motion to suspend to be in order.

Mr. WISE asked if it would be in order for him to move to suspend the rules on to-morrow moraing, for the purpose of offering his resolution.

The CHAIR would decide that question when it would arise. He expres el the opinion, however, that such a motion would be in order.

Mr. ADAMS hoped that the gentleman from Virginia would not offer his resolution again tomorrow, as he should be satisfied with what had occurred to-day upon that subject. The gentleman cannot suppose that we will submit to another encroachment upon the rights of the people of this Union. We have heretofore had enough of that in the House refusing to act upon these petitions in any manner.

The CHAIR said the question was not debatable.

Mr. ADAMS said if the gentleman from Virgi nia was not permitted to debate it, he would not debate it; but as the gentleman from Virginia had been debating it, he took the liberty to do the same.

Mr. ALFORD wished to inquire of the gent'eman from Louisiana it it was his intention, by this resolution, that Abolition petitions should be received by the House. If that was the gentleman's intention, he must vote against it.

The question was then taken on suspending the rules, and decided in the negative-yeas 107, nays 82, as follows, there not being two-thirds in favor of a suspension:

YEAS-Messrs. Alford, Hugh J. Anderson, Simeon H. Anderson, Andrews, Atherton, Banks, Beatty, Beirne, Bell, Boyd, Brewster, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, Sampson II. Butler, William O. Butler, Bynum, John Campbell, Wm. B. Campbell, Carr, Carter, Casey, Chapman, Chinn, Colquitt, Crabb, Crary, Crockett, Cross, Dana, John Davis, John W. Davis, Garret Davis, Dawson, Dillett, Doig, Earl, Eastman, Fisher, Fornarce, Galbraith, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gentry, Goggin, Graham, Green, Griffiu, Hill of Virginia, Hill of North Carolina, Hillen, Hook, Hopkins, Howard, Hubbard, Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Cave Johnson, Keim, Kemble, King, Leet, Leonard, Lewis, Lucas, McClellan, McCulloch, McKay, Marchand, Medill, Miller, Montanya, Montgomery, Samuel W. Morris, Newhard, Pope, Ramsey, Rayner, Reynolds, Ridgway, James Rogers, Samuels, Shaw, Shepard, Thomas Smith, Stanly, Steenrod, Strong, Stuart, Sumter, Sweeny, Taliaferro, Taylor, Waddy Thompson, Jacob Thompson, Triplett, Turney, Underwood, David D. Wagener, Warten, Watterson, Edward D. White, John White, Jared W. Williams, Lewis Williams, Christopher H. Williams, and Sherrod Williams-107.

NAYS Messrs. Adams, John W. Allen, Barnard, Biddle, Black, Briggs, Brockway, Anson Brown, Calhoun, Chittenden, Clark, Clifford, Coles, Corwin, Cranston, Curtis, Cushing, Davee, Edward Davies, Doan, Duncan, Ely, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, Fletcher, Floyd, Gat s, Giddings, Goode, Granger, Habersham, Hall, Hand, William S Hastings, John Hastings, Henry, Hoffman, Hunt, Jackson, James, Charles Johnston, Nathaniel Jones, Kempshall, Leadbetter, Lincoln, Lowell, Marvin, Mason, Morgan, Calvary Morris, Nisbet, Ogle, Os. borne, Palen, Parish, Parmenter, Parris, Paynter, Peck, Pickens, Prentiss, Randall, Randolph, Rariden, Reed, Edward Rogers, Russell, Slade, Albert Smith, John Smith, Truman Smith, Stark weather, Storrs, Swearingen, Tillinghast, Toland, Trumbull, Peter J. Wagner, Weller, Thomas W. Williams, Henry Williams, and Joseph L. Williams-82.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON asked if the motion of the motion of the gentleman from South Carolina, [Mr. THOMPSON,] made on Friday last, to reconsider the vote on ordering the message to be printed, had been entered on the journal.

Mr. W. THOMPSON presumed that it had, and he was now entitled to the floor upon that motion. If it had not, he would now make the motion.

Mr. JAMESON then rose and made a point of order, in these words:

"He rose from his seat, [on Friday last,] addre sed the SPEAKER, was announce 1 by the SPEAKER as being entitled to the floor; and while in the possession of the same, sent a resolution to the Clerk's table. Before the resolution was read, and the question arising from it was stated from the CHAIR, and while he (the said JAMESON) was still in possession of the floor, the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. THOMPSON] rose from his seat and made a motion to reconsider the vote given in relation to the printing of the President's message.

