lic Lands, reported a bill to provide for paying to the State of Missouri three per cent. of the net proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands within the same; which bill was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole. Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, from the Committee of Claims, made a report on the petition of sundry merchants of Baltimore, respecting vessels sunk in the harbor of that city, accompanied by a bill for their relief; which bill was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole. On motion of Mr. Scort, the Committee on the Judiciary were instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the extension to, and due execution of, the laws of the United States within the State of Missouri, and for the organization of a district court therein, and for the appointment of a judge, marshal, and district attorney of the United States. Mr. FLOYD submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Department of the Navy be required to report to this House the probable increase of expense in causing an examination to be made of the different harbors belonging to the United States on the Pacific ocean, and of transporting artillery to the mouth of the Columbia river. The resolution was ordered to lie on the table until to-morrow. H. OF R. in mentioned, and for other purposes," approved the WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 1821. The said Message and documents were referred to the Committee on Commerce. Another Message was also received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which was read, as follows: To the House of Representatives of the United States: By a resolution of Congress, approved on the 27th of March, 1818, it was directed that the journal, acts, and proceedings of the Convention which formed the present Constitution of the United States, should be published under the direction of the President of the United States, together with the secret journals of the acts and proceedings, and the foreign correspondence (with a certain exception) of the Congress of the United States, from the first meeting thereof down to the date of the ratification of the definitive Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and the United States, in the year 1783, and that one thousand copies thereof should be printed, of which one copy should be furnished to each member of that (the fifteenth) Congress, and the residue should remain subject to the future disposition of Congress. And by a resolution of Congress, approved on the 21st April, 1820, it was provided that the secret journal, together with all the papers and documents connected with that journal, and all other papers and documents heretofore considered confidential, of the On motion of Mr. MOORE, of Pennsylvania, Old Congress, from the date of the ratification of the the House proceeded to consider, and agreed to, definitive treaty of the year 1783, to the formation of the resolution submitted by him on the 15th in- the present Government, which were remaining in the stant, for the appointment of an additional stand-office of the Secretary of State, should be published, ing committee, to consist of seven members, to be under the direction of the President of the United denominated The Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. States, and that a thousand copies thereof should be MOORE of Pennsylvania, Mr. METCALFE, Mr. Printed and deposited in the Library, subject to the BAYLY, Mr. HALL, Mr. SPENCER, Mr. MITCHELL disposition of Congress. of Pennsylvania, and Mr. BIGELOW, were then appointed the said committee. The joint resolution submitted by Mr. WHITMAN, on the 15th instant, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States in relation to the election of Representatives to Congress, and of Electors of President and Vice President of the United States, was read twice, and committed to the Committee of the whole House on the state of the Union. In pursuance of these two resolutions, one thousand copies of the journals and acts of the Convention which formed the Constitution, have been heretofore printed and placed at the disposal of Congress, and one thousand copies of the secret journals of the Congress of the Confederation, complete, have been printed, two hundred and fifty copies of which have been reserved to comply with the direction of furnishing one copy to each member of the fifteenth Congress, the remaining seven hundred and fifty copies have been deposited in the Library, and are now at the disposal of Congress. Mr. WRIGHT laid before the House an attested By the general appropriation act of 9th April, 1818, copy of a resolution passed by the General As- the sum of ten thousand dollars was appropriated for sembly of the State of Maryland, complaining defraying the expenses of printing done pursuant to of the protection afforded by the citizens of Penn- the resolution of the 27th of March, of that year. No sylvania to the slaves of the citizens of Mary-appropriation has yet been made to defray the expenses land, who abscond and go into that State, and declaring that it is the duty of Congress to enact such a law as will prevent a continuance of the evils complained of; which resolution was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. A Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which was read, as follows: To the House of Representatives of the United States incident to the execution of the resolution of 21st WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 