DECEMBER, 1811. Proceedings. H. OF R. Spain, or any other foreign Power, respecting the claim of the United States to that tract of country of which possession was taken by virtue of the President's proclamation, bearing date the twenty-seventh day of October, 1810; and, also, whether he is possessed of any information, which, in his opinion, requires that the should be suspended, with a view to future negotiaLegislative authority of Congress over said country tion on that subject. The resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. JENNINGS moved the following resolution: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House any additional information, verbal or otherwise, which he may have received, relative and important to the public situation of the Indiana Territory, which may not be improper to be communicated. rule to prevent all proceedings whatever. Gen-tiation is now pending between the United States and tlemen may as well assume the power of preventing a member from voting, as they now do that of preventing him from speaking. 1 am willing to agree, sir, that the privilege of debate, on this floor, may have been and will again be abused; that on particular subjects individual members have spoken much longer than was necessary, and I may add, also, with much less sense than a majority might have wished; and in some instances they may have prolonged their speeches, merely for the purposes of delay. But, sir, will you deprive a member of the right of speaking at all, because he is unable to convey his ideas in few words, or because he may have very few or no ideas to convey? Or because some may have spoken merely to delay the proceedings of the House, will you make a general rule, by which a member may be wholly deprived of the right of speaking? If indeed, sir, evils do arise in consequence of the liberty of speech in this House, if the business of the nation does not progress with as much rapidity as in countries under the control of an individual; they are evils which flow from the very nature of our Government, from that freedom which we so highly prize, and from that very Constitution which we have sworn to support. So long as we are men we shall be imperfect, we shall bring with us on this floor different views, different ideas on political as well as on other subjects; and it would be strange indeed if, on the various topics of national importance brought before us for discussion, we should not at times come into strong collision with each other. The question on the amendment was deter-New Orleans; and, after some time spent therein, mined in the negative-yeas 36, nays 76. Mr. STANFORD moved to amend the rules by adding to the end of the paragraph relating to priority of business, the words but no question of consideration shall be required upon an original motion;" which was also determined in the negativé-yeas 30, nays 68.. On motion of Mr. WILLIAMS the said rules were amended by striking out the word" five," in the paragraph prescribing the manner in which the previous question shall be taken, and inserting the words "one-fifth of the." The question was then taken to concur in the said rules as amended, and determined in the affirmative. TUESDAY, December 24. On motion of Mr. KENT, the petitions of the President and Directors of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, presented the twentyeighth of January, 1806, and the thirteenth of February, 1807, were severally referred to the committee appointed, on the sixth instant, on the memorial of the Union Canal Company, in the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. POINDEXTER moved the following resolution : Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to inform this House whether any nego The resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Srow moved the following resolution: Resolved, That, should a war ensue between the United States and Great Britain, it would be expedient to provide, by law, a bounty to impressed American seamen, and their associates, for each British ship of war they may capture and bring into an American port. The resolution was read, and referred to a Committee of the Whole on the first Monday in February next, The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report of the Committee on the Public Lands, made the fifth instant, on the petition of the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of the Committee rose, and reported their disagreement to the resolution therein contained. The resolution was then read, and is as follows: Resolved, That provision ought to be made for securing to the corporation of the city of New Orleans, the occupancy and use of a piece of ground on which it is contemplated to erect steam engines for conveying water into the said city: Provided, That if the ground shall not be so occupied, or shall hereafter cease to be so occupied, the claim of the United States thereto shall remain unimpaired. On motion of Mr. BIBB, the further consideration of the resolution was postponed until the first Monday in February next. