H. OF R.]

Mexican Boundary Line.

Mrs. Susan Decatur.

The following resolution, offered on Saturday last by Mr. BYNUM, was taken up for consideration:

Resolved, That the Executive be requested to cause to be laid before this House, as soon as practicable, such information in relation to the relative positions of the province of Texas, one of the United Provinces of the Republic of Mexico, and the Government of the United States of North America, as may be in possession of either of the Departments, not deemed incompatible with the interests of either of the two Governments; also, what progress has been made in distinguishing the boundary lines between this Government and the Republic of Mexico, which were to be run in conformity with the stipulations made and entered into between the Government of Spain and that of the United States, as ratified by the latter in Congress, on the 22d February, 1819. Also, whether if any subsequent relations have been entered into between the commissioners of this and the Government of Mexico, to carry into execution the conditions of the abovementioned stipulations, posterior to the recognition of the latter Government as an independent Republic.

Mr. BYNUM said he had ascertained that most of the information called for in the resolution had already been communicated to Congress, and he therefore moved to lay it on the table; which was agreed to.

TUESDAY, December 30.
Surveyor General in Illinois.

Mr. CASEY, from the Committee on the Public Lands, reported a bill providing for the establishment of a surveyor general's office in the State of Illinois; which was read twice.

Mr. CASEY stated that the establishment of a separate surveyor general's office for the State of Illinois was a matter of deep interest to the people of that State; he was therefore exceedingly anxious that the bill should be acted upon at the present session of Congress, and hoped that the House would permit the bill to be committed to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; and accordingly made a motion to that effect; which motion was agreed to.

WEDNESDAY, December 31.

General Lafayette.

The SPEAKER announced that, under the joint resolution, the House would be considered as regularly in session, until adjourned in the usual manner, after the delivery of the contemplated eulogy on the life and character of Lafayette.

According to previous arrangement, the Senate, accompanied by the Vice President, the President, the heads of Departments, a portion of the foreign diplomatic corps, the joint com

[JANUARY, 1835. mittee of arrangements, and Mr. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, entered the hall of the House of Representatives at half past 12 o'clock, P. M.

Mr. HUBBARD (the chairman of the committee of arrangements on the part of the House) conducted Mr. ADAMS to the Speaker's chair, from which he rose and delivered an address on the life and character of General Lafayette, which occupied about three hours' time.

When Mr. ADAMS had concluded, the Vice President and Senate retired to their hall, the President of the United States, heads of Departments, &c., &c., withdrew, and the House, on motion, adjourned over to Friday.

FRIDAY, January 2, 1835.
General Lafayette.

The following joint resolution was offered by
Mr. HUBBARD:

tatives, That the thanks of Congress be presented to Resolved by the Senate and House of Represen JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, for the appropriate oration delivered by him on the life and character of General Lafayette, in the Representatives' hall, before both Houses of Congress, on the 31st day of December, 1834, and that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication.

mittee appointed to make the necessary arrangements Resolved, That the chairman of the joint com.

to carry into effect the resolution of the last session of this Congress, in relation to the death of General Lafayette, be requested to communicate to Mr. ADAMS the aforegoing resolution, receive his answer thereto, and present the same to both Houses of Congress.

The resolution was agreed to, nem, dis. Mr. CAMBRELENG asked whether this was the proper time to move the printing of an extra number of copies of the eulogy.

Mr. HUBBARD replied, that it was thought proper first to pass the resolution and receive an answer, after which the committee would move the printing of the eulogy, and of an extra number of copies.

SATURDAY, January 3.

Mrs. Susan Decatur. The bill for the relief of Susan Decatur and others was taken up.

Mr. VINTON moved its postponement to Friday next. He said the bill had, first and last, occupied at least six weeks of the time of the House, and had been four or five times rejected. He thought it time to establish a rule that claims often rejected should yield precedence to other claims on the calendar.

Mr. CAMBRELENG remarked that the gentleman from Ohio should recollect that this bill, though often rejected, was rejected by small majorities, and merely because gentlemen could not agree as to the mode of distributing the sum allowed to the claimants.

JANUARY, 1835.]

Eulogy on General Lafayette.

[H. OF R.

