LEASE. Of the buildings occupied for the use of the War Office, and the office of the Accountant of the War Depart ment. The amount of the lease for the term of four years, as per indenture thereof with James Simmons, Contingencies of the War Department. For maps, hiring expresses, allowances to officers for extra expenses, printing, loss of stores of all kinds, advertising and apprehending deserters, &c. conjectural, 1,666 06 50,000 00 "Resolved, That for making good the several and respective sums of money aforesaid, there be appropriated, 1st. The sum of six hundred thousand dollars, reserved by the act making provision for the debt of the United States. 2d. The surplus which may remain unappropriated for the use of the War Department, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two. 3d. So much of the existing revenues of the United States, as are unappropriated." Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions: and that Mr. Laurance, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Jeremiah Smith, Mr. Steele, and Mr. Giles, do pre pare and bring in the same. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14. Mr. William Smith, from the committee to whom were referred the petitions of sundry persons, praying to be placed on the list of pensioners of the United States; also, a letter from the Judges of the Circuit Court for the District of North Carolina, relative to the act, passed the last session of Congress, regulating the claims to invalid pensionmade a report; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on Monday, the thirty-first instant. The Speaker laid before the House a report from the Secretary of War, accompanying lists of the names of persons returned to his office for pensions, by the Circuit Courts of the United States, together with the rates of the said pensions, and the causes assigned for disability, pursuant to the order of the third instant; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House last appointed. Mr. Livermore, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of a number of the inhabitants of St. Vincennes, on the Wabash; together with a letter from the Governor of the Territory of the United States, Northwest of the river Ohio, accompanying the same, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to the consideration of the amendments proposed by the Senate, to the bill, entitled "An act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the amendments to the fifth section. Resolved, That this House doth disagree to the amendment to the seventeenth section of the said bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act in addition to, and alteration of the act, entitled 'An act for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual States;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew. The said bill was read the third time. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. And then the House adjourned until Monday morning eleven o'clock. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17. The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act in addition to, and alteration of, the act, entitled 'An act for settling the accounts of the United States with the individual VOL I---82 States," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on the second Monday of January next. Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of War on the petition of Simeon Thayer, which was presented to this House on the twenty-sixth of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee to whom was referred the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of the executors of Edward Carnes, deceased; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Sedgwick reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follow: "Resolved, That all persons having claims upon the United States, not barred by any act of limitation, whether founded upon certificates, or other written documents from public officers or otherwise, (except loan office certificates, certificates of final settlement, Register's certificates, and certificates issued pursuant to the act making provision for the debt of the United States,) shall exhibit the same at the Treasury of the United States, within months, or be forever barred from payment or settle ment. Resolved, That the accounting officers of the Treasury be authorized to settle and adjust, after the expiration of the term aforesaid, all such of those claims as shall appear to them proper to be admitted, and to report to Congress upon all such as they may not think proper to admit." Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions, and that Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Fitzsimons, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Niles, do prepare and bring in the same. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate recede from their amendment, disagreed to by this House, to the seventeenth section of the bill, entitled "An act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels." And then he withdrew. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18. A memorial of the officers, now residing in the State of New York, of the late American Army, in behalf of themselves and their brethren, the soldiers of the said Army, was presented to the House and read, praying that the depreciation which accrued on the certificates of debt, granted them in reward for their military services during the late war, may be made good to them, or such other relief afforded them, as the present circumstances of the United States will admit. Also, a memorial of the Pennsylvania line of the late Army, to the same effect. A petition of John Sutlief was presented to the House and read, praying the liqui dation and settlement of a claim against the United States, for services rendered 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 resumed the consideration of the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole House, on the sixth instant, to the bill for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same: Whereupon, Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be re-committed to Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Fitzsimons, and Mr. Parker. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, enclosing an extract of a letter from Brigadier General Wilkinson; also, a copy of a letter from James Seagrove, relative to Indian affairs; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. On motion, Resolved, That the Committee of the Whole House to whom is referred so much of the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, made on the third instant, as relates to a plan for the reimbursement of a certain loan made of the Bank of the United States, be discharged from the consideration of the same; and that a committee be appointed to report a bill authorizing a loan equal to the sum borrowed of the said Bank, to be applied to the said reimbursement, and providing that so much of the dividend in the stock of Government in the said Bank, as may be necessary, be appropriated for paying the interest of the sum to be borrowed." Ordered, That Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Laurance, and Mr. Murray, be a committee, pursuant to the said resolution. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Dayton reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, do lie on the table. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20. The Speaker laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of Ludwig Kuhn; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. A memorial of the officers, now residing in the State of Maryland, of the late Ame rican Army, in behalf of themselves and their brethren, the soldiers of the said Army, was presented to the House and read, praying that the depreciation which accrued on the certificates of debt, granted them in reward for their military services during the late war, may be made good to them, or such other relief afforded them, as the present circumstances of the United States will admit. Ordered, That the said memoria! do lie on the table. Mr. Goodhue, from the committee to whom was re-committed the bill for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels, to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same, reported several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. The House proceeded to consider the amendments, reported yesterday, by the Committee of the Whole House to the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, and made some progress therein. Ordered, That the farther consideration of the said amendments be put off until to morrow. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21. Ordered, That the petition of William Mackey, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of War, 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 making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three; 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 Monday, the thirty-first instant. On motion, Ordered, That Mr. Heister and Mr. Moore be appointed a Committee for Enrolled Bills on the part of this House, jointly, with such committee as shall be appointed for that purpose, on the part of the Senate. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Sedgwick, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill providing for the reimbursement of a loan made of the Bank 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 Monday next. The House resumed the consideration of the amendments, reported, on Wednesday last, by the Committee of the Whole House to the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes; and the same being read, some were agreed to, and others disagreed to. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments agreed to, be re-committed to Mr. White, Mr. Clark, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Murray. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have appointed Mr. Brown, on their part, of the Committee for Enrolled Bills. And then he withdrew. A petition of Robert Ralston, assignee of the estate of Thomas Barclay, was presented to the House and read, praying that payment may be made to him, as legal representative of the said Thomas Barclay, for the amount of certain claims for services rendered by him to the United States, previous to the sixteenth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one. 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 bill to ascertain the fees demandable on admiralty proceedings in the District Courts of the United States, and to amend, in part, the act, entitled "An act for the government and regulation of seamen in the merchants' service:" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Dayton reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, and 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 bill. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24. An engrossed bill for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels, to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries 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 for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. A petition of Benjamin Keeff was presented to the House and read, praying relief in consideration of injuries received in the service of the United States, during the late war. Also, a petition of Priscilla Pottle, administratrix of the estate of Bemsley Pottle, deceased, late a soldier in the Continental Army, praying a renewal of certain final settlement certificates, the property of the deceased, which were burnt, or otherwise destroyed, some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six. Also, a petition of James Welch, praying the liquidation and settlement of a claim for services rendered to the United States, during the late war. Also, a petition of Africa Hamlen, late agent to the fourth Massachusetts regiment, praying to be exonerated from the payment of a considerable sum in final settlement certificates, which he received from John Pierce, late Paymaster General, and Commissioner of Army Accounts, for the use of the officers and soldiers of the said regiment, and has not been, for certain reasons therein alleged, applied to the purpose for which it was intended. Ordered, That the said petitions do lie on the table. A memorial of the merchants and traders of the borough of Wilmington, in the State of Delaware, was presented to the House and read, praying that so much of the exist ing revenue laws of the United States, as do not allow a drawback upon goods, wares, and merchandise, unless they are exported from the district or port into which ther were originally imported, may be revised and amended. Also, a memorial of Joseph Bennett, praying that certain sums of money in the bills of credit, emitted by Congress, which he received in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, under the existing tender-laws of the United States, for the payment of debts contracted previous thereto, may be made good to him, at their nominal value. Ordered, That the said memorials 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 Henry Cleland Baker, late a lieutenant in the Maryland line, was presented to the House and read, praying an augmentation of the pension heretofore allowed him, in consideration of injuries received in the service of the United States, during the late war. A motion was made, and the question put, that the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, to examine and report thereupon, It passed in the negative. Resolved, That the said petition be rejected. Mr. Benjamin Bourne, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of John Bartlett, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Moore, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels," 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. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, accompany. ing the copy of a letter from the Governor of Georgia, together with an enclosure, relative to Indian affairs in the Southern department; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to consider the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of Udney Hay, which was made the twenty-second ultimo; and the same being read, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. Ordered, That a bill be brought in, pursuant to the said report, and that Mr. Benson, Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Willis, do prepare and bring in the same. On motion, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to lay before this House an account of the application of the moneys borrowed in Antwerp and Amsterdam, for the United States, within the present year. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill providing for the reimbursement of a loan made of the Bank of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. White reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made an amendment thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and agreed to by the House. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendment, do lie on the table. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Wednesday next. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26. A petition of Hugh Morrison, James Morrison, in behalf of himself and John Semple, executors of the last will and testament of Hans Morrison, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of a certain Continental Loan Office certifi cate, the property of the deceased, which was taken by the enemy, or lost, some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table. A petition of the late soldiers of the third regiment of the Massachusetts line, was presented to the House and read, praying that they may receive the pay due to them, for services rendered to the United States, during the late war, which they conceive has been unjustly detained from them, by the Agent for the said regiment. Also, A petition of the late soldiers of the fourth Massachusetts regiment, to the same effect. Ordered, That the said petitions, together with the petition of Africa Hamlen, which was presented on Monday last, be referred to Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Giles, and Mr. Hillhouse; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. |