The title was amended by striking out of the first line thereof, "explain," and inserting, in lieu thereof, "extend the provisions of." The bill directing the discharge of William Smith from imprisonment, was read a third time, and passed. The bill making an appropriation to enable the President of the United States to hold treaties with the Indian tribes, for the purpose therein mentioned, was read a third time, and the blank filled with "50,000," On the question, "Shall this bill pass?" it was determined in the affirmative-yeas 24, nays 10, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Ashmun, Barbour, Campbell, Condit, Gaillard, Hardin, King, Lacock, Macon, Mason of New Hampshire, Morrow, Noble, Roberts, Ruggles, Sanford, Smith, Stokes, Tait, Talbot, Taylor, Tichenor, Troup, Varnum, and Williams. NAYS-Messrs. Brown, Chace, Daggett, Fromentin, Goldsborough, Horsey, Mason of Virginia, Thompson, Wells, and Wilson. So it was Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be, "An act making an appropriation to enable the President of the United States to hold treaties with the Indian tribes, for the purpose therein mentioned." Mr. ROBERTS, from the Committee of Claims, to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill for the relief of Jacint Laval; and the bill was read, and passed to a second reading. The bill for the relief of John Haslet was read a third time, and passed. The bill to provide for the punishment of crimes and offences committed within the Indian boundaries, having been reported correctly engrossed, on motion, by Mr. CHACE, the further consideration thereof was postponed until Thursday next. The bill providing for the division of certain quarter sections in future sales of the public lands, was read a third time and passed. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill authorizing the appointment of hospital surgeons and surgeons' mates in the Navy of the United States; and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the 14th CoN. 2d SESS.-4 SENATE. Whole, the consideration of the bill in addition to an act for the relief of John T. Ross, and Daniel T. Patterson, and the officers and men lately under their command; and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill to repeal the second section of an act, entitled "An act concerning the pay of officers, seamen, and marines in the Navy of the United States," and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the resolution for furnishing each member of Congress with a copy of the laws of the United States, passed during a preceding session; and on motion by Mr. WILSON, it was referred to a select committee, to consider and report thereon; and Messrs. FROMENTIN, WILSON, aad LACOCK, were appointed the committee. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill making appropriations for the payment of certain claims for militia services, to the State of Georgia; and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill to appoint additional pension agents; and the bill having been amended, the PRESIDENT reported it to the House accordingly, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill respecting persons escaping from the service of their masters; and, on motion by Mr. MACON, the further consideration thereof was postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Wednesday next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill to amend and explain "An act giving pensions to the orphans and widows of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States;" and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of the widow and children of Arnold Henry Dohrman, deceased; and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House; and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Mr. CAMPBELL submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a new district, for surveying public lands, south of the State of Tennessee. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill respecting the transportation of persons of color for sale, or The following Message was received from the FEBRUARY, 1817. four houses in the town of Baton Rouge, by the officer commanding the United States troops, in the year 1811; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee of Claims, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. Mr. TAIT, from the committee to whom was recommitted the bill to establish a separate Territorial government for the eastern part of the Mississippi Territory, reported the same with an amendment; which was read. Mr. BARBOUR, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act more effectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States," reported it with amendments; which were read. tions for consideration: Representatives of the United States: The Government of Great Britain, induced by the posture of the relations with the United States which succeeded the conclusion of the recent commercial convention, issued an order on the 17th day of August, 1815, discontinuing the discriminating duties payable in British ports on American vessels and their cargoes. It was not until the 22d of December, following, that a corresponding discontinuance of discriminating duties on British vessels and their cargoes, in American ports, took effect, under the authority vested in the Executive by the act of March, 1816. During the period be- Resolved, That the Military Committee be instructtween those two dates there was, consequently, a failure ed to inquire into the expediency of repealing or modof reciprocity or equality in the existing regulations ifying so much of the second section of the act esof the two countries. I recommend to the considera-tablishing the military staff, as relates to hospital surtion of Congress, the expediency of paying to the geons and hospital surgeons' mates. British Government the amount of duties remitted, during the period in question, to citizens of the United States; subject to a deduction of the amount of whatever discriminating duties may have commenced in British ports, after the signature of that convention, and been collected previous to the 17th of August, 1815. JAMES MADISON. FEBRUARY 3, 1817. The Message was read. Resolved, That the Military Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of a reform in