The question on the postponement of the bill | afforded to Baltimore as has been given to the was decided in the negative-yeas 55. neighboring cities, and other points of the Union.

Mr. GILLET moved to lay the bill on the table, which was determined in the affirmativeayes 96, noes 90.

MONDAY, January 5.

Defence of Baltimore.

Among the memorials presented this morning was one by Mr. McKiм, from citizens of Baltimore, praying that the fortifications commenced some years since may be completed, &c. On presenting which,

TUESDAY, January 6.

Eulogy on General Lafayette.

Mr. HUBBARD, from the joint committee appointed on that subject, reported the following correspondence between the joint committee and JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, on the subject of the address delivered by the latter on the life and character of General Lafayette. To the Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS:

SIR: We have the honor to present to you official copies of the joint resolutions adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives on the 2d instant, expressing the thanks of Congress for the appropriate tives on the 31st ultimo, on the life and character oration delivered by you in the Hall of Representaof General Lafayette, and authorizing a request to be made to you for a copy of it for publication.

of the committee on the part of the Senate.
HENRY HUBBARD; Chairman
of the committee on the part of the House.

JANUARY 5th, 1835.

To Messrs. HENRY CLAY and HENRY HUBBARD, Chairmen of the joint committee of arrangements of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, to carry into effect the resolution of Congress in relation to the death of Generral Lafayette:

Mr. McKIM said: I am requested to present the memorial of a number of citizens of Baltimore, praying that the forts, recommended by a board of engineers many years since to be erected for the defence of Baltimore, may be commenced, or such other works as may be deemed necessary. Having the honor to represent, in part, the citizens of Baltimore on this floor, I ask leave of the House to say a few Having shared the high gratification of hearing words in explanation and support of the memo- the oration, we take pleasure, in pursuance of the rial. It is, I presume, well known that Balti-second of the joint resolutions, in requesting you to more is the emporium of the State of Maryland, furnish a copy of the oration for publication. and now ranks as the third city in the Union, We have the honor to be, with great respect, your in size and population. In the late war with obedient servants, Great Britain, her citizens supported the rights HENRY CLAY, Chairman of the nation with all their energy; and when a powerful British army, under the command of a successful general, landed at North Point, in 1814, to capture the city, her citizens, both old and young, marched to meet the invading foe. A battle ensued; the commanding general of the enemy was slain, and Baltimore had to deplore the loss of a number of her brave citizens. The enemy retreated, without accomplishing the object for which they came; peace took place shortly after; and the Government appointed a board of engineers to examine and report on such places as might require works of defence. The board reported in 1821, and GENTLEMEN: I received, with deep sensibility, among others, recommended two works, of your communication of the joint resolution of both the first and second class, to be erected for the Houses of Congress, upon the oration delivered bedefence of Baltimore; the first class to be com-fore them on the life and character of Lafayette: menced as soon as possible, and the second at a later period. Thirteen years have passed since this report was made, and, while a great number of the works recommended in the report have been commenced and nearly completed, I regret to state that those mentioned for Baltimore have been entirely passed over. The cause I know not; but the fact is so. Surely the lives and property of the citizens of Baltimore are as much entitled to protection from this Government as those in any other part of the Union. The entire property at risk in Baltimore may be estimated at one hundred millions of dollars, and only one fort to protect the harbor, and that, as I am informed, not in as good a condition at present as at the close of the late war. The citizens of Baltimore place every dependence on the justice of Congress, and expect that the same protection will be

The kind indulgence with which they have accepted the endeavor to give effect to their purpose of paying

a last tribute of national gratitude and affection to will be impressed upon my heart to the last hour of the memory of a great benefactor of our country, my life.

With this sentiment, I shall take pleasure in furnishing, as requested, a copy of the address for publication.

I am, gentlemen, with the highest respect, your fellow-citizen and obedient servant,

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

Mr. HUBBARD remarked that the oration was now under the control of the House. It had been considered by the joint committee that it would be most proper for each House to act independently in regard to having it printed, inasmuch as there was no printer to Congress. He asked leave to present the following resolution:

H. OF R.]

North-eastern Boundary.

[JANUARY, 1835.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1835.