"The points of order arising on the statement above are these:

"1. The SPEAKER should not entertain a motion to reconsider, before another motion, that had been previously made in writing, and sent to the Clerk's table, had been read, and s'ated by the SPEAKER, (rule 37;) for it might itself be a motion to reconsider, for any thing the SPEAKER might know, before it was read.

2. The motion to reconsider cannot take such precedence over other motions as to require a gentleman, who is in possession of the floor, to yield it-for that cannot be done even upon a motion to adjouro, wh ch is considered always in order, except when a member has the floor."

The CHAIR said he had announced the gentleman from Missouri, on Friday last, as entitled to the floor; and the motion of the gentleman from South Carolina to reconsider, was not entered on the journal. But as the gentleman from South Carolina had risen this morning, and made the mo. tion, it was the first bus ness now in order.

Mr. JAMESON contended, that as he was entitled to the floor on his resolution, the gentleman from South Carolina could not make the motion to reconsider.

The CHAIR decided that the gentleman from South Carolina was entitled to the floor then. The gentleman from Missouri, he said, would be entitled to the floor, when resolutions were in order. Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina addressed the House at considerable length, going into a review of the various topics, touched upon in the Message of the President of the United States. He cons dered that that document was written with unquestioned ability and dexterity, if he might use such a term without disrespect to the President; but he contended that the President was not true to many of the doctrines put forth in the message. With regard to the State Rights doctrines of the message, they were his doctrines in every

particular, but when he read them, he was reminded of the admirable doctrines contained in the message of President Jackson in 1836, and of his bad faith in issuing that odious document to the South, the proclamation, but nine days afterwards He feared Mr. Van Buren would be as unfaithful to these doctrines as Gen. Jackson was. He commented with some severity upon the part of the message in relation to the Florida war, and upon the proposition of the Secretary of War to bring that contest to a close. He pronounced the course of the Administration in relation to that war imbecile, and calculated to bring disgrace upon the military service of the United States, and declared that he would never vo'e appropriations for carrying on that struggle, unless the Government pursued a course better calculated to bring it to a termination than it had been. He next went into an examination of that part of the message in relation to the finances of the country, contending that the Government had been most extravagant in its expenditures, and declaring that Congress would be compelled to borrow ten millions of dollars in addition to the usual revenues of the year to carry on the operations of the Government for the coming year. With regard to the Sub-Treasury system, he contended that it could not be carried into operation, without operating most oppressively upon the people of the country. The effect of it would be, and the object of the President doubtless was, to establish a metallic currency, and to destroy the banks of the country; and this would produce such a depression in the prices of property, &c. as would never be submitted to by the people of this coun ry. Mr. THOMPSON having concluded,

Mr. DUNCAN moved the previous question on the motion made by that gentleman. Some of the documents, Mr. D. said, which the gentleman ani. madverted on, would answer him.

Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina said, that as his sole object was to promote discussion on the subject of the message, and as that object had been defeated by the call for the previous question, he would withdraw his motion.

Mr. UNDERWOOD presented various amend ments to the rules; which were read, referred to the Select Committee on the rules, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. SERGEANT submitted a resolution in relation to excess of postage paid by members of Congress; which was adopted.

The resolution laid on the table on Friday, for the printing of 10,000 copies of the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the Finances, was taken up and adopted.

Mr. ADAMS, in pursuance of notice given, asked and obtained leave, and introduced a bill to provide for the disposal and management of the fund bequeathed by James Smithson, deceased, to the United States, for the establishment of an institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. Read twice, and referred to a select committee to consist of nine members.

Mr. DUNCAN submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Speaker is hereby advised and directed to swear into office Messrs. PHILEMON DICKERSON, PETER D. VROOM, DANIEL B. RYALL, WILLIAM R. COOPER, and JOSEPH KILLE, members elect from the State of New Jersey, and said members thereon be directed to take their seats until the contest is regularly determined by the House.

Mr. RANDOLPH suggested that the resolution was not in order, it requiring a vote of two-thirds to allow of its reception.

Mr. DUNCAN contended that it was a privileged motion that he had submitted, and therefore it could be offered at any time.

Mr. WISE objected to the reception of the resolution at that time. He would suggest to the gentleman from Ohio that many members were absent who wished to vote on this question, and that he had better not press its consideration at present.

Mr. DUNCAN observed that this was a ques tion of privilege, and had never before been acted on. It related to the rights of the State of New Jersey, and her Representatives here. He would say to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. WISE]

that he had no wish to push the consideration of the resolution at this time; but he wished to address the House on that subject, and as several members had expressed a wish for an adjournment, he would move that the House now adjourn.

Mr. PICKENS suggested that there were several public documents on the Speaker's table requiring the action of the House, and he hoped the gentleman from Ohio would withdraw his motion until they could be dispes:d of.