1821. H. OF R. Militia and Regulars-Importation of Wool. The Message was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Cook moved to consider the resolution he had the honor to submit, (relative to Illinois and Indiana lands,) which motion was agreed to; and the resolution having been considered, was adopted. Mr. PATTERSON, of New York, called for the consideration of the resolution by him submitted on Saturday last, (relative to the census.) DECEMBER, 1821. The second resolution was adopted in the words following: Resolved, That a select committee be appointed on the subject of the Militia, whose duty it shall be to inquire into the expediency of organizing and providing for the improvement, in discipline, of the militia of the different States and Territories, and that said committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. The third resolution, relating to an increase of the annual appropriation for organizing the militia, being under discussion, Mr. WALWORTH moved to strike out the words "Ways and Means," and to Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, proposed to amend the same, by striking out all that part of the resolution which follows the words, "the United States," which was assented to by the mover; and there-insert the words "Military Affairs." He considupon the resolution, as amended, was adopted. Mr. HILL moved to proceed to the consideration of the resolution offered by him on Saturday last, (relative to the extinguishment of titles to Indian lands.) ered this resolution so intimately connected, in its nature, with that which immediately preceded it, that it should be referred to the same committee. The motion was opposed by Mr. CANNON, and negatived; and the resolution was thereupon adopt The House agreed to consider the same, whened, as moved by Mr. C. Mr. EUSTIS moved to amend the resolution, by requesting information on the subject-matter of the resolution from the President of the United States, which being assented to by the mover, the resolution, as amended, was adopted. INDIAN TREATIES. On motion of Mr. GILMER, the House proceeded to the consideration of the resolution submitted by him on Saturday last, respecting certain Indian treaties; which resolution he so modified as to propose the reference of the subject to a select committee. Mr. RANKIN was in favor of referring the subject to the standing committee on Indian Affairs. This motion was opposed at considerable length by Mr. GILMER. Finally, however, his motion was so modified by himself as to read as follows: 1. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the treaty made by the United States with the Creek nation of Indians, made on the 8th of August, 1814, and the treaties made by the United States and the Cherokee nation of Indians, on the 8th July, 1817, and the one made 29th February, 1819. On motion to take into consideration the remainder of Mr. C.'s resolutions, the question was taken and lost-ayes 51, noes 61. So the House refused to consider them. Messrs. CANNON, FINDLAY, MCCARTY, WILLIAMSON, JOHN T. JOHNSON, ARTHUR SMITH, and SANDERS, were appointed a committee on the subject of the Militia, in pursuance of the said second resolution. IMPORTATION OF WOOL. Mr. RICH moved that the House proceed to the consideration of the resolution by him submitted on Saturday last, relative to the importation of wool into the United States. Mr. R. proposed to amend the resolution by adding thereto the following words: "Also the quantity exported from the United States during the above mentioned periods, and the countries or places to which exported." This addition was agreed to. Mr. EUSTIS moved to amend the resolution, by 2. Resolved, That the articles of agreement and ces- requesting information in such cases from the Presion between the United States and the State of Geor-sident of the United States, instead of the heads gia, entered into the 24th of April, 1802, be referred to the said committee, with instructions to report whether the same have been executed according to the terms thereof; and also the best means, in the opinion of the committee, of executing said articles of agreement. In this shape the resolutions were adopted, and Messrs. GILMER, RANDOLPH, BARSTOW, MORGAN, BLAIR, SWAN, and McSHERRY, were appointed a committee pursuant to the first resolution. MILITIA AND REGULARS. Mr. CANNON called for the consideration of the resolutions he had submitted on the 11th instant, relative to the militia, the army, and corps of cadets. Mr. WALWORTH proposed to divide the question, so as first to take up the three first resolutions that were submitted by the mover. This motion was agreed to; and after some discussion between Messrs. RANKIN and CANNON, the first resolution, on motion of Mr. Wood, was ordered to lie on the table. of departments, and proposed that the resolution now before the House be so amended as to conform to that principle. The mover assented to the amendment; whereupon, Mr. RANDOLPH remarked, that he was opposed to the rule which had just been laid down with regard to this subject. It would, in his opinion, lead to serious difficulties and embarrassments. To pack off two members of this body to the President's house, whenever petty details of the Treasury-of the Post Office department, or concerning the importation of wool was required, would be derogatory to the dignity of the House, and perhaps equally inconvenient to the personage of whom the information was to be sought. Mr. RICH observed, that the observations of the honorable gentleman from Virginia had created doubts in his mind with regard to the proper channel through which the necessary information should be obtained. He, therefore, moved that the further consideration of the resolution be postponed, and that the same lie on the table.