pared for a foreign market, which they are prevented from exporting in consequence of the existence of the embargo, and that before the expiration of the act their grain will be spoiled, and praying the repeal or curtailment of the duration of the embargo. When the petitions were read, a motion was made by Mr. D. R. WILLIAMS, that they lie on the table. Negatived-yeas 17, nays 88. A motion was then made by Mr. RHEA, that the further consideration of the said petitions be postponed until the fourth day of March next. Agreed to after considerable debate-yeas 61, nays 48. Mr. BASSETT presented a letter addressed to him by William H. Harrison, enclosing sundry documents in refutation of the charges contained in the petitions of sundry inhabitants of the Indiana Territory, heretofore presented to the House. On motion of Mr. JENNINGS, this letter, together with the petitions therein referred to, were referred to the Secretary of State. Mr. WRIGHT, from the Military Committee, reported a bill for the better regulation of the ordnance; which was twice read, and committed. An engrossed bill making further provision for the Army of the United States, was read the third Mr. BACON reported a bill making provision for the discharge of all unsettled claims for work done on the public buildings; which was twice read, and committed. H. oF R. York District, and the bill for the relief of Reuben Saunders and securities, were twice read, and committed. The amendments of the Senate to the bill "to continue in force An act to provide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the Revolutionary war, and for other purposes," were read, and concurred in by the House. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed a bill "in addition to the act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in the State of Maryland, to the State of Ohio;" in which they desire the concurrence of this House. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF WAR. Mr. HARPER, from the committee to whom was referred the President's Message on the subject, reported the following bill : A bill supplementary to the act entitled "An act to establish an Executive Department, to be denominated the Department of War." Be it enacted, &c., That there shall be added to the Department of War two additional Secretarics, to be appointed in the same way and manner as other civil officers. And it shall be the duty of the said Assistant Secretaries to aid and assist the Secretary of the said department, in such branches of the business as the said Secretary may direct. And the senior Assistant Secretary shall perform and discharge the duties of Secretary for the Department of War, during the absence or inability of the Secretary, and also whenever that office shall be vacant. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to each of the said Assistant Secretaries dollars, payable quarterly at the annual salary of the Treasury of the United States. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all letters and packets to and from the said Assistant Secretaries shall be conveyed by mail free of postage, according to the law regulating the Post Office establishment. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force for the term of three years from the passing thereof, and to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer. The bill was twice read, and referred to a Com CORPS OF ENGINEERS. Mr. MORROW, from the Committee of Public Lands, reported the bill from the Senate for giv-mittee of the Whole. ing the Government House in New Orleans to the Governor, for the time being, his heirs and successors, of the State of Louisiana, without amendment; and the bill was ordered to be read a third time on Monday. The House resumed the consideration of the bill making further provision for the Army of the United States. On motion of Mr. WRIGHT, the bill was recommitted to the Committee of the Whole, by 47 to 44 votes, for the purpose of making an amendment to the section authorizing the appointment of certain additional Generals in case of necessity. The bill for establishing a general Land Office in the Treasury Department, was read a third time, and passed. The bill for the relief of John N. Stout, was read a third time, and passed. The bill from the Senate authorizing the appointment of an additional District Judge in New The House resumed the consideration of the bill making further provision for the Corps of Engineers, which had been amended in Committee of the Whole, so as to authorize the appropriation therein made to be disbursed "at such place as may be designated by the President of the United States for that purpose." Mr. GOLD spoke against a concurrence in this amendment at some length, and was followed on the same side by Mr. SMILIE and Mr. WIDGERY; to whom Mr. KEY, Mr. WILLIAMS, and Mr. WRIGHT replied. The discussion principally involved the respective merits of West Point and Washington City (to which place it was supposed, probably, that the Executive might deem it expedient to remove the Academy) as proper sites for a Military Academy. The question on the amendment was H. or R. Corps of