Mr. DUNCAN withdrew his motion, saying that he did not, in so doing, yield his right to the floor.

Mr. ADAMS inquired if the paper submitted by the member from Ohio [Mr. DUNCAN] was before the House.

The SPEAKER replied that it was not; and that it required a suspension of the rules before that paper could be received.

Mr. DUNCAN appealed from the decision of the CHAIR, on the ground that his resolution was a privileged motion, relating to the rights of the Representatives of one of the States of the Union; but, on taking the question, the House sustained the decision of the SPEAKER without a division.

The SPEAKER laid before the House the following messages from the President of the United States:

To the House of Representatives:

I transmit here with a report made to me by the Secretary of the Treasury, with accompanying documents, in regard to some difficulties which have occurred concerning the kind of papers deemed necessary to be provided by law for the use and protection of American vessels engaged in the whale fisheries, and would respectfully invite the consideration of Congress to some new legis'ation on a subject of so much interest and difficulty. M. VAN BUREN.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 1839.
To the House of Representatives:

I transmit here with to Congress a report from. the
Secretary of State, on the subject of the law pro-
viding for taking the sixth census of the United
States, to which I invite your early attention.
M. VAN BUREN.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 1839.

The SPEAKER communicated the following Zocuments, viz:

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, exhibiting certain transfers of appropriations of the War Department. Also,

A report from the same, exhibiting certain transfers of appropriations made in that Department; both of which were referred to the Committee on Public Expenditures, and ordered to be printed.

A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmiting, in pursuance of the act of 2d March, 1799, an abstract of the returns made by collectors, showing the number of registered American seamen. Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

A report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the accounts of Charles J. Ingersoll, which was referred to the Committee of Claims, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate in relation to the execution of the 13th and 14th sections of the act to regulate the deposites of the public money, approved June 23, 1836; which was referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the report of F. R. Hassler, as superintendent of the survey of the coast and of the construction of standards of weigh's and measures; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, and 500 additional copies ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of State in relation to the expenditure of the contingent fund of that Department; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

A report from the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the expenditure of the contingent fund of that Department; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

1

A letter from the Commissioner of the Public Buildings, reporting the manner which all appropriations for the public buildings and grounds have been applied; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings.

A communication from the Department of State, transmitting, in compliance with the second section of the act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenditures of the Government, a statement showing the expenditures of that Department for the past year: la.d on the table, and ordered to be printed.

The annual report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office: referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of sundry citizens of Wisconsin in relation to the lead mines of that Territory: referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the British colonial trade: referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the Chickasaw fund: referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

A report of the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the result of an examination and survey of Block Island: referred to the Committee on Commerce, and erdered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, being a supp'ement to the statements transmitted 4th January, 1836, exhibiting the sums paid yearly under each material head of expenditure from 1834 to 1839: referred to the Committee on Public Expenditures, and ordered to be printed.

A report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the sabject of duties on railroad iron: referred to the Committee on Manufactures, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the names of the applicants for relief, under the act for the relief of certain insolvent debtors of the United States: laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the amount received yearly for five years past, by each collector of the customs, on account of fines and forfeitures: referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of War, with a report from the Commissioner of Pensions, in obedience to the resolution of 29th May, 1839, in relation to pensioners who have made application for increase of pension: laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of War, showing the expenditures of the contingent fund of the War Department for the past year: referred to the Committee on the Expenditures of the War Depariment, and ordered to be printed.

Two reports from the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the expenditures of the Navy Department for the past year: referred to the Committee on the Expenditures of the Navy Department, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury, relative to certain transfers of appropriations of the Navy Department: referred to the same committee, and ordered to be printed.

Two reports from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting statements from the Second and Fourth Auditors, showing the balances standing on their books: laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury on the commerce and navigation of the United States for the year 1839: laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

Two reports from the Commissioner of the Public Buildings, showing the progress made in the public works, and the expenditures for the same during the last year: referred to the Committee on the Public Buildings, and ordered to be printed.

The Annual Report of the Clerk of the House: referred to the Committee of Accounts, and ordered to be printed; after which,

The SPEAKER communicated certain documen's in relation to the New Jersey elections. Mr. RANDOLPH moved to refer them to the Committee of Elections.

Mr. TURNEY moved to amend the motion, by referring to the same committee the certificates of the Governor of New Jersey, and all the papers in relation to the New Jersey elections in possession of the House.

Mr. WILLIAMS of North Carolina inquired what was the nature of the document communicated by the SPEAKER, and how it came in possession of the House.

The SPEAKER said the document was composed of certain depositions taken in New Jersey, in relation to the late elections there for members of this House, and which had been transmitted to him by mail, and that the House was not in possession of any other documents on the subject.

