Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of John C. Herbert. Ordered, That the report be printed. Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the memorial of Thomas Griffin, administrator of Lawrence Gibbons, made a report, accompanied by a bill for the relief of Thomas Griffin. The report and bill were read; and Ordered, That the bill pass to a second reading, and that the report be printed. Mr. Woodbury, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill allowing the duties on foreign merchandise imported into Louisville, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, to be secured and paid at those places, reported it without amendment. Mr. Benton, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill to authorize the purchase of a site, and the erection of barracks in the vicinity of New Orleans, reported it without amendment. Mr. Barton, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act to preserve from injury and waste, the School lands in the Territory of Arkansas;" reported it without amendment. Mr. King, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill authorizing the relinquishment of the sixteenth sections granted for the use of schools in the State of Alabama, and the entry of other lands in lieu thereof; reported it without amendment. Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred the bill to provide for the purchase and distribution of certain copies of the Digest of the Laws of the United States, by Thomas F. Gordon; and the bill to allow a salary to the Marshal of the district of Connecticut, reported them severally without amendment. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Tyler asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to allow a salary to the Marshal of the Eastern district of Virginia; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Barton communicated the following resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Missouri: Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Missouri, That we highly approve of the bill lately pending before the Senate of the United States, to graduate the price of the public lands, to make donations to actual settlers, and to cede the refuse lands to the States in which they lie; and that the thanks of the Legislature are due to the Hon. Thomas H. Benton, a Senator in Congress from this State, for his able, patriotic, and unwearied exertions in endeavoring to procure the adoption of a measure in which the people of this State have so important an interest. Resolved, That the Hon. David Barton, a Senator in Congress from this State, be instructed, and the Hon. Edward Bates, the representative from this State in Congress, be requested, to use their best exertions to procure the passage of the bill mentioned in the foregoing resolution, either as it originally stood, or as amended in the Senate of the United States, at the last session, or in the nearest attainable form thereto; and that the said Senator be instructed, and the said representative be requested, to oppose all amendments to said bill, which may have the effect of preventing its passage, or dividing its friends, or delaying its decision, or giving to any State, or de scription of States, any advantage over any other State or description of State in the time, mode, or condition, of bringing the public lands into market. Resolved, That the Hon. Littleton Waller Tazewell, a distinguished Senator in Congress from the State of Virginia, be requested to accept the thanks of this Legislature, for the magnanimous and efficient support, which he has so liberally afforded to the bill referred to in the above resolutions, and that a knowledge of his correct principles, his statesman-like conduct, and his strict adherence to justice, induce the Legislature to expect his able co-operation in effecting the measure aforesaid. Resolved, That the Secretary of State do forthwith forward to each of these gentlemen, a copy of the foregoing resolutions. JOHN THORNTON, President of the Senate. Approved, November 29th, 1828. The resolutions were read; and, The following motion, submitted by Mr. Woodbury, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to place two buoys in Portsmouth harbor, one on Kitt's Rock, and the other on a rock in Pepperell's Cove. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Knight, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary inquire into the expediency of increasing the salary of the district Judge of the Rhode Island district; and also, of allowing a salary to the Marshal of said district. On motion by Mr. Noble, The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill for the relief of Henry Case; and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the Senate; and, On the question, "Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined in the affirmative. The bill, entitled "An act to authorize the erection of military storehouses in New Orleans and the City of New York, for the use of the army of the United States," was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The bill, entitled "An act allowing an additional drawback on sugar refined in the United States, and exported therefrom;" and the bill entitled "An act for the relief of Thomas Cutts, were severally read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Finance. The bill to authorize the President of the United States to cause the reserved Salt Springs in the State of Missouri, to be exposed to public sale; The bill to authorize the President of the United States to cause the reserved Lead Mines, in the State of Missouri, to be exposed to public sale. The bill explanatory of an act, entitled "An act to reduce and fix the military peace establishment of the United States," passed March 2d, 1821; The bill confirming the reports of the Register and Receiver of the Land Office for the district of St. Stephens, in the State of Alabama, and for other purposes; The bill providing for the printing and binding of 60,000 copies of the abstract of Infantry Tactics, including Manœuvres of Light Infantry and Riflemen; and for other purposes; The bill for the relief of John Culbertson, and for the payment of an Interpreter for the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern district of Louisiana; and The bill to amend an act, entitled "An act for the better organization of the medical department of the Navy," approved 24th May, 1828, were severally read the third time; and' Resolved, That they pass, and that their titles respectively be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in said bills. The bill to compensate Susan Decatur, widow and representative of Captain Stephen Decatur, deceased, and others, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Prince, Ordered, That it be postponed until to-morrow. Agrecably to the order of the day, the Senate resumed, as in Committee. of the Whole, the bill for the relief of Nathaniel Patten; and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the Senate; and, On the question, "Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined in the affirmative. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Clarke, their Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a "resolution to grant a room to the Columbian Institute;" and a bill entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of government for the first quarter of the year 1829;" in which resolution and bill they request the concurrence of the Senate. The said resolution and bill were severally read; and Ordered, That they pass to a second reading. The bill last mentioned was read the second time, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1828. Mr. Branch communicated the credentials of the Honorable James Iredell, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of North Carolina, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the Honorable Nathaniel Macon; which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to Mr. Iredell, and he took his seat in the Senate. Mr. Silsbee presented the petition of John Peters, and Sabin Pond, praying that the portion of the proceeds of the brig Anna, and cargo, condemned in 1814, at Savannah, for a supposed violation of the revenue laws, which were paid into the Treasury of the United States, may be restored to them; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Foot presented the petition of Reuben Atwater, praying for remuneration for losses sustained, and compensation for extra services in the discharge of the duties of several public trusts in the Territory of Michigan; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Foot presented the petition of sundry inhabitants of Stamford, in the district of Fairfield, in Connecticut, praying that an appropriation may be made for the improvement of their harbor; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. King asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill supplemental to an act to set apart and dispose of certain public. lands for the encouragement of the cultivation of the vine and olive, passed on the third of March, 1817; which was read twice, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public lands. Mr. Barnard presented the petition of N. Potts, and Samuel Clement, assignees of Jacob Clement, praying to be compensated for demurrage and other losses sustained by the detention of two vessels at Laguira, in 1812; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce. Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire into the present condition of the fur trade within the limits of the United States, and to report what measures, if any, are necessary to the safe and successful prosecution of that trade by citizens of the United States. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Select Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed. to inquire into the expediency of granting to the Territory of Arkansas, fifty thousand acres of land, for the removal of obstructions in the Red river. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Ruggles, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Select Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed. to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation for the continuation of the Cumberland road, from Zanesville, in the State of Ohio, to St. Louis, in the State of Missouri. The following joint resolution, submitted by Mr. Smith, of Maryland, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That when the two Houses adjourn on Wednesday next, they adjourn to meet on Monday following. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in said resolution. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Berrien, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of altering the times of holding the sixth Circuit Court of the United States, for the district of Georgia. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Eaton, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Finance inquire if some changes be not necessary in reference to the collection of imposts;the propriety of discontinuing per centage payments and fees to any and all officers engaged in, or connected with, the collection of the customs; and of changing their compen sations into definite and certain sums-having, in estimating said salaries, regard to the importance of the respective ports at which each officer may be engaged to the liabilities to be met, and labors to be encountered. That they inquire if any collection districts may be safely discontinued, and the duties thereof confided to some other inferior officer, or discontinued entirely, and attached to other districts; of the propriety of reducing the number of Inspectors, and altering the mode of compensation allowed them; of the propriety of dispensing with Gaugers and Measurers, and confiding their duties to Inspectors of Ports; and of dispensing with the appointment of Valuers of damaged goods imported, and with the payment of all fees at the custom-house, and substituting some more equitable plan; and generally, that the Committee inquire what acts of legislation may be necessary in reference to the alterations and changes here proposed, and for carrying them into complete effect. On motion, Ordered, That said resolution be printed. The following motions, submitted by Mr. Benton, were considered: Resolved, That the fifth section of the sinking fund act of 1817, ought to be so amended as to authorize the Commissioners of that fund to make purchases of the public debt at its current market price, whenever, in their opinion, such purchases can be made beneficially for the interests of the United States, and consistently with existing engagements. 2. That the fourth section of the same act which authorizes a retention of two millions of surplus revenue in the Treasury, ought to be repealed; and that the first section of the sinking fund act of 1790, which directs the whole of the surplus money in the Treasury to be applied to the payment of the public debt, ought to be revived and continued in force. 3. That the bank of the United States ought to be required to make a compensation to the people of the United States, for the use of the balances of public money on its hands. 4. That a public debt is a public burthen, and that the present debt of the United States is a burthen upon the people of the United States, to the amount of more than fifteen millions of dollars per annum, from which they ought to be relieved as soon as possible, and may be relieved in four years, by a "timely" and "judicious" application of the means within the power of Congress. 5. That an abolition of duties to the amount of the ten millions of dollars now annually levied on account of the public debt, ought to be made as soon as that debt is paid, and may be made, according to the present indications of the revenue, without diminishing the protection due to any branch of domestic manufactures, and with manifest advantage to the agriculture and commerce of the country. 6. That the Committee on Finance be directed to prepare and bring in a bill to carry into effect the objects of the first and second of these resolutions. On motion by Mr. Benton, Ordered, That the consideration of said resolutions be postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Monday next; and that they be printed. The resolution from the House of Representatives, "to grant a room to the Columbian Institute," was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the Senate; and Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. |