They have passed a bill entitled "An act, to reduce the amount of direct tax upon the United States, and the District of Columbia, for the year 1816; and to repeal in part, the act entitled An act, to provide additional revenue for defraying the expenses of government, and maintaining the public the credit, by laying a direct tax upon the United States, and to provide for assessing and collecting the same;" and also the act entitled "An act, to provide additional revenue for defraying the expenses of government, and maintaining the public credit, by laying a direct tax upon the District of Columbia," a bill entitled " An act, making appropriations for ordnance and ordnance stores, for the year 1816;" a bill entitled "An act, rewarding the officers and crew of the sloop of war Hornet, for the capture and destruction of the British sloop of war Penguin," a "resolution requesting the President to present medals to captain Stewart, and the officers of the frigate Constitution;" also a "resolution requesting the President to present medals to captain James Biddle, and the officers of the sloop of war, Hornet;" in which bills and resolutions, they request the concurrence of the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill, I am directed to bring it to the Senate, for the signature of their President. And he withdrew. The President signed the enrolled bill, last reported to have been examined; and it was de livered to the committee, to be laid before the President of the United States. -After the consideration of executive business, the Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock to-morrow morning; to which time, the several orders of the day were postponed. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15th, 1816. On motion by Mr. King, Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate proeure for their use, four copies of Brice's Selection of the Commercial Laws of the United States; also four copies of Graydon's Digest of the Laws of the United States; and also four copies of Pitkin's Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States. On motion by Mr. Barry, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of extending, by law, to all settlers on the public lands of the United States, who have settled thereon since the 1st day of January, 1808, the same privilege extended to each settled prior to that day, by the second section of the act of Congress, passed March 3d, 1807; and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Mr. Barry, Mr. Morrow, and Mr. Brown, be the committee. Mr. Goldsborough presented the petition of E. R. Dupont, and others, manufacturers of gunpow der, praying an increase of duty on foreign gunpowder, and also to exempt it from the benefit of a drawback of duties on its re-exportation, as stated in the petition; which was read. On motion by Mr. Goldsborough, Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed on so much of the message of the President of the United States, as relates to finance and an uniform national currency: to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. Mr. Condit presented the petition of Israel Crane and others, manufacturers of cotton, in West-Bloomfield, in the State of New-Jersey, praying the protection of Congress, for reasons stated in the petition; which was read. On motion by Mr. Condit, Ordered, That it be referred to the committee last mentioned, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. The three bills and two resolutions brought up yesterday for concurrence, were read. Ordered, That they severally pass to the second reading. On motion by Mr. Bibb, Resolved, That the Senate insist on their disagreement to the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill entitled "An act concerning the convention to regulate the commerce between the Territories of the United States and his Britannic majesty," and agree to the conference proposed thereon. Ordered, That Mr. King, Mr. Barbour, and Mr. Bibb, be the managers on the part of the Senate. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly, The resolution to indemnify the sureties of com modore Rodgers, was read a third time, pass On the question-"Shall this resolution nays 5. The On motion by Mr. Wilson, yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the Senators present, those who voted in the affirmative, are Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. Mr. Daggett, from the committee to whom was re-committed the bill entitled "An act for the relief of Jonathan Rogers, jun. of Waterford, in the State of Connecticut," reported it without amend ment. Mr. Harper gave notice that he should ask leave to bring in a bill to establish a law library at the seat of government, for the use of the supreme court of the United States; and also a bill to limit the right of appeal and writ of error from the circuit court of the United States, to cases amounting to dollars, or upwards. Mr. Roberts reported from the committee that they had this day laid before the President of the United States, the two enrolled bills last reported to have been examined. On motion by Mr. Bibb, Ordered, That the committee on foreign relations, to whom were referred the petitions of Arthur Tappan and John Frothingham, be discharged from the further consideration thereof, respectively. The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on military affairs, to whom were referred the petitions of Nicholas Boilevin, of John de Lassize, and of Jumonville de Villiers, and others. On the question to agree thereto, |