Mr. HUBBARD was opposed to any reference whatever. There was, he said, no case of contested elections to go to the committee. All the questions that had been agitated in the House, had been in reference to the returns only. The only question that had been before them was, who were returned as members from New Jersey. When the question of contest was raised, then it would be time to refer the matter to the Committee on Elections.

Mr. BELL entirely concurred with the gentleman from Alabama. There was no petition contesting the seats of sitting members, for the House had decided that five of the New Jersey membars should not take their sa's. This question should be brought fairly before the House, and if no other member did, he would bring it forward as a privileged motion. He understool that there were four or five gentlemen claiming seats as Representatives from New Jersey, who had been waiting here since the commencement of the s ́ssion, and their claims had not as yet been decided on. He hoped the House would proceed with caution in this matter, and recollect that they were about setting a precedent that would be followed in time to come, and not loosely refer these matters to a committee before any petition or question of contested rights was before them. If the House would receive a resolution that would relieve it from the difficulty in which it was involved, he was prepared now to make it. He thought that the motion submitted by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. DUNCAN] was the only one male in order this morning, for it was a privileged motion, inasmuch as it related to the question as to who shall occupy the vacant seats of the representation from New Jersey.

Mr. WISE contended that the reference proposed was exactly the way in which the question could be brought fairly before the House. The committee would, after examining the returns, and the testimony in possession of the House, make up their report, showing who have the legal credentials, and who ought to take their seals as the sitting members, while they are engaged in collecting te.timony to enable the House to decide who are ultimately entitled to membership. This seemed t

him to be the regular mode of proceeding, and he hoped the House would adopt it.

Mr. DUNCAN inquired of the CHAIR whether the returns of the polls at South Amboy and Millville, which were suppressed, were to be considered as included in the motion of reference, and would be sent with the other documents to the Committee of Elections?

The CHAIR supposed that the papers referred to by the gentleman from Ohio would not be included in the reference, and that no other papers would be referred than the depositions just laid before the House.

Mr. DUNCAN observed that he had so supposed; and as to those depositions, if they were lopsided, as he suspected, he should object to their reception.

Mr. RANDOLPH observed that the depositions had been taken in accordance with the laws of New Jersey, and transmitted to the SPEAKER as directed by law.

Mr. BRIGGS inquired how these depositions came before the House.

The SPEAKER said that he had received them by mail, directed to him as Speaker of the House of Representa'ives.

Mr. BRIGGS then observed that they were not properly before the House at this time. The ru'e was, when the Speaker received papers by mail, to retain them until calling over the States for the presentation of petitions, and then such paper was presented when the name of the State it came from was called.

Mr. BELL apprehended that the only question in order, and that could be in order, was, who were returned as members from New Jersey. The House ought to decide this question in some form or other; but he hoped the gentleman from Ohio, after what had been said by the gentleman from Virginia, as to the absence of members, would not press this question for the present.

Mr. ADAMS was in favor of a reference of all the papers relating to the subject, and of giving the committee power to send for persons and papers; and the committee, he said, should be instructed to inquire and report to the House who are members from the State of New Jersey; and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. DUNCAN said he rose to inquire whether certain papers were or were not in possession of the House, and whether they would be referred to the committee. He had been informed by the Speaker that there were no other papers in possession of the House, or that would be referred, except these one-sided depositions taken to support the claims of the certificate members. He should, therefore, oppose the motion. Mr. D. here yielded the floor to

Mr. TURNEY, on whose motion
The House adjourned.

IN SENATE,

TUE DAY, December 31, 1839.

Mr. HUBBARD presented certain resolutions of the Legislature of New Hampshire, instructing their S nators, and requesting their Representatives in Congress, to the following effect:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, That, in the opinion of ths Legislature, alt connection between banking corporations and the Government of the United States, should be dissolved.

And be it further Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Legislature, no medium, or currency, should be received in payment of the revenues of the General Government, except gold and silver.

And be it further Resolved, Taat, in the opinion of this Legi Lture, the Independent Treasury is the only system for receiving, keeping, and disbursing the public revenues, recognised by the Const tution of the United States.

And be it further Resolved, That the Senators from this State in the Congress of the United States be instructed, and the Representatives requeste i, to use al proper exertions to effect the adoption of the Independent Treasury.