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed a bill "authorizing the President of the United States to raise certain companies of rangers for the protection of the frontier of the United States" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to continue in force, for a further time, the first section of an act, entitled "An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers." The bill was reported without amendment, and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on Friday next. Mr. POINDEXTER moved the following resolu tion: The SPEAKER also presented a petition of "a committee appointed at a meeting of the officers and privates of the several militia corps of Knox county, in the Indiana Territory, who served in the late campaign under Governor Harrison," praying that grants of land may be made to the heirs of such officers and soldiers as fell in the action of the seventh ultimo; and that compensation may be made for horses and other property unavoidably lost or destroyed in said action. The petitions were referred to the committee appointed, on the nineteenth instant, on the Message from the President of the United States, transmitting letters from Governor Harrison, relative to the action aforesaid. The bill from the Senate, "authorizing the President of the United States to raise certain companies of rangers for the protection of the frontier of the United States," was read twice, and referred to the Committee appointed on that part of the President's Message which relates to filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops, and to an auxiliary military force. DECEMBER, 1811. statement of the vessels belonging to the United States, which have been repaired since the year 1801. specifying the time when such repairs were made, and the cost. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill directing the terms on which lands sold at public sale, and that revert for failure in payment, shall again be sold; and, after some time spent therein, the bill was reported without amendment, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. the Whole on the report of the Committee on the Public Lands, made the fifth instant, on the memorial of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose, and reported their agreement to the resolutions contained therein; which were concurred in by the House, as follows: The House resolved itself into a Committee of 1. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to repeal such clauses of the laws for the sale of the public lands, as impose interest from date of the purchase on such inthey become due, or to remit back interest which may stalments of the purchase-money as are not paid when have accrued on any such instalment. 2. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to allow a further time of two years, from the time the last instalment shall become due, before a forfeiture can take place for failure in payment on any future sales. 3. Resolved, That the further time of one year, for completing the payments, ought to be allowed, respectively, to all purchasers of public lands, Northwest of the river Ohio, whose time for completing the payment of the purchase-money may, or shall have expired on or before the twenty-second day of December, 1812, and whose land has not been actually sold, or forfeited for failure in payment, on condition that all arrears of interest shall be paid to entitle any purchaser to the benefit of this provision. The Committee on Public Lands were directed to prepare and report a bill, pursuant to the third resolution. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report of the Committee of Claims, made the twenty-seventh ultimo, on the petition of Rees Nanna and others, to which The third reading of the bill from the Senate. "for the relief of Thomas O'Bannon," was called for; when, on motion of Mr. BLACKLEDGE, it was recommitted to the Committee on the Pub-Committee of the Whole was also committed lic Lands. Adjourned to Thursday. THURSDAY, December 26. Mr. LEWIS, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, presented a bill relating to marriage licenses, in Washington county, in the District of Columbia, and directing the applica tion of the fees paid for them; which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. Mr. PORTER, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, presented a bill authorizing the President of the United States to accept and organize certain volunteer military corps; which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. On motion of Mr. BIBB, the Secretary of the Navy was directed to lay before this House a the report of the Committee of Claims, of the twenty-first instant, on the expediency of repealing or suspending the statutes of limitation; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose, and had leave to sit again. Mr. GHOLSON moved the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee of Claims be instructed to inquire into the merits of all claims that may be referred to them, which originated during the Revolutionary war, notwithstanding such claims may be barred by the statutes of limitation; and to report their opinion thereon to the House. The resolution' was read; when the House adjourned., FRIDAY, December 27! Mr. NELSON presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the Territory of Louisiana, praying that the second grade of Territorial government may be extended to the inhabitants of said Territory. Mr. NELSON also presented a certified copy of a presentment by the grand jury of the District of St. Charles, in said Territory, representing that the second grade of Territorial government ought to be extended to that Territory; that the judges of the general court ought to reside in the Territory; and that further and equitable provisions ought to be made in favor of rejected land claims. Referred. H. OF R. ure in payment, shall again be sold, was read the third time, and passed. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the revision of former confirmations, and for confirming certain claims to land in the District of Kaskaskia. The bill was reported without amendment, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the more convenient taking of affidavits and bail, in civil causes depending in the Courts of the United States, and the Mr. NELSON also presented a petition of mem- amendment reported by the select committee, on bers of several Christian denominations, residing the second instant. The Committee rose and rein the Western parts of the United States, pray-ported the bill, with the amendment; which was ing that mails may not be carried, and post offices may not be opened, on Sundays.-Laid on the table. 1 Mr. POINDEXTER presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the Mississippi Territory, praying that the said Territory may be admitted into the Union as a State.-Referred. Mr. Lewis, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, presented a bill further to amend the charter of the city of Washington; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. Mr. WILLIAMS, from the committee appointed on that part of the President's Message which relates to filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops, and to an auxiliary force, to whom was referred the bill from the Senate authorizing the President of the United States to raise certain companies of rangers for the protection of the frontier of the United States," reported the same without amendment and the bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow. Mr. PORTER, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the bill from the Senate, "to raise an additional military force," reported the same, with an amendment; which was read, and, together with the bill, committed to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. The SPEAKER laid before the House a report of the Postmaster General on the petitions of the Synod of Pittsburg, and of sundry members of several Christian denominations, in the Western parts of the United States, relative to the con. veyance of mails on Sundays; which was read, and referred to the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. An engrossed bill to continue in force, for a further time, the first section of the act, entitled "An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers," was read the third time, and passed. The House proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. GHOLSON on the twenty-sixth instant; and the said resolution being again read, was committed to the Committee of the Whole on the report of the Committee of Claims on the petition of Rees Nanna and others. concurred in by the House, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to continue in force, for a limited time, the salaries of the officers of Government therein mentioned;" and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and had leave to sit again. PENNSYLVANIA RESOLUTIONS. The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I lay before Congress copies of resolutions entered into by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, which have been transmitted to me with that view by the Governor of that State, in pursuance of one of the said resolutions. JAMES MADISON. WASHINGTON, December 27, 1811, The present is a period replete with national occurrences as momentous as ever marked the annals of the world. That collision of kingdoms and empires which has deluged Europe with blood, borne down the practice, and nearly extinguished the principles of justice and humanity, is not, in its effects, confined to prosperity, the enterprising spirit, and the expanding that unhappy quarter of the globe. The unparalleled commerce of the United States of America, have rendered them, to the two mighty belligerents, an object of envy and a medium of retaliation, pretended as to one, and iniquitous in both. The Emperor of the French has yet much to do before the just claims of our country can be satisfied. But he has annulled those decrees which were the only legal obstruction to a friendly and commercial intercourse with his dominions. He has annulled those very decrees on which the British Government solemnly declared its Orders in Council to be suspended. To the British Government and to the world he has evinced the extinguishment of those decrees by the practice. But have the Orders in Council expired with united evidence of solemn profession and uniform their subsequent operation has been as life from the the French decrees? No. Compared with their prior, dead. They have been executed with redoubled rigor. Our seamen are impressed, our citizens robbed, our flag prostrated, our own waters infested, our coasting trade annoyed, our harbors blockaded While maritime oppression has thus risen to its An engrossed bill directing the terms on which summit, an Envoy Extraordinary is sent to our Govlands sold at private sale, and that revert for fail-ernment, not (as might have been reasonably expected) to soften our irritated country by conciliatory language; not to offer atonement for offences, and indemnifications for wrongs that are past: these, with a single exception, he passes over as things beneath the notice of the British Government or its Envoy, or as injuries to which the inexhaustible forbearance, the presumed timidity, or the abject debasement of the American Government would insure her silent submission. He commences a new species and system of insult. He prescribes to the President what he shall recommend, and what the National Legislature shall enact. He demands a law which shall admit the products and manufactures of Great Britain into the ports of the United States, although American manufactures are, even in time of peace, excluded from the British dominions. He commands the American Government to procure of Napoleon an abandonment of his continental system, and the admission of British products and manufactures into his own and the ports of his allies. A compliance with the first of these demands is a relinquishment of sovereignty; to fulfil the latter, the United States have neither right, nor power, nor the folly to attempt. The first is degrading, the second impossible. And yet a submission to these royal mandates is menacingly declared to be the only condition on which the Orders in Council shall be repealed, and the violation of our neutral rights discontinued.. Solemnly impressed with these considerations, and contemplating demands so unjust, so unreasonable, so disrespectful to the intelligence, and so insulting to the sovereignty of an enlightened, free, and independent people, therefore, 1. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That the policy of the British Government, as exhibited by her naval power on the high seas, and expressed by her Envoy near the United States, merits the reprobation, and cannot but arouse the virtuous indignation of every friend of this country and its Government.. 2. Resolved, That, when submission or resistance to the unjust demands of a tyrant is the alternative, the latter only can be chosen by the freemen of America. 3. Resolved, That, though we would rejoice in that adoption and practice of justice which would secure to Great Britain and to the world our friendship and friendly intercourse, we will, in order to repel aggression and obtain reparation, vigorously exert all the powers which we possess to accelerate the accomplishment of such military preparations as the wisdom of our National Legislature may require. DECEMBER, 1811. can citizen, to seize a subject of His Britannic Majesty, wherever such subject can be found, and to subject him to imprisonment and labor, corresponding to the condition of the impressed American on board of a British ship of war. 6. Resolved, That the wisdom, patriotism, and firmness of the Executive and Councils of the General Government entitle them to our perfect confidence, and their measures to our prompt and zealous cooperation; and, in case an appeal to arms should be deemed necessary, we will support them at the risk of our lives and fortunes. 7. Resolved, That the Governor of this Commonwealth be instructed to transmit an authenticated copy of these resolutions to the President of the United States, with a request that he communicate them to Congress. JOHN TODD, Speaker of the House. P. C. LANE, Speaker of the Senate. MONDAY December 30. Soon after the Journal was read, Mr. DAWSON rose and addressed the Chair. The lowness of his voice, owing to recent indisposition prevented his being heard distinctly; but his observations were nearly as follows: Mr. Speaker-Virginia, my parent State, has able sons and estimable daughters, who on the long to mourn the loss of some of her most valunight of the 26th of the present month, met their untimely end.* the metropolis of that State, on that sad night, Among those who perished in the flames, in were the Chief Magistrate of the State, and a gentlemant well known to many of us, and who, for years, held an honorable station in this House. Some of the most valuable and prominent characters in their professions, and others who promised ere long to be ornaments to their country. With these, sir, was the rising offspring of one of our present most valuable members, and many other amiable and virtuous women, who adorned and improved society. These, sir, with many others, have fallen victims to that unrelenting element, notwithstanding the bold and generous efforts which were made to save them. Their ashes are now mingled with the dust, and their spirits have ascended to Heaven. It is to us a great national calamity. 4. Resolved, That it is our duty as legislators to emI well know, that on such occasions grief, alploy a suitable portion of the finances of this Common though keen, is unavailing-that the decrees of wealth in promoting the growth and prosperity, and fate are irrevocable and ought to be submitted to in securing the permanence of our infant manufac-with humility. In order, however, to testify the tures: that, as individuals of the community, we will, as much as possible, abstain from wearing anything in our apparel that is not the product of these manufactures, and that we will recommend the same patriotic practice to our constituents. 5. Resolved, That the question merits serious consideration, whether, in order to suppress the system of plunder and impressment on the high seas, it would or would not be a just, humane, and efficient retaliation to lay hold on property of the British Government or of its subjects, whenever such property can be found to an amount sufficient to indemnify the plundered American; and for every impressed Ameri respect and sorrow which this nation feels for the deceased, and to prove that we sympathize this painful subject, I beg leave to offer the folwith the afflicted, without further comment on lowing resolution: Resolved, That the members of this House will wear crape on the left arm for one month, in testimony of the respect and sorrow which they feel for those unfortunate persons who perished in the fire in the city *At the burning of the Theatre at Richmond. Mr. Venable. Mr. M. Clay's daughter. DECEMBER, 1811. Remission of Duties-Compensation to Revenue Officers. H. OF R. of Richmond, in Virginia, on the night of the 26th of of William Lyman, the Consul of the United States, the present month. the ship Eliza Ann, of New York, he acting as the This resolution was unanimously adopted. agent of the owners, Joshua Jones and Edward R. Jones, of New York, trading under the firm of Joshua Mr. POINDEXTER presented to the House a resoJones and Son; and that the said ship