-Carried. FUGITIVES FROM LABOR. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of providing, by law, more effectually to protect the rights of those entitled to the service or labor of persons in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, and for their delivery to their rightful owners, agreeably to the pro visions of the Constitution. Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, moved to amend the same, so as to refer it to the Committee on the Judiciary, instead of a select committee. H. OF R. poses of casting upon the contingency, without TRANSACTIONS AT PENSACOLA. Mr. WHITMAN called for the consideration of the resolution by him submitted on the 11th instant, requesting information from the Secretary of State relating to the late transactions at Pensacola, &c. The House agreed to consider the same; when Mr. POINSETT moved to amend it, by limiting the information called for to such as the President may think proper to communicate. Mr WHITMAN assented to the amendment. Mr. RANDOLPH moved to insert the word "information" in lieu of the word "correspondence," which was assented to. A discussion ensued on the question of reference, in which Messrs. WRIGHT and S. SMITH opposed, and Messrs. TOMLINSON and MOORE supported the amendment, which was put and carried-ayes 70, noes 60. [In the course of the discussion, Mr. WRIGHT warmly deprecated the interference of Quakers and others to prevent the reclamation of slaves in some of the States, and the resolution be laid on the table. He thought it Mr. EDWARDS, of North Carolina, moved that hinted that, if effectual means were not taken to secure the rights of the Southern States in this States to wait for the information on the subject, more respectful to the President of the United particular, he did not know but they might be which it was doubtless the intention of the Execudriven to take up arms to protect them. Mr. tive to communicate. The message that had been CAMPBELL and Mr. TOMLINSON did not oppose delivered at the commencement of the session rethe reference of the subject, but argued that refer-ferred to the matter in question in very clear and ences to standing committees were preferable, when the subjects naturally belonged to a committee of that description.] The resolution was thereupon adopted. ORDNANCE AND MILITARY STORES. Mr. S. SMITH moved that the House now proceed to the consideration of the resolution submitted by him on Saturday last, in relation to an inquiry into the present state of the ordnance and military stores of the United States. The House agreed to consider the same; whereupon explicit terms. Mr. E. referred to that document to show that it had been announced as the intention of the Executive to communicate further information on the subject to Congress. Mr. E. thought it, therefore, a matter of proper courtesy and decorum for this House to wait until the President should think proper to make it a subject of special communication. Mr. WRIGHT made a few remarks on the subject, which, from his position in the House, the reporter could not hear. Mr. WHITMAN opposed the motion. At the first reading of the President's Message, he had Mr. SMITH remarked that, five or six years ago, entertained the same opinion which his honorable the Committee of Ways and Means, on applica- friend from North Carolina (Mr. EDWARDS) had tion of the War Department, had proposed an expressed. But, on further examination, he had appropriation for the purchase of cannon for the found it impossible to determine whether the matuse of the United States. It was thought best, ters of an unpleasant nature, to which the Presihowever, at that time, to postpone the subject dent referred, were of the same character with until the price of labor should be reduced to a those contemplated by the resolution. The facts peace standard. The enormous prices which the alluded to in the message were general and undecommotions of Europe had raised, were now fined. Those included in the resolution were parfallen; and it was believed that the period had ticular and specific. It could, not therefore, be arrived when the standard contemplated was to disrespectful to ask for information on a subject be taken advantage of. It was with that view, that it was impossible to say had been even aland under such impressions, that he had thought|luded to in the President's Message. But the resoit his duty to bring forward the motion. His intention was, if the House of Representatives should vote a sum adequate to this object, to propose to divide it into as many years as may be requisite, in the whole, to supply the wants of the United States. This course, he believed, would be far preferable to an annual appropriation. Were it practicable to make contracts of this prospective character, the founders would be able to furnish the cannon at a rate much cheaper than when they were to fit up their foundries for the pur lution called for information not only in regard to the controversy between General Jackson and Judge Fromentin, but it was contemplated to extend it to an inquiry into the causes that led to the issuing of an order by the Governor of the Floridas for the removal of certain persons from that territory, which, to say the least of it, is