The resolutions were ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

Mr. WRIGHT presented the memorial of the Chevalier De Gerstner, praying Congress to grant him the copyright, for five years, of certain s atistical works; which was referred to the Committee on Patents, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. W. also presented the petition of Hannah Gouge, a widow of a Revolutionary sold er, who had resided in New York 104 years, asking for a pens on; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. W. also presented the petition of James Thompson, agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, requesting permission to enter Bibles at the city of New York free of duty, for transmission to the Candas, while the navigation of the St. Lawrence is obstructed by ice; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. PIERCE presented ceriain resolutions of the Legislature of New Hampshire, instructing their Senators and requesting their Representatives in Congress, to the following effec':

Whereas certain propositions have been before the Congress of the United States, having for their object the distribution of the proceeds of the sales

of the public lands; aud whereas such a measure, in the opinion of this Legislature, is not only unconstitutional, but is calculated to diminish the public revenue and increase indirect taxation, by affording a pretext for the continuance of a high tariff-therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and the Representatives from this State be requested, to oppose every attempt which shall be made to divide the proceeds of the sales of the public lands among the several States, or to make any other disposition thereof except for the constitutional purpose of providing for the common welfare and general defence of the United Stat s.

The resolutions were ordered to lie on the table, and be printed.

M. ROANE presented certain resolutions of the Legislature of Virginia, requesting Congress to make an additional grant of land to satisfy outstanding military land warran's; which were referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WALL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to which had been referred the bill for the relief of Pierre Menard, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims; which was agreed to.

Mr. SOUTHARD presented the petition of the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, at Connecticut Farms, for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. CLAY of Alabama gave notice that tc-morrow he would ask leave to bring in a bill for the relief of D. A. Saltmarsh and Co.

Mr. BENTON presented the petition of Nathan Ranney, collector of the port of St. Louis; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. B. said, while he was up, he would make some suggestions respecting the number of documents ordered to be printed for the Senate. They had adopted the present number when the Senate was much smaller than at present; and by the increase in the number of Senators, the number of documents received by each for distribution, was greatly reduced. He thought that 2,500 would bear about the same proportion to the number of Senators at present, as 1,500 did when it was adopted.

Several Senators requesting Mr. B. to make a motion to that effect, he moved that 1000 additional copies of the President's message and ac. companying documents be printed for the use of the Senate; which was unanimously agreed to.

On motion by Mr. ALLEN, the petition and papers on five in relation to the case of John Grigsby, were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. DAVIS presented the petit on of Samuel B. Smith, praying that cer ain duties may be refunded; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. D. also presented the petition of J. W. Nye, assignce of Peter Bargy, jr; which was referred to the Commitee on Claims.

Mr.WHITE of la. presented the petition of citizens of Upper Wabash, in the State of Indiana, and the petition of citizens of Clinton and Carr counties, praying for certain designated mail routes; which were referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. MERRICK presented the petition of John Carter, praying for permission to bring a servant into the District; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. BETTS presented the petition of certain manufacturers of pins, praying for a reduction of the duty on brass wire; which was referred to the Committee on Manufactures.

Mr. LINN presented a memorial from certain captains and engineers of steamboats on the Mississippi, in relation to the adoption of a system for the prevention of the explosions of boilers, which was referred to the Committee on Com nerce.

Mr. LINN presented a series of resolutions of the Legislature of Missouri, relating to the public lands; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. L. also presented resolutions of the same body on the subject of the 16th sec'ions.

Also, requesting a grant of land for public schools; which were referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Also, requesting a grant of land to aid in constructing a railroad to Jefferson city; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Also, requesting an appropriation for the improvement of the navigation of the Des Moines river; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

On motion of Mr. FULTON, certain resolutions of the Legislature of Arkansas, in favor of ceding the public lands to the States in which they lie, and in relation to the settlers on school lands, which were on the files of the Senate, were referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. F. the memorial of John K. L. Norman, praying a grant of land in aid of a collegiate institution in the Territory of Florida, now on file, and additional papers, were referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. CLAY of Alabama, the me. morial of the Legislature of Alabama, asking the Federal Government to surrender the canal connected with Muscle shoals to that State, now on file, was referred to the Committe on Roads and Canals.

Mr. NORVELL submitted the following resolu tion, which was consider d and agreed to:

Resolved, That the memorial of a number of the naturalized citizens of Michigan, presented at the last session, praying for the adoption of measures more effectually to secure the recognition and maintenance of the rights of that class of the citi zens of the United States, be taken from the files of the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. N. in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill granting to the State of Michigan a quantity of land to a'd in construct. ing a canal around the Falls of Ste. Marie; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. N. also gave noice that to-morrow he would ask leave to bring in a bill fixing the sa'aries of several district judges of the United States.

On motion by Mr. WHITE, certain papers on file were referred to the Committee on Claims,

On motion by Mr. ROANE, papers in relation to several c'a'ms, now on file, were referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. PIERCE presented the petition of Mrs. Catharine Howard; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. CALHOUN gave notice that, on Friday next, he would ask leave to bring in a bill to cede the public lands to the States in which they lie, on certain conditions.

