To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I transmit to each House of Congress a copy of the laws of the Territory of Michigan, passed by the Governor and Judges of the Territory, during the year one thousand eight hundred and five.

JANUARY 5, 1807.

TH. JEFFERSON.

The said message was read, and, together with the laws transmitted therewith, ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Quincy presented to the House a petition of Edward Weld, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, which was received and read, praying to be permitted to fund the amount of a certificate for one hundred dollars of the eight per cent. loan of the United States, which he lost on the fourth of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine; or that the same may be repaid to him, with interest, agreeably to the provisions of the act constituting said loan.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Parke presented to the House a petition of William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory, which was received and read, praying compensation for his services in assisting to prepare the laws of the said district, previous to the first of October, one thousand eight hundred and four; and for his services as Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the same, from that period to the first of July following.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Mumford presented to the House several petitions of sundry inhabitants of the city of New York, which were received and read, praying that the port and harbor of New York may be placed in an adequate state of defence and security.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee appointed, on the third ultimo, on so much of the message of the President of the United States as relates "to the repairs of fortifications, and to the farther protection of our ports, towns, and rivers."

On motion of Mr. Jeremiah Nelson, and seconded,

Ordered, That the petition of sundry merchants of the town of Newburyport, in the State of Massachusetts, presented to this House on the seventh of January, one thousand eight hundred and six, be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Mumford presented to the House a petition of Isaac Clason, of the city of New York, to the same effect with a petition presented to this House on the sixteenth of December, one thousand eight hundred and five; which was received and read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Marmaduke Williams, from the committee appointed on the twenty-second ultimo, presented, according to order, a bill to extend the power of granting writs of injunctions to the Judges of the District Courts 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 Thursday next.

Mr. Parke presented to the House a petition of John Gibson, Secretary of the Indi. ana Territory, which was received and read, praying compensation for services rendered as Secretary to the District of Louisiana, from the first of October, one thousand eight hundred and four, to the first of July, one thousand eight hundred and five. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Tenney, from the Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business, to whom it was referred to examine and report such laws of the United States as have expired, or are near expiring, made a report, in part, thereon; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion of Mr. Thomas, and seconded,

Resolved, That the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road from the Court House in Salem to the Court House at Sandy Hill, in the State of New York.

On motion of Mr. Tenney, from the Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business, Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures be directed to inquire into the expediency of continuing in force, for a further term, the act, entitled "An act to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and certain parts of the Island of Saint Domingo," and that they be authorized to report by bill, or otherwise.

Mr. Chandler presented to the House a petition of sundry inhabitants of Kennebec, in the District of Maine, whose names are thereunto subscribed; which was received and read, praying that the town of Augusta, in the county of Kennebec, may be constituted a port of delivery.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill authorizing the discharge of William Hearn from his imprisonment; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Gregg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

Mr. John Randolph, from the Committee of Ways and Means, presented, according to order, a bill for the relief of Anthony Benezet, and others; 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.

Mr. Newton, from the committee to whom was referred, on the eighth ultimo, the petition of Andre Joseph Villard, together with the report of a select committee made on the seventeenth of March, one thousand eight hundred and six, made a report therewhich was read, and ordered to be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.

on;

On motion of Mr. Conrad,

Ordered, That the petition of Phebe Harper, presented to this House on the fifth of February last, be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Ordered, That Mr. Garnett have leave to be absent from the service of this House, for ten days, from to-day.

The House resumed the consideration of the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole House, on the twenty-ninth ultimo, to the bill to prohibit the importation or bringing of slaves into the United States, or the Territories thereof, after the thirtyfirst day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seven: Whereupon,

The amendments to the fourth section being again twice read, were, on the question thereupon, agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the farther consideration of the said amendments be postponed until Wednesday next.

Ordered, That the order of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Committee on the Public Lands, who were directed, on the eighteenth ultimo, "to inquire into the expediency of repealing so much of the act of Congress, of the twenty-third of March, one thousand eight hundred and four, as limits the time in which locations of Virginia military warrants shall be made," be postponed until Friday next.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the Whole House on the bill for the relief of George Little; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Masters reported that the Committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill providing for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, together with an amendment thereto reported from the select committee, on the second instant; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Varnum reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill, with the amendment, under consideration, and made some progress therein, but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to move the House for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said bill and amendment.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1807.

Mr. Porter, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, this day, present to the President of the United States, for his approbation, an enrolled bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Navy of the United States, during the year one thousand eight hundred and seven."

