Congressional

In the House, March 18, a discussion nrose on the Oregon question. A memorial from Mississippi, praying Congress to annex Texas to the Union, was referred and printed. Mr. Petit of Indiana, stated that he had sent five thousand documente into his district at the present session of Congress, and that they had not been received,therefore moved a resolution which was adopted, instructing the post office committee to send for persons and papers to inquireinto the cause. Mr. Dromgoole, from the select committee to whom was i-eferred the Virginia and Alabama resolutions, in answer to those from Masshchusetts, praying an amendraent of the Constitution upon the subject of slave represen tation and direct taxation, reported the folio wing resolutions: First, That the rule of direct taxation and slave represen tation in the Constitution resulted in compromises and concessions, and ought to be held sacred by the friends of the Union. Resolved, That no such proposition ought to be recommended by Congress, and that it should be promply andly condemned. . The report accompanying the resol utions declared thai the committeehad maturely considered the subject, and that the object desired by the Massachusetts legislature would lead to a peaceable or violent dissolution of the Union, and that all eñbrts to procure such an amendment ought to be condemned. Mr. Dromgoole said he desired no debate upon the resolution, and moved the previous question. Mr. Adams requested him to withdraw the motion, as he wished the report reierred to the committee of the whole, and made the special order of the day. Mr. Dromgoole declined to withdraw, and the previous question was seconded. A motion to lay on the table was rejected, and under the previous question it wasResolved, That the rule established in the Constitution as the basis of representation and direct taxation, resulting from a spirit of concession and compromise essential to the formation and preservation of the union of the States, ought to be held sacred by the friends of the Union. The nays were Messrs. Abbott, Adams, Baker, Jeremiah Brown, Dickey, Giddings, Grinnell, Hudson, Perley B. Johnson, Daniel P. King, Mcllvaine, Marsh, Morse, Rockwell, Hogers, Severanoe, Tilden, Winthrop- 18. The second resolution viz: Resolved, Tliat no proposition to alter or arnend the Constitution in relation to representation and direct taxation among the States ought to be recommended bv Congress, but that every such proposition ought to be promptly and decisively condemned - wasadopted. Yeas 127, nays 41, as follows: Messrs. Abbott, Adams, Baker.Buffington, J. Brown, Carrol], Catlin, Collamer, Cransion, Dickey, Fish, Giddings,nell, Harper, Hudsoa, Jenks. Perley B. Johnson, John P. Kennedy, Daniel P. King, Mcllvaine, Marsh, Morse, Morse! y , Ness, Parmenter, Rockwell, Rogers,Sample, Schenck, Severance, Albert Smiih, Caleb B. Smith, Sikes, Tilden, Tyler, Vinton, Wheaton, White, Williams, Winthrop - 41. Among the yeas we re Messrs. Hunt and M'Clelland, (Mr. Lyonbeing absent,) from Michigan who voted that every proposilion to do away with this property i-epresentation "oughl to bc promptly and decisively condemnedl" This, of course, goes for its perpetuity. Will they take the stump this fall and defend this issue before the people?A re-consideration of the vote was then moved and rejected, and Massachusetts having been formal ly condemned without discussion, the slaveholders and their allies feit relieved. A bilí was introduced to incorpórate the Society of Odd Fellows of the District. Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, after some remarks against the incorporation of either the Odd Fellows or Free Masons,moved to lay the bill on the table. The motion prevailed by a large majority. A bill was then introduced to incorpórate the Grand Lodge of Free Masons of the District. Some discussion of an irregular character arose, in which it was stated that these MasonicLodgeshaddone much good in the country by relieving the distressed, &c. Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, then moved to lay the bill on the table. Mr. Payne desired to know who the gentlemen were who were so very sensitive about the incorporation of thesenevolent societies. With a view, therefore, of showing the country the votes, he demanded the yeas and nays. The were ordered, and were yeas 132, nays 32. So the bill was laid on the table. Various amendmcnts to the bilí to reduce the pay of the officers of the Army were introduced, butnone of inportance, until Mr. Pettit, of Indiana moved to abolish the office of Chaplains in the Army, Navy, and in the two Houses of Congrcss.The amendment created some sensation in the House. The motion, however,was rebuked, fit once, and warralv rebuked by all who spoke upon the subject. Mr. Morris, of Pennsylvania, commencedthe discussion in reply, The de bate began by Mr. Pettit, who spoke with great vehemence in defence of his motion. The Chaplains of Congress cost the Government $35,000, and he called upon economical men therefure, to abolish the office. Chaplains were not in the spirit of the Army. They were suited to the Jewish dispensation, when an eye fcr an eye, and u tooth for a tooth, was demanded. The