Mr. ROANE presented the pet't'on of John Spottiswood; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Also, the petition of Capt. Robert White; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. CRITTENDEN, the papers on file in relation to the claim of Joseph Claxton, were referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. MOUTON presented certain resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana, in relation to the construction of a levee on the south bank of Red river; the opening of the Bayou L'Eau Blanc; the validity of titles to land under French and Spanish grants; and in relation to the 16th sections in that State.

Mr. BETTS presented resolutions of the Legislature of Connecticut on the subject of a national foundry, and recommending the Housatonic valley as a suitable site for that purpose; which were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

The VICE PRESIDENT presented the remonstrance of certain warriors, sachems and headmen of the Seneca Indians against the ratification of the treaty lately concluded with that nation; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. SMITH of Indiana, Ordered, That the memorial of the Legislature of Indiana of the last session, relative to a canal at

the falls of Ohio, on the Indiana side, and all peti titioas on the same subject, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Roads and Cana's.

Mr. WHITE of Tennessee, from the Commit. tee on Indian Affairs, to which had been referred A bill for the relief of John McCarty; and A bill for the relief of Benjamin Murphy; Reported the same without amendment. Mr. LINN, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, to which the following bills had been referred, reported the same without amendment,

viz:

A bill for the relief of Gen. Ma'hew Arbuckle. A bill for the relief of John E. Metcalf and others.

A bill to confirm the title to a certain tract of land in the county of Mobile.

A bill to confirm certain land claims in the Greensburgh land district, State of Louisiana.

A bill authorizing a patent to be issued to Joseph Campan, for a certain tract of land in the State of Michigan.

A bill for the rel.ef of the heirs of Madam de Lusser.

A bill for the relief of Pierre Balin.

A bill for the relief of the heirs and legal representatives of William Conway.

A bill for the relief of Daniel Marsaque.

A bill for the relief of Alvarez Fisk and Thomas P. Eskridge.

A bill for the relief of Alvarez Fisk. A bill for the rel ef of Juan Belgar. A bill for the relief of Francis Laventure, Ebenezer Childs, and Linas Thompson. A bill for the re ief of Joseph Bogy.

A bill for the relief of Joseph Cochran.

I

T

A bill for the relief of Charles Morgan of Loui-1 siana.

A bill for the re'ief of Charles Morgan. A bill for the relief of Jean Baptiste Granger. A bill for the relief of Sebastian Butcher and heirs and legal representatives of Bartholomew Butcher, Michael Butcher, and Peter Bloom. A bill for the relief of Obed-P. Lacey.

A bill to continue in force the act for the final adjustment of private land claims in Missouri.

A bill to transfer to the citizens of the parish of Concordia, in the State of Louis ana, the interest of the United States to a certain tract of land.

A till to authorize the issuing of a patent to the heirs or legal representatives of Francis Rivard, deceased.

A bill confirming certain land claims in Mis

souri.

A bill to confirm certain land claims in the Ouachita land district, in the State of Louisiana. A bill to confirm land claims in the district between the Rio Hondo and Sabine rivers.

A bill to settle the title to certain tracts of land in the State of Arkansas.

A bill to amend an act confirming certain land claims in the State of Michigan.

Mr. L. also, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce

A bill for the relief of the legal representatives of Phil. Barbour, deceased; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on private Land Claims.

Mr. ROBINSON, from the Commitee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to which had been referred a bill for the relief of A. G. S. White, reported the same with an amendment.

Mr. R. also, from the same committee, to which had been referred

A bill for the relief of Thomas H. Owen and John W. Skidmore; and

A bill for the relief of Samuel R. Slaymaker, Reported the same without amendment. Mr. CLAY of Alabama, from the Committee on Public Lands, to which had been referred a bill to relinquish to the State of Alabama, for pur poses therein named, the Two per cent. fund, reported the same without amendment.

Mr. KNIGHT, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Samuel Grifith; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. BROWN, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill supplementary

to the act to establish branches of the Mint of the United States; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. PIERCE, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bills:

A bill for the relief of Joseph Basset;

A bill for the relief of Samuel Collins;

A bill for the relief of John S. Billings; and

A bill for the relief of Hannah Laighton;

Which were severally read twice, and referred

to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. DAVIS gave notice that to-morrow he would ask leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Henry J. Pickering.

Mr. SOUTHARD, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill regulating the pay of masters of the navy; which was read 1 twice, and referred to the Committee on Naval Af!fairs.