The Secretary of State, to whom was referred a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 24th ultimo, requesting the President “to communicate to that House such information as he may have, and which, in his opinion, may be proper to be com municated, and not incompatible with the public interest, showing the steps which have been taken, and the progress which has been made, in effecting an adjustment and satisfaction of the claims of Ameri

Whereas it was resolved, at the last session of Congress, that JOHN Q. ADAMS be requested to deliver an oration on the life and character of General Lafayette, before the two Houses of Congress; and, in pursuance of that resolution, and sundry other resolutions which have been subsequently adopted, Mr. ADAMS, on Wednesday, the 31st day of December, 1834, in the hall of the House of Representatives, and in the presence of both Houses of Congress, and also in the presence of the President of the United States and the heads of the respective Departments of the general Government, and of a most numerous assem-can citizens upon the Mexican Government," has the bly of citizens, did deliver an oration replete with those pure and patriotic sentiments which will be sacredly cherished by every true and enlightened American; the House of Representatives was satisfied with the manner in which Mr. ADAMS has performed the duty assigned him, and, desirous of communicating, "through the medium of the press," those principles which have been by him so ably discussed, as well as their sentiments of respect for the distinguished character, and their sentiments of gratitude for the devoted services, of Lafayette, which have been by him on this occasion so faithfully expressed, have come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That copies of the oration be printed

for the use of the House.

Mr. PEARCE, of Rhode Island, moved to fill the blank in the resolution with 10,000 copies; Mr. PINCKNEY proposed 20,000; Mr. BROWN named 50,000; and Mr. MILLER 40,000.

The question was first put on the largest number, and carried-yeas 80, nays 61.

Mr. EVANS, of Maine, suggested that the oration ought to be printed on better paper, and with more neatness than the ordinary documents which were ordered by the House. He therefore moved to amend the resolution, by directing that the printing should be executed under the direction of the committee appointed by the House.

The resolution, as amended, was then agreed to.

Fuel for the Poor of Washington. Mr. PINCKNEY asked the unanimous consent of the House to offer a resolution, which he thought would meet with no objection, when it was understood to relate to the distressed situation of the poor of this city.

No objection being made, Mr. P. offered the following resolution; which was agreed to, by a vote of 65 to 60:

Resolved, That the Committee on the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby authorized and instructed to ascertain the amount of fuel that may be necessary for the immediate relief of the suffering poor of Washington, and to place the same at the disposal of the corporation for that purpose.

honor to report that, in pursuance of instructions from this Department, various representations have been made to the Government of the United Mexican States, from time to time, by the minister of the United States in that Republic; that, owing to the condition of the country, they have hitherto been without success; but that, in the minister's latest dispatch, dated the 20th October last, he expresses the opinion that the state of affairs will be such, after the then approaching meeting of the Mexican Congress in January, as will enable him to close, in a satisfactory manner, the negotiations now pending. All which is respectfuly submitted.

JOHN FORSYTH.

North-eastern Boundary.

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

sentatives passed on the 27th ultimo, I transmit s In answer to a resolution of the House of Repre report made to me by the Secretary of State on the subject; and I have to acquaint the House that the negotiation for the settlement of the north-eastern boundary being now in progress, it would, in my opinion, be incompatible with the public interest to lay before the House any communications which have been had between the two Governments since the period alluded to in the resolution.

ANDREW JACKSON.

WASHINGTON, January 6, 1835.
Report to the President of the United Stata.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, January 5, 1835.

The Secretary of State, to whom was referred & resolution of the House of Representatives of the 27th ultimo, requesting the President to lay before the House, if in his opinion it is not incompatible with the public interest, any communications which may have been had between the Government of the United States and that of Great Britain, since the rejection by the former of the advisory opinion of the King of the Netherlands, in reference to the estab lishment and final settlement of the north-eastern boundary of the United States heretofore in controversy, between the two Governments; and also re questing the President to communicate any informa tion he may possess of the exercise of practical juris diction by the authorities of the British province of New Brunswick over the disputed territory within the line of boundary as claimed by the United States, and limits of the State of Maine, according to the true especially upon that part of the territory which has been incorporated by the Government of Maine into To the House of Representatives: the town of Madawaska; together with such repre In answer to the resolution of the House of Representations and correspondence (if any) as have been sentatives, passed on the 24th ultimo, I transmit a re- had by the Executive of that State with the Govern port from the Secretary of State upon the subject.

