Lincoln, in behalf of himself, Cyrus Griffin, and David Humphreys, late Commissioners on the part of the United States, for treating of peace with the Southern tribes of Indians, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That Mr. Parker be added to the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills to regulate pilots, and provide for the superintendence of the light-houses, and the beacons, buoys, and public piers, in the bay and river of Delaware, and the Bay of Chesapeake, with the rivers emptying into the same. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6. The petitions of James Broadwood and John Hailey were presented to the House and read, respectively praying relief in consideration of wounds received in the Army of the United States, during the late war, which have rendered them incapable of obtaining a livelihood by labor. Also, A petition of Elizabeth Grubb, in behalf of her husband Adam Grubb, praying relief, in consequence of his being disabled in the Navy of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A petition of Lewis Van Woert, by his attorney Michael Connolly, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for supplies furnished to, and injuries sustained by, the Army of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Ordered, That the petition of John Churchman, which lay on the table, be referred to Mr. Page, Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Wayne; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. On a motion made and seconded, "That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill for apportioning Representatives among the several States according to the first enumeration, and making provision for a second enumeration, and for an apportionment of Representatives therein, to compose the House of Representatives, after the third day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven:" It was moved and seconded to amend the said motion by inserting, after the word "enumeration," the following words, " and the ratio of one Representative for every thirty thousand." And, after debate thereon, Ordered, That the said motion and amendment be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next. A petition of Gifford Dally, doorkeeper to the House of Representatives, was presented to the House and read, praying that some rate of compensation may be assigned to him for his services during recess. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, Mr. Livermore, and Mr. Key; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. The House resumed the consideration of the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act relative to the election of a President and Vice President of the United States, and declaring the officer who shall act as President, in case of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice President: Whereupon, Ordered, That the said bill, together with the amendments thereto, be recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next. Mr. Laurance, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half pay, and to invalid pensions; which was received and read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday next. Ordered, That Mr. Ames and Mr. Sturges be added to the committee to whom was referred the report of the Attorney General on the Judiciary System of the United States. The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Benjamin Lincoln, in behalf of himself, Cyrus Griffin, and David Humphreys, late Commissioners on the part of the United States for treating of peace with VOL. I--62 the Southern tribes of Indians, together with the report of the Secretary of War thereupon; and, after debate, an adjournment was called for: Whereupon, The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. MONDAY, JANUARY 9. An engrossed bill for establishing the post office and post roads within the United States was read the third time, and the House proceeded to fill up the blanks therein; but not having time to go through the same, The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10. The several petitions of James Diemar, Barnabas Murphy, Enoch Leonard, Jeremiah Pritchard, James Shields, Henry Skinner, and Aaron Stratton, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation or relief, for supplies furnished, services rendered, wounds received, or injuries sustained, in the Army or Navy of the United States, during the late war. Also, A petition of Abigail Hale, widow and administratrix of Nathan Hale, deceased, late a Colonel in the New Hampshire line, praying to receive the pay and emoluments due to her said husband, who died in the service of the United States, during the late war. Also, A petition of Elizabeth Jones, widow of Richard Jones, late a soldier in the Virginia line, and who was slain in the service, to the same effect. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A petition of Laurana Richardson, administratrix of George Richardson, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of a continental loan office certificate, the property of the said deceased, which has been lost or destroyed. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A memorial of George Turner, one of the Judges in and over the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio, was presented to the House and read, praying a revision of the ordinance for the government of the said Territory, and also an increase of compensation to the Judges thereof. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to Mr. Livermore, Mr. Laurance, Mr. White, Mr. Williamson, and Mr. Smith of South Carolina; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Henry Sherburne was presented to the House and read, praying relief in consideration of an injury sustained in his health, while employed as a blacksmith in the naval service of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table. On a motion made and seconded, "That the Secretary of War be instructed to lay before this House an accurate statement of all ascertained balances of pay, which appear by the books of the United States to be due to the officers and soldiers of the late Army of the United States, and which still remain either unclaimed, or claimed and unpaid, together with the reasons for withholding payment from those who may have respectively entered claims therefor:" Ordered, That the said motion be referred to Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Giles, and Mr. Smith, of New Hampshire; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. The House proceeded to fill up the remaining blanks in the bill to establish the post office and post roads of the United States. And then the question being put, that the said bill do pass, It was resolved in the affirmative; and that the title be, “An act to establish the post office and post roads within the United States." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of Catharine Greene, relict of the late General Greene; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and made some progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11. The petitions of Samuel Andruss, junior, and Robert Barnet, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying relief, in consideration of wounds received, or injuries sustained, in the service of the United States, during the late war. Also, A petition of Mary Kennedy, widow of William Kennedy, a soldier in the late Army, who died in captivity, praying relief. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A petition of William Robinson was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of a final settlement certificate, the property of the petitioner, which was lost or destroyed some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Also, A petition of Moses White, praying the settlement of an account against the United States. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Gifford Dally, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morow inorning eleven o'clock. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act to extend the time limited for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual States," with several amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Senate have also passed a bill, entitled "An act for the encouragement of the bank and other cod fisheries, and for the regulation and government of the fishermen employed there in;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13. The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the encouragement of the bank and other cod fisheries, and for the regulation and government of the fishermen employed therein," was read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday se'nnight. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary : Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew. The said bill was read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next. The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to extend the time limited for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual States;" and the same being twice read, were agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. The petitions of Robert Johnston and Daniel Gray were presented to the House and read, respectively praying the settlement of their accounts for supplies furnished the Army of the United States, during the late war. Also, A petition of Abigail Earle, attorney in fact for Charles Howard and John M'Kinty, late mariners in the Navy of the United States, praying the settlement of their claims for services and prize money, during the late war. Also, A petition of James Blanchard, on behalf of Edward Blanchard, praying the settlement of an account for services rendered by the said Edward, as truckman, by order of the Navy Board of the Eastern Department, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Frederick, in the State of Virginia, was presented to the House and read, praying that so much of the act passed at the last Session, imposing a duty on spirits distilled within the United States, as respects a duty on stills, may be revised and amended. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, for his information. A petition of John Baggs was presented to the House and read, praying relief in consideration of a wound received in the service of the United States, during the late war, which has rendered him incapable of procuring a livelihood by labor. Also, A petition of Richard Pearse, praying compensation for his services on board the ship Confederacy, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. Boudinot, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Richard Lloyd, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Benjamin Lincoln, in behalf of himself, Cyrus Griffin, and David Humphreys, late Commissioners on the part of the United States for treating of peace with the Southern tribes of Indians, together with the report of the Secretary of War thereon: Whereupon, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills granting to the said Commissioners dollars, on account of their extra expenses, going to and returning from the treaty; and that Mr. Tucker, Mr. Giles, and Mr. Smith, of New Hampshire, be the said committee. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half pay, and to invalid pensions; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith of South Carolina reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, do lie on the table. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. And then the House adjourned until Monday morning eleven o'clock. MONDAY, JANUARY 16. A petition of Daniel De Benneville was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services as a surgeon in the Army of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. Bourne, of Massachusetts, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act to extend the time limited for settling the accounts of the United States with individual States," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon, Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17. Mr. Tucker, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill to reimburse certain extra expenses of the late Commissioners for treating of peace with the Creek Indians; which was received, and read the first time. A petition of Henry Ley was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of a certain Continental loan office certificate, the property of the petitioner, which was destroyed by fire. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. The several petitions of William Edwards, James Osburn, and John Wilson, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation for services rendered in the Army of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A representation and petition of Christopher Marshall, junior, and Charles Marshall, was presented to the House and read, praying the encouragement and patronage of the General Government in a chemical laboratory, which they have erected for prepar ing sal-amonia, Glauber's salts, and volatile spirits. Ordered, That the said representation and petition do lie on the table. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18. A bill to reimburse certain extra expenses of the late Commissioners for treating of peace with the Creek Indians was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday next. Mr. Laurance, from the committee to whom was referred the written message from the President of the United States, of the twenty-eighth ultimo, covering the copy of a letter to him from the Attorney General, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, as followeth: UNITED STATES, January the 18th, 1792. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: I lay before you a copy of an exemplified copy of an act of the Legislature of Vermont, ratifying, on behalf of that State, the articles of amendment proposed by Congress to the Constitution of the United States, together with the copy of a letter which accompanied said ratification. G. WASHINGTON. The said message, and papers therein referred to, were read, and ordered to lie on the table. On motion, Ordered, That the Comptroller of the Treasury be directed to lay before this House a copy of the account for extra expenses incurred by the late Commissioners for treating of peace with the Creek Indians. The several orders of the day were further posptoned until to-morrow. THURSDAY, JANUARY 19. Ordered, That a committee be appointed to consider and report whether any, and what, alterations ought to be made in the acts for establishing the Treasury and War Departments, and that Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Benson, be the said committee. A petition of Robert Byers, of the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for four wagon horses, which were drowned while in the service of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Ordered, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to lay before this House such information, with respect to the finances of the United States, as will enable the Legislature to judge whether any additional revenue will be necessary, in consequence of the proposed increase of the military establishment. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. |