On motion by Mr. HUBBARD, the Senate, in accordance with a resolution adopted some days since, proceeded to the election of a chaplain for the present session.

The following was the result of the ballotings:

Mr. COOKMAN having a majority on the second ballot, was declared to be duly elected.

Mr. BENTON submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to the Senate the estimated amounts which will be receivable from the salt duty during the years 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843; also, the estimated amounts which will be payable on account of fishing bounties, and allowances to fishing vessels, during the same years; the said estimates to be all made on the basis of a nonalteration in the present laws regulating the said duties, bounties and allowances.

Also, that the Secretary be directed to communicate to the Senate any information in the Treasury Department going to show that fishing bounties, and allowances to fishing vessels, have been unduly or illegally drawn since the passage of the act in 1813 for renewing the duty on salt, and reviving the fishing bounties and allowances consequent thereon.

Mr. NORVELL submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation sufficient to effect, by peaceable and pecuniary means and inducements, the immediate removal west of the Mississippi of all the Indians now in the Territory of Florida.

Mr. WALL submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation for the removal of certain obstructions in the navigation of the river Passaic and of Newark bay, in the State o New Jersey. Mr. LINN submitted the following resolution, which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to improve the harbor of the city of St. Louis, Missouri.

The bill to amend an act entitled "An act more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes," was considered as in Committee of the Who'e; and, after some remarks from Mr. WALL, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The bill establishing a Board of Commissioners to hear and determine claims against the United States, was taken up; and, after some remarks from Mr. TAPPAN and Mr. HUBBARD, on motion of the latter its further consideration was postponed until Monday, the 13th January.

The CHAIR announced the following as the committee, on the part of the Senate, to direct the expenditures of all moneys appropriated to pur

chase books for the Library of Congress, to wit: Messrs. TAPPAN, PRESTON, and WALL.

On motion by Mr. KING,

The Senate went into an Executive session, and afterwards

Adjourned until Friday next.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TUSEDAY, Dec. 31, 1839.

Mr. BRIGGS moved to amend the journal by striking from it the resolution submitted on yes'erday by Mr. DUNCAN, viz:

Resolved, that the Speaker is hereby advised and directed to swear into office Messrs. PHILEMON DICKERSON, PETER D. VROOM, DANIEL B. RYALL, WILLIAM R. COOPER, and JOSEPH KILLE, members elect from the State of New Jersey, and said members thereon be directed to take their seats until the contest is regularly determined by the House.

Mr. DUNCAN said he had introduced this resolution not only because he considered it due to the individuals named in it, but because he be ieved it to be a privileged question.

The CHAIR said the gent'eman could not proceed to discuss the merits of the resolution on a mo'ion to amend the journal.

Mr. DUNCAN believed the reso'uion to be a privileged question, and he was sustained in this be ief by a precedent on yesterday morning.

The CHAIR again intimated that the gent'eman could not discuss the merits of the resolution.

Mr. BRIGGS contended that the resoluton ought not to appear on the journal, because the CHAIR had decided it on yesterday to be out of order, and the House had sustained that decision.

Mr. SMITH of Maine thought this resolution ought to go on the journal. It would be recollected, that, on a former occasion, a gent'eman from New Jersey moved to have a cer ain protest entered on the journal, and, a though the House decided by a solemn vote that it should not go on the journal, gentlemen had contended that it should go on; and they attained their object by moving it af terwards in the shape of a resolution, and calling the yeas and nays upon it, although the House again decided it should not go on the journal.

After a few remarks by Messrs. CUSHING, TILLINGHAST, and BROWN of Tennessee,

Mr. DUNCAN called for the yeas and nays upon the motion; when it appeared there wereyeas 72, najs 83. So the House refused to amend the journal.

Mr. JAMESON then moved to amend the journal of last Friday, so as to make it conform to the state of facts as they occurred in regard to a motion made by him on that day. [The substance of the amendment will be found in Mr. J.'s point of order in yesterday's proceedings.

The CHAIR thought it was too late now to amend the journal of last Friday.

Mr. JAMESON contended that the journal might be corrected at any time; and read an extract from the Manual in support of this position. The CHAIR then entertained the motion.

Mr. DUNCAN called for the yeas and nays, which were ordered; and were-yeas 79, nays 77. So the question was de ided in the affirmative.

Mr. COLES moved to suspend the rules for the purpose of offering the following resolution:

Resolved, That every petition, memorial, resolution, proposition, or papers, touching or relating in any way, or to any extent whatever, to the abolition of slavery in the States of this Union, or either of them, or in the District of Columbia, or in the Territories of the United States, or either of them, or the removal of slaves from one State to ano her, shall, on the presenta ion thereof, without any further action thereon, be laid upon the table without being debated, printed or referred.