Engineers. APRIL, 1812. decided by yeas and yeas. For the amendment Aaron Lyle, William McCoy, Anthony New, Thomas 53; against the amendment 56, as follows: YEAS-Willis Alston, junior, William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, John Baker, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, James Breckenridge, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Elias Earle, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Aylett Hawes, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Philip B. Key, William R. King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lewis, jr., Peter Little, William Lowndes, Nathaniel Macon, William McCoy, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Anthony New, Thomas Newton, Stephen Ormsby, Joseph Pearson, Israel Pickens, James Pleasants, jr., Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel Ringgold, John Roane, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smith, Philip Stuart, David R. Williams, Thomas Wilson, and Robert Wright. Nars-Ezekiel Bacon, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, Elijah Brigham, Robert Brown, Epaphroditus Champion, William Crawford, John Davenport, jr., Samuel Dinsmoor, William Ely, William Findley, James Fisk, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Edwin Gray, Isaiah L. Green, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Joseph Lefever, Robert Le Roy Livingston, Aaron Lyle, Arunah Metcalf, Sam- Thomas Newbold, Timothy Pitkin. jr., Benjamin Pond, Mr. W. ALSTON moved an amendment contemplating the establishment of the Academy at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, a place which he stated to be more eligible, in point of economy, convenience, and comfort, than West Point. Mr. GOLD opposed the motion. A motion was made by Mr. LITTLE to recommit the bill, and negatived. Mr. FINDLEY spoke in favor of the motion. Mr. BAKER suggested the propriety of locating the Academy at Harper's Ferry; and because, if the Academy must be removed, he thought Harper's Ferry preferable to Carlisle, he should vote against this motion. Mr. RHEA made a motion which he said would put an end to all these propositions to amend the bill, viz: to postpone the bill indefinitely. The motion was negatived-yeas 32. The question on Mr. ALSTON'S motion to lo cate the school at Carlisle was then taken, and determined in the negative-yeas 36, nays 67, as follows: YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, Robert Brown, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, Lewis Condict, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, William Findley, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Newton, Israel Pickens, Henry M. Ridgely, Samuel NAYS-Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, John Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, Thomas Wilson, and Robert Wright. Mr. WRIGHT moved to amend the bill so as to authorize the expenditure of the money therein appropriated for public buildings within the District of Columbia," which was decided in the negative-yeas 40, nays 64, as follows: YEAS-William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, John Baker, Burwell Bassett, James Breckenridge, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Matthew Clay, James Cochran, John Dawson, Joseph Desha, Thomas Gholson, Chas. Goldsborough, Peterson Goodwyn, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, Aylett Hawes, Philip B. Key, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lewis, junior, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Nathaniel Macon, Thomas Moore, Archibald McBryde, William McCoy, Thomas Newton, Joseph Pearson, Israel Pickens, James Pleasants, jr., Samuel Ringgold, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smith, Philip Stuart, George M. Troup, Richard Winn, and Robert Wright. NAYS-Willis Alston, junior, Ezekiel Bacon, David Bard, William Blackledge, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, Elijah Brigham, Robert Brown, William ABurwell, Epaphroditus Champion, William Crawford, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, John Davenport, jun. Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Ely, William Findley, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Isaiah L. Green, Obed Hall, John A. Harper, Jacob Hufty, John MHyneman, Richard Jackson, junior, Joseph Lefever Robert Le Roy Livingston, Aaron Lyle, Samuel McKee, Arunah Metcalf, Jas. Morgan, Jonathan O. Moseley, Hugh Nelson, Thomas Newbold, Timothy Pitkin jun., Benjamin Pond, Elisha R. Potter, Josiah Quincy John Randolph, William Reed, Henry M. Ridgely John Rhea, William Rodman, Ebenezer Sage, Thos Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, Daniel Sheffey, John Smilie, George Smith, Richard Stanford, Silas Stow William Strong, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart Benjamin Tallmadge, Uri Tracy, Charles Turner, jr. Pierre Van Cortlandt, jr., Laban Wheaton, Leonar Goodwyn, Bolling Hall, Aylett Hawes, William R. White, Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, and King, Abner Lacock, Joseph Lewis, jr., Peter Little, Thomas Wilson. Mr. BAKER then moved the insertion of "Harper's Ferry on the Potomac," as the site for the buildings authorized by y the bill to be erected for the purposes of a Military Academy. Mr. RHEA made a motion to postpone the further consideration of the whole bill to the fourth day of July next, which was lost-ayes 47, noes 54. The question was then taken on Mr. BAKER's -motion, and negatived. The question was then taken-"Shall the amendments be engrossed, and, together with the bill, be read a third time?" and decided in the affirmative. SATURDAY, April 25. The bill from the Senate "making provision for the Corps of Engineers," was read the third time as amended, and passed. 