in its character novel. Mr. W. knew of no law that justified a sentence of banishment, even by the Executives of sovereign States; still less could he comprehend the justifiable exercise of such a power by the H. OF R. Proceedings. DECEMBER, 1821. Mr. STEWART presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the State of Pennsylvania, praying that the aid and patronage of the General Government may be extended to a plan therein detailed for improving the navigation of the Potomac river. Mr. RANKIN, from the Committee on the PubLands, who were instructed, on the 6th instant, to inquire into the expediency of extending the duration of the act of 2d March, 1821, for the relief of purchasers of public lands, reported a bill for the relief of certain purchasers of public lands; which was read, and committed to à Committee of the Whole to-morrow. created head of a dependent Territory. Such a Mr. BALDWIN suggested that it was evident, from the tenor of the message, that this was a subject to which the President of the United States had not been inattentive. It might be, that it had become a subject of negotiation with the Spanish Government-and this was perhaps the reason why it had not been presented to the consideration of the House subsequent to the message. The Spanish Minister had not yet arrived at the seat of Government-and possibly it was owing to this circumstance that the President had not communicated the papers in this case to the House. Upon the whole, he thought it advisable for the House not yet to act on the subject. Mr. ARCHER hoped the gentleman from North Carolina would withdraw his amendment-at least for a few moments, to give opportunity to the mover to present a modification. Mr. EDWARDS assented, and Mr. W. proposed a further modification of his motion. Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, moved to strike out of the resolve the words 66 as he may think proper to communicate," and to insert in lieu thereof the words " as he may possess." Carried. Mr. EDWARDS then renewed his motion that the resolution lie on the table, for the reasons he had before stated. This motion was supported by Mr. CANNON, and opposed by Mr. FLOYD, when, the question being taken, the motion of Mr. EDWARDS prevailed; and the resolution was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. NEWTON, from the Committee of Commerce, reported a bill for the relief of Samuel Clarkson and Alexander Elmslie; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow. Mr. TRIMBLE submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the President of the United States cause this House to be informed whether the commissioners appointed to lay out the continuation of the Cumberland Road from Wheeling, in the State of Virginia, through the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to the Mississippi river, have completed the same, and, if not completed, the reason why their duties have been suspended. The resolution was ordered to lie on the table until to-morrow. The joint resolution submitted by Mr. PLUMER, of New Hampshire, providing for the distribution of the Secret Journal and Foreign Correspondence of the Congress under the Confederation, and of the Journal of the Convention which formed the Constitution of the United States, was modified by the mover, and read twice, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. Mr. TRIMBLE Submitted the following resolutions, viz: 1. Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the repair and preservation of the Cumberland road, and for the establishment of toll gates thereon. 2. Kesolved, That the same committee be instructed to inquire whether any, and, if any, what, further provision ought to be made by law to enable the President of the United States to complete the survey and location of the proposed continuation of the Cumberland road from Wheeling, in the State of Virginia, through the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to On motion of Mr. JOHNSTON, of Louisiana, the what, provision ought to be made to enable the Presithe Mississippi river; and whether any, and, if any, Committee of Commerce were instructed to in-dent to cause the said road to be constructed. quire into the expediency of erecting lighthouses on the coast of Florida; and to consider what other measures it may be necessary to adopt to give greater security to the navigation of the Gulf Stream. TUESDAY, December 18. Another member, to wit: from Maryland, THOS. BAYLY, appeared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat. The resolutions were ordered to lie on the table. On motion of Mr. MOORE of Alabama, the Committee of Commerce were instructed to inquire into the expediency of making the town of Blakeley, on the bay of Mobile, in the State of Alabama, a port of entry. Mr. FLOYD called for the consideration of the resolution he had heretofore submitted for an inquiry into the expense of transporting cannon, &c., to the mouth of Columbia river. The motion was agreed to by the House, when, Mr. FLOYD observed that perhaps some expense might be incurred by this proposition; but it was his impression that the cannon might be conveyed as ballast at a small expense, either in merchant vessels, or in vessels of war which the importance of our trade in that sea had rendered it expedient to station in that quarter, to an extent that should be adequate to our wants in the establishment of the contemplated post at the mouth of Columbia river. The resolution was adopted. Mr. RICH called for the consideration