the provisions of the laws respecting the allowance and pay of private servants to the military and staff officers of the Army, in order to place them on a more economical establishment. The bill for the relief of Jacint Laval was read a second time. The Senate resumed the consideration of the The following Message was also received from motion of the 3d instant, for instructing the Comthe PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Most Christian Majesty, having renewed, under special instructions from his Government, the claim of the representative of Baron de Beaumarchais, for one million of livres, which were debited to him in the settlement of his accounts with the United States, I lay before Congress copies of the memoir on that subject, addressed by the said Envoy to the Secretary of State. Considering that the sum of which the million of livres in question made a part, was a gratuitous grant from the French Government to the United States, and the declaration of that Government, that that part of the grant was put into the hands of M. de Beaumarchais as its agent, not as the agent of the United States, and was duly accounted for by him to the French Government; considering, also, the concurring opinions of two Attorneys General of the United States, that the said debit was not legally sustainable in behalf of the United States, I recommend the case to the favorable attention of the Legislature, whose authority alone can finally decide on it. JANUARY 31, 1817. JAMES MADISON. mittee on Public Lands to inquire into the expe. diency of establishing a new district for surveying public lands south of the State of Tennessee; and agreed thereto. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill, granting a pension to Commodore Richard Taylor, and the bill having been amended, the PRESIDENT reported it to the House accordingly; and it was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time. The bill, entitled "An act in addition to 'an act for the relief of George T. Ross and Daniel T. Patterson, and the officers and men lately under their command," having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, was read a third time, and amended by unanimous consent. Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be, "An act in addition to an act for the relief of George T. Ross and Daniel T. Patterson, and the officers and men lately under their command." The bill authorizing the appointment of hospital surgeons and hospital surgeons' mates, in the Navy of the United States, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed; on motion, by Mr. DAGGETT, it was recommitted The Message and accompanying memoir were to the Committee on Naval Affairs, further to read. TUESDAY, February 4. consider and report thereon. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a bill, entitled "An act concerning the navigation of the United States;" in which bill they request the concurrence of the Senate. Mr. ROBERTS gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to bring in a bill authorizing a subscription for an additional volume of the laws of the United States, and for the distribution thereof. The bill to repeal the second section of an act, entitled "An act concerning the pay of officers, seamen, and marines, in the Navy of the United Stetes," was read a third time, and passed. The bill making appropriations for the payment of certain claims for militia services to the State of Georgia, was read a third time, and passed. The bill to appoint additional pension agents; the bill to amend and explain an act giving pensions to the orphans and widows of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States; and the bill for the relief of the widow and children of Arnold Henry Dohrman, deceased, were severally reported by the committee correctly engrossed. WEDNESDAY, February 5. The bill brought up yesterday for concurrence was read the first and second time by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, to consider and report thereon. Mr. WILLIAMS, from the committee appointed to consider the subject, reported a bill to provide for the purchase and distribution of the laws of the United States; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. SENATE. service of their masters; and, on motion by Mr. SMITH, the consideration thereof was further postponed to, and made the order of the day for, to-morrow. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill directing the discharge of Lewis Olmsted from imprisonment; and no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill making provision for subsisting the Army of the United States, by authorizing the appointment of commissaries of subsistence; and, on motion by Mr. HARDIN, the further consideration thereof was postponed until to-morrow. Agreeably to notice, Mr. ROBERTS asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill authorizing a subscription for an additional volume of the Laws of the United States, and for the distribution thereof; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. PETITION OF SARAH DEWEES. Mr. ROBERTS, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Sarah Dewees, made a report, which was read; when Mr. R. reported a bill for the relief of Sarah Dewees; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. The report is as follows: That they find it to be the object of the petitioner to obtain indemnity for buildings, the property of her late husband, destroyed by the public enemy while occupied, under the authority of the Quartermaster General of the United States, as a place of regular military deposite at the Valley: Forge, in the year 1777. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motions for instructing the Military Committee to inquire into the expediency of repealing or modifying so much of the second section of the act establishing the military staff as relates to hospital surgeons and surgeons' mates, and of a reform in the provisions of the laws respecting the allowance and pay of private servants to the military and staff officers of the army, in order to that the facts alleged in the said petition are satisThat report sets forth place them on a more economical establishment;factorily established; that it appears the property was and agreed thereto. The bill to incorporate the members of the Columbian Institute was read the second time. The engrossed bill to appoint additional pension agents was read a third time, and passed. The engrossed bill to amend and explain an act giving pensions to the orphans and widows of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States, was read a third time, and passed. The engrossed bill for the relief of the widow and children of Arnold Henry Dohrman, deceased, was read a third time, and the blanks were filled, first, with three hundred; second, with one hundred. Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be, "An act for the relief of the widow and children of Arnold Henry Dohrman, deceased." The bill granting a pension to Commodore Richard Taylor, was read a third time, and passed. Agreeably to special order the Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill respecting persons escaping from the The petitioner refers to a report of a select commitof February, 1794, on the petition of her late husband, tee, made to the House of Representatives on the 11th Colonel William Dewees. taken for public use, contrary to the wishes and remonstrances of the petitioner; that the chief part of his buildings were occupied as a deposite for military stores, where a part continued until the approach of the enemy; that, on the arrival of the enemy, he consumed the stores with the building; that the destruction of the said property is to be ascribed wholly to the circumstance of the military stores being there deposited, as none of the buildings in the vicinity suffered in like manner; and that the claim of the petitioner is not barred by any act of limitation, having been exhibited at the Treasury within the period limited by those acts." The above-cited report concludes with a resolution to bring in a bill for the relief of the petitioner. The Committee of the Whole appear to have reported the resolution negatived, which report was rejected by the House. From that time until the death of Colonel Dewees, embarrassed circumstances, consequent on the loss of his property and great infirmity of body, prevented him from prosecuting his claim. In 1811, the petitioner petitioned Congress. Her vouchers were then on the files of the House of Representatives; but which now appear to have been destroyed in the conflagration of 1814. Copies of these vouchers, which the committee have no doubt are genuine, together with evidence recently obtained of the most respectable character, accompany the petition. FEBRUARY, 1817. sted from imprisonment, was read a third time, and passed. Agreeably to special order, the Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill respecting persons escaping from the service of their masters. The petitioner represents her case as coming entirely within the scope of an act passed at the last session of Congress, authorizing the payment for buildings destroyed by the enemy while occupied as a military de-ments posite. The force of this suggestion the committee are compelled to admit in all its extent. The committee believe the destruction of Colonel Dewees's buildings was clearly sanctioned by the usages of civilized warfare, and that the obligation on the Government to make compensation for the loss of property thus taken for public use is unequivocal. In the lapse of time for which indemnity has been withheld, the committee see nothing to weaken this obligation. The facts were established to the satisfaction of the House of Representatives as early as 1794. From a diligent examination of the records of the House of Representatives, the committee are induced confidently to believe no claim similar in character has ever been made on the justice of Congress since the establishment of the present Government. They therefore respectfully recommend the payment of the claim of Sarah Dewees, and report a bill making the necessary appropriation. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act 'authorizing the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes,' passed the ninth of April, 1816," together with the amendments reported thereto by the Committee of Claims, and Mr. VARNUM was requested to take the Chair; and the bill having been amended, the PRESIDENT resumed the Chair, and it was reported to the House accordingly; and the amendments having been concurred in, on motion, the Senate adjourned. THURSDAY, February 6. Mr. SMITH having proposed sundry amendthereto, on motion, by Mr. TALBOT, the further consideration thereof was postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Monday next, and the amendments were ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill entitled, "An act to amend the act authorizing the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes,' passed the ninth of April, 1816," as amended; and the bill having been further amended, and a further amendment being proposed by Mr. TALBOT, on motion, the Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, February 7. The following Message was received from the Representatives of the United States: passed March 31, 1814, providing for the indemnifica On comparing the 4th section of the act of Congress, tion of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi Territory, with the article of agreement and cession between the United States and State of Georgia, bearing date April 30, 1802, it appears that the engagement entered into with the claimants interferes with the rights and interests secured to that State. I recommend to Congress that provision be made, by law, for payments to the State of Georgia equal to the amount of Mississippi stock which shall be paid into the Treasury, until the stipulated sum of $1,350,000 shall be completed. FEBRUARY 6, 1817. JAMES MADISON. The Message was read, and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition in behalf of the representatives of Francis Cazeau, and having agreed there- The following Message was also received from to, on motion of Mr. GOLDSBOROUGH, it was re-the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: committed to the said committee, to report a bill To the Senate and House of accordingly. The bill for the relief of Sarah Dewees was read the second time. The bill authorizing a subscription for an additional volume of the laws of the United States, and for