1 The bill from the Senate "in addition to the act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in the State of Maryland to the State of Ohio," was read twice, and commit ted to the Committee of the Whole. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill "further to amend the charter of the City of Washington," with amendments; in which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Senate have passed a resolution, in the form of a joint resolution, " to authorize the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, during the present session, to adjourn their respective Houses, on the 29th instant, to Monday, the 8th of June next, then to meet at the same place in which the two Houses are now sitting;" in which resolution they also desire the concurrence of this House. Mr. ROBERTS, after some preparatory remarks, in which he adverted to the indisposition which appeared in the committee to report on the subject, offered the following resolution: H. OF R. YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, Ezekiel Bacon, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William W. Bibb, William Blackledge, Robt. Brown, John C. Calhoun, James Cochran, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Saml. Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, William Findley, James Fisk, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Isaiah L. Green, Felix Grundy, Bolling Hall, John A. Harper, John M. Hyneman, Richard M. Johnson, Wm. R. King, Abner Lacock, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Aaron Lyle, Jeremiah Morrow, Hugh Nelson, Thomas Newton, Anthony New, Stephen Ormsby, Israel Pickens, Jas. Pleasants, jun., Samuel Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smilie, Geo. Smith, John Smith, William Strong, Geo. M. Troup, Charles Turner, jun., Robert Whitehill, and David R. Williams. NAYS-John Baker, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam, Boyd, James Breckenridge, Elijah Brigham, William William Ely, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Joseph Kent, Philip B. Key, Joseph Lefever, Joseph Lewis, jun., Nathaniel A joint resolution having come from the Senate to authorize the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives to ad Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to report a bill with as little delay as pos- journ their respective Houses on the 29th instant, sible, making an addition of an hundred per cent. to Law on all goes of the several rates of permanent duties now imposed by into the United States. opported been twice read to the 8th day of June; and the same having Mr. ROBERTS moved to refer it to a Commit After some remarks from Mr. BACON, the fur- tee of the Whole.-Negatived. ther consideration of the motion was postponed to Monday. ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. for the Army of the United States. izing Mr. BIBB stated to the House that the joint committee had agreed to a recess till the 18th May. Perceiving that the Senate had not concurred in this proposition, he moved to strike out of May." He remarked that it must be obvious "the 8th day of June," and insert "the 18th day was entirely lost by the refusal of the Senate, for he had contemplated when he first proposed it, some days, to take up the subject. He had prowhich would have allowed an opportunity to all posed then to adjourn to the 15th June, a time to all, that the original object of such recess, as The Committee rose and reported the bill, which was ordered to be engrossed and read a to visit their family, and might have been agreed third time. 1 The said bill was then read a third time, and two weeks had singe elapsed, and his object was Debated at some length. It was opposed princi- defeated. He had before stated that he appre pally, if not altogether, on account of the section hended there was no intention on the part of to in his opinion without public detriment. But either House to take any ultimate step till the expiration of the embargo. Inasmuch as most of the measures concerning our foreign relations had been taken, he saw no impropriety in a recess for the intermediate time, which would be better spent at home than here in doing nothing. But now. so far as he could collect the sentiment of the House, he did not find that there was an intention to delay their final proceedings to the close of the embargo. Although he would agree to adjourn for a few days because he believed there was nothing of pressing importance