Mr. STANLY inquired if this resolution did not contemplate the reception of Abolition petitions. Mr COLES said that depended upon the construction of the effect of laying petitions on the table. Mr. DUNCAN inquired if the resolution could not be amended by the House, if the rules were suspended.

The CHAIR said it could.

Mr. CRABB said he should vote against the motion to suspend the rules, because

The CHAIR. The question is not debatable.

Mr. CRABB continued. He should vote against suspension, because the resolution contemplated the reception by the House of these petitions.

Mr. GRANGER called for the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and were-yeas 87, nays 84, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Alford, S. H. Anderson, Andrews, Atherton, Banks. Beatty, Beirne, Bell, Boyd, Brewster, A. V. Brown, A. G. Brown, Burke, W. O. Butler, Bynum, Carter, Clifford, Coles, Crockett, Cross, J. W. Davis, Garret Davis, Dawson, Dillett, Doig, Earl, Eastman, Fisher, Fornance, Galbraith, J. Garland, R. Garland, Goggin, Graham, Graves, Griffin, Hill of Virginia, Hill of North Carolina, Hillen, Hook, Hopkins, Howard, Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Cave Johnson, Keim, Kemble, King, Leet, Lewis, Lucas, McClellan, McCulloh, McKay, Marchand, Medill, Miller, Montanya, Montgomery, Newhard, Parris, Pickens. Pope, Ramsey, J. Rogers, Samuels, Shaw, Shepard, Albert Smith, Thomas Smith, Steenrod, Strong, Sumter, Sweeny, Taliaferro, Taylor, Jacob Thompson, Triplett, Turney, Underwood, D. D. Wagener, Warren, Watterson, E. D. White, John White, Wick, Jared W. Williams, Lewis Williams, and C. H. Williams-87.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Judson Allen, John W, Allen, Barnard, Biddle, Black, Briggs, Brockway, Anson Brown, Calhoun, Carr, Casey, Chinn, Clark, Colquitt, Corwin, Crabb, Cranston, Curtis, Cushing, Davec, E. Davies, Doan, Duncan, Ely, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, Fletcher, Gates, Giddings, Goode, Granger, Green, Habersham, Hall, Hand, William S. Hastings, J. Hastings, Henry, Hoffman, Hunt, Jackson, James, Chas. Johnston, Nathaniel Jones, Kempshall, Leadbetter, Lincoln, Lowell, Mallory, Marvin, Morgan, C. Morris, Nisbet, Ogle, Osborne, Parish, Parmenter, Peck, Randall, Randolph, Rariden, Rayner, Reed, Reynolds, Ridgway, Edward Rogers, Russell, Sergeant, Slade, John Smith, Truman Smith, Stark. weather, Storrs, Stuart, Swearingen, Tillinghast, Toland, Trumbull, P. J. Wagner, Weller, T. W. Williams, and H. Williams-84.

So the House refused to suspend the rules, it requiring two-thirds to suspend.

[When the name of Mr. NISBET was called, he rose and stated that he voted against the suspension, because the resolution recognised the right of the House to act on this question.]

Mr. WISE then moved a suspension of the rules, for the purpose of offering the resolution submitted by him on yesterday, which was a different resolution from the one which had just been presented to the House. His resolution denied the reception of Abolition petitions; the one which the House had just refused to admit, contemplated their reception. His was a Southern resolution, the other was a Northern resolution. His resolution was in te following words:

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 upon the table, without further debate or further action thereon.

Mr. GRANGER inquired if it was in order to move again to suspend the rules to admit this resolution, the House having once refused to suspend the rules for the admission of this same resolution. He wished to know whether the r ght of petition was thus to be stifled in advance.

The CHAIR said it was in order to move to suspend the rules.

Mr. WISE said he moved to suspend the rules to admit this resolution, and he would continue to make this motion, until he got a distinct vote upon it, if it consumed hours every day.

Mr. ADAMS wished to know if the CHAIR decided that a motion for a specific object, which had been rejected by the House, could be moved every day. Could a gentleman move every day to suspend the rules to admit a resolution which the House had refus d to receive?

The CHAIR was of opinion that the gentleman could move to suspend the rules to-day, as there might be a reason which induced the House not to suspend yesterday, which did not exist to-day.

Mr. ADAMS believed that there was a rule of the House, which declared that when a proposition was once rejected by the House, it was not in order again to introduce it. If the CHAIR made a decision that this motion could be made every morning, and the gentleman carried out his threat that he would move it every day, the whole session may be consumed by motions of this kind, calling the yeas and nays upon them, and debating them. Mr. WISE. Does the gentleman appeal from the decision of the CHAIR?