the distribution thereof, was read the second time. The bill to provide for the purchase and distribution of the laws of the United States, was read the second time. Representatives of the United States: I transmit to the Senate a report of the Secretary of FEBRUARY 7, 1817. The Message and report therein mentioned were read. The PRESIDENT communicated a report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, stating that the measures which have been authorized by the Board subsequent to their last report, of the 7th of February, 1816, so far as the same have been completed, are fully detailed in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury to the Board, dated the 6th day of the present month, and in the stateThe bill directing the discharge of Lewis Olm-ments therein referred to, which are herewith The engrossed bill to provide for the punishment of crimes and offences, committed within the Indian boundaries, having been read a third time; on motion, by Mr. DAGGETT, it was recommitted to the Committee on the Judiciary, further to consider and report thereon. transmitted and prayed to be received as part of this report; and the report was read. SENATE. Mr. MORROW, from the Committee on the Public Lands, to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill making reservation of certain public lands to supply timber for naval purposes; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. GOLDSBOROUGH, from the Committee of Claims, pursuant to instruction, reported a bill for the benefit of the legal representatives of Francis Cazeau, late merchant of Montreal; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. MASON, of New Hampshire, presented the memorial of the ship owners, and others interested in foreign commerce, in the town of Portsmouth, and State of New Hampshire, representing that, in consequence of the measures adopted by foreign nations for the promotion of their own navigation, the ship owners of the United States are deprived of an equal and fair participation in the carrying and West Inthia trade; that although the amount of tonnage has greatly increased since the year 1806, yet the employment of it has declined in a degree highly alarming to all who, like themselves, depend on navigation for their support and prosperity; and praying the adoption of such regulations as may relieve the navigation of the United States from its present embarass-Troup, Varnum, and Wilson. ment; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise, and ordered to be printed for the the use of the Senate. Mr. RUGGLES presented the petition of James Reed and others, praying the right of pre-emption to a certain tract of land, on which they have erected certain improvements, as stated in the petition; which was read, and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act authorizing the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, passed the 9th of April, 1816;" and the bill having been further amended, On motion, by Mr. DAGGETT, to strike out the first section of the bill it was determined in the negative-yeas 16, nays 17, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Ashmun, Barbour, Brown, Daggett, Fromentin, Goldsborough, Hanson, Hardin, Horsey, Tunter, Mason of Virginia, Noble, Ruggles, Talbot, Tichenor, and Williams. NAYS-Messrs. Campbell, Condit, Gaillard, Howell, Lacock, Macon, Mason of New Hampshire, Morrow, Roberts, Sanford, Smith, Tait, Taylor, Thompson, The bill having been further amended by adding thereto a new section, on the question, "Shall the amendments be engrossed, and the bill read a third time?" it was determined in the affirmative. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a bill, entitled "An act concerning the Naval Establishment;" in which bill they request the concurrence of the Senate. thereon. The bill last mentioned was read twice, by Mr. RUGGLES offered instructions from the Le- unanimous consent, and referred to the Comgislature of the State of Ohio to their Senators,mittee on Naval Affairs, to consider and report to use their influence to procure the passage of a law of Congress giving the inhabitants on the United States' reservation, at Lower Sandusky, the pre-emption right to such part or portion of said reservation as will secure to said inhabitants their improvements, upon such terms and conditions as may appear reasonable and just; and moved that they be received and read, which was determined in the negative. Whereupon, Mr. WILSON Submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Senate deem it inexpedient that instructions from a State Legislature, to the Senators from such State, should be received and filed in the Senate. On motion, by Mr. DAGGETT, the committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of repealing or modifying the law entitled, "An act to change the mode of compensation to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and delegates from Territories," were discharged from the further consideration thereof. Mr. HARDIN Submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting pensions to the infant children of Captain James Logan, the Shawnee chief, who fell in the service of the United States, in the late war with Great Britain, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill making provision for subsisting the Army of the United States, by authorizing the appointment of commissaries of subsistence; and on motion, by Mr. WILLIAMS, the further consideration thereof was postponed until Monday next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill establishing the salaries of the messengers in the Executive Departments; and on motion, by Mr. VARNUM, the further consideration thereof was postponed until the fourth day of March next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act more effectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States," together with the amendments reported thereto by the Committee of Foreign Relations; and on motion, by Mr. MASON, of New Hampshire, the further consideration thereof was postponed until Monday next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of Jacint Laval; and, no amendment having been agreed to, the PRESIDENT reported the bill to the House, and it was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill to incorpo |