Claims on Mexico.

The SPEAKER laid before the House the following Messages, &c., from the President of the

United States:

ANDREW JACKSON.

ment of the United States on the subject-has the honor to report that the Department has no informe

JANUARY, 1835.]

Captain Nathan Hale.

[H. OF R.

the bills and notes of the Bank of the United States and its branches, in payment of debts to the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, from and after the passing of this act, the bills or notes of the Bank of the United States made payable, or which shall have become payable on demand, shall not be receivable in any payment to the United States: Provided, That if the said Bank of the United States shall pay into the treasury the full amount of dividends of property on the capital stock of said bank, owned by the United States, heretofore withheld from the treasury by said bank, it shall, upon such payment into the treasury, be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize the receipt of such bills or notes in payments to the United States for a period extending to the expiration of the charter of said bank on the 3d day of March, in the year 1836.

tion which has not already been laid before the House, A BILL to suspend, conditionally, the receipt of of the exercise of practical jurisdiction by the authorities of the British province of New Brunswick over the disputed territory within the limits of the State of Maine, nor any other representation or corespondence had by the Executive of that State with the Government of the United States on that subject. Representations were made to this Department in the latter part of the year 1833, by the British minister at Washington, on the part of the authorities of New Brunswick, complaining of infractions of the understanding subsisting between the two Governments in regard to the disputed territory. These complaints, however, on being referred to the Governors of Maine and Massachusetts for explanation, were believed to be without just grounds. There was no complaint on the part of Maine, and the correspondence which took place on the occasion is not supposed to be within the scope of the resolution of the House. As the negotiation between the United States and Great Britain, which was commenced in accordance with a resolution of the Senate after the rejection of the advisory opinion of the King of the Netherlands, for the establishment of the north-eastern boundary, is now in progress, it is submitted to the President whether it would be compatible with the public interest to lay before the House any communications which have passed between the two Governments on the subject.

All which is respectfully submitted.

JOHN FORSYTH.

FRIDAY, January 9.

Washington's Papers.

The following joint resolution, yesterday offered by Mr. E. EVERETT, was read a third time:

"Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of State be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to permit Jared Sparks to retain the papers of General Washington, now in his possession, in virtue of a contract and agreement with the late Bushrod Washington, until he shall have completed the publication of the works of General Washington, on which he is now engaged, or until otherwise ordered by Congress; and that the Secretary of State be authorized and directed forthwith to pay to George C. Washington the balance of the money due to him under the act approved on the 30th day of June, 1884, for the purchase of the books and papers of General Washington."

Mr. SEABORN JONES begged to ask the gentleman from Massachusetts what amount of money had been already paid?

Mr. E. EVERETT said $20,000 out of $25,000, the sum agreed upon.

The yeas and nays having been ordered, the question was then taken, and decided in the negative-yeas 87, nays 101.

So the resolution was rejected.

SATURDAY, January 10.

United States Bank Notes.

Mr. POLK, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following bill:

The bill was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

Mr. POLK, on leave, moved to print a statement prepared by the Secretary of the Treasury, of the rate of domestic exchange, as charged by the Bank of the United States and its branches, and the different local banks in the Union.

Mr. McKINLEY moved that 10,000 extra copies be printed; which was agreed to.

MONDAY, January 12.

Captain Nathan Hale.

Mr. YOUNG presented a memorial for the erection of a monument to the memory of Captain Nathan Hale.

Both

Mr. Y. observed that the memorial was from the inhabitants of the town of Coventry, in Connecticut, the birthplace of Captain Nathan Hale. He presumed the mere mention of the name would bring to mind the prominent event in his history, that which terminated his career, and signally marked him both a victim and martyr in the cause of our independence. It will be recollected that his character, his services, and his fate, bear a striking resemblance to those of the lamented Major Andre. were young and highly accomplished officersbrave, chivalrous, and enthusiastic for honor and the glory of their respective countries: both were selected by their respective commanders to discharge a service most difficult and hazardous, and most important to the armies and nations to which they belonged; both, with address, had nearly accomplished their objects, and nearly reached the goal of safety, when they were recognized, arrested, and executed as spies. Widely different, however, has been the regard which has been paid to their memories and names.

