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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20.

[1792.

The several petitions of William Evans, Philip Laeur, Mazor Scudder, and Benjamin Titcomb, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation or relief for services rendered, wounds received, or injuries sustained, 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 petition of Griffith Jones, of the city of Philadelphia, tanner, was presented to the House and read, praying to receive compensation for a quantity of leather impressed for the use of the Army, during the late war. Also,

A petition of Zedekiah Morgan, praying the settlement of an account against the United States, for services rendered and supplies furnished, in the Quartermaster's department, 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.

The House, according to the order of the day, again 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 Major General Greene; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and had made a farther progress therein.

Resolved, That this House will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report.

Mr. Bourne, of Massachusetts, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, this day, wait on the President of the United States, and present for his approbation an enrolled bill, entitled "An act to extend the time limited for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual States.” 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 23.

A petition of Patrick Collins, by his attorney in fact, John Mangnall, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services 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.

A petition of Abraham Supplee, in behalf of himself and as executor to his brother, Peter Supplee, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for supplies furnished by himself and his deceased brother to 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.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign an act, entitled "An act to extend the time limited for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual States." The said Secretary also delivered a written message from the President, as followeth:

UNITED STATES, January 23d, 1792.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

Having received from the Governor of Virginia a letter, enclosing a resolution of the General Assembly of that State, and a report of a committee of the House of Delegates, respecting certain lands located by the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, under the laws of that State, and since ceded to the Chickasaw Indians, I lay copies of the same before you, together with a report of the Secretary of State on this subject.

G. WASHINGTON.

Ordered, That the letters and papers referred to in the said written message be referred to the committee appointed on the third day of November last, to examine and report on all matters relative to the bounty lands granted to the late officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on Continental establishment.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Comptroller of the Treasury, covering an account of extra expenses incurred by the late Commissioners for treating of peace with the Creek Indians, pursuant to an order of this House of the eighteenth instant; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The House, according to the order of the day, again 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 Major General Greene; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had again had the said report under consideration, and come to no resolution thereupon.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House be discharged from farther proceeding on the said report.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering his report, and sundry statements respecting the finances of the United States, made pursuant to an order of this House on Thursday last; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the subject of manufactures, be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the 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: Whereupon,

Resolved, That it would be proper to make it the duty of the attorneys in the several districts to pursue the instructions which, from time to time, shall be given them, respectively, by the Attorney General of the United States, in all matters touching their respective offices, and to correspond with him on any matter relative to judicial busi ness, which shall arise within their respective districts, and upon which he shall request information from them. And that it would be proper to make it the duty of the Attorney General to give his advice to the attorneys of the several districts, upon any matter relative to judicial business, which shall arise within their respective districts; and upon which they shall request such advice, or he shall think it proper for him to interfere: and to make it lawful for the Attorney General, in any suit, in which the United States shall be a party, or shall be interested, and in any court whatsoever, to advocate the United States, although such suit shall not have been originally instituted by him, or under his direction; and that, for the purpose of assisting him in the execu tion, as well of the duties herein assigned him, as of those heretofore assigned him by law, he may appoint a clerk, who, for his services, shall be allowed at the rate of dollars by the year.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution, and that the said committee do prepare and bring in the same.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24.

A petition of Lewis Garanger, in behalf of himself and his brother, Charles Garanger, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for services rendered in the Army of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Dayton, 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 Walton, in behalf of himself and Anne Walton, and Elizabeth Walton, devisees of Jacob Walton, late of the city of New York, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for damages sustained in the property of their testator, by the American Army, 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.

Mr. Laurance, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill concerning the office of the Attorney General of the United States; 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 Friday next.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the proposition for apportioning Representatives among the several

States, according to the first enumeration; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said proposition under consideration, and come to a resolution thereupon, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was read, and is as followeth :

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that a bill ought to be prepared 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 thereon, to compose the House of Representatives, after the third day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, and that no greater ratio be reported than thirty thousand inhabitants for every Representative."

The said resolution being read the second time, a motion was made and seconded to amend the same, by striking out the words, "and making provision for a second enumeration, and for an apportionment of Representatives thereon, to compose the House of Representatives, after the third day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninetyseven, and that no greater ratio be reported than thirty thousand inhabitants for every Representative: Whereupon,

A division of the said motion was called for; and the question being put, for striking out the words, "and making provision for a second enumeration, and for an apportionment of Representatives thereon, to compose the House of Representatives, after the third day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven,

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The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

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The question being then put, for striking out the words, "and that no greater ratio be reported than thirty thousand inhabitants for every Representative,"

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The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

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And then the main question being put, that the House do agree to the said resolution, amended to read as followeth :

Resolved, That a bill be prepared for apportioning Representatives among the seve ral States, according to the first enumeration, and making provision for a second enumeration, and for an apportionment of Representatives thereon, to compose the House of Representatives, after the third day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven:

It was resolved in the affirmative.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution; and that Mr. Benson, Mr. Madison, and Mr. Gerry, do prepare and bring in the same.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole House to the bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half-pay and to invalid pensions, and made some progress therein.

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 25.

A petition of Richard Henly Courts was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services as a Surgeon's Mate in the Hospital 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.

On motion,

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House copies of the official communications which have taken place between the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania and the Secretary of War, with respect to the raising of troops within, and under the direction of the said State.

Ordered, That Mr. Dayton, Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, and Mr. Brown, be a committee to wait on the President with the foregoing resolution.

The House resumed the consideration of the amendinents reported by the Committee

VOL. I.-63

of the Whole House on Monday last, to the bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half-pay and to invalid pensions; and the same being twice read, were agreed to.

And then the said bill, being further amended at the Clerk's table, was, together with the amendments, ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

Mr. Madison, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill for making farther and more effectual provision for the protection of the frontiers of the United States; 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 to-morrow.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26.

A petition of David Tappen was presented to the House and read, praying that he may be allowed militia pay while in captivity during the late war; and also to be compensated for a musquet and accoutrements, which he lost at the time of his capture. Also,

A petition of Mary Jackson, widow and administratrix of Charles Jackson, deceased, late an Assistant Commissary in the American Army, 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 Hugh Cunningham was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services as a wagon-master, in the service 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.

An engrossed bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half-pay and to invalid pensions was read the third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, “An act to ascertain and regulate the claims to half-pay and to invalid pensions.”

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 bill for making farther and more effectual provision for the protec tion of the frontiers of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill 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 bill.

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 27.

A petition of Garrett Fegan was presented to the House and read, praying compeusation for his services as a soldier in the late Delaware line, and also an augmentation of a pension heretofore allowed him. Also,

A petition of Andrew Raberg, praying compensation for certain arrears of pay as a soldier in the late Army; and, also, relief in consideration of disabilities incurred during the late war. Also,

A petition of George Stam, praying compensation for services as a drummer in the late Maryland line.

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.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Treasurer of the United States, covering his account of indents of interest received and issued between the first of October, and the thirty-first of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, inclusive; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for making further and more effectual provision for the protection of the frontiers of the United States; and, after some time spent therein,

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