was transferred lution of the Legislative Council and House of to the petitioner, by the said William Lyman, accordRepresentatives of the Mississippi Territory, ap-ing to the form prescribed by law. That, after the purprobatory of the conduct of the Executive in the chase of the said ship, she sailed from London to Cadiz, late negotiations with the British Government, in Spain; took in there a cargo, principally belonging and expressive of their determination to support to the petitioner, and proceeded to New York, at which such measures as the General Government may place she arrived on or about the 7th of June, 1809; adopt for the maintenance of the rights, the com- the petitioner being at that time absent in Europe, and merce, and the honor, of the United States; which for some months after the arrival of the ship in the 'was read, and ordered to lie on the table. United States; in consequence of which, a register, in the name of the owner or petitioner, could not be obes-tained, and the ship and cargo were subjected to the payment of foreign duties. It is also stated that a register for the said ship, according to law, has been obtained. Mr. MORROW, from the Committee on the Public Lands, presented a bill to ascertain and tablish the Western boundary of the tract re served for satisfying the military bounties allowed to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on continental establishment; which was read and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next. The object of the petitioner is to obtain a remission of sels of the United States. so much of the duties as are above those paid by ves have been procured, had an application been made to that Department during the continuance of the disability incurred by the owner's not taking out a register within three days after the arrival of the said ship in the port of New York. This case, while the said ship was without a regisMr. WILLIAMS, from the committee appointed ter, came within the jurisdiction of the Treasury De on that part of the President's Message which re-partment, and a remission of the foreign duties might lates to filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops, and to an auxiliary force, reported (in part) a bill supplementary to "An act more effectually to provide for the national defence, by establishing a uniform militia throughout the United States;" and to "An act A new certificate of registry being obtained previous making provision for arming and equipping the to the application of the owner to the Secretary of the whole body of the militia of the United States," Treasury for a remission of the foreign duties, put it which was read twice and committed to the Cum-out of the power of the latter to do so, as the remission mittee of the Whole on Monday next. is incidental only to the Secretrary's removing a disability. Mr. WRIGHT moved the following resolution: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for the protection, recovery, and indemnification of American seamen. The resolution was laid on the table. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill authorizing the President of the United States to accept and organize certain volunteer military corps; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and had leave to sit again. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill from the Senate, "To raise an additional military force," and on the amendment reported thereto by the Committee on Foreign Relations; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and had leave to sit again. REMISSION OF DUTIES. The committee, on mature consideration, are of opinion that cases like the present ought to be decided without delay, and that it is safer to confine them to the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department. Being of this opinion, they beg leave to report a bill, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to render the same decision, on this case, that he would have done had application been made to him previous to the removal of the disability by the petitioner. COMPENSATION OF REVENUE OFFICERS. Means, made a report on the several petitions of Mr. BACON, from the Committee of Ways and the Collectors of the ports of Philadelphia, Norfolk, Plymouth, in Massachusetts, and Baltimore, and of the Naval Officer of the port of Philadel phia, referred during the present session; which was read; when, Mr. BACON from the same com mittee, presented a bill in addition to "An act to establish the compensations of the officers em mitted to a Committee of the Whole on Thursday and tonnage," which was read twice and comnext. The report is as follows: Mr. NEWTON, from the Committee of Com-ployed in the collection of the duties on imports merce and Manufactures, made a report on the petition of Ezekiel Hubbell, referred the eighth ultimo; which was read; when, Mr. NEWTON presented a bill to empower the Secretary of the Treasury to decide on the case of the ship Eliza Ann, belonging to Ezekiel Hubbell; which was read, and, together with the report, committed to a Committee of the Whole on Friday next. The report is as follows:: That the petitioner, on the 17th of January, 1809, at London, in the Kingdom of Great Britain, purchased That the aforesaid officers pray that provision may be made, by law, for remunerating to them the deficiencies which have happened in the amount of their it respects the collectors of the ports of Baltimore, and annual compensations, for some years past; and, as Norfolk, that additional compensation may be made them for the future. The committee have observed that thè deficiencies referred to have occurred principally during the years |