The character of Andre is renowned throughout the civilized world, and his name become

Mr. WILLIAMS objected.

[JANUARY, 1835.

Mr. REYNOLDSs then moved a suspension of the rule, and demanded the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were-yeas 94, nays 87.

almost a symbol of honor and sympathy; while | sideration of the House; but supposed that it the name of Hale is almost forgotten even by would be as well to dispose of it at this as at his own countrymen. And while poets and any other time. It required no great deliberahistorians, even of our country, seem to vie tion to arrive at a proper conclusion on it. He with each other in celebrating the virtues and therefore moved to take it up. untimely end of the British Andre, the name of the American Andre seems only to be brought forward to show the connecting links and dependency of events in the history of his times. While pilgrimages are made to the spot where Andre met his fate, and to the grave where his ashes repose, and a proud monument to his memory expresses the gratitude of his country, not one stone has been laid upon another to tell where Nathan Hale was born, or where he died, or where his body sleeps, or to signify for what country he laid down his life, lamenting that he had not another life to lay down for it.

Two-thirds not voting in the affirmative, the motion to suspend the rules was therefore negatived.

THURSDAY, January 15.

Ship Channel around the Falls of Niagara.

Mr. HARD presented the petition of citizens of Niagara county, in the State of New York, for the survey of a ship channel around the falls of Niagara.

The neglect and forgetfulness of his countrymen to the worth and memory of Captain Hale, and enhanced by this strong contrast continually before them and the world, have been deeply felt by his relatives. But they do not peti- In presenting this petition, Mr. H. said he tion here. The inhabitants of his native town, should move the reading and printing thereof. by their memorial, suggest that some national It would be recollected that the Committee on recognition of his services, character, and fate, Roads and Canals, at the last session, reported is due to his memory, and the honor of his a bill, now on your table, making provision for country; and pray that, as the place of his the survey, examination, and estimate, for coninterment is not known, some suitable monu-structing the various projects therein mentionment may be erected, in the name of the nation, | ed, at the head of which was the project for s in his native town, in the burial place of his

ancestors.

TUESDAY, January 13.

The Public Moneys. Mr. GAMBLE moved the consideration of the following resolution, heretofore offered by him: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to digest and prepare, and communicate to this House, a detailed plan by which the public revenue of the United States may be collected, safely kept, and disbursed, without the agency of a bank or banks, either State or national.

Mr. GAMBLE was anxious, he said, that this resolution should be adopted without delay, as the subject was about to come before the House in the form of a bill from the Committee of Ways and Means. He hoped the House would indulge him in taking up the resolution now. Objections being made, Mr. G. moved the suspension of the rules, in order to take up his resolution; which motion was rejected.

WEDNESDAY, January 14.

Viva Voce Elections.

ship channel around the falls of Niagara. A survey of this project had already been partially made by an association of private gentlemen, at their own expense; sufficiently accurate, however, to test its practicability, and a favorable and flattering report made, strongly recommending that project. The national importance of this project has been long and universally acknowledged, and its necessity as a national work has become the more obvious, from the fact that our Canadian friends have constructed a similar one across the peninsula lying be tween Lakes Erie and Ontario on the Canadian side. From the importance of the project, both to the State which I have the honor, in part, to represent, and to the nation at large, I move that the petition be read, referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals, and printed; and it was ordered accordingly.

Fortification Bill.

The House, on motion of Mr. POLE, then passed to the orders of the day.

The fortification bill coming up, and the question being on its engrossment,

Mr. EVERETT moved in the House the amendment which he had offered in Committee of the Whole, proposing the appropriation of $75,000 for the repair of the fort on Castle Island, in Mr. REYNOLDS-rose and remarked that, some Boston bay. He supported the motion by quot weeks since, he had offered a resolution, having a report from the War Department, stating ing for its object to change the rule of the House in regard to the mode of electing its officers-requiring that the vote hereafter should be viva voce, instead of by ballot. He did not wish to urge this subject on the con

the necessity of the fort, and also that the other fort already ordered on George's Island would not be a substitute for this one, as the one would be needed for the inner, the other for the outer harbor.