Mr. Holmes, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred, on the thirtieth ultimo, the petition of Daniel Gilder, made a report thereon; which was read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That Daniel Gilder have leave to withdraw his petition, and the papers accompanying the same.

Mr. Holmes, from the same committee, to whom was referred, on the nineteenth ultimo, the petition of Mary Gresham, made a report thereon; which was read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That Mary Gresham have leave to withdraw her petition, and documents accompanying the same.

On a motion made, and leave given by the House, Mr. Southard, from the committee appointed on the second instant, presented, according to order, a bill authorizing the President to lease the public ground in the City of Washington; 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.

Mr. Tallmadge presented to the House a petition of Ann Welsh, of the State of Connecticut, executrix of the last will and testament of George Hurlbut, which was received and read, praying that she may receive the commutation of half pay, due to the decedent for services rendered as an officer in the Army of the United States, during the Revolutionary war with Great Britain.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Parke, and seconded,

Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing an office for the sale of the lands of the United States West of the Greenville treaty boundary line, and East of the Vincennes and Delaware purchases; and that they report by bill, or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. Clark, and seconded,

Resolved, That the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of continuing the post road from Athens to New Orleans, through West Florida, South of the line of demarcation, with the consent of the Spanish Government in that province; and report by bill, or otherwise.

Mr. Early, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, who were directed by a resolution of the House, of the sixteenth ultimo, "to inquire into the expediency of making provision for a survey of the coasts of the United States," presented, according to order, a bill to provide for surveying the coasts 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.

Mr. Clinton presented to the House a petition of Peter Landais, of the State of New York, which was received and read, praying that his claim against the United States for a share of prize money, in three vessels captured by him while commander of the frigate Alliance, during the late war with Great Britain, may be examined and finally settled.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Lewis presented to the House a petition of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Prince William and Fairfax, in the State of Virginia, whose names are thereunto subscribed, which was received and read, praying the establishment of a post office at the town of Occoquan, in the said State.

Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Occoquan, in the said State, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the same effect.

Also, a petition of Nathaniel Ellicott, of the State of Virginia, to the same effect. Ordered, That the said petitions be severally referred to the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads.

An engrossed bill authorizing the discharge of William Hearn from his imprisonment was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act authorizing the discharge of William Hearn from his imprisonment."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

An engrossed bill for the relief of George Little was read the third time;
And on the question that the same do pass,

Yeas

2 Nays.

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

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

Resolved, That the title be, "An act for the relief of George Little." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary :

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the military establishment of the United States, for the year one thousand eight hundred and seven." And then he withdrew.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Postmaster General, transmitting a report of the persons employed as clerks in his office, during the year one thousand eight hundred and six, specifying the amount which they respectively receive as yearly salaries, in obedience to the act, entitled "An act to regulate and fix the com. pensation of clerks, and to authorize the laying out certain public roads, and for other purposes;" which were read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Stanton, from the committee appointed, o the eleventh ultimo," to inquire whe ther any, and, if any, what, description of claims against the United States are barred by the statutes of limitation, which, in reason and justice, ought to be provided for by law," made a report thereon; which was read, and ordered to be referred to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

On motion of Mr. Stanton,

Ordered, That the petitions of sundry inhabitants of Stonington, and of Westerly, presented to this House on the twenty-seventh of February, one thousand eight hundred and four, be severally referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Early, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom was referred, on the thirty-first ultimo, the petition of Reuben Alley, made a report thereon; which was read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Reuben Alley ought not to be granted. Ordered, That Mr. Mumford be appointed of the Committee of Commerce and Marrufactures in the place of Mr. Crowninshield, who is absent on leave.

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

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1807.

On motion of Mr. Mumford,

Ordered, That the petition of Samuel Beebee, of the city of New York, presented to this House on the sixth of November, one thousand eight hundred and four, be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Ordered, That the order of the day for the House again to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill providing for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, be postponed until to-morrow.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Coles, his Secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign an act, which originated in this House, entitled “An act making appropriations for the support of the Navy of the United States, during the year one thousand eight hundred and seven."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

The House resumed the consideration of the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole House, on the twenty ninth ultimo, to the bill to prohibit the importation or bringing of slaves into the United States, or the Territories thereof, afrer the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seven: Whereupon,

The amendments to the fifth, sixth, and seventh sections of the said bill being again severally twice read, were, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

VOE. V.-65