requiring attention before such a recess would expire; yet, as he was willing himself to proceed to the final step, whenever a proposition for that purpose should be made, and as he believed it would be earlier than had been supposed, he was not now willing to adjourn. The only objection he had heard to a short recess, was, that it would have an unfavorable effect on the public feeling. He held no such opinion. Every one must have seen how weary the members had become, and that daily applications were made for leave of absence. Now, for himself, though he should have no opportunity to visit his family, Mr. B. said he had no objection to give those who lived nearer an opportunity to see theirs; and to others permission meanwhile to spend their time as agreeably as they could. APRIL. 181 Sammons, John Sevier, Adam Seybert, John Smili NAYS-Ezekiel Bacon, John Baker, William V tived-ayes 46, Mr. CALHOUN supported Mr. WRIGHT'S amen ment, and detailed several bills actually necessa to be acted on before an adjournment. Amol those objects, he enumerated amendments to t sary-General's Department, the regulation of t ordnance, &c. Mr. BIBB'S motion to insert the 18th May in-law establishing a Quartermaster and Comm stead of 8th June, was negatived.-For the motion 47, against it 64. Mr. LITTLE moved to strike out "the 8th day of June," so as to leave the resolution blank as to the time to which they should adjourn. The motion was negatived-ayes 49. Mr. WRIGHT moved to strike out "the 29th instant," and insert "the 9th May," as the day of adjournment. Mr. BLACKLEDGE doubted whether time would be allowed, even with this amendment, to do the necessary business before they adjourned. Mr. NEWTON added that there was a rule the Senate by which one member, by objectin could prevent a bill's being read twice in o day. If they were to agree to this resolutic therefore, they would tie the House neck a heels, and deliver it over into the power of t Senate; as three legislative days only would tervene between this day and the day propos for the adjournment, and no measure could got through if any one member of the Sen: objected. Mr. GRUNDY stated the importance of this question, about now to be decided upon too hastily. He adverted to the multiplicity of business before Congress, and the necessity for certain amend- 58. as follows: ments to existing laws, which could not be prepared by Wednesday next. To give a little time to reflect on this subject, he moved to postpone the further consideration of it to Monday, which was decided in the negative-yeas 52, nays 62, as follows: YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, Stevenson Archer, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, William Blackledge, Robert Brown, William A. Burwell, William Butler, John C. Calhoun, Matthew Clay, John Clopton, Lewis Condict, Roger Davis, John Dawson, Mr. WRIGHT'S motion to postpone the day adjournment to May 9, was lost-yeas 57, na YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., William Anderson, S venson Archer, David Bard, Burwell Bassett, Will William A. Burwell, W Buckledge, Robert Brown, Matthew Clay, John Ch ton, Lewis Condict, William Crawford, Roger Da Joseph Desha, Samuel Dinsmoor, Elias Earle, James Coy, Samuel L. Mitchill, Anthony New, Thos. N Fisk, Thomas Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Felix ton, Stephen Ormsby, James Pleasants, jun., Sam Grundy, Bolling Hall, John A. Harper, Richard M. Ringgold, John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Robe Johnson, Joseph Kent, William R. King, Abner La- Ebenezer Sage, Ebenezer Seaver, Adam Seybert, J cock, Joseph Lefever, Peter Little, William Lowndes, Smilie, George Smith, John Smith, William Stre Aaron Lyle, Thomas Moore, William McCoy, Jere- Charles Turner, junior, Richard Winn, and Ro miah Morrow, Anthony New, Thomas Newton, Ste- Wright. phen Ormsby, James Pleasants, jr., Samuel Ringgold, NAYS-Ezekiel Bacon, John Baker, William John Rhea, John Roane, Jonathan Roberts, Thomas Bibb, Harmanus Bleecker, Adam Boyd, James Bre APRIL, 1812. Recess of Congress. H. or R. enridge, Elijah Brigham, Epaphroditus Champion, been repeatedly told, on their meeting at the pres ent session, that an important crisis had occurred. They had gone on from time to time, as if they believed it so; but had been repeatedly admonished by the minority that all they had done was James Cochran, John Davenport, jr., William Ely, Asa Fitch, Thomas R. Gold, Charles Goldsborough, Edwin Gray, Isaiah L. Green, Jacob Hufty, Richard Jackson, jr., Philip B. Key, Joseph Lewis, jun., Nathaniel Macon, Archibald McBryde, Samuel McKee, mere parade, and that nothing serious was intendArunah Metcalf, James Milnor, James Morgan, Jere- ed. In reviewing the transactions of the session, miah Morrow, Jonathan O. Moseley, Hugh Nelson, however, he believed it would be found that they Thomas Newbold, Joseph Pearson, Israel Pickens, had fulfilled their duty. They had recently Timothy Pitkin, jr., Benjamin Pond, Elisha R. Potter, passed an embargo; the extension of which to Josiah Quincy, John Randolph, William Reed, Henry ninety days was a matter of compromise, because