spirit of modern religión was ajainst war. It wastö turn one cheek, when smitten upon the other. Mr. Morris quoted the example of George Washington, who always invoked the God of Battles before entering upon the field of battle. He spoke also of the influence of the Christian religión in the Army and Navy, and thought that if its influence was beneficial any where, it was there, where its subduinginfluences were most necessary. Mr. Hammett, of Mississippi, alse opposed the amendment, and was followed by J. R. Iogersoll, Mr. Wentworth of Illinois, and Mr. Hnrdin. Mr. Smith, of Indiana, rose to reply - Mr. Weller, in the Chair, awarded him the floor. Mr. Steenrod, however, claimed it, and the Chairman sustained the decisión. Mr. S. appealed to Mr. Pettit to withdraw his amendment, - and, aíter having defended it a second time, with many reflections upon the Christian religión, the amendment was withdrawn, and less material matters were considered.The remainder of the sitting was consumed in debating the section of the bill which provides tliat one dollar a month shall be withheld from the pay of the privates, and kept in the treasury, to be given them at the time of their discharge. The committee agreed to the section. Mr. Hale, of New Hampshire, moved an amendment to abolish the punishment of whipping in the army, which, after some explanation, was agreed to. Thepunishment for desertion has been by imprisonment for a term of from three to seven years, it was reduced, on motion oí Mr. Hale, to a term of from one year to five. VVe cut the following from the Cincinnati HeraW : Tlie House resolved itself into Comtnittee cf the Whole, on tlie bilí to regúlate the pay of lie army. It would secrn from the explanatiot) of Mr. Black, that, the pruniugknife of reform had been applied chiefly to tlie pay of common soldiers, which he proposed lo reduce from eight to six dollars a month.The disproportionate number of stafF officers, and their inordinate salaries were not touched. Our slaveholding rulcrs always have a 6pecial sympatJiy with rank. and gentlemen. The poor soldier must be cut down to one dollar and a half a weck, while the Major General, with a lnxurioua establishment at Washington, and no" hing to do, but to exercise a sort of general supervisión, receives one hundred and fifty-two dollars a week'! Mr. Black and hisCominit'ee are a beautiful set of retrenchers! Mr. Davis, of Ia., in moving to dispense with a Major General Commander-in-chief, was acfnated by no malevolent motive. He fonnd that this officer received a salary or'$7,539; and he could not, from any data, m hie poseession, find out what he liad lo do. He soul his object was to place the army in precisely the positron it held during the last war. His sole object was to abolieh ihis sinecureoffice, f gentlemen pleased to relieve the coutitry from the infliction of $3000 imposed on the Treasury for the purpose of paying the gentleman wbo Bat in hu parlor and dictated. Mr. Hale, in reply to an observation of Mr. Dean, said, sofarfrom bemg opposed lo retrcnchtnent, he liad not brought forward one iota, in comparison, of all the reform measurep he meant to propuse. He was for abolishing the entire eystem of courts martial, which were nothing buta odious relie of mooareby. [Good!] Then he would dispense -vvilh corporal punishmenr, both in the army and navv, and make any officer who caused it to be inflicted, amenabJe to the criminal iaw. [Belter Btill!] Then he would do something toewvmo me common soldier. He was againsf giving one hundred and fifty dollars a month to one, ond only six dollars to another. [Excellent! Only the best way to elevóte the soldier, is to put him out of lus eternal uniform, and make a man of him, instead of a machine.] He went for reform, and if he could have deetroyed West Point, the proudest aspiration of his hfe would have been fulfilled. [We go wtlh him in that too, only, there are still nobler things to be aspíred to.] Mr. Adams opposed the amendmen!,although lie thought he should go with gentlemen for reducing salaries. Messrs. Haralson and C. J. Ingersoll also opposed the amendroent, which was fiaally rejected. Mr. Davia moved further that the pay of ths Commander-in chief should be $250 instead of $350. a month- but this also was rejected, and without any good rcason, we should say." March 25- In the Hovs, the following is Mr. Giddings' resolution, which was not shirked by a secret vote, but thrown over by tbe rule, as occasioning debate. Jt very handsomely turna the tables "upon Dromgoole's overbearing resolution, and upon the mass ol Whigs and Democrats who agreed with him and recordcd their names.Resolved, That the right of amending the federal constitution, secured to the people in the fifth article thereof, resulting from a spirit of concession and compromise essential to the formation and preservation of the union of these States, should be held sacred by the friends of the Union. Resolved, That the rightof amendment extends as clearly to the portion of said Constitution which fixes the ratio of federal representation as to any other part of that instrument. Resolved, That every attempi to subvert this important right of the people should be promptly and decidedly conde mned.