into the expediency of making an appropriation for the improvement of the Allegheny river between Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Olean, in the State of New York; or, if a new survey of the same be deemed necessary before improvements be authorized, that said committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing said survey; and that the petitions and memorials heretofore presented on that subject be referred to the same committee. On motion of Mr. Darragh, Resolved, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of extending to widows of officers of the United States army the provision of the laws which grant pensions to widows of officers of the United States navy who die in the public service. On motion of Mr. Joseph R. Ingersoll, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire, and report on the expediency of introducing into the post office laws a provision for the prepayment of postage, and the charge of double postage when it is not previously paid. On motion of Mr. John G. Chapman, Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency and importance of constructing fortifications at St. Mary's, on the Potomac, and at Point Palerver and at Thomas's point, on the Chesapeake, as estimated and projected by the board of engineers, and reported November 14, 1822; and by the Engineer department in November, 1825. On motion of Mr. Joseph Johnson, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from De Kalb, in the county of Gilmer, to Harrisville, in the county of Ritchie, in the State of Virginia. On motion of Mr. William G. Brown, (the rule being dispensed with,) Resolved, That the Postmaster General be, and he is hereby, requested to furnish this House with a statement showing how often the public mail on the Cumberland road has been interrupted by the impassable condition of the Ohio river at Wheeling since the first of January, 1840. Mr. Pendleton gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill for the relief of James Green, a revolutionary soldier. On motion of Mr. Barringer, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route, weekly, from Salisbury, North Carolina, crossing the Yadkin river at Bringle's ferry, by Jackson Hill, then to Wind Hill, Hawsville, and Lawrenceville, North Carolina. On motion of Mr. Graham, Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of directing the United States mint and its branches to convert all foreign coin which is, or may be, owned by the general government, into the legal coin of the United States. On motion of Mr. McKay, Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing additional light on the Cape Fear river, North Carolina. On motion of Mr. Dobbin, Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of changing the time of holding the circuit at Raleigh, in the State of North Carolina, so that the same may be held on the first Monday in June and December. On motion of Mr. Biggs, Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the payment of loan certificates now outstanding and unpaid, issued under the authority of the Congress of the confederation. On motion of Mr. Dobbin, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route between Johnsville, or Murchison Mills, in Cumberland county, North Carolina, and Harrington, in said county. On motion of Mr. James A. Black, Resolved, That a select committee of nine members be appointed, to take into consideration the expenditures of the War Department and the pay of the army. Resolved, That said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and that they report to this House by bill or otherwise. Mr. James A. Black, Mr. Cullom, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Barringer, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Caleb B. Smith, Mr. White, Mr. Jefferson Davis, and Mr. Seddon, were appointed said committee. On motion of Mr. Isaac E. Holmes, Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs inquire into the expediency of restoring the navy pension fund. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Lumpkin asked, obtained leave, and introduced a bill (No. 234) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the payment of horses or other property lost or destroyed in the military service of the United States," approved January 18, 1837: which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On motion of Mr. Haralson, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route between Fayetteville, in Fayette county, and Granville, Merriwether county, in the State of Georgia. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Thomas Butler King asked, obtained leave, and introduced a joint resolution (No. 20) for the relief of the representative of John Habersham, deceased: which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Garrett Davis offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the projet of a bill to establish the rates of duties on goods, wares, and merchandise, which may be imported into the United States, lately submitted by the Secretary of the Treasury to the Committee of Ways and Means, be printed for the use of the House; and that said committee be, and they are hereby, instructed to furnish the Clerk of the House with a copy of the same to be printed. The said resolution was read: when Mr. Davis moved the previous question. Mr. Rathbun moved that the said resolution be laid upon the table. And the question being put, It was decided in the affirmative, SYeas,. 69 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Stephen Adams Joseph H. Anderson William H. Brockenbrough Henry D. Foster Mr. William F. Giles Charles Goodyear Those who voted in the negative are― Mr. Amos Abbott John Quincy Adams Lemuel H. Arnold Edward D. Baker John Blanchard Milton Brown Joseph Buffington Garrett Davis James Dixon Alfred Dockery Joseph E. Edsall Mr. Edwin H. Ewing So the resolution was laid upon the table. Mr. Joseph Morris Archibald C. Niven Mr. William S. Miller Bannon G. Thibodeaux Samuel F. Vinton Robert C. Winthrop Mr. Tibbatts offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the bill of this House (No. 18) making appropriations for certain harbors and rivers, be made the special order for Monday next, then to take precedence of all other business. The said resolution was read: when Mr. Tibbatts moved the previous question. Mr. Norris moved that the said resolution be laid upon the table. SYeas, It was decided in the negative, Nays, 64 101 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Henry D. Foster Mr. Archibald C. Niven Moses Norris Mr. George P. Marsh Frederick P. Stanton Bannon G. Thibodeaux Mr. James Thompson Allen G. Thurman John W. Tibbatts Andrew Trumbo Joseph Vance Mr. Samuel F. Vinton John Wentworth Hugh White Robert C. Winthrop Mr. Bradford R. Wood William Wright Archibald Yell Jacob S. Yost. So the House refused to lay the said resolution upon the table. The previous question was then seconded; and the main question was ordered and put, viz: Will the House agree to the said resolution? And decided in the negative, (two-thirds Yeas, not voting in favor thereof,) Nays, 107 64 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, ; Those who voted in the affirmative are Edward D. Baker John Blanchard James B. Bowlin Francis A. Cunningham James Dixon Alfred Dockery Henry D. Foster William F. Giles Charles Goodyear Mr. Joseph Grinnell Alexander Ramsey Mr. Joseph M. Root Bannon G. Thibodeaux Mr. George W. Hopkins |