M. Ridgely, William Rodman, Thomas Sammons, Ebenezer Seaver, Daniel Sheffey, Richard Stanford, Philip Stuart, Silas Stow, Lewis B. Sturges, Samuel Taggart, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uri Tracy, George M. Troup, Pierre Van Cortlandt, jun., Laban Wheaton, Leonard White, Robert Whitehill, David R. Williams, William Widgery, and Thomas Wilson. Mr. BIBB, after stating his impression that it would be impossible to get business so forwarded as to enable them to adjourn on the 29th instant, moved to amend the resolution by striking out that day and inserting Monday the 4th May. Motion lost-yeas 45. Mr. JOHNSON said he had voted in such a way on these several motions as to defeat the object of the resolution. He now moved to amend it by striking out the 8th June and inserting the 28th Jane; assigning as a reason, that the proposed recess of thirty-eight days would have all the evil predicted of a recess, and none of the benefits. If a recess must take place, he was desirous that it should be of such a length as to afford to all an opportunity to visit their homes; because, if there were to be a recess for thirty-eight days, those who voted for it could not contemplate making a declaration of war before the expiration of the embargo; and if they did not, they might as well adjourn to the 28th as the 8th, for on the latter day 30 many would be absent that they would not be able to make a quorum. As to the effect on pubhe sentiment, he believed that the people would be much more dissatisfied at their remaining here twenty, thirty, or sixty days doing nothing, than at an adjournment predicated on the motive of affording an opportunity to the proper departments to prepare for war. But, as he was desirous of acting, he would not vote for the proposition as it stood; if it must be adopted, he wished the DOW time 10 be extended from forty to sixty days. Mr. RINGGOLD moved to adjourn.-Motion lost, yeas 54. Mr. WIDGERY said he, as well as the gentleman from Kentucky, lived more than six hundred miles hence, and yet he was willing to take the thirty-eight days proposed by the Senate. He hoped no one friendly to the recess would vote for an amendment the avowed object of which was to defeat the resolution. Mr. JOHNSON'S motion was negatived. Mr. ROBERTS said, as the House had shown a disposition to reject every amendment, and to agree to the resolution forthwith as it now stood, there was very little necessity of saying much on the principle which ought to determine the question, and he should be listened to with very little patience were he to attempt it. The House had it was understood that sixty days would have been long enough. In the intermediate time, many preparations must be made; a variety of incidents might arise to call for the serious consideration of Congress. Under these circumstances it must appear, if they adjourned as proposed, that those who have been in the majority have been insincere, or that a mere desire of getting out of an irksome attendance here is about to induce them to abandon it at a moment certainly not less serious than any which have preceded it. These considerations, Mr. R. said, he might expatiate on to considerable length, and to much interest; but he should forbear, and proceed to the more immediate object of his rising. Believing that Congress was about to suspend their session for thirty-eight days, and coming himself from among a people who worked for their living, he thought there would be an extreme impropriety in members retiring from their duty for thirtyeight days, seeking pleasure and recreation, and receiving the same pay as if sedulously engaged in business which they were so palpably neglecting. He therefore moved a resolution (as an amendment to that now before the House.) the object of which was that the accounting officers of each House should not allow to the members thereof any mileage or daily pay during the time for which the House should adjourn. Mr. ALSTON said, as the House were about to adjourn for their mere personal convenience and relaxation, he was decidedly of opinion that they should do it at their own expense, and not that of the people. They should stand in this respect as if they had obtained leave of absence, in which case a member's pay ceases. Mr. WIDGERY said, he did not fear to meet this question; and he would no sooner vote for the motion of the gentleman from Pennsylvania than for any other thing which he believed to be absolutely wrong. He had no idea that his constituents were unwilling to pay him his travel home and back, or for staying here. He had reasons for voting for a recess, which were strong and forcible: and he would not be deterred from voting for it by such proposition, the object of which was only to defeat the main question. When he saw such a disposition prevailing to thwart the views of both Houses, it only made him the more determined to persevere. He would sit till midnight but he would obtain a vote on the real question before the House. Mr. GRUNDY said, he did not at first very well like the proposition of the gentleman from Pennsylvania; but as he believed, so far from pro |