of the resolution by him submitted on a former day relative to the importation and exportation of wool. The House agreed to consider the same, and the question being on the motion to strike out that part thereof requesting the President of the United States to cause information to be given, &c., and to insert in lieu thereof the words "that the Secretary of the Treasury be instructed to report"-the amendment, being supported by the mover, was carried, and the resolution adopted. The order of the day was then taken up, and, on motion of Mr. RANKIN, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill. entitled "An act for paying to the State of Missouri three per cent. of the proceeds of the sales of public lands in the same"-Mr. HILL in the chair, The bill was supported by Mr. RANKIN; and, no amendment having been offered to the same, the Committee rose, and reported the bill to the House, who concurred therein, and ordered the same to be engrossed, read the third time, and made the order of the day for to-morrow. REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS. Mr. RHEA, from the Committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, to which was recom mitted the bill to revive and continue in force an act, entitled "An act to provide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the Revolutionary war," reported the same with an amendment. Mr. COCKE thought the provision contained in the bill relative to the security to be required of the agents to whom is committed the disbursement of the public money, was inadequate to the object. Further observations were made on the subject by Messrs. WALWORTH and RHEA, when H. or R. bond that should be limited by no precise sum, but should extend to a full indemnity for every extent of delinquency. He would therefore propose to amend the bill, so as to require bonds, without penalty, for the due discharge of the duties imposed, instead of bonds for a specific sum, so as that the Government might recover of sureties the whole amount which it might lose by the neglect or misconduct of the principal. Mr. COCKE would cheerfully acquiesce in any measure that should be more effective in attaining the object in view, than that he had suggested; he therefore assented to Mr. H.'s proposition. Mr. RHEA opposed the amendment, but his remarks could not be heard by the reporter. Mr. TUCKER, of Virginia, was in favor of the general object which the mover had in view, but doubted the expediency of introducing it in the present bill. He thought that this was not a proper time, especially as it would operate unfavorably on the objects of the public bounty. It was now the practice in those States where there were such banks as the Government thought proper to intrust with the deposite, to lodge with them the sums necessary to meet the payment of these pensions. In other States he believed the semi-annual claims of invalid pensioners were not of an amount too great for the security of five thousand dollar bonds. If the amendment should be adopted, he feared it would occasion a very serious inconvenience to the pensioners, as they might be under the necessity of obtaining their payments in the city of Washington, instead of receiving them in the States to which they belonged, for the banks would never give bond for so small an object as this temporary deposite. Mr. HARDIN could foresee no such difficulty as the gentleman from Virginia seemed to apprehend. The security required by his proposition would never be more extensive than the possible defalcation. He was willing, however, to meet the wishes of gentlemen, provided the public interest was sufficiently secured. He had drawn the amendment in haste, and should have no objection that the bill lie on the table, to the end that a plan be matured to remedy the evil that the public suffer. Mr. TUCKER made a few remarks in reply; when Mr. H. NELSON observed, that it was common for offenders to escape justice, and so difficult for Mr. HARDIN remarked that he was glad the at- Congress to enact laws which ingenuity could not tention of the House had been called to the sub- evade, that it would certainly be inexpedient to ject by his friend from Tennessee, (Mr. CoCKE.) devise a new system, without being well assured It had become matter of serious concern, and a that it was reducible to practice, and efficacious proper subject for the interposition of that House. to produce the result that the mover intended. It A case had fallen under his special observance in had been many years since he had been converwhich a district paymaster was a defaulter, and sant with investigations of this sort, but to him it had failed for the sum of three hundred and seven- would seem that the performance of duties, as exty-four thousand dollars, when the only bonds that pressed in the amendment, would not be held to he had given for the faithful discharge of his duty involve pecuniary responsibility in the disburseamounted only to sixty thousand dollars in the ag- ment of the public moneys. At any rate, it was gregate. He believed that in nineteen cases out a subject on which the acuteness and astuteness of of twenty the penal bonds that had been taken, in lawyers would be able to raise questions that rarely cases of defaulters, had been inadequate to the result favorably to the public. He would therepublic security. He was altogether opposed to fore move that the bill be recommitted to a Comtaking penal bonds in any case. He preferred amittee of the Whole, to the end that its friends |